θ 4

[bit_impossible]

[the Doctor stands outside the library, Meredith's words of caution from the projection surfacing in one of his many passing thoughts:

"Be careful in the library."

for the Doctor, that's like slapping a big ol' "DO NOT ENTER" sign on it and expecting him to stay out. of course, it's a sign that he'll brazenly ignore and continue on his merry way just like he's always done.

but he has another reason for heading for the library besides some not-quite-so-amateur sleuthing...]

[to no one in particular:] Well, let's hope the bookworms haven't decided to revolt!

[he pushes the doors open with a flourish and heads in]

Comments

[bit_impossible]

[his brow furrows as he frowns] So being made to make choices and vote like that is new then, is that right?

[lamb_of_gold]

It certainly is. Being forced to stay here has happened twice before, but neither times were either quite so long a stay, nor quite so intense.

[bit_impossible]

[he stands up straight, turning his attentions immediately on to Mu] Twice? I'd heard about the incident at the onsen, but there was another?

[lamb_of_gold]

Mm. Perhaps....six months after I first arrived, maybe seven. The stars went out, and we were all pulled here at once and unable to leave. The darkness made getting around quite a feat.

[bit_impossible]

[both eyebrows shoot up] I'm sure it did. But did anyone fall into that black hole?

[lamb_of_gold]

No. I don't think the black hole had even appeared by that point.

[bit_impossible]

[all right, now he's thoroughly distracted from his search] Really? What happened to make it appear?

[lamb_of_gold]

I don't recall any particular trigger. It simply appeared one day.

[bit_impossible]

[frowns] Just out of the blue, then... [he falls silent for a moment] Did anything happen after that? Or before?

[lamb_of_gold]

Nothing of note that I recall.

[bit_impossible]

[continues to frown] Maybe nothing needed to happen back then. Or maybe the game that lot plays with us was merely in the beginning stages and even they didn't know what they wanted from us then.

[lamb_of_gold]

I think, perhaps, Lapis and Lazuli were still in control of their own experiment back then.

[bit_impossible]

Lapis and--ah yes, the twins. Had any of the others shown up at that point? Though, I can imagine Meredith was in on it from the beginning. [note the change in tone when he gets to her name. he's still very angry where she's concerned]

[lamb_of_gold]

Yes. She's been around since the beginning. I don't recall seeing any of the others until...hm, I think right after our first forced stay. The ghostly woman appeared for a moment.

[bit_impossible]

Resident Plane apparition?

[lamb_of_gold]

Perhaps. She was the one who brought back the stars, so I assume she has some knowledge of how this place really works, if only on a superficial level.

[bit_impossible]

Does she have a name at all? If she knows how to manipulate the Plane in any way... [he frowns, thinking] Maybe she's being used by some of the others, or maybe...she's helping them willingly for her own goals.

[lamb_of_gold]

If she does, I've not heard it.

[bit_impossible]

Ah well. I'll just have to call her the "ghost who is sort of a ghost but isn't"--blimey, that's a bit long, isn't it? Pseudo-ghost? Nah, "Pseudo-apparition" is probably a bit more PC.

[lamb_of_gold]

Why not the Ghostly Woman?

[bit_impossible]

Well, that's assuming she's a woman in the first place. Could just be a chosen form.

[lamb_of_gold]

Her voice was certainly feminine enough.

[bit_impossible]

Haven't come across many shapeshifters, have you Mu?

[lamb_of_gold]

Very few, I'm afraid.

[bit_impossible]

Then you're lucky. Well, that's not entirely fair. I know a very pleasant Whifferdill who's an absolute joy to be around.