Enter a Wizard

[wizard_p_i]

A tall and lanky young man who's dressed as if he either just walked out of a Western or off the deck of Serenity strides confidently into the Inn. Everything about him is dark: dark hair, dark eyes, olive complexion, black shirt, dark blue jeans, black leather duster. He's even wearing a Stetson--and without the slightest trace of self-

Comments

[not_the_lion]

Regulus doesn't look up from his flat-hunting catalogue.
"I couldn't say. It's snuck up on me before, but never disappeared."
...Well, it probably did during the nightmares business, but he wouldn't have tried it then anyway.

[wizard_p_i]

Harry walks over to where Regulus is sitting. "How does a door sneak up on anyone?"

He doesn't sound like he's disagreeing with Regulus. He sounds as if he thinks that's just one more odd thing in a world of odd things, and that he's genuinely curious about the how rather than obsessing about the what.

[not_the_lion]

"Taking one somewhere they didn't mean to go, primarily. I don't know of anyone who meant to get here on the first attempt."

[wizard_p_i]

"I sure wasn't. I was heading back to my apartment in Chicago. What about you?"

[not_the_lion]

"The first time, I was headed for the school library. This time, I knew exactly where I was headed."
After all, when there are exams to sit, a revolution to plot, and plans for moving out of the family home after leaving school to be made... something's got to drop into the place where you have all the time in the world.

[wizard_p_i]

"So it can be found. That's good news." If you can find your way in, presumably you can find your way out. "How'd you find it?

"Oh, sorry. I should have said something. My name's Harry Dresden. What's yours?"

[not_the_lion]

"I didn't find it so much as think I ought to come by for a while. It seems to work well enough, in any case."
In response to the introduction, he offers a handshake. "Regulus Black."

[wizard_p_i]

I need to get out of here, Harry thinks at...something. The Inn? Whoever's in charge of the Inn? He's not really sure. I need to go home. Things could be happening. And if they are, I need to be there.

Nope. Doesn't do a drop of good.

And damned if this isn't the kind of thing that the Faerie lords would find absolutely hysterical. Of course, so would a ton of other enemies.

He takes the young man's hand and shakes it. "Pleased to meet you. Anything else you can tell me about this place?"

[not_the_lion]

Regulus is not the one to ask about the local administration, if only because Carl actually knows the entity in charge. Other questions about the place, though... that he can handle.
"This is the inn. I've no idea where it's meant to be, other than not anywhere anyone started - and there are people here from many different times and places. If you need food or much of anything else, think of it and it'll appear. Time stops in your home world while you're here, so you won't miss anything while the door's hiding from you."
That should, at least, cover all the basics.

[wizard_p_i]

"And nothing happens if you eat or drink anything? And no one tries to make any deals?"

Faeries are notorious for making deals for the oddest things--things that turn out to be vital later. And any kid knows that you never eat anything or drink anything in Fairyland. It's the best way of getting stuck there for good.

[not_the_lion]

"If you eat or drink anything, you're less hungry or thirsty." He can understand the concern, on that front - he's met Teppic, after all.
"And I don't believe the sort of deals you have in mind have come up."

[wizard_p_i]

A ton of tension seeps out of Harry. "That's reassuring. Thank you.

"So. You say people here are from different times and places. When and where are you from?

For all he knows, Regulus is from some alternate universe where England is called Albion.

[not_the_lion]

"London, 1979, though I'm going to school in Scotland at the moment."
Alternate to Harry's world, yes, but not that alternate.

[wizard_p_i]

"It's 2007 for me. The time thing is going to take a while to adjust to. Time travel's forbidden in my world."

[not_the_lion]

Regulus raises an eyebrow. "Not the same world as mine, then. Time travel is... very, very restricted, to the point where most people don't bother trying to get access to a Time Turner, but not outright forbidden."
Few things are. In some ways, that's rather problematic.

[wizard_p_i]

"Restricted?" Harry stared. "That's...how do you restrict the damage done by time travel? Even thinking that you know what will happen can change things."