welcome, new visitors

[modconcierge]

There isn't much fanfare for the new crop of visitors who have come in this month, but what they encounter is quite wondrous. Is it a cruise ship? Is it a hotel? Is it a tiny planet? No one can give them a straight answer, but all are encouraged to take part in the buffet, where visitors may find an assortment of foods both familiar and unfamiliar to them. There is an open mic night happening in one of the lounges on site, featuring staff and visitor performances. Or there are a handful of shops to browse if you're amenable to trading.

Visitors will find that the Hotel Multiverse at the Edge of the Cosmos between Canons (its official name) is very much alive beyond the bustling crowd. In fact, it might just be listening to you and anticipating your needs.

As for the rest? Well, that's up to you. You may as well socialize, right?

Comments

[ispyforthefbi]

That's true. I mean, despite our somewhat cosmic ability for you and me to find each other in alternate universes, maybe you'll find here here too.

[ Mulder can tell the Doctor misses Rose very much. He pats him on the shoulder gently. ]

[familyalien]

Not an alternate universe; a nexus. A multiverse nexus.

[ispyforthefbi]

[ Universe, nexus, whatever. Semantics. ]

Nexus. You know what I meant though.

[ Mulder takes the nearest seat and slumps over, relaxing as best he can despite his, YET AGAIN, random circumstances. ]

Anything good to drink here?

[familyalien]

It's important what word you use. Alternate universe would imply that we're another versions of ourselves, somehow.

Everything!

[The Doctor remarks with a cheeky grin and putting his feet ontop of the table.]

And yes, it's entirely possible with this being a nexus of sorts for her to be able to pop up here.

[The Doctor just doesn't know if he wants that even if he does. He'd have to answer for leaving Rose with his Meta Crisis.]

[ispyforthefbi]

[ Mulder scoffs and flips the Doctor's gesture away. Implications, schlimplications. When he notices a difference, he'll let the Doctor know. He turns to the nearest bartender or waiter and requests: ]

One screwdriver, please.

[ Once he promptly receives his drink, Mulder takes a sip and returns to his conversation. ]

And why aren't you out looking for her right now?

[familyalien]

[The Doctor slowly rubs his five o clock shadow and takes a bit of the hyper vodka.]

I don't know if she'll understand. That it was the best for her.

Mulder - why do I have the same face again?

[ispyforthefbi]

Maybe what's best for her is--

[ The Doctor interrupts him. Mulder has mere moments to respond: ]

Beats me. I'd assume you have unfinished business. Why else would someone, say, who died come back in their old form other before they could tell their daughter they love them, or something?

[familyalien]

[The Doctor knows that what he did to Rose was a combination of things. He didn't want to fashion her into a weapon. He wasn't brave enough to tell her that he loves her and what was he supposed to do with Meta Crisis? Love was the cure for that kind of hate and rage. Expect, now he knows going alone was very bad idea. Scratching his five o clock shadow, he wonders if he's supposed to tell her how he feels if they do find each other here. Mulder was able too, what is stopping The Doctor besides being a being that will age slower and have to watch their lover die.

He doesn't know if he can be brave.]

I'm glad you and Scully got together.

[ispyforthefbi]

[ Mulder holds back every ounce of will to keep from gesturing and going "what the FUCK?" That's not an answer, Doctor. Why communicate if you don't... GAH. ]

Yeah, that's... not really what happened between me and Scully. It's a long story. Are you going to answer my question?

[familyalien]

What happened?

[The Doctor asks concerned]

Because I need to confirm this place is a nexus. Otherwise, it's pointless to look for her.

[ispyforthefbi]

I don't think you have time to listen to it, but Scully and I tried for a baby through IFV, failed, and hooked up anyway, only to have a baby naturally.

[ Mulder clears his throat and looks at the Doctor, then away, then back at him. ]

Nexus? How the hell should I know?

[familyalien]

Mulder [The Doctor remarks seriously] I have all the time.

That's thing I don't know either. But there are signs. Just got to look for them. Like talking to people finding out where they're from. I know of every planet in my universe.

[ispyforthefbi]

[ Mulder leans back in his barstool, kicks his feet up on the nearest chair back, and crosses his arms. ]

Well, you got two roads to go down, Doctor: me, explaining my relationship with Scully, or my off-hand view on what is happening here. Take your pick.

[familyalien]

I'm not sure what's happening here just yet. Why I'm at the bar. Best place to figure that out, after all.

You're my friend, I want to know how you are. I know it's been years since I've last saw you.

[ispyforthefbi]

[ Mulder's translation: forfeit his theories on what's going on, gossip about Scully.

