Public Enemy Number One

[jdillinger]

He feels like he's been walking down this corridor for ages.  He doesn't have any cigarettes, it's cold enough to be winter in Chicago, and he's tired.   A light at the end resolves itself into the shape of a door.  Beyond, he can hear the sound of music playing, glasses clinking, and happy voices.  Sounds like a good enough time.  Maybe Hell isn't

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[jeweled_asp]

Cleopatra has taken Residence on one of the couches, with a capital R. There really should be lounging Olympics. She'd win them.

She watches the door; she always does. The fire behind her frames her in the gauzy material of her dress, gold only in the most fashionable designs adorning her body.

Someone new. Always...entertaining. She pours another glass of wine, and inclines her head, but barely.

[jdillinger]

The first thing Dillinger does is sidle up to the bar, clearly looking for the bartender.

He doesn't notice the pack of cigarettes as it manifests at his elbow, but he does on a second look. He helps himself, shaking one out and fishing in his pants pocket for his Zippo. A moment later, his mood is considerably improved. One foot rests on the brass rail and he waits.

After a moment he glances around, bored and restless. One eyebrow rises as it lights on her figure. He puts a fingertip on his glasses and pushes them down his nose, giving her a long and proper gander.

"Some kinda -- costume party going on?" There's the hint of a smirk in his voice.

[jeweled_asp]

She watches him the entire time he walks to bar and gets his cigarettes. When he looks at her, and more so when he addresses her, her eyebrow raises.

"One could ask the same of you," she says lightly. "I hear that is the fashion of generations beyond my time, but...I prefer proper Egyptian garb. Tastes are everything, I suppose."

She takes a sip of her wine. "I am Queen Cleopatra VII, Queen of Upper and Lower Egypt, et cetra."

[jdillinger]

His brow furrows a bit. He's been to his fair share of wild parties in his time, but never one quite as -- Hollywood as this.

"Really now. Well, Your Majesty," he drawls. The title drips with sarcasm. "Guess you'll just have to make due with good old American tailoring from the fine city of Chicago. And if we're throwing out titles, I guess I'm John Dillinger, Public Enemy Number One."

That seems to amuse him somehow, and he doesn't seem to care if she gets the joke or not.

[jdillinger]

He knows that sound, and he's a gentleman, so he does what comes natural.

He flips the Zippo open and lights it in one smooth motion.

"That's quite the look you got going on there, sweetheart. You in the Winter Pageant or something?"

[jdillinger]

"It's spectacular, if I do say so myself." He leans in to light her cigarette, in the manner of his time period.

[_romana_]

A bar that serves tea, it seems. At least, it does to the long-haired blond who is comfortably ensconced in one of the comfortable chairs by the fire.

No, of course she's not cold. A Gallifreyan's biology is more hardy than that.

...

But sometimes humans come up with brilliant ideas, like these small, cozy fireplaces.

[isaysimplewords]

New arrivals tend to react a little more strongly to seeing Milliways for the first time, but not everyone does. Some people are just more circumspect by nature, or they see weird all the time, or - well. There wasn't any place else they were expecting to be, if they were expecting to be anywhere at all.

Cal can identify with that last. Or he would be, if he were thinking about it, which he's not. Mostly he's occupied with a lint roller, because volunteering at an animal shelter can be fuzzy work.

[jdillinger]

Dillinger has had some luck, managing to acquire a pack of cigarettes at least. (Bar saw fit to have some pity on him.)

A drink is still very much forthcoming.

The man with the little roller thing gets a long look as he taps out a cigarette, puts it between his lips and fishes for a lighter.

He leans his weight on one elbow, lighting the cigarette and watching these strange proceedings with a certain intent.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal, who has his share of experience with being watched, eventually looks up.

"Hi," he says amiably when he finds the guy doing the watching.

[jdillinger]

"Evening. Interesting little -- device you got there."

He gestures to the lint roller.