milliways_bar | (no subject)

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This is how much better Susannah's shot-in-the-head husband is: he went to a meeting with his publisher today. Now, all cards on the table, he did not fly himself down to the city, as he is fond of doing; Calyx sent someone up to Castle Rock. Eddie met him at Dud's, a terrible greasy hole of a bar which Eddie insists has the best burgers in town (no), and now they are snowed in, since at about ten am it decided to start snowing and shows no intention of stopping short of the next Superbowl.

This would be fine, and in fact slightly hilarious (she told him just to have the publisher over to the house), except no one has been doing any shopping. Eddie was supposed to bring her back one of those (nasty) burgers. Three hours ago.

Susannah has a bowl of chili (paid for with Mastercard, along with her tab) and an old-style Coke float. You can't get the ice cream anymore; and for that matter, in Eddie Toren's world, you can't get the Coke. Good deal, overall.

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"I see."

"Well, as you say, I don't see any obvious way it would affect your work. Might even be useful, if you find yourself in a situation again."

"I hope so."

And -- that isn't the real reason. Of course that isn't the real reason. But it's the one she can articulate.

There's no putting the real reason into words. But it has something to do with gradually learning that not all little girls live in houses with fire extinguishers in every room; something to do with a smell like burned waffles, and the sound of her parents' voices shouting never, never, never.

All she knows about it is what Charlie told her. It's not an informed decision. And it's not her opinion--it's just the part of her opinion Charlie asked for.

"Why did you want to ask me about it?"

"Partly I wanted a second opinion, and thank you for yours."

She may be referring to the unspoken opinion as well as the offered one.

"Mostly I just wanted to let you know." A beat. "And ask if you think there's anyone else at Tet who should be told before I do anything."

"I would talk to Ted, if I were you," she says, thoughtfully.

"And if you decide do it, you'll need to talk to Ted before you come back to work, too." There's just a flash there of authority.

Charlie nods, a little vehemently.

"The last thing I want," she says quietly,

(I CRY YOUR PARDON)

"is to come back changed and not know it. If that happens, Ted's the one most likely to spot it."

"My knowledge of Greek myth is sketchy," she says. "But I always understood Prometheus was more or less on our side. Still. When you deal with gods--"

When you play with fire, she thinks, without any humor.

"--it pays to be wary."

(-- you know who he is, do you not? what he is?)

"I hear that," she says, and lowers her head to take a sip of her drink.

"I hope it works out for you," she says, and it's honest. "And you've got my number."

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