Exit from Purgatory

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

[OOC: "It's about choice."]

It's quiet a moment.

Just a moment, because the next, a group of people fall through the door of Milliways; arms and legs akimbo, as though thrown by a giant hand.

And when they disentangle, they're looking around; looking at each other.

David sees faces of friends and that's all:

Liam, trying not to look as though he's trying not to fall apart, David can tell, but he has the fierce determination in his eyes that says he's not going to cry - and he's not; Lochiel, who just looks... blank. Face entirely void of emotion; Gil, who gives a look to David that reminds David of the look animals give predators: the kind of look that girls gave the darkness when people collected water in skins to take to their mud huts.

And one by one, they move into the interior.

Gil darts to the kitchen as soon as he's free, and David almost moves to catch him.

But better to be left alone than to be annoyed and be thrown out, and he can't go after him anyway. He wouldn't be Allowed.

And he looks back at the other two.

One soul for the price of five.

"Well, we're back."

Comments

[lochiel.livejournal.com]

"Yep. Back."

His voice matches his face.

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam nods silently, looking around the room with a faintly dazed look.

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

He sighs.

He just sighs.

And looks around the room, looking for faces; eager faces, waiting for them.

And looks back at the group.

"So what happens now?"

[lochiel.livejournal.com]

"Now it's out of our hands."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

"Nothing to do now but wait", Liam agrees flatly. "And hope."

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

He nods, and touches Liam's shoulder.

"At least we have hope."

[lochiel.livejournal.com]

"If you don't mind, I... have some things I need to do."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam looks up and nods, reaching to squeeze Lochiel's shoulder briefly as one quester to another.

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

David nods to him, too.

"It was nice to meet you, though I wish it was under better cirumstances. And thank you, for coming along."

He'd smile, but he thinks he's forgotten how.

[lochiel.livejournal.com]

"He'll be back."

His voice and expression are both completely even and blank as he turns and walks upstairs.

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam watches him go, then turns back to David.

"So."

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

He nods to Lochiel's retreating back, and turns to Liam.

"Yes. So."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

"I think I need a drink", Liam says decisively.

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

"I can't," he says. "She won't serve me."

He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a twenty dollar bill. "But they're on me. At least some of them."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam nods, accepting the money with a half smile. "Thanks."

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

He sighs, and walks over to the bar with Liam, taking a seat, careful not to touch Her.

"Do you think we made the right choice?"

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam orders a whiskey and downs it before he answers.

"I think we made the only choice we could."

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

He nods.

"I suppose you're right."

He looks at Liam, and looks away again, seeing too much of Charlie in him.

"I am sorry, Liam. I need to... not be with people right now."

And he sighs, and, without thinking, kisses Liam's forehead, and walks across the floor of the bar, and sinks down into one of the single chairs in front of the fire.

And he just watches the flames.

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam watches him go, expressionlessly, then turns back to the Bar and orders another whiskey.

And repeat.