milliways_bar | (no subject)

I think this is the lesson I was supposed to learn. I think I was supposed to know where my memories of Susanne came from, and why. I think that was what was keeping me here. And I think I hope this is not just wishful thinking.

All the times he's opened that door, he's seen nothing but a void, a swirling mass of darkness and destruction and he's not been anywhere near desperate enough to try to walk out into that. It would be a leap of faith far beyond his bounds, far beyond anything he could think of doing or actually bringing himself to do.

But this night... it feels... different, somehow.

And so he decides to try the door, see if the Bar will let him leave now that he's relived his nightmare with Tom's assistance. Bill takes a deep breath.

Ready, Bill? Ready.

The doorknob feels somehow cold, and he's not sure if it's reality or his own expectations making it that way.

Confidence, Bill. Why wouldn't it let you leave now?

That's more like it. He shakes back his long hair, touches the dragon fang earring for luck, and opens the door... and it's different.

No swirling void.

Bill looks through, then steps back into the bar, his face pale. This was not what he expected. Come to think on it, he's not sure where he expected to see: Cairo? The Burrow? Gringotts? London? But certainly not this.

Not the dungeon room from which he escaped.

He closes the door quickly. He is not going back to captivity. He'd rather be stuck here for all time.

Walking quickly to the bar, he orders a cup of tea. 3 sugars, fresh cream.

That, Bill, is the universe's way of saying Fuck You! loud and clear. He grins, and the grin widens into a smile, and he laughs. He doesn't care who hears.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Bar, a bourbon and water for the lady. And for me..." He considers his cup of tea.

Drink, don't drink. Drink, don't drink. Drink, don't drink to excess. "I'll have have a pint of ale and half a pint of cider, together."

Bill turns to Columbia. "At the risk of being far too abrupt to be allowed, how does it feel to be dead?"

"I thought you swore of drinking?'Columbia laughs.

"I have been here for a while so I don't feel much different than I did. But dying hurt and coming to grips with it was a bit of a trial. But I am doing really well now."

"I reserve the right to change my mind. About drink, about staying, about leaving: about the whole bloody lot of it, but I tell you this: for the first time since I got here, I feel so very free. I don't know why; I can't qualify it or quantify it, but I feel as if a huge load has been lifted from my shoulders. I can leave, even if I don't like where the door might lead me. At least it's my choice."

He fingers the dragon-fang earring.

"Dying hurt? I'm terribly sorry for the blunt nature of my question." He hands her the bourbon-and-water concoction and takes a sip of his own pint. "I've spent the past three months wondering if it would be better to be dead. I'm sure it wouldn't. I'm sorry that happened to you -- and you're so young." Bill reaches over and squeezes her shoulder, but just for a moment.

Columbia smiles.

"I didn't want to die. I got killed saving someone who had really hurt me. But getting shot in the chest does hurt just a little but how I died was the tough part get past. I still have a scar but the reminder is a help."

"Ouch. Again: I'm sorry." He raises his glass to her. "We can drink to forget that if you like. I'm easy."

Bill grins.

"Easy? That's no fun."

She grins back " I have no reasons to forget lets just drink because we can." she raises her glass to him.

"Ha." Laughing, he sips the cider-and-ale concoction. "So, do tell me, Columbia. Where were you from? What did you do?"

Her dress is certainly unique; nothing he's used to. In Egypt, women tend to be a bit more covered.

Columbia sips at her drink."I lived in a castle. I was a member of the personal and private entourage of Doctor Frank N. Furtur. I did everything for Frankie." Columbia grins.

The name is meaningless to him.

But he remembers what she said earlier. "Was he the one you died for?"

Columbia nods and looks just a little solemn about the whole thing. "Yeah, but only after he cast me aside for someone else." she frowns a bit and takes a swig of her drink.

"That's a wrench. I know what that feels like." He shakes his head: love is a sad story more often than not. "So what did your Dr Frank N Furter do?"

"He was a doctor of biochemistry he did work in the field of reanimation of the human being. He was very successful"

"Really." He's surprised. "Bringing people back to life? I didn't know that was possible in anyone's reality. Tell me, was he successful?"

This calls for another sip of ale.

Columbia nods, "Oh yeah, he got a couple boyfriends out of it." She frowns.

"What we do for love." Bill shakes his head; not much surprises him any more.

"So, Columbia." Time for a change of topic, he thinks, before things get morose. "What do you do here, to pass the time?"

"Basically you are seeing what I do, i come down here and find people to talk to. there weren't many people to talk to when I was at the castle. I like it better here." Columbia smiles at Bill.

Now that's interesting. "What kind of castle has not so many people, Columbia?"

It's good to like one's current circumstances better, he supposes, but still. "I've spent most of my time trying to figure out how to leave. I think it's refreshing to talk with somebody who likes it here; puts an entirely different spin on things.

"Were you very lonely?"

"Yeah, he didn't love me back. It was very lonely. There were lots of people in the castle but they loved him too. "

It's a sad story. He almost feels badly for her but Bill is the type of person who usually makes the best of things... as best he can. At least he likes to think so.

Maybe he's not been the best example of that the past weeks, but he tries.

"Sounds to be a sad existence. Were you allowed to leave?"

Or have you gone from being Bound there to being Bound here?

"I didn't notice. I was happy. I was in love and it didn't bug me then. I guess I could have left. There were other guys, I didn't love them though and I was still lonely.I can't explain it. Lotsa friends here though. I love it here." she smiles at him brightly.

"I'm so glad for you." He finishes his pint, pushes the bar stool back gently. "If you'll excuse me, Columbia, it's been rather a more difficult evening for me than I thought, and I've quite a bit of thinking to do. I would love, however, to spend more time with you on a night when I'm more... more myself. I trust you don't mind?" Taking her hand in his, he kisses it. "You're very lovely, and it's been a pleasure meeting you."

"I'd like to spend more time with you too, but you need to think about all these things, Bill.' Columbia smiles "It was nice meeting you too.'

"Good-night, then." He nods his farewell.

And be happy.

Tonight, he doesn't mind if he dreams. Perhaps he will.