Late, even in GMT

[art-and-brian.livejournal.com]

And even more late in Daylight Savings...Justin had no idea that the Milliways timeline was as far forward as this, and gapes a bit at the curt note he receives from Bar before she switches off.

...he may have just worked out that he's not as old as he thinks he is. Anyway! What with the Late and all, he has no time to search for specials and so the board reads;

Name me a cocktail that makes me laugh, get it for free. Has to be real!

Given that he laughs a lot, this one should be easy.

'We're go for Happy Hour, everyone.'

Comments

[ostro_goth]

"I know you not," Teja says. "I know no tavern-keepers, no wenches, nor catamites. I would not go to such places while alive; I cannot fathom why my afterlife should banish me to such a place of lewdness, where all will blankly address me by my name, as if they were my friends."

Pause.

"But I would not impugn your honour in supposing you might be one of them; honest hard-working men may serve drinks to guests!"

He takes the watered wine, and drinks.

[art-and-brian.livejournal.com]

He blinks, slowly offended.

'Well. If my translation of your archaic fucking language is right, I am a catamite and I'm getting deja vu. We've been through this before.'

Yeah, he realises that something's up here but he hasn't experienced the time shifts Milliways is so fond of before and this hits enough of a raw nerve that he's overlooking the Weird for the time being.

'So 'impugn my honour' all you like - it only matters if I give a shit what you think.'

Which he doesn't.

[ostro_goth]

"The wine is good," Teja says, "but I know you not, youth! I died but an hour ago, and came to this strange afterlife, where all pretend to know me, call me by my name, or even claim to have had impure relations with me! At least you try not to kiss me lewdly, or throw yourself upon me!"

[art-and-brian.livejournal.com]

'You wish,' he says, tartly, but is beginning to see what the problem is here and so, relaxes a little bit.

'You died an hour ago?'

Hmm.

'You must have come from a different point in the timeline. You've been here before although you were dead then too. You have friends here and a boyfriend.'

He's only met Charlie the once but he hopes for his sake that someone else has tried to kiss Teja already this evening.

[ostro_goth]

"I died an hour ago; this is my first drink in this afterlife," Teja says. "And there was a nithing, a man, not even a youth like you, that claimed to be my catamite, and tried to kiss me! I have never takes such a creature in my life!"

[art-and-brian.livejournal.com]

'You will though' he says, off-handedly.

'This is Milliways and you change. You finally admit that you're gay, start sleeping with guys - get over it. I assume you're talking about Charlie and you love him so chill the fuck out.'

Harsh, perhaps. But he only says it like that because he's pretty sure that nothing he says right now will make a blind bit of difference to Teja's mindset.

[ostro_goth]

"Gay?" Teja says. "I have not even been cheerful since I was a boy of your age!"

[art-and-brian.livejournal.com]

'Then I feel sorry for you.'

Truly.

'But that's what I meant. In my time - and mostly here - gay means queer. Homosexual.'

He's tries to think of a way to word it that Teja will be able to relate to.

'A man who loves other men.'

[ostro_goth]

Teja looks into the depths of his wine and shakes his head, grimly. "It is some laughable mistake," he says.

[art-and-brian.livejournal.com]

Justin just shakes his head (nope, 'fraid not), looking both serious and smug.

[ostro_goth]

"This is wrong," Teja says again. "It must be a nightmare at the time of my dying!"

He lowers his head, long snakey black locks obscuring his face.

[art-and-brian.livejournal.com]

He starts to feel a bit sorry for him now.

'Look, don't worry about it. Just relax - if things happened naturally before, they will again. Charlie will help. Or I will, if I can. And this place is pretty good. There's even the forge you run outside if you want to go see it.'

[ostro_goth]

"A forge?" Teja says. "I do indeed work metal, make blades!"

He looks up, not quite as dejected as a moment before.

[art-and-brian.livejournal.com]

'I know you do,' he replies, patiently.

'And you enjoy it. And are good at it, by all accounts.'

[ostro_goth]

"I do, and I am," Teja says. "That much, I share with that man who seems to have born my face and name, and who was here before!"

[art-and-brian.livejournal.com]

'You share a lot more than that.'

It has to be said. Maybe Justin would be kinder to leave him to his illusions.

'You are the same person.

...what did you do to Charlie when he tried to kiss you?'

[ostro_goth]

"As would any man that is suddenly pounced upon and kissed by an utter stranger," Teja says. "I pushed him off me, said that I know him not, and asked him who he is. He answered me, kept claiming to be my 'lover', and then walked away."

[art-and-brian.livejournal.com]

'...yeah.'

Poor Charlie. If he knew him better, he'd go see if he's alright. But intrusions are probably not welcome right now, he imagines.

'You're going to regret that later.'

[ostro_goth]

"Why that?" Teja asks. "Truly, I do not wish for such relations with any!"

[art-and-brian.livejournal.com]

'You will,' he says, tonelessly, and sighs.

'Look, it's not your fault. You've gone back to when you first died. I'm sure he'll understand once you...y'know, explain it to him.'

Because surely Teja will do that at least?

'And over time, you'll get used to the idea again.'

If you're gay once, you'll be gay again.

[ostro_goth]

"I cannot imagine," Teja says. "Truly, I cannot, to veer so far from the course I followed all my life!"

[art-and-brian.livejournal.com]

Justin shrugs.

'Life's all about change. So's death.'

[ostro_goth]

"There are such things as morals," Teja says. "Self-discipline. Standards one sets oneself, and adheres to, not the artificial, outside morality of priests threatening perdition!"

Pause.

"Pudicity."