(Untitled)

[fathers_cleric]

Here is a face that the bar has not seen in a long time. A very long time.

"-Robbie, I need you to-"

Preston frowns as the door opens, not to his bathroom but to...a bar.

The bar.

It all comes flooding back and Preston steps in before closing the door behind him.

Thank Father.

He collapses into a chair, mentally thanking the universe.

Comments

[ninja_mountie]

Some of the people here've seen him before, and some of them haven't. The fellow at the next table falls into the latter category. Even sitting down, he's... well, he's small. You could describe him as bantam-sized and probably get away with it. His hair is the color of burnished silver; his eyes are the same striking hue, if you look close enough.

He might be a bit more noticeable if he were in his red tunic just now, but he's not. That'll come later, when he heads out for the evening. For now he watches the new arrival with some interest, hands around a cup of tea so small it would not be out of place in a girl's playset.

[fathers_cleric]

John's head is slumped against the table, hands on his sides.

To the untrained eye, he might look asleep, but he's just getting reaquainted. After a moment, his head rises and he heads over to the bar proper, his face bright, "-Bar?"

The bar says nothing.

"...Thank you. I really needed this."

Bar provides him with a cup of tea from a smooth ceramic set with little chinese characters on the side reading "Peace" and Relaxation.

[ninja_mountie]

The Chinese characters get an interested look. It's been a while since he's seen anything like those; it takes him a while to remember what either of them say. Weng Hao wasn't an academic sort of teacher, after all.

"You look like it's been a long day on a bad road, friend," he observes quietly.

[fathers_cleric]

Umm. Tea. Sorry, he can't hear you, he's pulling an old uncle from an elemental universe.

Preston sets the cup down carefully, "You could say that." Too many new faces! He does an internal doubletake before smiling softly, "...A long life is more like it."

[song_tra_bong]

"Well, holy hell."

Mary Anne practically bounces up to the table, dragging over a chair.

"Preston! Long time, no see."

[fathers_cleric]

Mary Anne?

Preston raises an eyebrow before raising his head slowly. It hurts a bit to move, "-Mary Anne?"

He grins. Can't help it.

[song_tra_bong]

She laughs.

"Same old me."

Mostly.

"Jesus, Preston, how long has it been for you? What's happened? You okay? Kids okay? Jesus--" She runs a hand through her hair. "--my mouth'll run away with me one of these days. Okay, forget all that other stuff. Can I get you a drink?"

[fathers_cleric]

"-A drink sounds great."

Preston's grin breaks into a full blown smile-

But anyone with eyes can see that it's mostly faked, "We're all fine. We've moved to Xylyx, but-"

He shrugs, "...Life continues to be interesting."