First Visit

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

She's walked into some odd things during fits of abstraction (a lamppost and Sherlock Holmes, to name just two), but as Mary Russell lowers her book and peers around her, it becomes apparent that this is no Oxford pub, and she wonders what, exactly, her penchant for perambulatory reading has gotten her into this time.

She notices the oddly dressed young man, the pretty young thing in Greek costume, the man with smoked glasses and...is that a tail? It's gone when she looks again. Then her gaze strays to the window and her eyes widen.

It seems that the paper on apocalyptic prophecy will require some extensive revision.

Comments

[nita_callahan]

Nita notices the lost looking woman and gives her a smile. "You look confused. First time here?"

[locks_it_up]

[ooc: *FANGIRLS! FANGIRLS LIKE MAAAAAAAAAD!* OMFG MARY RUSSELL! WOOOAAAAAHHH!]

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

"Um, yes. I must say, the view is spectacular. But...where exactly am I?"

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

[OOC: I know, I couldn't believe no one had taken her...]

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

*bounces*

[nita_callahan]

"This would be Milliways', the Bar at the End of the Universe. The first drink is free." She holds out a hand. "And I'm Nita Callahan. Dai'stiho."

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

"Mary Russell. Pleasure to meet you." She shakes the proffered hand. "Pardon my asking, but what language were you just speaking?"

[locks_it_up]

[ooc: My AIM is angelsmask1225. I'm leaving, like... nowish, but uhm. We must talk. And I must squee more at you.]

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Sure thing. I'm leaving soon too, actually. Mine is Murmurs85.]

[nita_callahan]

"The Speech. It's. . ." She shrugs mentally. No point in keeping it a secret -- she'll have to come to terms with this sort of thing eventually. "It's the language of wizards in my universe."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

(ooc: *fangirls massively*)

Ace looks up from her seat by the fire when the door opens. It's an old habit, one she's not likely to break even though her hope of the one person she wants to come into the bar is frightfully slim.
Oh dear. Looks like there's another newcomer in the bar. Ace shoots the woman a friendly wave, in case she's looking for help.

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

"Wizards. Your universe."
The girl appears to be sane. Key word being "appears."

"You'll have to explain further, I'm afraid."

[nita_callahan]

Nita grins. "My pleasure. But first, do you want something to drink? It might take a while."

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

Russell crosses to the woman. "Hello."

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

"Some tea would be lovely, thank you. Sorry to pry; I take an interest in languages."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"Hullo. New to the bar, then?" She offers Mary her hand, grinning in what she believes to be a friendly sort of manner. "I'm Ace."

[nita_callahan]

Nita leads her over to the Bar and says, "Bar? Could we have some tea, please? It's Miss Russell's first visit."

A tea set appears on the Bar, and Nita pats it. "Thanks." She picks up the platter and glances at Mary. "Table or Booth?"

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

The anthropomorphic Bar is the last straw. Russell sinks weakly into a chair.
"Er, booth, please."

She pours herself a cup of tea, stirs in cream and three spoons of sugar, and takes a deep draught. It's delicious.

"Thank you, Bar," she says, and could swear the Bar gleams in response.

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

"Nice to meet you, Ace."

The girl seems pleasant enough, with a streak of the same stubbornness that her aunt so despises.

"And how do you come to be in this place?"

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

Elaine walks up to the young lady who has just strolled in. "Good even, lady. You look rather confused...is this your first visit here?"

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Poor Mary, and she was just beginning to get unconfused.

"The first time? I thought it was another room in the Doctor's TARDIS. Took forever for Tim, he's on security here, to convince me it wasn't some elaborate simulation. The second time... the second time was because the TARDIS exploded, and the fail-safes kicked me here instead of letting me die of rapid decompression. Nice of them, doncha agree?" Ace asks cheerily.

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

*This young woman has stepped straight out of an Arthurian legend, but she supposes she ought to be used to it by now.*

It is. Mary Russell, of Oxford. And who might you be?

