milliways_bar | (no subject)

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[A moment ago . . . ]

There is a young woman standing on the shore of the lake.

She wears a long dress, well but simply made, and of a style that could belong to a dozen times . . . or no time at all.

Both the dress and the woman's hair are wet.

She turns slowly, in a full circle, looking all around her.

"What country, friends, is this?"

Would anyone like to let her know it's not Illyria?

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"I do not understand. From any world?"

Like, plural?

Albus turns to glance at Viola.

(Still flipping out.)

"Um. Yes?"

He rubs his nose.

"For example, I'm from a place called England in the year 2023 AD."

Viola is silent for a moment.

When she speaks, it's half to him and half, well, aside.

"Have I, in fever or a dream, this place
Created, given form and aspect to?"

She looks more directly at Albus.

"Is rude to ask, I know, but are you real?
Live you? Speak you? Breathe you? Or do I dream?"

Because Albus knows how wacky all this sounds, right?

"This is no dream, Lady Viola," Albus says, realizing that a line like that could easily belong to a play.

(He has to quell his heart from glee-ing.)

"Erm. I mean, it's definitely real. I know it doesn't sound like it could be, and - um. Things are probably going to get even more bizarre, but it's real.

"I think you start to realize it's not a dream when you come to the conclusion that your brain can't possibly imagine some of this stuff."

"I see. I cannot I made you up."

It'd be a bit of a stretch.

"What do I need to know about this place?"

"Oh - um. Where do I start?"

Albus laughs, apologetic.

"Well, this place is ... um. Quite magical. It's called Milliways, like I said, and um. It's sort of located where all of time and space meets and ends. You'll meet all sorts of people, I suppose, and you'll learn a lot.

"You've already seen the lake. There's also a - um. Training area, and the woods, and a library inside."

"A library inside, and woods? All here?"

She looks around, and laughs a little.

"Oh, were this played upon a stage I would
The author's tale condemn as folly rare."

Albus does not squeak.

It would be undignified and completely lame, and also quite rude to do so.

He nods, instead. And smiles a little.

"Yeah, it's all here. And the Bar - um. Well, you'll see, but she's sort of ... magical, too. She's sentient."

Viola is silent for a long moment this time.

"I think you'd better show me what you mean."

They've reached the back porch.

Albus nods, getting the door and allowing her to go through first.

"Yeah. It's probably better if you see for yourself," he agrees.

Because even then, it's something of a shock. Even to someone who lives and breathes magic.

Viola steps into this tavern and . . .

Well, she does not faint.

But she does grow rather pale.

It's a lot to take in.

Albus closes the door behind them. He notes that she has sort of tensed.

He doesn't reach out to touch her, but he does step forward so he stands next to her instead of behind.

"Erm. Lady Viola?" he says softly. "Are you all right?"

"The window would appear to be on fire," she says, weakly.

Albus turns to glance at the Window as well.

"Oh.

"Um.

"That's the universe ... ending on a loop." He frowns. "I'm not quite sure I understand it, still. But - um. It's not going to hurt you."

After a moment, he gestures towards the mahogany counter-top nearby.

"The Bar's this way."

Viola reaches out and grabs his arm.

It's not proper, and she doesn't quite mean to, but . . .

This place is really weird and he'd the only one here she knows.

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