milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

A small girl in a nightdress wanders down from the guest corridor.

Because Liam knows what she's capable of, there is a piece of paper firmly attached to the front of her clothes.

"My name is Megan. If I'm alone, my daddy is asleep upstairs in [insert room number here] and I've escaped. Please don't send me through the front door."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Virginia spotted the little girl and her eyes widened.

Who in the world let's their kid wander alone into a bar?...with fictional cannibals?!

She walked over to the girl and bent down to her level. "Honey, where are your mommy and daddy?"

She spotted the paper.

Dear God, that's almost as bad as sticking a dog collar on her.

Megan does one of those instant toddler judgments of character, and smiles at her, pointing vaguely at the door. Then at the stairs.

What? It's logical - Karen isn't there, Liam is.

"Your mommy and daddy are upstairs then, huh?" Virginia asked. She held out her hand for the little girl to grab it and smiled reassuringly. "I'm gonna take you back to them, okay, sweetie? So they don't get worried about you. My name's Virginia--what's your name?"

She nods solemnly. "Megan."

"It's nice to meet you Megan." She gave the girl another smile and started leading the little girl to the quarters.

"What are your mommy and daddy's names, Megan?"

So I know what to call them when I'm reaming them out for letting their daughter roam around a bar.

Megan looks at her blankly and shrugs.

"Mummy. Daddy."

Virginia laughed.

Okay, too young to know their names yet. Not that I could tell. Oh God, I'm so bad at this kid thing.

At least she isn't crying or anything.

She found the door with the same number as the one on the piece of paper pinned to the girl and knocked on it sharply several times.

There's a short pause, then Liam opens the door, sleepily at first though his attention sharpens the next instant. Megan lets go of Virginia's hand and runs to him, arms outstretched to be picked up, and he does.

"I need to do something about that door", he mutters, before turning to Virginia with an apologetic smile. "Thanks for bringing her up."

Virginia crossed her arms. "Yeah you do. Your kid was loose in a bar." She had to admit, "The sign was ingenious though."

The grin turns rueful. "A lot of people know her here, so I was almost sure she'd be looked after, but I thought the sign might be an idea. 'Specially since the last time she was in here alone, it was because she found a portal of her own, at home. I didn't want anyone thinking they were doing the best thing by putting her through the front door - she'd either end up alone in the city, or at home without me when we left together, which I'd rather not try explaining to my wife."

Virginia laughed. "I don't think I'd ever want to explain losing a kid to my ma--fiance either," Virginia said. "Don't they have those child safety locks or something, though? Maybe the magic bar could conjure them up for you."

She held out her hand. "Virginia Lewis, by the way."

"Not a bad thought, actually", he says pensively. "We're not here permanently, just staying with my brother for a little while, but while we're here..." He grins and shakes her hand. "Liam Pace."

"It is so nice to meet somebody who isn't a cannibal or living fairy tale or the personification of magic, let me tell you," Virginia said.

The Triplets come down the stairs and look around for some ~~trouble~~ fun.

They spot the small child with a note on her dress. They go up to her and Shock reads the note.

"My name is Megan. If I'm alone, my daddy is asleep upstairs in [insert room number here] and I've escaped. Please don't send me through the front door."

Shock steps back, looks at the small girl, and cackles.

"Not allowed to be by yourself? Why? Your dad needs to let you out more."

Lock grins widely.

"Its a good thing we're here to take care of you until your dad comes."

Barrel offers his hand in friendship.

"You'll have a lot of fun with us. Really."

The three snicker together.

Megan eyes them all suspiciously. She's a clever girl.

"Do you like Halloween?"

She nods slowly. Liam took her trick or treating last time.

"Want to go trick or treating with us for Halloween? We have to start preparing now, so that we're ready when it comes. We've only got a few more months til next Halloween."

Megan blinks, and attempts to count on her fingers. She can't count very high yet.

"March!" she objects.

"Yes. It's March. Wait. Is it March? What's March? I dunno. Its a month stupid! Like October. And December. Yes. Like that. But they don't matter. Only matters if its October. Barrel, the other months matter too, or else, how would we know how long it is til Halloween? We ask Jack?"

Shock slaps her head, then slaps her brothers.

"Megan, do you know what day in March it is?"

The brothers giggle behind her, and she hisses at them.

"Can you tell me?"

Megan thinks, then shakes her head. Dates are a bit beyond her yet.

"Ok. So Megan, how long have you and your daddy lived here at Milliways?"

Lock taps his sister on the shoulder.

"What?" Shock snaps back.

"Can we talk to you, over there?"

"Fine. Megan, I'll be right back."

She steps away, her brothers talk at her for a second, and then she turns back, arches her eye at Megan, and smiles.

"Megan, the front door the note talks about. Where is it?"

Megan points, obligingly.

"Do you think we can go through the door? I wouldn't want to get you in trouble with your daddy, but we would like to go home. Do you think it will work for us?"