milliways_bar | (no subject)

Eddie flushes again. "Thanks."

"You know, I mean it about Bernard. This place is bigger than some cities I saw in Mid-World already, and it gets bigger all the time. And Bernard's the barman, not because he was elected, but because the bar picked him. And everything else follows quite reasonably from that. It's like divine right of kings if God was visibly present and handing out booze."

*Tonks laughs at the mental image of God pulling a pint, and then sobers*

He takes it really seriously. It's a huge responsibility, something I can't even fathom, really, but he loves it.

Eddie nods. "He was born to it, no doubt. As much or more than he was born to be a bomber. The day will come, I think, when people come to him to be married or to settle their disputes. I wonder how he'll take that."

*She grins*

It's already started. A girl named Kestrel asked if Bernard would officiate at her wedding, and Bernard laughed fit to kill when he heard about it.

Bernard's not what you would call a...conventional sort of bloke.

Eddie laughs. "No. But then again, this ain't a conventional sort of place. I think he may be surprised at how good he'll be at it."

Yup. Way he sees it, we're all outlaws here.

And Bernard? Is the ultimate outlaw.

*the pride is clearly evident in her tone and on her face*

Eddie smiles. "It's kind of Zen. He's so much of an outlaw that he's become the law. It'll be interesting to watch what kind of a civilization builds up her in our lifetimes."

If he thinks at all of a city of outlaws he visited once, he keeps it far from his mind. Bernard is not the Ticktock Man.

Yeah, it will. And with new people coming in all the time, learning how the place works...

*she grins*

Never a dull moment.

in Mid-World.

Eddie looks... gobsmacked? yeah. gobsmacked for a moment.

*she tilts her head to the side, brow furrowing slightly*

..All right, Eddie?

Eddie laughs. "Just something from my past echoing around. Happens to us a lot. I've gotten used to it, mostly."

*she nods understandingly*

The past has a habit of showing up here, sometimes.

*her eyes narrow slightly, thinking of Leigh-Cheri*

So does the future.

Eddie doesn't laugh, because it isn't funny, but he smiles slightly. "You're telling me. Roland's true love from his youth showed up. She died when he was fourteen. For her, that was last month. For him it was... hell, fifty years? More?"

"And in the time he comes from, I'm not dead yet."

*she pales*

Bloody hell.

Eddie nods. "Sucks."

"You made a face. What nasty joke did the door play on you?"

*she sighs*

A woman showed up from ten years in Bernard's future, claiming to be his wife.

Not the most fun night I've ever had.

Eddie pales.

He considers for a long time before he speaks. "Has Bernard heard any voices? Like in his head?"

*she looks concerned*

Not -- not that I know of.

Why? Have you?

Eddie shakes his head. "No. Just--if he does, or this woman does--let me know, ok?"

He halts again. "I have some experience with forked histories. And I've been able to help before."

*she nods slowly, the crease between her eyes deepening*

I'll tell him. Thanks, Eddie.

He smiles apologetically. "And the way it happened for us, it only happened once, and it happened under different circumstances. You guys may not have any problems." He thinks. "Or her being here, obnoxious as it is, may have solved them before they could arise, actually."

*Tonks makes a face before she can stop herself, and then laughs*

Well, I suppose stranger things have happened.

*she glances over at her table*

I should get back there. But thanks again, Eddie.

Eddie shrugs. "No problem. I was good talkin' to you again."

"And I'm glad you could understand, about the... other thing."

Yeah.

*she nods, looking thoughtful for a moment; then she pushes herself away from the Bar and tosses a wave at him over her shoulder, smiling*

Have a good night, Eddie.

"You too, Tonks."