[008]

[oliverplus]

[Oliver is in the library today, seated at a table with several stacks of books around him. most of the spines have to do with a variety of mythologies or with the end of the world--or the universe or time, depending on what society the book is from. he has a large volume open in front of him and is paging quickly through it, skimming for...something. unfortunately, it's an old book and he's creating a bit of a dust screen in his haste]

Weber said Pestilence, and if that rain held some sort of disease, maybe... But what does that have to do with the forcefield? Is it all even relate- [coughs, pausing in his research to sit back a bit and wave a hand in front of him in an attempt to dissipate some dust. he realises someone else is there then and blinks] Oh! Hey, I didn't--[cough]--see you there. [tries to smile through one more cough. waves his hand again; dust is so annoying]

Comments

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

I see you're keeping busy.

[oliverplus]

Wouldn't want to...[cough]...get bored.

How are you, Inara?

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine you would.

I've been well, all things considered.

[oliverplus]

[relieved] That's good.

You...know what's been happening, then? With the rain?

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately. I saw some of what was happening.

[oliverplus]

[nervously] Who did you see?

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

[smiles softly] It's not important, is it? What we need to do is move on and focus on recovery.

[oliverplus]

Isn't it? I mean, they'd need support and their friends right now. That's an important part of recovery.

But...I am trying to work out why it happened. Maybe that'll give us some idea of what to expect next--and what to do about it.

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

I never said they aren't. But I don't need to burden you with what I've seen.

What have you found so far?

[oliverplus]

It's just...it's harder to help when I don't know what's going on.

[sighs] Lots of ideas and not many answers. Did you talk to Weber at all?

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

Do you know a Sirius Black or Remus Lupin?

Only briefly. Tell me some of your ideas?

[oliverplus]

[relaxes a little at the names. he's still upset that they died, but it's a relief to only hear of people he already knew about] Yeah, I talked to Sirius.

Okay, basically... [pauses. is there any simple way to explain this?] As far as I know, there are groups out there that want to take over the Plane. I know there are people interfering with the Plane with the names of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but I've only actually been told that Pestilence wants to take over, so I don't know about the others. Kaiser is another person who wants to take over--Pestilence used to be his servant but is working against him now.

These other people have been causing some of the recent events on the Plane. The black hole is the way to get control, and it needs to grow for somebody to take control, and it grows when people die, so...so we had death matches. And this.

Something like that, maybe.

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

Have any of these Horsemen shown themselves, or are they playing with us from the shadows?

[oliverplus]

Weber and the king knew them, but we haven't met any of them. At least, not that we know of... [everything's becoming suspicious on the Plane these days]

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

Do you think one of them could be here now?

[oliverplus]

[surprised] I...I don't know. I mean...I guess there'd be no way to tell, really. But I think everyone here is genuine. [he's never thought that anyone other than the people running the Plane could be anything but. and he knows they are, doesn't he? he's felt how they feel. looks into Inara's eyes, wondering what she's getting at with this]

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

It's not that I'm questioning those of us who have been here. But I wonder if there's anything going on we can't see.

[oliverplus]

Ohhh. [relaxes a bit; that's a prospect that's much easier to stomach] I have a feeling there is, even if it's not here around us...

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

I'm sure we'll figure it out in time.

[oliverplus]

Yeah. [tries for a reassuring smile, though he's not really feeling it at the moment] Yeah, we have to.

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

[pats his arm and smiles] Quite.

[oliverplus]

[smiles back, reassured by that] Let me know if you find anything out, all right, Inara? I'm gonna keep looking.

[elegantthestars.livejournal.com]

I'll be certain to do so.

[oliverplus]

Thanks.