mountains beyond mountains,

[hungrylike]

So, yeah, like, this place has all sorts of things, more'n I thought there'd be of what I was looking for, but there ain't any people I seen yet. Anybody around out there? Me, I'll be in the cafe, I guess. I'm brilliant with burgers.

Comments

[hungrylike]

Oh- I don't know what kind of songs you can play on the piano.

[Vampires.] Oh, you know, burglars and that. Best to keep safe and all.

[sebastard]

All kinds of songs. [Sebastian shrugs.] What kind of music d'you like?

Well, uh. I mean, the doors have locks. What kind of fortifications do you want?

[hungrylike]

[This stops Tom short.] ....Don't much listen to music, me.

Oh, that's good. [That, and the crucifixes he has in a bag under the counter... should be good enough to star with.] You just never know, with places you never been.

[sebastard]

Oh. Then it'll be a surprise, what you can play on a piano.

I guess not. [Pause. What do you say after that odd little interlude?] So where're you from, Tom?

[hungrylike]

You'll have to tell me. I only know how to whistle.

[He thinks a bit.] Oh, all places. But I settled in Barry Island a few months back. Got a job and everything.

[sebastard]

That's something! I can't whistle at all.

Oh--your job at the chip shop?

[hungrylike]

Really? Thought everyone could. Helps me concentrate when I'm working.

[He beams again.] Yeah! And I help out at a bed and breakfast. What, uh, what d'you do?

[sebastard]

I'm rubbish at it, can't do it at all.

Oh, I'm studying acting. [And he's just a little bit of a ponce about it sometimes. It's so exciting and magical.] And I work in a boutique. When little old ladies need dresses, they come in to see Se--Viola.

[hungrylike]

Sure you could. It's easy, you just-- [And he whistles a note or two. Pointedly not a wolf whistle.]

[Tom reacts as if Sebastian had admitted to being an astronaut.] That's brilliant. Bet you're good at it-- the acting and the boutique thing. Where, um, where are you from, then?

[sebastard]

[Sebastian claps enthusiastically at this, grinning at Tom.] I'd try, but I'd just get bits of chip all over the counter.

Oh--I'm from Dartmouth. I live in London right now, though, for uni and all.

[hungrylike]

[Tom smiles and laughs, pleased and easy to please.] Don't want that, no.

Oh, really? London's right nice, I didn't stay round much when I was there, but the parks was brilliant.

[sebastard]

Yeah, the parks're nice. And the shops--and the plays, and the clubs. London's brilliant.

[Pause.] Suppose it's a bit quieter, where you live.

[hungrylike]

[Tom scratches the back of his head, a bit awkward.] Yeah. A little. Used to live in a van, which was right quiet, and now... well, it's not a proper city... [He hastens to add:] I bet it'd be nice, though!

[sebastard]

Oh--I'm sorry. [Sebastian fiddles with a chip.] A proper house has got to be nice after that, wherever it is.

[hungrylike]

[Tom smiles, and then frowns, trying to understand why he's being apologized to.] Naw, don't apologize, you didn't do nothing. I, um... [He scratches the back of his head again, expression somewhere between a smile and a cringe.] Did I say something?

[sebastard]

[Sebastian shrugs.] I don't know about you, but I wouldn't fancy living in a van. I don't know how I'd fit my wardrobe in, for starters.

[hungrylike]

Tom laughs, a little, at what he assumes was a joke. "I didn't mind it. Got to move around a lot, I thought it was nice. Barry's nice, too."