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[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[he takes a step forward then backwards then forwards again, looking at the space above him and around him, nearly tripping over his own feet as he tries to take in what he's seeing.]

What is this?  Wha-

[he stops as he notices what's below him as well.  he kneels down, touching and studying the universe below his feet]

That's just brilliant.  That's just absolutely unbelievably brilliant.  The stars, galaxies, nebulas all right at my feet.  It's gorgeous.  Gorgeous and impossible.

[pauses for a moment and then he shoots back up to his feet, spinning around again]

Hello.  Is there anyone there?  Anyone?  Anyone at all?

Comments

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Blink] Months. I've been here for about five--others have been here much longer. You're human as well?

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Human as they come. Well, mostly human. I still have a bit of the Doctor in me as well, I suppose.

How much longer have people been here for?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Someone I know has been here almost nine months, I think.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Does anyone ever leave this place?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Oh! Oh, yes. You can come and go as you like. [The puppy squirms and whines, trying to reach the Doctor. Misaki sets him down and he toddles over to sniff the man's foot.] You just have to... focus on it, really. It's like stepping through a door in your mind, if that makes sense.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[Bends down, letting the puppy sniff his hand for a moment, then petting the puppy. Smiles up at Misaki from his place on the ground with the dog.]

Is it painful? Coming and going. I think it was painful getting here. It still feels a bit blurry.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Smiles back.] His name is Haruki, by the way.

Painful? I don't... think so.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Haruki....who's a good boy?

Does anyone ever leave and not come back?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[The puppy wags his tail hard enough to make his body wobble.]

...yes, come to think of it. I think so, at least. Sometimes people leave for a long time but end up coming back anyway.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[Continues to pet the puppy, while his eyes sweep the Plane, still taking in his surroundings.]

I can see coming back just for the scenery. Not entirely sure how it works, but it's gorgeous.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

It's a machine of some kind, from what I understand. [There's a twitch of some emotion that's quickly schooled.] Not too long ago it malfunctioned. We were all trapped here--the stars-- [Damn phobia. She sighs.] The stars went out.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

The stars went out?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Shudders and presses a hand to her mouth.] Sorry. Yes.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Don't apologize. I'm sorry to bring it up.

[Quiet for a moment as he considers what might have happened. Shakes his head and smiles at Misaki.]

Still, it looks like it's all fixed now. No need to worry. Stars are shining bright, yeah?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Dry smile. She crouches down to scratch Haruki behind the ears.] It's fine. [...erk.] I should warn you, though--the people the Twins choose... [Clears her throat] They run experiments on us here. And not the... typical sort.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[Hand still lingering on Haruki's back, as he stops petting the dog] What do you mean, not the typical sort?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Looking firmly at her dog, still giving him ear skritches] For the past three weeks, I... [Man, this is embarrassing] Was fourteen. They made me relive a portion of my childhood, in essence.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[Slightly alarmed at the idea] They can do that?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Sigh] Apparently so.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry.

Has anyone ever tried to stop them?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She shakes her head] I got to see friends I've lost since. And a puppy. [Little laugh.] It wasn't all bad.

[Her expression turns thoughtful.] The idea has occurred to us. Though they're rather good at distractions, as you might imagine.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[Offers a small smile as he pets her dog] Puppies are always good.

[Turns his attention back to Misaki] I'm beginning to get a sense of that. An entire machine, seemingly designed just to experiment on certain people.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Mm. And the choices of individuals seems completely random--though I've noticed a tendency for people from the same or related words to show up with increasing frequency, the longer the others are here.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Individuals on the Plane are somehow effecting who gets chosen for these experiments?

Maybe it's these Twins trying to toy with people's emotions, or maybe there some rhyme and reason to the selections that we're just not seeing.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that emotional manipulation or pure malicious fun are behind it, but I'm inclined to think their reasons are more complex.