one by one my strings they tangled into knots

[admiral_adama]

Sometimes those familiar with Xanadu and the agora can spot a newcomer simply by virtue of the fact that they've obviously just emerged from the wrong door. For example, right now. The weathered older man wearing a dusty set of fatigues looks like an extremely unlikely customer for the antique and curio shop out of which he just stepped. Those

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[halfbreedblade]

Anya recognizes a curseword when she hears one, by tone if not meaning. She's done enough traveling (and enough of those trips involved causing profanity).

"So. Turned up and can't find the exit, huh?"

[admiral_adama]

Bill's gaze snaps upward at the sound of her voice. Taking a moment for rapid assessment, he notes the young woman's attitude, expression, how she carries herself. Something about her reminds him of someone he once knew...

"That sums it up pretty well," he replies at last. "Is there an exit?"

[halfbreedblade]

"Several. The trick is finding the one that takes you where you want to go." A wry smile touches her expression. "Took me three godsdamn days. But I did find one eventually."

[admiral_adama]

He relaxes subtly at her words, one corner of his mouth quirking up in answer to her smile. "Good to know."

A bare second's consideration and he stands to offer a hand. "Bill Adama. If there's anything else you can tell me about this place, I'd appreciate it."

[halfbreedblade]

It's more a clasp than a shake (the circles she runs in, showing you're not immediately armed is still polite). She nods, and says, "I haven't run into anyone who claims to be native. Every other time or place but here. Mostly, but not all human."

[admiral_adama]

"Time and place?" That ... explains a few things when he takes a moment to mull it over. It also makes finding his way back more complicated.

He notices the young woman hasn't offered her name, and wonders if he was too quick to give his. "So this is a kind of gathering place?"

[halfbreedblade]

Or maybe she's just paranoid, Admiral.

"Yeah. It's where new arrivals turn up often, and people who've been here before come to look for answers to questions, that sort of thing." She realizes not giving her name is awkward, and adds, "I'm Anya Evans."

[admiral_adama]

He couldn't blame her if she is, all things considered.

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Evans." Handclasps already exchanged, he inclines his head in her direction instead. "Does this--" He makes a circling gesture with one finger meant to indicate the whole city. "--have a name as well?"

[halfbreedblade]

"I've heard it called Xanadu more than anything else. But it doesn't have a government, at least not an evident one. People wandering through, mainly." Which had its ups and downs, certainly. She had no objections to a touch of anarchy... but then again, there's the paranoia of wondering if someone's there, just choosing not to show themselves.