Room 222 | Sunday Morning

[pursuedthestars]

For the most part, Jim had gotten used to living with a cat. Moxy wasn't too bad and the fact that he seemed to hate Jackson made him all the more better in Jim's mind. But (and this was a big but), Moxy did like to torment Jim at times.

This morning was one of those times. Jim was right in the middle of a very, very nice dream. He wasn't going to tell anyone what it was about but that became a moot point anyway when Moxy jumped onto his back and proceeded to claw lightly at his hair and shoulders. For a second or two, Jim ignored it. Maybe Moxy would go away.

Moxy did not go away and then went about kneading at Jim's shoulders before the damn cat started pacing up and down on his back.

"Oh my god, go away," he muttered, batting at Moxy sleepily. Moxy just tumbled off his back and came to curl up right against his face. Now Jim had a mouthful of cat fur. "You're disowned."

Moxy purred and blinked in his very feline way at Jim. He knew he wasn't going anywhere.

"Ugh," Jim said and tried to go back to sleep.

[Door closed/post open]

Comments

[pursuedthestars]

"Haven't heard from you in over two weeks," Jim told her, shrugging. "So, no. No text."

[whenshewasnice]

"Crap, I'm sorry." She was. Because she'd meant to tell him all the big news. "Guess I just told my parents."

She paused.

"Well, long story short: we won the election. Peter is the Hegemon, I'm his chief of staff, and we've relocated to Brazil."

Those were some huge news, but she wasn't really the type to gush about anything, ever.

[pursuedthestars]

"Huh. Congratulations."

That was what you were supposed to say, right? Jim scratched his cheek.

"Sounds like a permanent position."

[whenshewasnice]

"For Peter, hopefully," Natalie replied, shrugging. She considered nothing permanent for herself. "And thank you."

[pursuedthestars]

"Welcome," he said, nodding. "Is Brazil nice?"

[whenshewasnice]

"Haven't had a chance to see much of it yet," she admitted. "But I've been to Rio once before, and I liked it. So I'm not expecting it to suck."

[pursuedthestars]

"Cool." He wasn't immensely talented with small talk. "Well, take pictures and stuff."

He didn't know.

[whenshewasnice]

"Wow, you're bad at this." But she didn't sound like she minded. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you don't actually care about any of this."

Actually, she didn't think he did. And she was fine with that. As much as various people probably cared about her, she didn't think anyone but Peter and her parents actually gave a damn about what she was actually doing.

[pursuedthestars]

"It's not that," he said, shrugging. "I just don't understand it. It's your thing and not mine. You enjoy it and that's enough. I'm just not one to really be into politics."

And that would hold true for the rest of his life.

"Sorry."

[whenshewasnice]

"It's okay."

She was used to it. Didn't always enjoy it, but she was definitely used to it.

"How was your Christmas?"

[pursuedthestars]

"Just another day," he said with a shrug. "Spent with the cat. Nothing more than that."

That sounded kind of sad when he put it that way.

[whenshewasnice]

"I worked through Christmas, so..." If his Christmas was lame then at least he wasn't alone! "I guess that makes two of us."

[pursuedthestars]

"Sounds exciting," he said with a small snicker. "Actually, no it doesn't. My day sounds more exciting than that."

[whenshewasnice]

"No laughing! It was important work."

She was joking. Though not about the importance of her work.

[pursuedthestars]

"If you say so," Jim said, sighing and shaking his head. "I'll take your word for it, then."

[whenshewasnice]

"Well, the goal is world peace." She sighed. "Anyway. How is your New Year's looking?"

[pursuedthestars]

"Dunno," he said, rubbing the back of his neck and propping himself up in bed. "Nothing planned as of yet but I guess I'll find something to do."

[whenshewasnice]

"Well, I can swing at least one free night in good conscience," Natalie replied, idly, "if you're interested in some holiday time at a good hotel or something."

She'd been working pretty hard and clearly deserved a vacation.

[pursuedthestars]

"You want me to come spend New Year's with you?" he asked, smiling a little. "In Brazil?"

[whenshewasnice]

"Well, maybe not Brazil. Somewhere where I'm not Ms Natalie V. Adams with a job in the Hegemony."

That was part of the vacation aspect of it.

"But the rest was accurate, yes. And I don't know if it's really going to matter what's outside the hotel, anyway."

[pursuedthestars]

"What kind of things are you hoping will happen on New Year's?" Jim asked, amused. "Seem to have a thing or two in mind."

[whenshewasnice]

"But wouldn't that be spoilers?"

Tease.

[pursuedthestars]

"How am I supposed to know if I want to visit?" Jim retorted easily. "Spoilers are needed."

[whenshewasnice]

This did not surprise Natalie. She smiled to herself.

"Well, for one thing, I'm going to give you your Christmas presents."

[pursuedthestars]

"That's a definite good way to lure me closer," he said, nodding. "Keep going."