there and back again

[bloody_rockgod]

[ooc: post the bar at the end of the quest]

It's a blur at first--flashes of movement like film played too fast, sounds sped up and slowed down. Then like an elevator coming to a stop, they're back.

Charlie, Joe, Broom, David, Svava, Scott, and even Sir Didymus still on his steed.

Back.

Just back, like they'd never left.

Comments

[bloody_rockgod]

Charlie turns away from the others and goes to a booth in the back of the bar. He takes off his guitar and sits cross-legged in the seat, then takes out the three envelopes. He doesn't seen Moiraine or Bartleby, so he tucks those away again and places his own on the tabletop.

He leans his head on his hand and contemplates the envelope, frowning.

[notsoyoung]

*he sees Charlie walk into the corner, and almost starts towards him, but thinks better of it, leaving him to his privacy.

At least for a while*

[bloody_rockgod]

Charlie debates holding the corner of the envelope to the candle burning on the table: clearly the answer was "no" and he's not interested in the details.

But he hesitates, and tucks all three letters in the back of the notebook. He sees the letter he had written to Bartleby--the contingency letter, in case he had to explain--and wonders if he should burn that instead.

No. Bartleby needs to see this, too.

His mouth works and he blinks, pinching the bridge of his nose. Be a man. Be a man.

On the whole, he'd rather be a child right now.

[notsoyoung]

David sits, still watching him. Shall I come to you, Charlie? *he asks, although he thinks he knows the answer already*

[bloody_rockgod]

He feels it, lightly in his mind like fingertips through his hair: Shall I come to you, Charlie?

He sighs. He wants to say no. He wants to say yes.

He wants David to come but can't look at where he's sitting at the bar.

[notsoyoung]

*the fact that Charlie hasn't replied in any way whatsoever means that David is curious, if nothing else, so he gets a glass of water for Charlie and joins him in the corner*

Drink.

[bloody_rockgod]

Charlie takes the glass and drinks. "Thanks." He makes a vague gesture to the empty seat.

[notsoyoung]

*he sits down tentatively* The letter was bad news, wasn't it.

*it isn't even a question*

[bloody_rockgod]

"I haven't read it. I'm afraid to. I don't want to know what it says." He snorts to himself. "I know what it says. 'No, you can't go home. You're staying here.' Not, I must admit, what I was hoping for."

[notsoyoung]

*he raises an eyebrow* And what if it says that you've to pack your bags and be ready to leave in 2 minutes' time when the clock strikes the hour?

*he touches his hand gently*

Would you leave?

[bloody_rockgod]

Charlie nods and turns his hand so he can cling to David's. "Everything I own I had with me. Everything that matters. There'd be no need to pack.

I can't bear it, David--will you look at it for me? Will you tell me if it's terrible?"

[notsoyoung]

I will, if you want. *he squeezes Charlie's hand* Give it here.

[bloody_rockgod]

He hands over the Landlord's letter, and with it the one he wrote to Bartleby. "I was going to ask you to deliver that, if needed. It's not needed . . . but please read it anyway. If you like."

[notsoyoung]

*he places the letter to Bartleby aside* - I'll read it after - *and carefully opens the letter from the Landlord. After reading it through, he sighs and his breath shakes.

He doesn't know whether to hand it to Charlie or not, so he reads it instead*

"Charlie Pace

[bloody_rockgod]

Several emotions cross Charlie's face. "Couldn't be more vague, could it," he murmurs finally.

His beloved . . .

At the moment he is not certain who is beloved is.

He looks at David and knows the words he wants to hear, but he can't say them until he's sure they're true. And he does not wish to seek comfort in David's arms tonight.

"Thank you," he says instead, and takes the letter to put it back in its envelope. He stands. "Thank you for coming with me. Looking after me. Everything. I--"

I need Bartleby.

"Good night." He puts everything away in his notebook, including the letter to Bartleby, and heads towards the staff quarters.