milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

There is a subdued atmosphere in the bar, a bit like the Nyarlathotep incident. A pity people are so unhappy a day before Green!Jack's midsummer party, and the birthday party for Gil.

Asar-Suti has no idea what happened. There's Doctor Lecter by the fireplace, but it doesn't seem like a good idea to ask him. So the violet god of magic sits in a booth, for a change, the same that was Darkened on Saturday, and draws things in a small notebook. Beside the drawings, he writes what looks like gibberish, but are actually Ihlini thaumaturgical formulae.

He keeps an eye open for people he knows, though. And would be glad to be enlightened about the general doom.

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"Thank you for the invitation," Atreyu says, slipping onto the seat across from him, one hand smoothing unconsciously over Auryn. The oppressive atmosphere of the bar is making him claustrophobic, nervous. "Shall I bring a gift?" He knows little about Gil.

"Oh, not necessary, I think," Asar-Suti says. "Hello, Atreyu! Nah, the main thing is, you come to the party and enjoy yourself. It's a birthday party for my friend Gil, and also a housewarming party - we renovated the whole staff wing in March and never really celebrated it. There will be people, and drinks, and cake."

He sighs. "I have no idea what all this is about," he adds, gesturing at the bar at large.

"No more nor less than I, then," Atreyu replies, brow furrowing. "Things are..." He's heard the saying once or twice, but can't remember where. "Out of joint. Clearly enough."

"The bar herself has turned dark, and is serving very slowly, and Doctor Lecter, one of my friend Gil's sous-chefs, is sitting in deep concentration in front of the fireplace, as if in some sort of trance. I have no idea why these things happened, and whether they are connected," Asar-Suti says, slowly.

"Surely they must be." Leaning back, Atreyu crosses both arms over his chest. "All have happened in the last handful of hours or so. I think."

"And all the people I might ask are much too hurt or involved that I could ask them, out of sheer curiosity," Asar-Suti agrees. "It must be something major - I am sorry for whoever it was got hurt or had to leave."

Atreyu is tempted to count himself unlucky that Asar-Suti isn't omniscient. Then again... "It must be no one I've met," he murmurs. The realization brings a little relief, at least, but he doubts he can stand the atmosphere of the bar itself much longer.

Asar-Suti nods. "I've spent much of the day out in the garden, reading and weeding and planting and refilling the seed boxes," he says.

"It will be somebody that somebody I know knows - I already know Doctor Lecter, who is definitely involved," Asar-Suti says. "In this place, everybody knows everybody with just a few hops."

"Of course," Atreyu sighs, leaning forward again and resting his elbows against the top of the table. Even the wood over here seems to feel a little strange, but that might just be his own reaction to whatever strange emotion the Bar is projecting.

"So whatever happens to a few of us tunnels through to all of us at some stage, which is why the feeling of doom can be quite pervasive," Asar-Suti says. "In winter, there was a time when many people had terrible nightmares - it ended up affecting absolutely everybody."

He shrugs. "But I think I can't do or say much about all this yet."

Atreyu clasps his hands, resting his chin against his entwined fingers. "How terrible." He rarely remembered his own dreams, but nightmares did tend to cling, even after waking. Sometimes he still dreamed of Gmork. And of Artax, sinking into darkness. "But yes...better to wait until you know more, I think."

"I will find out more, and see if there are people who will talk, need to talk, even - it was the same when Nyarlathotep was causing the nightmares," Asar-Suti agrees.

"It just makes me unhappy to be unable to help them."

"You are that sort of person," Atreyu murmurs with a slant of a smile, looking across at Asar-Suti from behind the dark strands of his hair. "You..."

He pauses for a moment, considering the most honest way to phrase what he means. "You have a calming effect." Atreyu feels it well enough, or he would never act so openly. When he chooses, he can close himself off from the world, but speaking to Asar-Suti...he doesn't wish to do so.

"Not to everybody, Atreyu - there are people who go ballistic when they see me, or hear my voice, or even just my name," Asar-Suti says, slowly. "But I do as best I can to help where necessary, in such a crisis."

Asar-Suti tries not to be too smug about himself. "I just try."

"Well. No one can possibly be universally loved." Atreyu chuckles, eyes glinting, smile turning fainly impish for just a moment. "But sometimes intention does matter as much as result." He shrugs one shoulder, glancing down at the table.

"Good intentions with no results are no results nevertheless, but bad intentions with good result mar the success just as much," Asar-Suti shrugs.

"I try; that is all I can say. And I will help if I can, whatever it is that needs my help. It's very difficult to just wait, though."

"Yes," Atreyu sighs, all agreement about that. He can't imagine how it must be for a creature like Asar-Suti, or someone like Charles, a spirit unable to leave this place, with no future resolution promised. At least he has something to wait for.

"Yes," Asar-Suti agrees, mirroring his sigh.

The universe sometimes asks strange things.

"I am sorry," Atreyu says, lips curving just a bit, smile sad. He slips out of the booth and rises to his feet. "I should leave you in peace, just now. Surely you have much to do."

"You are always welcome to talk, Atreyu," Asar-Suti says. "But yes, I will have to do a few things yet before evening - I am a god, but I am also a person, here, with a list of things to be checked every day, so to speak."

He gets up as well, and briefly bows to Atreyu.

"I will be glad to talk to you again soon, and see you tomorrow."

Another little bow, and he walks away.

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