♢ 1 ♢

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[Stars. Tons of them. Marta stares at her surroundings, wide-eyed, and almost afraid to look down when she realizes that there just might not be a floor there... But she does anyway.]

Aaaaaah!! [She squeezes her eyes shut and grips her head in her hands, but seeing nothing below her causes her to become dizzy and she falls.] What... what's going on here? What is this place?! I was just in--...

[She dares to open her eyes and look around.] This... how does something like this exist anywhere? Where am I? And...

[Her eyes go wide and she gasps. She quickly stands.] Oh no...! Emil! Emil, where are you? ...Tenebrae? Emil?! Hello?! Oh, what if he's hurt...?

Comments

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

...Emil? You know that rude young man?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

Emil? Rude? [Blink!] Maybe you're thinking of another Emil...

[She shakes her head] Nevermind, though! What's going on? How could a place like this be... well, in this place?!

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Well, he certainly introduced himself as Emil. Short boy, blond hair, a weird cowlick, or something.

{She nods a bit, sure of it} But this is the Astral Plane. There's no reason to be scared.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

Um, yes, that's Emil, but... [She shakes his head.] He's not rude! Maybe--

[Waaait a minute.] How do you know him? I've never seen you before...

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Well, he can come here too. It's a place where realities come together, pretty much.

[pactum.livejournal.com]

[Emil wouldn't be Emil if that voice didn't haunt his every waking moment.

Oh, Martel. She's followed him here, too.

However this also means bad things. Like that guy who keeps asking questions. And calling him Hero.]

M-- M-Marta...?!

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

Emil!! [She darts over.]

Are you hurt? Are you okay?! [Emil > confusion at the moment!]

[pactum.livejournal.com]

[He looks more like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, or something. Because since they've started their journey, he's been coming here to hide-- or cool off.]

I'm fine! I'm fine! A-are you okay?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[Yep, hiding days are over, Emil. Sorry~]

Yeah, I am. But... what's going on? What kind of room is this, and why is it in a place like the ranch? That doesn't make any sense!

[shadow-shot.livejournal.com]

...Calm down.

This is the Astral Plane. I don't know where it is exactly, but those who can access it do so by thinking it. And time doesn't pass on your own world when you're here.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She starts to protest at being told to calm down, but the explanation cuts her off and shuts her up. ... Momentarily.]

Wh-what... but, how? I wasn't here a second ago, and I didn't exactly think about a place like this...

[shadow-shot.livejournal.com]

You went to a store run by a couple of twins, right? That's what caused it.

Although how it works is beyond me.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

That still doesn't make any sense. Does anyone know what's going on here? [She's beginning to look worried all over again.]

[lamb_of_gold]

You know Emil?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

Yes, of course! Where is he? Is he alright?

[lamb_of_gold]

He's about, and in good health.

Are you, perchance, Marta?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

Wait, so he's here? But, where's here? I mean...

[She takes a deep breath in some sort of failing effort to force herself to slow down a bit.] Um, yes, I'm Marta. Do I... know you?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[Hello, Marta. Have a cheerful Doctor up in your space suddenly.]

Hullo! Did I hear you ask for an 'Emil'?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[Whoa. That's a lot of perk. She takes a few steps backward and stares at him.]

U-uhm, hello. [nod!] Yes, I did! Is he here?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

He is, yes! Baked some treats once. They were quite good. I haven't seen him very recently but I'm sure he's still around.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

Baked treats? [Blink!]

Uhm, thank you, sir! I guess I need to start looking for him. [She takes another look around... and sighs.]

Oh man... how do you start looking for someone in a place like this...?

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Emil, hm?

[considering her carefully]

Hero's love interest, maybe? Looks a bit like the childhood best friend sort. Unless 'Tenebrae' is the childhood best friend. In that case, perhaps you're his childhood best friend. Or hers, or its. I won't judge.

Ooh, maybe his sister! I hadn't thought of that one yet. Now it would be funny if it was that and the love-interest thing. Perhaps coordinated personality disorders.

So, what are you, then?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

Hero? L-love interest?! [Bluuuush jdlfkaj] It- no! Well, I mean-

[But, the guy keeps talking. So she stops, just considering him, head slooowly tilting to the side...]

... Excuse me?!

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

I can't tell if 'hero' or 'love interest' was the answer to my question.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

Neither!! Who are you, anyway?!