Parting Visit with have_no_mercy.

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie is aware of Tess' wealth, but even so, he wasn't quite picturing her living in an actual mansion. He's a bit taken aback, therefore, when his taxi pulls up to the specified address

Comments

[have_no_mercy]

Tess had been, of course, alerted the minute the taxi arrived. Still, the knock on the doors startles her somewhat, if only because everyone else simply walks in.

"Come in."

She'd get it herself, but she's a little too comfortably curled up on the couch by the fire.

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie enters, once again rather taken aback by what he sees. The flat in Manchester in which he's been living since his return isn't much bigger than this room alone. At least, that's how it seems to him at the moment.

Then his gaze falls on Tess, and he relaxes slightly, giving her an amused smile. "You didn't tell me you lived in a bloody castle, mate."

[have_no_mercy]

"Imported all the way from Scotland." Tess sets her book aside and gestures for him to join her. "It's not really my style, but it's grown on me."

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie raises his eyebrows as he walks over and sits down beside her. "How d'you import an entire castle across the Atlantic?"

[have_no_mercy]

"I haven't had a real friend in a long time," Tess says softly.

Then she glances over at him, eyebrow raised. "A cloud of smoke?"

[ds_rockgod]

Tess will get a small sigh and a sympathetic smile for her first comment. "Yeah, well, neither have I."

Her question, on the other hand, will garner a somewhat more amused smile. "Erm...right. Guess I didn't tell you that part of the story, did I? There was a cloud of smoke in the jungle that chased everyone around. Liked to eat people 'n' stuff. Isn't that just lovely?"

[have_no_mercy]

Tess lets the first comment go, mostly because it's not something she wants to talk about, but also because the latter is far more interesting.

"A cloud of smoke," she repeats. It's just that necessary for her to wrap her mind around. "Was someone controlling it?"

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie shrugs. "I've got absolutely no idea," he admits lightly. "We weren't really worried about that at the time. We were just thinking about our own survival."

[have_no_mercy]

"Up north." Tess shrugs a little and offers a half smile. "It's not like your island, though. A curiosity more than anything else."

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie nods slightly and gives her a half smile in return. "Well, how did you get back home? Or did you never actually go there personally?"

[have_no_mercy]

"Once," she replies carefully. "It wasn't difficult to get to and from, when you knew it was there and how. But I'll be damned if I can find it again."

[ds_rockgod]

"Then I guess we're sort of in similar situations," Charlie points out with another small smile. "Because I haven't a clue how to get back to the island, either, if this person I'm looking for can't tell me. Another club for you to join, then, yeah? People looking for places that don't exist. Except I get to be president this time."

[have_no_mercy]

She half laughs. "I hope so. It wouldn't be anywhere near fair if things got worse." Not that she isn't very well aware that life isn't fair. Still; it's the principle of the thing, in her mind.

"Oh? You'll be pleased to know I have since purchased the entire Oasis library and a Coldplay CD."

[ds_rockgod]

He nods in agreement. "No, it wouldn't. It definitely feels much better being clean, I can tell you that much."

He is visibly pleased by that information, his expression brightening into a very wide grin. "This, my friend, is a very proud moment." And in order to preserve it, he'll hold off on his own announcement. "The entire Oasis library? You're going to make me get all emotional now, mate." And he's only half teasing.

[have_no_mercy]

"No getting emotional." Charlie is in the house that repression built. "I'll take the praise, though. I always was a good student."

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie nods a little. "A brilliant student, far as I'm concerned. You'd have to be, to be able to put up with my teaching." Of course, he means 'brilliant' in the British sense of the word, but the other would apply, as well.

"Now, as for your next lesson." He buries a hand in his pocket for a moment before retrieving two small pieces of paper from within and holding them out to her. "On April twentieth, B.R.M.C. is playing the Ritz in Manchester. Bought tickets ages ago, and I'd love for my young protege to join me."

Then, in a somewhat more serious tone than before, "You know. If I survive." And this time he actually means it. If he's not back by April twentieth, he very well could be dead. Or simply stranded again, which is almost as bad.