dirk_gently | Hollister's (No rly)

Entry tags:

scene

Hollister's (No rly)

Dirk's starting to wear down a barstool, still a regular visitor even though Hippolyta's gone. He's not about to turn down an open bar tab to infinity, although he suspects it'll still come around to bite him in the ass some day. He's waiting, inhaling the cigarette smoke in the atmosphere. This isn't technically a date, but he's looking forward to drinks with a woman a decade younger...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"No, no, you're fine. I just wasn't sure you really wanted to hear about all this...?" His jaw is ready to drop, because he's never met a woman this interested in what he has to say. Even Hollister doesn't want to hear him ramble about quantum physics. Damnit, why does she have to be taken??!?

Sarah smiles. "Oh, no, I find it very interesting. I love learning new things. I don't always understand them, though. You use a lot of big words, Dirk." She giggles. This is why she's so well-suited for Daniel. He can ramble about some sort of scientific theory and she'll actually listen (it doesn't hurt that she loves his voice, too).

"I ate a dictionary as a kid. A thick one." He rests a hand on his stomach for a moment, unself-consciously. Dirk's voice isn't much like Dr. Schreber's, but at least the accent isn't too thick for American ears. He sounds more like a news anchor for the BBC than like Thorn's thick cockney. "Is there any part you wanted to hear more about? I can go on for a while." He grins, but his internal voice is still cursing about her being taken. Maybe she'd dump the gimp for him? He's got glasses and shabby suits too! He's even got scars, but the worst of them comes from getting run over by a bike courier, which is as unglamorous as it gets. Unless you count the broken nose, which is from getting punched by a kid... yeah, not noble scars.

If she had any inkling of Dirk's internal monologue, she'd be pretty pissed off. As it is, she has no idea, and simply grins back, enjoying his company and her yummy, yummy drink. "Oh, I don't know... what happened to the cat? And you said something about quarks?"

"Oh, quarks are just very tiny particles, they make up electrons and protons. I think I was alluding something to the observer effect. It's been proven that the act of observation has a very real and measureable effect on reality, on minute levels. Of course I could have told anyone that decades ago, but I don't have the drive to do the paperwork to prove it to other people. You know... most people don't listen to what I'm saying this much." He starts in on the fresh drink. If Sarah was completely sober she might notice his 'wow, what a woman!' expression, at least. "And the cat is fine. I settled the existential uncertainty through fairly mundane means and he was restored to normal. Never got paid for it though."

"Really?" Sarah looks surprised. "But what you have to say is so amazing. I mean, you're talking about reality being changed just by observing it... maybe you've been talking to the wrong people."

She looks relieved at the conclusion of the cat story. "I'm glad it's all right. A shame you weren't paid. Maybe you should become a physicist instead."

"That... ship sailed when I was kicked out of Cambridge." For the first time in this conversation, he's speaking reluctantly. "And it's a long story, and it wasn't exactly my fault." He frowns and drains his glass quickly.

Sarah blushes. "Oh... I'm sorry." Even through the alcohol, she can tell it upsets him. "I didn't mean to bring up unpleasant memories. I really think you could still be a physicist. Although a holistic detective sounds more fun."

She finishes her own drink, then blinks a couple of times. "Guess I should get going. Maybe if I don't observe Daniel for a while, he'll go back to normal." She laughs weakly at her little joke.

Dirk shakes his head. "It's okay, old history..." He hesitates to give her the old fundamental interconnectedness of all things speech, and then snaps back to reality when her boyfriend's name comes up. Oh well. "That or he'll be caught in a state of existential uncertainty..." Because the idea of her boyfriend being missing from the waist down is a nice one for Dirk. "Are you okay to walk?"

"Oh..." She seems to be imagining the same thing, and doesn't seem to like the idea. She loves Daniel's upper half, but his lower half is pretty important, too!

She slides off her barstool and wobbles a little in her high heels. "Whew... I didn't feel nearly as tipsy sitting down." She smiles brightly. "I'll be fine. Thanks so much for keeping me company, Dirk. You're a really nice guy." Ouch!

He reaches out to steady her gently, by the arm. "You'd probably be better off going home and having a cup of coffee or something to eat. It'll take the edge off, trust me." He actually winces slightly at the last. "You're... not bad yourself." He gives a wistful sigh, but tries to smile. "Take care of yourself."

"Back home..." She sighs. "Thorn'll be around, anyway. He can make me some tea." She still sober enough to know she's not sober enough to be messing around in the kitchen.

She smiles again. "You too, Dirk. Enjoy the streudel." She heads out of the bar on slightly steadier feet. At least she's leaving with warm, fuzzy feelings for Dirk, even if they're purely platonic.

Thorn? Wait, does she have two boyfriends? Not that it's that weird for the Nexus. "Thanks. Good luck with the... Lol... thing." He watches her go with a sigh, and orders another drink. At least he can still take advantage of her baking.
He gets along so well with women who are taken, much better than he gets along with the ones that are available.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hollister's (No rly)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject