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

[gorgonfondness]

"Infinite knowledge?"

She may be at the restaurant at the end of the universe, but even Mia finds that hard to swallow.

"I can't even think of anything capable of holding all of that, except perhaps a rememberizer, but it's never been tried with one before. But while I'm not sure about infinite knowledge, I know of a source of knowledge that is not yet finite. Damon, the keeper of knowledge. His library of work fills several stories of his tower and he's still writing."

[chime_ra_tilt]

An eyebrow quirks with interest. "Would this Damon be willing to share that knowledge?"

[gorgonfondness]

"Anyone who proves himself worthy in his tower is welcome to read his writings. It is full of monsters and Damon tests all who enter. However, my friends and I were able to do it. And when we were there, Damon told us something. That knowledge is useless if it isn't shared. I don't know if that's affected his methods of testing people, but it sounds promising."

[chime_ra_tilt]

That smile is back. It's grown.

"Anyone who proves himself worthy, hm? It might be worth looking into."

Perhaps because Zel doesn't feel like any library trip is complete without blowing something up.
"My name is Zelgadiss," he finally remembers to mention.

[gorgonfondness]

He does sound like he's doing better, so she smiles too.

"My name is Mia. Pleased to meet you."

She holds out her hand to shake.

[chime_ra_tilt]

After a moment's pause, he holds out his be-gloved hand and shakes hers.

"Pleased to meet you, as well."

[gorgonfondness]

She's curious about the feel of his hand. It's almost like shaking hands with a statue.

"Where are you from, Zelgadiss?"

Mia's already imagining a world full of people that look like him.

[chime_ra_tilt]

It would be.

"Far away, I suppose, since this is the end of the universe," he says. "If you say my magic feels foreign to your own, then you probably wouldn't have heard of it."

Annnnnd canon doesn't tell us.

[gorgonfondness]

"Oh. What is it like there?"

She's continuing on the assumption that the world Zelgadiss is from is full of people with stone skin, and therefore suitable for people with stone skin.

[chime_ra_tilt]

"Pretty standard, I should think, without something to judge it off of. There are kingdoms, villages and people," he shrugs. "Merchants, lords, royalty, the occasional bandit horde... sorcerers and swordsmen..."

He smirks a little. "...though sometimes people can be both of those last, at once."

[gorgonfondness]

She nods with what he's saying.

But then she really thinks about the last part and she scrunches her face in confusion.

"Swords?"

They're useful to these interesting stone people?

"They must be very sharp."

[chime_ra_tilt]

Zel glances at her, frowning in slight bemusement.

"That is part of the point to swords, yes, if you'll forgive the pun."

[gorgonfondness]

She blinks at him.

"And they can pierce skin?"

[chime_ra_tilt]

"Unless the person handling them is a complete idiot..." he starts to say, then amends it to "...and has no idea of how to use a sword, then yes."

[gorgonfondness]

She's quite impressed.

There is more blinking, some of it directed at Zel's hand.

"The people of my world need to improve on their swords. I've known some pretty great swordsmen, but their weapons likely aren't that sharp."

[chime_ra_tilt]

Oh, says his expression, clearing a little before it quickly turns to irritated frustration.

"I'm not..." normal "...I'm not the norm, in my world," he grates out. "I'm looking for the Claire Bible so I can get my human body back."

[gorgonfondness]

A little more blinking, and then:

"I've learned enough both at home and here to know that normal doesn't really matter that much in the grand scheme of things. And I can assure you from my own personal experience here that you are not the strangest patron of Milliways. You haven't met Homestar, Raspberry, the man-eating plant in the garden, any of the talking animals, the Tarot cards, the resident deities, or any of the other decidedly odd patrons of the bar. But you have met me, so you're off to a good start on that front."

[chime_ra_tilt]

...Normal doesn't really matter that much...

She sounds like Amelia.

"It matters to me," he says darkly. His goal is what matters. Not these names that don't mean anything to him. Other not-normal people are not his concern, only getting rid of this unnatural body.

"I never asked for this."

[gorgonfondness]

Mia's already deciding here and now that Zelgadiss is not allowed to meet Draco. They would just sulk at each other, provided that Draco didn't run off like a wuss.

And another thing: Why is it that men are never fully themselves if they're missing something? Magic for Draco, a normal body for Zelgadiss, what's wrong with these guys?

"It's like losing your arm," she quietly says.

[chime_ra_tilt]

"Then being given a replacement that isn't even from your own species," he continues, looking down at a small pebble that shows just at the wrist of his fingerless gloves.

He can't deny that he is more powerful in this body.

It was simply the most efficient way to give you what you said you wanted.

But it's power he'd willingly relinquish, just to be human again.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia responds by simply saying, "You don't know who I was quoting."

[chime_ra_tilt]

Zelgadiss looks at her, flat. "Does it matter?"

"I did not know you were quoting." He figured she might be saying her own thoughts on the matter.

[gorgonfondness]

"It matters if you knew my opinion on that statement, or rather, that overstatement."

Living without magic in an otherwise comfortable situation is not that big of a problem.

Granted, she doesn't know much of Zel's situation, but his Draco-like sulking isn't earning him any points of sympathy.

[chime_ra_tilt]

"Perhaps in the context of how you were using it it was an overstatement," he says, not asking for sympathy, nor expecting any. "But I cannot judge in that situation, since you haven't said anything about it."

"It is not an overstatement in my situation. Quite the opposite." Living as a monster is not a comfortable situation.

[gorgonfondness]

"Well, I admit it can't be easy, but I don't see how you being miserable is going to help your situation. I liked that determination you had earlier. If you're going to try finding a way to change yourself back, at least be confident in your search."