(no subject)

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam comes downstairs, tired and grieving. His eyes are red from tears and lack of sleep, but dry right now.

He heads for Charlie's corner automatically.

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[gil-whimple.livejournal.com]

Gil sees Liam from his spot behind the bar and remembers how Charlie had promised to introduce them.

He could wait - Death can be counted on and if she reckons it's worth Bartleby's while to try to get him back they should be seeing Charlie's smiling face very soon - on the other hand Liam looks like he could do with breakfast even if he doesn't want it.

With that thought in mind he goes across and says, "Hello, are you Liam?"

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam looks up, vaguely startled, and nods.

"Yeah. Hi."

[gil-whimple.livejournal.com]

"I'm Gil - the cook," Gil says. "I saw you yesterday at the - the," he makes a gesture towards the Lake. "I want to make you some breakfast."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam manages a half-smile.

"I'm not hungry just now. But thanks."

[gil-whimple.livejournal.com]

"I know you're not," Gil says, his throat tightening. "Nobody wants to eat or sleep or anything. But a while back Charlie and I cooked a meal together and I'd like to make the same thing for you ... even if you can't eat it."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam looks up at him, and doesn't have the heart to refuse.

"What... what meal?"

[gil-whimple.livejournal.com]

Gil's lips quiver but he smiles. "He got given bacon for Christmas," he explains. "He was so pleased with it. Just ordinary bacon but it was from Bartleby, you see. So we cooked it and I cooked mushrooms and fried bread to go with it."

He looks at Liam. "It was such fun - and it would make a wonderful breakfast."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam smiles sadly.

"He gave me some. Made me sandwiches..."

[gil-whimple.livejournal.com]

"I bet they were good sandwiches too." Gil smiles. "He also said he would introduce me to you."

He looks at Liam seriously. "But that can wait until he gets back."

[the_lioness]

*At some point, a very hungover and still sick Alanna stumbles out of the staff quarters. Her eyes are bloodshot, and she continues to sneeze and cough at regular intervals. Cursing fluidly, she eyes the bar for a moment, contemplates food and turns a sickly shade of green. Better to wait until her stomach settles. Sighing, she makes her way toward the fire, stopping in her tracks when she spies Liam. His grief is palpable, and Alanna frowns. Concerned, she wanders over. Anything to distract her from her pounding head.*

Excuse me, Sir? Are you alright?

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam glances up at her, then back at the guitar.

"Not really, no."

[the_lioness]

*Chewing on her lip, Alanna ponders how rude it would be to sit down without an invitation, but her knee soon gives out and solves that dilemma. She collapses into an empty chair with a grateful sigh.*

It is a lovely instrument. I am Alanna, bar security. Is there something I can help you with? Has someone been bothering you? *She glances around.*

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

He laughs a little, but there's no humour in it.

"It was my brother's. No, no one's bothering me. And unless bar security can bring back the dead... I don't think you can help much right now."

[the_lioness]

*Several aspects of Liam's answer make Alanna twitch in reaction. Her natural response is to quip, "No, but my brother can help you with that." Thankfully she bites her tongue before the words can escape. She looks at him with a pained expression.*

Your brother... I'm so sorry. *Biting her lip again, Alanna feels her eyes well up as she stares at the guitar.* I lost my brother once. *She sighs.* I spent many nights staring at his belongings, hoping that some vestige of Thom remained and would help it all make sense. *She rest her chin in her hands and watches him with expressive eyes.* Did he recently pass into the Black God's realm?

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

"He died the night before last. He went home... he was supposed to be safe..."

[the_lioness]

*Alanna pales, suddenly feeling like an insensitive ass.*

Mithros bless, I am so, so sorry. *She wrinkles her nose, her blood running cold.* Was he a patron here?

*This is why people shouldn't leave. Milliways is safe. Death and the Black God are off duty.*

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

"He worked here. Charlie Pace..."

[balletrat]

*Meg doesn't know what to do for someone who's just lost a brother - not here, not where people don't lose people.

All she has to give is scarves. So, she does.*

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

He blinks at the suddenly-appearing scarves, then takes them with as much of a smile as he can manage.

"Thanks, Meg."

[balletrat]

*Meg shrugs awkwardly.* 'welcome, Liam.

Least I could do. Really.

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

"Were you at the... service?" He didn't see her, but there were so many people...

[balletrat]

*Meg shakes her head, her face bleak.* I had - issues the other night, and ovreslept, and came down too late - I didn't find out what - what had happened until the whole thing was already over.

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

He reaches out to pat her hand.

"How're you?"

[balletrat]

I'm okay.

How - no one told me how it happened -

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam looks down.

"He... he was murdered. Hanged."