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ways_back_room2004-09-11 08:42 pm
stilljustandrew) wrote in ways_back_room2004-09-11 08:42 pm
Several days' summary
Starting the morning after previously summarized events...
Meg wakes up in Andrew's room. She's in the bed. Andrew's on the floor. There is mutual concern, apologies, and sand in eyes. And a very shaky hug.
Meg tells the exhausted Andrew that he'll have to sleep sometime. He doesn't like the idea, and hopes he can fulfill Dream's stated terms before he actually has to sleep. Meg brings up the fact that Andrew's read about Dream, and there is discussion over the fiction/reality issue. Meg shares doubts about her own reality. Andrew is philosophical, and tries to be reassuring. Meg is reassured. Andrew falls down with teh sleepy, but still fears going to sleep. Meg offers to stay with him and wake him at the first sign of nightmares. Andrew is touched, and accepts. Meg promises to wake him the second it looks like he's "seeing anything other than ponies and bunny rabbits" in his dream. And Andrew falls asleep.
And, naturally, dreams. There are bunnies. There is Scorpius. There are chocolate snack cakes. There is graffiti. It all sounds rather explicitly surreal. And while it's going on, Meg, left to her own devices, has spotted Andrew's journal.
(Yes, what Meg's reading is the first-person entries in Andrew's LJ. It's all very meta.)
And then the dream gets to the actual flashback. And Meg gets to the crucial point in the journal. And Andrew screams. Meg runs to wake him, and is worried. Andrew is in a bad way, and not willing to listen to optimism. Meg is frustrated. Andrew sees the open diary, and freaks, because he knows what she must have just read. Meg tries to apologize. Andrew flees, downstairs, through the bar and out the back door, narrowly missing (and not actually seeing) quite a lot of people on his way out...
That night:
A depressed Meg, unable to find Andrew, talks to Tim Hunter, who offers to help her continue the search with a locator spell. He does so, with rather quick success. Andrew doesn't want to be found, but comes out when Meg asks him to. There is awkwardness.
Tim is still power-pumped and a bit scary. Meg and Andrew are both worried, until he drops the spell and is normal Tim again. There is more awkwardness, and Meg tries again to apologize. Andrew's shame meets her apology coming the other way and there is an embarrassment pileup. Andrew tries to explain, hesitates, and learns that Tim knows (and has always known). Andrew is painfully confused. Tim and Meg both try to be comforting. Andrew breaks down, and then falls down (poor boy hasn't had nearly enough sleep, after all). Meg (with Tim's help) gets the semiconscious Andrew to bed.
The next morning:
Having finally slept, Andrew comes downstairs looking for caffeine. He runs into Angelo, and by dint of tremendous effort manages not to fanboy. There are unneeded introductions, a little small talk, and then Angelo mentions that he's dead. And in his shock Andrew forgets he's not supposed to know this guy. Explanations ensue. Angelo takes it all rather well. They discuss being Bound, and conclude that Milliways is not a bad place to spend an afterlife.
In another thread but at the same time, Andrew orders breakfast and meets Holden. They talk about where/when they're from, and Holden asks what the new millenium is like. Andrew sulks about the lack of flying cars, and has a hard time explaining the internet. He also meets The Flash, who is concerned about his choice of breakfast. Again by dint of enormous effort, Andrew does not go into hero-worship mode. Quite. The alternative, though, is not much better, and Flash leaves very confused.
Back in the first thread, Andrew is approached by an extremely perceptive Peter Pettigrew. And recognizes him, naturally. Peter guesses correctly that Andrew's read the books, tells him that lies and secrets don't last long in the bar, and offers to answer if he has any questions. Andrew asks whether the book's account is true, and for the first time gets the other side of the story. In the course of explaining, Peter says he's spent too much time grieving for the best friend he'd murdered. This hits just a little too close to home, and a therapy session ensues.
Andrew starts by asking how you come back from that, then shifts to asking if people here know what Peter did. Peter tells him about the wonders of Millitherapy, adding that you don't come back from something like committing murder; you go on. Andrew says he doesn't know what to do; Peter asks for more details. Andrew considers and decides against lying, and wonders aloud why Peter wants to help him anyway. Peter says Andrew reminds him of himself -- plus, he's hurting, and Peter's a Healer. He offers to use a Silencing Charm to keep the ensuing confession private. Andrew isn't sure where to start telling his story, and decides to show Peter his notebook about it.
Peter reads. And has questions. He offers reciprocity: he'll answer any of Andrew's questions in return. Andrew agrees, and starts answering Peter's, telling him about Wood, and Anya, and Spike. Peter recognizes that name, and they realize it's the same person. Andrew has a moment of hope before realizing that Spike being here doesn't mean he's not dead.
Peter asks about the First Evil and Warren. Andrew starts to tell him about the Trio. Peter thinks the Order of the Phoenix could've used some criminal masterminds; Andrew tells him they weren't very good at it, and gives a brief explanation of Warren and the First. Peter is critical of the Plan. Andrew gets to the hard part. Peter wonders aloud if the First talked to Jonathan too, as a backup plan. Andrew tells how he came to fight for the good guys. Peter is an astonishingly good guesser. Reciprocity time; Andrew asks if Harry knows Peter's side of the story. Peter says no. Andrew wants some time to think, and the two part company on friendly terms.
Buuut before Andrew gets back to his room, he has another encounter, in accordance with the grand tradition of "Once as drama, once as farce." No detailed summary of this one, except to say that Andrew, er, identifies a bit too strongly. And now has a new roommate.
And that night:
There is brief canon-discussion of Bruce and Smeagol with Tim, schmoopiness with Meg, catching-up and welcome-back presents with Angie, and meeting (and, rather unexpectedly, bonding with) Raph.
And then to bed, and then to bed!
