milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Once again, enter the oriental lady of indeterminate, and unpredictable, age. She is still in Kimono, and looks down at her hidden feet with an expression of amusement before shaking her head and making her way toward the bar.

He steps click when she walks.

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At the bar, drinking a cup of coffee and watching the Universe Distruction Viewing window, is Atticus. There's a section of folded newspaper tucked into the pocket of his coat, and the lights from exploding universes reflect off his glasses. He notes the approaching lady in kimono, and stands to give her a nod.

"Good evening, madam."

She bows politely back;

"Good evening, sir."

And her age arranges itself to something similar to his.

"My I have the honor of introducing myself? Atticus Finch, of Maycomb County, Alabama. And in such a place as this establishment, I'll also add 'Earth, year nineteen hundred thirty-six' as further reference." There's a faint dry, amused look across his features.

"The Lady Ako, of The Drunk Tank in one of the Spirit Realms. Time is something of a variable, but we are more or less in between Earth and the Sunless Lands."

She smiles at him, and gestures to a seat with a manicured hand,

"May I?"

He raises a brow slightly at her address, but its from curiousity and puzzlement than anything else.

Atticus nods, and motions to a free stool with a welcoming smile, remaining standing until she's sat down.

"May I get you a drink?"

"Tea would be lovely, thank you."

She beams at him brightly.

"It is a bar run by my Family."

Yes, there is emphasis on family. Like gangsters, or tribal people might use.

Atticus nods, and speaks directly to the bar. "A cup of tea for the Lady Ako, if you would."

The cup, teapot, and various accompaniments appear in front of the lady. He nods, and looks back to her, sipping his own black coffee.

"And its located in this Spirit Realm you've mentioned? What sort of bar, if I may ask?"

"One rather like this, but with fewer humans."

She opens her cinnimon colored eyes widely, and innocently.

"... I see." Atticus sets his cup down, and pulls out a white kerchief, then slips off his glasses, and carefully polishes the lenses.

"Though from what I've been told about this place, not all the patrons are human either."

"Well, yes. But where I come from you might have two or three in a week."

She...looks normal. For a Japanese woman in a very traditional kimono who was probably ten years younger before she started talking to him.

Atticus is surmising that she's not normal. However, he's much too polite to say so, and she's still a lady, (even if she may not be human), so she gets treated as thus.

"What sort of customers would you get?"

"Ghosts and foxes and the Lorilie and deer-men and elves and dragons."

Of course. She beams at him again.

"Any lions and tigers and bears?" ~~Oh my.~~ Sincerely curious.

"Sometimes. Not often, though. They like different parts of the realms better than those who have somewhat human forms do."

"And the others you've mentioned, ghosts and foxes , Lorilie... and the rest, are more human than the others?"

"Well."

Shes says with a smile;

"The ghosts are usually ghosts of humans. Die Lorilei is at the least human shaped, she is a siren. As for foxes, everyone knows that they are tricksy beings with whatever shape they want."

She's not laughing at him. She just has very sparkly eyes.

He slips his glasses back on, reguarding her. "Very tricky, if I recall some of the foxes around Finch's Landing and the surrounding countryside. Though I'd imagine they compare nothing to the foxes that would be in the Spirit Realms." Said almost too seriously.

"Oh, its possible that they are the same. For that matter, it is possible that things which look entirely unlike foxes might be foxes."

She's just as serious.

"Well then. I'll trust your excellect judgement and experience with such beings, Lady Ako." Atticus nods, quite sincerely, and sips his coffee to hide what may be the possible begining of a hint of a shadow of a grin.

Her eyes widen;

"Are you laughing at me? Why, anything could be a fox. The table, this cup! Me, even."

And flutters her lashes at him absurdly. Far, far too silly to be vulgar; she's teasing him.

"I don't think they'd serve coffee and tea in foxes here, Lady Ako." Atticus' eyes sparkle in laughter, though he keeps his face nuetral. Years of practice in the court room.

"Really? There are tales in Japan of foxes who spend years as oxen, teapots, or wives for good people who need help."

She nods

"They might not even know."

"Unfortunately my education has been lax in that area, I'm sad to say." Apologetically even.

"Trust me."

She says, and somewhere people feel a great chill,

"Foxes are everywhere. I can bring you books."

"If it wouldn't be too much of a trouble for you, I would appreciate a chance to further my education in those areas." Atticus nods slowly, and sips his coffee.

"It would be a pleasure. English translations, yes?"

She looks at him consideringly, and smiles. Fear the cheerful, happy smile of a woman who can do something for you, Mr. Finch. Fear it a lot.

"If you'd be so kind. Would there be anyway I can reimburse you for them, so it wouldn't be a burden for you to bring them?" Mr Finch treads carefully.

"It is my pleasure and purpose to make absolutely certain that people have open minds."

Is the laughing response, and then she looks up at the door and frowns;

"I think my daughter is looking for me. Shall I see you later?"

"I will very much hope so, Lady Ako." Atticus stands when she does, and gives her a nod. If he had been wearing his hat, he would have removed it.

"A good day to you."

She bows politely and makes her way out the door. Clicking. He did not see the tip of a fuzzy white tail.

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