tb5-heavenward:lovely art above is, as per usual, credited to the fantastically talented @slashpaloo
tb5-heavenward:lovely art above is, as per usual, credited to the fantastically talented @slashpalooza WHEW THAT TOOK A LONG TIME. SORRY! SORRY I WAS VERY BUSY AND THEN I WROTE ENTIRELY THE WRONG CHAPTER AND NOW I HAVE WRITTEN THE RIGHT CHAPTER AND NOW HOPEFULLY I CAN BE BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS.23 - time and energyThe problem with twelve hours of work is that it necessitates twelve hours of sleep, at least where the kind of work that International Rescue does can be considered.So when she finally calls him for the third time in almost as many weeks, Gordon’s asleep. He’s never been a light sleeper, exactly, but he’s done everything in his power to make sure that if she wereto call him, just on the off chance, she’d be able to wake him. To that end, he sleeps with his personal comm tucked beneath his pillow, frequently falls asleep with his fingers curled around it, and has its ringer turned to the loudest possible volume. A shrill, urgent klaxon isn’t the sort of sound he wants to associate with Penelope—but it’s enough to rouse him from the depths of a deservedly exhausted sleep, at half past three in the morning on Tracy Island, and that’s what counts.“Penny,” is the first thing he says, though groggily, half a wish and half a greeting, as he fumbles his comm on in the darkness of his bedroom. He takes the call and the pale blue light of her hologram mingles imperceptibly with the pale blue light of moonlight through his bedroom window. The sight of her wakes him up the rest of the way, and the way she smiles at the sound of her name makes him forget how little sleep he’s had, how he’s woken up still aching all over from a twelve-hour day, and everything else except how long it’s been since he last talked to her.“Gordon, darling,” she says, all warmth and affection and with only the slightest note of reproach as she queries, “Were you sleeping?” I like to write sleepy people and quiet affection and hidden meanings. I think this might be one of my favourite chapters. -- source link