[closed]

[devoutish]

WHO: Alfie Solomons, Dorian Gray, The (Twelfth) Doctor
WHERE: Heropa, Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Late December
WHAT: Chance meetings
WARNINGS: n/a; will edit if anything comes up

A - a shopping mall - Heropa

[Alfie does as much of his shopping as possible in small stores. They're much less common here than they are in his time, which makes it difficult, but over the months he's found a bakery he likes, and a greengrocer's, and a butcher's shop. He'll poke his head into the supermarkets and megamalls every once in a while - but he doesn't like them, he's not used to them, and, honestly, they're overwhelming. He doesn't need a store with an entire aisle filled with nothing but various flavors of breakfast cereal. It's ridiculous.

Still, while he avoids them like the plague when he actually wants to get some shopping done, he'll sometimes pay them a visit when he's in the mood to just be a tourist. There's so much to boggle at when he's just looking to kill some time. So that's what he's doing today - just wandering around Heropa's biggest indoor shopping mall, a few days before Christmas. It's a lot more chaotic than usual, but hey, he isn't planning to stand in any lines.

He's just on the cusp of getting bored and considering leaving when he spots a familiar face in the crowd. He isn't actually planning to stop and chat, but then eye contact is made, and... well. Okay]

Doctor.

[He tips his hat.]

Out braving the mad rush, are we?

B - a bar - Maurtia Falls

[Alfie likes this little place in particular, because it's conveniently located near his flat, and it serves this seasonal spiced rum drink that really is very good. He's not a heavy drinker, but he does indulge from time to time, and tonight seems like a good night for it. He's on the way back from services at his temple, wearing his yarmulke under his hat, and it's a quiet night - not completely empty, but close to it. There are a few patrons at tables near the back... and one very morose-looking guy sitting at the bar. Alfie opts for a bar seat himself, taking a stool a couple spots away from this sad specimen. And when his rum comes, he lifts his glass to him in a half-toast.]

Comments

[devoutish]

Haven't got kids yet, either. Grandkids are a while off yet.

[helpline]

Doesn't change my point. If you haven't got kids yet, you also haven't got grandkids yet.

[devoutish]

Yes - and it makes them even further off. You see my point, yeah?

[helpline]

[ paaaaaaaaaause ]

No, not really.

[devoutish]

You don't see how a man without children, much less grown children, would see grandchildren as a very far-off thing?

[helpline]

But you still might eventually have them. I don't really care about the length of time between having and not having, that's going to be variable to begin with.

[devoutish]

Listen, mate, this is becoming a fucking ridiculous conversation, innit? Show me a better game, then.

[helpline]

We can see if this place has Tetris.

[devoutish]

Lead the way.

[helpline]

[ And so, the Doctor gestures for Alfie to follow as they head further into the store, towards a small shelf labeled "classic games." ]

It's spelled T-E-T-R-I-S. See if you see the name on any of the boxes.

[devoutish]

[He settles his pince-nez on his nose, leaning in to peer at the boxes. After a few minutes of searching...]

Aha - here it is. I've found your game, mate.

[He holds up the box.]

[helpline]

[ Grinning, the Doctor takes the box, looks over the requirements... ]

Oh wonderful, we've got this console. Right, I live at Heropa 11, when do you want to come over and test it out?

[devoutish]

Have you got an evening free this week?

[helpline]

Most of mine are free. So let's go with...Friday? That sounds good?

[devoutish]

At five o'clock in the evening. Sorted.

Are there others living there?

[helpline]

Oh, not too many people, just Hazel and Saint Walker. [ pause ] And Murray. [ another pause. ] And the Three Tenors, but they're not going to bother us.

[ two of those names listed are animals but hey, they still live there! ]

[devoutish]

Will they sing for us?

[helpline]

Maybe! They're hermit crabs, I'm sure they could sing if they wanted to.

[devoutish]

What on earth is a hermit crab?

[helpline]

Tiny little adorable crabs with fun shells to live in. [ said 100% seriously ]

[devoutish]

Have they got a cage?

[helpline]

They've got something better: a crabitat! It's got plenty of places for them to dig and lamps so they can sun themselves, and all sorts of nifty things like that.

[devoutish]

[What the fuck.]

A cage, then. It's got a door?

[helpline]

It's got a top, like a tank. Really, the easiest thing to do is show you.

[devoutish]

So long as you aren't letting your crabs roam loose in the flat, mate.