(no subject)

[truth_is_cold]

[His first steps onto the plane are understandably cautious. Rhade is paranoid, suddenly having been introduced to an unfamiliar location. Though his first agenda is to check out the brochures. ...Both of them. One he reads reasonably. The other? Well, his eyes widen as he peruses the text.

Both of them he replaces before stepping away from the kiosk and starting a rudimentary investigation of this strange open expanse of space. With... a kitchen of a fashion that he is unfamiliar with.

He doesn't want to admit that he's unnerved, but a soft growl builds up in his chest. Not a normal human growl, but deeper, almost like a big cat prowling in a cage. That's about the only sign that he's bothered, not that most people would catch it unless they knew that he so very rarely growled. He didn't like the smell of nothing. At least his boneblades are tucked up against his arm.]

If there is someone else here, I would like to speak with you. [He tugs his uniform coat tidily, wondering if anyone he knew had access to the plane.] My name is Gaheris Rhade of the Majorum Pride, Commander of the Andromeda Ascendant. [He speaks in a deadpan.]

Though if no one is available, I can investigate on my own. [Not that he expects to find much that would make sense.]

Comments

[collector]

[Growls, he's used to. He lives with a small force of Killorans, after all. He doesn't quite recognise the sound of it, though, and that is always a point of interest. So he approaches the newcomer.] Oh, don't. Investigating is far more fun as a group effort.

My notifs have just flittered off again. \o/

[truth_is_cold]

[He eyebrows at the sign of the voice.] It can at least give you additional perspectives on a location. [As well as strength in numbers.]

Do you know why we're chosen to come here?

yup mine too

[collector]

No. The selection process could have reasoning to it, or it could be completely unpredictable. The subjects vary in nearly every possible respect, save that they all appear capable of surviving in an environment such as this.

Hrrm.

[truth_is_cold]

Surviving in the environment? [That perks his interest.] I'm intrigued. It doesn't look particularly inhospitable at the moment. Unusual. But not inhospitable.

[Saying it can be dangerous just confirms his suspicions.]

[collector]

[Braxiatel laughs a genial laugh.] No, forgive me. I don't mean that it's inhospitable, though it has its moments. I mean, more than anything, that the air is what's termed 'Earth normal' in my universe. As is the gravity. A Yesodi wouldn't be free to walk around in this, and they have yet to choose a Yesodi.

[truth_is_cold]

Based off Earth-type specifications. [He looks down at the non-ground curiously.]

Why would it be based off Earth? [In that tone that would also ask why Nightsiders would have a bikini contest.] It's a very unexceptional planet and has difficulties with infestation.

[collector]

Yes, but it does usually take care of those problems. [Alternate histories, how are you today?] I believe the majority of individuals here are humans, though perhaps not the humans you are familiar with.

[truth_is_cold]

[There is the dryest look in the world.] Most of its native wildlife went extinct over a millenia ago. I suppose the invasive species have held their own.

[It doesn't sound like they know the same Earth, and Braxiatel's clothes are a little strange to him. He extends a hand to Brax to shake.] Whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?

[collector]

[That proves that, then. He smiles as he accepts the hand.] Irving Braxiatel. A collector of arts and antiquities. Pleasure to meet you, Commander Rhade.

[truth_is_cold]

[He's up beside of him and in the process of shaking his hand when he tilts his head a little, eyes flitting down to Braxiatel's chest as if he's wondering what he's hearing. He doesn't question it right then, as he wears his oddities on the outside.]

Most of the inhabitants are human or some subspecies then? [Someone is familiar with humanity having subspecies.]

[collector]

[He has been wondering about those boneblades.] For the most part, yes. You understand, I wouldn't want to be so forward as to ask everybody I meet.

[truth_is_cold]

I am not particularly shy. [Does he want Rhade to think he's human? Is he a subspecies of human? Does he want to keep it from other people?] Nevertheless, it is a curious prerequisite for choosing individuals. No habitat set aside for the Pyrians for instance. [He'll talk around it for a while.]

[collector]

[He can do the Talking Fandago. And in the way he smiles, he is saying that he knows Rhade knows that they're playing this dance.] I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that species.

