Entry

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

[OOM: Just before]

The door opened as if a person well acquainted with the bar, someone who was expecting Milliways, was about to walk through. Not slowly, or with slamming, and for once no gunshots or explosions heard in the distance.
But the man was not a regular. His advantage was that he had been expecting a bar, and so kept the surprise from his face, in favor of cool indifference.

He could still feel the pistol under his coat, as always, reassuring when entering an unfamiliar place. He walked to a booth without hesitation. "Turn the right corner in Sin City, and you can find anything." He muttered to himself as he took a seat.
Who'd believe someplace this nice existed anywhere in Basin City?

He proceeded to take in the patrons and the layout with scrutiny, committing as much to memory as he could.
Anything, he would think to himself occasionally, to explain some strange sight.

Perhaps he'd leave off the drinking tonight.

Comments

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

He might notice an out of breath woman nearby, drinking copious amounts of water. Then again, he might not.

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

He noticed.

But he did not dwell on the sight of her for too long. The man with blue skin, however, had him intrigued. He assumed it was in representation of some gang, or just a strange man who had a strong affinity for blue.

But after a time, his gaze returned to the woman, who he noted, was still drinking. He continued to watch her, subtlety, but critically.

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

Soldiers tend to develop a sixth sense about people watching them. It helps to know that someone is about to lob a grenade at your head. Aeryn turned around slowly, scanning the Bar for the watcher. Her eyes settled on him.

"Problem?"

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

His eyes met hers, distant and uncommunicative.

No, they don't know me.
"Just wished to verify something." He replied blandly. "You assisted marvelously."

He then went back to surveying the bar aloofly. He preferred to come off cold and standoffish. It suited his purposes.

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"I can verify that you appear to be a Drannit of the very highest level."

Aeryn came across cool and uncaring, because it suited her mood right now.

"Congratulations."

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

Drannit was not a word one heard often in Basin City but, being clever, the man was confident that he could delve, from context and tone, its meaning.

His reaction to this was an offhanded shrug of one shoulder.

"If you wish to be insolent, you may as well be useful." He said rationally "Tell me when the barman will return."

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

Aeryn snorted. One of them was insolent, but it wasn't her.

"You must be new. There isn't a barman. At least not right now."

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

He looked up at her again. This time skeptically.

"What is this? The inhibition?" He snapped. "This doesn't look like a twenties joint."

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

Aeryn stepped over to Bar. It was always better to show than tell.

"Ras'lak." A few moments later, with a shimmer, the drink appeared.

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

He quirked an eyebrow at that, admittedly.

He then began scanning the bar again. He probably should have ordered a fine toothed comb.

"Smoke and mirrors then." He said scornfully, though he didn't see them. "That's the magic word, I suppose? And does anyone actually fall for it?"

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"Some people do." She admitted. This man was clearly a Thoddo, why shouldn't she lead him on a wild Barkan chase.

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

"People are foolish. But what the hell."

He stood and approached the bar. "Ras'lak." Because that was the word, right? He just had to wonder what the bar would actually give him.

And when the drink appeared he stared at it irritably. "What is this then? Besides not what I wanted."

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"Then why did you order it?" Sensible, really.

"It's a drink from my Universe. Alcoholic."

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

He snorted at that.

"Great." And slid it over toward her. "I don't drink."

He turned toward his booth again, as if to leave, but hesitated.

"Did you say universe?" The man sneered. "Are you all crazy here?"

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"Yes, but you'll figure that out soon enough." Aeryn accepted the drink gratefully, she may have been smiling in a rather evil way.

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

"Right. Of course." He replied coldly, turning to leave again.

And just before he walked away he glanced toward the door and realized that it was not actually there. "What sort of funny business is this? More parlor tricks?"

Something had been rubbing him the wrong way, clearly.

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"No. It's magic. But you don't believe that." She could hardly fault him, she'd been the same way at first.

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

"It's been a long time since I've believed in anything like that, ma'am." And with that, he walked to where the door had been and reached for the doorknob.

