OPEN (Cruisin' at the coffeeshop)

[jamesthorn]

Despite his reservations about taking an extended vacation from the police station, never actually taking up the quiet and the emptiness vacation very easily, preferring instead to be busy with his casework and his investigations---by day three, even James discovers that he is enjoying himself, dare say even relaxing if his flip-flops and t-shirts are anything to judge. He's found himself plenty to do aboard the ship, though just the sheer magnitude of the food choices is enough to keep one busy. Still, there were shows and performances and even parties to attend every day, almost every hour; everything a constant flurry of activity and schedules. Mainly he just likes sitting on the deck, watching the water. He's even taken up rising at his usual time and heading down to the gym for a short jog on the treadmill and sometimes a dip in the pool. Surely he hasn't been this relaxed in forever. His brain usually too wrapped up in his family and everything else that went along with that. 

But the best part was having the opportunity to spend this much time with Moira without interruption. Between work and other things, namely their careful interaction around town, they never just relaxed this much together. Something about the cruise had caused them to give up most of the rouse, not caring who saw what. So it was nice. More than nice. The more time he spends with Moira, the more he realizes how serious he is about her. It's even more than just the pregnancy...he's never been so certain of someone. So certain that he's happy with her. Calmer and less grumpy, maybe June would say. 

That's the reason he's in a definite chipper mood this morning. He takes his short run in the gym around five am. He had left Moira still asleep when he had snuck out of their suite. She's having a rough go of things with the morning sickness, so he didn't want to disturb her. James takes the short route onto the third deck where the small cafe is. He thinks he'll take back coffee and pastries to the room for breakfast. When he arrives, it's good to find there's not much of a line since it's so early.

Comments

[chasingtwisters]

Moira is tired of this baby already and she hasn't even given birth yet. She's spend most of the cruise dealing with morning sickness, and frankly, she's over throwing up constantly. Thankfully, when she wakes up this morning, she feels able to somewhat function. Seeing James already left for the morning, she decides to head to find some breakfast. She winds up at the coffee spot, where...she finds James, taking his morning coffee.

"Fancy meeting you here stranger," she says, sliding in the seat across from him.

[jamesthorn]

At the sound of Moira's voice, James glances up with a smile. Once he had made it through the coffee shop line he decided to stop and drink his coffee before heading back to the room. He's surprised to see her out and about so soon, as the past couple of days her sickeness spells have kept her racing for the bathroom through the early morning. But today she looks fairly perky, if not simply just tired. He slides over the food he had purchased to take back with him.

"I didn't want to wake you," he says, as she sits down. "Are you feeling better?"

[chasingtwisters]

Moira smiles at the food he slides over to her, cautiously beginning to nibble at it. Just because she was feeling slightly better now doesn't mean she is out of the woods yet. Still, the food is delicious, and helps to make her feel something close to functioning as she turns her grin to James.

"A bit. Hold on," she says, quickly getting up and coming back with a peach iced tea to sip along with her food. "How are you this morning?"

[jamesthorn]

"Better. Now that you're here," James says, leaning over to give her a kiss in the mouth. He smiles at her afterwards, breaking off a piece of the cranberry-orange muffin he'd bought for himself. He's happy she is doing better today, still wishing there was more he could do, but it seems to just be nature running its course. "So. Do you suppose everyone's talking about us?" he asks, raising his eyebrow.

[chasingtwisters]

She kisses him back with a smile of her own, still not used to being so openly affectionate with him, especially in front of a crowd like the one populating the cruise. She proceeds to nibble at her food, pleasantly surprised by the way it doesn't upset her stomach. "Probably," she muses, in between sips of her tea. "Small town, the entirety of which is almost all on this boat? Nothing they like better than gawking and yapping."

[jamesthorn]

"You have to admit, it's gossip worthy. Thornton amd Coombs," he says, raising an eyebrow, but then he smiles at her. "Are you sure your sisters will be okay once they find out?" Which there was hardly hiding it with everyone staying on the same floor.

[chasingtwisters]

"Yeah, I'm sure we'll have tongues wagging," she shakes her head, still finding the notion that her love life could be considered tabloid fodder ridiculous. "And I'll be honest with you, I'm not sure."

[jamesthorn]

He shrugs his shoulders, knowing he needs to do the same thing. "Maybe you should just tell them the truth. We're already here together," he suggests, knowing that it isn't hard to put two and two together about him and her pregnancy anyway.

[chasingtwisters]

"Yeah, I suppose I do owe them that much," she says, taking another drink.

[jamesthorn]

He nods back. Maybe if Moira told her sisters they'd have time to warm up to the idea before their mother found out. Violet is the one James still worried about, both what she'd do upon learning that her daughter is with a Thornton, and what Moira would do to defend herself. He doesn't like to think of it, as he worriws what may happen. He just knew two angry witches is never a good thing....

"Who knows. They may just like me," he says, smiling teasingly.

[aoife_coombs]

Aoife took enough ibuprofen to fell an elephant. It was all she could do to keep the wind from rising, the water from churning.
And it was good, because there was James Thornton. A Thornton.

"Good morning. How are you?" She sits down. " Is this seat taken?"

