Anton Gorodetsky - Main Bar

[melomancer]

And there's a creepy doll
That always follows you
It's got a ruined eye
That's always open

It has been a long few weeks for Anton and an even longer few hours as the clean up of an unlicensed witch turned sour. Why must they always try and fight? It always ends badly and always more costly than if they had just accepted their due. Oh well, who can understand the Dark?

Finding Milliways instead of the street level is a blessing as he has not yet had breakfast and lunch was a long time ago, while dinner never even happened. A contented sigh hides a soft click, clack but Anton does turn when he noticed the door didn't close behind him. Turning with a frown, he pushes the door closed and heads for the bar. Coffee first.

[tiny tag: creepy doll.]
[[OOC: And so the Creepy Doll plot begins. See this backroom post for more information.]]
[[[OOC: Also, Anton is open for tags or reactions to something scuttling about your legs for the Creepy Doll if you'd like. Just put the reaction tags under Creepy Doll's for clarity if you don't mind.]]]

Comments

[creepydoll]

Quickly, the doll dashes to the nearest shadow, scuttling beneath a booth.

[herr_bookman]

It's not a booth Autor looks at unless he has to, as helplessly watching a young girl's trauma unfold is enough to keep him from sitting on that side of the room.

So, completely oblivious to the animatronic fear-mongerer, the skinny boy plops--always dignified, him--onto a bar stool and orders some tea without looking up from Blake Snyder's Save the Cat, except to nod once, at Anton.

[melomancer]

By this time Anton has a mug of coffee and is inhaling the aroma when Autor plops down at the Bar. Despite himself, Anton is impressed with the decorum with which the boy plops. It is quite a skill.

Nodding back, he also notes the books cover and laughs as it reminds him of some of the old posters he's seen around.

[herr_bookman]

To which Autor lowers his book, blinking. He's used to people laughing at him, but not in his general direction. "What," he says, bewildered, "is so funny?"

[melomancer]

"I am sorry," the man says, pausing for a sip of coffee. "Your book reminded me of an old poster. Perhaps you know it, 'Hang In there'?"

[herr_bookman]

Autor shakes his head, and glances at the cover of the book. "'Hang in there'?" he asks. "There's no noose."

[melomancer]

There's no noose? What sort of answer is that? Was the boy a Dark Other? Anton nearly checks before deciding it is too much trouble and besides, this is not Moscow.

"No, no. Hang in there like hold on until Friday. Or something like it."

[herr_bookman]

"Oh, an idiom," the boy says, and wrinkles his nose. Then he regards the cover of the book. "Though given that it's technically a Monday in the multiverse, I can't imagine the poor cat will be able sink its claws into this rope until Friday."

The tone is just dry enough to suggest that he's joking, though whether or not he pulls it off is subjective.

[melomancer]

"Perhaps the cat has some sort of preternatural endurance," Anton suggests helpfully as well as taking another sip of coffe.

[herr_bookman]

Autor snorts, amused. "Possibly," he says, and takes a sip of his tea. "Iron reinforced claws. Maybe it's just training its arms, and will have climbed the rope before Friday morning arrives."

[melomancer]

"Or it could be a yogi from India. Mind over body and all that." Anton replies, encouraged by Autor's amusement.

[herr_bookman]

"It appears that this cat doesn't need saving at all," the boy concludes, waving the book around. "Clearly the author's imperative title is a lie, or he has suffered a grievous mistake at the print office."

[melomancer]

Anton shrugs. "Or it could be the marketing. Blown up title to sell the book. What is the book about anyway?"

[herr_bookman]

"Nothing to do with cats," the boy says, shrugging. "It's about writing screenplays, though the tips can be transposed to novels, too."

He sips his tea. "Where do you hail from?"

[melomancer]

"I am from Moscow. Are you a writer then?" Anton asks, wondering what he should eat for breakfast.

[herr_bookman]

"Of a sorts," Autor says, and sets the book down. "Moscow! Interesting. I've met another Russian around the bar, but I doubt she'd be from your time period, let alone your version of Earth."

He sips his tea. "What do you do in Moscow?"

[melomancer]

"I am something like a policeman," Anton replies, thinking some kasha might be light enough that he could still take a nap once he returned home. "I could tell you more but as they say, I would have to kill you."

He pauses for drama's sake before smiling to prove he was joking. "Would you mind terribly if I ate while we talk? Or I could buy you some food as well and we could share a meal?"

[herr_bookman]

Autor raises a brow. "They say that, do they? Who are 'they'?"

The smile throws him off, though. "Oh," he says, and now he wonders if the man was pulling his leg. "And no, not at all. I don't mind if you eat, though I'm not hungry. Thank you for the offer."

[melomancer]

"Movies, television, books," Anton replies with a dismissive wave. "Anytime there is a government secret. Truly though I cannot say much more. Lady Bar, may I have some kasha please? With a touch of honey?"

[herr_bookman]

"Aha, a pop culture idiom," Autor says, nodding. "Oh, that looks interesting. What is kasha?"

[melomancer]

"A sort of porridge made from different grains, usually buckwheat," Anton replies before taking a spoonful from the bowl that has appeared. He smiles as it has just the right about of honey. "Very good to start the day."

[herr_bookman]

Autor nods, and then orders a half-serving. "I've never eaten anything from Moscow. May as well," he says, and then grins. "Looks like I should have taken you up on your offer after all."

[melomancer]

Anton smiles in return. "It can be very invigorating if prepared correctly. Over cook it and it sits like tar, under cook it and it's like chewing pebbles. May I ask what country you are from?"

[herr_bookman]

"I assume Bar sources it perfectly prepared," he says, adjusting his glasses.

"And you may," he says, pausing for a moment while he deliberates over whether or not to give him the answer. "Germany."

He finds the kasha is quite nice.

[guppy_sandhu]

An infirmary waitrat, Aesclepius, catches sight of the TERRIFYING MONSTER THING, and rushes up Guppy's leg.

By the time Guppy peers under the table, he can't see anything.

[katyafeline]

A faint laugh and the jingle of silver bracelets is the only warning Anton gets before a basketball is pitched at his head.



Katya plays basketball as a contact sport. Bear never showed her differently.

[melomancer]

This is all well and good except when Anton hears the laugh and the bells, he tenses assuming some form of a tackle is about to occur--he's learned to just accept whatever greeting Katya offers and not try and run. The ball bounces off his head and his eyes open in shock just in time to see it heading towards the vodka shelf behind the bar. Reacting without thought, he throws out a binding which stops the ball and forces it to bounce back towards him where he catches it.

Turning to her, he says, "Basket ball in a bar? Really?" He almost sounds grumpy.

[katyafeline]

"It keeps your hands fast." Katya replies innocently, "I would not be doing you a service to allow you to enter the field with slow reflexes."

[melomancer]

Anton closes his mouth before he catches flies and takes the time to properly think of an answer before shrugging. "Fair enough. I guess it is working since I saved the vodka."

[katyafeline]

"And for that, I will pay for the first bottle." He is improving! She'll have to throw two next time.

...

Katya learned training techniques from Bear. Blame him for that, as well.

[melomancer]

It is good for Anton, really. It will get him out of his head. Speaking of...

"I will have to pass but I thank you. It has been a long night and I have yet to have breakfast. A witch raid." Cause we all know how those go down don't we. Anton's eyes do lower as he speaks as he is reminded of an old shame.

[katyafeline]

"Antoshka." She chides, tsking at his expression, "That is in the past, and at least had the benefit of being hilarious after the fact. Go, sleep, you're being ridiculous."

[melomancer]

"Perhaps I should go sleep." Anton agrees with a wry grin. "After some breakfast...I wouldn't want to faint."

That might have been a joke at his expense.

[OOC: Would you like to continue here or fade and you can tag his happy hour? Greedy, moi?]

[katyafeline]

(OOC: Fade is good -I'll go throw a Katya at the poor bartender. :D)