milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Kitty in bar. Sometime after speaking with Dream, probably. Or before. Who knows. Maybe there's a time loop going on. Maybe not.

She's there. That's what matters.

Oh, and there's coffee.

Is anyone surprised by this?

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Susan approaches, carrying Derry and followed by Cuthbert.

The baby gurgles cheerfully and reaches out for Kitty. Susan's smiling, a little, but it looks mayhap a touch strained.

"Long days and pleasant nights, Kitty."

Kitty might look the same. As the mun has decided this is post Dream, and Kitty's trying to work out the fact that she's now calling him, "Uncle," and not go hide in the Danger Room.

Family tree from Hell. Or at least Desire's realm.

"Twice the number to you, Susan." She smiles when she takes Derry, dropping a kiss to her forehead. "Were you a good girl for Susan and Cuthbert?"

"She was, aye." Cuthbert's own smile isn't strained, but it's small.

"We, ah--we spoke to her mother, a bit earlier."

The smile's gone.

"...Dream had mentioned she was well." Calmly. "And what did she say?"

And oh, but Susan's look is understanding. She remembers, aye very well indeed, a conversation that she'd had with Kitty while sitting in the air above the lake outside.

Softly, she says, "She's expecting to come back for her soon, Kitty. Two days, it were, she said."

Even more softly, she adds, "Say sorry."

Her face is carefully controlled as she presses her lips to Derry's hair for a moment.

"Say thankya for telling me." Quietly, holding Derry close. "And for watching her, of course." She looks up, and her face is controlled, but her eyes aren't quite as much.

Cuthbert's standing silently nearby, but Susan doesn't need to look at him as she says,

"It were no trouble, Kitty, say true. Never in life-- she's-- she's very dear."

Understanding, oh aye, although she doesn't speak of why, not here-- saying some things makes them more real, and Kitty's fight for control is very clear.

"We thought-- we thought ye'd best know as soon as could be."

"Thank you," again, quietly, brushing at Derry's hair. "Did Del say anything else?"

Cuthbert shakes his head. "Nothing else about Derry."

Which is not the same as not saying anything else. But anyway.

"Alright." She looks at Derry and smiles a little. "Baby girl, you're mummy will be back soon. No more crying til then, yeah?"

Derry might nod, a little, and snuggle up against Kitty.

"She didn't gnaw on your hat, again, did she?" It's funny the things you think of, sometimes.

Cuthbert smiles a bit crookedly. "She did, a bit. No lasting damage, I don't think."

"Good, and say sorry." Derry gets a slightly wry look before, "I'll--I'm going to put her to bed, now, so thanks, again. Good night, both of you."

Cuthbert nods to her.

"Long days and pleasant nights, Kitty."

Then, taking a moment to pat the baby's back, "And you too, little one."

"Long days and pleasant nights," she echoes softly.

Then, as Kitty and Derry leave, Susan looks up at Cuthbert and says a very few words.

"Not-- I'll explain, but-- not here. Please?"

With that, she turns and leaves the bar, heading for her room.

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