Searching Far and Wide

[intricate_engineer]

Glen was creating a prototype for a new gate design. It was meant to be affordable and provide quick transport between individual homes. She tests several objects and a rat and everything seems to be working.

She steps through. Instead of finding herself in the room next door, she finds herself standing on a sidewalk in an empty city. The buildings are tall and perfect, colorless with doorways far too tall for any human. The roads have no straight lines and twist in on themselves. There is no life or sound.
Glen tries to stay calm. She begins to walk along the road, randomly opening doors and exploring buildings that are as silent as the rest of the world.

She opens a door that she hopes will lead onto a roof and is instead met with warmth, and soft noise, and color.

Comments

[alicornucopia]

It is a bar. A sparsely populated bar with no bartender or drinks behind the bar.

[intricate_engineer]

Glen quickly steps inside
"Where am I?" she asks firmly, directing the question to no one in particular.

[alicornucopia]

A napkin appears on the bar surface. This is Milliways, welcome. Can I interest you in a drink? First one's free.

[intricate_engineer]

Glen picks up the napkin and directs her next question to the empty space behind the bar.
"Is Milliways this city or is it specifically this room?"

[alicornucopia]

Neither. It's this establishment in general; there are several floors of rooms and a backyard. Milliways is not in a city, although the door to it may have been when you came through.

[intricate_engineer]

"Where is this establishment?"

[alicornucopia]

It is a small world folded in on itself and not consistently spatially adjacent to anywhere else.

[intricate_engineer]

"So you don't know where I just came from or how I can get home?"

[alicornucopia]

I can't speak to where you were before you walked in, as doors may be found anywhere, but if you open the door again it should lead to your home universe.

[intricate_engineer]

"Thank you!"
Glen walks to the door and opens it.
She is greeted by the silent city. Her shoulder's sag.

She slowly walk back to the bar.
"That's not my home."

[alicornucopia]

I'm sorry. That's irregular. When did you last see your original universe?

[intricate_engineer]

"My original universe doesn't exist anymore, but I saw the one I'm living in earlier today."

[alicornucopia]

The door would have tried to take you to your original universe. Some people can reattune it to a different destination; you might get your current home if you keep trying but I cannot guarantee it.

[intricate_engineer]

"How do they reattune it?"

[alicornucopia]

Idiosyncratic methods; prolonged residence helps, as can focusing while opening the door.

[intricate_engineer]

"Prolonged residence in the place I want to go?"

[alicornucopia]

Yes.

[intricate_engineer]

"Has anyone who's here now been able to do it?"

[alicornucopia]

Everyone present in the bar will, so far as I am aware, be returning to their original universes.

[intricate_engineer]

"Could you please tell me if someone comes in who's different?"

[alicornucopia]

To the extent there are no privacy concerns, yes.

[intricate_engineer]

"What happens if I can't get back?"

[alicornucopia]

You can reside here; some residents are long-term. This will likely require you to either run up a tab, earn resources from other patrons, or accept an establishment job depending on your skills. You can go through someone else's door if they hold it for you.

[intricate_engineer]

"What currencies do you accept?"
Glen gets out her bag, which she never leaves behind, and pulls out a pouch containing a variety of different coins, bills, and other small objects.

[alicornucopia]

All kinds.