Work Text:
Appropriate. Fit. Meet. Suitable. Adjacent. Close. Close-At-Hand. Near-At-Hand. Handy.
It was Christmas morning. Malcolm had been awake for an hour, reciting the synonyms to himself, when his door chimed.
"I thought we could have breakfast."
"I can't, Trip."
"Oh. Well what about lunch?"
"No."
"Malcolm—"
"I'm not here at your goddamned convenience, Trip!"
Malcolm looked into the engineer's face, his own furious. He watched as Trip's jaw and fists clenched. Nothing more was said. He stood silent as the other man left.
Nearby. Near. Nigh. Next. At One's Fingertips. Situated Within Easy Reach. At One's Beck And Call. Useful. Available.