A Newcomer

[chime_ra_tilt]

((Pre-Milliways Post: The Outer World is no longer out of reach, meaning other goals may be within reach, as well.))

The first thing that Zelgadiss notices when he enters the bar is that it is distinctly not the inn he had been intending to enter.

...Milliways looked far more reputable, for one thing.

The second thing he notices is the rather final note the click of the closing door makes behind him.

The third thing he notices is all the people. In an almost automatic movement, he pulls a fold of cloth up over his mouth and nose, hiding as much of his stone-flecked skin as he can.

He doesn't see anyone behind the bar from whom to order drinks, so he decides to simply take a seat and watch. Perhaps someone knows what this place is.


(ooc: Mun asks for slowtime, for she must sleep. :D)

Comments

[little-miss-sue.livejournal.com]

[EEEEEEEEE this is me fangirling yoooou; no worries of Sue. The squee is just the mun!]

[chime_ra_tilt]

(ooc: Heeeeeeee. :D!)

[bigheadedchild.livejournal.com]

The masking isn't quick enough to escape the sharp, watchful, and ever-vigilant eye of Dib.

And so there is a boy with an abnormally large head (and very yellow eyes, as Zel may well notice) approaching.

Rapidly.

"Are you an alien, a demon, or some other form of extra-dimensional entity?"

[chime_ra_tilt]

Zel eyes him. Those rather large eyes, even if they are accompanied by a large head, just makes him feel as though even more people are staring at him than probably are. It's enough that he puts his hood up.

"And who'd want to know?"

[bigheadedchild.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I'm Dib," he replies. "I'm a paranormal investigator," he adds. "...Why do you have your hood on in the bar?"

[chime_ra_tilt]

Zel doesn't say that he's pleased to meet Dib. An investigator. Oh, great.

"Did you ever think I might be wearing a hood for the same reason that prompted you to ask me what I was?" He says, a finger tapping irritably on the table with a very solid tapping sound each time.

[bigheadedchild.livejournal.com]

"Most people don't care," Dib says. "I'm just curious; I try to learn as much as I can about the people who come here."

Pause.

".....are you new here?"

[chime_ra_tilt]

"Yes," he says, shortly.

Then, as he feels it fair to trade a question for a question, "Where is here, exactly? It is not the inn I was expecting."

He doesn't tend to like being caught in pocket dimensions, typically. If that's what this turns out to be.

[bigheadedchild.livejournal.com]

"This is Milliways. End of the universe."

He points towards the window.

"It's great. There are all sorts of people from different parallel universes and stuff."

The best part is, people don't automatically think he's crazy.

[chime_ra_tilt]

"End of the un-" he says, glancing over his shoulder towards the Observation Window... then stops, caught by the display of destruction on the other side of all-too-thin-seeming glass.

The icon doesn't do his look justice*.

"How are we not caught in that?" He says after a long moment.


(* Nor does the icon do his look JUSTIIIIICE!!!!)

[bigheadedchild.livejournal.com]

"Time-space distortion or dimensional folding, I think," Dib replies. "Maybe both. I haven't bothered to really check yet."

He's still working on the people of Milliways.

[chime_ra_tilt]

"It would seem to be a rather important thing to check, wouldn't it?" He asks, still looking out at the end of all things.

"You said people from different universes come here? Other worlds?" He wouldn't think that possible, but a lot of impossible things have turned out to be merely improbable, recently.

[bigheadedchild.livejournal.com]

"Uh, yeah. That is kind of implied in the whole 'different universes' thing," Dib replies. "You also get people from the same world, in different parallel universes."

[chime_ra_tilt]

He frowns.

More, I mean.

"What kind of bar has its own pocket dimension that's connected to multiple worlds?"

"And who's even capable of doing that?" His thoughts go again to the scene outside the window.

[gorgonfondness]

Someone does, and someone has noticed you, Zelgadiss.

Or rather, she noticed new magic. That's what causes Mia to look up from her paperwork and actually turns toward the chimera.

