milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

[OOM: There'll always be an England. It's just that eventually, it's REALLY going to suck.]

The door opens, and for a moment the ruddy-gold light of candles and lamps can be seen on the other side. Not for long, though. The blue-clad, bearded fellow who trudges through closes the door behind him.

And then stops, two paces in, and stares.

Quinn Abercromby hasn't got any words at all for this.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"What do we do when we are awake?" "Keep two eyes on the sky."

"Oh, yeah," says Quinn. "It's important work. I mean, it's not going to be me who survives the burning times, is it? It's the kids who'll outlive the dragons, if anyone does. I owe it to the rest of the human race to make sure they've got what they need to make it in the future, don't I?"

This is probably not helping the overall impression he's giving, is it.

A man who looks like him, and who sounds an awful lot like-Father.

Preston hesitates, "Be wary of what you teach them."

He swallows, "Too often does an individual trust in the authority that an educator provides. A good educator should strive to educate about all aspects of society and never control-anyone."

Ironically-a line from Father.

"Control?" Quinn's eyebrows go up. "It's a community, not a prison. I mean, yeah, I'm the one who's got to talk people down from doing really stupid shit, but it's not like I'm castle dictator or anything. They just listen to me, that's all."

About now he remembers the existence of the tea, and takes a momentary sip- the first he's had in longer than he can remember. And oh, he does remember...

He's just this side of bursting into tears.

Preston quiets again, allowing the man more time to enjoy it.

"...that's good."

He'd eat but he hasn't had an appetite for the past few days. This man-

"Hungry?"

There's an edge to preston's voice that he can't disguise-but he thankfully covers it, "Sorry-I'm-tired I guess."

He hasn't been sleeping very well.

"Hm?" Quinn looks up, blinking. Wiping the tea from his mustache (now there's something Preston probably never thought he'd see), he thinks for a moment. "Oh, yeah. Food. You know, I don't remember when I stopped for food last. That'd probably be a good idea... hey, are you all right? You look almost as done in as me."

"I'm fine." Preston said bluntly, "I haven't been sleeping that well." Both Robbie and Lisa had noticed.

Preston sighed, "I'm given ration coupons-that the bar seems to take. She'll take any kind of currency. Your meal's on me." It's the least I can do for a twin.

And how weird is that?

Preston is doing his best not to stare at quinn with a perverse sort of fascination.

"Good," says Quinn. "'Cos the only money I have's what we found when we were digging. Couple centuries out of date-"

Then he blinks. "Thanks, mate," he says gratefully. "What does the kitchen make, do you know? It was gonna be fish back home tonight- Gavin made it to the river and back okay."

He hasn't quite noticed the almost-staring yet. There's tea. It's more important.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only