(Untitled)

[watch_wait]

Bartleby hasn't walked this far in months, and there are grooves of pain beside his mouth by the time he makes it to a convenient table. His breathing a little harsher than he wants you to know. He concentrates on anything other than his surroundings for as long as possible: the grain of wood on the table, Charlie's - his - Driveshaft ring, a

Comments

[faithful_slayer]

He is being watched, surreptitiously, by a brunette he doesn't know.

He may notice, or not. He is, after all, understandably overwhelmed.

But if he notices, he might also notice that she's smiling.

[watch_wait]

He doesn't notice for a while. Eventually, however, he does, and there is a slight smile back.

[faithful_slayer]

She waggles her fingernails at him in greeting and wonders if he has any clue who she is.

[watch_wait]

Bartleby won't go that far. A slight nod of that. And nope, not a clue. His eyebrows are slightly raised.

[asar_suti]

There is a quiet, short person beside his table at some point, who calmly says, "Hello, Bartleby. I'm glad to see you."

[watch_wait]

Bartleby searches for a name, and then remembers. "Asar-Suti." Unconsciously, he taps his fingers on his armband.

[asar_suti]

"Yes. I saw you come in. I am glad you are better," he says.

The part about 'What did you think taking the three people I loved most to hell?' can come later, when Bartleby is quite himself again.

Following the movement, he notices the armband, and then the lir earring that Bartleby didn't wear yet when Asar-Suti last saw him. He has been through hell, but Lochiel's lir-gold made it back with him.

He nods, as if to agree with the gesture - yes, you know me because of Lochiel.

But Lochiel's not important now - Charlie is.

[watch_wait]

"Thank you." Bartleby nods and smiles.

[youalleverybody]

And Liam, sans entrance post, is suddenly sitting quietly beside him.

"Hey."

[watch_wait]

"Hey." Bartleby picks at his chipped nail quietly.

[youalleverybody]

"Good to see you out and about."

[watch_wait]

"I'm glad I am." His voice is sincere, if quiet.

[bloody_rockgod]

Bartleby has arms around his neck and lips pressing to his hair. "You're downstairs," Charlie observes proudly. "I knew you could do it."

[watch_wait]

"Yeah." Bartleby brings a hand up to cover Charlie's. "Only just managed it." And there are very, very few people he would admit that to.

[bloody_rockgod]

"When you're ready to go back up just poke me and we'll get you upstairs." He moves to the chair at Bartleby's side. "Can I get you anything? Coffee?"

[watch_wait]

"You know I'd kill for coffee." He smiles more easily.

[sendpeanutbtr]

Walking back in from the lake, her arms full of baby carrier and blanket, Claire stops abrubtly at Bartleby's table.

"Hey, you came down." She smiles.

[watch_wait]

"Can't be called a coward." Bartleby smiles back.

[sendpeanutbtr]

"No." She smiles. "We wouldn't want that. May I join you?"

[watch_wait]

Bartleby nods, and gestures to a chair. "Plus baby? Or does he need a nap?"