(Untitled)

[realmrsreynolds]

[OOM: Sallie Abigail Reynolds.Sallie enters Milliways with a plain satchel over one shoulder and a freshly-made pie in her opposite hand. The pie needs to get dropped off first, so Sallie climbs a barstool, dropping the satchel to the floor and letting Bar whisk the pie off to the ether where everything stays when she has to hold something, and

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[blowupthefloats]

"Sallie? Everything all right?"

There's another hand, gently (and slightly hesitantly) covering hers as John sits down beside her.

[realmrsreynolds]

"Nnngh. No."

Hard not to smile at the hand on top of hers though.

"Hi John."

[blowupthefloats]

"Hi, yourself."

He smiles back, though not before frowning a little when her answer to his question is no.

"Wanna talk about it?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"Yes. No. Maybe?"

She's choosing to camp out on the bartop still.

[blowupthefloats]

He chuckles. "I didn't know this was going to be multiple choice."

[realmrsreynolds]

"That's what happens when you see your ex-husband for the first time in forever, I suppose."

[blowupthefloats]

John flinches, his memory going back a year and the last time he saw Gwen.

"He didn't hurt you, did he?"

His hand may have tightened over hers, just a little.

[realmrsreynolds]

"No. No, he just - he just showed up. At my house.

"He wants me to put my son in touch with him, 'cause he can get Malcolm a job. Which I'm sure is only for his advantage, but...he's just playing me. Again, and so quickly."

Sallie finally tries to straighten herself up on her stool, but her eyes never really look straight at John.

"Damned if I do, damned if I don't."

[blowupthefloats]

The hand relaxes slightly, but does not move.

"I take it Malcom and your ex aren't on good terms?" John guesses. There's no need to ask whether or not Sallie's on good terms with her ex-husband; not by the tone in her voice.

[realmrsreynolds]

"They haven't even seen each other since before he started havin' to shave."

Sallie had to get Skouris to teach Malcolm that one. It stung.

"We just...never talked about him. Never had to - wasn't worth it, and now I have to."

[blowupthefloats]

John doesn't know a lot about Sallie's son or the history of her family, and he doesn't pretend to either.

"Do you...need any help?" he asks. He's not sure what, exactly, he can do in this situation. But he'd be willing to do it if she wanted him.

[realmrsreynolds]

It's that same thought that comes out of Sallie's mouth with the question.

"What would you do?" she returns helplessly. "If I thought of something, I'd say."