milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Sara's inna bar. She's stolen one of Grissom's crossword puzzles and is working on it with limited success. She would welcome interruptions.

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Hal grins.

"Your reputation for perfection proceeds you, in that subtle way a boisterous drum major has.

"How has your first week or so treated you? Getting used to an expanded reality?"

"Gee, thanks." Her tone is dry, but she's smiling.

"It's been good. Met some interesting people. Gotten l--to know my way around here pretty well. I'm really enjoying it."

"I don't mean to give you a hard time, Sara ...

"At least, nothing worse than you give yourself."

Hal takes a long drink of coffee.

"Barry says you bought him a tuxedo for the party. That's very kind, you know."

"I know. I'm not offended or anything." She smiles again.

She shrugs. "He's become a good friend. I like helping my friends."

"You'll find no friend better.

"So why do you think you've been drawn here? I ask only because I've come to believe that everyone who walks through these doors has a reason to visit. Maybe they're looking for something or someone. Maybe they just needed to get away."

Hal smiles to himself, then shares the smile with her.

"Or maybe we all just needed more time with the living, even if they are from other dimensions and realities."

"Can I pick all of the above, for $500 Alex?" She says with a sigh. "I deal with the aftermaths of death and destruction. Coming here, I see people happy and well, if not actually alive. It's...refreshing."

"Someone I thought was a friend didn't exactly betray me, but didn't have my back the way I had hers in the past. That's...hurt. A lot. And others I also thought friends..." she shakes her head. "Again, here, it doesn't seem to be the same."

"Here, people don't judge. People just accept. I guess I need that."

"And you?"

"I'm still not sure.

"I thought I was here to be everything I've ever been at once. When you've led a life like mine, it takes some serious work to reconcile it all into a single entity that you can point to and call me."

Hal grins and laughs softly.

"Barry is one of my oldest friends, and even he didn't know how to deal with me. I think I frightened him. Maybe I still do.

"But now ... I believe the Bar has helped me to realize that everything I have ever been is nothing compared to who I can be right now. I can be a superhero out in the real world and I can be ... well ... I can use the time I spend in here to just be myself. Maybe I'll take up residence in the room I've reserved, or perhaps I'll help with the building project. We'll just have to see."

Hal smiles, looks down, then back at Sara.

"You should know," he says quietly. "You've made quite an impression on him."

She nods in agreement. "Very true. I gave Sooty a hand yesterday with refurbishing some doorframes. And if I decide to make this a permanent residence, I'll see about getting a job as part of the staff. I hate being idle." She shrugs a bit. "But I don't see this being permanent. At least not yet. I haven't been driven to resign from my job at the moment."

She ducks her head, blushing slightly. "I have?"

"I refuse to say more, on the grounds I might start feeling like I'm passing notes in junior high."

Hal's ring produces a smallish green clock, an insistent one. Hal rises from his chair.

"Ah. I have to go. Take care of yourself, Sara Sidle. And bring a pen for that crossword next time. Confucius or not, I think you're ready for it."

Hal winks and walks to the door.

She snorts, watching him leave. "Figures."

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