milliways_bar | (no subject)

It's been a very odd few days, and Gabriel can't say that he likes it at all.

"I don't suppose anything is more familiar now, baobei?"

Mary shakes her head.

"It is all only the same as it was. I feel as if I know it but I do not know it - it is very strange."

She considers, and then adds, a little hopefully, "Only something about milkshakes maybe."

Galadan, who is sitting nearby, hears a familiar voice--no, two of them--and looks over.

"Mary," he says quietly. "Gabriel."

This is accompanied by a slight inclination of his head--it might function as a 'hello'.

He does not look wary at all.

"Well, then let's see to getting you one--"

He breaks off as someone speaks, and glances over.

Given the way they've just been addressed, clearly he should know this man. And in fact, there's something familiar about him, although Gabriel can't quite place him.

"Ni hao, sir."

Mary looks at him.

"- I know you," she says almost immediately, but she sounds confused, and a little wary. There's something strange about him - about him, or about her. She's not sure what to make of it.

"You do."

Winter-grey eyes meet Mary's levelly.

"And I find myself disturbed that you are not angry with me."

He isn't frowning, just studying her intently. Her and Gabriel both.

"Particularly as I am speaking to you and you have yet to send me a note granting permission."

There is something wry in his voice, there and gone again in an instant.

"Are you certain the two of you are well?"

Gabriel ignores this last question in favor of a much more pressing one.

"For what reason should my daughter be angry with you?" he asks, with some sharpness.

"Do I usually send a note if you are to speak to me?"

Mary sounds even more confused.

"Must you have permission? I do not think that is customary. Are you not meant to be?" She gives him a look as sharp as Gabriel's voice, and adds, "What did you do?"

Well, both those replies certainly answer that question.

"I lied. Or rather, you saw it that way--and given the complexities of the situation it would seem to be as accurate an answer as any. To your way of thinking, of course."

He is still watching Mary, attention fixed on her.

He may be waiting for something.

He tenses.

There's something here, something that runs deeper than his outward confusion--

(what matters now is what you do next - are you a man of faith?)

--and Gabriel Tam finds himself uncertain.

It's not a feeling he likes.

Mary's sharp chin and nose seem to jut out even more as she consults her feelings, brow furrowing, and then gives a short nod.

"That makes sense. And you must be somebody important - otherwise it should not have mattered that you lied."

Something almost like a smile flickers across Galadan's face, almost too fast to catch.

"We were friends."

He pauses, looking thoughtful.

"Are still, to some extent, I suppose. Much as you might prefer to deny it."

He sets one hand protectively on Mary's shoulder and watches the other man in silence.

"If I deny things," Mary says, certain of this at least, "I have got a reason for it. I know I am not the kind of person who lies - though I suppose you told me the reason."

She frowns, thinking, and then asks abruptly, "What did you lie to me about?"

"Why we were friends, I suppose."

His eyes narrow, just slightly.

"Why are you not upset at not remembering any of this?"

"I have been not remembering all week."

Mary scowls, arms crossed. "I do not like it but I suppose I am used to it now. At least I know who I am - it should have been worse were Father not there."

"Don't think about that, Mary," he cuts in, quickly. "There's no need to worry about what might have been."

They have rather enough to be going on with as it is, after all.

"Father, is it?"

Galadan's expression is, for a moment, very speculative, indeed.

"We have known each other for quite some time, and this is the first I've heard of such a relationship between you."

"Perhaps I did not tell you about it," Mary shoots back, "because I knew I could not trust you - if you were not to be trusted."

She glances back at Gabriel, a little uneasily.

Or perhaps she hadn't wanted him to know how much she was coming to the bar? It's hard keeping secrets when you don't know what secrets you're meant to be keeping.

"Mary."

It's quietly said, but firm.

"There's no need to be rude, baobei." Even as he says it, Gabriel is giving Galadan a steady glance.

"Is that so?"

"I'm sure it would be lovely to think that."

Again something much like a smile flickers across Galadan's face.

"But unfortunately I must tell you that such a thing was not so. You trusted me quite a bit--the both of you. One of you is still willing to--or was, when you remembered who you are, in truth."

Winter-grey eyes are cool and very clear as he looks at Mary.

"And much as you might wish to be related--the Senator has only two children, and neither of them is blonde."

Mary stares at him, crossing her arms instinctively over her chest.

And says, very firmly, "No. That is not true.

"You have already said that you lied - and even if I do not remember, my father does. It is really very stupid of you to try to take advantage of me not remembering when he does."

"Does he, indeed?"

Galadan's searching look is all for Gabriel, now.

"Can you be so certain he remembers when he does not seem to recognize me? He has employed me as a security consultant, after all."

The problem, in fact, is that Gabriel doesn't precisely remember everything. He is, however, very experienced at drawing conclusions from the available evidence.

Or has been, previously.

His hand remains on Mary's shoulder as he says, steadily, "I haven't been affected to quite the same degree that Mary has."

Which is very different from being entirely unaffected, of course.

Mary looks a little thrown for a moment, but rallies, "Well - not remembering some things is different from remembering things that are not true. I did not hear that anybody had been doing that."

She's standing a little closer to Gabriel, unconsciously.