milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Orpheus is more than happy to step behind the bar when he's asked to take over tonight. He scrawls out a quick list of specials.

Specials
Ouzo
Greek Lightning
Sunrise

Specials posted, he leans against the counter, idly strumming his guitar as he waits for customers.

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James gives the Specials Board a quick read-through.

He isn't even sure he'll actually be able to drink; a couple Happy Hours ago, he had been asked for ID.

"Hello, mate. What's an 'Ouzo', then?"

Unless he looks twelve? Orpheus isn't going to card him.

"It's an aperitif? At least, I think that's what they call it. Tastes like licorice."

And alcohol.

Definitely not twelve.

In any case, James makes a bit of a face.

It's completely sixteen years old.

"Licorice," he repeats. "Not my favourite, alas. How about the others?"

He straightens up a bit, then, and sets his guitar aside.

"The Greek Lightning has ouzo in it, so you probably don't want that one. The other one is..." Yeah, he has to check the book. "Vodka and apricot and orange juice and ginger ale."

He makes a bit of a face that is definitely not sixteen. "Sweet."

Hm.

That last one sounds a bit like a girl drink.

"D'you know what, I think I'll just have a butterbeer, if that's all right?"

"I can do that."

He thinks. First he has to find the butterbeer, and since he has no idea what it is, it takes him a bit to find it.

"Brilliant. Thanks," James says as he waits, unaware that Orpheus hasn't got a clue what butterbeer is.

Until it occurs to him that he might not.

"It usually comes in bottles," he adds, helpfully. "Caramel sort of colour, too."

Right. Bottles. Because there's a shortage of those behind the bar.

Caramel helps, though. He soon finds a collection of bottles of caramel colored drinks that he thinks might be the item in question.

"Like this?" he asks, holding a bottle over his head as he continues to look, just in case.

"Yeah. That's it," James says cheerfully, nodding. "Thanks a lot."

"You're welcome."

He grabs one for himself while he's down there, because he's always up for trying new things, and moves to hand one bottle to James.

"What is it, anyway?"

"A wizard's drink," James says, gratefully accepting the offered bottle. "Sort of tastes a bit like liquid butterscotch — only not as sickly sweet.

"And it's brilliant hot or cold, depending on the season."

"Convenient, that," Orpheus says with a bit of a smirk as he opens the bottle.

"You're a wizard, then?"

James nods.

"Yeah, that's right."

He offers a hand.

"James Potter."

"Orpheus."

He takes the hand, shaking warmly. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," James says. "Orpheus — that name sounds a bit familiar."

He knows he's come across it before.

[ ooc: Sorry! I'm afraid I must head off to bed now. :( Will slowtime be okay? ]

Orpheus' smirk becomes more pronounced. "I suspect you may have heard of me."

[ooc: Absolutely! :)]

"I'm sure I have, but — blimey, my apologies — I'm blanking at the moment."

He's trying to remember his Muggles Studies classes, and his conversations here.

He looks sheepish.

"It's all right. I suspect it was a very long time before you were born that I was truly famous."

And he doesn't mind not being recognized. It even helps sometimes.

Probably.

His name sounds old.

Myth-old.

And he's sure the bloke is from some myth. He just ... can't quite remember it.

"So, then, what's your story — if you don't mind my asking?"

Orpheus opens his mouth as if to answer, then shakes his head. "If you want to know, I suggest looking it up sometime."

It's a sad story, after all, and a difficult one for Orpheus to tell.

James studies Orpheus for a moment.

Then: "Fair enough."

He nods.

And makes a mental note to do so.

"You wouldn't happen to know Demeter, though, would you?"

"I would." His face lights up at the mention of the goddess. "She's family."

"Brilliant."

James is glad he got that bit right, at least.

"I met her here, the first time I came, actually."

"She's an excellent welcoming committee."

"Yeah, she is. I actually learned quite a lot about Milliways from that conversation."

He smiles.

"How long have you been coming here?"

"A few months? I haven't been in much lately."

Finishing his butterbeer, he moves to pour himself a glass of ouzo. "How about you?"

Right.

His butterbeer.

James ought to get started on his, since he asked for it and all.

(He begins to do so.)

"Er — since before Christmas, my time. I dunno what that is here. A little over half a year, I think?"

He nods as he sips his drink. "Yeah, that sounds about right for me as well. I think it was January...maybe February."

He was definitely here for Valentine's Day.

"And are you used to all of this sort of thing?"

James gestures to the bar space.

"I mean, if you're related to goddesses, you mustn't be too surprised. Yeah?"

Maybe?

"What bars?"

That's a terribly vague gesture after all.

James laughs a little, but shakes his head.

He can see how his wave could have been very vague.

"No," he says. "Well, yeah. But this bar in particular. With all the gods and goddesses and aliens and magic-users and all that."

Orpheus chuckles, sipping at his drink. "I can see how that would take some getting used to. You're a magic-user, though, aren't you?"

"I am," James says. "So you'd think I'd be completely all right with all of it, yeah."

He shrugs.

"It was really unbelievable, even for me. I thought I had far too much to drink, the first time I stepped in. Meeting gods and goddesses don't generally happen back home."

"I was wary myself, and I'm kind of used to seeing deities. Milliways is a whole other experience."

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