[pfsb+new mexico] achoo

[porcupineliz]

It's morning on the third day of a four-day visit, and they seem to actually be still enjoying each other's company. For a miracle. Today they're supposed to go exploring one of the nearby neighborhoods, and Liz went to bed last night in happy anticipation.

... and can't seem to pull herself out of the guest bed this morning.

Maybe it's got something to do with the cough and headache she seems to have developed overnight.

Comments

[porcupineliz]

"Probably better not," she says, with a touch of regret. "I don't wanna overdo it and have a relapse, or something."

[dr_j]

"Movies? Here, I mean?"

[porcupineliz]

"That sounds great." Happily; it's only since last night that she's been able to look at a screen for any length of time without the headache coming back.

[dr_j]

"You can't laugh at my Netflix queue," he warns, heading for the living room.

[porcupineliz]

"I promise not to laugh at your Netflix queue," she says solemnly.

[dr_j]

He gestures to the couch, picking the remotes off the coffee table. "Sit. Settle. Can I get you anything?"

[porcupineliz]

"I think I'm good for now," she says, settling obediently. "-- Can I appropriate the blanket?"

[dr_j]

"All yours."

The TV on, he settles on his customary end of the couch, and holds out the remote to his Roku box.

[porcupineliz]

She finishes tucking in the blanket around her knees, and takes the remote.

A little juggling gets her to his Netflix queue.

[dr_j]

Which is mostly filled with nature documentaries. Also Cheers. Also The Office.

Also My Cat From Hell.

[porcupineliz]

Liz, true to her promise, does not laugh.

"... I thought 'My Cat From Hell' was a cartoon," she says thoughtfully.

[dr_j]

"No, it's a reality show," Jordie says, a little pained. "But it has a happy ending. Every time."

[porcupineliz]

"Cats and happy endings." She resettles her shoulders against the couch back. "I think I like the sound of that."

[dr_j]

"...you're kidding."

[porcupineliz]

"... is it not what it sounds like?" She gives him a faintly cockeyed look.

[dr_j]

"No, it is, you just... don't really strike me as the reality cat show type?"

[porcupineliz]

"I'm not, generally? But it sounds kind of ... relaxing, right now."

[dr_j]

Jordie blinks at her.

And holds out the remote.

[porcupineliz]

She starts the first episode queued.

After a little while, she mutters "Is Jackson Galaxy his real name?"

[dr_j]

"Obviously," Jordie says, satisfied.

[porcupineliz]

It's actually kind of the perfect thing to watch right now: engaging but not particularly demanding, amusing without being laugh-hard funny.

"That's a brave man." She's watching the host approach a snarling cat, ears laid back and claws out.

[dr_j]

"Right?" Easily; he turns toward her, knee coming up on the couch with him; he pillows his head on the back of the couch, eyes on the screen.

[porcupineliz]

"And those are not smart cat owners." There's a wince in her voice. "I mean, look at that, that's just gonna scare her ..."

The impulse rises to stretch out her blanketed legs toward his, just to touch. She doesn't do it.

[dr_j]

"They think animals are easy," he says, absently.

[porcupineliz]

"Yeah." In recognition. "Like they want a cat that'll sit on their lap and purr, and they think it's just a matter of getting a cat and plonking it down on their lap and going 'Okay, now purr.'"