01 - Dancing Over Invisible Lines

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[She is dancing on air. Or at the very least, walking on it. Without familiar tiled floors to whisper against, or a world to react to her gown is utterly silent around her. Even her breath is quieter, extending out into nothingness.

The light is like stars, only closer. And she thinks she must have dreamed them, wishing them closer in a brief, hidden point of loneliness. The world is changing so swiftly now. Did she make it stop? Some might suggest she owns such power, but she knows she does not.

Where is she then?

She takes two steps forward, then two more. There is still no noise in her wake, only silence.]

I think they have finally managed to take too much. It is my own doing for so readily accepting their advice and yet --

[It is not like her to abandon her own thoughts. Briefly she examines the faint scars on her wrists as another idea begins to form.]

Or perhaps the Clockwork Men. Is this some new tool? New trap? If you think that all it requires is to remove me from me home?

[Disconcerted]

What is this place?

[She is accustomed to finding her own answers, but she asks the question all the same.]

Comments

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

[stunned? YEAH]

Reinette?

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Doctor?

[Understanding dawns]

So it is the Clockwork Men after all.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

Um.

Um.

[is he wearing his glasses? No. Okay. Well.]

It's not. The Clockwork Men. It's...well, it's...sort of complicated, actually.

[helpful!Doctor is helpful!]

[lamb_of_gold]

The Astral Plane, madame.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

Clockwork men? Whatever do you mean, child?

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Is this a dream then?

[Skirts are straightened, still soundless.]

Your thoughts and memories do have a tendency to merge with my own when I sleep.

[glances around, gaze accessing]

I have grown accustomed to the unreasonable within my life. But you must agree this is extreme?

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[thoughtful]

That is most certainly not in France.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[quite clearly taken aback. Where are her masks?]

I mean to suggest that is might be the work of them. It is a possibility.

And I am no child.

[lamb_of_gold]

I should think not, but I know little of France.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

But what are they? I do not understand.

You are human. All humans are children to me.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

You're not dreaming, Reinette. This is real. You're in the astral plane, well, something very like it at any rate. A sort of machine. You're actually still in France, it's like a sublayer to the rest of the universe.

Like a time window.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Am I sleeping?

Where am I in France if I am somehow here as well. And you --

[studies him intently]

Why are you here?

[cyfor.livejournal.com]

[Have a very charmed kitty sitting at your skirts, Reinette]

You're a lady.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

They are creatures of metal and glass, meant to care for a ship I have never seen. For some reason they want me as well. They have followed me through the course of my entire life.

You are not human then?

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

What is the Astral Plane? And why am I here? Do you know?

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[Unsettled, and yet touched. She moves to stroke its fur]

Some do not think so.

[lamb_of_gold]

As far as we know, the Astral plane is a crossroad of realities. You were drawn here by the twins - likely you've seen their shop recently.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

Much like you, I just arrived.

[rubs the back of his neck and starts pacing]

Found myself just wandering about. Met a few people, talked to the ones in charge. And no, no, you're awake. Just here. Like how you existed in France in the time windows and were also on the ship, do you remember that?

[has that even happened yet?]

[prince-stupid.livejournal.com]

[Ragnar comes to sit at her feet, still bandaged up and limping slightly.]

Madame. I am afraid that I can be of no great assistance. You see, I am, I would say, very new to this place as well. But I will say this: the humans who inhabit it are of a good sort. This has been my experience.

But I am rude. [He stands, favoring one of his back legs.] I am Ragnar Gustaffson Coeur de Lion, at your service.

[cyfor.livejournal.com]

[Gives her rattling little purr.] Why not?

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

Fascinating. A ship, you say? I should like to see it myself, if only to understand its workings. Do they harm you?

No, I am not human, though I use these projections to better communicate. I am the TARDIS. And you would be?

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

[spots the lady from afar; disappears and reappears behind her, tapping her upper arms lightly with one finger each]

It's called the Astral Plane for its stars and its mystery. Hello.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[he expresses the restless energy she will not allow herself to. How far does this place extend?]

And who, precisely, is in charge?

[her chin tilts upwards]

I have not seen you in five years. Since the evening of the Yew Tree Ball.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

I have seen nothing but this place.

Who are the twins?

[demnify.livejournal.com]

[and he's vaguely interested, in that he has little else to do of late]

Hm. I don't think we've had anyone from your time period before... 1700s, Earth, yes? [then a brief pause, before he continues] I am afraid this isn't the doings of 'Clockwork Men'.