#dul baile

[everyemotioneventhebadones]

Dul Baile

"Killer," Mitchell repeated, "Interesting choice of word." He didn't mind, as Anna could probably tell from the growing smile on his lips, but it was a brief distraction from having to talk about what was once his home. A city that he now didn't recognise at all, even as they came to the Liffey and slowly began to walk beside it. It wasn't until they came to a slight turn in the river that he thought he might know where they were.

"I think so too," He agreed after a moments deliberation, "I love it." It was modern and unrecognisable, but it still felt like home. He'd already decided to stay clear of certain locations, like where the old family farm used to be, but he wanted to find other places to show Anna. To tell her things he'd never told anyone else. "The old pubs won't be around anymore," he noted, "But we could find a modern-day replacement, if you like."

___________________________________________________________

Not able to suppress laughter as Mitchell picked up on her descriptive word, she turned her head pretending to look at the sights while she laughed.  "Even the way you say that word makes my grace tingle," she said as she whipped her head around to catch his smile.  

The vibe Mitchell was giving off was more relaxed than she had ever seen him.  Even though home had changed, it had not died.  Much like him, it had gone through its changes and survived.  "I'm glad," she responded to his sincere appreciation of his home.  

Walking along the river banks with him, she was pleased with the modern improvements of sidewalks and railing.  It was much nicer than muddy, unguarded banks; those banks and water having claimed many a life in the past.  The present was much safer.  Humans learned from the past and invented ways to make the future safer.  Anna liked that.

"I happen to know that the Brazen Head pub is still around and serving all the drought you can stomach."  The pub had been operating since 1198.  Every Dubliner knew of it, alive or dead. Or undead, as in Mitchell's case.  "Interested in going there?" she queried lightly, unsure of his memories of the pub, if any.

[everyemotioneventhebadones]

The fact that he could remember those roads when they were cobbled and only used by horses and carts made him feel incredibly old. It was nice to have Anna beside him, it made the realisation of how much he'd missed a little easier to deal with. "There was nothing wrong with the old ones," Mitchell answered, briefly returning her smile. He made no real effort to hide his uncertainty as they made their way to the river and he looked at every building they past. "What do you think?"

“I think some people agree with you.  They’ve kept a few of the cobbled lanes,” the angel agreed.  ”I’m sure you’d appreciate the smoother roads if you thought of having to drive your precious car on bumpy stones.”  

Mitchell’s hesitation at being back home after so long away was very normal.  Anna glanced over the buildings, but paid more attention to the signals Mitchell was giving off.  ”I think you’re very handsome and you have a killer accent,” she teased.  With a small laugh, she hugged his arm,  ”I also think Dublin is lovely.  What do you think?”  

The river swam into closer view.  The were nearing the banks and from there she assumed Mitchell would get his bearings of how things had changed.  Perhaps he would decide on some places to visits.  Old haunts that were perhaps new suburbs, and long-standing fields that were sown with new crops.

[askannaarchive2]

"I'd be tempted to join you," he returned with a slightly smaller grin. It was a lot easier to look around the unrecognisable streets of his home with Anna at his side, than it would have been if he'd had to visit by himself. If it wasn't for her, he doubted he would have gone back at all, partly because she knew better than anyone how time changed the world. "We should head towards the Liffey," at least that might give him some bearings as to where they were.

“To the water we go then,” she agreed easily, slipping her arm in his.  She strolled a few blocks with Mitchell before the top of a bridge came into view to their left.  ”I suppose we should take a turn here,” she suggested.  She had been spuriously glancing at him as they walked, trying to see how he was taking this visit to his homeland.  ”Nice roads, hm?” she teased with a grin.

[askannaarchive2]

Anna was right, as she usually was. Everything had changed so much that he couldn't recognise the street they were standing on, or any of the buildings surrounding them. The city was so different that it took a moment for Mitchell to respond; Anna's hand on his jaw the thing that finally prompted him to listen. Looking back at her, he leaned into her touch and smiled, "I hope you weren't expecting a tour," he took hold of her hand and slowly started to walk on, "We're likely to get lost."

She smiled reassuringly at him.  ”It’s my existence long dream to get lost, I’ll have you know.  Lead the way,” she giggled.  Her thumb ran across his cheek lightly before it ran down his shoulder and arm to grip his hand.  After inspecting him closely one last time, she dropped her hand from his waist and turned to walk beside him.

“If they all talk like you here, I might buy a house and stay,” she said with an impish grin.  She hoped her teasing and light tone would put him more at ease with a long over due homecoming.

[askannaarchive2]

His hand immediately held onto Anna's arm before he could stop himself. It helped him to catch his balance quickly, and although he didn't think she'd appreciate him holding onto her, he didn't let go. Not for a moment, anyway. He was almost too nervous to look away from her, let alone release his grip. Just because he knew he wouldn't recognise his own home. "Welcome to," he glanced over to some nearby buildings for a clue, "Tallaght?"

Mitchell’s hold on her arm didn’t surprise the angel.  Neither did his demeanor as he slowly found courage to take in his surroundings.  The redhead waited with the patience of a being that knew time marched on with or without you.

Anna knew that sick feeling that nothing would ever be the same again once you realized what you considered home was nothing but a memory. She also knew there was joy in seeing how things had changed for the better.  You had to think to look for that, however.  It was too easy to stay lost in fond memories that would lead to sadness when faced with reality.

“Yes, John,” she confirmed.  She moved her hand from his shoulder to his stubbled jaw.  She caressed his face reassuringly.  ”I’m sure County South Dublin has changed considerably since you were last here.  Let’s explore, shall we?” she encouraged him.

[askannaarchive2]

Mitchell copied her actions and put his own hand on her shoulder. He didn't know why, it wasn't as if he held onto the angel any other time that they'd flown, but a small smile still played across his lips as his eyes met Anna's. "Ready when you are."

Her gaze lifted to Mitchell’s eyes as his hand settled on her. The pull of her grace toward him made her stomach flip flop. She closed her eyes trying to shut out the feeling. One breath later, the unlikely pair stood in Dublin. Anna slipped her other hand around Mitchell’s narrow waist, holding him steady.  ”Welcome home,” she murmured.

[askannaarchive2]

"Yeah, that would be the normal way," Mitchell answered as though it should have been obvious. His expression softened, if only to show Anna that he was sincere in wanting to go with her. Even if it was spontaneous. "Or we could... take our time? There's no rush."

This is new. The ginger rebel had her doubts about what she was agreeing to, but she went head long into it. Her fingers wrapped over Mitchell’s leather-clad shoulder. She wondered when it had become usual for him to fly with her. “Ready?” she warned him as he had asked her to do once before.

[askannaarchive2]

"Great," He managed to stop his smile from wavering. Her hesitation didn't go unnoticed, and he couldn't exactly blame her for her suspicion, he just chose not to mention it. Maybe she needed chance to warm to the idea. "You want to travel the normal way, or by car and ferry?"

“Do you mean angel transportation?” Anna asked for clarification. She noticed the struggle in his eyes that he kept from his lips. Mitchell’s smile was forced. She wondered why. Few beings had their murders cleaned up so quickly, or an angel on speed dial, for that matter.  Anna pushed off the alley wall she had been leaning against, as ready to leave London as Mitchell was.  Barely an hour had passed since the cleanup of the gruesome murder in Tottenham.