(Untitled)

[guppy_sandhu]

Today, Guppy has two signs up.

The doctor is in

And the second, because he's noticed some new faces:

New? Confused? Just plain stressed out? Free tea and marshmallows.

Comments

[indie_cine]

He gratefully sits down and begins his customary rapid ramble.

"Thanks for the welcome, I guess. I'm Nick. And-- I'm not sure if I only got here tonight. Time's been all screwy on me, y'know what I mean? When I was back home in New York, I'd already been up for twenty hours or so trying to wrap up my movie -- I'm a director, y'see. And when I got here, I met this guy who told me some stuff about this place, end of the universe, blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda, and also that there were rooms upstairs, so, okay, I went up and tried to take a nap, but nice as the room was, I just couldn't fall asleep 'cause this whole thing's been freaking me the hell out! I mean, it's cool that the Bar can serve up bagels and apple juice outta nowhere, but man, I just wanna go home! But I can't see the door I came through! The guy I talked to said I was 'bound' -- what's up with that? And how do I get unbound?"

He finally stops and takes a breath.

...Yeah, that might be a lot of information delivered in a short amount of time, but when Nick is on the verge of a breakdown, there are very few words anybody can get in edgewise.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy nods.

"Okay. One thing at a time. Yes, this place is weird, but the guy is telling the truth and this is a bar at the end of the universe. You got here through a space-time portal.

Secondly, being Bound means you can't leave here at the moment. But no time should pass in your home world, so it won't affect your film. Most people are Bound in order to achieve or learn something of importance, after which you will be Unbound and able to go home."

Assuming he isn't dead, which might take more marshmallows.

"I sympathise; it's frightening and stressful being Bound for the first time. But you are not alone and you will get through it."

[indie_cine]

Oh, he's not dead, although sometimes his work makes him want to slam a hammer into his own skull. But other than that, he's very much alive.

So there's a pause as Nick takes this all in, reaching for a marshmallow and chewing it contemplatively. The doctor's easygoing demeanor acts almost like a much-needed sedative, and his explanation for all this craziness...actually makes some kind of sense. And then suddenly something starts to dawn on Nick...

"'To achieve or learn something of importance,'" he repeats thoughtfully. "I think I get it..." He grabs a couple more marshmallows and pops them into his mouth, the cogs in his brain still turning.

[guppy_sandhu]

"That's great." Guppy says, smiling.

"It's really not a bad place to be stuck, so long as you're careful and look out for extra weirdness."

[indie_cine]

"Extra weirdness...? Ah. Right. Extra weirdness. Got'cha. Gotta expect the unexpected while I'm here. Hey, this place might be good for me after all. I've been working two weeks straight on a supertight schedule -- maybe it's time to relax, ya know? Or if I completely fail in the relaxing department, I could always start a new project. Like you said, achieve or learn something of importance, right?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Exactly." Guppy says with a smile. "There's plenty to do here inside and out the building."

[indie_cine]

"Is there? So far I only know that there's a lake out back, but to be honest I'm not much of an outdoors person."

[guppy_sandhu]

"There's a garden and a forest." Guppy says. "Oh, and the greenhouse."

[indie_cine]

He nods and shrugs. "Sounds pleasant enough, I guess. I know green is good, but I'm too much of a city boy. I'm no stranger to the inside of a bar, though. Heh! By the way, how exactly am I supposed to pay for all the stuff I order from it- uhh, I mean, her?"

He knows enough to treat the Bar nicely.

[guppy_sandhu]

[ooc; Sorry, unstarred your tag by mistake]

"You run up a tab, which you can pay off when you're unbound or by getting work here in the bar."

[indie_cine]

He nods thoughtfully. "Oh, okay. Sounds good. For a place that doesn't make much sense, it's got a lot of logic going for it!"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Well I don't know anything about the actual designing, I just turned up here like everyone else."

[indie_cine]

"Wow, well...helluva thing to do to set up shop here, too -- I'm sure you've got enough to handle back home. What kind of doctor are you?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"I'm not the only one, there's a team of us here." He smiles. "It does get a bit hectic yes, but I don't tend to get a huge amount of trade here. I work in Accident and Emergency back home. ER."