[Juliet's arrival in the bar.]

[doctorjuliet]

To take and use the phrase a woman walked into a bar in actual, strong-intended conversation had the immediate tendency to result in adamant laughter, and yet in this case it was the without-questioned truth. Walking into the bar was the very thing she had done, though without immediate knowledge or consequence aware as to what might result. All

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[findaconstant]

Dan isn't sure why he's here, either - he never is - especially since he has no business with Harold, today...

But there he is, at the bar.

And then there's Juliet. He almost doesn't recognize her, but then some little announcement goes off in the back of his mind. He turns to face her, blinking. "Juliet?"

Please pardon his disbelief. As far as he knows, she's still on the Island.

[doctorjuliet]

Hearing her name of course made her lift her head, but the voice was unfamiliar. Juliet had never seen this man before, and yet he was looking at her as if - at the very least - they had exchanged pleasantries on more than one occasion.

But I would remember. Wouldn't I?

"Yes?" Her voice was friendly, open enough, but there was curiosity in her eyes.

[findaconstant]

He's not the best at reading people, but he's not that bad at reading expressions. Juliet almost doesn't look like she recognizes him...

Something's not right, here. Dan tilts his head just slightly in silent question, then smiles a crooked little smile. "Hey."

[doctorjuliet]

What was going on? Juliet was very good with faces, far better than she was appearing to be now. If she had met this man before she would have remembered him - wouldn't she? Could this be the one rare time that she didn't remember a face?

"Hi," she said, now her tone more thoughtful than it had been before. "I'm sorry, do I..have we met?"

[findaconstant]

Aaaaand there it is.

He can't really say he's surprised, given how strange this place is, but... this certainly makes for a slightly awkward situation.

"Um. I... guess not. Hi, then. My name is Daniel," he says, extending a hand to her. "Dr. Daniel Faraday."

[doctorjuliet]

Doctor. Now she was pleasantly surprised, and Juliet didn't mind showing it with a smile. It was always nice to come to meet other like professionals, and she reached out to take his hand in her own. Her shake was strong, firm.

"Doctor Juliet Burke," she said. "I'm sorry if you had me confused with someone else."

That had to be the reason, didn't it?

[findaconstant]

He has no idea how to explain this. Maybe he shouldn't.

Well, he knows he shouldn't. That doesn't mean he won't, though.

"Tell me, Juliet... if I say DHARMA Initiative, does anything pop into your mind?"

[doctorjuliet]

Juliet raised an eyebrow once more in consideration. It didn't even sound vaguely familiar but the last thing she wanted to do was write it off entirely. Still, after a few moments' thought longer..

"I'm sorry, no it doesn't. Should it?"

[findaconstant]

Wow, okay.

"Um. I... guess not, no."

He runs a hand through his hair and frowns. He is very, very confused, and it shows.

"Huh. Okay then."

[doctorjuliet]

Now Juliet was all the more curious, and it showed in her eyes. "I should," she said slowly, "based on the expression on your face. Tell me what it is that I don't know."

[findaconstant]

"Well... you're probably going to think I'm crazy."

That's not anything new, really.

"So, um. I think we might be from alternate universes, because the Juliet Burke I know - who is also a doctor, and who looks exactly like you, has been on an island for the past while, stuck with the survivors of a plane crash. And this place is really weird, so this really isn't all that surprising..."

[doctorjuliet]

It would sound insane, but Juliet had heard her share of insane things in the past. Now, she could only be abruptly fascinated. She blinked once, regarding this Daniel Faraday with a tilt of her head.

"I haven't heard too much about this place," she said, "other than what I've picked up from pieces of nearby conversation. Maybe you can tell me so I'll know more?"

[findaconstant]

"From what I've gathered, it's kind of this... multidimensional sort of hub in which a whole bunch of universes meet."

Pause.

"It doesn't make any sense to me, and I'm a physicist, so don't feel bad if you're really confused," he adds, smiling sheepishly.

[doctorjuliet]

Juliet didn't flinch, instead only tilted her head in consideration. "It's okay," she said after a few seconds passed in silence. "Really, it's okay. It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, if you want my honest opinion."

[findaconstant]

"Nothing wrong with a little honesty," he responds, his smile growing into a grin. "I get that a lot, anyway. So... if you're not hanging out on an island like I thought, what're you up to?"

[doctorjuliet]

"Fertility treatments and studies," Juliet said, because she didn't mind talking about her work in the least. "It doesn't get any easier, but that's all right."