There is a teenage boy at the Bar, staring doubtfully at the level one Spanish textbook that appeared along with the Coke he asked for
( Read more... )
She didn't hear the conversation, but she saw it. She saw the mannerisms, the way each held himself, the way it ended. Which is why, after a period of time, Cam follows Cal out.
She knows that way of staring, too, but doesn't say anything as she sits down near him. Near, probably a little too close for a North American sense of personal space, but as far as she is used to, she's giving him space.
When the door opens for Nix, it lets a haze of lights and pounding music through with her, weird shadows stretching across the floor for a moment before the door shuts behind her. She doesn't realise immediately that she's even in the bar, but when she does her only reaction is to shrug and keep on moving to the beat she left behind, a cider bottle in her hand. She's humming to herself and her movements lack their usual grace as she dances across the bar: Nix is rather drunk
( ... )
Cal tenses a little at the sound of someone approaching, but not as much as he could - it's just footsteps, after all, uneven but normal-sounding. No wheels, or rhythmic sound of crutches.
The tension mostly eases away when he recognizes the giggling. He looks up, relieved.
Nix grins at him, unsteadily making her way over, and completely forgets that this is her favourite (and, okay, only) skirt to sit beside him. Like Cam, she's rather closer than usual personal-space preferences would like, but her only excuse is that she's drunk.
Sam has been practising pattern dances with his sword, but the dusk is starting to ease down and it's growing too late for that now. He sheaths the sword on his hip before tugging his shirt back on, not bothering with the buttons before starting to head inside.
The little figure curled on the shore, though, is enough to give him pause and reason to change direction, stopping a short way away from the teenager. Cal had said he was Bound, and happily so, so anything upsetting him was likely pretty serious.
Well, it's not like Sam is going to call him on it. He slides the scabbard off his belt before he sits down on the sand, on the same spot where he'd been standing. He doesn't say anything, at first: truth be told, he's not sure how to approach it. But not asking questions worked with the older version of Cal, so he doesn't. He spins magic through his fingers again instead, coloured lights glowing and twisting.
The colors flash in Cal's peripheral vision, drawing his attention. He looks over and watches them. It isn't quite the same level of absorption as before - he doesn't even really look as though his mind is on what he's seeing - but he still watches.
Comments 424
Nope.
No mockage here.
Just a smirk.
Reply
And makes a face at it.
Reply
Reply
This is not it.
Reply
He's seen that face before.
Recently? Not exactly.
Not that young, not that clean.
(you remember how things played out, right?)
And, damn, if his throat isn't dry.
Reply
("For Christ's sake, Cal, don't get worked up. He's not going to try anything. And it's not as if you couldn't hold your own if he does.")
It's the wheelchair that throws him, even more than the added decades. His uncle without his crutches looks like another person altogether.
The staring catches his eye, though, enough to make him look more closely. He's not used to being stared at in Milliways, not the way he is at home.
The Coke bottle shatters as it hits the floor.
Reply
(one hand is clutching a wheel of his chair so hard as to turn his knuckles white)
Reply
"Uncle Grahame?" he says, faintly, the sound just barely carrying.
Reply
She knows that way of staring, too, but doesn't say anything as she sits down near him. Near, probably a little too close for a North American sense of personal space, but as far as she is used to, she's giving him space.
Reply
(footsteps, clear and distinct, and he doesn't flinch)
and feels her next to him as she settles in. There aren't a lot of people he'd want so close to him right now, but he knows it's Cam, and Cam is okay.
(Safe.)
"Hi," he says quietly after a minute.
Reply
Reply
"I left the book inside."
Funny, how they were just using it a little while ago. It seems like a lot longer.
Reply
Reply
The tension mostly eases away when he recognizes the giggling. He looks up, relieved.
"Hey, Nix," he calls over to her.
Reply
Nix grins at him, unsteadily making her way over, and completely forgets that this is her favourite (and, okay, only) skirt to sit beside him. Like Cam, she's rather closer than usual personal-space preferences would like, but her only excuse is that she's drunk.
"Hey, you."
Reply
"You look you've been having fun," he says, and nods to the bottle. "What's that?"
Reply
The little figure curled on the shore, though, is enough to give him pause and reason to change direction, stopping a short way away from the teenager. Cal had said he was Bound, and happily so, so anything upsetting him was likely pretty serious.
Gently, "Hey, kiddo. Mind if I sit?"
Reply
"Yeah," he says. "I mean, no. Uh, I don't mind." He winces a little at his slip-up. Stupid.
(Usually he wouldn't even notice.)
Reply
Well, it's not like Sam is going to call him on it. He slides the scabbard off his belt before he sits down on the sand, on the same spot where he'd been standing. He doesn't say anything, at first: truth be told, he's not sure how to approach it. But not asking questions worked with the older version of Cal, so he doesn't. He spins magic through his fingers again instead, coloured lights glowing and twisting.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment