Homeplot 1

[sunburned]

He wakes slowly; he's never been good in the mornings. It's become their habit to sleep all in the one bed, all together, within reach of each other's hands. He sleeps on one side of Julie, arm stretched across her and his fingers curleld against Laurence's ribs. It's warm and it feels safe, something to sink into and get lost in.

So it does take him a while to wake, despite the fact that she is insistently calling his name.
Which isn't unusual. He dreams about her often.

He stirs in his sleep, pushing closer to Julie as he does.

Comments

[kissmehardy]

"I'm sure that Flight Officer Julia MacKenzie, whose extremely common and therefore untraceable name is not even technically a lie, currently of Temeraire, can stand up to anything. Wait, do you have Flight Officers? Or am I a Midshipman? Midwingman?" I do enjoy coming up with a new identity, and this one is much nicer than Eva Seiler. "I have been dying to meet this Admiral Roland ever since I first heard of her, anyway. It will be fine."

I put on my own neckcloth, pleased that fashion will hide my scars without looking odd, and then I pause and get the full impact of Captain William Laurence, in his full and proper glory.

"You are positively dashing."

[geniusofdisaster]

Laurence smiled politely, pleased to have such a compliment directed at him, yet not in any way about to let it go to his head. He did not purposefully set out to be dashing when he put on his uniform, but merely decent. "Thank you. Such access to proper clothing is a welcome change."

[sunburned]

"Oh, please don't encourage him," says Granby, opening the door once he's sure everyone's fully decent. "He'll begin to abuse my clothing choices on the island with renewed vigor." He looks at Laurence. "Pavillions before breakfast?"

[kissmehardy]

"Credit where it is due, John. He looks glorious." I am teasing them both, though I am absolutely honest about my opinion here.

"Dragons," I say firmly. "Then breakfast."

[geniusofdisaster]

To Laurence's mind the question hardly even needed asking. He had not seen Temeraire properly for the span of a year. Naturally he wished to see him now. "Dragons, if you please."

[sunburned]

"I did rather think so," he says, already heading out of the door, turning down towards the steps that will lead them down to the Pavillions. "We'll see Temeraire first, shall we? Or rather, I'll walk over with you and show my face and then I'll go and see herself. You can bring Julie along when you're ready."

[kissmehardy]

I refuse to admit something so babyish, but I do agree that I really ought to start with Temeraire, who by all accounts does not breathe fire.

"That sounds sensible," I say, and resist the urge to take Will's arm in the gentlemanly manner I know he prefers, when I am supposed to be a crew member and nothing more to anybody who might look at me.

[geniusofdisaster]

Laurence, for his part, had to resist no such gentlemanly urges. In fact, he had to resist the desire to abandon the bonds of polite behavior and his companions both, and rush to Temeraire without them. "It sounds entirely sensible."