[001]

[oliverplus]

[stares at the sights around him, mouth wide open. for a moment, just turns in a slow circle, taking it all in]

Wow! I mean...wow! [his shock begins to shift to excitement, his features lighting up eagerly] Where is... [calls] Doctor! Doctor, I know you're out there somewhere. I don't know how you did it, but...look at this place! [waves his hands, as if somehow indicating the details of his surroundings. he does at least have the presence of mind to wave at the bar specifically] And what is that doing in space? Or wherever this is! It's space, but...[stomps on the ground a bit]...definitely not.

[frowns thoughtfully as he continues to look around] I thought... [trails off, then starts again, to himself] I mean, I saw this before, but I thought... [scratches his head] But it was the same... Was that not a dream?

[looks up again, his excitement giving way to confusion and a small note of concern] Doctor, come on. Where is this, and why are we here? What am I doing here...

[pauses, then smiles wryly] If this is some big accident, you are going to have to tell me eventually, you know!

Comments

[oliverplus]

Everybody likes a brass band at times, huh? [takes another drink] God, you can feel the timpani. I'm never gonna think the same way about this stuff after today!

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Do you know, I think something sharp, perhaps a groundcherry of some sort, would bring the triangle right out of this ensemble.

[oliverplus]

Oh? Got something specific in mind? [gestures at the bottles behind the bar]

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Yes, actually. Wait for me a moment.

[Sebastian disappears, and when he reapppears he has a basket full of all different kinds of Physalis. Of course, he sets it down and looks to his bear before addressing Oliver]

Aloysius, I am so sorry for having forgotten you here. I'd only meant to be gone a moment. You must understand. If you like, you may have the first of the gooseberries.

[oliverplus]

[blinks, startled for a moment. he's going to have to get used to that going home and back bit. he hasn't even tried it yet]

[thankfully, Sebastian seems to be too busy to have noticed the look on his face. so he watches Sebastian's exchange with his bear bemusedly. just when he was starting to think they had quite a bit in common, despite coming from very different walks of life, Sebastian had to go and do that, didn't he? Oliver takes another drink] Let me know when...uh...Aloysius is done so we can dig in. Where'd you get those so quick?

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[Sebastian pats Aloysius on the head] Sweet bear. [looking at Oliver] Oh, it's summer. You may have however many as you like. Aloysius has forgiven me, I think because of your good company.

[oliverplus]

Ohhh, these are homegrown, then?

[grins] I'm glad Aloysius approves! [grabs a couple berries to try]

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

They're not from Brideshead, though that's where they were sent from. I think they were imported. Perhaps they're from a hothouse. I've seen some in the Botantic Gardens, but that doesn't indicate that they're native.

[he plucks our a few to eat, then takes in the drink] Yes, I can definitely taste the triangle now.

[oliverplus]

So...that's where you're from, right? Brideshead? Where is that?

[tries the berries and washes them down with another swig] Ah, definitely!

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[the vibrant expression of his voice dulls] I suppose it is. Brideshead Castle is in Wiltshire. It has some beauty to it. [lacking reserve as he drinks, but his tone lightens] With every bar I find myself becoming more and more fond of this little band. I wonder where it's from!

[oliverplus]

[frowns slightly at that but keeps his tone light] Uni's better, huh?

[tries to figure out if there's a way to answer that question without having to share more than he wants to. then again, mixing all this different alcohol might already be working on his tongue a bit] Earth Empire. Somewhere in it, anyway. Want some more? [pours himself another glass]

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Infinitely, and I would be very grateful. Does the Earth get an Empire? That's good. It seems like Britain is beginning to lack in one.

[oliverplus]

[grins, pouring him a glass and sliding it over. then he realises what Sebastian asked and averts his gaze slightly, keeping his tone casual]

Really? Yeah, it does. Way in the future, though--for you. Lots of planets, humans everywhere. And all sorts of food and drink to try! You'd like it.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[catching his glass with an easy smile, making no mark of Oliver's evading]

What year? Is it in the time dated by stars? Someone else here mentioned it. A lady Captain named James, of all things.

[oliverplus]

[and here he'd been hoping not to date himself! so what year, then... well, it's not like he really has a choice, now that he's started going on about the Earth Empire. then again...]

A lady captain named James? Captain of what? And what do you mean "time dated by stars"? [years are all about the Earth going around the sun anyway, aren't they?]

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

I didn't ask. I think something I said offended her somewhere, though I'm not certain what. She said that it's all dated by certain reference points in the sky, which all time is measured by - Suns and Sons and blossoming flowers - but she gave the year by stardate rather than AD or BC or whatever it is they use anywhere else.

[oliverplus]

"Stardate"? Yeah, that's a new one. Must be after my time. [frowns, thoughfully] Or some other universe. You really do get all types around here, don't you? [and he's going to take a few more of those delicious berries]

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

It's quite the sampling. I like it. Earth Empires and extraterrestrials and an endless supply of drinks. It's like a dream.

[oliverplus]

And that's without even mentioning this sky! [gestures around them] It is like a dream, isn't it? [smiles] Doesn't make you want to hurry back home, that's for sure.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[looking up to a nebula] If I ever feel compelled to leave everything behind, I think this would be a suitable place to depart to. Lonely, though, without people, and sometimes it is without people, or at least I don't see any.

[oliverplus]

Really? People keep making it sound like there's...well, everyone here. Somewhere.

Seems like it'd be a nice place to get away to, now and then.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Perhaps there is, but somewhere isn't everywhere. I've found myself quite alone on more than one location. Everyone seems to come about near the buildings, though, so it isn't difficult to find others.

[oliverplus]

Doesn't sound so bad, then. And look at this place! [gestures at the bar] There can't be another bar anywhere that has all this--plus the chance of meeting people from different planets and universes while you're enjoying it!

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

And time periods. It's quite a gift.

[he takes up a few of the berries, holding them up to the starlight out of idle curiosity]

[oliverplus]

Definitely. [watches Sebastian, taking another drink] So what do you like to do here, other than enjoy the bar?