Long Road to Ruin
Title: Long Road to Ruin
Characters/Pairings: Eloise Hawking
Rating: PG
Summary: Eloise marks an anniversary.
Spoilers/Warnings: Up to 5x14; references to character death.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: Co-winner of second place for lost_in_108's Challenge #5, Liquor. Title from the Foo Fighters.
----
She finds the first bar near the church. (A life spent searching for redemption but she feels it slipping, beyond her grasp, now.) It's a rundown, grimy place, and the bartender -- drying mugs with a towel more filthy than clean -- regards her sharply.
"My son died today. Overseas."
(She doesn't say 30 years ago or it's all my fault.)
The man nods, full of sudden sympathy. "The war," he murmurs. "Died a hero."
(Or a fool.)
A glass of something amber appears in front of her; the bartender raises another. "To your son."
"To Daniel."
The words taste just as bitter as the liquor going down.
Characters/Pairings: Eloise Hawking
Rating: PG
Summary: Eloise marks an anniversary.
Spoilers/Warnings: Up to 5x14; references to character death.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: Co-winner of second place for lost_in_108's Challenge #5, Liquor. Title from the Foo Fighters.
----
She finds the first bar near the church. (A life spent searching for redemption but she feels it slipping, beyond her grasp, now.) It's a rundown, grimy place, and the bartender -- drying mugs with a towel more filthy than clean -- regards her sharply.
"My son died today. Overseas."
(She doesn't say 30 years ago or it's all my fault.)
The man nods, full of sudden sympathy. "The war," he murmurs. "Died a hero."
(Or a fool.)
A glass of something amber appears in front of her; the bartender raises another. "To your son."
"To Daniel."
The words taste just as bitter as the liquor going down.