(Eventually) OOM: bird song

[isaysimplewords]

Cal is at a table in the middle of Milliways, as per usual. He also has his usual mug of raktajino.

Slightly less usual is the small scarlet feather he's studying, twirling it contemplatively between his fingers.

Comments

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

Elaine presses her lips together into a straight line. She still doesn't think Cal is a threat, but what if he's been caught up with UNIT? This Isabella seems the type to be an agent.

"What's it to you, Cal Chandler? Even if it's not what it seems, what's it to you?"

If this gets unpleasant, Elaine will be terribly sad.

[not_lugosi]

Bela takes this opportunity to get a closer look.

"It's a robot. Isn't it?"

Okay, that's pretty impressive.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal exhales, running a hand through his hair as he thinks about Bela's observation and how to frame his answer to Elaine.

"Things can get pretty strange on this planet sometimes, Elaine," he says. "You'd have to be blind not to see it. A robot bird . . . seems like the kind of thing that should be someone's business."

That's all he's got, when you get right down to it. It should be someone's business, in case it turns out to be something that becomes everyone's business.

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

"UNIT's business?"

[not_lugosi]

Bela gives Elaine a blank look and glances at Cal. What's UNIT?

[isaysimplewords]

Cal looks equally blank.

"UNIT?"

He tries to remember if Ianto's ever mentioned something (someone?) by that name, but if he has, it's not surfacing.

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

The blank looks seem genuine, and Elaine relaxes somewhat.

"Never mind. It's no one's business. There's nothing of interest here."

She steps back to open the door, hoping they'll take the hint and leave.

[isaysimplewords]

She's willing to let them go even though it's obvious she's only confirmed Cal's suspicions. That has to be a good sign.

But.

Cal takes a breath, and doesn't move.

"That doesn't mean I don't know other people who would be interested."

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

"Is that a threat?"

[not_lugosi]

"Does it need to be?"

Because Bela? Is fine with threats. More than fine.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal puts a hand on Bela's arm.

"It's a word of advice," he says mildly. "You don't seem like someone who's planning to destroy the world, so I don't see why we can't resolve this with a simple conversation. If you'd rather it just be between us, that's okay."

Sorry, Isabella.

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

"You're right. I'm not interested in destroying the world. I'm not sure what we need to resolve. There's nothing here that threatens you or your friend."

[not_lugosi]

"Seriously, is it a robot or what?"

[isaysimplewords]

"If it's nothing important," Cal says, "then you won't mind if it's taken and filed somewhere safe. Not with UNIT," he adds firmly. "You have my word on that."

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

Damnation.



"It's important to me, and I don't wish to be parted from it."

She nods at Bela. "It's a mechanical device. Not quite a robot."

[not_lugosi]

"There are aliens on this world, yeah? I mean, here."

Oops.

"Are you one of them? Or is the 'mechanical device' of alien origin?"

[isaysimplewords]

Cal glances at her, slightly exasperated. That was slightly more direct than he'd wanted to get.

(Even if it might be the more effective tactic at this point.)

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

"Are you?" Elaine's eyebrow is raised. "Neither of you strike me as being of this world."

[not_lugosi]

Bela shrugs. "I belong to this city, lady. I don't care about the world."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal, on the other hand, is thrown for something of a loop. He can understand Elaine's questioning Bela, they just met, but him? Really?

". . . Really?"

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

"Really," she repeats. "I've had my eye on you for a while. It's not that you don't try. You're assimilating quite well. But there's something off about you. What planet are you from?"

[not_lugosi]

Bela coughs to cover her laugh.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal splutters a bit. Okay, fine, he knows he gets things wrong, some of the history on this world is different from what he grew up with and he missed an entire decade of pop culture and he does get weird looks sometimes, but he'd thought he was doing pretty damn well, all things considered.

"I'm not -" Is she even likely to believe the truth?

But he can't lie convincingly, either. He doesn't know any names of any other planets he could be from. Not even the Doctor's, and he's the only alien Cal's met from this w - this universe. And if he tries to lie anyway, she'll never tell him what's going on.

(And just because he's gotten used to lying to people here about where he's from doesn't mean he likes it.)

He takes a long moment to think. Then he says, matter-of-factly,

"Alternate reality."

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

"Oh. Right. That explains a lot, actually. And your friend?"

[not_lugosi]

"The same goes for me."