milliways_bar | (no subject)

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The Tim Drake who enters Milliways has been here before, even if that was not true up until a short while ago. He's unnaturally pale, somewhat underweight, and wearing a surgical mask over the lower half of his face. He's not alone, though - he's accompanied by a black lab wearing a service vest and a collar that proclaims him to be Ace (1007 Mountain Drive). He trots along at Tim's side loyally, subtly shifting position as they walk to put himself between Tim and anyone who gets too close.

Milliways is... a challenge for Tim. He's used to solitude and company in small groups. He may be forced to retreat at some point, but for now he's willing to slide into an unoccupied booth (maybe a little too pressed up against the side facing the wall but who's judging?) while Ace sits down next to the table and dutifully resists barking at the rats.

[Write-up of Tim's AU. Warnings for discussion of torture of a minor, mental illness, and other unfun things.]

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Athelstan is quiet and unassuming - and knows what it looks like when someone's suffered.

He stops outside Tim's booth, keeping distant enough - he hopes - and offers, "Can I bring you anything?"

Ace stretches out from where he was sitting and slips into position blocking the edge of Tim's seat from Athelstan, but otherwise doesn't react much.

Tim, meanwhile, just shakes his head slightly. He doesn't need anyone getting him things, even if they're just being nice.

"...all right." He's not sure what to do, except that it seems rude to just leave, so he hovers uncertainly. "It's all right, dog, I'm not going to touch."

Tim finger-spells, uncertain if the person he's talking to would have any experience with ASL or any sign language at all. It's his job. Don't take it personally.

Regular Athelstan would have no idea at all. This Athelstan, luckily, is American and does charity work, so he can follow it.

"Oh, I wasn't. I just - wanted him to know."

He shrugs up a shoulder. Trying to explain it to Ace won't make much of a difference either way, because there is a limited number of people Ace is trained to let close without special permission, and roughly all of them are in his adoptive family.

"He's a well-trained dog", he says weakly. "Oh, I'm, um... Athelstan."

T-i-m, he spells out, and then, with a little nod to his dog, A-c-e.

"Nice to meet you, Tim", and it's more sincere than polite, he's not good at polite lies. "And Ace."

[OOC: Shall we go with not having met before? Dick's AU]

A few seconds after Tim sits down, the man at the bar quietly gets down from the bar and walks over, casually. Albeit from an angle that puts him in full view of Tim from very early on in his approach. On the way he stops a waitrat who was heading in the same direction and explains he'll take the order instead.

He largely ignores the dog - never interrupt a working service dog, right? - and addresses Tim.

"Fetch you anything from the bar?"

Ace appears to recognize Dick, judging from the way he lifts his head to look at him and wags his tail slightly, but he's too well-trained to say his doggy hellos without permission from Tim. Still, he doesn't get in the way of Dick, because as far as Ace is concerned, there's no significant difference between this Agent Grayson and the Dick Grayson that Ace does not need to protect Tim from.

Tim, on the other hand, tilts his head slightly at the Dick who comes by. Being very careful to stay in his sight-line is appreciated, even if this is pretty obviously not the older brother he knows. He starts to shake his head in response to the question before glancing down at Ace and changing his mind. Bowl of water, he signs out somewhat hesitantly, not totally sure what to do with this Dick yet.

The signing is immediately noticed and stored, but Dick just nods his acquiescence and heads back.

His walk is all Wayne casual, loose and spoiled, with a little more effort into the act that other versions of him might use. But it affords him time to think - both Tim and Tim's dog appeared to recognise him, which is a plus. But Tim's also been through something pretty hellish.

Deal with that? Nah.

He returns with the bowl, and squats down to place it in front of Ace, then looks up at Tim to see the response when he asks: "Mind if I join you?"

Tim shakes his head slightly - no, he doesn't mind. Maybe he should, but of all the people who could approach him, an alternate of his family is usually going to be high on the list of acceptance.

Ace thanks Dick by wagging his tail again before busying himself lapping up water.

Dick thanks him with a bright smile, and slides into the booth opposite Tim, his body turned towards the bar and one leg sprawled out along the seat next to him, casual and calm and well, friendly.

"You're new, right? I'm sure I'd remember running into you before."

He likes to know when alternate versions of his friends are going to show up.

He shrugs up a shoulder. He's new-ish. It's not his first time here, but it hasn't been that long, either. Not enough time for him to get all that comfortable, anyway, although that's not something he expects to happen for a while, if ever.

"Then I assume you're familiar with the multiverse set up."

Dick isn't necessarily comfortable with the alternate timelines/existence of different realities, thing, but he's learned to live with it.

He gives a casual glance around the bar - just to see what's what.

"Weirdness aside it's not a bad place. I wouldn't call it safe, but..." he shrugs. Few people have tried to kill him with any seriousness.

I know, he signs. Probably no one's all that comfortable with the concept of running into alternate realities when you just want something to eat, but.

He tilts his head slightly. You know a me?

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