.001

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

[It seems as though the plane has a new visitor! Meet Gwen Cooper; dark hair, wide eyes, and why, yes, she is staring up at the strange hole in the sky with a look on her face somewhere between drooling amazement and abject horror.

She may also be muttering some near indistinguishable words to herself. After what she's looking at now, talking to oneself in public is certainly the least of her worries.]

Oh, this is brilliant, yeah? Leave it to my life, just tryin' to make sure no one gets maimed on a Saturday night, and I end up... here. Where ever here is, anyway.

[She takes a deep breath and examines her surroundings. She's probably taking this just a tad better than she would even have expected.]

I'm startin' to think we need a handbook. Don't press mysterious buttons, don't go down dark alleyways on your own, and don't go explorin' mysterious shops without backup.

This must be what's on the other side of the Rift. Only a matter of time, you end up on the wrong side of the very thing you've been fightin' for two years. Must have been what Mum meant when she said “Don't play with fire, Gwen, or you'll get burned.”

'Course, at the time she was referrin' to Rhys, but a lot has changed since then.

[She crosses her arms and taps her foot, finally taking her eyes off the sky to look around.]

So, anyone interested in tellin' me what's goin' on around here?

Comments

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Why not to new friendships? [Sebastian lifts his glass, then hesitates] Oh dear. You don't think you're trapped here, do you?

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

[Gwen was in the process of raising her glass in agreement, and his question gave her pause.]

Well, yeah, suppose I did. Are you sayin' there's a way to get back, then?

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Yes, of course. It's like walking only it isn't. I suppose I just thought of where I was before I was here, and then I was back. But I had to take a step first. I think some people can do it while they're standing, but I need to walk. Like so. [with a step, Sebastian disappears, only to reappear a moment later, smiling and lifting his glass]

You see? Easy. And you go back to wherever you were before. It's gotten easier the more I've done it.

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

Oh....

[Gwen sets down her glass and holds up her index finger. She crosses her arms and shuts her eyes. After a moment... nothing happens.]

Oy. Well, I'll try it your way then?

[She gets an intent look on her face and takes a step forward. This time, it works, although she reappears back just a split second later.]

Oh. Okay, I get it. Like walkin'. I'd barely even got back before I thought about comin' back here, and here I am again. That must get a bit awkward when you're tryin' to have a conversation back home and your mind wanders to this place, though.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

At least they don't notice when you're gone. I suppose it's that you're returned to where you're left in space and in time. That isn't my area of study.

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

[Gwen considers Sebastian's words.]

Yeah, if that's the case, this place must be in some kind of space-time pocket. Like a time lock, except it's around the rest of the universe, so even though time passes here, it doesn't anywhere else.

[She thinks about this, nodding along as she speaks.]

It's not always my expertise, but I've dealt with similar things before. Nothin' quite to this extent, though.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

It's a better idea than anything I could come up with. Oh, I'm told there are murderers here, so you should be careful.

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

Murderers? Well, that's brilliant. Who am I lookin' out for?

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I haven't a clue. I only know that they exist here. Prisons are apparently completely useless.

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

I would think so. Lockin' someone up doesn't help much when they can just pop back home in time for tea.

Good thing I bumped into you, then. It's probably a bad idea for anyone to run around by themselves around here.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

I've done fine so far. Though I have always had Aloysius with me, which is to my advantage. Very few people are brave enough to attack a bear.

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

Ohhh well, I wouldn't think so. I'm sure Aloysius can hold his own quite well.

[She hides her smirk with a sip of wine.]

In the end, I don't think it's much different than what I deal with back home. It seems like wherever I go nowadays, there's some sort of danger lurkin' around every corner.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Sleeping must be quite a challenge. I like to sleep in as late as I possible can.

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

Well, it's not usually that bad. I imagine we go lookin' for the danger more often than it actually comes lookin' for us.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Why would you do that?

Sorry again! Unexpected hiatus. D:

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

Well, it's my job, I guess. Some of the things that are dangerous don't know we're there, so it's sort of my job to go find them and stop them.

's all cool!

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Goodness. I hope that occupation has a great deal of security.

<3

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

[she laughs] Well, the pay is pretty great. Phenomenal actually. Don't really know if that makes it all worth it, but at least my husband will be taken care of if anythin' happens to me.

[her smile vanishes] Which is probably pretty likely, actually.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[Sebastian pauses, not very good with emotions that go into 'sincerely unhappy,' and he spins his wine glass a little, swirling the drink]

Would you--care for more wine?

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

[Gwen realizes she's overstepped a bit, and she forces a smile, nodding and offering her glass.]

Probably exactly what I need, yeah? No point in draggin' this down when we're supposed to be havin' a nice lunch. So, um, you got a job or anything?

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[he pours her more wine, and then starts drinking himself, perhaps with a bit more devotion than before] Oh, no, certainly not. I probably won't ever. I don't have a place, you see, because Bridey is meant to inherit and I won't be married off like my sisters will be. Cordelia's suggested I become a priest, which is an absolutely ghastly proposition. I don't even particularly like priests.

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

[Gwen gulps down her wine at a comparative rate, choking on it a little when she laughs.]

A priest? No offense, but I can't really see you as one. Kind of a stuffy job, yeah? Must be kinda nice, though, not havin' to work and still knowin' you'll be taken care of. As for not gettin' married off, well... You should probably be thankful for that.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

I quite agree. It should have been Charles born where I was. Then he could paint without worrying. Though I suppose he'd be driven made by all our faith. Perhaps it's better he wasn't born into the family. I'd never love him as I do if he were. The food here is very good. I wonder how they get it.

[alien-catcher.livejournal.com]

Doesn't seem like we're ever born were we should be. But I'm sure you and Charles both make do. [It looks like she's about to continue, and then she pauses, her next question obviously not what she originally intended.]

It's an improvement over Chinese takeaway and coffee, I'll give you that. But, really, no one even knows where it all comes from?

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[either Sebastian doesn't notice or doesn't particularly care to notice the obvious] I've never had any food from China. Is it very good? I wonder what a dog would taste like. But someone might know. I never asked.