brainsqueeze | ★ INBOX

[ Blake's already waiting, of course, because he's got home field advantage, so when Maria comes through the door, he's kicked back at a table in the corner with his boots on the table and the bottle nestled next to him in the chair. Normally he'd be dressed in his civilian attire, but this time around he's still wearing his ship-issued uniform. ]

Hey, you made it. [ He smiles and gestures to the other seat. ] C'mon, have a seat. Happy Valentine's, apparently.

( There's a few levels in between Maria's floor and the suggested location but Blake isn't waiting long in the time that it takes Maria to get there. She quickly takes the seat, a bemused expression at the mention of when it is )

Are we there already?

( Time travel. It had been April when Maria had arrived - at least in her world it had been, and April again when she'd gotten new memories. She hadn't been trying to count dates, just jump numbers )

Good job we're in a kitchen then.

( Terrible jokes about valentines and dinner go )

[ He's never actually all that certain about the date, especially now, but he'd heard somewhere that people were celebrating and he didn't think there was any harm in doing the same. ]

Already cooked us up somethin' good.

[ Blake shakes the bottle and then offers it over. It's still capped, unopened. ]

A gift from home, I guess, so don't blame me if it's burnt or whatever. Somethin' tells me it'll be pretty decent, though.

If not I know a good bartender.

( Although she's probably still got something stashed in her room from the last time she'd wanted to drink on her own. That had been a while ago - she's been drinking with a friend for the past few months. It made it feel a little less sad.

There's a small smile at his humour, at feeling a little relaxed. It could be difficult to when you were used to expecting a threat - and still did here, but she was trying. Trying to relax a little around people she could maybe - hopefully call friends )

I'll let you do the honours.

( His gift, he should get to open it )

Yeah, thanks. My pleasure.

[ And beyond that, there's no real ceremony. Blake uncaps the bottle and then set it and the full bottle resolutely on the table top. ]

Where you figure this locker stuff comes from? Not that I'm complainin' 'bout havin' it...

Home.

( Whether it was always theirs or not Maria didn't know, but some of it definitely had to come from their homes )

I've had things I've recognised before. Personal things.

( A gun, a uniform. Some semi-classified files. Oh dear )

They were the same as I remembered them.

Hm. Well, definitely don't remember the sweater I got, but that's not really sayin' much considerin'.

[ It's either John admitting to being vain and has a lot of clothes, or that he's been gone from home too long to remember. Maybe both. Probably both. ]

So, let's drink.

[ He places a glass on each side of the bottle. ]

Then I hope that no one finds you and says that it's theirs.

( She's heard of something belonging to someone being found in another person's locker before but Maria doesn't know how common an occurrence that is. Maybe this bottle wasn't meant for him, but it's their tough luck on that one. They're putting it to a good use.

Once the drink is poured Maria pulls her glass a little closer to her, hand wrapped around it for a few seconds before she takes a sip )

Hopefully they'll keep bringing things like this.

[ John follows suit, taking his drink and sitting back with it. He even puts his feet up on a chair he borrowed from some other place. ]

Definitely drink to that. Can't get behind stuff when I don't know where it's comin' from, not really, but... sometimes I'll make an exception.

This stuff seems legitimate enough, at least.

You might have to at least get used to it.

( There was a shrug. There wouldn't be an answer about where the things came from but after a while it just became fact. It was something that they happened and they couldn't do anything about it )

But you probably won't see anything else for a while. It doesn't seem to happen that often.

Shame. Could use a shirt or two. Feel spare of 'bout everything these days.

[ He was entirely too spoiled by Wonderland and now he regrets that he's only got a few shirts and no real attractive options otherwise. At least the jumpsuits aren't awful.

John lifts his glass. ] Bottoms up. [ And down it goes. ]

( Don't knock the jumpsuits, although she's definitely used to wearing something similar to that more often than actual clothes. #spylife )

Maybe you'll prove us wrong. Get something soon.

( Wouldn't he be luck. She tilted her glass a little before drinking, returning it back to the table )

Something ends up changing.

Not exactly holdin' my breath here, but it'd be nice.

[ He leans back up and pours them both another helping, maybe a little extra for good measure. ]

So, tell me somethin' good, Hill. Or somethin' bad, I don't care.

When's the last time you went out for Valentine's?

Valentines?

( There's a small laugh at that - more a scoff. Her expression is a little amused. She can't actually remember the last time that a date had a good ending, never mind an actual Valentine's day. Or date. Those things didn't work so well in her world. Or for her )

You should pick another question.

[ Well, there's a clear sign if he's ever seen one. Blake does his best not to raise an eyebrow as sips his whiskey. ]

Okay. Um. How 'bout your favorite kinda movie? Or things you like to do to relax? Drinkin's not the only thing, right?

( There's a brief pause at that before Maria answers. Where are you getting your questions from, Blake? )

Before here. I didn't get much time to relax. Or I worked too much.

( World under thread doesn't give someone like her much downtime. She could blame her job but she could step back and go home to sleep at any time )

I used to run.

( As morning routine not for relaxing )

[ He has a book of useless questions, to be honest. Or his brain holds a plethora of idiotic ones. Either way, they're only useful if you're trying to make conversation and since he's awful at that, Maria may just have to suffer. ]

Run-run? Like not joggin', but straight-up runnin'? [ He smiles. ] That's pretty cool.

[ This is small talk, right? Or Blake's version, at least. Hill's probably going to be bored to death before she can make it to drunk. ]

More jogging.

( She'd probably run if she had time, or made herself have time. The only problems she actually has with doing anything personal is her own management of priorities - she ranks a lot lower than her job, or the world )

It's something. Hopefully you've got a better story.

[ Gosh, they probably have a lot more in common than they realize. ]

Better? Dunno 'bout that. But I like readin' an' cookin' an' makin' sure my friends an' the like are fed.

[ It's a good assortment, which Blake finds himself appreciating a little more with some alcohol in his belly. ]

Not so big into movies or dates or holidays. Is that a better story?

It makes me feel less 'odd one out'.

( So better on some aspects then? But it also probably does open him up for more questions. Just so he knows: he started it )

No Valentines then?

( With a possible second question of ever? )

Nope. Not this year. Not usually.

[ Which is to say, it's been a long time since he bought into any kind of romantic holiday, thank you very much.

He smiles and lifts his glass. ]

—unless this counts. Wanna be my Valentine?

( There's a pause, a half-amused half-curious expression moving into her features. Well, she's getting a free drink out of it )

Romantic.

( So kidding. So obviously kidding there. Although what can she say she expects? Not romance in space. Although she wouldn't have expected being in space either )

Sure. I think you've topped last year already.

( Not a hard feat )

Good.

[ He's pleased to hear as much and raises his glass again. ]

Let the record show John and Maria were not dateless this Valentine's Day.

[ Good deal. He feels a little better already. ]

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