Bartending!

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

Claire steps behind the bar and immediately sets about wiping her down and then straightening the rows of liquor and garnishes. She's in a good mood today and hums to herself as she works.

When she's finally done, she turns to the patrons around the bar and smiles.


"Can I get anybody anything?"



[[summary: Tony tell Claire about his fight with Jack and Michelle. She promises to talk to Michelle if she sees her around. She meets fellow Aussie Adam/Felicia/Sparkles for much yay. She and Guppy agree to forget about their hellfly grievances. She apologizes to Barry for her behavior last week and then explains her love for Sawyer. She meets Jack and Teddy and they set up plans for a picnic. She and Penny discuss the logistics of being wed to a war god and Asar-Suti comes by to apologize for not keeping a better eye on the hellfly.]]

Comments

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

She looks up and beams. She doesn't get to see too many babies besides her own around the bar.

"Of course," she smiles and puts the order in, and then holds out her hand. "I'm Claire, by the way."

[opalcity-star.livejournal.com]

He nods and takes the hand before remembering.

"Seth's mom?"

He smiles.

"Nice to meet you, Claire. I'm Jack, this is Teddy."

Teddy for his part gives her big blue baby eyes and giggles.

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"I see you've already met my son. Are you friends with Charlie or Liam, then?" She laughs.

She holds out her hand to shake Teddy's gently. "It's nice to meet both of you."

[opalcity-star.livejournal.com]

Teddy gasps it firmly and tugs.

Notmommy.

Jack nods.

"I've met Charlie...but I wouldn't call us friends. I havne't really made many except a couple upstairs who babysit for me every once in a while. Not that I'm against it, I'm just..."

He shrugs.

"Little anxious about the little guy."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"That's completely understandable," she smiles, rubbing Teddy's palm gently.

"I'm just getting to where I'll let my son stay with a babysitter. Who takes care of him, if you don't mind me asking?"

[opalcity-star.livejournal.com]

He points up the stairs.

"Young couple, just married...uh Gary and Sandra."

He laughs and pokes himself in the forehead.

"Sorry...Garion and Ce'Nedra. The kid's some sort of magician, like Zatara or something. Anyway, he made a bunch of toys for Teddy and his wife was all into babies for a bit and started watching him for me. I was a little paranoid, so for a while I was kinda checking on them with the baby monitor for a bit...but nah, good kids. Teddy loves em."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

She laughs. "Well, that's good. I don't think I've had the opportunity to meet either. But if you ever need someone, just let me know. I stay in room 419. And usually I'm just in there playing with Seth."

[opalcity-star.livejournal.com]

He blinks.

"That's funny. The kid said he worked behind the bar in the mornings."

He shrugs, figuring it's just a quirk of timing, before giving her a nod.

"Sounds like an idea. I'm not too far from their either so I'll be sure to stop by."

Teddy, for his part, reaches out towards Claire. She looks a little like his mommy, except for all the hair. Mommy never had long hair. The hair is pretty, though, so he reaches and reaches and...

Hm. He's out of the carrier and patting her hair with a giggle...

...with his lower half made of mist as he floats.

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

Her eyes widen and she takes a step back instinctively. She's accustomed to being around Snow's children but, still, a floating Teddy is a surprise.

Eventually, she laughs and tries to wrap a careful arm around the more solid half of his body. "Well, that's new."

[opalcity-star.livejournal.com]

"You're...uh...telling me."

He staaaaaaaares.

"Shit...Nash!"

And he growls before calming himself down and reaching out his arms to stroke his hair.

"It's, uh...legacy. From his mother, I'm assuming."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"One of my best friends has a wind baby and a wolf baby." She smiles. "Have you met Snow?"

[opalcity-star.livejournal.com]

He shakes his head.

"Haven't met--um, you mind if I take him a bit?"

He doesn't wait for the answer, though, before gathering Teddy in his arms. He solidifies, which calms Jack down considerably, and Jack holds him tightly as he breathes a couple of times.

"No, haven't met them. I haven't met most people."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

She smiles and says softly. "There are a lot of people, especially babies, who are special here. The Bar takes care of its own, she won't let anything happen to them. But I understand. It's a lesson I'm having to learn myself."

[opalcity-star.livejournal.com]

He nods.

"Sure. I just..."

He wince.

"I just got him back."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"Oh," she sympathizes. "What happened?"

[opalcity-star.livejournal.com]

"His mother and I...not on the best of terms. She, uh...her whole life's work was to be a good enough villain to kill me."

He looks away.

"Then, uh, her father plugged her and she handed him off to me before she died."

He doesn't talk about how Teddy was conceived. He'd rather not think about it.

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"I see." she grimaces. "I'm sorry about all of that. But at least you have him back now. That's a blessing."

[opalcity-star.livejournal.com]

He nods, but he doesn't speak.

Because it hurts too much.

Alone. So alone. God, I miss Mik and Tony. God, Sadie. Miss you, baby. And most of all...Dad. Pops. Ted Knight, the light that's always guided my way even when I didn't want to look.

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"Can I. . .get you something else besides your food? Like a drink maybe?" she asks, concerned.

[opalcity-star.livejournal.com]

He shakes his head.

"Don't, uh, don't like to drink when I'm with the kid."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"Okay," she nods. "But. . .you're sure you're okay, right?"

[opalcity-star.livejournal.com]

He nods.

"I, uh, just lost my dad. Still a little shakey about it."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"I'm very sorry," she says softly. "It's been a rough stretch of time for you recently, huh?"

[opalcity-star.livejournal.com]

He laughs and it's just a bit bitter.

"Yeah, you could say that."

My city burned, my father dead, a new son, friends lost...

Then he sighs as Teddy starts to get finicky.

"Sorry, little guy." He turns to Claire, "Yeah, sorry about the bitter."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

She gestures vaguely. "It's okay. You can't fault people for their emotions. And things will start to get better soon. They always do, eventually."