1st Heart - Arrival

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

[And suddenly, Jackie pops on into the Astral Plane. He's got one hand held out, as if he was twisting a knob, and for a moment there is a rather shocked look on his face.]

That's never happened before.

[His hand drops to his side, and for a moment he is completely silent. He takes the time to slowly scan his surroundings, still with a fairly stunned look on his face. He gives his head a quick shake, trying to see if he'll wake up. No success. He then takes a few steps forward and reaches his hands out, as if looking for a wall or a door. When he comes in contact with nothing but space, he drops his hands to his side again, and turns around.]

Right now, I can only think of three possible explanations for this. One, I'm dead. Really dead. Two, I'm having one of those out of body experiences. Or three, I've been whisked away to the Land of Oz. And unfortunately for me, I left my ruby red slippers at home.

So, is there a Yellow Brick road hiding somewhere around here, or am I just SOL?

Comments

[didorothy]

No Yellow Brick Road, sorry, and none of the witches have green faces. I'm a bit disappointed, really.

[tosses a coin, catches it, looks at it, a well-practiced motion that's nearly automatic for how little importance Sam gives it]

The correct answer is number four. You've been dragged into an experiment, and this is the Astral Plane.

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

[And this is one hand, instinctively reaching towards the left side of his waist. But that's about it.]

Experiment, huh? Well that's much better than being dead or in Oz. At least it has a fitting name.

I can't seem to recall even volunteering to be part of an experiment though. So on that note, where do I get off? And how?

[didorothy]

You don't. You can go back to home - rather, back to where you were - but you can't leave the experiment until they let us. Or until you find a way to end it, but no one's discovered that yet.

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

Great. Never did like science, still don't.

So despite being able to go home, I'm still stuck in this whole mess? [A sigh] Well, that's special.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

This is most certainly not a children's book. It is some sort of nexus, a temporal distortion, and you've been trapped within it, much as the rest of us have.

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

I kind of figured it wasn't a book. Seeing as how the Wizard of Oz wasn't based in outer space.

I not fond of being trapped.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

This is hardly outer space, either. It is some sort of artificial creation. Real space is not this constrained.

Nor am I.

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

Then I guess it isn't space, then. Fake space, as far as the eye can see.

So, who trapped us here then. I have some...complaints I'd like to voice.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

A prison disguised as the infinite, yes.

The Twins and a woman called Meredith are our captors, but they don't often answer to anyone, at least so far as I have seen. And when they do, it comes with a price.

[chapelsend.livejournal.com]

Hell, iffin they do that up here, I can't see how they'd keep th' bricks.

[lights up a smoke, blows some smoke, and stuffs his hands into his pockets] Newcomer, huh? Y'all ask th' same damn questions.

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

Then it's a good thing I wasn't counting on there being one, isn't it?

[Slips his hands into his trench coat and near his waist. Just in case.] I suppose I am. And you'll excuse me if I'm concerned with asking unique questions at this point.

[chapelsend.livejournal.com]

[Wolfwood is packing but he's got a shoulder rig, so his hands were no where near his .45. Besides, he's busy looking more at the stars then at Jackie] Ain't like I blame ya. Jus' sayin'.

Th' name's Wolfwood, an' you can say I'm th' local priest o' th' Plane.

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

Figured that was it. [Is not going to look away just yet.]

Father Wolfwood, huh? [A pause.] It's Jackie. Jackie Estacado.

[harmonixerdemon.livejournal.com]

[Mentions of OZ and yellow brick roads are confusing for Yuri, but compared to the rest of this place...] You're not dead or anything. This is just the Astral Plane.

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

Lucky me. Not dead, just walking around in outer space.

[harmonixerdemon.livejournal.com]

You get used to it after a while.

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

See, that's the thing. I'm not keen on spending enough time here to get used to it. So where's the exit?

[witchmaker.livejournal.com]

Lots of new faces here lately! Everyone's alive here from what I've seen, I doubt you'd be the exception.

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

Alright then. So not Oz, not dead. Could be worse, then.

[witchmaker.livejournal.com]

It's not so bad. We have a movie theater and a bar, at least. And there's a decent amount of nice people here. Has anyone told you how to get back home yet?

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

Twice now. Rather convenient, if not perplexing.

Not much of a movie person, but I enjoy a few drinks here and there.

[contract_star]

You're not dead. This is the Astral Plane.

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

Right. A well named nexus where people gather, random establishments and pieces of furniture appear and disappear, and causes our respective homes to freeze in time while we're in here.

And it comes with talking animals.

Sound about right?

[contract_star]

[Grins.] Sounds like you've gotten the grand tour already.

Though seems you missed the part about it all being an experiment.

[stronguponme.livejournal.com]

A few people were kind enough to run it down for me.

[Laughs despite himself, holding his arms out to the side.] Right. Knew I was forgetting something. This is all just one big hamster wheel.