Re: Eames/Rey/Atticus/Manning: the B&B
Came one after the other. Memory. Memory. Memory. Memory. His own, familiar and old. Wondered what PJ was up to these days; had no idea. Manning, a child. A baby girl, unfamiliar place and a good memory. Wasn't interested in having children of his own, but was a good memory. And Rey. Not suprised at Rey's memory; Rey had been in his head, after all. Knew what she could do. Didn't understand the source of her power, but didn't understand the source of his own, either. Lastly, Eames. A spinning top. Expected to see Janus in Eames memory. Was all strange to Atticus, made little sense. Didn't understand that it was sleep, but knew there was shapeshifting, levels. Confusion.
Was how he came back from it all. Confused.
Still leaning back against the desk, fingers pressing into wood. Migraine, but that was likely a product of whatever had messed up his face.
Swallowed. Looked around. Blinked the past out of hazel eyes. Wasn't troubled by anything he saw. Nothing terrible. Nothing bad. Experiences in his head, but like watching a screen. His own memory was his; experienced, but, again, nothing new. After the events of the previous evening, that memory seemed mundane. His life had never been normal. Had never had the peace of not knowing what lived beneath the surface. Once, his mother told him that the world was always the same, had always been the same, and sometimes people saw different parts of it, parts they hadn't seen before.
Wondered why that came to mind now.
Pushed away from the desk. Rubbed a hand at his nape. Temple throbbed. Leg hurt to put weight on. Smiled tiredly at the others. "Not too bad," he finally said. Gave them a nod. "Suffice it to say, won't be sharing anything I saw here." Didn't ask them to give the same reassurance, but wanted to do so himself.
"Stay as long as you need," he told them. Was probably fairly obvious he needed to get off his feet. "Free food in the restaurant," he offered, motioning back toward the door. "Going to lie down. Sorry for being a terrible host." Grinned a lazy grin, one that made it seem like he maybe wasn't sorry at all. Motioned to his face, the bruising. "If anyone wants that," motioned to the assembled clock. "If not, we might want to destroy it. Just a suggestion." Seemed wise. The academic in him protested, but the practical part of him acknowledged it was an unknown source of power; probably wasn't good to leave it sitting around. But wasn't the owner, so wasn't going to make that choice for everyone.