The Sum of All Happy Hours

[no-prisoner.livejournal.com]

Eddie comes in from the Staff Quarters with damp hair and his Ginslinger t-shirt, his gun and gunbelt already tucked into a neat roll that he sets under the bar. He sits on a stool for a while picking his Specials and writes them up on the chalkboard.

"Howdy, all you beautiful folken. Specials tonight are Love Potion #9, the After 18, and that old fav, the Manhattan. Come and get it!"

Comments

[no-prisoner.livejournal.com]

Eddie cackles, mirthfully. "I told you. Everybody loves a clown."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

He's still worried, but for now he gives into the gladness, and smiles, a wide real smile.

"Give you joy of each other, 'Bert."

[sai_delgado]

As she comes down the stairs into the room, Susan sees them at the bar.

She comes over, smiling at them all as she glances from one to another-- and her smile brightens as her gaze falls on Cuthbert.

"Long days and pleasant nights, gentlemen."

[no-prisoner.livejournal.com]

Eddie griiiiins. "And may you have twice the number, Susan. Of course, half of that's in Bert's hands now."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert's own smile as Susan approaches could light up the entire bar.

He holds out a hand to her.

[sai_delgado]

A faint hint of color rises in her cheek as she catches sight of Eddie's grin, but there is no hesitation at all, say true-- Susan takes Cuthbert's hand and moves to stand close by his side, still smiling as she looks up at him.

"Thee's told them, I see."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

"Aye, so he has."

He smiles at her. Whatever else will happen to all of them, whatever Roland will say when he learns of it... It does Alain's heart good to see them so, together and alight with love.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert bends slightly and presses a kiss to Susan's cheek, partially for the sheer joy of kissing her in front of their friends.

Straightening, he just beams at them all for another moment or two. Then, perhaps guessing what's on Alain's mind--for it's the obvious question--he sobers somewhat.

"Roland knows. We...we decided that telling him right away was the best course.

[no-prisoner.livejournal.com]

"Do I have to kick his ass?"

Smooth, Eddie.

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

Alain ignores Eddie, except for a flicking sideways glance.

He nods, once, in agreement with their choice of action. Quietly, "And?"

[sai_delgado]

Susan is looking at Eddie. Very steadily.

"He -- he was very understanding."

[no-prisoner.livejournal.com]

"Good." Eddie is firm. He's got no right to be otherwise. "I'm so happy for you two."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"He took it as well as anyone could take something like this." Cuthbert adds, solemnly.

Then, the grin is back. "Say thankya, Eddie."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

He knows Roland. Knows what's not being said, or can guess at it.

But still it is everything one could truly hope for, for now, and so he relaxes, and his smile is back, wider than before.

"Give you joy of each other," he says again, to Susan as well this time, and he means every word of it, with gladness.

[sai_delgado]

And now she smiles again at them both, at Alain and Eddie, and oh, but her smile is bright indeed, say true-- with relief and happiness and joy all combined.

"Thankee -- both of ye," she says, simply.

[no-prisoner.livejournal.com]

"You deserve it," Eddie says quietly.

A beat.

"I mean, I don't know what you could have done to deserve a fate as horrible as Cuthbert, but ka knows what it's doing."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert doesn't say anything in response to Alain, just reaches out to pull him into a hug with his free arm.

And then looks over Alain's shoulder at Eddie, still beaming. "You just be glad I don't have a hand free for smacking purposes, cully."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

"Susan does," Alain points out helpfully, with a grin, to the air over Cuthbert's shoulder.

When he pulls back, he makes sure to not stand between Cuthbert and Eddie, because he has common sense. He's still grinning, though.

[sai_delgado]

She laughs, shaking her head.

"Nay, I'll leave that be, I think." A beat. "Besides, I can't quite reach from here, do'ee ken?"

[no-prisoner.livejournal.com]

Eddie grumbles, grumblishly. "Just try it, sister. I have the hose." There's a hose that goes with the sink, for washing dishes.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"Ah, well. We'll let you get away with it, this time." Cuthbert says magnanimously.

After telling Roland last night, it feels good--better than good--to be standing here with friends who can simply share in their joy. And so he just stands between Susan and Alain and grins like an idiot at all of them, drinking it in.