Anthy comes down the stairs, each step tentative, and scans the room. She's dressed in pink and white; no tablecloth tonight. There is a gold-plated elephant head on a chain around her neck, though.

Whoever she's looking isn't visible. She lingers by the base of the staircase, one hand still draped over the railing.

( The front door... )

The only way anybody would know that Roland is in a dark corner of the bar is by the vague light given by the end of his cigarette. The light catches his eyes, and makes them glitter grimly.

He's not having a good day.

[From hereThe front door opens ( Read more... )

Joe is in the bar. He looks bone-weary, despite a good night's sleep.

He is drinking coffee.

Roland is back in his chair by the fire, coffee and book abandoned on the table beside him.

He might be dozing. Might not.

Through the din, smoke and wreckage of the most recent battle to baptize Milliways in flame, the small tinny sound of a classical piece can be heard. The tell-tale door of the Loompas opens in the front of the bar, and from which a cleaning crew of 9 in HazMat suits emerge.

Oompa loompa doom pa de do ( Read more... )

A few moments ago, the door blew open. Now all hell has broken loose. A thing with wings and far too many legs escapes the opening (into space blacker than even space should be allowed to be); Cuthbert Allgood pivot and shoots from the hip, hitting it in three places before it crashes into the fireplace ( Read more... )

There's a loud thud on the front door.

Those who are listening carefully can hear someone gasping.

Then there's something that sounds like someone scrabbling for purchase on wood -- looking for any crack or fissure in which to put one's hands to pull the door open.

And low: "There must be someone on the other --"Now it sounds like someone's ( Read more... )

Joe comes down to the bar and gets some dinner--the lamb special. He finds a dark table and eats slowly; the encounter with young Roland convinced him his life wasn't in danger, although it did nothing for his guilt.