(no subject)

[mouse-shadow.livejournal.com]

The front door of Milliways shimmers and not so much opens as unfolds. Beyond, a ragged crowd boiling in the Arrakeen sunlight. A cloaked figure groans and staggers backward, clutching his chest, as another buries a crysknife in it. As the hooded one reaches the doorway, he seems to divide in half, with one part slumping to the dusty ground and another taking a teetering step across the threshhold. The door shimmers again and is closed. Another dead messiah has walked into the bar.

Rather than falling like his vanished twin, the cloaked man turns, revealing that the crysknife has also disappeared. Realizing that he isn't injured after all, he finds with a shock that he's no longer blind, either. Searching the room with his blue-in-blue eyes, he mutters, "I don't know this place." Its smell is too clean, too wet, and completely devoid of the Spice. He instinctively searches within for the future pathways that he knows shouldn't be there, and sees no future. Pathways abound, but all of them end beyond these walls or curve upon themselves into the past. For a minute that stretches into several, he marvels at this.

Utterly lost, Paul Atreides goes to the nearest empty table and sits, staring at the menagerie around him with a measured awe. Somebody buy this man a spiced beer.

Comments

[femme-wizard.livejournal.com]

A woman in a black dress and a tall black pointed hat pauses at his table on her way to the Bar, a small welcoming smile on her face.

"Hi, you new here, by any chance?"

[mouse-shadow.livejournal.com]

Paul sees her near and his eyes narrow at her question. Her demeanor doesn't fit her obvious air of hidden power.

"What charm has brought me to this place, witch? Am I a ghola?" The tone is only mildly threatening.

[femme-wizard.livejournal.com]

Eska raises an eyebrow at the obvious hostility behind the word 'witch', but continues to smile pleasantly, shifting her grip on her seven foot staff.

"I've never heard of a ghola, but you are at Milliways, the tavern at the end of the universe. As you what brought you here, that's a magic no one here's quite understood. Many people accredit it to an entity known as The Landlord, but I've never seen any evidence for this.

"I'm Mistress Smith."

[mouse-shadow.livejournal.com]

Mistress, not Reverend Mother. And still no hint of wordplay. If she is Bene Gesserit, her intentions are beyond him.

"I am Paul, of the House Atreides. At what end of the universe is this tavern?" He may as well go along until he finds a hole in this illusion.

[femme-wizard.livejournal.com]

Eska gives a small, informal bow of greeting. "Pleased to meet you, Paul.

"The terminal end. That behind you is the Apocalypse," and she points at the Observation window with the head of her staff.

[mouse-shadow.livejournal.com]

He had seen the viewing window when he entered as just a common wall scene. Glancing back at it, he began to understand his inability to sense time beyond these walls.

"You mean it is the universe itself that is ending," which isn't a question. "Then I am truly dead. If so, I hope this meeting will not end before I can apologize for calling you witch."

[femme-wizard.livejournal.com]

Eska laughs softly.

"Well, you may not be dead. I'm not. But some people are, certainly. Don't worry, though, the end can't get in her. It'll restart after a few hours.

"There's no need to apologise. I am a witch, after all." she nudges the rim of her black hat with her staff again.

[mouse-shadow.livejournal.com]

It's his turn to raise an eyebrow. Clearly, this woman is not a Bene Gesserit, or a face dancer. Something not existent in his time? Taking the opportunity as he sees it, he decides to show some trust. He stands.

"Please then, Mistress, sit with me so we can learn more about each other." And this impossible tavern.

[femme-wizard.livejournal.com]

Nodding again, Eska acquiesces.

"So where are you from, Paul Atreides?"

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

A small, thin teenage girl blinks at him.

"Um...hi."

[mouse-shadow.livejournal.com]

His doubly blue eyes blink in reply.

"Hello." He stands and nods slowly. "Do you know me?"

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

She shakes her head.

"No, I don't. Are you new here?"

She holds out a hand.

"I'm Gretchen."

[mouse-shadow.livejournal.com]

"New? Yes."

He takes her hand and kisses it. Skin rich with water. He smiles faintly.

"And I believe that I am dead."

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

She grins and blushes at the kiss and then nods to his statement.

"Yeah, I sort of figured that by the dagger that was in your chest. I'm dead too, a lot of us here are. Welcome to Milliways."

[mouse-shadow.livejournal.com]

He has to force his hand not to go to the place where the crysknife had torn at his heart. Instead, he beckons her to the chair opposite where the Mistress had sat.

"Thank you, miss. I hope your death was painless. Please sit if you would. I'm Paul." Absurd though the situation is, there's no reason to be rude.

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

She smiles and sits.

"Nice to meet you, Paul, and yes, it was. I was hit by a car. It was very quick. Where are you from?"

[mouse-shadow.livejournal.com]

A car. A ground carriage accident then. A common death and a simple one. She was lucky.

"I am from a planet called Caladan. Where the sea spray coated every stone with jewels. And you?"

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

She grins. Paul is shaping up to be a wonderful story-teller.

"I'm from Earth. I lived in California right by the ocean. I used to go swimming nearly every day."

[gone_byebye]

[OOC: Arrrgh! Of all the times for Ray to be out of the Bar! *sigh* Oh well. You do realize you'll be getting a fangirl squee out of a grown scientist when he gets back from the quest he's currently on, don't you?]

[mouse-shadow.livejournal.com]

[OOC: I can't wait to get Paul as confused as possible. Will look forward to it.]

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

Random stands over him, looking worried.

"Are you alright? I just saw you get a knife in the chest. Need a healer?"

[mouse-shadow.livejournal.com]

Paul looks up at the man. Strong and confident, but water fat.

"No. I'm not sure why I am still breathing, but the knife and its wound are both gone. I believe that I am either a reborn ghola or that this is something else after death."

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

He smiles.

"So, another dead patron, right? Well, I don't know about Gholas, but welcome to Milliways. The Bar at the End of the Universe."

[mouse-shadow.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, such easy kindness is rare where I come from. I will be fine, I think, considering. But your offer is appreciated. I will remember it. If I may help you unsheath a blade sometime, you need only ask."

[wellthrownstone.livejournal.com]

[ooc: fan...girls...omg...Maud dib!]