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[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

[Alex is confused. This is extremely obvious by the way she's standing, mouth slightly open, blinking at the sky.]

No...

[She looks around. She puts a hand to her head, feeling the gauze dressing she's become accustomed to. It feels real enough, but that's an old trick, isn't it?]

This is absurd. Completely. It's all in your head, Alex, just like last time, you knew this could have happened again but...

Well, to be fair, my mind could have conjured up something just a bit more familiar, couldn't it have? I mean, I think I bloody owe myself that much.

[Her eyes close for a moment. If it looks like she's just trying to will the Plane away, well, that's precisely what she's doing.]

I'd put up with Gene Hunt over this. But really, is 2008 too much to ask for? London, Earth, 2008, I made it back once already, wasn't that enough?

[She's shouting now, at the star-speckled sky, possibly at the point of hysteria. But don't expect her to go admitting it.]

I'm not leaving there again, you hear me? I am not going through this again!

Comments

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

[Aya is a beautiful bird and Firesong can understand why someone would be interested in her. Aya herself seems to be aware of the attention and almost seems to be enjoying.]

I presume you are here for the same reason the rest of us are; to prove unwilling entertainment for our 'hosts'.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

[Alex's fascination with the bird pretty much vanishes after that comment, though.]

So, you're saying someone is snatching up all sorts of people and dumping them here because they're bored?

[She laughs.]

Oh, I've really lost my mind this time around, haven't I?

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

That does seem to be the case, but you haven't lost your mind. It would mean I have lost my mind as well and I do not have time for that.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

To be fair, I don't think either of our minds care what we do and don't have time for.

[a pause] Who are you? [and a gesture to the bird] And who's your friend there? Where do you come from?

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

I've been through training to control my mind and thoughts. I am more than confident in my ability to have my thoughts obey me.

[He gives a slight bow] I am Firesong, this [He reaches up to stroke the neck of the bird] is my bondbird Aya. I was born in the Pelagir Forest, although I am not sure you have heard of it.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

I wish my thoughts would obey me more. It would definitely make things easier.

[Her attention is back on Aya.]

Haven't heard of it, I'm afraid. My name's Alex Drake, by the way, I'm from London. I imagine we're both pretty far from home.

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

Mental discipline is possible for anyone who is willing to apply themselves to learn.

[Aya is now looking straight back at her. She might notice that it's eyes seem oddly intelligent for a bird.]

I haven't heard of it, but that's hardly surprising. Apparently this place draws people from all sorts of lands and worlds to it. But your land is merely a thought away.

I was already far from before this however, and at least the scenery here is interesting.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

I don't doubt you. I'm a psychologist. I tend to spend more time worrying about how other people's brains work than my own.

[She does notice, and it's rather unsettling. Not frightening, really... Just different.]

I had finally found my way home before I ended up here. I'd been trying to get back for a long time.