milliways_bar | (no subject)

Lilly smiles.

"I think we're starting to have the makings of one of Susan's wedding presents, then, because I happen to have pictures of Koosh in a beanie."

Now all we need is to find some way to rustle up his baby pictures -

"I bet Roland or Alain could help us-" Lilly starts to say, and then breaks off, sighing.

"Fuck. No Roland now. I keep forgetting that."

. . . no Roland now? *Meg repeats, her smile fading, unnattended-to.*

- what do you mean?

Lilly blinks at her, startled.

"Oh god, you didn't hear? Roland's alive and everything, but... he went back to his world, right after the attack on the Academy. Somehow a door opened up and he went through."

*Meg stares back at her, rather stunned.*

. . . what?

- mon Dieu, he's gone for good, then. He'd never come back, after he'd got home -

Lilly bites her lip, nods.

"Yeah, I don't think he's coming back."

She smiles a bit, or tries to.

"But hey, at least he's back on his path or whatever, right?"

It's - it's what he's wanted for a long time, yeah, *Meg says, unhappily.*

I just - I mean, selfish, yeah, but I wish there was a chance to say goodbye, and all. Sort of thing.

"Yeah," Lilly says, nodding.

"I wish there had been too. I mean, I only ever got to throw pistachio shells at him that one time. If I'd known he was leaving, I so would have done it again."

I wanted to give him my ever-filling coffee cup, actually, *Meg admits, a little sheepishly.*

- I mean, of everyone I've ever met? He needed it the most.

*She hesitates, then adds,* And I think - he might've liked to see Paris again.

"He probably would have liked that," Lilly says quietly.

"Both the coffee cup and Paris, I mean."

She sighs.

"Yeah. Lack of goodbyes suck."

*Meg makes a face.*

You know - everyone knows this place isn't a permanent kind of place, but still, when people leave . . .

Lilly shrugs.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Even if you know people are going to leave, it still really sucks when it happens."

But it is better when you know in advance, *Meg agrees, with a sigh.* Gives you time to get used to the idea -

Lilly nods, slowly.

"Yeah..."

She smiles crookedly.

"If I ever know that I'm leaving, I promise to tell you before I go. So we can have a goodbye, at least."

*Meg looks at her for a long moment, and then nods, once, firmly.*

- you'd better. Or I will hunt you down.

"I will," Lilly says, and for once she's entirely serious.

"I didn't get goodbyes... well, the first time I needed them. If I can help it, I won't let that happen again."

Me, neither - if I can help it, *Meg agrees, just as serious.*

But the way I get here - the door could close any time. So I won't make any promises I can't keep.

I'll find some way to send word, though, I promise that. Even if I have to post a letter all the way to the end of the universe.

Lilly smiles a bit at that.

"God, you'd need so many stamps. Maybe we should just count on one of the random telepaths hanging around the bar to pick up on it instead."

No thanks, *Meg says, immediately.* I'm nobility now, I can afford it - and I'd rather not have anyone listening to my head, if it's all the same.

Lilly arches an eyebrow.

"You're nobility? When did that happen?"

- oh, didn't I tell you? *Meg says, a trifle sheepishly.* Andrew and I got a province. On Antar.

Is it bad I can't remember the name of my province?

Lilly cracks up.

"Yes," she says in between giggles. "Your people will revolt, if they remember who you are, of course. Oooh, does this mean you and Andrew have titles now?"

Yeah, we're Lord Wells and Lady Giry, *Meg says, rather ruefully.*

- I did hire a good steward to take care of the estate. Seeing as it's, you know, on another planet, and you know, I kind of liked being one of the people who could revolt, instead of the people who were revolted against -

Lilly laughs again.

"One of the perils of being a revolutionary. Sometimes you end up as exactly what you were revolting about in the first place. Well, hey. If you get revolted against, I'll have to be on your side. I'm Lady Lilly, after all."