First Entrance

[awesomemixvolume1]

Peter had been in many situations like this one before. It was not unusual for him to be in over his head and people wanting him dead. He didn't have his blasters out. Instead, he was using his rocket boots to propel himself through the air of this new planet. The men chasing him. He once thought the other Guardians were right by his side but as his rocket boots cut out, that was when he realized that something was wrong.

He crashed into a nearby wall with a resounding Oof! and it took a moment but as he realized he wasn't being chased, he took a moment to look around. His mask still on his face as he was unfamiliar with this place. Music could be heard blasting from his headphones that were around his neck. The music was from the 70's or 80's and the distinct crackle of a cassette tape could be picked up by those listening. He realized quickly that this was a bar and clicked off the mask as he went up to the bar to get a drink. May as well make use of the time he had.

Comments

[sunbaked_baker]

"Rough landing," the red-headed woman at the bar winces sympathetically as he approaches the counter. "You okay?"

[awesomemixvolume1]

Peter shrugged for a moment and then looked at the room behind him. "I've been through worse. I mean, at least I'm alive." He smirked a bit.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Then you're already doing better than some folks here," she offered a wry grin.

[awesomemixvolume1]

Peter thinks for a moment and then quips, "Good to know, but..." He pauses, "Where exactly is... Here?" He points around him.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Ah, this your first time?" the woman smiles. "Confusion's okay. That's natural. This is Milliways, the bar at the end of the universe. It likes to show up randomly in peoples' lives and bring them here for a bit, from time to time. Some people can control when this place shows up for them, but most people can't. I can't, but I sure as nine hells wish I could. It can be terribly useful in a pinch, but a little certainty would be nice, you know?"

Rae realizes she was somewhat rambling there for a bit, and gets back on topic. "People come here from all sorts of worlds and times. It's neutral territory, for the most part, with only three rules. No violence in the bar - with the caveat that agreed-upon duels and the like can be fought outside by the lake," Rae says, with a nod towards the back door leading to the gardens, lake, forest, and the rest. "Rule two is this, No Outside Business in the bar. That's not business-transactions kind of business, though. It's the kind of business that covers grudges, vendettas, warrants for someone's arrest, nemeses, and suchlike. If one's direst enemy were to come here, the rules forbid them from acting on our feud. That make sense?"

"The third rule is that there's to be no nudity of lewd behavior in the bar room. There are rooms for rent upstairs for that. Or there's the forest, if one's preferences run that way and the weather cooperates."


"That's it for the rules, though. All I can think of that I left out is the tradition that a newcomer's first drink is free," she concludes, grinning.

[awesomemixvolume1]

"Well that is something I can get behind." He said enthusiastically, referring to the first drink is free. Then something caught his eye and he found himself slightly entranced by the ending universe on repeat outside of the window. "Does that happen all the time?"

[psyched_you_out]

Wow. He hasn't seen anyone else use a Walkman since he was a kid.

(Because clearly that's the strangest thing about the whole situation.)

"Nice entrance, but you didn't stick your landing."

[awesomemixvolume1]

Peter glanced at the other guy and shook his head, "Nice observation, Captain Obvious." He is half-joking. It was painfully obvious but Peter seemed to take it in stride.

[psyched_you_out]

Shawn's a master of observation. And obviousness.

"Well don't worry about it, everyone stumbles in here the first time. At least your tunes made it through okay."

[awesomemixvolume1]

"Stumbles..." He pauses. "Yeah I guess so." Then the smile brightened at the mention of his tunes. "They've been through worse, just as I have. They've never left me behind and I'll never leave them behind." He has, after all, risked his life more than once to retrieve his walkman.

[runningred]

Jay laughs and raises a glass. "Nice, but your tech looks like it needs an upgrade to soften the landing.."

[awesomemixvolume1]

"Eh. I've been through a lot worse and came out on top. I think my landings are the least of my worries." He takes a look around for a moment. Then he laid eyes on the window.

[runningred]

Jay lifts his coffee in salute. "Any one you walk away from."

