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.

[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]

"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!!!!)

[chime_ra_tilt]

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

[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."

[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]

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.

[bigheadedchild.livejournal.com]

"Uh, this kind?" Dib replies. "And I've heard there's a Landlord, but nobody's ever met him. Or her. Or it."

He shrugs.

[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."

[chime_ra_tilt]

"A Landlord," he says, flat.

This isn't really getting him anywhere.

"Does this kind of bar also serve anything to drink?" Zelgadiss says, eyeing the 'tenderless bar.

[bigheadedchild.livejournal.com]

He nods.

"Just as Bar for whatever you want," he says. "Uh, the first drink is free."

[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]

"Just ask the bar?" He says skeptically, then shrugs. Getting up, he heads over to the bar.

When he asks the bar for a drink, a mug appears. Under normal circumstances, he would return shortly and sit down. But now he's wondering if he should say thank you.

He does, eventually, then he comes back with his drink.

"Okay, so I can believe what you say about other worlds, now." That magic that lets the bar serve on its own isn't of his world, that's for sure.

[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."