(Untitled)

[ostro_goth]

It is rather early still when Teja comes in, bringing several small leather bags from the forge. One by one, he sets them upon the bar, with instructions; one by one, they vanish. Among them is the finely extruded gold and silver wire for Ravin Lichwell, the pin for Enzo Matrix, and the ring for Billy Kaplan.

In turn, the bar brings up a message

Comments

[licensed_pro]

Charlie comes back in--thankfully, without snow--in very much different dress than he left; the carelessly half-undone shirt and waistcoat are left on from errands earlier. He leans on the back of Teja's chair lightly with a hidden smile.

"Don't you look lonely. Missing someone?"

[ostro_goth]

"My Charlie!" Teja says, turning his head and looking up with great amazement. "It is you that I am missing! You note said you had gone home!"

Count jumps from Teja's shoulder right onto Charlie's arm.

[licensed_pro]

The look on Teja's face makes him laugh, and drop down beside the chair to better talk. "I did, and just came back. I didn't want to be away for too long. Just needed to make a few 'link calls."

He lets Count jump, and catches him, bringing him up to nuzzle the soft fur. "I told you I wouldn't be gone long."

[ostro_goth]

"Indeed, you said so in your note," Teja says, pointing to the half-crumpled paper on the table. "But, you know, my Charlie..."

Deep sigh.

"Time is strange around this place, and the door is fickle. When my Asher last came back, after three months of absence from me, he swore only a day had passed in his world. For many others, time passes more quickly in their world than here: - they live a month or two, and return here after what is, in this place, but a few days. It is that way for Carlotta, the girl that Demeter and I have taken under our wings. And then there are the truly dark tales..."

He sighs again, then bends forwards to touch his lips to Charlie's brow.

[heyfootballhead]

Around the time Count starts begging for attention, Arnold appears, model airplane in hand.

"Hi, Mr. Teja!" he says in greeting.

[ostro_goth]

"Greetings, Arnold!" Teja says, looking up from the little cat in his arms. "Is that a small flying machine that you have there?"

[heyfootballhead]

"Yes, sir! I put it together from a kit." He holds the plane out for Teja to look at.

[ostro_goth]

"Can it fly?" Teja asks.

[lichvell_r]

Ravin will pick her up her order later, and leave pay and a little extra into Teja's tab.

And then go upstairs to work.