milliways_bar | millways timed

The morning the sacrifice at Upsala, Sonya had a lot to thing about. She was right in the priest's reaction to Athelstan as a sacrifice, and his replacement, but watching the ceremony-seeing those men willingly give their lives for their gods. She and Athelstan remained in the back, her hand holding onto his while each man was killed on the alter. She didn't know Lief beyond a name and face, but to look at his face-more then just a life was being lost.

Sonya went down into bar with another thought in mind. Besides the ceremony, her time in Upsala made something even more stronger. She didn't know when or if this Charles' Xavier was bound or merely a patron-best to get this done sooner then later. First a note, then an early start on the stables to keep her mind busy.

She didn't really keep a mind on the day or holiday. Only when she stepped down did Sonya realize that bar had other ideas, her work clothes being replaced by a gown she may've only worn had she been ten years younger. The lack of straps meant that the scars on her back and shoulders were full on view for everyone, and while the color suited her, she couldn't believe to wear anything this glittery-she didn't even have a shawl with her.

"What the hell, bar!" She didn't care who was listening. Of course, being bar, the only response was a matching mask and a note reading 'Happy Mardi Gras'. :)

Ugh..that did explain it, though now Sonya realized that it could be worse. Though it definitely meant she wasn't doing any stable work for the rest of the day.

"Fine.." She took a seat by the fire, frowning when she saw the silver dance shoes she was given-she hadn't danced in ages. "But I'm getting my normal clothes back this evening. Could I have some paper and pen, please."

She went about writing;
"Charles Xavier,

I'm an officer in the US army, at the moment Bound in Bar. Your name was given to me by Guppy Sandu because you deal with..mental trauma. Would it be possible to talk with you any time soon?

Thank you,

Sonya Blade'

"Bar..could you send this to a Mr. Xavier next time he shows up?" The note vanished and was replaced by a platter of beinets and cafe au late with a napkin reading 'You need to eat more." Sonya couldn't bring herself to argue.

She would, however, be more the willing to share.

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He shrugs slightly, his face still.

"It was harder than I thought it would be."

And he hadn't expected it to be easy.

"The two of you were close?" It was strange to think that he might have any friends outside of his family in that place, but to observe those around him at the time there were some that clearly cared about him.

She tried not to think of her own home..what might be going on there. Much as she tried, she couldn't let herself get settled here-she couldn't allow herself to.

Sonya pushed the plate of beinets towards him. "Here...no way I could eat all of these on my own."

He picks one up, toying with it.

"He was a good man. Kind. And he used my name."

Nobody calls him Athelstan, outside the family.

One of the things Sonya did pick up was how many people called him 'Priest'. From their tone, it clearly wasn't to mock him, but it was like using surnames in the military..names provided familiarity.

"And he willingly took your place. I saw the smile on his face as he lay down." They both saw his expression: like he was simply going on tour of duty and promised to return. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Lord knew he was always there to lend a willing ear, it was only right she offer to return the favor.

"He was going to Valhalla. I know his father is dead, perhaps he was thinking of him..." He looks down. "I wouldn't know what to say."

"It's easier to face death when you know someone's waiting for you on the other end." She wasn't just talking about Lief-she had others, and thanks to Tsung, she knew there were worse alternatives.

"It's up to you..if you want to talk about something completely stupid and irrelevant, then feel free." She wasn't going to force him.

"He was a good man", he says softly. "I shall miss him."

"From what you've said a moment ago, he sounds it." That was something, especially when Athelstan was high as a kite just a few hours ago. Some would've just left him there to sleep it off: Lief actually helped him keep steady.

She tried to help herself to one of the beniets, holding it over a napkin so she didn't get powdered sugar all over her. "He took the heat for you and called you by name, that speaks for him even if you barely knew him."

"He took the heat for us all. What the seer said, about what would happen if the sacrifice was incomplete... and I do believe Arne was about to get up before Leif stopped him."

"Arne's the one with the eyepatch." She clarified: rather easy considering his nickname.

"It's strange..I should've been disgusted with the ceremony. I was raised to find human sacrifice as horrible, but..what I witnessed, I could almost call it beautiful in the dignity there."

"That's him", Athelstan confirms, and then nods. "Yes. I think... if there had been any hint of reluctance, it would have been horrible. But all those men really did go willingly."

"Greater reward for giving your life for everyone." She looked around a little. "It's something I always have a hard time with back home: knowing that sacrifices are necessary, that you're alive because someone ultimately gave their life for yours, but you still miss them later on."

Those men..both at the sacrifice and back home, they were in a better place, but that didn't mean she didn't miss their company on Earth.

"You'll find yourself missing him at every reminder. There might be those who'll say you'll get over it, but they're either lying or don't know what the hell they're talking about."

He nods.

"I know. I... well. It took many years to stop missing my family as much. And now my brothers, not even a year ago... sometimes I still wake wondering where I am."

Sonya could only relate. What he said about not knowing where he was when he woke up, that had her concern: she sometimes felt the same way.

"Where you are, or who you are?" Monk or norsemen-they were two different people.

"Both", he says simply. "Often I still think I should see the ceiling of my dormitory, and when I'm half-awake..."

Sonya reached with one arm to give him a hug. "You're still you, a person with a good heart, a lot of curiosity, and the enviable ability to think on your feet."

She smiled. "You've had to adapt a lot, but it's saved your life and I'm glad for it."

He leans into the hug more readily than he ever would have before.

"I need to talk to Ragnar."

Sonya wondered if he was more scared then he let on: she wouldn't have blamed him.

"I'll be hear if you need me afterwards." It wasn't like she was going anywhere any time soon. "Today's my day off apparently."

"Your day off? From what?"

Sonya took a look down at the dress (her mask having been pulled up onto her forehead) not exactly fit to muck the stables in this. Past experiences says Bar will put me back into it if I change, or switch it to something worse."

Bad enough it was glittery and she kept having to make sure the top was secure enough, she didn't want to end up in something that was short and cheap looking. "Plus, the shoes aren't an option either."

She pulled her skirts up just high enough that he could see the silver strapped dance shoe. "Hence, day off from the stables."

"...yes, definitely impractical for any kind of work", he agrees. "But one day off will do little harm, there are other horse owners around."

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