Well, it was his choice, after all. Mulder uncrosses his arms and leans against his crossed arms behind his head. ]

All right, Doctor, since you asked so nicely.

[ It's still a painful topic for Mulder, but he does his best to summarize without going into the tragic details. ]

Scully and I... hooked up. More than once. We've thought she'd was infertile, but as it turns out, she's not. She got pregnant. I didn't find out because I'd been abducted by aliens. Yes, THOSE aliens. After they threw me back, barely alive, and the nearest hospital resuscitated me, I recovered and learned that she was pregnant with my baby.

[ He beams. Scully hadn't told him, but deep down, he knew the baby was his. He looks away, ashamed of his past behavior. ]

It was too dangerous for me to stick around, so I left. I went on the run, seeking out that "truth" I've always so desperately sought. And you know what I found?

[ Mulder halts a moment to await his friend's response, but realizes it doesn't matter. He turns his gaze to the floor, still averting his gaze. ]

Nothing matters. None of it does. I don't blame Scully for what she did, but it wouldn't matter.

[familyalien]

[While Mulder rambles The Doctor is soon to realize he needs to be an emotional support alien for the human.]

It's very human to want to have offspring. I had a child, a very long time ago with my mate. And between you and me, I want one with Rose and River.

[But he's also come to the conclusion there are many reasons he can't have a John Smith life; as much as he did have in an alternate reality with Madame De Pompadour.]

Mulder - everything matters. But you're right to not blame Scully for her choice. Because unfortunately there are bad people who would harm there own. It's not a human thing; it's a personality type.

I am still so, so, sorry you lost out on being a father. But it seems to me so long as you seek the truth; being a father will be hard.

[ispyforthefbi]

I never wanted children, especially if they'd have to go through what Samantha and I had to go through. You're welcome to yours, but --

[ Mulder fights back the tears as best he can. ]

I didn't know what I wanted until I learned that I had it... and it went away.

[ He blanks out the rest of what the Doctor has to say. He misses his son, the son he only got to hold once in his life. It's not fair. He promises himself he won't cry, but he's breaking that promise, so he lets his eyes well up and refuses to visibly wipe the tears away. They can fall into his lap as they have to. ]

[familyalien]

My children are dead.

[The Doctor drops like a rock with his voice. He just goes to hold Mulder in his arms in a big old hug. His two hearts beating against his friend.]

[ispyforthefbi]

I don't--

[ Mulder wants to finish the sentence with "know if mine is dead too," because, in all honesty, he doesn't know. And as things are going, he'll NEVER know. He'll never know how his son is growing, how he's learning, how he's smarter than the rest of his class in Kindergarten, everything. ]

I'm sorry for you.

[ To hug the Doctor is to not only hug out his friend's sorrow, but to hug out his own. The two of them seem to have been through so much. He doesn't want to vocalize it. He just... wants to give his friend a hug. A hug they both probably need very, very much. ]

[familyalien]

[The Doctor doesn't say anything as they hug. It wasn't just the child but Susan and her son.]

Thank you.

[The Doctor whispers back and continues to hold onto Mulder in a deep hug.]

[ispyforthefbi]

[ Mulder's innately aware that such affection would be frowned upon back home. It doesn't make him terribly eager to go back. Why do hugs have to be such a bad thing? He could definitely do with more hugs, especially after not receiving any once his sister was abducted. The only hugs he ever received after age 12 were from Scully.

Upon further consideration, maybe staying here wouldn't be such a bad idea. If only Scully and his son were here. But he understands how unlikely that'd be. ]

And thank you.

[ Mulder pulls away and pats the Doctor on the shoulder. ]

Care to drink our sorrows away?

[ He gestures to the bar. ]

[familyalien]

Thankfully, they have hyper vodka.

[Why this a smart move? No. Was The Doctor hurting from three generations of dead children? Yes. But Rose, Martha, Donna, Clara, Amy, River, Jack weren't in sight so bad choices it is.]

[ispyforthefbi]

[ In case it's never come up between Mulder and the Doctor - or it has and neither of them remembers it because THEY'VE NEVER DRANK TOGETHER - Mulder takes the Doctor's reaction as an acceptance of an invitation. ]

Take a stool, my friend.

[ Mulder sits at an empty stool, beckons over the nearest bartender, and once the bartender is free, requests: ]

A screwdriver, please.

[ The bartender, with hesitancy and a hint of panic in their face, tells Mulder they're out of orange juice. Mulder shrugs, not wanting to be one of THOSE customers. ]

Then just a shot of straight, neat vodka, please.

[ Mulder nudges the Doctor with his elbow. ]

What do you want, Doctor?

[familyalien]

Hyper vodka.