fandomtownies | The Park -- Sunday morning

The Park -- Sunday morning

Ben finally shook off sleep and decided to go for a walk. He needed to clear his head, especially after those weird dreams about turning purple and turning into an avocado. The guacamole last night had turned out a little strong, but he hadn't expected it to spur those kinds of dreams -- he hadn't had any quite that surreal since he gave up his super-chili recipe. The brisk air numbed his lungs, but he was glad for a sensation, any sensation, that would contribute to his wakefulness.

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Inara was in the park doing tai-chi. She finished one of the forms and waved at Ben. "Morning!"

Ben stops and smiles. "Morning, Inara. How have you been?"

"Mostly down with a cold." She smiles wanly. "A brothel isn't the most restful place to recover."

"I would imagine not." He shrugged his shoulders. "I assume the tai chi is helping, or you wouldn't be out in the cold."

"The tai-chi helps centre my mind. It's a bit...distracting at the Sin. And I'm all rugged up." she indicates the quilted jacket and pants she's wearing. "How's things at the shop going? How is your writing coming along?"

"Yeah, I'm sure there's a lack of quiet around there." Ben shrugged again, his face getting a little tense. "Things are sort of quiet at the store, but Michael's keeping busy. The writing..." Ben rolled his eyes. "The muse comes and goes. These days, mostly the latter."

"Would you like to talk about your writing? Would it help? I can listen if you'd like."

Ben thinks for a moment, but shakes his head. "The inspiration just isn't there, that's all. I don't think there's much anyone -- not even me -- can do about it." He frowns. "There's just too much distraction going on; settling down to write becomes less...not less important, just less possible, I guess." He gives a wry smile. "I suppose you can relate to that, about the distractions."

Inara nods before her smile grows a little impish. "Well, would you care to do some tai-chi, then?"

Ben stretched, testing out the movement potential in the clothes he was wearing. They'd do. "Probably not a bad idea. It's been too long...something I ought to get back to."

"Do you know the Yi-Wun forms?" Inara shows him the opening sequence of the tai-chi exercises.

Ben makes a face. "Looks familiar..." He shakes his head. "Too many years of yoga blurring the memories of tai chi." He sweeps through the movements again and gets an "aha" look, continuing on for a few more movements. "Right?"

"I'm not a master, but it looks okay to me," Inara says, smiling. "Where did you learn this?"

"Here, there, everywhere." He ticks off on his fingers. "Classes, fellow Buddhists, friends of friends of friends running workshops." He thinks for a minute. "As strange as some of those people were, I'm surprised I haven't run into any of them here. They'd fit right into Fandom." He shrugs. "Unlike me."

Inara has to pause a moment in the form to get her balance back. "You don't feel you fit into Fandom?" She's a little astonished at his admission.

Ben continues his movements, avoiding Inara's gaze. "Do I? I don't practice magic, I'm not from another dimension or outer space or another time period. I don't even read science fiction, for crying out loud." Ben pushes down a small surge of anger. Taking a deep breath, he continues. "Michael grew up reading comic books, to him this is all dream-come-true, if in a slightly twisted way. I don't have a way to fit into that."

She continues her form, struck by the emotion in Ben's voice. "Is fitting in really that important?" Inara asks, gently.

"Not fitting in, so much as...." Ben sighs, losing his focus and stopping. "Feeling like I have a reason to be here, a purpose. Michael has the store, and while I've got an investment in that, it's his baby. I hide away and write on a book that may never well get finished, or wander around town aimlessly. To be honest, the issues that stirred me to write just don't exist in Fandom, and I haven't found a new direction to take myself." With a deep breath, Ben slides back into the calming movement -- something he needs more now that he's vented. "I'm sorry, Inara, I don't mean to unload on you. I've just had a lot of thoughts nagging at me, obviously."

"It's okay, Ben," she reassures him. "I don't mind being unloaded upon." She continues with the form, but asks, "Would a regular activity other than your writing? A discussion group or meeting that allowed you to...gain ideas, define a new direction?" She indicated the chilly park around them. "I come here to do something unrelated to my job, to centre myself - and to meet people. It's a change from the intercourse - both verbal and physical - that is involved in my work."

Ben shrugged. He could feel a headache coming on. "I don't know. I think I have to figure out where I am, first, before I can figure out where I'm going. Maybe step out to the mainland more often to remind myself what's going on beyond the island." He shook his head. "With my health and my writing both in flux right now, I just need to ground myself, steady myself. I'm not sure I can do that here very well."

Inara nodded and keeps moving with the flow of the form. "I hope the tai-chi helps you, then."

"Every little bit helps." With a deep breath, he focuses and slides back into form. "Thank you for inviting me to join you. And for listening to me bi...vent."

"What are friends for, but to listen when venting is needed?"

Ben smiles. "Not sure I've made a whole lot of those around here either, so your friendship is greatly appreciated."

"As is yours," Inara smiles back.

Han got up early, as usual, dressed and threw on the flight jacket. Still too big. Still very damn grouchy.

Thinking a walk would help, Han set off through the park.

Seeing the unfamiliar woman in the oversized flight jacket, Ben inclines his head in a friendly nod.

"Hey, Ben, right? Michael's husband." A half-smile crosses her face.

"Can I be nosy? How long have you two been together?"

Ben is startled by the familiarity, and of being recognized by someone he didn't recognize. The voice wasn't unfriendly, though, so he responded. "That's me. We've been together about ten years now."

"That's..." She loses her words and sits on the bench. "I want to last like that. You know, Beautiful and me were kinda watching you two, seeing how you make it work. Because we wanted to last like that, and you're the only pairmated men we know."

She shakes her head. "Now I guess we have to watch Deb and Carl instead."

Ben looks puzzled, still not quite figuring out who he's talking to. He does, however, work out from what is said that this person has probably been through one of the strange spontaneous sex-changes that he's heard about. He nods, trying to think of how to respond. "It's not as different as you might think -- two men versus a man and a woman. It's a matter of compromise." He smiles. "And trying not to get on each other's nerves too much."

Han finally twigs. "Sorry. Han Solo. I'm the kid who lives in the spaceship just north of the park." She gestures. "I was in yesterday buying clothes. Kinda figured Michael woulda told you."

She sighs again. "My boyfriend's ancient, like from Old Persia. And he keeps treating me like I'm one of the silly emptyheaded concubines he used to guard. Talk about getting on my nerves."

"Aha. Didn't quite recognize you, there." Ben pursed his lips in thought. "I would guess he hasn't quite picked up on the liberated female idea, hmm? I can see where that would get a bit tiresome." He smirked. "You'll just have to educate him -- at least as long as you're still a girl."

"Compromise and education. Yeah. I'm gonna have a fun time until this wears off."

Han stands up. "Weeping Goddess, I hope it wears off. Thanks, Ben. I need to get back and make some kaf."

Ben nods and smiles. "You're welcome. And good luck. Fingers crossed that it wears off soon for you."

Han takes the long way around the park and winds up back home.

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The Park -- Sunday morning

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