[Ten Forward:] Guinan at the bar | OTA

[she_listens]

There are more people on the Enterprise tonight.

How and when Q chooses to bring them aboard still remains something of a mystery. Sometimes there is only one new face out in the crowd, and sometimes there are dozens. Guinan takes note of them all, from behind the bar, waiting tables, offering words of comfort and explanation.

And, most importantly, she listens.

They all have their own stories, their own fears, discomforts, and needs. In a strange new place, sometimes the best form of solace is a friendly listening ear and something warm to drink.


[ooc: feel free to walk up to Guinan at the bar or handwave that she passes by your table! For new folks, Guinan is the head bartender here, and happy to answer questions if you've got 'em. ^__^]

Comments

[overprotective_hunter]

"Federation space?" It sounds crazy. Like something out of the science fiction movies that Simon likes. Maybe she is a warlock despite Alec not being able to see any warlock mark since he should be freaking out but instead he just feels lost. Maybe she's Fae and had cast some kind of spell on him. "The planet Risa?"

Or maybe there's another, non magical, explanation. "Did Jace hit me too hard doing training?" That would make more sense. Jace was always pushing him harder when they sparred. There could've been an accident. It made more sense than Federation space.

[she_listens]

Guinan's eyes crinkle in quiet amusement.

She takes a step forward, sweeping her hand past the empty seat at his table. If he would rather she not join him, she will understand; however, the conversation will perhaps be easier if he feels they are both at ease.

"That I can't say, not knowing this Jace for myself. But all of this—"

She gestures around the room.

"—is real. The Federation, or United Federation of Planets, is an interstellar republic. Risa is just one of the many planets that fall under its purview."

Genuine concern fills her eyes.

"Where are you from?"

[overprotective_hunter]

Watching the woman, he absentmindedly nods so that she'll join him. Mentally, he focuses on the little signs that this might be some kind of dream brought on by an injury or Fae magic. There was no pain and he'd been at home, surrounded by Magnus' wards. So either he was going crazy or...

"Federation of Planets." His voice might have cracked slightly on the last word. He's too dazed to notice if it had. "I..."

Was it that crazy? He'd literally went to hell and back. Mundanes sent ships to the moon. But they hadn't went to any place called Risa.

Then he remembers an old lesson. All stories are based on truth. Alec had never thought that meant science fiction but maybe... "New York City. I - There's no Federation where I'm from."

[she_listens]

She takes the seat after nodding her thanks, and folds her hands on the table.

"You're not going crazy."

No, she didn't read his thoughts. She just recognizes when someone is lost, and if it were her, that's the question she would be asking herself. She's quiet for a moment, letting him work through his thoughts, observing without interruption. When he talks again she smiles a little, and nods.

"I've been to New York. A long, long time ago. Long enough ago, in fact, that the Federation hadn't even been thought of yet; back before interstellar travel was a common thing."

[overprotective_hunter]

Maybe if Alec was less practical, he'd consider that she might be a delusion that was trying to tell him he wasn't crazy. But even when he'd been caught in that dream of his 'perfect' life, reality had crashed through quickly.

Although he still expected Magnus - or a hallucination of him - to tell him what was going on. "I might not be crazy but all of this sounds crazy. How can I be on a space ship?"

[she_listens]

She lowers her chin, hiding a soft laugh.

"Trust me, I understand. All of this is a little crazy."

Especially the guy behind all of this, but she'll start him off a little softer than that. You never lead with The Q.

"Have you ever heard stories about instantaneous travel between worlds? Maybe doors that lead to fantasy lands? Or wormholes? Or magic?"

[overprotective_hunter]

Pushing aside the idea of hallucinations, he focused on the idea of 'doors'. Those were a familiar enough concept for him to deal with than space ships and the Federation. "A friend of mine does magic. He can open Portals between places. And I've traveled from one world to another."

That leads to another uncomfortable thought as he remembered Edom. "Is this a demon realm?"