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[flybywash]

Say what you want about Milliways, but never forget that it can have a phenomenal sense of timing when it wants.

Just over three months since the last time he was around, and two years to the day from when he walked into the bar for the first time, the door slides open -- like it always does for the Serenity crew -- and a tousled blonde head peeks

Comments

[the_woodpecker]

Bar and Bernard aren't talking too much right now.

Mostly it has to do with how Bar has a stick up her ass, and that stick is made of tofu.

Nevertheless.

The second Wash steps through the door, she shouts in Bernard's head.

It takes him a few minutes, but he jogs out, stunned.

[flybywash]

By that point, Wash has taken a seat at the bar and is diligently picking out the bizarre, cubical chunks of off-white disgusting that're scattered in the salad he just ordered. "Yeah, yeah, it's good to be home, too, but I like keeping the culinary experience of home and the culinary experience of here on separate planes of existence," he's saying to her. "It's thoughtful of you, though. It just also happens to also be kind of extremely gross."

Mid-'conversation,' he sees Bernard from the corner of one eye and turns his head.

If possible, his whole face lights up even more.

[the_woodpecker]

Bernard's grinning by now, of course, and he strides over to Wash, almost hugging him.

But that would be weird.

"Don't eat the tofu. Bar's messed up lately."

He's grinning so much, still, that any casual observer would think that the tofu was a good thing.

[flybywash]

They're way too manly for hugs.

Well, Bernard is. Wash isn't. Especially if he knows it'll embarrass someone.

Hence, the almost-hug is now kind of less with the "almost."

(It's still very manly, though.)

"That's what that is?" he says once it's over, wrinkling his nose at the soy he's collected on a napkin. "Am I supposed to want to eat it anyway?"

[silvia_broome]

Unfortunately for him, a yuppie epedemic is about. Which means, doubly unfortunate for him, a very tall, very pink blonde is giving his attire a dissaproving stare.

[flybywash]

Pfft. Wash has spent pretty much his entire adult life in Hawaiian print. He's immune to disapproving stares.

In fact, they just goad him to smile even more brightly and give the woman in pink a cheerful wave.

"Wei!" he calls. "Have we met? I don't think there's been meeting."

[silvia_broome]

"No," she says curtly. A bony hand is extended in his direction. The curve of it invokes the image of a queen who expects her hand to be kissed. "My name is Silvia Broome."

[flybywash]

"Wash. Gāoxìng jìandào nĭ."

He takes her hand, and...gives it an enthusiastic shake with a hand that's been good and roughened by years of flying. "How long've you been around?"

[bad_in_latin]

It's still...not a new sensation, seeing Wash around, but one that Mal missed far more than he let himself recognize on a regular basis.

Smile, "You want a drink or somethin'?"

[flybywash]

"Does it involve you paying for it?"

A lopsided smirk.

[bad_in_latin]

"I suppose I can manage this one.

"Do I get to pick what I get ya?"

>).

[flybywash]

Mal gets a look.

A long, long sideways look.

"This is my New Year's present to you," he declares, and settles himself on a barstool. "Shi a."

[mend_and_defend]

There's a lot of faces in Milliways tonight that'll be new to Wash. One of them is bright blue with silver scales, and looks like its owner just woke up five minutes ago.

(Which is so not true. Seymour woke him up at least a full fifteen minutes ago.)

Bob lifts his head off the table and waves sleepily at the man who just walked in.

[flybywash]

No kidding. It's taking him a bit to absorb it all; not only has it been a damn long while since he was here, but it's also been a damn long while since he saw anybody new in the bar.

And even if Wash has been part of its clientele for two years, some people stand out more than others. Like the blue guy waving at him.

Wash returns it, along with a smile and a faintly curious look. "Hey," he says. "You shiny?"

[mend_and_defend]

"Uh..." He looks down at his brightly polished silver armor. "Looks like it, why?"

[flybywash]

"Just asking. Since you're..." A vague gesture, but to Bob's face (and general tiredness thereof) rather than his body. "Not so much with the looking it."

And he offers the same hand.

"Wash, middle of nowhere, 2520. You new?"

[clumsy_auror]

A short while after Bernard, 'Dora walks out into the bar with Anthony, curious as to why her husband had shot out of the flat like his arse was on fire.

She figures it out pretty quick.

"Wash!"

Darting around chairs and tables, Nymphadora plunks a bemused Anthony down on the rug and catches Wash in a bear-hug, pretty nearly lifting him off the ground.

[flybywash]

Wash yelps.

Seriously, there's no other word for it. And it's not even a dignified, half-muffled yelp, either. It's the full-throated one of a guy taken completely off his guard.

This does not discount him from returning the hug just as fiercely as soon as he realizes who it is, spinning her in a half circle.

"Wow. I need to go away for three months every day," he proclaims, laughing. "Hey, Tonks."

[clumsy_auror]

"Oh no you bloody don't. I'll have your guts for garters if you try," warns 'Dora, pointing sternly at him as soon as Wash puts her down. But she can't keep up the scowl, and soon she's beaming. "'S so good to see you. Anthony!" The baby looks up from his inspection of Wash's shoes and grins, holding his arms out to be picked up.

By whomever, really. He's not fussed.

[flybywash]

He affects a wounded expression, glancing down at Anthony. "Listen to your mom, I'm not back five minutes and she's already yelling at me. My life is so hard."

Yeah, he can't keep it up for long, either.

There's a quick, inquiring look to Tonks as Anthony stretches his arms up -- may I?