[Claudius doesn’t quite know what he was expecting, but he certainly wasn’t expecting this.]

Well… Well.

[He stands, hands shoved in his threadbare coat, and surveys the Plane – eyes narrowed in deep thought… He doesn’t seem very scared, simply quiet and very, very tired.]

[He’s been running for a long time]

How strange, how new… I must confess; I simply expected the Dragon when I wandered into that shop – or, failing that, an actual shop. But no, that’d be far too conventional for my sort of life.

[He laughs, even if it sounds like a mockery of a laugh, and falls to regarding the Plane again.]

It’s quite terribly bright here; but not from sunlight, curious…

[He tilts his head up to regard the stars and smiles; again, it’s a very dark sort of smile]

“But in this black Receptacle
Can be no Bode of Dawn”

[A brief pause, as he keeps studying, and then his face falls]

No… No, that only makes me think of him and I must break myself of that habit; I want to die happy not-

[A deep breath and then he calms himself, lowers his head to regard the Plane again with a return of that twisted smile]

Good day to anybody else that’s been dragged here, my name is Claudia- [He pauses for a second, his face twitching, and then quickly corrects himself,] –Claudius and I must admit to finding myself mildly confused by my surroundings. Can anybody tell me where I am?

[Another pause, as he considers that, and then his face brightens to a almost shining level.]

Is this death?

[He’s so very hopeful]

[There's no crack of magic when Harry arrives; one instant there's nothing, and the next a young man, wearing wizard robes and carrying his wand in hand, is standing in the middle of the Plane, looking slightly wary at his surroundings, as if fully expecting to be attacked.]

[He doesn't say anything, moving curiously toward the kiosk, taking one of the brochures gingerly, as though they might explode. When that doesn't happen, he seems to relax some - though still aware of the area around him - and flips it open to read. Okay, skim.]

[After a few moments, he finally dares to speak, saying the word as if he's testing it.]

Experiments?

[He promptly looks up as if certain that he might have caught the attention of anyone that happens to be around. Considering the lack of response, it seems he's gone unnoticed for the time being. Or not.]

[He pulls a small pouch from beneath the front of his robes and tucks the brochure into it before he begins to walk, taking in the scenery as he maneuvers from the kiosk to the bar. He doesn't touch any of the drinks, but he's stopped there for a moment in the hopes of finding someone willing to answer a question or seven. Bars always seem to be excellent places to get information.]