The Drummer's Coming For You Now ((51))

[qualapec]

Brachen had a comparatively difficult time figuring out who Mac's girl was, but he had his sources. Early the next morning, he was at the Fishbone, run by a queen by the name of Griddlebone. He stood outside for a long time, a cigarette held between his lips as he sat and stared. He didn't think he was quite all right, but he also felt like something had come back to him that he'd lost. It was a certain deadly calm, a confidence, a sense-of oneness...but it was still a shadow of the way it once was. He was a shadow of himself, some cruel caricature of the things he used to hold dear, used to protect himself with.

He wasn't sure what he would do - he knew what he told himself he was coming there for, but he'd still grabbed his knives when he left that morning, casting some doubt to himself. But he'd still needed to come, needed to know.

[Meadowlark]

Griddlebone came downstairs a bit earlier than usual and set to work on cleaning the taproom. She turned the radio on very softly, the death of the girl from the 'Ribbon on her mind. There was no love lost between her and that place, but still. No one should have to undergo that. Her mind flickered to her conversation with Macavity about the death of the priest and she sighed. Life was never simple, but it was fleeting.

[qualapec]

Brachen finally tossed his cigarette away and opened the door, waiting to see if she would notice him standing there.

[Meadowlark]

Grids turned at the sound of the door opening, backing a step at the sight of the unfamiliar tom. "Can I help you?"

[qualapec]

A wide grin split Brachen's face as he stepped in and let the door close behind him, he fingered his tie as he approached her. "Lady Griddlebone, I presume."

[Meadowlark]

She watched him carefully, "Who's asking?"

[qualapec]

"I think that answers my question," he said with a smirk, slinking further into the Fishbone. "I'm Brachen Myre."

[Meadowlark]

She took another step back, feeling her legs hit one of the tables, but kept her voice steady, "What can I do for you, Mr. Myre?"

[qualapec]

"What can anycat really do for another?" He purred, stepping around a table in a circular path around the room. "I just wanted to come and see the cat that's with Macavity."

[Meadowlark]

She blinked at that, considering how fast she could get to her gun if needed. "And how do you know Macavity?"

[qualapec]

He ran a paw across one of her tables as he moved. It was a nice place really, and there was a part of him that wanted to see it asunder and red on white fur. "I'm an old friend of his."

[Meadowlark]

She sought through her memory for mentions of old friends of Macavity's. There was that one with the charming way with words and....oh hell. "I see." She took a step away from the table she'd backed into, picking up her rag from where she'd dropped it on a chair. The queen was careful not to turn her back to him, but continued with her work.

[qualapec]

Brachen's ears perked. "Oh, so you've heard of me. I wonder just what Mac has told you."

[Meadowlark]

"That you'd been gone for a long time, you were a teacher of sorts to him, and that he'd missed you and just wanted you to be safe." She replied, glancing up at him and not mentioning the fact of the priest which had been spoken of as well.

[qualapec]

Brachen's smile shifted marginally, fondly. "Yeah, that's Mac for you." He tilted his head up, zeroed in on her and just stared. "Did he tell you what I used to do for a living?"