(Untitled)

[stilljustandrew]

[Out of Milliways: Not all of wisdom brings joy.]

*Out under the strange stars, a lone figure staggers along the lakeshore. His unsteadiness can be partly explained by half-empty bottle clutched loosely in one hand, but only partly; anyone close enough to see his face -- not that there is anybody, at the moment -- would be able to tell that

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[there_is_a_me]

Eventually Spoon comes out. He's not omnipotent, and neither of his mothers are bitches, but he's there. "Oi, Andrew..." he calls out, with worry.

His nose can smell the alcohol from the bar.

[stilljustandrew]

*Andrew's shouting again.* Q!!!

[there_is_a_me]

Spoon blinks at the American for a moment, and then moves closer to grab his wrists, "Andrew." he says, closer, "What's wrong mate?"

[stilljustandrew]

*He flails against the wristgrab for a moment, until his eyes clear a little and he sees who it is.*

Everything.

Nothing in the multiverse is not wrong.

[there_is_a_me]

"Talk to me." Spoon says, because that kind of thing is exactly what you need sometimes. Just someone to talk to. "Come on, Andrew, talk to me. Do I need to take you home to mum? Annie?"

[stilljustandrew]

No. No --

*He's trying to pull away now.*

I don't, I, no.

[there_is_a_me]

"Shhh." Spoon says quietly, "Shhh. You don't have to talk. You don't have to talk. Shhh." His arms move around Andrew's shoulders, "You don't have to talk to me. Shhh."

He won't say it's alright.

[stilljustandrew]

*Andrew keeps trying to pull away for a moment, and then all at once gives up and leans into Spoon's shoulder.*

*He's shaking.*

[there_is_a_me]

Spoon has nightmares, Ace (on those rare occasions she sleeps) has nightmares, Cora has nightmares. Spoon is good at holding someone while they cry and making quiet, nonsensical soothing noises.

Yes, he is curious. Really, really curious. But he's also brighter than asking.

[stilljustandrew]

*Andrew knows about nightmares. For the better part of a month, once, Andrew knew very well about nightmares indeed.*

* -- a stocky figure in black, crumpling to the floor -- *

*He's likely to have one tonight. By all his reckoning, he deserves it.*

[there_is_a_me]

"Shhh." Spoon says, rocking the other man back and forth gently, "Shhh, I'm here Andrew. I'm here."

[stilljustandrew]

I got it wrong. I didn't know.

*His voice is muffled, and the words barely distinguishable.*

[there_is_a_me]

Spoon hasn't a clue what to say to that, so he keeps saying, "I'm here, Andrew. I'm here."

[stilljustandrew]

*It's enough.*

Gradually, the shaking subsides. Andrew draws one slow breath and lets it out.*

[there_is_a_me]

Spoon keeps patting, "Do you need to come home, Andrew? I can get mum and da'."

[stilljustandrew]

No, I think --

I think I need to be here.