In which Our Hero talks with Isabel, Alain and Svava about weddings religion and angst, respectively

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

Archie wanders in from upstairs, not looking his best. In fact, it appears that he hasn't been sleeping too well.


In any case, he collects his tea from the bar and settles down on one of the couches near the fireplace. The one with it's back to the observation windows.





((ETA: The I.T. guys are working on my comp, I should be back on in a bit. Fear not, I have not fogotten you...)) Back!!!

Comments

[alien-isabel.livejournal.com]

"So at my wedding, you're going to be partnered with Svava when you go down the aisle. Is that cool with you?"

And she's grinning happily. "Hey have you met my brother yet? He's in the bar."

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

Oh look, someone to bring him out of his sulk. A slow smile spreads across his face as if he's a bit out of practice.

"I have not met your brother, I would be glad to, of course. And I'm assuming that 'cool' has an entirely different meaning in your time than it does in mine, but it would be lovely, I'm sure."

[alien-isabel.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I'll teach you slang. Get you some cool clothes. Make you a normal person."

Says the alien...

"And yeah, Max is here. I'd love for you two to meet sometime. Except he's from before me so he's younger."

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

"I'm normal! Just about as normal as anyone gets around here."

He gives her a wry little grin.

"That must have been strange, figuring out when he's from... Did you try to tell him about things that hadn't happened yet? Time, I'm learning, is a very strange thing."

[alien-isabel.livejournal.com]

"No. I would have but Michael warned me immediately that he was from before Michael and I. Actually I'm a few months after Michael but we're close enough it doesn't matter quite so much."

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

"I did that once. I met a fellow named Norrington, from my world, a bit earlier than I. I mentioned that he had a splendid career in His Majesty's Navy, and that he was one of my best friend's heroes. He seemed pleased with the news."

[alien-isabel.livejournal.com]

"It's an honest mistake. This is a hard place to function in and I've already told Liz something she shouldn't know because she's from before my brother even."

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

"Oh dear, nothing devastating, I hope?"

He leans back and sips his tea.

"So, tell me how the wedding plans are coming along."

[alien-isabel.livejournal.com]

"Um...I don't really know. Let's not talk about it okay? Because I'll just scared and..."

She shakes her head.

[skjaldmeyjar.livejournal.com]

We won't abuse Millitime too much. So its after this (http://www.livejournal.com/community/milliways_bar/4038132.html?thread=160936180#t160936180), that--

Archie does find himself grabbed, and hugged. Reasons will be explained as to why, probably in a few moments.

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

Automatically he wraps his arms around her, tangling one hand in her hair.

"Tell me, love. Please."

[skjaldmeyjar.livejournal.com]

"Went to Arithon's world to help with a war, and we were there for weeks and I didn't even have any paper to write to you. Traveling and we didn't have anything and then battles and wars all near the end and we weren't able to help afterall-"

A breath-

"And I missed you and I love you and I'm sorry I upset you by asking how you died-"

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

"Shh... I was never upset with you. I was upset that it affected me so much still. I'm sorry I left like I did. It was selfish of me. I should have been here with you. I should have been waiting for you when you left..."

His voice breaks a little.

[skjaldmeyjar.livejournal.com]

"We walked out, then it seemed like we walked back in again." A sniffle, holding on to him tightly.

"And I was worried..."

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

"I should have been there."

Softly, fierecly.

"...What happened, love? Tell me."

[skjaldmeyjar.livejournal.com]

She settles slightly, sitting across his lap and resting her head on Archie's shoulder. "Part of me wishes you were. The other... I wouldn't want anyone I care about in something like that."

A deep breath, closing her eyes. How they arrived there, with the fighting between Arithon and his brother. Fleeing the city, even the details with the horses. Traveling for days and days- running, more like it. Then being captured by the people that ended up Arithon's allies- people that had been waiting for his bloodline to return, to make him a prince. Andrew knowing what was going to happen, yet being unable to warn anyone. None of them being able to warn anyone.

Then the battle. Battles. Fighting and people dying, and hardly any times to say the helgisiðir for the dead...

Everything just on and on and on.

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

He settles her against his chest as she speaks, tucking her head under her chin, stroking his fingers slowly through her hair, down her back over and over as the story pours from her. He does not stop her, once she's told it all, perhaps the greif will lessen a bit. Perhaps.

Archie's been to war, been through many a bloody battle, none with magic, but devastating none the less. And in one of those, he recieved a shot that later killed him. Yes, he knows.

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

There's a gunslinger without an entrance post in one of the armchairs nearby, working his way through a bowl of stew and a glass of sweet white tea. He's watching the fire, a little distantly.

He happens to catch Archie's eye at some point, and gives him a small polite smile.

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

Archie nods politely back, curious at this stranger. Perhaps he's seen him around, but they've never spoken. He sips his own tea.

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

Alain's thoughts are going in circles right now. Distraction is good.

"Long days and pleasant nights."

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

Unsure as to how to properly respond to that.

"And you..."

He regards the young man curiously for a moment.

"We have not met, I believe, sir. I'm Archie Kennedy, pleased to meet you."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

He smiles, a little ruefully. "Hello, then, if it suits you better. Alain Johns, son of Chris."

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

"Alain, then. May I ask from whence you come?"

Because 'whence' seems to cover bothe 'where' and 'when' and it's a lot easier to say one than the both of them.

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

"The city of Gilead, in Mid-World."

His tone hints that he doesn't particularly expect Archie to be familiar with it. Hardly anyone here seems to be.

"What's your where and when, sai?"

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

"Sai? I was, ah, a lieutenant aboard His Majesty's ship the Renown. Earth, eighteen-oh-two as we reckon it. There seem to be a fair few people around here familiar with it, though not so many from my particular When>"