milliways_bar | (no subject)

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tarik mansuri

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Talking to Nomads is always a tense affair, moreso when they are a vital part of Colonel Ibn-Hussein's plan. Plus, no environmental control short of that provided by full power armor can counter Paradiso's stifling humid heat.

Thus it's a stern-looking, more than slightly sweaty Tarik that crosses the door to the Bar. He stops very briefly at the threshold and then a slow smirk forms on his lips. A shower and a pot of iced at-tay will work wonders on him. And of course, a little rest will be welcome and hep cement even further the legend of the tireless, indestructible Amir of the Khawarij regiment.

[...]

One shower later, a far more relaxed Tarik is sitting at the counter, sipping from a glass of cold at-tay and engaging in the traditional Milliways people-watching. His rifle, ballistic jacket and greatcoat discarded, there's still a certain air of the military about him. (The sword and pistol holstered at his hips may have something to do with that.)

( OOC: Open until it scrolls off the front page. I might be absent from 9:30AM to 11:00AM GMT due to work, but will otherwise be around.)

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William's finally feeling like himself again and so he's been out working in the stables.

When he sits down to have some lunch, he tries to not look too hard at Tarik, who sort of looks like he's from the Arabian nights.

Tarik notices the young msn trying not to stare and nods towards him, smiling faintly. He doesn't recognize the clothes, but they look older than the style of his own time.

"Salaam, mister. Can I help you?"

"No, sir,"

William tips his hat and looks down into his coffee, he didn't mean to get caught staring.

Tarik nods again, giving WIlliam a thoughtful look.

"Just to be clear, you weren't bothering me. I'm doing a bit of people-watching myself."

"I just didn't mean to be rude, sir. Yeah, lots of different sorts of folks here."

"It's fine, young man. Curiosity is understandable." Specially from the young. "I take it you have been in Milliways for some time."

"Only a few months, sir, just been gettin' over bein' sick so ain't been able to leave."

Tarik nods thoughtfully. "Hope you are recovering all right. I have heard there's an infirmary here."

"There is, sir, and good folks there. Need to talk to them again now that I'm better. I'm William Evans of Arizona Territory,"

Then he mentions a year in the late 1860s and offers his hand to Tarik.

"Tarik Mansuri. I am from Bourak, which I don't suppose you will have heard of, in the year two thousand and two hundred of the Christian age."

Tarik shakes William's hand.

"A pleasure."

"No, sir, where is it?"

He smiles, its always nice to learn about a new place.

"I suppose I should ask you just how strange are the things you've seen since you arrived in Milliways, before going on any further."

"I'm gettin' to used a good bit of strange, sir. Thanks to bein' sick here, spent a few days thinkin' I was someone else."

Tarik nods, his face serious.

"Fine then. I'm not sure how much you know about basic astronomy, but... Bourak is a planet. A different one from Earth."

"I know how to get myself oriented by the stars, sir, sometimes that's all you get out in the desert. Another planet? Um, ain't sure how to ask this. You have an Earth?"

Edited 2011-02-03 22:13 (UTC)

It takes some time for Tarik to parse William's question. Then finally he nods, smiling a bit.

"Yes, Earth is the cradle of humanity and many pilgrims from Bourak still visit the Holy Places on it."

"Oh, what sort of Holy Places?"

He's read books about knights and Crusaders but he's not sure if that's what Tarik means.

"I'm not sure how much you know about Islam. Our Holy Places are in the cities of Medina and Mecca, in Arabia on Earth."

"Ain't much, sir. Got some folks from China workin' on the railroad but don't think I know about folks from that part of the world."

Tarik smiles faintly at the mention of China. If the young man knew what the Kingdom of Jade has become in his own time...

"Suffice to say we have a religious obligation to travel to Mecca as pilgrims once in our lifetime if at all possible. And many do so even across the vastness of space."

"Oh, can I ask why, sir?"

Tarik watches William for a moment with interest. That is a pretty sharp question.

"Actually, there are many reasons. It is a show of devotion, and also a gathering point for the faithful from every part of Humanity. It's also a very ancient ritual, from even before the Prophet's time." There is a change to his voice when he mentions Muhammad, a distinctly respectful tone.

There's always a reason for going someplace and traveling's not lightly done in his time,

"So folks travel together since they're all goin' to the same place?"

Tarik nods, looking to the side for a moment, remembering his own pilgrimage.

"Yes, usually they do. They gather together for company and protection. Also, for most the pilhrimage is a reason for celebration, and celebration likes company."

"It does. There many reasons for it out your way?"