(Untitled)

[balletrat]

*Meg's sitting at a table, and frowning.

In front of her - not right in front; more in the middle of the table, far enough that she'd have to reach to pull it closer if she wanted to read it - is a book. A history book, to be precise, an overview of the twentieth century; Meg picked it up from the bar a few minutes ago

Comments

[shelley_winters]

Shelley, in passing, wonders if there's something special about it.

So it is that Meg gains a redhead also eyeing the book.

It's Milliways. Anything could happen.

[balletrat]

*It takes Meg a moment to realize that She Is Not Alone.

When she does, however, she looks up, breaking into a grin.*

- Shelley? I haven't seen you in ages!

[shelley_winters]

Shelley smiles amiably.

"Yes! I have not been here," she explains.

"How are you? Apart from, er, worried by literature?"

[balletrat]

It's not literature that worries me, *Meg explains, a little wryly.* It's history.

*She perks up.* But other than that I've been good - though there were the weeks with the baby which were, er, less restful. Er. Anyways - how've you been? Where've you been?

[shelley_winters]

"Oh, history," says Shelley doubtfully. "There's rather a lot of that."

"...Baby?"

[balletrat]

That's half the trouble, *Meg says, glumgly, and then eyes Shelley.

Meg knows that look.

Very, very hastily:* My cousin. Derry - I was babysitting her.

[shelley_winters]

"Oh, I see! For- for weeks?"

That's rather a long time, no matter how many of her own experiences may have seemed to last that long.

[balletrat]

Her mother got vexed with my father, *Meg explains, ruefully,* and, er, kind of disappeared on us.

It was fun! *she adds, brightly.*

. . . when it wasn't horribly nerve-wracking and exhausting, but.

[shelley_winters]

Shelley winces.

"Oh dear. But everything's okay now? She reappeared?"

You have to check these things.

[balletrat]

*Meg waves a vague hand.* Yeah, she showed up kind of randomly in our room, swooped up the baby and disappeared again - you know how the Endless are.

*A giggle.* My father is much less pissy these days, at least.

[shelley_winters]

Actually, Shelley doesn't. But never mind that!

"Well, that's a good thing. I take it he didn't like the situation?"

Shelley has never met Desire. This is probably a good thing for all concerned.

[balletrat]

My aunt, *Meg says, solemnly,* wouldn't let him smoke while the kid was around.

*She lowers her voice dramatically.* So she took his cigarettes.

[shelley_winters]

:O!

"Oh dear," says Shelley, infected by the drama of Meg's tone. "How terrible! He got them back, yes?"

[balletrat]

Well, now he does, *Meg says, her voice reverting to normal.* Since the baby's gone - so no risk of giving her, I dunno, whatever it is that smoking's supposed to give people.

[shelley_winters]

"Cancer or lung disease," says Shelley promptly, who lives in a world of health-awareness posters. "Or both!"

[balletrat]

- so that's it! *Meg says, with an air of discovery.*

I heard that smoking was bad for you while I was here, but no one explained to me exactly how.