milliways_bar | (no subject)

It's creeping Billy out, too, and he withdraws from the game to float slowly Xaldin's way.

"My apologies." Xaldin says when Billy is within speaking distance. "I simply - was curious. I did not mean to disturb you, and will leave."

"It's a free sky," he says, cautiously. "We're just playing."

"I know." Xaldin says, "I - have not seen a Somebody play with Nobodies before.

"Or one of my girls play." It's not that he doesn't treat them well. It's not that he doesn't treat them like women. It's just that - he doesn't play. He's too busy with the intent effort of keeping himself together.

"I remember playing."

"I saw Larxene playing tag with her Girls, and I thought they might be bored." He looks curiously down at Eowyn.

"I think it is most likely good." Xaldin says after a minute, "I would not keep you from playing. Would you mind if I passed the knowledge along to the others?"

"What knowledge? That we're playing?" He's confused.

"Yes. If I do so, some of the others might join in." Xaldin explains.

"Oh. Those others. Yeah, that's fine."

Xaldin nods, once.

Is he supposed to be faking it right now? Can he afford not to? "At Happy Hour I met your Teddy. I kept my distance."

And communicated by sticky-note.

"Oh?" Billy's not sure how you both meet someone and keep your distance.

Xaldin pulls sticky-notes out of his pocket. And a pen.

"Yes."

Billy cracks up. "That's Teddy for you."

There is a moment of confusion, and then Xaldin's expression smooths out. If it makes the Somebody happy to assume his lover had the idea, Xaldin won't argue it.

"What did you talk about?" Billy's a little suspicious, about that. Happy hours don't tend to end well for him. For given definitions of 'well.'

"That he is under age for human drinking, that I am not Jamaican, a very little bit about your Kate." Xaldin says firmly.

"That-- sounds like an interesting set of sticky notes."

"It was." Xaldin agrees, "The Dragoon was somewhat covered."

Well. This is awkward.

"We've been staying here. In the bar."

"It is good to have a place of safety." Xaldin says with a small nod, "Xigbar and I spend as much time as possible on our world."

"Our world," Billy says, carefully, "is not very safe right now. But we have to go back soon."

Xaldin is very, very quiet for a moment, "Are you requesting that I remove the Dragoon called Eowyn, or that I deputize another for your Teddy? Either is acceptable to me."

Billy looks surprised. "I-- neither." He blinks. "I was just. Telling you. That I didn't know when--" if "--I was going to be back any time soon."

He nods, once, and says; "Thank you. If something happens Eowyn should be capable of reaching me much faster this time."

Billy nods, slowly. "It. I know something bad will happen. Kate told me as much. I'm not sure what, or to who."