Lesson 1

[howeducational.livejournal.com]

[ Appearing on the astral plane is a young man with an unmistakable look of curiosity about him, his head whipping to and fro as he tries to take in the mind-boggling view yet again from atop his stopped bike. ]

Wooooah...! So it wasn't just a dream after all! It's really here! It's like I stepped right into the cosmos! But... that can't be true, can it? If this was space, I'd be a space-corpse by now! So I guess the "astral plane" isn't exactly the same as outer space, huh? Learned something!

[ He takes a moment to whip out his notebook, scribbling furiously. Mostly it's notes about the situation, though a well-drawn doodle of Meredith herself takes up half of a page... as well as a few guesses as to what her measurements may be beneath the robes; Meredith may or may not be amused to know that his guess is within a centimeter of being spot-on. Satisfied with this progress in his quest for knowledge, he returns his gaze to the stars that surround him, before his gaze shifts down. He nudges at the "ground" with his toe, before getting off of his bike and kneeling on all fours to stare at it. ]

It doesn't even look like there's anything here... but there has to be, 'cause I'm standing on it. Feels kinda damp, though. [ He sniffs the ground once before, without a second thought, licking it. ] ... Tastes and smells metallic, too. Not to mention the way it glows under my feet... like a spotlight, sorta, but shooting up from under me instead.

All of this leads to one ultimate conclusion... That I have no idea what ANY of this means! So, I guess there's no choice but to ask one of these other space-walking citizens. Or would it be "plane-walking citizens"? Interesting!

Comments

[polarization]

[ What a weirdo. Sefton's simply going to stare for a moment while deciding whether he should try explaining things or just walk away before he's noticed.

Standard Sefton disclaimer applies. ]

[howeducational.livejournal.com]

[ Kintaro, having gone back to licking the floor for a few moments, freezes in place as he looks up at the person staring at him, tongue still pressed to the ground. ]

... Um. Hello!

[polarization]

[ Yyyep, Sefton's still staring. Why in the world would you lick that? ]

... Hey.

[howeducational.livejournal.com]

[ And he's up in an instant, scratching the back of his head with a laugh. As for the reasoning... it's educational. ]

Wow, you're the first person I've met here! Uh, besides Meredith, but she... kind of scares me.

[polarization]

[ His eyes roll, and he looks away casually. ]

Yeah. [ A beat. ] You can get home by thinking 'bout going. Time stops while you're here, though.

[howeducational.livejournal.com]

So going home is the same as getting here, right? Learned something!

[ He whips out a small brown notebook from behind his back, scribbling furiously in it for a few seconds. ]

But that second part, about time. You mean while I'm here, in this astral plane place, nothing's happening back home?

[polarization]

[ A nod. ]

Yeah, exactly.

[howeducational.livejournal.com]

WOW! That's amazing! I'd call it impossible, but... so is appearing in a place like this to begin with!

I guess you've been here a while if you know all of this, right?

[polarization]

[ Whoaaa enthusiasm. Sefton takes half a step back out of habit. ]

Uh... kinda, but s' not like it's hard to figure out.

[howeducational.livejournal.com]

I guess it'd be pretty obvious the moment you get back home, actually!

[ A pause, and he laughs sheepishly. ]

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm asking you all this stuff and I haven't even introduced myself! I'm Kintaro, Kintaro Oe. It's good to meet you!

[polarization]

Yeah. ... Not everyone here's from the same place, either.

[ And at the introduction, he 'casually' looks away again. ]

S' fine. Same.

[howeducational.livejournal.com]

I kind of had a feeling since... well, in a place that looks like this, it sort of just makes sense, you know?

[ A beat. He half-wants to ask what this guy's name is, but doesn't want to be intrusive yet. ]

Anyway... besides looking at all these stars, what do you do here?

[polarization]

[ Which is probably a good thing, because Sefton would likely not give it anyway. ]

Whatever you feel like, I guess. Some come here for the people. [ He shrugs, to show his opinion on that. ] But there's some useful places here, too.

[howeducational.livejournal.com]

[ Don't worry. He'll get it one way or another. He just... will. ]

Hm! Please elaborate on these "useful places"!

[polarization]

[ Good luck with that. ]

Well... there's a kitchen here. Restocks itself.

[howeducational.livejournal.com]

An infinite kitchen, huh? [ Scribble scribble ] That's good! I can practice my cooking more, then.

Though... I kind of hope there's more than that. If the most impressive thing in this astral plane is the kitchen, that might be a bit disappointing.

[polarization]

Nah, there's more. [ Another shrug. ] A ballroom, a bar... a bath house.

1/2

[howeducational.livejournal.com]

A ballroom... that seems like a pretty random thing, but I guess people from different worlds like to dance, too.

The bar, too. But I guess it's a good chance to learn what kind of drinks other places have!

And a bath... house...

2/2

[howeducational.livejournal.com]

'Ohhhh, the bath house...! A chance to learn what kind of bodies women have in different worlds, hee hee hooooo~! OHHH YEAH, I'm gonna learn a LOT from this place!'

W-well, I guess that's good if you forget to... shower before you come here! Yeah.

[polarization]

[ Suuure. ]

Yeah, guess so. Just... be careful if you go.

[buckingbronco.livejournal.com]

[Can't help staring, then laughing a little at that display]

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

...You know, I don't think anyone has licked it before.

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

{Laughs} Well, you are certainly quite a bit more on your way to discovering what it means than most! I cannot say that I bothered to investigate too many of the "whys" myself until my second or third time coming here! To no end, I am afraid, but as long as it presents no harm or conflict, then I cannot complain for the reprieve!

Hou, and "Plane-walking citizens" is far too formal, I would think!

[silenteden.livejournal.com]

[.... Did he just lick the floor?

...

Ah nevermind. Kuhn laughs a little and approaches, smiling.]

You know, "Plane-walkers" is kind of catchy. I think you've got something there.

[lamb_of_gold]

On the quiet days, it's possible to hear the grinding of gears.