He watches the guy discover the window. "New-comer? Let me know when you're ready for the welcome speech. I've almost got it to a point that makes sense."

[awesomemixvolume1]

"Whenever." He motioned for Jay to go ahead when he's ready. Not that Peter will necessarily catch all of it but he'll try.

[runningred]

Jay shrugs and takes a sip of his drink. "Welcome to Milliways, bar at the end of the universe. It's a multiverse nexus if that makes any sence to you. A crossroads between times, places and realities. The rules are simple and the first drink is free. Just ask the Bar. She's sentient and to be treated like the lady she is."

[awesomemixvolume1]

Of all the things he's heard of in the universe, this was the first time that Peter had ever heard of a sentient bar and it showed on his face. He thought this place was weird beyond all but he took a moment to admire Bar and offer a smirk.

He says something quietly, asking a question of her and a drink and a napkin appear. Peter shook his head as he read what was on the napkin and just said, "Thank you." He took a sip of the drink in front of him and looked to Jay. "So... How long have you been coming here?"

[runningred]

"I think she likes you!" Jay grins, leaning back on his stool. "A bit over nine months subjectively. Time outside doesn't pass when you're here. You walk back out into the same second you walked in. My own world, only about a month has passed. Mostly 'cause I'm here a lot."

[1nv1nc1ble]

"Watch that first step, dude. It's a lulu." Invincible's impersonation of Bugs Bunny isn't particularly accurate (for one, the rabbit never spoke with a Southern California accent), but the words are delivered in a light tone. The brightly uniformed teenager is busy cleaning the interior of the bubble helmet from his Martian breather rig, wiping out the funk of ten days of space travel. As Peter's mask retracts, he grins, and adds, "Nice helmet."

[awesomemixvolume1]

He rubs the back of his head for a moment and takes a look around. The quote rings true with what few memories he has of his time on Earth and it warrants a smile. "Thanks. Nice suit." He took a look at the kid as he sat down.

[1nv1nc1ble]

"Thanks," he says. People always compliment the suit here; he should tell Art; the Tailor always likes to hear praise of his work. "Is this your first time in Milliways?"

[awesomemixvolume1]

"Milliway's? I guess so." He thinks for a moment. "It's not every day that a bar ends up in the crypt where you're trying to escape from bounty hunters."

[1nv1nc1ble]

"Hey, that's convenient," says Invincible. "My first time, I came in from my job at the Burger Mart. That was a welcome break from the Fryalator."

"Anyway, this is Milliways, at the End of the Universe. All universes, as far as I can tell." He gestures around the room, indicating the variety of people of various races, colors, and shapes.

[awesomemixvolume1]

"All universes? So there actually is more than one? Just like on the Twilight Zone?" He looks amazed rather than skeptical. A certain child like wonder. Peter was used to the various races. It never really bothered him as he was raised in space. He had a wider view than most people from Earth.

[1nv1nc1ble]

"Yup. No mildly creepy guy in a grey suit narrating things,though." Invincible is smiling as he says it, but he does look around. Nope, no creepy guys in grey suits.

"And I'm pretty sure that there are different universes. Different timelines, at least. I met someone here that comes from a world where there was a nuclear war and Washington, DC, was a wasteland. Pretty sure that's not my home."

[filemyclaim]

"Last step's a helluva doozy," offers the blonde sitting nearby with her berry syrup- covered sundae. "y'all okay?"

[awesomemixvolume1]

Peter glances over and smirks, "Yeah. I'm fine." He side eyes one of the waitrats. He's seen a lot so he shrugs. "Definitely a doozy though."

[filemyclaim]

"This place'll bruise you if you don't watch out," she says ruefully. "I learned that the hard way."

[awesomemixvolume1]

"I'm pretty sure I will too." He's hard headed and stubborn. "The name's Peter... Peter Quill." He introduces himself, "And you are?"

[filemyclaim]

"Dixie Cousins. Miss Dixie, if you don't mind," she says, trying to apply as much good old-fashioned charm to the situation as she can.