milliways_bar | (no subject)

*Alanna walks by, halts and looks back.* Gary?

*She frowns, eyes roaming over him as she stomps to his side. Her hands immediately land on her hips even as her toe starts to tap.*

Sir Gareth of Naxen! Honestly!

"Actually, dishonestly. Had a few friends slip me some, had the rest."

He peers up at Alanna, one eye closed in a wince.

"You know...this position would be much nicer if you were in a skirt."

*Eyebrow quirked, she continues to stare at him. Eventually she emits a long suffering sigh and crouches down beside him with a small giggle.*

Lackwit. You would no more know what to do with me in skirts than Alex does. Perhaps I should go change just to throw you off. *She tousles his hair and gives him an affectionate smile.* Would you like help?

He raises an eyebrow, realizes it doesn't feel like raising, and then moves a clumsy finger to do it manually.

"That depends. How much of a screaming-at will it cost me?"

Considering I was in similar shape a few days ago, I don't think you need to worry. Granted, I managed to stay upright, but mostly because I was leaning on Adam at the time.

*Alanna grabs his finger and assists. One eyebrow raised successfully, she tugs on his hand.*

Come on, let's get you to a booth. *She grabs the bottle and sniffs.* Mithros...

He grins at her as he hauls himself moderately to his feet.

"Tastes of horse dung but it did the trick. And I'd rather avoid the booths, Firetop. Me and boothes have a history."

*Grunting as she tries to help him, she gives him an odd look.*

Is that so? Pray elaborate on that. I'm intrigued. *She looks around.* The bar, then?

He points to the couches.

"Soft for falling over and low to the ground for falling off. Those'll do me fine, I think."

His eyes darken a little.

"I'll discuss the booths when we get settled in."

*Alanna snorts, wrapping her arm around Gary's waist and steering him toward the couch.*

Didn't think I'd be up for spending much time over here for awhile. *She shoots him a worried look.* Everything alright?

He shrugs and lets his head loll the second he lands on the couch.

"Ohhh...you could say that. You could certainly say that."

*Alanna flops down beside him and extends her legs, crossing them at the ankles.*

Explain, please.

He grins at her crookedly before taking another drink from the bottle.

"Oh...came in here a little tipsy, just a tad in my cups...and by that I mean juuuuuust a little better than this, though that was for a far jollier reason, certainly, and I'll not bore you with the details but...had a little nursemaid come to see me."

Just a tad? *Her eyes follow the bottle.* The details won't bore me in the slightest, Gary. I like news from home, however depraved it might be.

*She winks at him.*

Who?

He snorts.

"S'not from home, Alanna. Here. Stumbled in here and Alex paid me a little visit and we spoke and he helped me up to a room."

*Alanna blinks.*

Did he now. How are you two getting on given... everything? *Nervous now, she chews on her thumb.* I had hoped to explain before you saw him.

"Oh, we got on famously. As if the years hadn't even had the bad manners to pass."

And then he looks to Alanna, heartbroken.

"He's paid his debt, yes? He died a traitor's death at the hand of a friend, at your hand, no? I've...I've nothing to hold against him, no?"

He winces and looks away.

"Too drunk to be talking about this. Or too sober."

He looks for his bottle.

*Alanna pales, slowly folding her arms across her chest and staring at her feet.*

Yes. He paid his debt. *She blinks back tears.* Several months ago, we had a horrible fight over a duel he had fought with someone far less skilled than he. Naturally, we decided to settle it by dueling each other. In the course of that duel... much was said. In the end, we both made mistakes and stabbed each other. Badly. Did you know the dead can still bleed here? *Her face goes even more white as she remembers.* Around that time, we discovered he had been seeing visions. He thought he saw Francis. It was the trickery of another patron, but it clarified things for me. We talked, I finally convinced him that Roger had been mucking about in his head and circumstances... changed for us.

But I can't forget that I took his life.

He watches Alanna for a moment before looking away and letting himself slump over.

"I didn't mean to upset you, Alanna. I didn't...I'm just..."

He can't look at her now.

"What you say makes more sense than anything else. Mithros, Alex himself couldn't explain why he'd done it in the first place! I just..."

A sigh.

"I can't stay angry and I feel I should...but at the same time, he's paid his debt...hasn't he?"

He smiles at her, somewhat dazed.

"You're always so certain in your thoughts, Alanna. Tell me. I think too much and it's driving me mad."

