milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Arithon enters the bar, and then leaves it again. To the lake, not out the front door. He has a pipe and a small leather pouch in one hand.

Upon getting out there he heads to the spot by the trees that he finds most comfortable, and begins to pack the pouch with dried herbs.

A couple of deep drags on the thick, choking smoke later the seer's weed encounters a body wasted by; stress, war, more war, stress, fasting, dehydration, and did we mention six years of war?, and with a quiet sigh he drops the pipe and quietly falls over.

Note to the sane: using tienelle when not at peak form is very stupid.

((This post is slow-timed. There is breaking, and doom, but of the sort that will be fixable in the end. Special thanks goes to Aspen, without whom this would have just been more flailing and pain and suffering. Aspen deserves love. SparklyJess, Star, and Madb, thus, love her.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She hears Arithon, and takes a deep breath, to slow and calm the tears. Another, and another, until she's quiet, and can reach out a hand across the table to him.

Archie doesn't move for a few moments, except for the hand that is still, automatically stroking Svava's hair. Finally though, he blinks and, swallowing hard, he looks down at the hand Svava's offered to the other man.

He sets his hand in it, frail and light as a bird, for a moment before taking it away again.

She should understand, now, that it isn't hate. He just can't right now.

Svava does understand. 'Can't right now' isn't forever, which is what broke her the other day. There will be later, and that's enough.

More than enough.

There's a faint nod to Arithon, her eyes still saddened, but there's relief there as well. Later, and they'll speak more, and fix things-

But at least now there's the hope that they can be perhaps fixed. A quiet sigh, and she settles against Archie.

Archie nods and closes his eyes for a moment in gratitude and relief. When he opens them again, the fear is still there, though not as open and near panicked as before. Things will be better. Someday.

"You should rest, Arithon, we should... leave you for now.

He hugs Svava close, supporting her as much as she'll let him.

"Good night."

He says it quietly, and he does look ready to sleep where he is.

"Some rest, yes. Tashka will make sure you have food and water." Svava nods, quietly, and slowly stands.

Archie nods again, avoiding Arithon's eyes, his arm still protectively around Svava. He scans the area looking for the little silver-necklaced rat, knowing that she wouldn't have to be asked to take care fo him.

"Come, sweetest, you need rest too."

Gently, he guides Svava towards the stairs. He doesn't look back.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only