(Untitled)

[i_spoiled_it]

In Kenya, it is not quite sunrise and Steph has just had a troubling conversation with Babs.

She looks at the phone in her hand, and sighs, stuffing it into her pocket and getting to her feet.  Today's going to be busy, and she doesn't really feel up to it.  Which means she probably needs to go and try to get a little more sleep.

But the door of the

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[slayer_fray]

Mel comes into the bar from the lake door.

And stops dead in her tracks.

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph doesn't see her at first. Then she does, and, in accordance with all narrative convention, drops the glass she was idly polishing, which shatters obediently in the sink.

She opens her mouth and then shuts it again.

[slayer_fray]

The sound of the glass shattering seems to trigger something in Mel, like a starterr's pistol at a sprint.

She launches straight across the bar, hopping over tables and knocking over chairs, and vaults the bar as casually as someone hopping over a fence.

And then, she stops.

What if she still doesn't remember?

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph finds herself completely unsurprised by the running, the jumping. The easy grace of it. Mel's boots over the bar.

"... Mel."

Of course. It's Mel. It's her Mel.

Steph takes a deep, shuddery breath and wills herself not to burst into tears, offering her arms.

[will_scarlett]

Will comes in from the front door and grins when he sees who's behind the Bar though his smile fades when he sees the look on her face,

"Steph, lass, its been too long."

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph looks up from her glass and blinks at him, uncertain and trying to hide it.

"... you know me," she says warily. "And ... I ... know you?"

[will_scarlett]

He frowns and runs a hand through his hair, he hates when Milliways does something like this,

"Aye, I'm Will Scarlett."

[i_spoiled_it]

"You --"

Steph tilts her head back, thinking, frowning.

"We went somewhere. A forest. Green and sparkling, and we -- climbed trees?"

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate's at one end of the bar, watching the whole exchange.

She looks ... lost.

"You all right, sugar?"

[i_spoiled_it]

"I think I'm okay," Steph says, looking up. "I'm ... not really sure if I'm dreaming or not, honestly. It's all kind of weird."

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate's taken aback.

"Haven't y'ever been here before?"

Miss Bar wouldn't be so cruel as to put someone to work the instant they step in the door for the first time, would she?

[i_spoiled_it]

"That's where it gets confusing," Steph says, with a tiny smile. "I know I've been here before. I'm sure of it. But ... but I know I've never ever been here, too."

[stuck_mynock]

"Not seen you around for a while," Atton remarks from his spot to one side of her.

(He wasn't there a split second ago.)

"I'll have a Sandbar Sleeper," Atton says, "you should pay for it, I think. 'Cause I'm adorable. S'only fair."

Atton has a keen sense of fairness.

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph finds herself grinning without even being sure why.

"I don't even know who you are," she says, but hesitantly. Because ... it's not true. She does know him. She does. She just - isn't sure why. "Is adorableness enough to make up for that?"

[stuck_mynock]

"It totally is," Atton is, nearly completely unfazed by this, "especially when you are as adorable as I am."

[i_spoiled_it]

"Well," Steph says, and grins. "Okay, then. I hope this bar takes Kenyan shillings, 'cause that's all I got.

"... it's Atton, isn't it? It is."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Hey Steph, you okay?" Guppy asks, coming up to the bar.

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph blinks a couple of times, watching him warily.

Then she remmebers, and puts a hand to her mouth quickly. "Guppy. It's Guppy. Isn't it?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Yes." Guppy frowns worriedly. "Has it been that long for you? It's only been a few months for me."

[i_spoiled_it]

"I've never been here before," Steph says firmly, and then shakes her head. "But I have. I know you, I know this place, I know everyone, but how - how can I?"