simon_doctor | (no subject)

(no subject)

The dividing line between sunlight and shadow is just crossing this particular slice of this particular planet, as it rotates away from its parent star.

Which is to say: it's early evening. Three tiny moons race each other backwards across the sky, away from the last embers of the sunset, growing and phasing towards full, white and pale gold against the deepening blue, pacing their brilliant reflections in the deeper blue water of a glimmering lake.

There are no higher life forms on this planet yet: its indigenous life hasn't advanced much past fairly small insects and lizards, and it'll be some centuries yet before any human colony ships make it this far.

Which may leave the casual observer at a loss to explain the tiny snug house at the edge of the lake, or the carefully tended grove of fruit trees behind it.

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Oh.

Simon starts to laugh, a tiny sound barely louder than his breath -- not because anything is funny, but out of sheer delight.

Because. It's theirs.

And it's home.

"We've got a house in the country," he says, wonderingly.

"Seems that way," says Kaylee, a little absently.

Absently because she has unslung the strand of Christmas lights and is now mentally eyeing where they should go.

She takes a closer step to a bookshelf, eyes glancing over the titles --

"Hey. I used to have a copy of this when I was a kid -- took it everywhere -- and then Bennett ripped it up -- "

Kaylee pulls the book from the shelf and immediately begins to flip through it.

Simon wanders around the room, looking at titles, noticing little decorative touches -- there's a vase of dried flowers on the little coffee table, and when was that put there? --

There'll be time to explore the shelves.

It's that thought that makes Kaylee smile as she replaces the book and wanders into the adjacent room.

"Wow."

Then something that sounds abruptly like somebody flopping down on a bed.

And maybe -- just maybe -- tucking her arms behind her head. And grinning. Though the grinning part is silent.

"You can't be tired yet," Simon calls down the hallway. "It's only just sundown."

"What's with the rules?" Kaylee calls back. Still grinning. Still with her arms behind her head. "Can't a girl just enjoy herself without somebody tryin' to ruin her fun?"

Simon has wandered into the kitchen, by this time.

"It's not a rule. Just an observation."

There's an abundance of counter space and cabinets, and a small refrigerator and a two-burner stove, and a blue-curtained window that overlooks the lake.

Kaylee rolls her eyes.

Then she closes them.

This?

This is nice.

And eventually he wanders into the bedroom.

"Hey."

There are glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling.

Windows run along one wall. In the daytime, the room will be full of natural light.

Kaylee's eyes are still closed. "Hey."

These windows overlook the grove of fruit trees. Right now in the deepening dusk, all that's visible is a leafy mass of shadow.

With here and there a brief glow of golden-green light, there and gone.

The fireflies are making themselves at home.

Simon sits down on the edge of the bed, and runs a hand down Kaylee's arm.

Very gravely she says, "Shh. I'm asleep."

Also, grinning.

"Oh."

He lifts his hand, carefully.

"I should let you sleep, then."

One eye opens.

Just one.

He is therefore eyed.

He looks back at her with Total Innocence.

Total.

Cue instant suspicion.

Amazing, isn't it, how one eye can convey Iiiiii don't know what you're up to but you'd better behave.

"I thought you were sleeping."

"Some of us," says Kaylee, who does august and menacing about as well as a kitten who's just woken up, "can sleep with one eye open."

"I think I had a book like that when I was a kid," says Simon thoughtfully. "About a boy who tried to teach himself to sleep with his eyes open."

His hand's back on her arm, stroking almost absently.

"And now you're seein' the real thing."

Except her eye closed again.

Wait.

"That's ... about how it went in the book, if I remember."

"Yeah? And then what happened?"

"He fell asleep."

His hand's found hers, and closed around it.

"With his eyes closed."

"Well." She's stroking the back of his hand with her thumb. "No danger of that."

He edges over on the bed to sit with his back against the headboard, and puts his arm around her.

"Not sleepy after all?"