(no subject)

[schrodingerskatz]

When Beverly went back to work, Price commended her for "getting back on the horse" and every time she thinks about that now she kind of wants to laugh hysterically. It's been -- it's been a weird, weird week.

When the door opens into the bar, she stops short in the doorway, staring. Then, cautiously, she closes and opens it from her side. That works; she steps through and tests it from the Milliways side. Still works, and still opens onto the break room at Quantico. Satisfied that she's not going to be stuck here again, she heads to the counter. As she sits down, Bar delivers a note. And . . . a balloon. The balloon is pretty cute. The note -- not so much.

Beverly reads it twice, then sets it down with a sigh and pinches the bridge of her nose with her good hand. (Her right is still bandaged, though the doctor assures her that her fingers are healing well.)

"Bar, can I have a double Bushmills?"

There are things she can deal with sober, but the combination of dealing with Hannibal Lecter at work, dealing with the situation here, and finding a live bird in a dead woman's chest just. Is not one of those things.

[ooc: Usual warnings about the gruesomeness of Beverly's canon apply, turned up a little because "Su-Zakana" is a hell of an episode. Let me know if you'd rather her work not come up.]

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

He laughs.

"Yes, yes it is. And my home was on an island, it was often... wet."

[schrodingerskatz]

Beverly shivers. "Wet cold is the worst."

She cocks her head. "But you don't live there anymore?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Not any more", he says quietly. "Now I live in a town called Kattegat, further north."

[schrodingerskatz]

"What took you up there?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"A man named Ragnar Lothbrok", he says simply. "As a captive, to begin with, but it is... better now."

[schrodingerskatz]

"--A captive?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Once. It's what they do." There's something deep under his carefully calm tone. "Ragnar is the best master I could have dreamed of, and I almost feel one of the family."

[schrodingerskatz]

"Who's 'they'?"

The use of the word "master" does not make her feel more positive about what he's saying.

[athelstanthescribe]

"The Northmen. They came to Lindisfarne... some months ago, now."

[schrodingerskatz]

"And they took you captive? That sounds . . . not great, if you'll pardon me saying so."

[athelstanthescribe]

"It wasn't", he says, somewhere between wry and flat. "But... it got better. Somewhat."

[schrodingerskatz]

"Somewhat."

Oookay. That doesn't sound encouraging.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'm not mistreated. And they could. I'm even in a position of trust."

But he's not a free man.

[schrodingerskatz]

"What position is that?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"The term is Stivardur. I take care of their household and their children if they go away, manage the servants, greet guests..."

[schrodingerskatz]

"Like a butler, sounds like."

[athelstanthescribe]

"That's the word Matilda used", he says with a nod. "I suppose it must be, then. But even when I was their only servant, in a far smaller house, I was trusted with their children."

[schrodingerskatz]

"Huh," she says, neutral -- or trying to be neutral.

"And you've been with them for a few months, you said?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"It was early winter when I was first brought there", he says with a nod. "There was a bad storm, and they came then."

[schrodingerskatz]

"Uh-huh."

She frowns, slightly.

"Does your -- master come here?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"If he does, I've never seen him, and he's never said anything about it."

But then, if he doesn't know Athelstan knows about it, he wouldn't.

[schrodingerskatz]

"So -- do you like staying with him?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"He asked me that. Why I'd never tried to escape, and at first I just didn't dare because it was a strange land and I wouldn't get far. But more and more now, I don't want to."

[schrodingerskatz]

Is there a good way to explain Stockholm syndrome to a guy from the eighth century?

She puts the question aside. But she can't help thinking of Miriam Lass, held captive for two years.

"Why not?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Because..." He has to think about it. "Because he stood between me and death, on Lindisfarne, and again on our return, took me from the men who killed my brothers. Because he and Lady Lagertha trust me, and their little daughter loves me. And it's become a kind of home."