(Untitled)

[no_justice]

There is a perfectly normal human male sitting at the bar. He has a White Russian in front of him gut he hasn't touched it yet.

His hand, you see, is fascinating. He keeps prodding it.

Comments

[52_dropoff]

Charlie trudges to the bar, feeling even older than he currently looks. He is very tempted to fall back on old habits and get some coffee, but knows that would be a very bad idea. Still, he is exhausted.

He looks towards the young man and nods a hello.

[no_justice]

Nodding is a sign of acknowledgment and greeting. It is returned.

Hello, he says.

Or rather, no he doesn't. He frowns instead.

[52_dropoff]

"If I'm interrupting..." He knows that sometimes people come here just to think.

[no_justice]

The young man holds up one finger in a 'wait a second' gesture, because at least fingers and bone strusture he is used to.

Finally he works out how to move his mouth muscles, and remembers to take a breath before saying "Hello."

[gorgonfondness]

White Russians are tempting, but new mothers have to be content with coffee as the most intense of their indulgences. Fortunately, the place has White Russian flavored coffee.

Mia might just order one when she can manage to put Cepheus down.

But even with new motherhood obviously occupying her, it's hard not to notice the man prodding at his hand.

"Are you all right, sir?" she asks, situating her baby so he's leaning on her shoulder and patting his back.

[no_justice]

"I am not alright," he replies, in a flat monotone. "What do you call it when your midsection is achey and hollow feeling?"

[gorgonfondness]

"Achey and hollow? You are hungry?" she guesses. "When was the last time you've eaten?"

[no_justice]

"Hungry," he says. "I am hungry."

The question requires soem application of memory. "Yesterday there was a curry."

[ostro_goth]

"Greetings, my Charlie!" Teja says, cheerfully (for him) when he sees his beloved, sitting at a table and staring at his hand.

At his hand?

"What ails your hand? It was not hurt when we were shot, was it?"

[no_justice]

"It is a hand," 'Charlie' explains, not quite registering the name choice. "It has blood and muscle and flesh."

[ostro_goth]

"Indeed, it has," Teja says. "It was ever so; why would you wonder at it now, my beloved?"

Something that ails his Charlie's mind, then?

Teja is worried.

[no_justice]

Not as worried as the person he just called 'beloved'.

He looks up at the dead Goth. "You just used a term of affection to address me."