happy hour/multi-pup post

[likesthecoat]

Ianto steps inside the bar for his regular shift and immediately pauses.

Everything feels like it's...one inch to the left.

Weird.

"Did I miss something, darlin'?" he says to the bar as he takes off his jacket and hangs it up, and Bar has an air of Oh, honey, wait until I tell you.

Or it's possible she's just a big slab of wood. It's hard to tell sometimes, even though Ianto considers himself to be pretty fluent in Bar by now.

Tonight's Specials
Tell the bartender why the bar feels different and your first drink (ANYTHING WE'VE GOT IN THE STORES) is on me.

COFFEE
ANY WAY YOU LIKE IT

---

Stuart Dakin is leaving for Oxford soon. His family and friends think he's calm and prepared about it, and for the most part he is.

He's also aware that he's going from a minor school in a small city to one of the most prestigious universities in the world, and he's not going to be the cleverest student there. It's best, he figures, to get used to that now rather than have some sort of breakdown later when he's got essays to do and lectures to attend. It'll just get in the way.

(He is also hoping to meet up with Pos. His boyfriend is good for his ego. It's lovely to have someone who thinks you're amazing even when you, however temporarily, don't.)

---

Peter Burke is a pragmatic person. He doesn't believe in magic, aliens, fairies or unicorns. He does believe in a well-tailored suit and an honest day's work.

Which is why, when he steps through the door he's still carrying on the conversation he was having on his way in. "I'm telling you, Neal, no matter what your instinct says it's worth it to wait for the warrant. We don't want to endanger the chances of--"

He stutters to a stop.

Narration is sure no one will blame him if the first thing that goes through his mind is Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.

Comments

[threeandoh]

"Peter Burke," he says. "Nice to meet you.

"What happens like what? What's a Milliways?"

[seat_five_girl]

"Um, well Milliways is a place where a whole bunch of different worlds come together. It's also a bar and restaurant."

"At the end of the universe."

This is not the most convincing statement and Ako knows it. Still true though.

[threeandoh]

He looks at her like...well, like someone who's just been told he's at a bar at the end of the universe.

"Of course it is."

[seat_five_girl]

Ako knows that expression. She uses it sometimes.

"Well, if I'm wrong where are we?"

[threeandoh]

"New York City? Somebody's idea of an elaborate prank?"

He wouldn't put it past Neal's friends to dress up his apartment like a pub just to pull one over on him.

[seat_five_girl]

"The second one might still be true," allows Ako, "But out back looks like Scotland. Except for the Caribbean inlet and the mountains."

[threeandoh]

"Outside," says Peter. He's starting to look like maybe this is more than he can take. "Huh.

"Yet we're not in Scotland. Or the Caribbean. Or the mountains."

[seat_five_girl]

"It's Milliways," says Ako with a little shrug, "You get used to it eventually."

[threeandoh]

He has to laugh at that. "Sure, why not? It's only a bar at the end of the universe. With Scotland in the back yard."

[seat_five_girl]

"Well, and time stops for most people at home while they'e here," offers Ako, "That's handy."

[threeandoh]

"Very handy," says Peter. "You can leave and no one will know?"

It occurs to him that Neal knowing about this place may prove an enormous temptation.

[seat_five_girl]

"You should check for yourself," says Ako, "But not generally no."

[threeandoh]

"I should do that," and goes to the door. It looks like a very ordinary door. Wood, thick, not ornately carved.

He tries it, and it opens easily. He glances around, then steps out.

And then back in again.

"Same staircase," he says, looking flummoxed again.

[seat_five_girl]

"My door ended up staying in a closet in an old music room," offers Ako, "But most people's moves around."

"We shoud probably get out of the way in case anyone else has to come through Burke-san."

[threeandoh]

He moves away from the door obligingly.

"So we never know when we're going to open a door and come here? strange. Does it work the same way leaving--the door just opens somewhere random?"

[seat_five_girl]

"You should, almost always, go back to where you came from if you open the door," says Ako, "If someone else holds the door open for you you'll come out where the door opens for them."

[threeandoh]

"So you can visit other cities, other countries, from here?"

He looks impressed. This place is starting to be less "What the hell?" and more "Oo, neat!"

[seat_five_girl]

"Probably in a different world too," says Ako, "I've been checking with friends and things like TV shows haven't matched up consistently so we're pretty sure we aren't from the same versions of Earth."

[threeandoh]

"Different versions of Earth," says Peter with a disbelieving laugh.

Only...he does believe it. More or less.

[ooc: Mind slowtiming? It's time for me to stop.]

[seat_five_girl]

[OOC: Of course, slowtime is where I live.]

"I know, it sounds nuts."