milliways_bar | (no subject)

"Yes indeed." She smiles at him. "I hope that I am not disturbing you, Paul bach, but I did wonder if you were all right. You did look a bit lost, just now."

I suppose I am, a bit. *He smiles again, ruefully.* I'd . . . been hoping to find Will, really. You're not disturbing me in the least.

Blodwen laughs softly, gently amused.

"Oh, well now, that one will appear in his own time, I think, as he usually does. Perhaps even together with Bran -- thick as thieves, they are."

Yes, they seem to be good friends. Bran's been over to visit a few times. *thoughtfully* He's an interesting boy.

"Goodness, yes-- the both of them are."

Blodwen smiles warmly at him.

"Well now, standing here in the middle of the floor like this is no good, then. I was just coming in to get some tea, before, and you are welcome to join me while you wait for your brother, dear." She nods toward a corner table.

Thank you. It's nice to have company. *He follows her to the table, and sits, looking at the flute in some confusion.* I ought to bring the case, next time. I wonder if I can.

*If he notices that he has said "next time," he gives no sign of it.*

"I don't see why you could not, at that." She sets her knitting down on the table and looks at him with gentle curiosity.

"Bring you a cup of tea, then?"

*He looks away from the gleaming flute to give her a quick nod and smile.* Thank you; tea would be lovely.

Blodwen smiles back, and goes to the bar. She returns shortly with two cups of tea on a tray with cream, sugar, and lemon, and gives him one before settling down with her own and taking a sip.

"That is a lovely flute you have there, dear."

*Some of the patrons here can literally glow; Paul cannot. Nonetheless, he comes remarkably close.*

Thank you. It was a gift.

*He adds cream and lemon to his tea, and stirs it absently.* Do you play anything?

"My John plays the harp, and he has the teaching of it as well." Blodwen smiles as if at a fond memory.

"Although I have not the same gift for it as he does, or as does Bran."

*distantly, with a soft smile* Bran's is a beautiful instrument.

"Yes, indeed-- it is a very special one, and a lovely thing it is to hear him play."

Blodwen's smile is slightly wistful now.

I'd like to hear, sometime.

*He takes a swallow of tea.* Is that how he gets here, do you know?

"Well, and I am sure that he would be glad to play for the brother of his friend Will." The soft musical voice is certain.

"And no, I do not know if that is how he comes here, but I suppose that it is certainly possible." Blodwen smiles at him and looks curiously from the flute to Paul's face. "Is it your flute that brings you, then, cariad?"

So it seems.

*He smiles, again, but it's a troubled smile.* What is here?

"Goodness me, and here I would have been thinking that you might come in the same way as your brother, of course."

Blodwen smiles comfortingly at him. "It is called Milliways, lovey, and is a bar and an inn, of sorts."

*with interest* How does Will come in? I don't think he said.

*drily* I've never been to a bar with transportation like this, before.

"Oh, I have never seen him arrive, but he's quite a gifted boy, your brother Will."

Blodwen smiles again, and glances around the room before turning back to Paul.

"Very unusual it is, to be sure. I myself came in through the front door, though, dear."

*There's a faint, fleeting frown, but Paul is distracted before he has a chance to react further.*

*Will smiles at them both, approaching.*

Hullo, Paul. Mrs Rowlands.

*His eyes harden a little, meeting hers, when Paul cannot see, but a moment later that is gone entirely.*

"Why, hello, Will. Lovely to see you again."

Blodwen smiles warmly at him, seemingly undisturbed by his glance.

"Your brother and I were having a nice cup of tea and a bit of a chat while he waited for you -- would you like to join us, dear?"

*Paul smiles at his brother -- guardedly, but with some relief.* There you are, Will.

*Will sits next to Paul, with a smile, and then frowns a little at his brother, mildly confused.*

Sorry, have you been waiting for me long?

Not long, no. And Mrs. Rowlands found me soon enough. I wasn't sure you'd be here at all, though.