♢ 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?

[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? 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]

Emil!! [She darts over.]

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

[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.

[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.

[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]

Realities? What... What do you mean? [So confused!]

[lamb_of_gold]

You know Emil?

[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!

[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...

[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?

[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]

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?

[lamb_of_gold]

This is the Astral Plane.

Emil speaks of you very often. That is how I know of you. I am Mu.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

He does? [That means he thinks about her! That makes her smile!] Well, then I hope it's all good things!

It's nice to meet you, Mu. How did you meet Emil?

[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]

It is.

And you as well. I met him much the same way I'm now meeting you.

[shadow-shot.livejournal.com]

I don't know that either. At any rate, you can go home or come back any time you like.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Well, there are lots of different kinds of people from different kinds of places here, that's all. Like...What is your home like?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

My... home? Palmacosta? It's a port city. I... haven't been there in a while, though. Stone streets and buildings, lots of boats, an open air market and... [vague hand gestures~] Things like that, I guess.

What's your home like?

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Well, I mean a bit more general than that. I mean, things like magic, or time travelers, or just odd creatures, they exist in some worlds here, but not others.

{She smiles} My home, though, it's a bit odd, since I've been here so long, I guess. Part of it is in a big forest on an island, some of it's a big city with the tallest buildings you're ever seen, and some of it is a place where it's almost always raining.