[jamesthorn]

James is still waiting for his order number to be called when someone slides into the seat across from him. At first, he thinks it's Moira come to join him, but he looks up to find her sister Aoife instead. He doesn't believe he's ever had a conversation with nearly any of Moira's siblings, and he's immediately caught off guard by the prospect. He watches her settle into the seat, shaking his head. "I guess as you're already sitting down, it isn't," he says.

[aoife_coombs]

"You must be the brains of the family", she smiles. " Are you enjoying your stay?"

[jamesthorn]

It's very obvious to him now that he and Moira had been orbiting off on their own little world these past few weeks, because his initial reaction to Aoife is still the same as he used to feel about Moira. Mistrust and suspicion. Coombs could evidently still sparked a feeling in him, feelings that were not all together rational. "I guess," he answers slowly. "It's hard to complain over a free cruise...is there something you needed?"

[aoife_coombs]

"Oh, I can't just join you without good reason? Is it something I did?", she pouts.

"Yes, and isn't that a bit strange? Are you here to invest why half the town is offered a free cruise? Or are you here on personal name? Holiday with a girlfriend? Boyfriend? If you want to share, of course."

[jamesthorn]

He really isn't sure what Aoife's angle is. If he is meant to say he's here with Moira he isn't about to say so. They haven't kept it a secret so why should he. "Why are you so interested?" he asks.

[aoife_coombs]

She leans back. "I'm trying to get to know you a little better, mister Thornton. To see if there is any redeeming feature to you. Probably not, but I'm not allowed to hurt people. Although mother wou- let's not start about my mother just yet, she's in a league of her own."

Aoife smiles. "Sorry. I'm always told that I'm unclear about what kind of message I want to send. I want to get to know you better. Is that enough?"

[jamesthorn]

Redeeming feature? James raises his eyebrows back at Aoife, not sure if she's being serious with this or not. He doesn't know her, and from first impressions he has no inclinations to change that. He shrugs, picking back up his coffee, kind of wishing he hadn't sat down now. "I really just came to have coffee, not that your offer isn't tempting," he says, or vaguely insulting in a weird way.

[aoife_coombs]

Aoife isn't the right girl for this. She isn't smart or vile or cheeky enough and the large amount of aspirin is making her sleepy fast. And James is mean, of course he is.

"I just want to know if you're worth it, becoming the father of a Coombs child. Or didn't you impregnate my si- Moira? Are you still only kissing and do I need to go search in another direction?"

[jamesthorn]

His jaw tightens some, not just because he thinks Aoife is being unnecessarily rude, but just the way she says it makes him regretful everything has happened this way. But she's a Coombs, and she isn't Moira. James is naturally disinclined to discuss this with her if Moira hasn't. "Maybe you should talk to your sister instead of coming to me. Isn't that easier? Since you're unsure I'm worth it," he says, rolling his eyes.

[aoife_coombs]

"You don't know her at all if you're serious about that." She gets up, a little bit wobbly, maybe.

"So I do hope you're saying that because you don't want to face your responsibilities, not because she was just some one night stand lay and you're relieved that we're rich enough for you not to pay alimony. I do hope that you know that each and everyone -" Aoife shakes her head. "It's a good thing this child will not need a father. It has a family."

[jamesthorn]

He is completely bewildered by Aoife's behavior, but it really doesn't stop him from growing angry as she accuses him of things that are truly an insult to his character, and his feelings for Moira. "Family, huh?" he places his coffee down looking up at her. "Tell me this then. If you can't go ask your sister the truth about me, about what's happened, then what place do you even think you'll have in this child's life?" he asks, placing his coffee down. That is one thing James doesn't understand abouy Moira or her sisters. His brothers and June are all he has, not being able to talk them, is nearly unimaginable. "Really. I'm not going to answer your questions if Moira hasn't."

[aoife_coombs]

"God, some things are private between siblings! I don't want to know what you whispered in her ear when you fucked her!"

She latches on to the back of her seat, feels the room spin around her. Maybe she shouldn't have gorged herself on the breakfast buffet. She really never knows where her limits lie.

"I think your hard work in trying to dodge and deny says enough, really. Especially because if Moira would have been happy with the guy that did this to her, she would be sharing. Not hiding. But thank you, James Thornton. For the vote of confidence. For proving me right."

[jamesthorn]

He shakes his head at her outburst, wondering if she's aware they are in public. Not simply because they were talking about a private matter, but cursing and yelling where anyone could see and hear isn't really behavior that people like them displayed. That's the only thing their families ever had in common, the money and and the grooming and the gossip columns. He could only hope June never behaves this way when he's not around. But Aoife isn't his sister, and he really has no clue what to tell her. Nearly what to think either. "I think you're mistaken. Truly," he says. "But I don't really intend to convince you of that."

[aoife_coombs]

She chokes on something, covers her mouth to keep it all inside.

"Of course. None of this is your fault. What a masculine way of thinking. What a Thornton way of thinking." She tries to swallow down the acid. "I tried to give you a chance. For her. Because she's my sister and we all belong together. But you don't intend to try anything, really. It was lovely talking to you."

When she's turned her back to him, she finally managed to swallow down the bile rising up.