milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Elaine comes downstairs, steadfastly ignoring the door.

She's ignoring the door, but she is subconsciously checking off items to be done before the door claims her: Edited story, practiced harp (am getting better), sword practice (work on footing), French studies...

Now she's downstairs with "The Complete English Poems of John Donne" again.

Well; I may now receive, and die; My sinne
Indeed is great, but I have beene in
A Purgatorie, such as fear'd hell is
A recreation to,'and scant map of this...

It's really not taking her mind from her problems.

From "Satire 4" by Donne.

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Ryan takes a seat near Elaine.

"Hello," he says.

Elaine looks up from her book, smiling. "Good day, Ryan. I trust you had a pleasant evening last night?"

He smiles at her in return.

"I did. Seeing Chris again was great. I thought she would be down here but I guess she's off exploring. How are you?"

"I am well. I've done with my creative editing of my story and now I am just reading for my pleasure. I rather like this gentleman, though some of the topics of his poems touch a little too close to my particular wound." She grins wryly.

Ryan tilts his head, trying to get a look at the book.

"Who is it?"

She passes the book over to him. "John Donne. I found the book in my side table the other day."

"Heard of him, I don't think I read anything of his though," he says as he flips through some of the pages while trying to keep Elaine's bookmark.

He passes the book back to Elaine and then looks behind him towards the front of the bar.

"So... is the door still there?"

"Yes. I am ignoring it. For now, anyway." She sighs.

"Ah. Understood."

"I'll probably talk to Death when I see her next. She knows everybody and she'll tell me if I need to go soon." She smiles despite the clench of fear in her chest. Breathing has suddenly become a bit difficult.

"I hope to speak with your daughter again before that happens. I see much of you around her eyes."

"She's probably a little too much like me for her own good," he says with a wry grin.

"And I'll tell her, although I'm sure she'll want to talk to you and Kim after all your help last night."

"I do not often get a chance to meet people when they first get here, and I do hope I did not startle her too much. As you know, it can be quite disorienting, when one first arrives here." She grins, relaxing a little.

"No, she was fine. I think I startled her more than you could."

"Oh, good. I'm so glad you two got to see each other. It is a great gift to be able to see a member of your family again."

"It is. It's been making me think a lot about some things."

"Yes...it has for me as well."

"Really? Like what?"

"Oh...I have been thinking about how my family would feel about me if I were to see them again. And about apologizing to them. I think I hurt them a lot, and I think they hurt me, but I should not have done what I did."

"That's an important thing to have - that sense of peace. Here or on the otherside, I hope you get to talk to them soon."

"I do too...oddly enough. Even if...I know what it will mean. Not being able to come back here, I mean."

He nods and thinks for a few moments before he asks the next question.

"Are you nervous because you don't know what's waiting for you on the otherside or because of the things you still have to do here? Or is it both?"

"A little of both. I have many people I care about here. But I do miss my family...and I think they want to see me. It is the leaving one for the other...and knowing it is probably irreversible for me."

"Well, if it's any comfort. Most of your friends here will eventually meet you on the otherside. So the separation is only temporary."

"That is true. It is very strange to think about." Elaine pauses. "Has everything worked out with your friends...about that dinner?"

She doesn't talk about specifics, in case Chris is around and she doesn't see her.

"Not quite. Not at all, really," he sighs.

"I've spoken to Tony, Jack and Kim since then. Not to Chloe though - I don't know how she's doing. And I've seen Chase around but we just wind up arguing. I probably said a few things to him that I shouldn't have."

"Oh dear. I do not think I have met Chase yet. I am sure it will all come around right...after all, we have nothing but time." She smiles quietly.

"I don't see Chase around a lot, which makes sense I suppose. And I hope you're right."

He's quiet for a few moments as he thinks, "I may have to find Chase -- and Chloe. And apologize for the way I acted towards them. I don't want to... But I should."

"Sometimes if we do what we should do, it helps. Maybe if you make peace with them, it will be better with them, and they and you can get past things. It is...worth a try?"

"After talking to Kim today, I think it is. I will try talking to them."

Elaine beams at him. "Good. I do not like to see so much disagreement, I'd much rather everyone be in harmony with each other. Of course, there are so many here, there are bound to be disagreements, but..." She shrugs.

"Most of our disagreements with each other started long before Milliways. I think being in close proximity to each other, all the time, is driving us a little crazy."

"I can only imagine. I guess even this tavern is not large enough for all of you," she says in an amused tone.

"No, this town isn't big enough for the eight of us. Sometimes I'm not sure how we all managed to work together for so long."

"Well, one comports oneself a bit differently when one is at work, isn't that right? A tavern might be a little different."

He nods.

"That's a good thing too because I don't think you'd care for any of us if we acted the same way here as we do at work. Especially when we're in crisis mode."

"I take it you all get very grumpy and curt with each other." She grins.

He laughs.

"To say the least."

"Well, one cannot remain pleasant all the time," she says philosophically.

"True but we did do a good job of being unpleasant almost all the time," he quips.

Elaine laughs. "It sounds charming."

"Oh, it was," he says dryly.

"I think I am going to find out where my daughter went off to -- I'll talk to you later?"

Elaine smiles and waves him off. "Yes, go and find your daughter...I shall be around. Have a pleasant evening, Ryan."

"You too, Elaine, Good night," he says before leaving.

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