Astrophobia

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[Jonathan Crane, PhD, scans the Plane with bespectacled eyes in his very nice suit. To all appearances, the Plane has just won itself a new university professor]

Acrophobia would hardly be an irrational fear at present. Indeed, it would be very [takes a step] very [another step] practical. This is possibly one of the very few instances in a normal individual’s life where siderophobia might be considered rational as well. And so they would cease to be phobias.

Incongruous but coherent structure... far too lucid to be any breed of hallucination or dream. The idea of it being true space is out of the question, of course.

[picks up a discarded hat, examining it] The two most likely options are thus illusion or reality. I wonder which it is. [sets the hat down again and carries on his way]

Comments

[swanseer.livejournal.com]

[...She actually understood some of that, as odd as it sounds] ...The fear of stars is usually rational in my experience.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[someone who speaks his language!]

While I must admit that there are some ways the stars can kill creatures of Earth, they are not quite so common nor defensible as would make the phobia a practical one to possess.

[oldoldghost.livejournal.com]

[Buuuuut Brigitta has no clue what any of that means, so she'll just be trying to look like she isn't completely baffled] ...We think that it's reality.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[looks at her curiously]

I could accept that in time. Who is 'we'?

[grand-gaia.livejournal.com]

[Oh god big words.]Uhm. This is the Astral Plane.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[slight smile]

A very appropriate name. Does it have anything more than that?

[lamb_of_gold]

Reality, unfortunately.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[it takes all of one second for Crane to get over Mu's hair. It's unusual, but not THAT unusual]

Why is that unfortunate?

[house-1-god-0.livejournal.com]

{Sarcasm, don't you love it?}

Oh, now we get a shrink? Great. Should I leave you alone to ponder life as we know it for a while?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Had a bad experience with a psychiatrist?

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

{You are a very popular person, Dr. Crane.}

Ne, what an intelligent person. It is real, though, as much of an illusion as it seems.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[it's the sweater vest]

Thank you. I think I may be willing to accept that. What's your name?

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Astrophobia, too. Don't want to forget that one.

As far as I know though, it's real. Then again, if it was a very good illusion I would be convinced it was real even if it wasn't.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

A fraternal twin to siderophobia.

What have you done to test the nature of it?

[usagipino]

[And a tiny, creepy little bunny girl starts to follow him, mimicking his exact movements.]

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[Scarecrow's first thought? 'Oh, she's awfully young to be a costumed psychopath']

Hello. I don't suppose I could ask your name?

[also: categorizing possible names for a bunny-costume-wearing mimicker. 'Echo' is too normal. The White Rabbit? No, it's pink. Though, Jervis would've liked that, and she's young, too. HMMM.]

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[with a faintly approving expression] It is reality, of a sort.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

What earns it the qualifier, and what other kinds of realities are there?

[iamachurch.livejournal.com]

[Suddenly! Orel with an observation and what appears to be some sort of kickball under his arm! Why he has it is a mystery. Also he's eleven, that's probably why.] Wow, you sound really smart.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Just educated. There is a difference, unfortunately.

[digitale-daten.livejournal.com]

[Hi have a twisted Chosen Child who's being followed around by ghosts. That no one else can see.]

Not many things here are rational.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[T.K., let Crane introduce you to Vox some time]

Does that include the people?

[weerweer.livejournal.com]

[Isaiah admires the suit, but instinctively backs off at the professor air. Still, they're in space, and so he's allowed to be more shameless.]

Acrowhat?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Fear of heights.

[buckingbronco.livejournal.com]

This is reality, as near as we can tell. Welcome to the Astral Plane.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I've already had much of the introduction packet, I think. I'm Jonathan Crane.

[grasswavemaster.livejournal.com]

[Watches him for a few long moments before deciding to get closer.]

Why can't it be both?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

An illusion is, by definition, a distortion of the reality. It makes it a challenge for them to both be the same thing.

[pactum.livejournal.com]

[YOU LOOK VERY NICE AND RESPONSIBLE 8D]

... Most people scream and panic by now.

Um, I mean— this is the Plane.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[WHY THANK YOU FOR THAT ASSUMPTION. I TOTALLY AM]

Screaming and panicking is very counter-productive in this situation. While it may serve its purpose as a call for help, it's also debilitating enough to reduce any benefit.

And it would make me look like a lunatic.

Thank you. I think I've gotten most of the introduction now. Possibly some things have been forgotten, but it seems like there is quite a lot to mention.

[knowswheregodis.livejournal.com]

[Chris is a bit bewildered. What else is new?]

Blimey, sure are calm about it, mate.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[oh Chris]

As, I must note, are you.

[shatteredqueen.livejournal.com]

[late to the party!]

Are you a professor? You certainly talk like one.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[all these little girls - where IS Jervis when you need him?]

I am. Professor Jonathan Crane. Who, may I ask, are you?

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

Why should anyone fear the stars? They are capable of granting a great deal of freedom.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Some fear freedom.

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

[Inara disappears from the Plane for several a few a couple months and there's this new, very intelligent, pretty dashing fellow about! she really needs to come here more often, because this is leagues above dealing with Mal, let me tell you]

It does have the habit of being a bit disorienting the first couple times you come here, but it isn't so bad, don't you think?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

I find myself growing fond of it. It seems to perfectly embody the aesthetic of the sublime.