milliways_bar | (no subject)

*he wanders over, head tilted to the side in confusion and sadness to peer at Charlie before he sits down on the ground and looks up at him*

Charlie? Are you all right?

He pulls out a faint smile from somewhere. "Garion. Hey.

"I. Um. No, not really."

And I'm no Arend. You certainly don't look it. What's wrong?

"Arend?"

He shakes his head, then says quietly, "Bartleby--my boyfriend--he's dead. He died. There's a bloke here called Lochiel who has a mystical bond-type thing with him and he says he felt him die."

Oh.

*and he's quiet for a moment before looking up to Charlie*

I'm sorry. I don't...know how that is. I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to Ce'Nedra...but I know how much it hurt Aunt Pol when Durnik died. So...I'm sorry.

*of course he'd brought Durnik back, but he's pretty certain that's not possible right now*

"Yeah," Charlie says simply, looking back at the fire. "He. Um. He's been trapped in Purgatory for the last two months and I guess they finally decided what to do with him."

He shudders and pulls the sweatshirt cloers around himself.

*he looks up at Charlie and winces*

I don't know what Purgatory is but...I'm still sorry. I wish there was something I could do.

*and maybe there is, but he won't offer. Frankly, he's still a little scared of the Orb, scared of himself, and besides that, he doesn't want to get Charlie's hopes up. He likes Charlie...and shattered dreams are even more painful when mized with shattered hopes*

"It's a place on my world. Well, not quite on my world. Surrounding it, in a way, maybe. It's a place where the dead go.

"But Bartleby, he's--he was an angel. They're not supposed to die, they're immortal and divine. But he was banished, exiled, whatever the word is, and when he went back because I was there--" He blinks and clenches his jaw. It's a few minutes before he can speak again. "They kept him there," he says finally.

I'm sorry.

*he pats Charlie's leg carefully*

"Thanks." He wipes his eyes with the side of his hand.

*and he shouldn't but*

Anything I can do?

Charlie shakes his head. "No. But thanks. No body to bury. Just me and the grief, I guess."

The only things he can think of, really, he's either been denying himself for so long he hardly wants them anymore anyway or aren't things he's going to ask from a young lad like Garion.

*considering that he would most likely blink at Charlie should he even propose such a thing, that's probably a good thing*

*he looks up at Charlie*

Pendant not much good right now, I'm sure. But...if you want to talk about it...

*he sighs*

I might be young but I'm no stranger to trouble.

He touches the pendant through his shirt. "It's been playing lullabies today. And my brother has been singing them to me. I think it's a hint. I did sleep last night, though. With help."

*he nods*

I remember I had a hard time sleeping after the ordeal with Torak.

*he looks to Charlie*

Sometimes it's easier to sleep than think.

"Yeah. That's the trouble.

"Before I came here I used to take a drug that made me sleep a lot. It did other things to my body, worse things, and if I'd kept taking it I probably would have died before long. So I'm . . . I'm trying not to sleep too much.

"Even though it would stop the pain--it would only be temporary."

*he nods. He's familiar with drugs and poisons from his time in Nyissa*

That kind of thing isn't really good for you. But...if you're tired, you should sleep. Grief...being upset takes a lot out of you.

"I will. Just, I've been asleep most of the day anyway, if I went to bed now I think I'd just stare at the ceiling."

*he nods and then he walks to the bar, whispering an order before returning a moment later with a lightly steaming mug. He holds it out for Charlie*

Here. It's...what my Aunt Pol used to make for me when I was upset or didn't feel well.

"What is it?" He manages a smile. "Hot milk?"

*he smiles*

Something like that. It's got some other things in it, at least...it does if the bar made it right, like I think it did. But try it.

Charlie gives him a skeptical look, but takes the mug and sips the steaming brew. He blinks a bit. "Hot," he observes.

*a small smile*

Yes. Usually.

"Cheeky," Charlie murmurs and sips a little more.

"Enough about me. How are you doing, and your new wife?"

*he smiles gently before sitting back down on the ground*

She's well enough, as am I. It's not as if we didn't know one another before we were married. She and I traveled for quite some time and...we were really children for a lot of it...but we've figured it out, I think. At least part of the way.

"Figured marriage out, you mean? That's a good thing. Never quite been able to do that, myself."

*he grins*

No, how to...keep things a little peaceful. I'm stubborn and she's...

*he thinks*

Ce'Nedra.

"Well, that's a marriage, too. How to stay together without driving each other mad."

So I'm learning.

*a small smile*

"Hey, it's more than most people ever figure out. My parents--" He scowls. "There were a lot of issues there."

*he shrugs*

I had Aunt Pol...and you didn't argue with her. Or have issues. Or you got a pot or a spoon someplace.

Charlie sips and decides not to bring up the poker.

[ooc: must sleep. later?]

[ooc: sure]