It had to be an illusion, didn't it?
After checking the wall rather thoroughly and finding no knob, he turned back toward the woman and waited patiently for an explanation.

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

Aeryn raised one eyebrow. Oh she was enjoying this.

"Yes?"

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

"I was expecting you to tell me how one gets out of this place." He explained slightly more irritated than he had been thus far. "Was this not where I entered?"

"Or was I wrong to believe that someone in this damned town might have some courtesy?" Yeah, that cursing? It gave away his annoyance.

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"I don't have any courtesy. Not for someone who insults me and then expects me to do backflips to help them."

Aeryn shrugged.

"It looks like you're bound."

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

He quirked a grin at that. Not really, but the corner of his lips did curl very slightly. But only for a moment.

Then, "You think I insulted you?" he asked, as apathetically as ever.

"What do you mean, bound?"

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"You didn't?" Aeryn inclined her head, questioning.

"The Bar won't let you leave. I don't understand it, I've never been bound myself."

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

"I did not, in fact." He confirmed blandly.

He then sighed and shrugged, deciding to play nice, and get what information he could, seemed like the safer bet.

"Was this some sort of trap that I walked into then?" Best to be blunt. Straight to the point and perhaps they'd let something slip.

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"It's a Bar. At the end of the Universe."

She gave information freely, now that he was playing nice.

"The Bar itself," Aeryn gestured, "is sentient and can understand most speech. It also seems to be fitted with translator technology, which explains how you can understand me."

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

He continued staring at her dubiously. It would take a lot to convince him.

"You say that you're not speaking English then? Why not? What country are you from?"

Because as far as he was concerned? Basin City was the end of the universe. There couldn't possibly be anyplace stranger.

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"I'm speaking Sebacean. I was born on a Command Carrier, I've drifted ever since. Haven't spent much time Planetside."

Aeryn sipped her drink again. It was a large sip, drained about a quarter of the bottle.

"You're an Earther?"

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

He laughed at that, but he was, perhaps, a little surprised.

"I haven't walked into police possession, I've walked into a loony bin."

"Now you claim that you are not from Earth? I think you took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. Area 51 is not in California anymore Toto."

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"Sorry?" Aeryn's eyes narrowed to slits.

"Ask anyone else, it's not my problem."

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

"You don't know the Wizard of Oz?"
He shook his head ruefully and took a seat at a nearby table. "This place is worse than I thought. Did you all grow up in some 3rd World country?"

Like Scotland, where the men wear skirts...

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"I grew up in Spaaaaaace." She said it very carefully. Slowly. He might be mentally deficient.

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

He thought about this for a moment.

"Siberia then. No one lives up there."

She could be Russian. Sure.

He may have just been messing with her. It's hard to tell.

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"Space." She seriously considered slapping him around the face. A concussion always made people understand better.

"I am from Space. I am a Sebacean and I am about to waive the no-violence rule and smash this bottle over your head."

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

His expression returned, immediately, to a frigid lack of concern.

"That would be a serious mistake, ma'am, but clearly you are nuts, so I would appreciate it if you would return to whichever rock you claim to have come from and leave me in peace."

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"I'm staying in Milliways, it's my home."

Her fingers clenched tightly around the bottle, one hand dangled near her holster. Empty gun.

"So I'd advise not frelling around with me."

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

Another dark laugh issued briefly at the suggestion.

"I think that you chose the wrong town to play tough in, lady. We don't mess around here. Find your wits or you're going to get yourself killed."

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"You really are stupid." She gripped her gun, it pulled free easily.

"I'm not defenceless. I've been a soldier since I could walk and I assure you, you'd be nothing more than a bug to be squashed." She pushed her pistol back into it's holster.

"But it's against the rules."

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

"And that is where you prove me correct, girl." Because that's what she just proved herself to be. Foolish and immature as a child. And following the rules, one day, would likely be her undoing.

"You are most fortunate that I only work on contract."

[just-a-soldier.livejournal.com]

"That attitude will get you killed."

Aeryn smiled, turned her back and walked away.

"Hopefully."

[door-2-door.livejournal.com]

She had a point, but it wouldn't be today.