The Bar at the End of the Universe

"What do you mean I owe you...how in the hell...oh."

To say that Bar is a bit annoyed with Solo's current tab is an understatement, which is why after several napkin exchanges (and a possible threat or two if you're able to speak half the languages he's swearing in) there is a Captain, no, General behind the bar, writing on the specials board.

Specials

B-52
Kamikaze
.50 Caliber
Adios Motherfucker

Buy a lady a drink and get yours half off.

Han takes a moment to find himself a bottle of Whyren's and pours himself a few fingers, and keeps it close because he's got a feeling he might need it before too long.

"Happy hour's up!"


ooc: I know it's a little earlier than I had planned for but will be open a few hours! Drink, buy drinks, threadhop, you know the drill. Also I'm not on AIM but following along so tag as you will.

edit: I am gone for the afternoon/evening, will pick things up as I get back, tags are still welcome.

Yesterday was...

...well there really isn't a word for what it was, and Han's a little too drunk to care about thinking one up, either. He's down at the end of the bar with a bottle of something that smells like paint thinner and probably tastes like it too, and a somewhat pissed off look on his face.

At least he's still able to pour the alcohol into the glass and hasn't resorted to drinking straight from the bottle. Yet. He'll get there sooner or later if he has any say in it.


[tags: Ben Wade, Demeter, The Russian Astronaut]

While he's been promoted, Han isn't about to let that go to his head when it comes to proper ship maintenance. After pouring over files and papers, simulators, and information, and sitting through a few briefings, Han needs to give his mind a break.

Which is why when a piece of the ceiling swings down on a hinge, shouting can be heard, as well as metallic sounds.

"The hell'd he do to her while I was stuck in that damn ice block?"

Han drops a wrench and hears it hit something that's not the ship, and hangs down to look into Milliways. There's some muffled swearing, before he hauls himself back up and the hatch stays open a minute or two.

Soon after, a box drops down onto the nearest surface, followed by a notebook, and then a pair of boots as Han drops from the ceiling and the hatch swings shut with a hiss as it closes. He picks up the box, the folder, and the wrench, and stakes out a table. After a quick trip the 'fresher to get the grease off his hands, he can be found...doing paperwork.

[OOM: He might be blind, but he's still the best shot in the galaxy. With a little help from his friends, of course.]

[OOM: Freedom. For awhile, anyway.]

Then the door opens, it's nothing but a dark cell behind it, and the man that stumbles in is one who hasn't been seen around for awhile (unless you count the younger version of him that gave an alias instead of his real name) but he's been here before.

He still can't see. But this is not that cell.

The door clicks shut behind him and Han feels back for the handle, but there is nothing there. He tries to remember this place. Tries to remember the way the bar was laid out. Once he's got a picture in his head, he carefully starts to navigate through.

His hair is a bit ruffled and his eyes aren't focusing on anyone in particular, and to those paying attention, the way he's listening and using his fingertips to feel the back of chairs and tables should be a signal something is not normal. If he bumps into you or your table, he'll apologize, but he really just needs a drink.

Eventually he ends up at the bar and hauls himself onto a stool, and orders a glass of Whyren's. Bar is kind enough to materialize the glass close enough to his hand that he can feel it when it appears.

[OOM: There's a first time for everything. Including shooting first.]

He's been gone a few days. Maybe a week. It's hard to tell when he's been slipping in and out without telling anyone goodbye. But this time when he steps into the bar, he's older. Wiser. Quicker on his feet and better with his hands.

Too bad that guy with the pocketwatch isn't around, he'd lift it without a problem.

He's not staying, but he does leave a note with the Bar.

"Give this to that guy with the black hat and the gun," he says. "He's got a beard, sharp eyes. Real smart. Drinks somethin' called Woodford Reserve all the time. You got that?"

The paper disappears and Han pats the surface. "See you 'round."

Then he heads back for the door, without hesitation in his step. He's a free man and about to do what he's always dreamed of. It closes behind him with a soft sound, a click.

The next time Ben Wade is at the bar, he'll get a short note:

Took your advice.

I shot first.

No signature, but it should be obvious who it's from.


ooc: No tags, please. The younger version will be back someday but he needs to move through some other canon for a bit!

OOM: Time passes outside the bar. Things, however, don't change. They get worse. (Warnings for violence and mentions of abusive situations in the OOM, so please take that into consideration before reading.)

When the door opens, the teenager who hauls himself into the bar is obviously hurting. Badly. There are bruises almost everywhere, blood soaked into his shirt (which is practically rags, at this point) and he can barely keep himself upright. It takes every ounce of his strength to make it to the door, from where he is outside -- so it's not a surprise when he slumps down against the wall near it once he's inside.

Everything hurts, and he feels like he's going to be sick, so he closes his eyes and burrows his head into his arms, trying to make the pain in his head go away.

(It's not working.)


[ooc: plotlocked, sorry. no worries, he'll be bound for awhile so a less injured/hurting version will be available later in the week. thanks guys.]

The door opens. Someone walks in. The door closes.

That someone moves across the room like he's been here before, but he hasn't. Not yet, anyways. But it doesn't show on his features, doesn't show in his eyes, because you don't show anyone that you don't belong. They'll throw you out if you do that, and this isn't the cantina he was walking into, but it'll do.

So he finds himself a table near the wall, out of the way, and takes a seat, watching. Not staring, because that's completely obvious, but just watching. Searching for easy marks...or challenges. He'll take either.

Sometimes he likes the challenge more than the prize itself.


OOC: This is the same Han Solo, just from earlier on his timeline. See this post for more details.

He doesn't remember Milliways (and may vaguely remember faces and names later when he returns as an adult again) but that's not about to stop him from blending in. He's still with Shrike. (And he's got the scar on his chin.)

I know it's late so this EP will be open for a bit, and he'll have more for the time he's around, at least a week.