(no subject)

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*Bernard is still at the Bar, smoking and staring into his coffee. It's gone cold.

Suddenly, an owl flies out of the House of Arch and lights on the Bar next to him. She has a letter.

He takes it and reads it, absentmindedly materializing a bowl of water and some treats. After reading it over five or six times, blinking rapidly, he puts his head in his hands and thinks.

He turns the letter over and writes back hurriedly.*



Nymphadora,

What can I do to make you come home to me?

Where are you?

--Bernard

*He waits a moment while the owl (not Hestia, she must be in the House of Arch right now) finishes her snack, then sends her back out.

He waits.

He's pretty good at it by now.*

Comments

[young_tmriddle]

*Tom walks in from the House of Arch smiling.*

She's alright, Bernard. I just received her letter.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*He smiles, tired.*

So did I. It was... terse.

[young_tmriddle]

Oh...

She needs time. Think what would happen if Door met a wife from my future...

*He shudders visibly.*

On second thought, don't.

She'll be back, and you will get through this.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*He nods, looking a little comforted, then laughs*

You know, I haven't even thought about what we're going to do with this girl now. I wonder if she left. I fucking hope so.

[young_tmriddle]

I hope so, too.

Maybe she'd like life in London Below.

*Tom winks*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*He snorts*

From what little I saw of her, and what little I've heard of London Below, she'd either be eaten alive, or fit right in.

[young_tmriddle]

*He chuckles*

We'll save that as a last resort.

So this girl - what's she like?

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

She's--

*He laughs self-deprecatingly*

Well, I can't fault my own taste in the looks department. She's groovy.

*The smile turns wry*

Unfortunately, she also seems like she's not the driest fuse in the braid, if you know what I'm saying. She's also mostly deaf, judging by the hearing aid she was wearing, and I don't even want to know what my future self had to do with that.

[young_tmriddle]

*Tom winces*

I don't think we want to get into the choices my future self made, so you've got a heads up on me there.

Did she understand her situation here? Being out of her time and all?

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

I don't think so.

*He looks chagrined*

Nymphadora was in no shape to explain, and I wasn't much better. Fleur wasn't helping. Ophelia had her thorns out. Crowley was in shock.

It could be that someone explained it to her at some point, but when Nymphadora left, I--

Well. You can imagine.

[young_tmriddle]

*Tom has been practicing seeing things from the other person's side over the months. He can help here, perhaps.*

I can imagine. Think, Bernard, what you would do if a man waltzed in here and claimed to be Tonks' husband? Wouldn't you need some time to process that? Provided you didn't blow the fellow up, of course?

*A moment's pause*

Crowley was in shock? It must have been quite the scene, at that. Either that or he's slipping.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*He pales at the thought, but looks Tom in the eyes steadfastly.*

Tom, I would never leave her. I don't think I'd be able to.

*He half-smiles*

And yeah. Crowley was very quiet. It was a little terrifying.

[young_tmriddle]

I don't know too much about women. I do know that when they're under stress they enjoy ice cream and they tend to need space. Look, you two are a perfect match. I was telling Tonks just that the other night. She'll be back, and you'll work things out. I know you will.

I'm sorry I wasn't there for either of you last night. I spent the evening dealing with a magical accident in which Megwyn reverted to a human form. She's a girl of about sixteen now.

*He turns to Bernard, very seriously*

I think I'm going to need more ice cream.

[notyour-broom.livejournal.com]

*Broom shuffles up to Bar, blushing as much as a broom could said to blush, and quickly murmers apologies to her, attempting to avoid Bernard's gaze*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

[ooc: you still here?]

[notyour-broom.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Yep.]

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*Bernard looks over and sighs*

Hi, Broom.

[notyour-broom.livejournal.com]

*Broom cringes back*

Er. Hello.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*He smiles a little*

How are you?

[notyour-broom.livejournal.com]

*more cringing*

I am well, for the large part. I appear to have . . . aquired a roommate last night. *a flinch as he says this, more inward than from Bernard*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*Bernard looks at him blankly*



...A roommate?

[notyour-broom.livejournal.com]

She settled herself into my closet last night. It was . . . disconcerting, to say the least.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*He facepalms*

Oh, fuck.

[notyour-broom.livejournal.com]

*Broom is confused*

Do you know who she is? I would prefer that she found residence elsewhere.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling I do, yeah.

Did you speak to her?