there's always someone new to take their place

[realitymods]

[A thin man appears on the Plane with no to-do. There's no fanfare or applause. He scowls and looks around the expanse of space before opening what appears to be a bottle of pills, shakes two out, and pops them in his mouth.

The man's dress puts him in this odd area between business and casual. Sneakers and worn out jeans. White dress shirt, grey suit jacket, grey tie. Brown hair brushed back and in a short ponytail. Studious glasses in front of brown eyes. Mid-30s.

The scowl turns into a brief smirk.]


There's been a change in management.

[His accent is a thick, Chicago one.]

I'm Raymond Keys. You can call me Mr. Keys, Dr. Keys, or if you're feeling a bit friendly, Ray. I don't care what you use. If you have any questions, ask 'em now. You people make me sick, and I'm not sticking around longer than I have to.


(Plot officially ended. And I'm posting this on the heels of Scribbles' because I can, but I imagine it's some time after the machine has rebooted.)

Comments

[lamb_of_gold]

A change, hm?

[realitymods]

That's what I said. Should I have been clearer? Maybe a sign with some neon lights.

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[This guy has only been here for a minute and Asch already hates him.]

Where is Meredith?

[realitymods]

Working. She has a damn life, you know. How lucky she must be to have things to do other than be at the beck and call of a bunch of freaks.

[He rubs his temple.]

You can go yell in the shop for her all you like. You'll probably see the new proprietor first, though.

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

Because we're so lucky to have your kind poking and prodding us whenever you want.

[He figures he can meet the new proprietor in person, and so--]

What happened to Lapis and Lazuli?

[realitymods]

Gone. No clue where, and I don't give a shit either. Maybe they finally broke down, the little brats.

[He sneers.]

And you should keep your mouth shut. I may be human, but I have plenty of experience in killing things stronger than me. You should feel fucking blessed I'm not here to get rid of all of you.

[lamb_of_gold]

Where are Lapis and Lazuli?

[realitymods]

I'll let you know a little secret. Come here.

[He gestures for Mu to step closer.]

[lamb_of_gold]

[he takes a half step closer]

[realitymods]

No, get over here, alright? I don't want everybody and their granny to hear what I'm saying. That's the fricken point of a secret.

[lamb_of_gold]

[sighs and goes over]

[realitymods]

[Ray smiles politely, and then in a hushed tone, as if it were a life or death secret...]

I don't know, and I don't care.

[Then he immediately steps back, stumbling a little as he does so. He holds his head for a minute before it passes.]

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[That actually makes Asch hesitate, though he doesn't let any fear show on his face. Human? Stronger than him? He narrows his eyes.]

I'm human too. Is that a problem?

[realitymods]

No. But you can do things, can't you? It's like magic. I can feel it. [He hunches his shoulders.] Like I said. It makes me sick.

I've been given medication to sedate my senses a bit so I can fricking come up here, but I can still tell. And jesus fuckin christ it still makes me sick to my stomach. Makes me a little bit dizzy.

[ainsophaured.livejournal.com]

[Aster's primary concerns lately had to do with his world. There's an underlying curiosity about the Astral Plane and how it works. Being able to talk to someone in charge is an opportunity he won't pass up.]

A change in management? What is it you do?

[realitymods]

I'm the go to man for my employer.

[He pushes his glasses up his nose.]

I do whatever he wants me to do, because, hah, I don't really have much of a choice. When he wants you to do something, you do it.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Somehow, the answer doesn't surprise him....but the reaction does. Mu takes a step closer] Oh no?

[realitymods]

[And he just quickly steps back to have his space.]

Stay the hell away from me now, alright? Unless you want to keep pushing it and have me puke on you or maybe just pass out. Then you'll just be rolling in answers, won't you? Grown man unconscious on the floor, ruining his suit and probably breaking his glasses! Yes, that answers everything. All the questions about the universe, solved by making some bastard sick.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Another half step forward] Then perhaps you should speak quickly to make me stop advancing.

[realitymods]

[He just smirks.]

You want to play this game? Fine. Come here. Knock me out then. Just stand about a foot away from me. This medication can't dampen it entirely, so that should be good enough to set me off.

[lamb_of_gold]

If you've such a hard time tolerating this place, then who's brilliant idea was it to leave you in charge?

[realitymods]

Jed. [Ray rubs his forehead.] He's made me work for him for almost ten years now. He knows I get things done with the proper prompting and...

[A bitter laugh.]

He said he might be able to fix me if I did this for him. The medication is a temporary thing. Dampens my senses so I can come here without too much hassle.

[lamb_of_gold]

Are you the only one in his employ?

[realitymods]

No. There's my partner, Sergei, but he doesn't have access to here. He tends to things back home. There's Grey - I don't like him. Jeremy. Jacob. Rita. Elias. There are probably more that I don't know about.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Hm. Haven't met any of these people yet...Out of consideration, Mu takes a half step back.]

And you're the only one who can come here?