Comments | milliways_bar: Public Enemy Number One

jdillinger in milliways_bar

Public Enemy Number One

Mar 08, 2010 20:28

He feels like he's been walking down this corridor for ages. He doesn't have any cigarettes, it's cold enough to be winter in Chicago, and he's tired. A light at the end resolves itself into the shape of a door. Beyond, he can hear the sound of music playing, glasses clinking, and happy voices. Sounds like a good enough time. Maybe Hell isn't ( Read more... )

romana, cleopatra, cal chandler

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isaysimplewords March 10 2010, 02:31:13 UTC

New arrivals tend to react a little more strongly to seeing Milliways for the first time, but not everyone does. Some people are just more circumspect by nature, or they see weird all the time, or - well. There wasn't any place else they were expecting to be, if they were expecting to be anywhere at all.

Cal can identify with that last. Or he would be, if he were thinking about it, which he's not. Mostly he's occupied with a lint roller, because volunteering at an animal shelter can be fuzzy work.

jdillinger March 10 2010, 02:58:29 UTC

Dillinger has had some luck, managing to acquire a pack of cigarettes at least. (Bar saw fit to have some pity on him.)

A drink is still very much forthcoming.

The man with the little roller thing gets a long look as he taps out a cigarette, puts it between his lips and fishes for a lighter.

He leans his weight on one elbow, lighting the cigarette and watching these strange proceedings with a certain intent.

isaysimplewords March 10 2010, 03:03:44 UTC

Cal, who has his share of experience with being watched, eventually looks up.

"Hi," he says amiably when he finds the guy doing the watching.

jdillinger March 10 2010, 03:05:47 UTC

"Evening. Interesting little -- device you got there."

He gestures to the lint roller.

isaysimplewords March 10 2010, 03:12:38 UTC

Cal glances at it accordingly.

"It's a lint roller," he says, looking back up. "I just spent a few hours in an animal shelter, the fur gets everywhere."

Elaine, the woman who runs the shelter, stays immaculate more often than not. Cal has no idea how she does it, but suspects it might be a woman thing.

jdillinger March 10 2010, 03:23:33 UTC

His brow furrows for just a moment. He takes a drag on the cigarette, settling his weight on one elbow.

"That like a dog pound or something?"

isaysimplewords March 10 2010, 03:28:54 UTC

Cal nods, taking a closer look at the guy's clothing. It's fairly old-fashioned, now that he's paying attention.

"Pretty much, yeah," he says. "What year are you from?"

jdillinger March 10 2010, 03:33:02 UTC

"Year?"

The question takes him aback.

"It's 1934."

isaysimplewords March 10 2010, 03:35:58 UTC

Cal cocks his head a bit.

"I'm 2007 - well, 2008 tomorrow," he amends. "Have you been here before?"

jdillinger March 10 2010, 03:38:06 UTC

Dillinger's head turns and he regards the other man with one eye.

"I'm sorry. What do you mean you're 2008. Is that your inmate number?"

He doesn't look like a prisoner, but y'know, this place is strange. Who knows?

isaysimplewords March 10 2010, 03:40:54 UTC

"I'm gonna take that as a no," Cal says, putting down his lint roller.

"I mean, that's the year I'm from. I, uh, don't know where you thought you were going, but you didn't get there. This is Milliways." He gestures toward the Observation Window.

"End of the universe."

If it seems like his done this a few times before, he has.

jdillinger March 10 2010, 03:46:38 UTC

"End of the universe. Well, now. Isn't that apt?"

The question is addressed more to the room than to Cal. His sharp gaze sweeps back to the man's face.

"So, you're from the year 2008, am I getting that straight?"

isaysimplewords March 10 2010, 04:02:22 UTC

Cal's gotten that kind of look before, plenty of times. In a professional capacity, mostly, from both his follow politicians and some of the - businessmen he'd found himself dealing with.

"Yes," he says, a bit more reserved than a moment ago. "This is a place where a lot of different worlds and times meet up. There are people from all over the timeline here."

jdillinger March 10 2010, 04:20:49 UTC

"Hmm."

He looks down at the coal on his cigarette, watching the paper darken and turn to ash.

He snaps out of it a moment later, and extends a hand in greeting.

"Name's Jack."

isaysimplewords March 10 2010, 04:29:59 UTC

Oh, great.

(Cal is not a fan of that name.)

It doesn't show in his reaction, of course, as he reaches over to shake the other man's hand.

"Cal," he says. "Good to meet you."

jdillinger March 10 2010, 04:52:07 UTC

"Cal. You'll have to forgive me. I'm new in town, so to speak."

He takes another long drag on his cigarette, wishing like hell he had a glass of whiskey to chase it with. He completely misses the glass of amber liquid that appears at his elbow.

"2008, huh? So," he can't resist asking, "ever heard the name 'Dillinger'?"

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