milliways_bar | Eska is Bound. She meets Faith, then tells Prospero what Bound is before Hellfly attacks.

Entry tags:

Eska is Bound. She meets Faith, then tells Prospero what Bound is before Hellfly attacks.

Having sat for a few hours reading, Eska eventually stands, places her empty tankard down on the table and goes to head back to the University out of the front door...

...which won't open.

She frowns, and tugs the handle once.

"Well," she says with mild irritation. "that's new..."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Bound, huh? That sucks," Faith says, sympathetically, from a booth near the door. "Never happened before?"

"Not once," Eska says, clearly both confused and only slightly annoyed. "I wonder why that's happened."

Faith shrugs, slightly. "I still don't know for sure why I was bound the first six months I was here, or why I got Unbound either for that matter."

Eska's still anoyed, but resigns herself quickly. "Oh well, I'm sure my old room's still free. I'll just have to ask her for the key. And some robes.

"Bloody annoying, though."

"I remember," Faith says wryly. "I threw a knife through the doors when I found out I was stuck."

"I don't think I'll be doing that," Eska says, going over and sitting down. "I'm sure I'll get out in time."

"I'd only been in for one night when I found out I couldn't leave. It was...not the most pleasant surprise ever. Of course, neither was finding out I wasn't anymore."

She holds out a hand. "I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced. I'm Faith Lehane."

"Faith... on Security?"

Eska sets her staff against the seat to shake hands.

"Eska Smith. I'm friends with Barry."

"That's me, yes." Faith smiles. "Nice to meet you, Eska. I remembered seeing you before, with Cole's demon, but I didn't know your name."

"Yes," Eska says, suddenly remembering. "I was very impressed by you."

The word 'Slayer' rises to the front of her mind, but she's not sure what that entails.

Faith shrugs, faintly.

"Wasn't a very good demon. I've fought worse."

"I'm sure you have," Eska agrees. "Barry speaks highly of you."

It's not an overly fond or sentimental tone, but it does speak of absolute trust in her friend's judgement.

"That's nice of him. We didn't start off on the best footing, it's nice to know he thinks better of me now."

"He said something like that," Eska said. "It seems he was quick to form impressions that he's managing to overturn, now."

"Yeah. Well, I can't really blame him, seeing as he was law enforcement before here and I...was on the other side of things."

Eska nods. "He's told me a little of that." She's not asking for details.

"But eevryone learns to accept things they wouldn't have thought possible when they come here."

"Yeah."

Beat.

"What did he tell you?"

"That you were on the worng side of the law in your world.

"I didn't ask for more, and he wouldn't have told me if I did."

Faith nods, jerkily.

"Good."

"So you've been here for a long time then? Only four months for me."

"Bar time, seven and a half months," Faith says, nodding, grateful for the subject change.

...and Eska remembers just on time not to ask her how long in total.

My, but this conversation is suddenly rather awkward.

"You're a Slayer, aren't you? That's the right word?"

"Yes, I am." Faith smiles at her. "Do you know much about Slayers?"

"Nothing," Eska admits. "Magically enhanced women who fight demons. That's all."

"Oh, well. 'Magically enhanced' in the sense that a very long time ago a bunch of old men took a demon's essence and bound it to a helpless young girl to make her kill things for them."

"Oh, it's demonic?" Eska asks. "That makes sense, I suppose what with..."

...and then it sinks in.

"Oh. I am sorry."

Faith shrugs faintly.

"Yeah, well. When she died, her powers went to the next girl, and the one after, and so on and down the line to me. So, what the Slayer is, really, is a girl who will, statistically speaking, usually not live long enough to be considered a 'woman'. The record is 24. Though, due to the wonders of Milliways, I'm fairly sure I've broken that record...not sure by how much."

Eska presses her lips together.

"That's a great burden. I admire you for bearing it."

"Thank you."

Faith shrugs faintly. "I've got this place, at least. To come home to."

Eska smiles.

"It's a good place. There are worse places I could be Bound to."

Over by the bar, picking up his lunch for the day, Prospero very nearly misses sight of Eska, but he does hear her as she works the knob on the door, to no satisfaction. He sets his lunch down on the bar, with a murmurred request to keep his food warm, then heads over.

"Well met, Mistress Smith," he says, sketching a brief bow from his waist. "Is everything a'right? You seem...belabored, by doors."

Eska reels at the 'well met', but smiles to see Prospero.

"Hello, Prospero," she says, smiling casually. "I appear to have become Bound suddenly."

The arch of a silver eyebrow. "Bound?"

Eska taps her staf on the door meaningfully.

"I'm not being allowed to leave," she says. "Rather suddenly."

And now, both of Prospero's eyebrows reach for his scalp. He blink, then purses his lips as he says, "But who would have purpose to deny you egress hence?" A dry chuckle. "And, more importantly, who would have the authority to work such a thing?"

"There's theories," Eska says, sitting down. "Some claim it's Bar, but it isn't her. Most people are unBound at some point though."

Prospero follows suit, folding himself up in a chair next to Eska's. "Intriguing. Does this come when it will, or is there some, mmm, logic to its influence?"

"From what I've heard? It seems more or less random, although some people try to find meaning."

"Most fascinating." He produces a smallish notepad from the folds of his doublet--what, his book can't have off-color humor days?--then starts taking notes. He looks thoughtful as he says, "The principle by which this is accomplished, I assume is keyed into the thaumic signature of the Bar proper? And there are no ill effects, beyond you being denied exit hence? I should like very much, perhaps, to speak with others who have been similarly bound. A survey should prove most insightful..."

Eska smiles.

"Well, I'm assuming it's the same thing that brings most people here. Even the non-mages."

Buzzzzzzz - sadly there is so silent mode for a hell fly.

However, this irritating woman is probably so busy talking that she won't notice.

Take a little something - and leave a little something in return.

Ordinary flies just leave salmonella - hell flies are more inventive.

Eska suddenly pales, as her stomach contracts intensively, causing her to double up in pain.

"That which brings also binds." Prospero chuckles, shakes his head, completely fails to notice the buzzing of certain doom's approach. "One of these days, I think we should assemble en masse, track down our elusive Landlord, and inquire as to the reason behind his rhyme. It would certainly save on much--"

He pauses, then, as Eska scrunches up on her seat. "--Mistress Smith? Mistress Smith, is anythign wrong?"

Stupid old man. Look at her, of course something's wrong. Prospero jumps out of his seat and drops to a knee before Eska, trying, hopefully not in vain, to catch her eye before she grows too wrought with pain to communicate anything.

Eska forces a smile as her innards twist, and struggle up. Useful thinig about staffs of course, is one is never without a handy crutch.

"Thanks Prospero, just a stomach pain.

"...would you excuse me?"

Prospero stands as well, ready to catch her elbow if she stumbles (but not so close by, he hopes, as to offend her sensibilities about taking care of herself). "If that is your wish, yes, but Mistress Smith, I should certainly feel more comfortable if you'd allow me to convey you to some medic's or infirmary..."

She looks at him.

"I am a witch, Prospero. People go to me. I've had cramps before, you know."

"...Ahh. Of course, I did not mean to--my intent was not to presume--" A hasty bow, and Prospero takes a step back. "As you say, Mistress Smith." He's still watching her closely, though, as discreet as can be in this sort of situation.

Eska nods, smiles in gratitude, and hurries towards the Bar to pick up the key to her room.

She's surpised that she actually has to verbally ask for it, but doesn't stop to ponder, staggering up to her old room.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Eska is Bound. She meets Faith, then tells Prospero what Bound is before Hellfly attacks.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject