(no subject)

[beautiful_ann]

[OOC: Slowtime looms in the future, FYI. In the next hour or so.]


Really, the first thing that strikes Ann Darrow ought to be that the dressing room in Manny's theater has just turned into a bar. Especially considering the fundamental illegality of such an arrangement.

But instead, it's the overwhelming scent of rich, cooked food, followed closely by the scent of alcohol, that takes her attention and makes her momentarily a little weak in the knees. After all, the last thing she had to eat was an apple, this morning.

It takes her a moment to get her stomach back under control, but once she's certain it won't embarrass her by growling, she takes a look around.

"When, exactly, did our dressing room turn into a speakeasy?" Beat. "Well, one with a bar, anyway."

Comments

[viceriddengnome.livejournal.com]

Look, it's a woman that resembles his dear not-dead courtesan buddy! "Hello!" says a midget with a very prominent lisp, "welcome to Milliways Bar! It's at the end of the universe!"

[beautiful_ann]

Wrong! This one is blonde. Not that you can tell, with that hat.

". . . I'm sorry?"



It's more the 'end of the universe' thing, really. Ann works with people of unusual body types.

[viceriddengnome.livejournal.com]

Also much shorter.

The midget extends his hand. "My name is Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec Monfa, at your service, my lady."

[beautiful_ann]

Manners take over, and she takes his hand firmly with a brief smile. "Ann Darrow. It's a pleasure. I, uh -- did you say 'end of the universe'?"

[viceriddengnome.livejournal.com]

"Yes. See over there? It's the universe ending." He points cheerfully to the Observation Window.

In fact, he turns around and stares at it. Lovingly.

[beautiful_ann]

". . . Oh, my."

She's transfixed.

"That's -- magnificent."

[viceriddengnome.livejournal.com]

"It is, isn't it?"

It almost brings a tear to his eye.

Well, before he jumps around to face her. "Now tell me, where are you from, Madmoiselle?"

[beautiful_ann]

"Oh! New York. New York City."

[viceriddengnome.livejournal.com]

"I have heard much of that city, but have not visited yet, I am afraid. I am from Paris. Montmatre."

[beautiful_ann]

"Paris?"

She perks. "I've never been there. I've heard it's -- magical, though."

[viceriddengnome.livejournal.com]

"It is magnificent, madmoiselle. If ever you get the chance the visit, do come, and look me up while you are there."

[kayip.livejournal.com]

A teenage boy with yellow eyes greeting her would probably not be the best way to avoid freaking her out.

Well, she should probably get used to it.

In any case, he briefly looks over at her, then says while looking away, "I don't think this is your dressing room."

[beautiful_ann]

"I'm beginning to think that, too." She gives him a polite, puzzled smile. "Do you know where it is, in that case?"

[kayip.livejournal.com]

He's still careful not to look at her too directly, perhaps for one weird thing at a time, "Well, you're right about it being a bar - it's just... not part of your world. Or time."

He's never really gotten the 'at the end of the universe' thing, so he pauses and asks, "Can you see the door behind you?"

[beautiful_ann]

She blinks. "Not part of my time. . .?"

Half-turning, she eyes the door. "Well, yes, of course."

[kayip.livejournal.com]

"Well, you're probably not Bound here, then," he says, finally looking up and eying the door slightly suspiciously, so his gold eyes are visible.

"So you can leave if you want. And yeah... whatever year you're in-" he pauses, noticing the way she's dressed, "... well, it's not that here. There are a lot of people from different times here."

[beautiful_ann]

"1933," she supplies without thinking.

"There are?" She glances around. "That's . . . amazing. How is that possible?"

[kayip.livejournal.com]

His eyes go up to look at her more closely while she's looking away.

Shrugging slightly, "I'm not... a good person to ask. People just tend to ... end up here."

Pause. "I'm from 2012. Not everyone's... from Earth, though."

[beautiful_ann]

She looks back just in time to catch a glimpse of golden eyes, and she takes a tiny breath.

"You're from the future?"

[kayip.livejournal.com]

"Well you're... from the past to me," he says, averting his eyes again.

[beautiful_ann]

She pauses, blinks, and smiles. "I suppose so."

Then, offering her hand -- "I'm Ann. Ann Darrow."

[herr-farrenen.livejournal.com]

If she hadn't already had her stomach under control, the man nearby who smells decidedly of cow might help.

"It doesn't seem to be the pub, either," he says, taking a draw at his pint. "Terribly odd, really."

He really has the most English voice.

[beautiful_ann]

"Do you know where it is, then?"

[herr-farrenen.livejournal.com]

"Some chap mentioned something about the Universe, but I'm afraid I was rather distracted at the time."

He shrugs, a carelessly graceful movement, and sips at his bitter.

"You aren't from Darrowby, I suppose. American?"

[beautiful_ann]

She nods, glancing around, puzzled.

"New York. Where I'm beginning to think I no longer am."