milliways_bar | (no subject)

Joe nods. "Have to have Meg check it over. Hope to hell he didn't say I was blond or something." Or that he had all ten fingers, which is admittedly less likely to turn up casually.

She looks to the door as Meg enters. "We could go check now . . ."

*Meg, conveniently, sees them and head over. Amazing timing, that Meg's got.*

'lo, Mina, Joe.

"Hey, Meg," says Joe. "Nick wrote us the first letter of introduction. You want to look it over, see he doesn't say raise trouble?"

She smiles. "Been back home, Meg?"

*Meg nods.* I just came from Paris - I was doing a favor for a friend.

*She takes the letter and peers at it.* Not bad handwriting, for a guy, *she comments, hypocritically, and starts to read.*

Joe waits. He sips his whiskey.

She, too, waits.

*Meg skims up and down it, and finally looks up.*

It looks pretty normal to me - a lot of unnecessary trailing off in bits, but, you know, that's Nick. Definitely usable, and just as applicable to Roland as to you.

Joe smiles. "Excellent. But we'll need one with a physical description, I reckon. Can your mam do one? You said she'd want to met Roland anyhow."

*Meg nods cheerfully.* Yes, she can - soon as I drag him to Paris again. Odds are ten to one she'll be willing to. And she writes well.

Joe nods. "Remember to tell her about the money. Will she want anything upfront, or will Roland be able to convince her, you think?"

*Meg hesitates.*

The hardest part will be telling her that this is for someone from here - she doesn't like this place, you see. She disapproves.

After that the rest is easy. She and Roland might actually almost get on.

Joe frowns thoughtfully. "Do you gotta? If you just told her Roland was an American runnin' a scam, would she object more or less than if she knew it was helpin' the rightful owner trapped here get the money?"

*Meg hesitates, and then says, reluctantly:* Well, I mean, she's my mother, Joe. She has an uncanny way of figuring out when I'm lying.

Joe nods. "All right. Have to do it straight then." Too bad Roland can't speak French. He's a hell of a liar.

*Meg grins ruefully.*

It'll help when Roland tells her how much he actually hates this place.

Joe nods. "No doubt."

"Have you heard anything more about t'other night with Walter?"

I've talked to Roland and Cuthbert both. *Meg grins.* They told me about Jake.

Joe gives her the hairy eyeball. It's not as good as Roland's, but he's taken some pointers. "What about Jake?"

*Meg blinks at him.* Haven't you heard? That he's better. His memory's back.

Joe shakes his head. "I ain't heard anything, which is why I asked for news. That's damn good to hear." He smiles.

*Meg beams.* Isn't it? I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet, but if it went on much longer I'm afraid we'd have had little Roland bits all over the bar.

Joe nods. "It was eatin' up. I'm glad for 'em."

"You been up to much yerself, Meg? Ain't seen much of you."

*Meg shakes her head, and sobers a little.* Not too much - I went to Paris today; a friend of mine asked me to find his grave.