(no subject)

[prydeful]

They enter.

That simple, no dramatics, no fanfare, just tired faces. Faith's body is covered in streaks of brown-red, the result of trying to clean off blood without time or water to do it properly, and the rest don't look much better. Dirt, sweat, blood--in some cases their own, in some others', because you can get things cleaned up, bandaged, but the long showers that get it clean in the end, that takes time. There's the scent of violence, smoke, gunpowder, ash, tears, anger, all around them, and they are tired, and dirty, but they're alive, and not hurting too badly.

They enter: Ace, Faith, Kitty, Susannah, Zoe, and the door closes behind them.

Comments

[no-prisoner.livejournal.com]

Eddie bolts across the room; it's more than obvious to him that there's only one of his tet there, and while it's the one he loves most, it's not--

it can't be--

He grabs her out of the wheelchair, hugging her close to him. "You made it. God. Suze. You made it."

[shadowsusannah.livejournal.com]

"I made it."

It's quiet, and her voice doesn't shake, and her arms are tight around him and she smells of blood and cordite.

Wash almost didn't make it. And if she's hugging Eddie even harder --

-- she'll tell him that part later.

After she tells him the rest.

"Oh, sugarman. Eddie. I made it."

[no-prisoner.livejournal.com]

He kisses her face, her neck, her eyes. "The others? Where--Roland? 'Bert and Susan and Al?"

[shadowsusannah.livejournal.com]

"Bert got hit in the chest. Simon's got him in the infirmary. Ought to be fine, especially if we can get him back here so somebody can do their thing. Susan and Alain are with him."

Susannah pulls back and looks Eddie in the face. "Roland was on the thing when it blew, with River, and Tom, and Anthy. They're in Mid-World, Crowley says. Not dead. In Mid-World."

[aj_crawley]

Okay, now he might be sick.

He's over in a flash, grabbing Faith by the arm.

He doesn't need to ask.

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

Faith blinks at him for a moment, then hugs him, fierce and tight.

"It's alright. We won. Tom, River, Roland and Anthy got sidelined to Midworld for a while...Cuthbert got shot, Mal got blown up, the others are still on the ship. But we won, nobody got killed. We're all gonna be OK."

[aj_crawley]

He sags a little, with relief, and then hugs Faith back briefly.

"Where - I mean how - "

He pauses.

"No, better I don't know. Just. One thing. Did I... show up on time? Acquit myself okay?"

[pink-sombrera.livejournal.com]

Sheemie follows Eddie, more slowly, looking over each one of them. And noting just how many aren't there.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe surveys the group that comes to meet them, tense and businesslike. She's not relaxing yet. Probably won't until she gets back to the ship and up to the bridge, where Wash is.

"I hear there's someone who can help us with the forty-odd psychic teenagers we've got hangin' out in our cargo bay?"

[pink-sombrera.livejournal.com]

Sheemie's head comes up instantly, but his voice is tentative when he speaks.

"Thee needs a door, sai? But... sai Riddle..."

[blue_ajah]

Moiraine rises slowly from her seat and stands, watching.

There are far too many people missing for her comfort. Many and specific, both.

Although her composure does not break, the Aes Sedai closes her eyes for a long moment, and then continues to wait. To observe.

[antarianmax.livejournal.com]

Behind the Aes Sedai trails the newly crowned king of Antar. King, Healer -- and right now looking a bit like a lost child.

Max seems a bit afraid, and a bit hangdoggish, and just whispers to her, "There are wounded. Should I ... can I ..."

[blue_ajah]

She turns to look at him, and offers a faint, not entirely serene smile.

"It may be that you will be needed, if you are willing to help, Max." A beat. "And I am certain that it would be appreciated."

[timsbooks.livejournal.com]

*Tim rushes up to his bride, med-kit in one hand. He spares a glance for Faith, to make sure shes okay, then wraps his arms around Ace tightly.*

You okay? Everyone alright?

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

She shakes her head, a difficult task with her holding on to him so tight. She reeks of cordite and blood and terror, but she's here, and he's here, and thats good enough for right now.
"Cuthbert was shot, an' Mal caught the bad end of an explosion. River, Roland, Tom, an' Anthy got sent off to some other world."

A pause.

"No one's dead. We're alright."

[timsbooks.livejournal.com]

*He picks her up, difficult because without his magic he's just a skinny little geek, but he carries her over to a booth and sets her down carefully. Bur he doesn't let go.*

How're you?

[xan-shaped.livejournal.com]

Xander stares, mainly at Kitty and Faith-- though Ace gets a worried glance, too.

Something bad.

Well, duh. When isn't it bad, when people look like they do?

But still, the eternal optimist in him prompts him to say,

[prydeful]

"Only in your wet dreams, Xander."

[xan-shaped.livejournal.com]

He smiles. "Damn."

Pause.

"Uh, are you ... I mean, you look-- well, fabulous, obviously, but there's kind of the dirt and the blood."

[iustus_rex]

Someone was sitting quietly in the corner, with tea and his sketchbook, apparently calm as he sat and sketched and ignored the comings and goings in the bar.

There's a thermos on the table, as well, next to his cup of tea.

And this time, when the door opens, he looks up, and ten seconds later has his arms wrapped around Kitty.

[prydeful]

It's a moment, and then she's holding him more tightly than she knew she could.

"Hey."

[iustus_rex]

Softly, "You're all right, then."

Not a question, not quite.

[balletrat]

*Meg's face is pale, as she counts up arrivals.

She didn't know, exactly, who'd gone - but that can't be right.*

[prydeful]

Kitty looks at her tiredly. "Hey."

[balletrat]

- you look dead, *Meg says, with her normal gracious tact and concerned eyes.*

How'd - how'd it go?