(Untitled)

[john_not_ronald]

For the second time today (in John's timeline, at least) he walks through a door and finds himself somewhere he should not be

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[mmquitecontrary]

Moustaches like that are hardly common in Milliways.

They are, however, not in the least uncommon on the young men of Mary's world. And while Mary is not, perhaps, the most perceptive girl in the world when it comes to the people about her, it's unexpected enough to find someone here who looks like he might have walked out of her home that she's staring more than a little.

[john_not_ronald]

John is quite probably wearing other things that would remind Mary of her time.

He gives her a friendly smile. "Hello."

[mmquitecontrary]

And he sounds British, too.

"You're British," Mary says, displaying her incisive deductive skills. "What year is it, where you are from?"

[john_not_ronald]

"I am indeed," John says with a hint of pride. "As are you, it would seem.

"It's 1917 in my home. What year is it for you?" He'll get used to asking questions like this someday. In the meantime, the inquiry is accompanied by a bemused look.

[mmquitecontrary]

Mary nods - of course she is - and frowns.

"It is November of nineteen-aught-seven. You are ten years ahead of me then."

[john_not_ronald]

"So it would seem," John says. He offers the girl his hand. "My name is John. And you are?"

[mmquitecontrary]

"Mary Lennox," Mary announces, taking the hand to shake.

She is tall for a twelve-year-old - five foot four inches - and holds her head very straight.

"I suppose when it is your time I shall be twenty-two and grown up." It's almost an impossible concept, and she sounds doubtful just mentioning it. "So in my time you must be quite small yet."

[john_not_ronald]

John smiles. "Not quite small. I was fifteen in your time."

[mmquitecontrary]

"Were you? You are older than I had thought."

Mary frowns. She had thought she was better at judging than that.

"And how long have you been coming here?"

[john_not_ronald]

"Well...I'm not quite sure." He's just making the connection that how long it's been for him may not be how long it's been for the bar.

"I...was here earlier today in my own time, but I don't suppose that means I've only been gone a few hours."

[mmquitecontrary]

"Why?" Mary asks, brow furrowed a little.

"You mean, you think that time is going differently? I suppose it might. It does that sometimes."

[john_not_ronald]

"I think it's quite possible," John says. "If people come here from all different times, it would only make sense.

"Of course, I have no way to test this theory. Is there...a measure of time here? Clocks? Calendars?"

[mmquitecontrary]

Mary gives a quick shake of her head.

"I have never seen one here. There are seasons - the seasons are like those at home. And there are holidays. People know when they are - but I do not know how, for other than that nobody ever seems to mention the day. Or the time either."

[john_not_ronald]

John considers this for a moment. "Then I suppose there is no way to tell if it has been longer here than it has at home."

[mmquitecontrary]

"Only by speaking to people who have seen you elsewise - and if they come and go it is no good either, because they cannot tell. You ought to ask the people who are stuck here," Mary says, struck by a thought. "Some of them might have pocket-watches."

[john_not_ronald]

John chuckles softly, then catches all of what she said. "There are people who are stuck here? They cannot leave?"