♦ 001

[queencrimea.livejournal.com]

[A new person stumbles into the Astral Plane! It takes her a moment before she even seems to realize what's going on. Cue the gaping.] This... This can't be right. This isn't...

Where is this place? I had thought that was only a dream. How could I possibly be here now?

Ah, perhaps I should not have gone inside that shop. If I hadn't-

[Stops and shakes her head.] No, there's no use in dwelling on that. If this truly isn't a dream, I won't accomplish anything by simply standing here.

[Begins walking, but stops after the first few steps. A long pause, during which she looks up at the stars.] Although... The view is quite lovely here.

Comments

[queencrimea.livejournal.com]

Yes... I remember them. The Twins were inside the shop and she... Yes, I remember.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid there's very little else known about them.

[queencrimea.livejournal.com]

That's a shame. I don't think I like knowing so little about those behind this.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

They rarely show themselves, and then, it's only briefly. Some who call them receive responses, but not all.

[queencrimea.livejournal.com]

I see. That's certainly... worrying.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

It seems unsettlingly easy to become complacent on the matter.

[queencrimea.livejournal.com]

Why would anyone want to become complacent in this matter?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Learned helplessness, perhaps? It's far easier to go along with it when you have no chance of changing it.

[queencrimea.livejournal.com]

You mean they've given up?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

In the scientific community, there's a story about a scientists who puts flies in a jar for a day. With a prison as open and accommodating as this, it isn't hard to believe in the surrender.

[queencrimea.livejournal.com]

I've never heard that story. What happens to them?

I simply can't believe people would give up...

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

The scientist, who had needed to keep the fruit flies in place, but hadn't a proper place to put them, placed them in a jar and closed the lid. Though he was worried about the flies dying, he knew they would be fine for a day. Twenty-four hours later, the scientist returned with a screen to put on top of the jar, so he could keep the flies contained and still let them free. But when he opened the lid of the jar, the flies didn't even try to fly away. He had, to anthropomorphize, broken their wills. After twenty-four hours of being unable to fly, they had resigned themselves to crawling along the walls and floor of the glass jar.

[queencrimea.livejournal.com]

And you're comparing those here to the flies? That sounds like more experiments.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

It wasn't an experiment. The scientist only wanted to study genetics or lifespans--it's always one or the other with fruit flies. What happened to the flies was an unfortunate side-effect.

Of course, if this really is a social experiment, then perhaps not.

[queencrimea.livejournal.com]

Hm...

I truly hope those behind this aren't really attempting some sort of experiment.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

An idea would be to visit their shop to inquire. They might be home.

[queencrimea.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think I'll do just that. Thank you.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Of course. Ms...?

[queencrimea.livejournal.com]

[Smiles.] Elincia. What might your name be?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Jonathan Crane. It's a pleasure.

[queencrimea.livejournal.com]

The same to you, good sir.