milliways_bar | (no subject)

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As entrances to Milliways go, this is one of the more unprepossessing. A man stumbles through the door in slacks and T-shirt (a particular brand of underwear showing above his waistband); despite the fairly well-groomed hair and care with his appearance, he still seems a little crumpled and ungainly. The door swings near someone, and he instantly apologises before standing almost straight and looking around.

(Interesting.)

'...oh. Um.

...oh.'

Well, this is new. Jim likes new.

[OOC: Note on playing with Jim here. If more than one person tags, could we please only have one intro thread? Anything after the first will find him either sitting a little nervously at the bar, or gazing in wonder out of the observation window. Thanks! :D]

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"I thought it was aliens when I first came, but it weren't." Bonnie says, sliding him a beer.

'Then what is it? I'm still not sure I get it.'

He smiles his thanks for the beer, and looks apologetic. Like he's a bit stupid - or at least feels it - but hopes she won't mind helping a new guy out by explaining what's so patently, laughably obvious.

"It's an interdimentional portal in space and time." Bonnie says.

'Yeah but like, I'm not sure what that means. But that's OK, because I'm more concerned about the pointy ears, if I'm honest.'

Interdimensional portal in space and time is like warm honey poured over his soul. Yes yes yes.

Handwave. "Don't worry honey, it ain't contagious. What year are you from?"

'It's 2010.'

He asks the obvious follow-up question, because that's what ordinary people do.

'What about you?'

"1955, shortly to become 56." Bonnie says. "And I'm from Los Angeles, California."

'Oh, is that right? I've never been to California. The closest I've come is Las Vegas, for a stag party.'

Lies.

'What do you do there, Bonnie?'

"I teach shop class in a high school." Bonnie says.

"Oh Vegas, wonderful place." she nods. "My husband Bill and I went up there to see the Hoover Dam back in the early thirties, but I hear it's gettin' a lot more excitin' these days."

'Well, y'know. Lots of casinos, and shows and lights and stuff. I liked it, but I couldn't live there.'

No no, he is far too unassuming to flourish there.

'Easier to fit into London, I think.'

"Whatcha want ter fit in for? Y'only live once."

'Oh, yeah. Sure.'

He looks mildly uncomfortable.

'You just have to be a certain kind of personality there, I'd say. In London, anyone can do all right.'

"Plenty other places in the states." Bonnie says. "I probably wouldn' live in Vegas neither, to be fair."

She sips her beer. "So what do you do right in London?"

'I'm in I.T.'

Despite knowing that she won't be overly familiar with computers - unless she's learned here - he doesn't expand on that.

'I work in a hospital. But it's the sort of job someone could do anywhere, so I might not stay. I don't know.'

"They use computers in hospitals now?"

'Uh...yeah?'

Oh wait, time differences! He should have thought of that. He is all apology.

'All the records, and appointments and schedules and...just about everything. It all goes on computer.'

"I'm guessin' you don't still use those cards with holes in to operate them, then."

'No.'

A soft chuckle, one again with that air of speaking to an elderly and out-of-date relative.

'No, they're much better than that now.'

"I guess it must save a lot of time." Bonnie muses. "Or just generate a lot of extra paperwork."

'More paperwork than there should be, considering it could all be done on computer.'

But then, people are stupid. And also seem to feel better having hard copies of things around. He runs his palms down his trouser legs, a nervous affectation he's had since...well, since he created this character.

'Have you been coming here long?'

"Under a year." Bonnie says. "But I'm gettin' used to it. I like the company."

'Sure, it must be interesting. Not quite sure what I'm doing here, actually.'

He looks a bit embarrassed about that, but there's not a lot he could do about it.

"I guess someone felt you were needed." Bonnie says. "Daresay we got enough dramatic people round here."

'Do we?'

He looks around with interest that is not at all feigned, though it would manifest quite differently if he was playing himself.

'What sort of dramatic people?'

"Superpowers, non-Earth life forms, crimefighters, supernaturals, all sorts." Bonnie says.