In a Town

[Bjorn]

Thank you, Bjorn replies, taking the seat opposite Lazarus.  Sipping the proffered tea, he puts it down again with an appreciative noise.  Ah, tea.  I tell you, Lazarus, it should be a universal constant.

[Brian]

Most people don't care for Earl Gray, Lazarus muses, sipping his own tea.  It's something of an aquired taste, but now it's almost all I can drink.  Though, I suppose I sufficed on that vile Workshop's warm-water-with-hints-of-tea for long enough, he adds with the mental suggestion of a grimace, and a not exactly pleasant taste.  Those vanish, and Lazarus shifts his attention.

You seem a bit more ... calm than you were last time we met in person, Lazarus offers.  I take it some things have been going well for you, at least?

[Bjorn]

The nice thing about telepathic communication, Bjorn reflects privately, is that you can talk and eat.  Or, in this case, drink.

I understand what's going on, and what we need to accomplish much better, he admits.  There have been ups and downs, all told, but at least I know what I'm doing.  The mists darken slightly, and then lighten, conveying a mental shrug.  Or at least I think I do, and that seems to be sufficient.

What about you?  Have there been any hitches so far?

[Brian]

None, until you returned, Lazarus sends, though his smirk and the tone of the suggestion imply no upset.  We've been living quietly and preparing.  And then once that was done, we set about making this place a home.  I expect in another month we'll be done building, but whenever I say such a thing to Relm, she says something about roller-skates.  Though, she can't spell very well for someone who lives in the internet.  The curious mental image of the Oracle of Delphi running around wearing roller-skates made out of lolipops appears briefly.

[Bjorn]

I don't think I want to know.  He sips from his tea.  And how is everyone doing?  Is Jonah recovering?

[Brian]

I didn't think he would, Lazarus replies slowly, frowning, and swirling the dregs of his tea around in their cup before refilling it.  And even what aid Anita was able to offer him was minor.  Not enough to revive him fully until he came here.  He shakes his head.  Where are my manners?  More tea?

[Bjorn]

Please.  Watching Lazarus get the cups ready, he asks, What about Bridgett?

[Brian]

Ah, Bridgett, Lazarus muses, pouring tea.  She was severely withdrawn, at first, but as time has worn on, I think she's come to grips with what has gone before.  The Workshop was not an easy time for many, and especially hard for her, I think.

Lazarus hands Bjorn his freshly filled teacup. But if she can weather this and preservere, then so can we.

[Bjorn]

Thank you, Bjorn murmurs, taking the cup.  After a sip, he continues, What about Mikey?

[Brian]

Mikey seems well, Lazarus muses, frowning slightly.  And yet ... I'm not certain this is the case.  He appears to have two personalities.  And it was his second or more hidden persona who hid the information for our plan to escape the workshop.  But I can't speak with that personality, that which Mikey calls his 'older brother', anymore.

Sighing, Lazarus shakes his head.  Perhaps it's nothing more than a defense mechanism ... but I suspect that Mikey's older brother is from long before Mikey entered the Workshop.

[Bjorn]

Have you asked Mikey?

[Brian]

It's something he doesn't want to talk about, Lazarus replies.  I don't sense any fear or worry.  Just complete indifference.  As though he were aware, but didn't think it was worth worrying about.  Perhaps it is nothing to worry about.  He seems happier, at least.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn drums his fingers, and then sighs.  Not much we can do about it, he admits, other than trust Mikey.

Now, I promised to fill you in on what we've been doing, right?  He does exactly that, recounting events as concisely as only telepathic communication will allow.

[Brian]

Lazarus listens to the entire story without asking much in the way of questions.  Until Bjorn is finished.  Lazarus mulls things over, brewing another pot of tea to replace the one that lasted through the majority of the conversation.

Interesting, he finally sends.  And now we're caught up in this ... if not, perhaps, as deeply as yourself.

He shakes his head as the door opens, and Bridgett walks in, cocking her head slightly to one side as she sees Bjorn.  Smiling, she signs, "Hello," before pulling up her own seat at the table and sitting down.

[Bjorn]

Somewhat clumsily, Bjorn signs, "Hello.  How are you?" back to Bridgett.  At the same time, in the Dream, he sends mists out to delicately offer a connection to Bridgett.

At the same time, to Lazarus, he responds, You could argue you were caught up in it long before, I suppose.  The important question is: what next?