milliways_bar | (no subject)

*Is heading towards the bar, when she spies Corwin sitting alone, looking quite morose.*

Now THIS won't do.

*She walks softly up behind him, leaning close to his back as she snakes her arm around to take the second beer*

Good evening, Prince Corwin. Drinking alone, are we?

*Eyes remain on his glass* Evening, Companion.

*In his periphery, he notices her hand reaching for the glass. His hand shoots out to catch her by the wrist. He turns to look at her, his voice flat and his face stone. His eyes, however, betray his pain.*

Don't. Please.

*immediately draws her hand back and slowly pulls the contact from his body, but doesn't leave.*

Corwin.

*She sits down next to him, not saying anything else, but inviting him to talk if necessary*

Bar, another glass please?

*A third glass materializes. Corwin fills it with beer and sits it before Inara.*

*raises glass* To absent friends.

*Takes glass and raises it*

To absent friends.

*She drinks deeply, maintaining eye contact. She reaches over and puts her hand over hers gently*

*Eyes stare ahead, focused on nothing*

My family... well, let's just say we weren't the type for Sunday picnics. Years back, though, before the exile, I decided I wanted to try for a little family unity. It was my birthday, and I invited them all to go to a local tavern for a drink.

*fills their glasses*

Deirdre was the only one who showed up. She was the only one who understood me. I loved her more than all the rest put together.

And she's gone.

*Her eyes fill with sympathetic tears*

She sounds like an amazing person. I wasn't blessed with siblings, but i have someone whom i love like a sister. I don't know what i would do if something happened to her.

*A tear trickles down her cheek, as she squeezes his hand, willing him to talk, to get beyond the frozeness*

The most damnable part is that she died because of my failure. Had I been able to complete my task, had I gotten there in time, had I just been a little bit faster... Brand never would have taken her with him.

*pounds empty pitcher on bar* What does a man have to do to get another pitcher around here?

*Inara takes the pitcher from his hands and sets it on the bar, taking both of his hands in hers.*

I'm sorry, bar. He's had a very rough day.

*A new full pitcher appears, with a complimentary shot beside it*

Thank you bar, but i'm not sure more alchol is what is needed right now.

*She turns to Corwin, squeezing his hands, forcing him to look at her*

Nothing you could have done could have stopped this, Corwin. It's impossible to know the consquences of our actions, good or bad. If you had gotten there, there is no way to know what would have happened. You both could be dead right now. And you might not have been able to save her.

Mourn her, remember her, avenge her if you must, but do not let your grief overwhelm you.

*She squeezes his hands again and lets go. She takes a long sip of her drink, watching him*

*Corwin sits silently for a long time. When he speaks again, it is barely audible.*

I saw her today.

*Startled*

What? Where?

Tirna Nog'th. One of the first Shadows of Amber, it appears only by moonlight. On its steps was Grayswandir forged, and so my sword has some power there. It is also a city of signs and omens.

It was there that I saw Deirdre. It was there, on my beloved sister's birthday, that she confronted me and asked me why I did not save her. And, I had no answer for her.

Corwin, that could not have been real. The dead are dead, they can't come back, especially not to berate someone.

I think this is your guilt creating these images, to torture yourself.

*chuckles darkly* "The dead are dead, they can't come back." Try mentioning that to Alanna. Have you seen how many dead people wander around this place?

Well, i think this place is an exception. Corwin, please don't torture yourself. What's done is done.

*She pauses a moment, then gently touches his shoulder*

Is there anything i can do to make you feel better, even in some small way?

*smiles ever so slightly, then lifts her hand from his shoulder to his lips*

I think you already are, Companion. Thank you.

Of course, Your Highness.

*she looks him in the eyes.*

Anytime.

*She takes a sip of her wine, relaxing slightly, sensing the dangerous moment has passed.*

What are your plans for the next few days? Are you going back out into the Shadows?

*pours himself another glass... but seems to take the time to savor the drink this time*

Actually, no. It's back to Amber for me. The tension with our enemies is escalatating... which is the reason for my trip to Tirna Nog'th in the first place. Looking for signs pointing to correct action.

*sighs* Sometimes, being royalty can be a real pain in the ass.

*She laughs softly*
I know what you mean, your Highness.

We don't have royalty, we have an Alliance, but the power struggles remain.

We do have aristocracy.
*her eyes narrow*
We do indeed.

*grins* Not a fan of the establishment? Well then, damn the Man!

*laughs* Well, Companion, I am obviously feeling better, and I suppose I have you to thank.

*Corwin closes his eyes for a moment and reaches out through Shadow with his mind. Finding what he seeks, he wills it come to his hand...*

For milady. *Corwin holds out a perfectly formed silver rose*

*gasps*
Corwin . . . I don't know what to say. It's beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

And completely unnecessary - but i will treasure it always.

*She leans over and kisses him gently on the cheek*

*grins widely* Now, there's a reaction I could get used to...

I fear it is time for me to leave, Companion. I begin to see the marketability of your services. I apologize if I belittled you on earlier occasions.

*bows deeply*

Until next time.

Ithink we have both seen new sides of each other this night.

*She stands and curtsey deeply*

Good night, sweet Prince. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

*Tere approaches from a corner booth*

Prince, thou art sad...

Is there healing that may be done by thy friends?

*drains glass once more* Not unless you can raise the dead, songbird.

I cannot, but it is not uncommon for the dead to make appearances here. Is it not possible that the one you seek may find his or her way here?

*She sits on his other side and nods a greeting to Inara*

*Stares at glass. It's easier to stem the tears that way*

I don't know. On one hand, I'd love nothing more than to have her here with me... but on the other, it is my impression that the dead are bound here once they enter, and I don't think spending eternity in a bar is exactly heaven.

Tell me, muse. I assume you are immortal. Have you ever lost someone?

I have lost many, my lord. I lose more as every day goes by. Wolfgang, Johann, Pityr...
I am...a dream, my lord. The dream of music, and what I am is entirely dependent on those who dream me. Each death takes a piece of me...

But I have the advantage of always being able to hear those I have lost...

*She gestures to the spheres settled in her lap*

*nods* Yes, being long lived myself, I've grown accustomed to losing those, like your Beethoveen and Bach, with the shorter lifespans.

I was more curious as to if you've lost one of your own... like perhaps a sister.

In a family like mine, it would be impossible not to. I think...that the hardest loss was my sister's son. Since his death...it has been difficult, and that was two millenia past.

*She brushes her fingers against a shimmering blue sphere which sings almost with whale song...*

*Orders another glass from the bar, then pours Tere a drink*

*lifts glass* To family members who have left us.

*quietly, to himself* To Deirdre.

*drinks*

*She touches her glass to his*

To Orpheus and his lady...

*stares down at his empty glass* My apologies, songbird. A lovely lady like yourself deserves to be reveling with her man, not burdened with the company of a morose drunk.

Do not apologise, my lord. Friends keep each other company, no matter what the circumstances.

When you're down and troubled
And you need some loving care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend

*Looks at Tere and smiles for the first time that night. It is a weak smile, but genuine.*

Songbird, I'm honored to know you.

*fills glasses once more*

To new friends, this time.

As I am honoured to know you, Prince.

*She raises her glass*

*Corwin relaxes a bit. He seems glad to be distracted.*

So, Lady Muse, our conversation was cut short the other day when you were about to tell me of the good things in your life. Believe me when I say I would like nothing more than to hear happy news right now...

*She smiles*

My happinesses are small, or would be for most. For me, they are all the world. I have fallen in love and, I believe, he loves me too. I have never felt so...wanted.

Love is not a small happiness, songbird. Don't let anyone lessen your joy by saying it is.

So, what is your love's name?

Sario, Sario Grijalva of Tira Virte.

*She glows when she says his name*

Milady, your happiness is positively infectious. Is he a musician, too?

An arrtio, an artist. He paints. Gloriously. He is a Master beyond all Masters I have ever known.

I am glad.

*raises glass in toast*

To art and love... which is so often an art unto itself.

Aye. Love is an art all it's own...I never knew before. We sit and we wait and then...It just is.

So we wait in the dark
Until someone sets us free,
And we're brought into the light,
And we're back at the start.

And I know things now,
Many valuable things,
That I hadn't known before...

Tell me, is there a muse for that particular art? If so, I should very much like to meet her...

Not as such...

My sister, Erato, reigns over love poetry and Lady Aphrodite *her voice goes both bitter and afraid* rules love in general, but there is no Muse of Lovers. One's lover must be the inspiration or it is not love.

Well spoken, songbird.

*empties glass and stands to leave*

Milady, your grace seems to know no end. Thank you for taking time to cheer up a morbid fool.

*Corwin takes her hand in his. His lips gently brush her knuckles*
Until next time, Lady Muse.

*She rises and courtsies elegantly*

Until we meet again, my lord, good health and good fortune dog thy heels.