milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Susan in a booth nearby, head down on the table, not moving. An untouched glass of water sits in front of her folded arms.

edit: Same pup now walking outside by the lake, ignoring the wind that's picking up, a lone huddled figure.

[ ooc: Tags may be sporadic / slowtimed due to work. ]

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A gentle hand touches her shoulder.

She starts, lifting a white face, then visibly colours with relief. "Shufti... how are you?"

She looks a little pale. "I'm okay. are you?"

"N--yes," Susan says abruptly, veering off in a new direction. "Fine. Just achy from last night. Were you there?"

"Where?" she asks. "Probably not." considering she spent most of the night in the infirmary.

"Down at the bar--" She frowns, peering closer at Shufti. "Are you all right? What happened last night?"

She fidgets under the gaze and looks at the floor.

"I wasn't feeling well and fainted on Dr Hank."

She looks up again. "But he gave me some medicine that I have to take when the chimes chime on this thing, so I'll be okay." She holds out a red watch on her arm.

Susan inspects the watch, rubbing at her eyes, and looks up at Shufti intently. "Who's Dr. Hank?"

"He's tall and blue and furry. I thought he might be a troll at first but he hasn't got any lichen and he's intelligent at room temperature, so he's probably not. Still debating werewolf."

She clicks her teeth impatiently at that, frowning, but lets it go. "You'll have to pick up some beads later," she says with a slight smile, "you missed the party..."

Shufti fidgets, getting the feeling she's done something wrong.

"I haven't anything against trolls and werewolves. I was just trying to give a description." she says quietly, instinctively inching away a little.

"What party?"

"No, it's not that," she says hastily, reading Shufti's expression. "It's--I don't know any of the doctors here. I met the man once, and he seemed all right, but..." she makes another grimace of discontent.

She rubs her hands over her face at that, hiding her red-ringed eyes. "Ever heard of Mardi Gras?"

"I don't think doctors here are like the ones on the Disc."

She shakes her head. "Mardy grass? I don't think so."

"Didn't think I saw too many leeches around here," Susan mutters balefully. "I didn't either, but apparently Mardi Gras is--" she stops short, then says almost tonelessly, "--a carnival holiday. An excuse to get drunk and dance and go wild."

"A carnival party? So you eat lots of meat and stuff?"

She nods, rubbing at her eyes. "Drink more, though. Especially Atlantean wine. Don't ever try it, please, trust me on this."

"I had a beer once. When we signed up for the army we were given a free one and I could hardly refuse."

She winces. "But I threw up when Mal pointed out he could smell rat droppings in it."

"The drinks here are better," Susan agrees, wincing. "Much more... potent."

"I heard that pregnant people shouldn't drink somewhere."

She eyes Susan.

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"Later, when the baby's born," Susan agrees, resting her head against the table. "Are you hoping for a girl or a boy?"

Nifty subject dodge there.

"I don't mind. It will be the most precious thing to me whatever it is." she says fondly, her hand on her bulge.

"Because we'll be a family. Me and baby."

For the second time this morning, Susan sniffs oddly and looks away.

"You'll be a good mother."

Shufti fidgets.

"I don't know a thing about parenting. I don't know if love is enough, but I'll try."

She eyes Susan. "I'm sorry, have I upset you? Do you want me to go away?"

"No," and Susan shakes her head, with a faint smile. "It's all right. I just need to walk by the lake by myself for a while..."

Maybe she can't have kids. She went a bit like this when I asked if she had any before.

"I'm sorry." she says again. "I won't bother you."

She slips away as quietly as she came.

Susan's never heard of the expression "headdesk" before, but it's more than appropriate here.

"Walk," she mutters to herself, grabbing a coat and practically fleeing for the outdoors.

Somewhere near the other end of the lake, a tired Cain stretches, working out to drive the remnants of alcohol from his system. He is stripped to the waist as he moves and excercises.

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