milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Raven is still in the bar, draped lengthwise over two chairs, his head hanging over the seat edge, and reading a small book.

Come stop him before all the blood rushes to his head.

[Raven talks to Sarah Rainmaker; she gives him a gift, he gives her a promise. Raven also speaks to Iris, meets the Night Mare and, predictably enough, offers to help her.]

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Sarah half smiled, padding over from her table near the window where she'd been since that morning, "Are books better upside down?"

Raven smiles.

"The books are not, no. But the crick in my back is going away very nicely."

He swings himself upright. "Hello again, Sarah. How have you been?"

Her half smile became a full smile at that, shrugging as she helped herself to a chair, "Pretty good, still popping up here randomly. Don't mind it really though. Yourself?"

He smiles.

"I am doing very well, indeed, though I think the rest of the patrons are not quite as well."

"How do you get here, again, if I may ask?"

She shrugged, "Always trying to go somewhere else and get here. Through the front door, down the stairs, through the door to the lake, I've gotten here all of those ways." Another shrug, "Getting home is the same way."

"I would have thought entrances and exits would be less random, in this place."

She nodded, "So would I." A shrug then, "And maybe some people come here on purpose, if I knew how I know I would." She was struck by sudden realization or perhaps remembrance, "Oh!" Her fingers darted to her hair, working one of the feathered clips loose before sliding it across the table, it was a chip of soapstone, one that had been vaguely bird-shaped to start with, but had been etched -somewhat clumsily- to become a raven in flight, held to the clip with a twist of silver wire that had a few glass beads threaded onto it and a pair of feathers dangling from one side, bound together with a twist of red thread, "Thought you might like that. Made it ... " She shook her head, "Years ago."

Raven's smile grows very bright, and his voice is very soft.

"I thank you very much, Sarah."

He reaches out a hand, almost hesitantly, and takes the clip.

"I am rarely given gifts."

"It is very beautiful."

She shrugged, still smiling faintly herself, deciding that she may as well give him the whole story, "I couldn't have been more than about eight, probably younger, and my uncle Billy had just told me a story about you, about making yourself a body out of a rock, so, at that age, I figured I'd make you one too, just in case I ever met you and you needed a spare."

"I did need one, once. I may need one again. I thank you very much for the thought, and the effort."

He smiles.

Sarah smiled as well, somehow more brightly than before. She felt eight years old again, and it was a good feeling, it just broke right through the doom and gloom that seemed to be hovering over the bar that day, making her feel lighter than she had in... well, in years, "You're welcome."

Was uuber-butch, tough-girl Sarah Rainmaker... Blushing?
Why yes, yes she was.

"It is a very good thing to have friends such as you, Sarah Rainmaker. If you ever need anything of me, you have but to ask."

He does not mention the blush.

She blinked twice at that, completely taken aback, but she nodded once, "Thank you. I'll... I'll keep that in mind."

She smiled a moment later as she rose, "I should go, might actually make it home in time for dinner, that is, if I actually make it home at all." A pause then before, "I'll see you around."

And with that she headed off to try the door for once.

"I believe you will see me again, Sarah."

He watches her go.

"That can't be healthy." a voice says.

"It's doing wonders for the crick in my back, actually. You should try it."

He smiles, and swings himself upright.

"Hello again, Iris. Will you sit?"

She hops onto a chair cutely. "I do believe I will." she replies. "How are you doing, Raven?" she asks, smiling brightly.

"Well, and more than well." His smile is huge.

"How are things with you?"

She smiles and cocks her head sideways curiously. "How so?" she inquires with a wry smile.

"I am well." she replies.

"There are so many people to meet, here, and I have made some very good friends already."

"Also, the food is wonderful."

He tucks one knee under himself.

"I am glad to hear you are well."

"Friends are always good things to have." she replies, nodding.

"Who have you met so far." she asks.

"So very many people."

He grins. "This list is very long. Susan, Adam, Aziraphael, Crowley, Bernard, Tonks, Lilly, Bill, Caspian, yourself, Jack, Ingress, Tom, Kerowyn, Ace, Tim, Faith, the triplets, Duo, Puck, Merriman, Bran, Cort, Roland, Cuthbert, Random, Guppy, Mitzi, Ray, Audrey, George, Tony, Mike, and some more that I can't remember now."

Iris laughs as he lists some of the names. "No wonder you have had a good time, with a crew like that, it'd be impossible to do otherwise." she replies. "I do not believe that I have met all of them, myself." she replies.

"Have you met my ward yet, sir?" she inquires.

"Your ward?"

"I do not think I have."

Iris glances around briefly, shivering after a moment. "She is by the fire." she replies, turning back to him. "I mentioned you to her briefly and she seemed interested."

"Perhaps I should visit her, then? Or shall we ask her over here?"

Iris pauses a moment, turning her head as if listening to something, her eyes go vacant briefly. When she turns back to him her face is a twinge paler. "She is..." A dark shadow appears beside the sorceress, her dead black eyes staring at the woman carefully.

"Yes, I would like you to meet someone. This is Raven." Iris replies.

The black eyes flick to the man, a red fire burning deep within them.

"Hello, Night Mare. Well met." His own eyes are very deep, and very dark.

The horse snorts delicately and looks at the man interestedly.

"I am no human, Serenitatis. Though it is easy to make that mistake."

The Night Mare comes closer, the smell of smoke fills the air, her eyes regard him carefully and she inhales deeply.

"I am a man, and I am a bird, at least in the shape I wear. However, without the body that binds me, I am mostly Power."

He shrugs, unconcerned.

"I like people, very much. And it is habit, now."

"They are fascinating. And they have so many options. Also they are one of the few creatures I have met that are so capable of lying to themselves."

"It is not logic. It is curiosity, and an ability to see the world in ways that it took a long while to comprehend. I like learning."

The mare nods.

"If you like, I could perhaps teach you from an outsider's perspective. Such a thing might be easier for you to understand."

The mare stares at him.

"I am pleased to help."

Raven smiles.

"You can find me in the bar, most times, or I could meet you outside, some time."

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