milliways_bar | (no subject)

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A bloke comes whistling down the stairs and takes up his usual spot at the Bar. He's in shirtsleeves, with the sleeves rolled up and the tie pulled down, but he's clean and shaved.

It's amazing the boost a few days' rest and relaxation, a shower and a shave can give a man, especially when said rest and relaxation took place almost entirely in the brothel. One might reasonably suppose John has left at least one or two rather wilted Flowers in his wake.

Now he's digging into a shepherd's pie and a pint, and he doesn't seem to have a care in the world.

[OOC: Open all day, buses welcome.]

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X, who has been working in the brothel(and nightclub)--being head of Security there will do that--is a little curious as to why John is there so much, lately.

And having sex.

She knows that David got upset when Nori only kissed Julian.

Which may be why she slips onto the barstool next to John, camly picking up the glass of milk Bar sets out for her.

"Hello."

"Hello, Joe. Sorry we didn't get much time to chat upstairs."

X shrugs.

"It is okay. You were busy."

That is one word for it.

Beat.

"You are still busy?"

John laughs. "No. But," he adds with a snicker, "I might get busy again later." He turns to her and lights a smoke. He cocks his head. "You okay with that?"

X's nostrils flare at the scent of cigarette smoke. Then she tilts her head, considering John's question.

"I do not mind."

Beat.

"Some people like having sex."

John can't help but chuckle. "There's a lot to be said for it." He takes a drink and a drag, and smiles at her, but doesn't say anything.

X does not look convinced.

"Okay."

Silence falls. She takes another sip of milk.

Then--

"You are okay, too?"

"Right as rain," says John. "You'll probably see me upstairs at work more often from now on."

X is socially stunted, yes, but she understands cause and effect.

She also understands not wanting to talk about something. There are many things she will never speak of.

So--

"I am allowed to ask?"

John cocks an eyebrow at her. Turns out she's not quite as withdrawn and stunted as she appears. He says, "Ask."

Friends are different. She's working on it.

"Ianto will not be upset?"

He seems like the type.

John takes a slow sip of his pint. "Ianto," he says just as slowly. He gives a small, sad chuckle and tells her, "I won't be smelling like him anymore, Joe."

"Oh."

She absorbs that, eyes gone just the faintest bit wide.

X does not know--

She doesn't have the faintest idea what to say.

Except--

"I am sorry."

Very, very awkwardly, she reaches out to pat his shoulder.

It worked with Stitch, once. A little. She is not sure if it will help John.

John couldn't be more surprised if X had suddenly started doing cartwheels. Actually, considering her athletic prowess, cartwheels might be more expected.

Still, he doesn't flinch or anything, and he manages to say, "Ah. Thanks, Joe. That's right kind."

She pulls her hand back fairly quickly, pausing a moment to take a very long sip of milk.

"You are welcome."

A moment later X looks at him sidelong.

"You will need another beer?"

Just this once, she will not tell him he should not have another.

Nor will she do cartwheels. They are not practical. Not even in combat.

"Don't mind if I do. Ta, mate," John says, draining the one he has in hand.

What? Wasn't that X offering to stand him a round? :D

Maybe. But she will never admit it.

Especially to 494.

"Okay," she says.

And orders herself another glass of milk.

When the full pint arrives, John raises it to her in a little toast. He takes a sip, and says, "And you? You still living here? How's things to home?"

"I am still staying here."

She pauses, making sure she has the words to explain.

"I have not been home yet. I do not want--"

Beat.

"I visited Liz's world. She has cats."

She is not ready to go home yet. It is complicated, knowing how not to be an X-man anymore.

John nods. "And are you having fun?"

There might be a tiny bit of a smile there.

X frowns a little, thinking this over.

"I do not know."

Beat.

"It is interesting. And sometimes I am useful."

Which means that X would admit to having fun if she really understood what that was.

"Milliways is very small."

"It is that," John says.

Despite the lake and the mountains out back, it really is like a very small town.

X tilts her head, studying John carefully.

"Sometimes I do not mind."

Beat.

"But sometimes sparring does not help."

She shrugs a little.

"I will be helping Gordon. Soon. His planet has been invaded."

"Well that should keep you amused for a while, at least," John deadpans with a smile.

X's expression is a little blank.

But--

"I like to help. To fight."

She pauses, searching for the right words.

This is hard.

"It makes sense."

Lorne is fully aware he may not be welcome, and he's willing to buzz off if that's the case, but he has this overwhelming need to Fix Things sometimes (or at least to check and make sure everyone is doing close enough to okay).

So he slides onto a stool near, but not exactly next to, John's, and orders a pint.

"Hey," he says to John once it arrives.

John nods amiably. Lorne is not at the moment The Barkeep, but once a man's been witness to a drunken confession, there's not much place left to hide, is there?

"Afternoon, squire," says John. "All right then?"

Lorne's not even entirely sure John will remember him. There was an awful lot of alcohol consumed that night and none of it by Lorne.

"I'm just fine," he says. "You?" That concerned eyebrow? Almost a reflex.

"Never better. Sorry about the mess," he adds.

... He's probably talking about slopping on the Bar. Probably.

Lorne shrugs. "Not a problem. I'm kind of used to it."

He's probably talking about slopping on the Bar too. Probably.

John nods and grunts, "All right then."

After a pause, he says, "Everything else all right?"

Lorne takes a long sip of his beer. "Yeah, I think so," he says after a moment.

He's fairly certain they're talking about the same thing.

"Good," John nods.

And that's about as far as Bloke-speak could take this conversation...

Lorne nods as well and goes back to his beer. Duty done.

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