'Now that the new governor has arrived, I hope that matters will remain as peaceful as they have been of late.'
Merriman takes a sip of his wine. 'He seems a decent sort, if perhaps not the most stellar example of his class. Well-intentioned and honourable, above all things, and willing to treat the position with the consideration it deserves. And free of outside influence -- I was certain to check for that.'
"I wasn't looking," Mitt tells him, solemnly. "So I should've but I didn't, 'cause I should've been looking where I was going not at 'nteresting things."
This old person is very old, and quite often scary. But that can be set aside for the moment.
'It often happens that way,' Merriman says, partly in agreement and partly as a simple statement of fact. 'What was so interesting that it distracted you from where you were going?'
Oh, those out-of-the-way booths. So useful when one doesn't want to be anywhere near the center of attention, and when one wishes to simply sit, enjoy one's drink, and people-watch.
But those that seek out-of-the-way booths may start to wonder about the reasons for other people to do the same.
To Zelgadiss, Merriman's teaching gown clearly marks him as a scholar or cleric of some sort, though the style is different from any that he knows. He is old, that is obvious, but has not deteriorated as many do. He moves like one still strong, despite the battered teaching gown.
The problem of patron-watching nearby another who is also patron-watching is being caught at it by the one you're watching.
There is an art to people-watching, to be sure. Never taking too great an interest in any one person is a very important part of that art, as is respecting another's wish to do the same as well.
When Merriman becomes aware of the fact that he is being observed, he does not show it right away. Only after a few moments pass does he look over and meet the other patron's eye at precisely the right time.
A slight nod, more of acknowledgment than greeting.
Zel's in a bar full of people, so he has his hood up, mostly covering his wire-like hair. His face isn't covered, though. That would make drinking difficult. The stones that mark his skin, like pebbles in gravel-mixed concrete, show clear.
"Good evening," he says with a slight nod, acknowledging that he's been caught watching.
'Good evening,' Merriman replies cordially. 'I do hope you'll pardon my interest -- I have not had a chance to frequent Milliways much of late, and I am attempting to familiarise myself with those I have not seen before.'
He makes a slight gesture with one hand to indicate their general area. 'This part of the bar is quite useful for such a practice, on the whole.'
One of the new ones nearby might be worthy of mention, or at least attention if nothing else. Milliways has some fairly exotic patrons, but for the most part they are soft and squishy, and do not resemble a rhino that walks like a man, let alone one that looks like it was made from broken shovels and chrome. And cannons. Mustn't forget the cannons.
On the other hand, plenty of them drink beer, which is the big fellow's beverage of choice. It's even a human beer, albeit one from an out-of-business brewery in Canada rather than anything from the British Isles.
It does attract his attention, certainly. Merriman's not the sort to openly stare, but he does let his gaze wander back to the new (to him) patron more than once.
If he is caught staring, however, it is likely to be with a thoughtful, observing sort of stare rather than a wide-eyed disbelieving stare.
Eventually, Ironhide glances in the human's direction (what? To him the man scans as a human). He doesn't stare, exactly, so much as scan; he hasn't seen clothing like that before, and he's trying to map it out to something he understands.
And Merriman nods a greeting, with a slight but nonetheless cordial smile.
'Good evening.' English accent, with a careful and precise diction. 'You'll pardon my interest, I hope -- it has been some time since I have had a chance to spend an evening here, and I am attempting to acquaint myself with those I have not seen frequenting Milliways before.'
This might seem curious. There was a man looked worried, facing the Observation Window.
There were some newspaper articles around him, and a sharp eye would notice the headline about a freak snowstorm in LA, causing death, and crippling the city last winter.
The Los Angeles of Merriman's world is not often prone to weather of that kind -- but then again, there is no guarantee that such weather is equally uncommon elsewhere. However, the concern on the other man's face is apparent enough. Merriman also notices that one of the papers is on the point of sliding off the table, or would slide off if someone were to walk past the man's table.
Discretely, he gets up from his seat and moves the few steps over to adjust the position of the paper. Very carefully, intending not to disturb the other man's contemplation.
Truman really doesn't know if it was, but it seems uncommon to his as well. One of the other papers was talking about a new reality show that was surpassing the ratings of a previous show called the Truman Show. The new one called the Evie show, and passing mention of some new staff that had replaced previous ones lost in the freak snow. There was also a picture of Baby Evie, and a picture of Truman.
And of course, the picture looked identical to the worried man whose foot's was tapping against the floor a little worriedly.
Merriman is a fast reader, and an equally fast processor of information. His brow furrows a little.
As a result, when he adjusts the paper, it is with somewhat less care than he might normally use. The newspaper rustles as he pushes it away from the edge of the table.
Comments 54
Hopefully he is not interrupting anything too important- Wellard rather has a long list of things to discuss with him.
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He gives Wellard a slightly tired but nonetheless welcoming smile. 'How goes it, Mister Wellard?'
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"It goes well enough, sir, all things considering. And yourself? How are things in Port Royal?"
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Merriman takes a sip of his wine. 'He seems a decent sort, if perhaps not the most stellar example of his class. Well-intentioned and honourable, above all things, and willing to treat the position with the consideration it deserves. And free of outside influence -- I was certain to check for that.'
Wellard knows well enough what that means.
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He looks up. "I didn't see you, I didn't!"
Mitt clearly thinks people should have WARNING SIGNS or else he is going to walk into them.
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'Should you have?' he asks.
It's a reasonable question, in Milliways.
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Merriman is old. Old people are not scary!
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'It often happens that way,' Merriman says, partly in agreement and partly as a simple statement of fact. 'What was so interesting that it distracted you from where you were going?'
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But those that seek out-of-the-way booths may start to wonder about the reasons for other people to do the same.
To Zelgadiss, Merriman's teaching gown clearly marks him as a scholar or cleric of some sort, though the style is different from any that he knows. He is old, that is obvious, but has not deteriorated as many do. He moves like one still strong, despite the battered teaching gown.
The problem of patron-watching nearby another who is also patron-watching is being caught at it by the one you're watching.
Reply
When Merriman becomes aware of the fact that he is being observed, he does not show it right away. Only after a few moments pass does he look over and meet the other patron's eye at precisely the right time.
A slight nod, more of acknowledgment than greeting.
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"Good evening," he says with a slight nod, acknowledging that he's been caught watching.
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He makes a slight gesture with one hand to indicate their general area. 'This part of the bar is quite useful for such a practice, on the whole.'
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On the other hand, plenty of them drink beer, which is the big fellow's beverage of choice. It's even a human beer, albeit one from an out-of-business brewery in Canada rather than anything from the British Isles.
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If he is caught staring, however, it is likely to be with a thoughtful, observing sort of stare rather than a wide-eyed disbelieving stare.
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'Good evening.' English accent, with a careful and precise diction. 'You'll pardon my interest, I hope -- it has been some time since I have had a chance to spend an evening here, and I am attempting to acquaint myself with those I have not seen frequenting Milliways before.'
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There were some newspaper articles around him, and a sharp eye would notice the headline about a freak snowstorm in LA, causing death, and crippling the city last winter.
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Discretely, he gets up from his seat and moves the few steps over to adjust the position of the paper. Very carefully, intending not to disturb the other man's contemplation.
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And of course, the picture looked identical to the worried man whose foot's was tapping against the floor a little worriedly.
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As a result, when he adjusts the paper, it is with somewhat less care than he might normally use. The newspaper rustles as he pushes it away from the edge of the table.
Reply
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