milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

There is a Stanton boy in the bar - no, it's not the usual one.

He's beginning to be able to deal with this quite well, by now, so he simply shrugs good-naturedly and heads over to take a seat at the bar and watch the chaos.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It's so lovely to see more of your family in the bar. We were just speaking of your wonderful parents."

Smile of the not-so-charming kind, but neither is it unpleasant.

"Mr. Aphelise?"

James looks puzzled.

The Rider smiles down at James and responds without batting an eye.

~~"It's my name on the internet."~~

"Ah, yes. I am a man of many names, James. I do go by Aphelise in this bar." He adds ruefully, "I'm afraid it comes with my job."

*Will blinks, looking rather puzzled.*

I thought you were a diamond dealer? They mostly don't need aliases, do they?

"I don't think so," agrees James, pleased to see that Will is Just As Puzzled As He Is.

"Mostly," the Rider ~~gasp~~ agrees blandly with Will.

*Will continues to look politely curious.*

James looks really remarkably like Will.

Damn that Stanton family resemblance.

The Rider looks back at them blandly still.

"We all have our little secrets, don't we, Will?"

Very polite, he is.

*He shrugs, still puzzled but politely agreeing.*

I suppose. Shall I call you Mr Aphelise or Mr Mitothin, then?

He is smiling back just as politely.

"I suppose Aphelise would be best, since that is how I was introduced to most people in the bar."

"Does our father know about all your aliases?" James asks, rather curiously.

"No," the Rider says cheerfully enough. "It's rather an important part in having aliases," he adds kindly.

*slightly dubiously* All right.

*politely changing the subject* How goes your business, then?

The Rider's smile falters for a fraction of a second.

"It's a bit down, actually," he recovers smoothly. "Fortunately, however, I am presently taking a holiday, so it works out rather...nicely."

His smile becomes slightly more strained by the end of his reply.

James' brow furrows.

"Wait, I thought you couldn't leave? That's not much of a holiday, is it?"

*sympathetically* Making the best of a forced holiday, I suppose? Best attitude to take, really.

The Rider nods in agreement with James.

"Indeed, I can't. But if there's any place I wouldn't mind being stuck in for a holiday, it would be Milliways." He looks briefly thoughtful. "Excepting maybe Barbados." ~~See icon.~~

One eyebrow raises slightly at Will. "Yes, well, I always try to adjust my attitude to suit the circumstances." Brief smile.

"Well," James says dubiously, "there's certainly enough girls in bikinis and things to make it almost like Barbados anyways, if that's what you're after."

Bit enclosed, though.

*It's sympathetic. Really.*

*Well, for all anyone else can tell, anyway.*

The Rider just looks at Will, expressionless.

"Perhaps. If one is lacking in imagination and ambition."

The line is delivered politely, if formally.

James looks up, startled, at that.

"Hold on a moment -"

Complimenting James with anti-Will insinuation is one thing. Insulting a brother outright is an entirely different story.

*Will doesn't look insulted. Or anything but polite and friendly, really. He slips his hands into his pockets, and looks amiably at Mr Aphelise.*

*mildly* Well, all right. No need to get defensive. I'm sure it's a lovely place to stay.

"Oh, dear me," the Rider says, with some concern. "I didn't mean to come across as defensive. I simply meant I found no such limits. I try to see the universe for all it's possibilities."

A quick smile.

"I have some reading waiting for me upstairs." A slight nod of the head. "Good evening, brothers Stanton. It was a pleasure to see you again, James."

And he's gone.

James blinks after him.

"That was odd."