(Untitled)

[twoeyesonthesky]

For the first time since that outbreak of involuntary singing, Quinn is voluntarily setting foot on his native Earth's soil. He's got the supplies and the volunteers, after all; there's no reason to stay in the bar

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[twoeyesonthesky]

Quinn's been busy. Then again, he's always busy. That's the nature of this place. The last time it was quiet here... well, he had a fever at the time, so it might not really have been quiet. It's one of those things.

It's weird to hear the people talking as he goes about his part of the daily work. The idea of Milliways is the sort of thing that'd cause most of them to think him mad. If it weren't for Naraht, they'd still think he was- he's quite sure of that. As it stands, the Horta's had to put off tunneling properly more than a few times just to make sure everyone's seen him enough to believe in his existence. Quinn was there for the first two or three expositions. After that it was rabbit time, and goat time, and working out a roster for planting tomorrow- the seeds are here, after all, and they've got to get people out there to put them in the ground before they rot. They'll make up for a lot of lost potential that way.

It's not until close to sundown that Quinn remembers to head back to the castle proper and make his way up the stairs in search of the humans who came with him. "Veronica?" he calls, coming down one of the corridors. "You in here? It's about supper time..."

[watching_you]

"Hey! In here!" she calls, half-turning from the window as she does. She doesn't leave, not right away: there are certain things you don't see every day, even as a girl detective, even as a patron of Milliways. It's worth it to hold on to these things as they occur.

[twoeyesonthesky]

Quinn smiles to himself and sticks his head into the room. "There you are. We haven't scared you off yet, have we? It isn't every day we get new people. Or ever, really.'

[watching_you]

The grin she gives him is quick, a short glance over the shoulder. "Not even close. It'd take a lot more than bunnies to frighten me off."

A last look, and she turns away from the window, putting her hands into her pockets. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wander away. I hope it's alright that I was looking around."

[twoeyesonthesky]

"I was thinking more of some of the lads," Quinn says, leaning against the door frame. "Jared can't stop talking about you. I expect he's going to be opening every door in the castle with the hope of seeing Milliways on the other side, once you've gone back."

He nods. "It's all right. Didn't want you to miss dinner, though. Not after a day like this."

[watching_you]

Veronica lets out something that's halfway between laughter and choking, at Quinn's comment. "Um. Wow. Now, that is a little more scary, actually. Not that -" she waves a hand, urgently, "- Not that he's not a great guy. I. Um."

She shakes her head, and grins manically: the expression suggests Let's change the topic. "You mentioned dinner?"

[twoeyesonthesky]

"Sorry," Quinn says. "If it helps, half the castle'll probably be tryin' to get to Milliways, and it'll have nothin' to do with you. Everyone here wants a crack at somewhere new, if you see what I'm saying."

He nods. "They've got it down in the castle kitchens. It's not much compared to where you've been, but we did all right over the winter. At least, as far as we ever do. How're you about mushrooms?"

[watching_you]

"I don't blame them. I think that's the reason so many people go to Milliways in the first place, or at least the reason why they stay. A place to escape whatever it is you need to escape."

Veronica smiles, gently. "Love mushrooms. Sounds great."

[twoeyesonthesky]

Quinn nods. "I'll tell you," he says, "when Captain Reynolds told me how much those silver coins we found're worth in his world..." He's silent for a bit, looking at the floor. Then he looks up and flashes a quick smile. "I couldn't've bought the Barman out anyway. Too much else to do."

"All right, then. Kitchen's down two floors. People eat about where they like, though they've got to return the dishes if they haven't got one of their own. I haven't eaten yet either."

[watching_you]

"I can't see you owning a bar, anyway," Veronica tells him, after a moment of critical thought. "There's a difference between being a leader and a manager."

With a nod, "Sounds good." She thumbs over her shoulder, towards the window. "I should probably close that, right?"

[twoeyesonthesky]

"Creedy, maybe," Quinn says. "His parents did, before. I expect he'd've loved the thought. . .Yeah, would you? Lets the cold in. 's not like we've got central heating here."

He leads the way out of the room and down the corridor. There are rooms here- store-rooms, mostly, unlit and untouched. The door to one is ajar, but all that's in there are blankets ("All that's left from a military school- half the kids' clothes here are made from those") and a few cleaning supplies. Here and there along the walls someone's put up a bit of art, usually on some scrap of paper or some very old and otherwise useless fabric, but this isn't really the most residential part of the castle. The pictures, and the general human comforts, grow more common the further down they go.

"We'll find you somewhere to sleep after supper," he says as they start down the stairs. "Most of us're in communal space. Easier to keep everyone warm that way."

[watching_you]

Veronica takes it all in with interest, lagging a few steps behind when she sees things that catch her eye. The kids' drawings, where they're posted, are more scribbles of castle walls and shapes overhead than the typical, 'here is my house with a scribble of smoke from the chimeny and a cat out front'.

"Right," she mumbles as she catches up, only half-listening to what Quinn says. "Okay."

[twoeyesonthesky]

Quinn casts a glance over his shoulder at Veronica. "You all right back there?" he asks.

[watching_you]

"I'm fine!" she says quickly, and forces a smile. "Just culture shock, I guess. Still getting used to some things."

[twoeyesonthesky]

He nods a little. "I know the feeling," he says. "Look, if you want-"

There's a little hesitation as he navigates a stretch of the steps that's in need of repair. Nothing serious, but the stones are wobbly.

"There's a book I've been keeping since the beginning. It's for the kids, mostly. But you're welcome to look, if you want. I dunno how much good it'll do you, but it's the best I could do to make sense of it all."

[watching_you]

"A book-?" Veronica follows carefully, stepping where he steps, avoiding where he avoids. "What kind of book?"