element_wizard | (no subject)

(no subject)

Alec's Inn is one of those places that either you know how to get into, or you just end up wandering into by accident. The inside is a bit on the old fashioned side with check in desk right in front when a person walks in and stairs to the right. On the left is a restaurant and to the right is a public room. It looks perfectly normal except for small things like a sign saying, "All Bills will be paid, with no exceptions. I know where you live and can get your money without your permission. With interest" or the waitress with horns coming out of her curly hair.

Currently Alec is working the front desk, which means he's sitting up there and reading because business has been a bit slow. Also he's still nursing that black eye his sister gave him. Because life sucks.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Wandering into by accident basically sums up how Jimmy got here. He's not exactly sure how he ended up walking into the Inn, or why, but hell, he's here, and he might as well talk to the guy at the front desk, right? Come to think of it, that guy looks kinda familiar...

"Uh, hi."

Alec stares at him for a moment. "Oh. Bugger."

He snaps the book shut and stands up.

"Hi."

"Can you, uh..."

He gestures around. "You wanna explain how I got here? 'cause I wasn't here a couple minutes ago."

"Weeell.... you know how the City just sort of randomly snatches people up and drops them there for no particular reason? This is my Inn and it sort of does the similar thing except you can leave when you want to and it's only if you're really in need of a drink or a place to stay."

He looks a bit embarrassed at this.

"Okay."

Maybe before he'd been dragged into the City, that would have seemed unbelievable, but not now. Now he believes it. He just doesn't quite understand why here, of all places.

"So I guess that means I need a drunk, huh?"

"Probably we all do." He smiles a bit. "Besides, I owe you one, don't I?"

"Yeah, I guess you kinda do. Anywhere around here to get one?"

There's booze everywhere, even places it's illegal; he's pretty sure they can find some around here.

"Over this way." Alec steps from behind the desk and walks off to the left. "I own the place."

There is a very nicely stocked bar with everything from recognizable to green and bubbling.

"Nice bar," he says, grateful to see a place that's well stocked. Sure, the City has some pretty good bars, but back home, alcohol is in short supply, unless you know where to go (which of course, he does, being in the alcohol business, and all.)

"So. I can leave anytime I want?"

"MMhmm. What do you want?" Alec asks as he slips behind the bar and pulls out two glasses. "The entire point of the Inn is to give people a place to stay for the night or however long they need and send them on their way. Unfortunately time will have passed back where ever you left."

"Nobody'll notice I'm gone."

Not for the time it takes to get a drink. Probably not even for an entire night. "I'll have a gin and tonic."

Because he bets Alec has some good gin around there, and he's not going to turn that down. Better than the swill that gets made in peoples' bathtubs, right?

He really does. Alec can afford to get the best stuff.

"There are some interdemensional nodes that do work like that," he explains as he pours and then pours himself a glass too. "It's really kinda weird and complicated and yet not."

"I've learned to just, y'know, not question it."

Once he has his drink, he nods in appreciation, and takes a sip. "This is pretty good," he says, never one to be overly complimentary, but impressed just the same.

"It better be. It took me a ridiculous amount of time to track it down. And it's expensive."

"Should I even ask where it came from, or is it from, y'know, another universe?"

Honestly, nothing would surprise him anymore.

"Earth. I forget the year."

"Guess I shouldn't be surprised we're not on Earth, right?"

Another long sip of his drink.

"We're not here. We're not there. We're not really anywhere. Well, we're in a similar sort of thing as the City, except it's a lot smaller."

"And is this where you spend your time? Y'know, when you're not spyin' on people in the City?"

That's still a bit of a sore subject with him.

Alec has the good graces to look embarrassed about that. "Sometimes. Sometimes I'm home. Sometimes I'm on other worlds. Time is... sort of optional for me."

He takes a drink. "And you can't blame me for wanting to keep an eye on Lar, can you?"

"No, can't blame you there. Like I said, I'd've done the same, if I'd've had a sister. But it's kinda..."

He shrugs. "It's a little weird, y'know. To think about."

"Yeah. I know." He changes the subject. "How was your kid?"

"It was good to see him. Not long enough of a visit, but, well, I wouldn't want him to be stuck there for too long, anyway."

"It's never long enough for a visit, but I don't think the City would be good for him. He seems like a smart one."

"Yeah, he is. He gets that from his mom."