milliways_bar | A Newcomer

Current Mood: wary

Entry tags:

A Newcomer

((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)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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."

Zel glances at her, frowning in slight bemusement.

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

She blinks at him.

"And they can pierce skin?"

"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."

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."

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."

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."

...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."

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.

"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.

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

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.

"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.

"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.

"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."

"I'm not going to change how I feel, or even pretend to, just because you'd prefer it," he says, glaring at her.

"Forgive me if having some woman who thinks she can make generalizations about things about which she knows nothing ask about something I'd rather not discuss makes me irritable," he says, not repentant at all.

"You're right, I don't know anything about it, and I'm sorry if it sounded like I made light of your problem."

There is sincerity in the statement. Mia isn't the sort to lie, not about things like this.

But afterward, she shrugs. It's all out of her hands anyway.

"But fine, then. Be miserable if you want to. If you still want my help, as you'll need it if you're still interested in Damon's Spire, I'll give it to you, but that's it."

She has enough miserable people to bother with and Zelgadiss seems more like the business sort anyway.

"That is all I am wanting," he says, Not your uninformed opinions.

Setting down his still mostly-full glass of firewhiskey, he crosses his arms. "Where is this Damon's Spire, and went do we set off?"

"I'm afraid there's not going to be a 'we' about it. As I don't know much about you, you don't know much about me."

She gestures to her paperwork, which sits in fairly tall stacks on her table.

"I have a city to rebuild, money to earn so that I'll actually be able to fund the construction, a wolf pup to take care of, and a boyfriend who's trying to cope with the shock of the atrocities of his home world's war. I can provide you passage to my world and directions on how to get to and enter the Spire, but other than that, you're on your own unless I can find a lull in my work."

"As I said, your help, inasmuch as I would need or want it, is all I ask," he says, still waiting for the answers to the main points of his questions. He'll sit through quibbling about the wording patiently enough, for now.

A soft sigh.

"I'll help you when I can. I don't intend to leave Milliways until this paperwork is done and Draco has gone back to his war. I'll leave a note with Miss Bar to give to you when I'm ready to go so that you can come along. Fair enough?"

"Fair," he decides. He won't ask about the Bar delivering notes. He'll find out sooner or later.

"Room 73," he says, reading the wording on the key. Zelgadiss looks around the bar room and then at the stairs. To him, the place doesn't look like it could have seventy-three rooms for rent. Of course, inns in his world also don't have extra wings or extra-special physics custom-made for them.

It was late when he arrived, and the stress that comes with suddenly being in a new place, not to mention suddenly being in Milliways, is getting to him.

"I will receive your note when you send it, Mia."

"If you need me before then for anything, my room is the one with the gorgon on the door."

She shows him the gorgon on her own key.

"Take care until then, Zelgadiss."

And she goes to her paperwork, leaving Zelgadiss free to go to his room.

Which he does.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A Newcomer

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject