(Untitled)

[the_woodpecker]

Time is funny at Milliways.

Some people might see Bernard Wrangle puttering around Bar, before tacking an announcement to the bulletin board:

NEW HIRES
Bartenders
Mal Reynolds
Atton Rand
Harry Dresden
Wes Jansen
Buffy Summers

Bartender in Training
Anakin Solo

Below this, he tacks a new scheduleSatisfied, he recommences puttering --

Comments

[lissla_lissar]

Near the door to the lake stands a Moon white woman with a Moon white dog. The woman has eyes of dark gold, and she wears nothing but a coat-slightly large-a scarf-once around the neck of Xas, the angel-and a white deerskin tunic that comes to her knees.

She watches the room, warily. She is within for the warmth, but will flee if she must.

[the_woodpecker]

Behind Bar, Bernard pulls several martini glasses down, juggling them with all the grace of a maimed bear. it should be no surprise when he drops two.

"Goddammit." He sets the remaining glasses down, and turns to find a broom.

He sees the woman, and pauses.

He's had an inkling from Bar about this woman.

"...Hi."

[lissla_lissar]

The loud noise, and the curse, caused her to tense up and be ready to flee. Ash stands, and looks at him with curiosity. When, however, the man pauses and simply looks at her the woman does not flee, "Good morrow."

[the_woodpecker]

His gaze flickers down as he approaches slowly, Bar between them. "Nice dog."

He's smiling.

[lissla_lissar]

"Thank you." Her voice is less rusty than it was, but still not used to talking, "Her name is Ash." Ash yawns, showing a fleethound's teeth, and the woman's fingers brush her fur.

She isn't smiling, but she isn't running either.

[the_woodpecker]

"Um." He gestures to Bar. "Would you like something to eat or drink?"

[lissla_lissar]

"I have nothing to trade." She informs him with wary gold eyes, "The rabbits here are not good to eat." Ash doesn't mind them, although she worries about her person.

[the_woodpecker]

"...No, they're not. They're not good for your health in any way."

Bernard knows. He lives with one. It stares at him. Sometimes it stares at him from an inch away as it sits on his pillow.

He turns and points behind him to the massive tab board. "See that? It's a record of debt to the bar. Not only can you run up a pretty big debt before I'll ask you to pay any of it, we have a fund set up for people who can't pay. Would you be interested in either of those options?"

[lissla_lissar]

Please excuse her. It is going to be a minute before the rapidly flickering names and numbers on the board stop making her brain go '...'. "Yes." She says after a minute, followed by, "I don't remember a name."

[the_woodpecker]

A new tab opens up on the board at the beginning. A dozen half-formed options flicker into existence, then, just as quickly, flicker back out.

Finally, the letters settle into the simplest name Bar can come up with.

Ash: 0.00

Bernard hides his concern.

"Your tab is started. What are you hungry for?"

[lissla_lissar]

"Something warm." She can't hide, although she tries, the desperate longing of someone who has spent the last several days in a cave, in the Dreaming, in a Scottish winter, with only a slightly oversized coat and a large dog for warmth.

[the_woodpecker]

Bar thinks, and Bernard thinks, and wherever he is, Mikey thinks.

This is what they come up with.

Creamy sausage, potato and leek soup. A crusty bread on the side, to sop up the good stuff. A mug of warm mulled cider and a glass of cool water.

A small slice of chocolate tart for dessert.

And a large bowl of leftovers from the kitchens, for Ash.

This girl needs some meat on her bones. So does her dog.

"Does that look okay?"

[lissla_lissar]

"Yes, thank you." To get the food they need to go further into the bar. Ash makes the decision with the simple directness of a dog faced with warm, good food.

The woman follows her, "Thank you."

[the_woodpecker]

"Welcome."

It's like holding bait out to an animal, Bernard thinks. He waits till she's close by.

"I'm Bernard, by the way."

[lissla_lissar]

"This is Ash." She's fairly certain she said the dog's name already, and she knows she told him she doesn't remember her own. "Good morrow, Bernard."

[the_woodpecker]

He smiles warmly. "Hello, Ash. ...Is there anything that you'd like me to call you, since you don't have a-- Can't recall your name right now?" The smile turns to a grin. "I could, like, rattle off a few names and you could pick one that sounds nice."