return of the brainkiller

[manofthecity.livejournal.com]

In honor of mentioning she would do it sometime in a Big Back Room Thread, this post exists.

Around the pool table, which is sometimes in the bar and sometimes not, there are many, many people for one pool table.

Carrot Ironfoundersson is sitting on a stool keeping the score (and keeping peace), and next to him is Badger, who is collecting bets. Carrot keeps giving Badger sidelong disapproving looks, but doesn't actually say anything, since gambling is not directly against the Rules.

Greg Sanders is still trying to decide who to bet on -- the underdog keeps changing, see.

Playing are Rose Red, Sariel, Max Evans and Slack -- Thursday Next is hovering, waiting for a chance to get in, and Cole Sear and Kit Rodriguez are watching and sulking, as they were told they're too young to participate.

(Stupid adults.)

Kurt is getting an amazing view from the rafters, and occasionally swiping a strawberry from the bowl Eilinel's holding. Sitting with Eilinel are Sheila and her infant.

In the other corner, Claire Keogh and Mary O'Brien are just talking about pool -- they're both new to it.

And just wait until Tristan Farnon shows up.

[The original purpose behind the multi-pup post returns: help destroy Rue's braincells! Open to all comers, all day, though I do have a couple of classes in there somewhere.]

Comments

[shelley_winters]

"Hi!" she beams, recognising the face vaguely.

She'll get it in a minute, honest she will...

"We've... met, I'm fairly sure."

[onehoopyprefect]

"Have we?" he asks, a little nervously. "I don't owe you money or anything, do I?"

[shelley_winters]

Shelley looks nonplussed.

"I doubt it. Um, but if it's any consolation, I'm in no position to demand it back with menaces?"

[onehoopyprefect]

"Well, then. That's good enough for me." He offers a hand. "Ford Prefect."

[shelley_winters]

She grins, taking his hand and shaking it in the Proper English Manner - slightly awkwardly, and with not much in the way of actual shaking.

"Shelley Winters. Nice to properly meet you, Ford!"

[onehoopyprefect]

He snaps his fingers. "Shelley. Right! You work on Antar sometimes, don't you?"

[shelley_winters]

"I do!"

She nods vigorously. "I'm the one who steals Michael's paperwork when he tries to do too much!"

[onehoopyprefect]

Ford grins and nods. "That's probably why we look familiar to each other. Passed in the halls or something. I'm Trillian's... well, I suppose boyfriend is technically accurate. One of them, at any rate."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley blinks in vague confusion, but handwaves that. Whatever works is fine with her.

"I see. So, friends once removed or something. Do you live on Antar too?"

[onehoopyprefect]

"Not really, no. Sometimes I stay with Trill, but mostly I either sleep here, or I'm off on some other planet researching an article. I can't get to Antar by myself right now, so I usually just follow Michael or whomever."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley nods, wisely.

"That sounds good and varied," she says thoughtfully. "You're a journalist?"

A SPACE journalist?

[onehoopyprefect]

OF THE FUTURE!

Okay, maybe not.

"Not exactly," he replies. "Senior Field Researcher for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's a sort of travel guide-slash-encyclopedia."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley has no idea what that is.

But she nods.

"I see. Must be a lot of fun to see so many places - I only really see here and my home town. And the inside of the Antar palace."

We do not talk about the Second Age.

[onehoopyprefect]

"It's really hoopy," he says with a grin. "Whole galaxy out there to see and explore. I should start offering tours or something. People need new experiences."

[shelley_winters]

She laughs.

"You should! I bet people would love it. You could call it 'A hitchiker's tour of the galaxy.'"

[onehoopyprefect]

"That's actually not a bad idea, come to think of it. Of course, it would have to be one person at a time until I made enough money to buy a bigger ship... but it could work."

[shelley_winters]

"Even better," she says promptly. "Exclusive treatment, you see. People are impressed by that."

She works with politicians. You get manipulative after a while.

[onehoopyprefect]

"Hey, yeah! That would mean I could charge even more."

[shelley_winters]

"Exactly."

[onehoopyprefect]

Ford grins widely.

"It's buzzing in my head now. I've got to go work out the details. But once I do, you're first in line. And I'll even give you a five -- no, ten -- percent discount!"

[shelley_winters]

She giggles.

"You are most generous. Good luck with it!"

[onehoopyprefect]

"Thanks!"

He scurries off to find some paper and a pencil.