milliways_bar | (no subject)

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bob the skull

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There's a glittery shimmer, then Bob - resting comfortably in his skull - appears on the bar, just in front of a man who looks like a cowboy drinking a beer.

He reads the note posted on the board and ponders the question for a moment.

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Vlad is intrigued by the appearance of the skull. He approaches, sits, and bows rather awkwardly.

"Do pardon me," he says in heavily accented English. "You are a magical being, yes?"

Bob eyes the seemingly familiar-looking gentleman.

"Indeed. Why do you ask?"

[ooc: Bob doesn't necessarily know Vlad, but he is well-versed in many subjects and would know *of* him, as he would know *of* someone like Santa Claus or Jack the Ripper - legends, stories.]

"It is a day full of magic. And I wish to discuss things with a creature that will not distract me with hunger. Pardon--I am Prince Vlad Tepes, late of Transylvania. And I sense this is no longer London."

"No, definitely not London. And I am fairly certain that I'm not much of a tasty morsel to you. Discuss away. Call me Bob."

"An honor, Bob," says Vlad, bowing again. "I was on a London street just moments ago--now I am here.

Is there a barkeep? A glass of absinthe would greatly calm my nerves."

"Yeah, that seems to happen a lot - one minute you're in a familiar locale, the next *poof* you're here. Milliways it's called.

As for the barkeep, you're lookin' at 'er. Well, sort of. There, sometimes is a bartender, however, if one isn't around, you can just ask the bar itself and she'll provide. See, bar, can this gentlemen have an absinthe?"

The beverage appears on the bar beside Bob.

"See. There you go."

"Thank you," Vlad says to both inatimate objects, and sips, closing his eyes at the force of the absinthe.

"Milliways is . . . what? Limbo? Hell? It surely is not Heaven--I have no hope of seeing that."

"No problem."

"Milliways is... well... I believe it's been described as 'the bar at the end of the universe'. The window there, on the far wall..." he would point, but, alas, he has no arms and hands with which to do so, "...looks out to the end of the universe, if I understand what people have seen through it correctly."

"You have not seen out this window? Ah, yes, I see how that would be difficult." He turns to look, and is silent for several seconds.

"Is that . . . a moving picture?" he asks at last. "I have seen many since my arrival in London."

"Yeah - I just get up and walk over there all the time, gazing wistfully out the window," he responds with a great deal of snark - as is his way. "No. Haven't made it into the bar at a location near enough to really look out the window."

He waits while the man looks.

"Er, no. Not a movie. It's actually a view to the end of the universe."

Another slight pause.

"Which movies have you seen in London?"

"There was one of a train," Vlad says absently, still looking. "And many of women without clothing."

Bob sighs dreamily at the thought of movies with scantily clad or non-clad women. "Ah, yes... those are nice."

"Not as nice as the real thing." He looks at Bob. "No scent.

"Do forgive me--would you like to look out the window? Sit in the windowsill, perhaps? A different view as repayment for your kindess to a stranger?"

The orange eyelights flicker. "Indeed, not as nice as the real thing. Though I get little chance to experience either - the movies or the real thing." A sigh.

"Sit at the window? Well, as long as you don't leave me there. It's hell trying to move around if you have to yell at people to come get you. Sure... I've seen the bar from this perspective several times already."

"But of course." He drains the last of his absinthe and lifts Bob carefully, cradling him in the crook of his arm for the walk across the bar. He sets the skull carefully on the windowsill.

"It is magnificent," he murmurs.

Bob whistles a bit at the view. "It is. Didn't realize it was so... interesting. Can't say I've seen anything quite like that before."

"I have seen nothing like this," Vlad murmurs, "and I have seen many wonders." He looks down at the skull. "You know what I am."

"Have an idea, yeah. Based on legends and the like. I've seen quite a few - oddities - in my time. Wonders too - but the end of the universe is truly an amazing thing. And maybe a bit frightening too."

"Legend," Vlad says with a sigh. "That is all my works have become.

How is it sustained? Are we all not in danger?"

The eyelights flicker cautiously.

"Er, not sure I should tell too much, but in my time - legend isn't really a bad thing. It generally means 'well known'." He doesn't really want to tell Vlad anything about the vampire stories of his time... that could get dicey.

"How is what sustained? The universe? That is science a bit beyond even my extensive knowledge. Are we in danger? Probably not... that whole space-time thing. Like black holes - I think time actually moves differently here - so, the universe is ending out there, but it's so far away that it won't reach us for many many years. Or, that's what I'd figure. Otherwise there'd be a huge Chicken Little incident. Everyone running around screaming about the sky falling and the world ending. Mostly, it's kinda pretty."

Vlad smiles--he likes the skull's direct manner. It is refreshing after kowtowing and obescience. Though he does not know the terms Chicken Little and black hole.

"You have been most helpful, Bob," he says softly. "Is there anywhere I can put you? I wish to return to London. I have plans in motion."

"Eh, put me back on the bar for now. Most central location. And the bar gives me books to read. Thanks for the momentary vacation to the window. And - hey - questions are easily answered - most of the time. Enjoy London."

"As you wish." He carries Bob back to the bar and places him in the center of the long expanse. "I hope we shall speak again soon," he says, and then makes his way to the door and home.

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