(no subject)

[captaincocksure]

[Jim moves up to the podium like a man who wears authority well: confident strides, straight back, a clear mission. For a moment it might seem the piazza is in for some rousing speech or recruiting presentation.

But when he turns to face the assembled, there's a seriousness to his expression. A slight drooping of those squared shoulders, as if burdened.]

How do you move on from loss?

Comments

[stickseller]

(Howard waits until Jim's off the stage to find him, mostly because his answer, while a traditional one, is one filled with taboo, and he has a public face to keep on. Jim reminds him of himself. The comfort on the stage, in his movements, at least, that was until he question was asked.

And that's why he's willing to be honest. Partially, at least.)

Alcohol.

[captaincocksure]

[ Jim breaks into a faint grin, wry. ]

My doctor says I should limit my intake.

Usually after he pours me a double bourbon.

[ And then, more seriously... ]

I won't lie, I've considered it.

[stickseller]

He sounds like my kind of doctor.

(There's a light shrug of his shoulders, it's certainly his main medicine in coping with loss, after all, though he's not going to divulge too much of himself at this point in time.)

There's work, too. Dames. I think distraction is the key to most ways people deal with it.

[captaincocksure]

Yeah, he's not half bad. But he means it--I get some booze but he wouldn't stand for me regularly blitzing myself into distraction with it.

[ There's a rueful smile. It's refreshing, for once, not to have his reputation precede him. ]

Ladies are always a good distraction. I'm starting to get to the stage, though, of feeling like I'm married to my work. My ship. Maybe I should throw myself in even deeper.

[stickseller]

You just have to know when the right time to do it is.

(Ah, the joy of the multiverse, because Howard has no idea who you are. He simply sees a man dealing with problems he too struggles with, loathe as he is to admit to that.)

Work has always been my distraction of choice, for some reason people frown on that too sometimes. Find what makes you, not others happy. (A pause.) What type of ship do you have?