milliways_bar | (no subject)

I truly don't know where you sais find your sheep.

From Wales, of course. But then we improve on things. A modern marvel called dye.

Bah, chemicals. Nasty things. They make your England all sooty.

And then we are spared those tourists that visit with cars and shouting and scare the sheep. So it all works out really.

Not spared the cars, though, are you? Nor the shouting. Only the tourists.

*Will opens his mouth to respond and then whirls, retort forgotten, to catch the strange man who has just stumbled (http://www.livejournal.com/community/milliways_bar/1222296.html?thread=44413336#t44413336) into him*

He stumbles, half-aware and in pain. He would fall except for the deathgrip he has on his walking staff. Eventually, he manages to stumble into this man?boy?humans?persons path, nearly collapsing at his feet.

"Do you know where I could...could perhaps find...could perhaps find the man with the wonderful chair? The Lord...I can't remember his name...can't remember anything right..."

He paws a space on the side of his head where his right ear should be.

*catches the man, grabbing at his arm to steady him, eyes wide and startled*

Lord Morpheus, you mean? Dream?

Eyes that were closed in pain now open wide, almost insane with desperation.

"Is that him? He told me to dream of him. Dream of something endless, he said, but I didn't know anything endless...but I don't know what to do now, because everything in my head is endless...endless and wrong and I don't know why and I can't remember it right."

He pushes down with his staff to take some of the weight off of his unknown helper, but the stance is wobbly.

"Do you know where my ears gone? I...can't seem to find it. And I feel like I shouldn't ca-"

The staff shakes and a hand slaps across his own face to halt his words as if they would pour out without his say so.

*to Will, briskly* Is there a first-aid kit here?

Probably. Behind the bar or something. Ask the bartender or the bar itself.

*runs behind the bar to the kitchen looking for staff*

*Anthy emerges, holding out the first-aid kit.*

*glances at her, sharp and unreadable, and then takes the first-aid kit*

Thanks.

*He sets the kit on a nearby table, opening it with one hand while still steadying Apropos with the other*

*follows Anthy back* Can I help?

His ear is the only real wound I see. Most of his trouble is in his mind, and I think thirst on top of that.

*looks from the ear to the first aid kit*

Do you know how to bandage it properly? I could try, but it would be guesswork.

*Bran takes the bandages and antiseptic, applying them to the man's ear with the deft fingers of someone raised long miles from the nearest doctor.*

Shall I bring some water?

Please. *Bran is still arranging bandages.*

[ooc: thanks for the medical attention...he will appreciate it when he wakes up...]

[ooc: No problem. *grins*]

*Anthy fetches a full pitcher, a glass, and a ladle from the kitchen, to be safe. She offers them to Bran, not appearing to notice Will.*

[OOC note to confused readers: This is before the dragging out of Apropos.]

Diolch yn fawr. *Bran ladles water onto the bandages and wipes down the wound before applying the final bandages*

You're welcome. *looks curiously at Apropos*

Endless. Yes. That is Dream.

*Will is not looking at the man's thoughts, but the desperation and terror and confusion pushes at him, muddles of memory and dreams and flickering faces.*

*He glances around the room, wide-eyed, searching for Morpheus.*

And he is called, he does come.

Eyes of starry fields look down at the distressed man.

He looks up at the Lord like a last hope, like looking into his mother's eyes that...that time. That didn't happen. It didn't happen.

"Why am I here? Who are those people!? What was that place, and that Wall, and her! HIM! I loved her, loved her like no other. I didn't trust her like no other! We were perfect! I loved him...her. What? Where was I? What is that in my staff...and why do I care? I can't see, Lord...I can't see anything and where is my ear? I had an ear and now it's gone, just like in the tapestry, but I didn't do anything and where is Sharee?! VERAH!"

"Ahh. I see."

He reaches out a pale hand, and perhaps a watcher sharp of eyes could see a knot become a net. Or it is just dust, sand in the air.

"Not too fast, I am afraid. It will help, in the end, but too much too soon and you will be right back here."

Matter of fact, yet he does not answer the questions.

Apropos wanders toward the bar before dropping into his normal spot and sleeps the sleep of a thousand awful memories telling the tale of his awful life that he didn't like much the first time around and isn't liking much the second time either. The staff in his hands shakes a couple of times throughout the rememberance, but it stays quiet enough that it doesn't alert anyone but those perhaps already aware of it. He grips it tightly, as always; it's the only thing that never left him.

*Will casts a quick glance of thanks and confusion at Dream, before moving to help support Apropos on his way to the bar. He's not sure if the other man even notices he's there. When Apropos curls up under the bar and falls asleep, Will sighs*

*to Bran* Think we could get him up the stairs, you and I?

*grins* Of course. No harder than rowing a boat.

*Will, who discovered on his last visit to Wales that he is not at all talented at that particular task, pulls a face at Bran*

*He digs in his pocket for coins and drops some on the bar*

A room, please, bar? For this man here.

*The key materializes, and he strokes it in absent-minded thanks*

You take his legs, then?

*Bends to grasp Apropos under the arms*

*lifts Apropos' uneven legs, and follows Will towards the stairs* I haven't seen the rooms, then. Do they have modern olive green paint?

*maneuvers around a table before answering, a task made more difficult by the long staff that Apropos is still clutching tightly*

The only ones I have seen are plain white. Pretty enough. Nothing too unusual.

Though I'm sure you could ask for one in proper modern colors. The sheep would be appalled.

Fortunately, they haven't come along. I wouldn't want to appall them.

*Bran helps Will carry Apropos up the stairs. The two descend the stairs a few minutes later and exit through the front door.*