*whew* That was even longer than I thought.
*borrows some of Grima-mun's brain-eating sheep*
Meg wakes up in Andrew's room. She's in the bed. Andrew's on the floor. There is mutual concern, apologies, and sand in eyes. And a very shaky hug.
Meg tells the exhausted Andrew that he'll have to sleep sometime. He doesn't like the idea, and hopes he can fulfill Dream's stated terms before he actually has to sleep. Meg brings up the fact that Andrew's read about Dream, and there is discussion over the fiction/reality issue. Meg shares doubts about her own reality. Andrew is philosophical, and tries to be reassuring. Meg is reassured. Andrew falls down with teh sleepy, but still fears going to sleep. Meg offers to stay with him and wake him at the first sign of nightmares. Andrew is touched, and accepts. Meg promises to wake him the second it looks like he's "seeing anything other than ponies and bunny rabbits" in his dream. And Andrew falls asleep.
And, naturally, dreams. There are bunnies. There is Scorpius. There are chocolate snack cakes. There is graffiti. It all sounds rather explicitly surreal. And while it's going on, Meg, left to her own devices, has spotted Andrew's journal.
(Yes, what Meg's reading is the first-person entries in Andrew's LJ. It's all very meta.)
And then the dream gets to the actual flashback. And Meg gets to the crucial point in the journal. And Andrew screams. Meg runs to wake him, and is worried. Andrew is in a bad way, and not willing to listen to optimism. Meg is frustrated. Andrew sees the open diary, and freaks, because he knows what she must have just read. Meg tries to apologize. Andrew flees, downstairs, through the bar and out the back door, narrowly missing (and not actually seeing) quite a lot of people on his way out...
That night:
A depressed Meg, unable to find Andrew, talks to Tim Hunter, who offers to help her continue the search with a locator spell. He does so, with rather quick success. Andrew doesn't want to be found, but comes out when Meg asks him to. There is awkwardness.
Tim is still power-pumped and a bit scary. Meg and Andrew are both worried, until he drops the spell and is normal Tim again. There is more awkwardness, and Meg tries again to apologize. Andrew's shame meets her apology coming the other way and there is an embarrassment pileup. Andrew tries to explain, hesitates, and learns that Tim knows (and has always known). Andrew is painfully confused. Tim and Meg both try to be comforting. Andrew breaks down, and then falls down (poor boy hasn't had nearly enough sleep, after all). Meg (with Tim's help) gets the semiconscious Andrew to bed.
The next morning:
Having finally slept, Andrew comes downstairs looking for caffeine. He runs into Angelo, and by dint of tremendous effort manages not to fanboy. There are unneeded introductions, a little small talk, and then Angelo mentions that he's dead. And in his shock Andrew forgets he's not supposed to know this guy. Explanations ensue. Angelo takes it all rather well. They discuss being Bound, and conclude that Milliways is not a bad place to spend an afterlife.
In another thread but at the same time, Andrew orders breakfast and meets Holden. They talk about where/when they're from, and Holden asks what the new millenium is like. Andrew sulks about the lack of flying cars, and has a hard time explaining the internet. He also meets The Flash, who is concerned about his choice of breakfast. Again by dint of enormous effort, Andrew does not go into hero-worship mode. Quite. The alternative, though, is not much better, and Flash leaves very confused.
Back in the first thread, Andrew is approached by an extremely perceptive Peter Pettigrew. And recognizes him, naturally. Peter guesses correctly that Andrew's read the books, tells him that lies and secrets don't last long in the bar, and offers to answer if he has any questions. Andrew asks whether the book's account is true, and for the first time gets the other side of the story. In the course of explaining, Peter says he's spent too much time grieving for the best friend he'd murdered. This hits just a little too close to home, and a therapy session ensues.
Andrew starts by asking how you come back from that, then shifts to asking if people here know what Peter did. Peter tells him about the wonders of Millitherapy, adding that you don't come back from something like committing murder; you go on. Andrew says he doesn't know what to do; Peter asks for more details. Andrew considers and decides against lying, and wonders aloud why Peter wants to help him anyway. Peter says Andrew reminds him of himself -- plus, he's hurting, and Peter's a Healer. He offers to use a Silencing Charm to keep the ensuing confession private. Andrew isn't sure where to start telling his story, and decides to show Peter his notebook about it.
Peter reads. And has questions. He offers reciprocity: he'll answer any of Andrew's questions in return. Andrew agrees, and starts answering Peter's, telling him about Wood, and Anya, and Spike. Peter recognizes that name, and they realize it's the same person. Andrew has a moment of hope before realizing that Spike being here doesn't mean he's not dead.
Peter asks about the First Evil and Warren. Andrew starts to tell him about the Trio. Peter thinks the Order of the Phoenix could've used some criminal masterminds; Andrew tells him they weren't very good at it, and gives a brief explanation of Warren and the First. Peter is critical of the Plan. Andrew gets to the hard part. Peter wonders aloud if the First talked to Jonathan too, as a backup plan. Andrew tells how he came to fight for the good guys. Peter is an astonishingly good guesser. Reciprocity time; Andrew asks if Harry knows Peter's side of the story. Peter says no. Andrew wants some time to think, and the two part company on friendly terms.
Buuut before Andrew gets back to his room, he has another encounter, in accordance with the grand tradition of "Once as drama, once as farce." No detailed summary of this one, except to say that Andrew, er, identifies a bit too strongly. And now has a new roommate.
And that night:
There is brief canon-discussion of Bruce and Smeagol with Tim, schmoopiness with Meg, catching-up and welcome-back presents with Angie, and meeting (and, rather unexpectedly, bonding with) Raph.
And then to bed, and then to bed!
*whew* That was even longer than I thought.
*borrows some of Grima-mun's brain-eating sheep*