Bartending!

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

Claire steps behind the bar, Seth sleeping in a baby sling around her neck. She wipes down the bar's surface and straightens the extra glasses, smiling at Charlie playing guitar in the corner.



"What can I get you?"





[[ooc: 6:45 EST: Wrap or slow-time from here on out, please *bats eyelashes*]]

Comments

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

"Not too bad. How're you and the little one?"

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

She nods, "We're doing okay, all things considered. I've been able to trick Seth into sleeping the past few nights."

She smiles and rubs his little head as he sleeps in the sling.

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam nods.

"Sleep's always a good thing. And how are you?"

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

She starts to smile automatically but then settles for a shrug. "I think I'm just doing the best I can. What about you Liam? How are you holding up?"

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

"About the same. Surviving. More worried about Charlie, to be honest."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

She nods and swallows back her emotion, looking over Liam's shoulder for a moment. "Me too."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

He reaches out to squeeze her shoulder gently.

"Hey. He'll be okay, you know. With time, and friends."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

She nods and looks back at Liam. "I can't help but feel responsible for all this. Charlie has been in danger ever since he met me."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

"You could hardly take yourself out of his life, in the circumstances", Liam points out gently. "Charlie's made his decisions."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

She stares at him a long moment wondering, How can you not hate me? Look at what I've done to him. But she's at work and that's not the appropriate conversation to have now, so she simply nods and offers a polite smile.

"Can I get you something, Liam? Some food maybe?"

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam looks at her sadly for a second, then shakes himself out of it.

"Um, food... paradoxes?"

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"Sure thing." She hands him a plate and in an obvious change of topic asks, "How's Megan doing?"

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

"Fine, when I was last home", he answers with a genuine smile. "When she was in here last, we met this girl Susan, all of about sixteen, nice kid, and she looked after her for a bit. Megan was very taken with her pet mini-elephant."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"Oh?" She raises an eyebrow and smiles, also genuinely. "A tiny elephant, huh? She must have loved that."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

He laughs a little. "She did. Talked about it all the way home. I'm going to bring her back in soon, to stay a while maybe."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"I'd like to see her some more." She grins. "We need more positive energy around here."

She nods and strokes Seth's little head protectively.

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

"She needs to get to know her cousin, better, too", Liam answers lightly.

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"I agree." She smiles warmly. Even in spite of everything, it still pleases her that her son has a family now.

She reaches out and pats his hand twice. "Do you think the bad stuff's over for awhile?"

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

He nods firmly.

"Yeah. I really do. We're owed some good luck."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

She laughs. "Liam, I couldn't agree with you more."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

He taps the bar with crossed fingers.

"Here's hoping."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

She nods. "Maybe we should toast on it?"

She sets out two glasses of water and raises hers in the air. "To better times. Because we're due."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

He smiles and clinks glasses.

"To better times."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"Very good." She grins but then sobers up a bit. "Do you think there's anything I can do for Charlie?"

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

"I think... just be here. Try not to treat him any different."