milliways_bar | (no subject)

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An exile wanders into the bar, carrying a loaded crossbow and wearing an animal skin that doesn't cover very much of her at all.

She has just bid farewell to a good friend and a great warrior whom she suspects will soon die in vain, so her mind is uncharacteristically elsewhere as she walks through the portal. It takes several seconds before she notices the change of lighting and the absence of foliage.

Leela blinks several times. Her eyes narrow as she hefts her crossbow to waist height and scans her environs.

"What is this place?" she demands of no one in particular.

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L"I do not know of any of these people," she says. "But you are right. The forest is not kind to those who go out on their own. But I will have to manage somehow."

eela takes another drink. It's not so bad now that she knows what to expect. She supposes she could see how someone could get used to this, if they had nothing better to drink.

"This place will help, I suppose."

"Yeah. And if you really want to, you can move to a whole other world from here. I've kind of thought about doing that myself, but there's just stuff I gotta take care of, you know? People too. So I can't just leave my world behind."

"Part of me does not know if I want to go back," she says. "Time stops on the other side, correct?"

"Well, yes and no. You return to the same time you left. It's not like you leave your universe hanging until you go back."

"Then to me it would mean they are still alive, if I stayed here," she says. She shakes her head. "I should not say such things. A warrior should face what is in front of her no matter how terrifying it is."

"So you're thinking of going back and trying to stop the whole stupid war thing?" Corazon says. "If you do, good luck with that." Corazon might just be stuck in a similar situation herself.

"I don't know what I will do," she says. "It will be enough of a challenge just to survive in the forest alone. There are invisible creatures outside the barrier."

Corazon was in the process of drinking more tequila: she does a bit of a spit take. "Who huh invisible what now outside the what?"

"There is a barrier outside our village," she says. "There are invisible creatures beyond it which the priests say belong to the Evil One. For whatever reason, they do not cross the barrier."

"Okay, two questions: first, what's this barrier like, and second, what exactly do the invisible creatures do? It's okay if it's really graphic - I've developed a strong stomach by now," Corazon says.

This barrier thing sounds like it might be some kind of Old World technology, or the equivalent thereof in Leela's world.

Leela finishes her glass of tequila and clears her throat.

"It is invisible. One may walk through it. But for whatever reason, the beasts will not cross it. There is little to describe about what they do. Those who cross the barrier, as when chasing game, are set upon by these creatures and torn apart."

"Okay. So as soon as someone crosses this invisible line they get shredded," Corazon says. She picks up the bottle and refills Leela's glass (just Corazon's way of being polite). "What about other things? Like animals? Do they get the same treatment when they cross the barrier?"

"Not immediately," she says. "They are somewhat scarce. But they will hear you eventually. I have not seen them kill an animal, but they presumably must eat something."

Leela reluctantly takes another drink in deference to her host.

"Unless they're not actually animals," Corazon says. "I've heard of stuff like that before. There's stuff left over from before he Great War that's kind of dangerous. Maybe it's something like that - some piece of old technology. Maybe it's not working right, or maybe it is and for some reason it's meant to keep all your people from wandering around."

"Technology?" Leela sounds out the word. "Do you mean some sort of illusion? If so, who could have caused it?"

"No, no. Technology means machines. I mean, like that crossbow you have. It's a simple machine, but it's technology, and more advanced than a regular bow," Corazon says. "I think your barrier and those killer things outside it may be like that, but really, really advanced. I have no idea how something like that would work," she admits.

"Of course, it could be magic. But it sounds a lot like some nasty piece of Old World technology to me." She thinks. "Hey, I could even find out what it is. If I go back with you, I can detect it with my Pip-Boy." Corazon brandishes the metal gauntlet on her left arm.

"I do not see what difference it would make if they were machines," she says. "If they are machines, then they're more elaborate than anything my tribe can build, since they can operate without being seen. So they might as well be magic."

Leela raises an eyebrow at Corazon's request. "The door vanished behind me. Is it even possible for you to follow me back if it reappears?"

"Yeah. I haven't done it myself, but I know other people have done it. So it's possible."

"But how does one get back inside? Would you not be stranded on another world?"

"Well, if you have a thing from the Bar - like this little cocktail sword I've got - you can find your way back through any door. Or that's what I've heard. And it's worked for me so far."

Leela nods. "I shall keep that in mind, should I wish to come back."

OOC: WAY late fade-post. Ignore if you like, but I just can't stand to leave things unfinished if I can help it.

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