milliways_bar | (no subject)

Barry looks at the unconscious woman.

He debates whether to play cop with her and wake her up. It's not like he's on security yet. But there are better places to sleep.

"Er, excuse me, miss?"

She lets out a small sigh and, rolling her head gracefully, her eyes flutter open.

"Where am I?" she mutters, sleepily.

"You're in a chair by the fireplace at Milliways. And I hope you know what that is, because I don't you are awake enough for me to explain." She seems oddly delicate, as if she shouldn't be able to sleep in a chair in the first place.

"Do you have a room here?"

She blinks as she takes in the surroundings.

"Oh! I'm still dreaming!" and she stares at the strangely dressed man who woke her, her white forehead crinkling delicately, as if she's trying to figure out why she'd dream that.

"No, miss, I don't think you are.

"Do you want a drink of something?" And he has to look forward to doing tihngs like this in security?

"Of course I am!" she declares brightly. "I dream about this tavern quite a lot now! And I would love a glass of mineral water, thank you very much!"

Well, he realized he wouldn't get anywhere. And who could blame her for thinking this was a dream? Milliways could be quite unreal. He gets her the water.

"And when you aren't dreaming, do you have a name, or a home?"

"Oh, thank you very much!" she declares, taking her water with a delighted smile. "My name's Christine, what's yours?!"

"Barry." Somehow he thinks that even if he were in a more secretive mood, she wouldn't tell anyone.

"Well, welcome to Milliways anyway. Where are you from?"

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, I'm sure!" she offers the fingers of her right hand a little apprehenisively, hoping he doesn't shake them as roughly as the red-headed young gentleman had done.

"I'm from Ankh-Morpork! I'm playing Violetta in The Barber of Pseudopolis at the Opera House tonight!"

He shakes her hand carefully. He suspects she'll break if he tries anything remote strong.

And then smiles at the name of her hometown.

"Ah, Ankh-Morpork. I haven't been there yet, but I have friends from there. I'd ask if you know them, but I'm told it's a very large city. And I don't think the people I know are into opera."

So she's a diva. That brings some things into focus.

She retracts her hand quickly. Why do all the people here insist on shaking it?

"Oh yes! It's the biggest city on the Disc, isn't it?" she says brightly. "But if they did know Opera, they'd know me!" it's not conceited, just an airy statement of a fact that's simply wonderful.

"Well, one friend is a troll. And the other is a wizard and a scholar. I have no idea if either are into opera, like I said. And I'm afraid I'm not into on my world, either.

"But it's still nice to meet you. Never met an opera singer before."

Her eyes become two round circles of blue.

"You're friends with a troll?!"

"Not close friends. But he's a nice guy. And a member of the Watch, so we have a few things in common. I was part of my hometown's watch, you see.

"Granted, he's not a genius, but he's still a pretty nice guy, made of stone or not."

"Oh, the troll in the watch!" she declares, relieved. "That one's less savage than most! It came to the Opera once!" She doesn't mean to be so speciesist, it's just cultured trolls don't feature in her world view.

Not much features in her world view. It's a very small but very pretty world view.

"Ah. So you clearly do know of him, at least. His name's Detritus, by the way. He's been here a few times." And now Barry knows, if nothing else, that Eska - wouldn't have heard of this young diva. Not unless her career started exceedngly early.

"How long have you been in the opera?"

"Oh, a year at least!" she says. "I was given my first lead role within a day of joining the chorus! Wasn't that fantastic?!"

"You must be very good, then." Or must have managed to turn a few heads, to say the least. She is very, very pretty, in a strangely California Blonde kind of way.

"I'm told so!" she says modestly, but sincerely, tossing her hair back lightly. "Our musical director says I have Star Quality!!"

"I didn't know Ankh-Morpork was...advanced enough for such a concept." Or as much like Hollywood, at any rate.

"So you get to play all the starring roles now?"

"Not all of them, silly!" she giggles, batting at the air with her hand. "There's lots of starring roles in an Opera! For lots of different voices! I just sing soprano!"

"Oh, of course. Silly me. Been a long time since I saw an opera."

She has a certain charm, but it's like something learned.

"Did you take many lessons in singing?"

It's not learned. Or even affected. She really is this shallow.

"Oh yes! I spent three years at the Quirm Conservatory, and I have training all day at the Opera House! It's very hard work!" and she nods, seriously.*

*Well, seriously for her, which generally involves wide eyes, a tiny round mouth and a minimising of squeak

She's determined, that's for sure. Whether she's anything else, he can't tell.

But he doesn't want to talk to her like she's 12. Does he?"

"Quirm? I'm afraid I don't know that city. How far is that from Ankh?"

She'd be surprised he didn't know Quirm, except for the fact that she's dreaming him.

"Oh, miles!" she says. "At least two days journey by stage!"

"And is it as big as Ankh?" No, he doesn't expect to get useful answers, but the one thing that Eska doesn't seem to excel in was Discography. (Assuming that's the word.) It was interesting to meet someone from somewhere else.

How much has he asked her?

"Oh no!" Christine declares. "It's much smaller! Ankh Mopork has a million people, you know!" she adds impressively.

"Yes, I know.

"And Quirm? What's it like?" He feels like a teacher for some reason. But she doesn't seem to mind.

"Oh, it;s an adorable quaint little town!" she enthuses. "It is clean and pretty and has a Floral Clock, you know!"

"Sounds nice. Haven't seen a floral clock in ages.

"Well, it has been nice talking to you. I hope that the rest of your dream is pleasant and that you wake up in time for the performance." And with that, Barry starts to go.

What a strange woman, he thinks. She'll fit right in here.

Christine rises gracefully from her chair. It's amazing, really, how good her dress looks consdiering she's slep in it all night.

"Thank you very much for my water, Barry!" she says, smiling brightly. "I had better wake up now!"

And she almost skips off to the front door.