milliways_bar | (no subject)

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The door opens and a familiar face comes in... but for the time being, it's not Michael Guerin in the driving seat.

By mutual consent between him and Michael, Rath of Antar has just come to Milliways as more than just a passenger.

Have at.

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"Well enough. Our page is doing his part, no worry on that score."

She nods sagely.

"Very good. I'll have to drop in and say hello. Oh, and is there anything vitally important you need done today that's getting out of hand? I might as well grab that while I'm there."

"There usually is", he says, watching her with amusement. "Although the vitally important is usually taken care of one way or another."

"Well, I'll take a look and do what I can for you anyway. Sesh'll direct me if he knows about anything."

She likes Sesh. He gets that both Michael and the paperwork are important.

"Inaseshanalian knows about everything", Rath corrects. "I don't know what we'd do without him, some days."

...

"Wow. He never did give me his full name."

Something of a mouthful.

"He prefers not to use it. For obvious reasons, I think."

"Mmm-hmm. Poor boy."

Still. It's possible Shelley is memorising the name. Just, you know. In case.

"Also, it's far too unwieldy for everyday use. To address him, at least. Referring to him is a little different."

"Well," Shelley shrugs.

"I know now. You know who I mean, anyhow."

"Of course", he acknowledges, with a rather un-Michael-like tilt of the head.

He is acting oddly, though the voice is the same.

Shelley nods back, puzzled.

He chuckles.

"Have you not guessed yet? Michael and I have made an arrangement, for this visit."

...

Wait for it...

Click.

"Oh! Right! I thought you seemed... different. Er. Hello!"

"Hello. Again."

Distinct amusement, but warmth too.

"Sorry," she says sheepishly.

"I was distracted. You said it was an arrangement?"

"Yes. I have full control, for the duration of this visit. To see the place and talk to its people as he does."

"Oh..." she says curiously.

"How are you finding it? Spoken to many people?"

"You, Fainothi, and Lyrae. So far."

"...You've met Lyrae?"

Sorry, cross-communication. Having just come across Lyrae Addam the other day, she's on Shelley's mind rather.

"Michael has met both Lyraes, yes", he tells her. "But I was referring to the younger."

"Oh, right," Shelley says, suddenly pensive.

"I hadn't known the older one was here, see. I only ran into her yeaterday. Bit of a shock for both of us."

Nearly devolved into a full-scale fight, in fact.

Rath looks at her curiously.

"How so? Apart from the obvious physical resemblance."

"Do you remember-?"

She frowns, thinking. Yes, Michael had been there.

"I went through the door by accident and fell off a cliff. I couldn't remember a thing for a while until I hit by head my mistake and came back through. Lyrae was one of the people who took me in and looked after me during the time I was there. She was the Restorer - the Healer - in the nearest village."

Fucking, fucking Milliways.

"...this place does seem to lend itself to very awkward situations. And that would mean, her son...?"