His appearance is interesting, to say the least, but she's seen a lot of strange things, both at home and at Milliways, so that can come later if at all.

She gets up, always the welcoming committee to old and new alike. It helps when your smiles are always natural.

"Hello. Are you new here?"

[chime_ra_tilt]

Zel glances at her and raises an eyebrow. "Am I truly that transparent?"

[gorgonfondness]

"Not really. You could simply be someone here I've never met before. But your magic is new to me, different from my own and different from what I've already seen here. It's likely safe to say that I've never met anyone from your world before tonight."

And she realizes that a lot of what she said would only make sense to someone who isn't new and he just confirmed that he is.

"I'm sorry for the babbling. Let me start over. Welcome to Milliways."

[chime_ra_tilt]

"So this is Milliways," he says, looking around. He puts a hand to his chin, both in a pensive gesture and to secure the cloth the covered his mouth and nose. There are so many people.

"How did I get here? I was entering an inn where I had rented a room, but somehow arrived here, instead."

[gorgonfondness]

"I'm afraid I don't have a solid answer for that, or for quite a few questions you're sure to have. Milliways simply comes for people, most likely when they least expect it. Sometimes there's a reason for it, a purpose that brings you here. But other than all that, it's assumed that it's the Landlord's doing, and I'm sorry to say I haven't met anyone who can really explain who the Landlord is other than that."

Her turn for a question before any more explanation.

"Have you checked to see if your door will still open to you?"

[chime_ra_tilt]

He stands, heading for the door, "You mean this place likes to trap people here, as well?"

He turns the door handle and jerks it. Turns it and jerks it again, rattling it in its frame before he lets go and kicks the door, hard.

"Damn it!" Zel turns on Mia, "What kind of place is this? It appears out of nowhere, traps people here, and no one knows why, or how, or who's behind it?"

[gorgonfondness]

"Yes, but on the bright side, time on your side of the door is most likely stopped, so when you can go back, you will be able to pick things up from there."

She gives him a sympathetic sigh.

"Looks like you're Bound. Here, I'll show you how to get a room and some food. If it's any consolation, the first drink is always free."

[chime_ra_tilt]

"Yeah, that makes it all better," he says, flat.

Bound. Once again not in control of himself. The very fact gets under his skin, and it's nearly unbearable.

"From your tone, this is a common circumstance."

[gorgonfondness]

But control is the strangest damn thing in Milliways anyway.

"It is at that. I was Bound myself the first few months I was here. I've met people Bound for longer, some who can never go back home, and some who have no other home. Unless you've somehow died without either of us knowing it, it's probably safe to say that you'll be able to go home sooner or later."

She walks over to Bar and puts her hand on top.

"This is Miss Bar. She may look just like an ordinary bar, but nothing could be further from the truth. She is sentient and can get you almost anything you want or need."

She leans a bit closer to Bar and says, "Could we please have a room key for our new arrival?"

And in a few scant moments, one appears on the surface.

"She has excellent taste in food, by the way, and very good tea. You look like you could do with something stronger, though. I'm almost afraid to say it, but perhaps firewhiskey."

[chime_ra_tilt]

Zelgadiss watches the key appear, impassive.

"Some firewhiskey, then," and his look doesn't change even as the tumbler appears on the counter top. He does manage a brief "Thank you," however.

He takes the glass as if expecting it to do something, then sips. The liquid burns nicely.

"I suppose I should be used to things like this, by now," he says, looking around. He's not so riled, now, but that doesn't mean he has relaxed. He sips his drink, with his left hand resting on the red pommelstone of the sword at his side.

[gorgonfondness]

"This place always takes some getting used to, but at the very least, there's not a lack of things to do."

She looks him over for a moment, taking his attitude and attire into account.

"There's an area outside that's excellent for sparring, either with your magic or your sword. And like I said, Miss Bar can provide you with just about anything if you happen to have a hobby that she can give you supplies for. And there's the garden or the library."