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Ship - Tranquility - I have a bit of a crisis-

So I need everyone to stop a moment and think very hard, and I mean incredibly hard, about this, because forget the bloody temperature and the mess with all that and everything else because, well.

...I've run out of tea.

Proper tea, not the space tea that tastes like the stuff you get from the blank boxes that they sell at the Co-op. Or worse, the off-stuff from Tescos.

Does anyone have real tea?

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Tea is the drink of friendship, Mitchell.

Is that right. I thought it was beer.

When was the last time you heard of a brawl in a tea shop?

[God, Mitchell!!!]

Well, you know, people can get pretty violent when the shop runs out of their specific blend...

Anyway, what about after the brawls! People are really lovely to each other after brawls, buying rounds and throwin' their arms around each other. It gets really cozy.

That has never actually happened.

They threw all that tea in the ocean in America. That was less than friendly.

Maybe I shouldn't give Aidan tea.

[well there's a good idea. there's a bit of a pause--just a second too long.]

I didn't know you were hanging around with him.

Well, after we fought, I couldn't go to Josh or Derek or Will because they're all-

[She shrugs a bit]

Aidan is kind. He's kind to me.

[The familiar twist of paranoia starts, deep in his chest, but he fights it down. Only he can't help himself from adding:]

And he's on blood.

[Well, no, that's legitimate]

He told me he has to be. Josh did, too. They're a bit...they think it's strange you're not. They say that vampires where they come from have to be or they get sick.

Yeah.

[He huffs a laugh, short and bitter.]

Yeah. They have to. I've heard that one before.

They think it's...weird. That you don't.

[She holds his hand tighter, then.]

I only went because it was like...well, his friend Sally, she's like me, right? She died like me. So I could talk about it.

[Weird. His mouth tightens a little. What's weird is why the hell they're talking about him and his habits at all. As if it's not good that he's off blood. As if it's somehow a problem.]

You can talk to us. About anything, Annie, and I know-- I know we were arguing at the time, but-- you don't have to go talking to him.

Well, I was a bit sore with you and George.

I'm not now.

[She just holds on. Don't be cross, Mitchell, don't be cross.]

I know.

[And there's no judgement or anything there, even if they'd meant what they'd said for the best. And when he thinks of her talking with Aidan--who's on blood, who can't be trusted--who's talking with her about him, and that sets him on edge too, because Aidan knows too much, he's got to. Their lives line up, too, for all that they're different.]

But you have to be careful.

I will. I promise.

I mean it, Annie--

[He grabs hold of her hand, suddenly, tugs it toward himself to get her attention.]

I mean it. He seems nice, I'm sure he's fine. But if he's on blood, even if he needs it--that makes things different. It makes us different.

[She gets close, and she looks at Mitchell in the face, and there's a solemness to her expression]

I promise. I mean it. If I see something that surprises me or shocks me, I'll rentaghost away right away, I promise.

[He nods, quickly, fervently, and doesn't let go of her hand. Because he doesn't seem nice, and he isn't fine. None of it is fine. She needs to keep away from Aidan, for so many reasons--but he can't say that.]

All right.

[It comes out a little rough; he swallows, hard, but doesn't say anything more for now.]

[She tugs her hands away, but only so she can put her arms around his shoulders, so she can hug him close]

[He stands still, for a moment--and then he shifts so he can get his arms around her, too, his fingers bunching in the fabric of her jumper, ducking his head to lean his forehead against her shoulder, against the crook of her neck.]

I'm sorry.

[Which seems out of place to say, but he is. Walking in the garden looking for tea turned into this--but of course it did. Even in space, they're never outside of danger. Maybe it's less, or maybe it's just gotten them complacent, and now here it is again.]

You're just worried.

[She holds onto him, presses her nose against his temple]

Yeah.

[He laughs, shortly--that's an understatement, Annie--but eventually he relaxes his grip on her.]

Come on, let's-- look for your tea.

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