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[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

[Stepping onto the Plane is a blond-haired boy dressed in formal attire. He looks almost like something straight out of the Renaissance, and the sight of the Plane in its entirety has left him speechless. He gazes about, wide-eyed, before remembering why he'd gone into that odd little shop to begin with.

He pulls a folded paper from his pocket and opens it. Scanning the contents, he lets out a sigh.]

Those aren't good for you, Rin...

[Len glances around quickly to see if anyone heard him, then clears his throat and stands straighter. Returning the paper to his pocket, he takes a few steps forward. His voice is very polite and a tiny bit curious.]

Excuse me, but I am on an errand for the palace... is there a shopkeeper I can speak with?

Comments

[binary-ballad.livejournal.com]

[ KAITO looks up from the ice cream container he's polishing off. ]

Ah? Oh, this isn't a shop.

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

It isn- [Len stares for a moment before his face resumes looking professional.] Pardon me for saying so, your highness, but the front was that of a shop...

[binary-ballad.livejournal.com]

It looked like a software site to m--

Er. Highness?

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

[He bows formally.]

Forgive me if I am mistaken, but you greatly resemble the prince of the Blue Country.

[binary-ballad.livejournal.com]

Ah, no, I'm not a prince. I'm just a program.

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

[Len can't help but look puzzled. To him, a 'program' is the booklet for a performance.]

...are you not feeling well, sir?

[binary-ballad.livejournal.com]

Feeling..? Oh! No, programs don't get sick like users do. My code is still in good shape, though.

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

Forgive me, but I can't quite understand what you mean.

[binary-ballad.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about it, that happens a lot here.

Anyway, from what I've been told, this place is called the Astral Plane. It's an experiment, and we're all from different worlds.

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

I-is that so.

[binary-ballad.livejournal.com]

Ah, you don't believe me...

Well, if you want to leave, just think about going back, and if you want to come here, think about it and you will.

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

If it is so simple as that, then I should be on my way. Rin will be in poor spirits if I don't return with the items she asked for.

[He bows again.]

Thank you for your assistance, sir.

[swanseer.livejournal.com]

A shopkeeper...

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

Yes. It would be greatly appreciated if you could call him, miss.

[coil-legacy.livejournal.com]

A shop--oh! You walked into the shop too, sir? I'm sorry, but this isn't...really a shop.

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

I see. I hadn't thought such higher magic was practiced in our country.

[coil-legacy.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm not sure that this place is magic. Although I suppose magic would be able to produce a Space...maybe. But, um, what country are you from, sir?

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

[He bows] I am a servant of the Yellow Country, miss.

[coil-legacy.livejournal.com]

[Bows back.] It's nice to meet you, sir. My name is Yuko Okonogi. Um, I don't think I've heard of the Yellow Country.

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

[He's definitely not used to someone bowing to him and seems a bit flustered by it.] Ah. There's no need to bow to a servant such as myself. Are you then unfamiliar with the Blue Country and Green Country as well, Miss Okonogi?

[coil-legacy.livejournal.com]

Oh! I'm sorry...it's just the polite thing to do. So you work for some kind of noble family, ah...I'm sorry, I don't think I got your name.

I haven't heard of either of them, sir.

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

I-it is very unusual to bow to a servant, but... [He bites his lip] Ah, forgive me for offering such a late introduction. My name is Len, servant to the ruler of the Yellow Country.

[He frowns.] I... see. Where are you from, if I may ask?

[coil-legacy.livejournal.com]

Oh...well...I won't do it again, if it makes you uncomfortable. But, um, it's nice to meet you, Len-san.

I'm from a country called Japan. Have you heard of it?

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

It- n-no, it is simply not something I am used to... it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Okonogi.

[Len shakes his head.] That is not a name I am familiar with.

[coil-legacy.livejournal.com]

Really? Hm. Well, it might be because my world is really different from yours. That happens a lot here, I guess.

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

I see. So there is a chance of no one here being familiar with the places I know?

[coil-legacy.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid so...

But, um, you do get used to things around here pretty quickly. Oh! And you can come and go from here just by thinking it, so it's not like you can't go home.

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

[He actually looks a bit relieved]

Thank you, then.

[coil-legacy.livejournal.com]

Mm! You're welcome!

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you've probably already met them. Set of creepy looking twins?

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

[A look of surprise fleetingly passes across Len's face.] Forgive me, sir, but they seemed even younger than I.

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

Looks can be deceiving.

What're you after, anyway?

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

I was sent to buy a box of Madeleine Truffles on behalf of the palace.

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

[He chuckles]

You've taken a bit of a wrong turn, then. This is the Astral Plane.

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

I see. If I may ask... what would that mean, sir?

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

It's a sort of crossroads between realities—and before you say it, yes, I'm aware how daft that sounds.

[servant-ofevil.livejournal.com]

Ah... It sounds like a form of higher magic.