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

*She blinks several times rapidly.*

Indeed. You're...dead?

Am I dead?

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

"Lady Elaine of Astolat." Elaine curtsys. "I am pleased to meet you. How have you come to the Bar tonight?"

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

*She is from an Arthurian legend. This just gets better and better.*

I have an unfortunate habit of reading while walking that's gotten me into trouble before; this time I opened the door to my lodgings and found myself here instead. Though I must say the welcome I've received has been most gracious.

[empath-wiggin.livejournal.com]

[ooc: OMG! Much with the fangirl. So. Much. Love.]

A waitress wanders over with a tray and a smile. "Might want to watch out. Last time I did that, I almost bumped into one of the more powerful people in the bar." Her eyes twinkle furiously. "Welcome to Milliways bar."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"No, I'm not, or at least I bloody well hope not, and do you remember dying? Most of the dead people around here remember dying." Ace notes helpfully.

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

"Oh my, that must be rather...disorienting. If I could walk whilst reading, however, it sounds like a rather lovely pastime. But alas, I did not learn to read well until I came here. And yes, the people here are quite wonderful."

[nita_callahan]

Nita beams at the thanking-the-Bar, and pours herself a cup of tea, two sugars. "Okay. It's probably easiest to start with the multiple universes thing. There's some theories that say that when something happens that could go two ways, two universes are formed. Like. . ." She casts a glance over Mary's attire. "Like the Battle of Waterloo. In some worlds, Napoleon won -- in some, he lost. With me so far?"

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
Yes, I think this may have finally cured me.

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

I'm fairly sure I would remember that. No, the Bodleian closed and I was on my way home. And, to tell the truth, I should actually be getting home now as it is... it was a distinct pleasure to meet you, Ace. I hope to see more of you.

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've heard that theory propounded, though I've never seen it receive such concrete form before.

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"I'll be around. I'm rather stuck here. Better than being dead, but yes. Have a good night." She grins.

[empath-wiggin.livejournal.com]

She smiles again. "Psh. I'll never be cured of it. I think it's in my blood. I read too much. Oh, where are my manners?" She holds out her hand. "I'm Valentine Wiggin, head server."

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

*Mary looks outside to estimate the time, realizes again that the universe is ending, and checks her watch.*

I do apologise, but I need to be getting back. It was a pleasure to meet you, Elaine.

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

Mary Russell. It's nice to meet you, Ms. Wiggin.

[nita_callahan]

Nodding, she continues. "Now, I'm not sure that's completely accurate or not. I think there's some truth in it. Me, I think it's more like the Powers That Be got so into creation that they ended up creating hundreds of thousands of universes. This place -- Milliways' -- is kind of a place where they all meet -- a crossroads.

"And in some of those universes, mine included -- there's magic."

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

"It was lovely to meet you, as well. I hope you get home safely." Elaine smiles.

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

Russell grins back. Though she hasn't understood a word of what Ace has been saying, it's clear that people are people, regardless of the universe.

She is relieved to find that the door opens to let her out... think of what Mrs. Hudson would say if she disappeared!

But she will certainly return.

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

[ooc: Sorry, but I need to go. Can we continue this another time?]

Russell nods.

"Magic. All right. And the Speech is magical?"

That would explain why it exhibits no linguistic pattern that she can follow.

[nita_callahan]

[OOC: I'd love to. I have to leave, meself.]

"Exactly. Wizards in my world use the Speech to describe things, very accurately. It can be very dangerous -- there's a lot of power behind it, and if you describe something inaccurately. . ."

[mary-russell.livejournal.com]

[ooc: Shall we pick it up when we're both back on again? Also, I have to admit to huuuuuge fangirling of Nita.]

"Well, of course. There's always enormous power behind words. If there were magic in my...er...universe, I'd expect it to be contained in speech as a matter of course.

[nita_callahan]

[OOC: Perfect. *adds you to her AIM list*]

"There's a good chance it is in your universe, you just don't know it," Nita says with a mischevious smile. "Where and when are you from?"