(no subject)

[ofthefamily]

[OOM: One obstacle Carlisle would like to build sometimes is the one to block out unwanted explanations.]

You do understand that it's not even truly Milliways itself which bothers me, Carlisle had told Edward not so many hours ago.

Time to live up to that.

Thusly, there is a white-pale blond man standing in the Milliways entrance, pale blue button-down shirt under a white sweater with carefully pressed slacks. He probably shined his shoes that morning. One gold-eyed glance around the bar at large; Carlisle heads straight for the bar itself, not yet knowing what he'll actually do once he gets there.

[tinytags: edward cullen, carlisle cullen]

Comments

[young_tmriddle]

Tom happens to be at the bar, and he knows exactly what he should do when there. His hand is around a much needed scotch.

He nods to the approaching fellow. He's well-dressed. Not many he meets here have the decorum to shine their shoes. Tom approves.

[ofthefamily]

Kids these days. Tsk.

Carlisle nods back, exhaling smoothly when he decides to walk over to the man. No harm in being polite after all.

"Hello, sir." A brief flash of a smile, revealing no teeth. "You look like someone who knows a thing or two about where we are."

[young_tmriddle]

Tom cocks his head ever so slightly. Did he say 'sir'? Tom approves even more.

"I suppose I do, at that," he replies, setting his scotch down on Bar's surface. "Might I be of assistance?"

[ofthefamily]

"I'm trying to learn more about Milliways beyond my brief tour I received from my son the first time I arrived," Carlisle explains, finding a seat nearby.

"He...did not tell me about his place straightaway, so I want to investigate without his guidance."

Or interference.

[young_tmriddle]

"Oh, I see," says Tom. "The lad slipped away, I'm guessing. Children have the bizarre ability to nose this place out and ensconce themselves when they really oughtn't be here at all without a parental figure. How old is he?"

From the look of Carlisle - who can't be older than Tom himself - he imagines a child of Ingress' age. Nine or ten and irrepressible.

[ofthefamily]

"Seventeen."

Hopefully heading the other man off at the pass, "Adopted."

[young_tmriddle]

"Ah, then we have something in common. My adopted children are nine and thirteen. Whilst they don't come here as often as some, I wouldn't let them near the place if I didn't know it so well. I'm Tom Riddle, by the way, although at home I go by the rather loftier title of Lord Ostium of the House of Arch."

He reaches out his right hand for Carlisle to shake.

"I've been coming here for four-and-a-half years, so I'll be able to help you fill in your gaps of knowledge."

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle hesitates for a split second before putting his hand in Tom's, cold palm to Tom's warm one.

"Carlisle Cullen," he offers sincerely. "A pleasure to meet you, Tom.

"As far as gaps of knowledge, I think the more apt question is what do I know. I had a young girl named Amelia explain the rules of the establishment, but as far as how my family and I come here..."

[young_tmriddle]

He thinks nothing of the cold palm. He lives in a place that is rarely warm, unless he makes it so.

"You mean why do you open a door and find this place on the other side? That is an excellent question. I've found that people usually come here because they need to be here. What that need is can vary. My wife was alone, her family lost to her, when she opened her way here the first time. Gavroche, my boy, died on the barricades in Paris and was not ready for a conventional afterlife. I received a second chance, as well, upon arrival. Others come for companionship, unfinished business, or, in a few cases, for the fine alcoholic beverages. Would you like one? You'll find that Bar serves only the best."

Unless she's miffed with you. Even then the tea is fine; it's merely lukewarm instead of hot.

[ofthefamily]

"That is the most compelling theory I've heard yet." Carlisle just hopes that what his family needs is something beyond intergalactic shopping excursions.

"I would just take a water, please," Carlisle returns formally, though a smile starts to hint at the corners of his mouth. "May I ask where you were from originally?"

[young_tmriddle]

A glass of water appears for Carlisle, and Tom nudges it towards him.

"I'm from London," he says, "and I still live there, in a sense. You know that people and creatures from all different worlds and times come here, yes?"

[ofthefamily]

"I'm starting to discover that more and more, yes," Carlisle laughs, but the question is quickly overlooked in favor of Tom's answer.

"I was born in London myself. Quite some time ago, but London all the same."

[young_tmriddle]

"Ah, but which London? In my own world, you have your pick of three."

He grins and launches into the explanation.

"I was born in what you might call 'regular' London in the year 1927. When I turned eleven, I received my letter to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Shortly thereafter, I became a part of the Wizarding world that is a hidden part of the 'regular' world. When I arrived here, from my year of 1954, I met Door, the Lady of the House of Arch of London Below, yet another hidden world nestled around, over, and under the great city. That's the place I call home now, and it's early twenty-first century for us. Time is rather irrelevant in London Below."

[keptherwaiting.livejournal.com]

One option would be to have a chat with the adoptive son that follows him in.

Jasper, sans Alice, has some apologizing he wants to do and he's close behind Carlisle in entering Milliways, soon joining the other man at Bar after a quick detour of avoiding any others.

"Hey."

[ofthefamily]

"Jasper." Surprise colors Carlisle's mood. And appreciation.

"I have to say I wasn't expecting anyone else to be here."

[keptherwaiting.livejournal.com]

"I followed you in," Jasper says with a somewhat sheepish grin. "Alice said the door to the bathroom was...permanently open to here. She saw you going."

He grimaces at the mention of the permanent portal, but he's trying. Just like he promised Alice again last night that he would.

[ofthefamily]

"I wanted to see the permanent door for myself," Carlisle concedes. "I thought seeing the place away from Alice and Edward would allow me to have more of my own opinion on the matter."

[keptherwaiting.livejournal.com]

"Do you want me to go?" Jasper has to ask, glancing back to the door. He could always come back another time for the whole trying-aspect of this visit. "I promise not to sway your opinion on anything, just wanted to apologize. For before."

[ofthefamily]

"You are not Edward or Alice," Carlisle shakes his head. "There is no need to apologize."

Carlisle does not bother to clarify whether the two facts are related.

"I'd wish you to stay. You can tell me what Alice is plotting for my birthday."

[keptherwaiting.livejournal.com]

Jasper hides a laugh at the lack of clarification, whether the oversight is intended or not, behind a cough. But he's clearly still pretty amused by it.

"Am I allowed to stay even after I tell you I'm 'fraid I've been sworn to secrecy on that matter?"

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle grumbles halfheartedly. "I suppose it's a free...end of the universe." Beat. "That will never sound normal."

[keptherwaiting.livejournal.com]

"It's Alice," Jasper offers in a low-stage whisper and a half-laugh, "Just think the worst of what she can do and keep imagining that. Then you're pleasantly surprised when it's not as half bad as you thought it'd be."

[ofthefamily]

"I really don't feel like walking around between now and then imagining how bad it could possibly be. It would give Edward ideas to pass on."

The smile dims somewhat; a change of topic. "Have you been anywhere here besides the main bar area?"

[keptherwaiting.livejournal.com]

"I was outside some, but other than that - no?"

Jasper frowns when he says this because now it sounds like he hasn't been trying as hard as he's promised Alice he has been.

[ofthefamily]

"Upstairs is far less crowded; I was going to check out the library again if you would want to come upstairs."