Enter Dr. Bishop

[dr_bishop]

Who: Dr. Walter Bishop and anyone who'd like to join (open)
When: Mid Day
Where: Lobby
What: Walter and Gene check in.

Comments

[bluesuit_handy]

"The guest rooms don't move," said Handy, "so it makes enough sense that they're assigned. We have..." he thought for a moment, "ten rooms or so on each floor, all the floors from the first to the third are more or less filled, plus a few on the two floors above that...at least thirty? There's a roster being kept."

[dr_bishop]

"Well that is less worrying that the guest rooms don't move. Thirty to fourty guests doesn't seem like much for such a large hotel." Walter smiled. "It will probably be gratifying to you and the others that you don't open your assigned room to find a cow in it."

[bluesuit_handy]

"It'll seem like even less when you find out how easy it is to go for days without running into anyone if you don't arrange a meeting in advance," replied Handy. "And yes," he said with a grin, "probably."

[dr_bishop]

"Is there a roll call? Does everyone meet for dinner?" If the hotel were like a prison, everyone would eat in the same mess hall. "At St. Claire's we all met in the day room. We each had our own activities, but we were all together for a few hours most every day. Unless of course someone had an incident." Walter met The Doctor's gaze. "I do not like butterscotch pudding."

[bluesuit_handy]

"We don't, more's the pity," said Handy, though if he'd been required to come to dinner at a specific time, he no doubt would have refused to do so on principle. His brow furrowed at the non sequitur of the butterscotch pudding. "You don't?" he asked helplessly.

[dr_bishop]

"No. Well, not the butterscotch pudding at St. Claire's." They stood equidistant between two doors, and Walter's gaze went from one to the other. "Sometimes I wouldn't be able to use the day room the next day. We don't even have to traverse the hall do we? We could just stay in front of one door, opening it and closing it until we found a laboratory. Or do the rooms not change that quickly?"

[bluesuit_handy]

"Ah," said Handy, finally making the connection. "So there would be an incident. Right." He nodded, as if this were a perfectly sensible conversation to be having. "And we might be able to, or the hotel might just keep the rooms where they are to spite us. I've had days when I've found the same one room behind every single door for an hour straight."

[dr_bishop]

"So this hotel of yours can be a fickle bitch then. Peter's mother sometimes would... Well that's another conversation for another day. Let's continue forward in the interest of being thorough." Walter started moving again. "Some other time, perhaps, I'll just open the same door repeatedly, taking notes of the contents for the interest of science."

[bluesuit_handy]

Handy laughed. "That's a good way to describe it," he said. "And if you're able to find any sort of pattern, be sure to tell me. Of course, it seems to be different from person to person. Bobby--that's one of the other residents--Bobby told me that he kept finding the library literally everywhere, no matter where he was trying to go."

[dr_bishop]

"A sentient library. That's interesting." Walter giggled. "I don't know where it came from but I've just had the image of it having a crush on the man. Following him around, wanting him to stay and read aloud. That would be sweet." On the other hand if it were the hotel rather than the library, that kept the appearances that could be rather rude. "I am going to need to know this place better. It is an interesting puzzle. Very much so."

[bluesuit_handy]

Handy's eyes widened, and he couldn't help the snort of laughter that erupted from him. "I'll have to tell him that the next time I see him!" he guffawed. "Of course, if he does stop and read to it, that might only encourage the room to keep following him."

[dr_bishop]

"I suppose that all depends on what he is reading to his adoring library." Walter raised his eyebrows and went wide eyed, being egged on my his companion's laughter.

They reached the next door and Walter opened. "This would be your banquet hall I presume? Have you time for a grilled cheese sandwich?"

[bluesuit_handy]

"Good point!" chuckled Handy. "But what could he read to drive a library away? It might not give him any books it didn't like."

He peered into the room Walter had found and nodded. "Yup," he said. "Buffet on the far end, or they'll bring you what you want if you just sit down. Or what they think you want, at least." He stepped into the room in answer to Walter's question.

[dr_bishop]

Walter pulled out two chairs at a nearby table and sat down. "If we find out that it is the case, that the library does have a case of unrequited love for the man, then I will offer my service at particularly bad poetry." Tucking a napkin across his lap the chemist added "I have always tried to write physics haiku and never quite succeeded."

[bluesuit_handy]

"I'm sure he'd appreciate that," laughed Handy, sitting down with him. "You'll have to talk to him sometime about the library. Last time I heard about it from him, I got the impression he was getting a bit fed up with it following him all over the place."

He glanced around to see if a waiter was coming, but didn't spot any just yet.

[dr_bishop]

"She's probably doesn't know what to do with someone who isn't awed by her." And really what person worth their salt wasn't awed by a well kept library? "She's smart and beautiful and..." He couldn't keep a straight face and burst out with the word "Stacked!"

When he finally quieted down a bit he thanked The Doctor with a smile and a pat on the arm. "I haven't had this much fun since they gave me back my chalk. So what is it that you do sir? Other than laboratory expeditions that is."