First Entrance: Danny Rand

[touched_by_fire]

[OOM: ...the guardian realized the way was open to the world.]

Danny enters and stops at the door, confused. This is most definitely not a tiny bar in whatever country he finds himself in. World geography had never been his strong suit and all he knows is he's down in one of the valleys below the mountains that hide K'un Lun. No, this bar is much more like what he'd find back home in New York City. Dazed, he only moves when a rat carrying a tray with drinks on it squeaks at him; side stepping and then spinning to take in as much of the bar as he can.

Help a new guy out?

Comments

[ostro_goth]

Not too many battle axes in New York, though.

And the man by the bar who turns his head as Danny enters definitely is carrying one.

[touched_by_fire]

Battle axes Danny knows. Battle axes were part of his training and were carried by the guards at K'un Lun. Battle axes suggest people from K'un Lun to Danny and the last thing he wants right now is to be taken back to K'un Lun.

He turns his full attention to the man (who he now sees looks nothing like the people who live in K'un Lun) and takes a fighting stance. Danny isn't sure what's happening, but he knows he's not going back. Not without a fight.

[ostro_goth]

"Greetings," the man says.

[touched_by_fire]

Danny stares in confusion for a moment, before pulling his hands up to clasp his right fist in his open left palm. The movement shifts his work yellow and green robes to reveal part of a large tattoo on his chest; some stylized dragon perhaps?

Danny nods a bow, keeping his eyes on the man. "Greetings. What is this place?"

[ostro_goth]

"It is Milliways, the tavern at the end of the known cosmos," the axe-man says. "Welcome to you."

[touched_by_fire]

Danny chews on his lip in thought and then relaxes, as much as he ever relaxes.

"So this isn't some way to K'un Lun?"

[ostro_goth]

"It is a way from all places, and back to them," the axe-man says. "If K'un Lun is where you came from, then there you might return."

[have_no_mercy]

The unmistakable look of a newcomer.

"First time?"

[touched_by_fire]

Danny turns, nearly spinning but with the grace of a long time martial artist. He takes her in quickly and offers a lopsided smile.

"I guess so? I know this will sound insane, but where am I?" He worn, yellow and green robes speak of dusty travel and perhaps Asian monasteries.

[have_no_mercy]

"It doesn't sound insane here."

That's not necessarily to assuage his awkwardness, just the truth of the matter.

"It's called Milliways, the bar at the end of the universe."

[touched_by_fire]

"Milliways?" he repeats and then shakes his head. "This isn't a path to K'un Lun then? This is its own place?"

[have_no_mercy]

Tess smiles a little.

"This isn't the path to anywhere except the end."

She gestures to a chair.

"You might want to sit down."

[touched_by_fire]

He walks over, though is careful to check all sight lines before taking the chair. (He even shifts it slight to get a better vantage.)

"Thank you," he says finally, because his father and mother didn't raise him to be rude. "Is the way back open or do I need to wait for it?"

Please don't take years to open.

[have_no_mercy]

"That depends entirely on you and your door."

She replies smoothly.

"Can you still see it?"

[cutting_edgex23]

A slim woman dressed entirely in black tilts her head, studying him for a moment.

She looks poised to move in any direction, even though her body is held markedly still.

"Hello."

Beat.

"You did not mean to come here?"

[touched_by_fire]

A small quote voice, which sounds an awful lot like the ten year old Danny was when he first found K'un Lun, says 'Watch her, she's important.' It also remembers how often people who moved like her would smack him in the back of his head when he lost focus.

Which all adds up to X getting all of Danny's focus; but not all of his awareness. Some of him still watches for attacks from other places. Ingrained habits and all that.

"No, I didn't," he replies. And adds a short bow with a clenched fist within a loose hand. Respect is never wasted, as his father used to say. The tattoo on his chest that peaks out from beneath his yellow and green robes might look familiar to X, though he is younger than the man who wears it in X's world. "Could you please tell me where I am?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Milliways."

Her response is matter-of-fact, and does not reflect whether or not she recognizes the tattoo. Milliways good for many things. An excellent poker face is . . . possibly one.

"It happens to people."

Beat.

"It is on an asteroid. At the end of the universe."

[touched_by_fire]

So this is more science fiction than mystic? Who knows!

"So this doesn't lead anywhere else?"

The end of the universe seems like, well, the end, right?

[cutting_edgex23]

"No. Unless you use someone else's door."

X hesitates, studying Danny a little more carefully.

"That is a bad idea for you. Now."

[touched_by_fire]

"I don't want to go anywhere else but to my home."

X will likely note a scent of deception, not quite a lie, and nervousness from Danny as he says this.

[thewidewideworld]

There's an androgynous blonde sitting by the fire, practising on a traditional Chinese huqin. The melody is old, at least by Danny's time, but he may recognising bones of the tune.

He looks up and smiles at the new-comer, nodding politely.

[touched_by_fire]

The well known song puts him on alert but then the player looks like no one from K'un Lun, and so he relaxes somewhat. Besides, this isn't the Heavenly city.

Curious, Danny walks over listening with a slight smile.

[OOC: I'm going to assume Danny has had the speech for this. Three times is enough, even for clueless Danny here. =) ]

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric doesn't look like someone who belongs to the Tang court. His clothes are more Byzantine in style but the instrument does. As does the music.

He nods politely to Danny and lifts his voice in song. His voice is high, sweet and pure. The Mandarin he sings in is arcane but natural on his tongue.

It's a tale of the Dragon Prince and the Golden Spirit. And old fairytale.

He watches Danny as he sings, as if singing just for him. And for the pleasure of it.

{ooc: insto-slow, tagging on my way to work but looking forward to tagging with Danny.}

[touched_by_fire]

Danny finds he needs to pay close attention to the words, and still finds he misses much of the story. His Mandarin is good, but it is modern. He does catch the mention of a dragon prince and his hand goes to his chest, to touch the large tattoo there; a stylized or caligraphic dragon perhaps?

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric notices the gesture and cock his head curiously, bringing the song to its natural end.

He smiles to Danny and bows gracefully. "I hope you enjoyed my playing?"