*She remains quiet for a moment, picking at her sleeve. When she turns to look at him, her eyes are bright, her voice firm.*

I believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the only reason Alex turned from us was that Roger manipulated his mind. Yes, Alex was full of pride and ambition, but underneath that, I think he always had a good heart. Roger just knew how to take those traits and bend him -and Alex- to his will. Remember when he broke my collar bone? Remember the ice? When I looked into his eyes, they were clouded... it was like looking at a stranger. It was like all this greed and desire to be the best choked back the true Alex.

Roger of Conte has toyed with my mind. I know he's capable of it.

*She pauses, tilting her head as she thinks.*

I won't lie and say it hasn't been hard. My first few months here were full of arguments with Delia, Alex... Roger, certainly. But just as I have changed, so have Delia and Alex, to some extent.

I'm still angry. I'm bloody furious. However, it's over and done. I'm trying not to judge those two by their past actions. Especially now that Delia did what she did, and Alex has broken free of Roger's influence.

But it's hard. I think of Thom, Liam... all the pain... and it's bloody hard.

"I wouldn't get like this for a walk in the park, Alanna. And I know of the problems Alex had; my father was the one to assign him extra hours at Ethics. I just..."

He looks at her, a little more sober but still more emotion than thought behind his eyes.

"I came here last night...and it was as if nothing had ever happened. As if we were friends with no rift between us. As if all this damned terrible trouble had never occurred."

But there's a darkness in his look, a doubt in his words. Something in him says that's wrong.

*Alanna snags the bottle and takes a drink, wincing at the taste.*

What happened when you first saw him, Gary?

"Mostly, I stared. There was some blinking but mostly staring."

I imagine so. *She sniffs, and attempts a smile.* What did you discuss last night?

*absently* I wonder where we would all be if it hadn't happened.

"Me seducing the Ethic's master's daughter."

He grins at Alanna crookedly.

"And all manner of things. And that man of his."

He looks to Alanna, wondering.

"Do you know this gentleman at all?"

He isn't sober enough to consider how things might be if it hadn't happen. Or maybe not drunk enough.

I do. Nick is a good friend, though I don't see him as often as I'd like. He's good for Alex. Very good for him. *She runs her tongue over her teeth.* Vampire, you know?

He nods.

"Saw the teeth the first time. Alex...didn't exactly react well to seeing me."

Oh... Goddess. I suppose I should have warned you. Did you at least part ways peacefully? With Nick? I'd hate for you to be at odds.

He nods again.

"Right as rain."

Good. *She takes another drink and passes the bottle back to him.* Mithros, I wonder if Alex knows about Delia... *Groaning, she buries her head in her hands.* It was so bloody weird to see her.

George's eyes light up.

"Bless my crooked soul.. Gary!" he hails, as he walks over.

Gary waves from the floor.

"George. Hello. You're looking...tall."

Grinning, George crouches down next to his ..sprawled friend.

"Much as I'm glad to see you, I admit the circumstances are a bit.. odd. Is there a reason you're lying on the floor?" he asks, raising an eyebrow. "If you're planning on staying that way, I've half a mind to drag you into my rooms here - you'd make a lovely addition. I could use a carpet...

"Unless you want commentary on your doings in that room of yours, you might want to skip the rare Gareth-rug, as soft as this hair might be under feet."

He gives a half-laugh, picking himself up half way.

"Oh...and glad to see you as well."

"A thought I'd not considered. Good point. Best we get you off the floor then." he says, with mock seriousness. This only lasts for several seconds, and George tries - and fails - to keep a straight face.

Laughing, George offers him a hand - to help him the rest of the way.

He takes the hand and uses it to haul himself up, though he's wobbly when he gets there.

"But at least on the floor, my friend, there's no where left to fall."

"In my old age, I've learned that there's always somewhere else to fall.." George says dryly - as he helps to pull Gary to his feet. Once he's standing, George grabs one of Gary's shoulders to steady him.

"So are you drinking in celebration or to forget something?" he asks.

"A little of both, old friend, a little of both."

He leans on George a bit and winces as the world spins somewhat.

"And how are you, other than tall?"

George raises an eyebrow.

"We'll I've found honest work here.. there's something to be said for that." he says half-smiling. "Aside from that, well that's a might more complicated..."

He raises an eyebrow at George.

"Honest work? You? Thought you avoided such things like plague."

And then he manages to pull up a hand to poke George in the shoulder.

"Go into complicated..."

He seems to think. Or maybe not.

"Well, not too complicated. I've had too much for complicated too much."

He laughs.

"We can save the complicated for another time.." decides George, with a smile. "For the moment, perhaps it's best we get you seated, and you can tell me how you stumbled upon this decidedly odd place?" he suggests, steering Gary toward an empty booth.