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[stillshinigami]

[That shop turned out to be more than just a dream after all. Not only that, it seemed as good a place as any to duck away from those OZ grunts tailing him. Of course here he just lands himself in another fine mess. It takes a moment, but he realizes just where he was, and why this place is familiar.]

Meredith, machines… Right.

Okay, fine. I’m here. Now what?

What am I supposed to do here? Well? Y’gonna say something or am I just talking to myself?

[No. Nothing?]

Oh. Sure. It figures I’d get stuck in a place like this, after all. [He scratches the back of his head and wanders on, passing one of the buildings.] Maybe I really have gone nuts.

Or maybe… [He peaks into one of the buildings, into the window of a bar.] This might just be exactly what I need right now.

Comments

[punkblaze]

Nope, haven't gone nuts. Not just from seein' this place, anyway.

[Eithan's actually on his way to the bar. He's dressed kind of like a punk rocker - baggy bondage pants, black T-shirt, heavy boots... but he's also carrying a black staff with a red orb. A little out of place? Yep. Doesn't seem to bother him, though.]

Take it you just got here? [He grins a bit.] Welcome to... uh... not-space. Fake-space. Kinda-space? ... We'll just go with fake-space.

[stillshinigami]

[Yes. That certainly gets his attention though he wasn't sure if anyone had actually heard him till now. He gives the kid a once over, dismissing the staff and the clothes. He's seen stranger.]

Fake-space works just fine. [He steps through the door, heading for the bar himself.] And yeah. I wouldn't have guessed this place was inhabited at first glance.

[punkblaze]

[He follows, moving behind the bar and looking through the shelves of booze like he's totally used to this (hint: he is).]

Not really. Not so much. I mean, I don't think anyone's actually from the Plane, we just can come here whenever we want.

You can go back, too. Just think about home, and you'll be right back where you were.

[stillshinigami]

[Oughta be if you've been here a while, right?]

Yeah? Not even Meredith?

[As curious as he is about, he doesn't seem all too eager to go back.] Tell you what, how about we have a drink first, huh? We can talk about coming and going later.

[punkblaze]

[Pff. Eithan's only been here maybe a month. He just appreciates the free booze and lack of time passing.]

Don't think so. I don't know much about her though. When I started comin', they were changin' people in charge or somethin'.

[But he grins again at the mention of drinks.] Sure. Beer, or somethin' harder?

[stillshinigami]

[If only he knew. Even so, Duo isn't entirely sure about this place.]

Changing of the guards, huh? In a place like this? If I didn't know better I'd have thought I was dead.

But this isn't exactly the pearly gates and Meredith ain't exactly Saint Peter.

And yeah, harder the better.

[punkblaze]

[And with that, he pulls his liquor of choice off the shelves, along with two glasses, and begins pouring.]

Nope, not dead. Just part of the experiments. Or so I hear. I don't really think they've done anything to me, personally. Yet. I don't think. [A pause... then a shrug~]

It's not so bad. I mean, every once in a while, shit gets weird. But otherwise, it's just convenient to come here whenever you want, time doesn't move where you're from, and hell, free food and alcohol.

[Speaking of alcohol, Eithan pushes a glass toward Duo, still grinning a bit.]

[stillshinigami]

[There's a mix of feelings towards that news. A bit of concern and anger, at first, then relief. He's not sure how to feel really, but he hides behind a smirk all the same.]

Experiments in exchange for compliance and a safe haven, huh?

Convenience? Hell of an understatement, wouldn't you say?

[Yeah. He grinned. The news was hard to swallow to be quite honest, but the alcohol? Went down easy. He took a nice sip, half of the glasses content.]

Don't know if I outta be thanking them or telling them to get lost.

[punkblaze]

Hell of an understatement, yeah. Definitely. Saved my ass a few times.

[He takes a sip of his own drink, downing it much slower than Duo, but he's also considerate enough to move the bottle a bit closer to Duo, should he finish off the rest of it and need a refill soon.]

Yeah, no, don't bother with it. The guy who says he's in charge now? Raymond or whatever? He's kind of an asshole. Pretty sure he wouldn't care one way or another whether you thanked him or told him to piss off.

[stillshinigami]

[That was interesting. He took the bottle and finished the first cup, feeling the warm burn as it went down his throat and poured a little more.]

Raymond. Great. Tell me something. Is there any real reason to get involved with them at all? [He pushed the bottle away, intending to focus on the information. Process it. Couldn't very do that if he were drunk. That comes later.]

[eyesofaserpent]

[Next to the bar is a room. A bedroom, actually. Crowley's bedroom. He opens the door and pokes his head out.]

Looking for a drink?

[stillshinigami]

You could say that.

[Living next to the bar? That's convenient.]

[eyesofaserpent]

[Why yes, yes it was quite convenient indeed and likely part of the reason why that handsome devil (the other Crowley) had dropped it right there. He comes out of the room and shuts the door, willing it to lock.]

New in town?

[stillshinigami]

Town? Sure. Little village on the other side of the universe. If that's what they call this sorta thing nowadays...

[He offers a hand.] Name's Duo.

[eyesofaserpent]

[He looks at the hand a moment before grasping it in a firm handshake.]

I'm Crowley.

[stillshinigami]

[And he shakes in turn, just as firmly.]

Cool. Y'mind telling me what all this is? So what? Are we dead or something?

[eyesofaserpent]

All I really know is that this is better than the world I come from. I don't think we're dead. If I was dead, I'd think I'd have seen Aziraphale by now.

[stillshinigami]

Ain't that the truth. And I've been here for what... Ten minutes. Go figure, right?

[Aziraphale? That's different.]

[eyesofaserpent]

I've been here for a few days. I think... 'M not really sure, actually. I've either been sleeping or drinking since I got here.

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

[From somewhere behind him, Crowley lights a cigarette and snickers quietly.]

That's the typical reaction when people catch sight of the bar, yeah.

[stillshinigami]

How else do you expect me to adjust to this place?

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

[He leaves the cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth and holds his hands up in a gesture of deference.]

Far be it from me to argue--I've spent my fair share of time here as well. Nothing like getting good and sloshed to make the aneurysm-inducing metaphysics easier to tackle.

[stillshinigami]

No shit.

I have no idea where to start, man. [He shrugs, heading in towards the bar.]

Care to give a layman's explanation?

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

If it's over drinks, sure.

[Crowley tags along after him and slips behind the bar almost without thought.]

What'll you have?

[stillshinigami]

Yeah. Sure. I was going this way anyway.

Whatever beer's on tab is fine.