[truth_is_cold]

[His tight reciprocated smile is punctuated by a very slight furrowing of his brow after a moment, and a glance to the side. How odd that he doesn't know what Pyrians are, yet he seems to have no issue with subspecies of humans existing.]

What year are you from, CY?

[collector]

Does that stand for Current Year? CE is the dominant calendar of my part of the universe.

[truth_is_cold]

[The part of his mind that makes questions just went supernova. The quick blink tells you so.] Commonwealth Year, as in the All Systems Commonwealth. I am to presume you're not familiar with it.

[collector]

I don't believe a Commonwealth has been established in Mutter's Spiral. Certainly not by this century. Perhaps in a future that the library would point me too.

[truth_is_cold]

[Mutter's Spiral?] The Commonwealth stretches over the Andromeda, Milky Way, and Triangulum galaxies, as well as touches some of the smaller ones. It includes over a million of the known worlds.

[collector]

[A half-smile.] Intergalactic travel? How impressive. It's still in early stages here.

[truth_is_cold]

You're just developing Slipstream travel or... optionally something else? [Brax is from at least another timeline, he's beginning to suspect.]

[collector]

Travel between galaxies is generally done on generation ships. [Which does not answer the question, coincidentally.] Slipstream travel is dominant in your universe?

[truth_is_cold]

It is. [He notes that not answering of a question, and believes there are probably other forms of travel. But...] Prior to the introduction of slipstream humans travelled in lightspeed ships with time dilation effects.

[collector]

Stasis ships before warp drives. I could never get the hang of stasis. Far too long for my idea of a nap.

[truth_is_cold]

They have their uses [like sneaking in through cargo manifests rather than as a guest on a ship, or saving one's self from a vented atmosphere] but I prefer to be cognizant of my journeys. You're familiar with light speed travel but your clothing suggests a previous time. A fan of classical fashion or did I catch you before an act? [And why two heartbeats?]

[collector]

[What Braxiatel notes here is perhaps not what others would focus on, and it leads to a question.] Can you identify the period of my dress?

[truth_is_cold]

I'm not certain of the specific year. It could be prior to the Commonwealth calendar or it could be the 3100 period revival.

[collector]

It's always interesting to see what kind of history clothing is meant to evoke. [His eyes flicker over Rhade's clothing.] Do you have any further questions you'd like to ask about this place?

ARGH why accounts? Why?!

[truth_is_cold]

[He likes his uniform. It's probably one of two things he likes about the Commonwealth right now.] One.

[He points toward the distant beach.] Why is there a beach? [This perplexes him more than the bar and kitchen.]

MEET MY PAIN

[collector]

I can only assume somebody brought it here. If that person also saw fit to cut down all the trees, perhaps it was somebody with a love of the surf and a bad temper.

[It was the Doctor and the Master, so he is more or less correct on this inference.] Nobody has seen fit to bring it back.

[truth_is_cold]

Ah. [He nods knowingly. Then?]

You're not human.

[Rhade's favorite method of attack was always to walk into a room and brandish a weapon with no forewarning. Or to interrogate by talking about something completely disparate from the last thing he'd been discussing.]

[collector]

[Such weapons are best met with enigmatic half-smiles and a detached lack of response.] I'm afraid I don't quite recognise those curious tools on your arms.

[truth_is_cold]

[More questions are cropping up. He might be before Nietzscheans. He might be from somewhere else entirely. He knows Earth, but it might not be the same Earth. The idea of alternate universes hasn't been verified, but theorized.

He holds up his arm to show the boneblades.] They're boneblades. All of my people have them. Do yours have a specialized cardiovascular system?

[collector]

[It almost feels like circling a circling predator.] Do yours have heightened hearing?

[darkercalling]

[Riku's a little preoccupied with the fact that he still hasn't regained his own powers, but he's pulled from his thoughts when he hears someone calling out. May as well check it out...]

You're free to. It's not like anyone here will stop you.

words are important for things and stuff

[truth_is_cold]

No guards, then? [Plane is strange.] I suppose it's already an oddly defensible location in limiting who they allow onto it. [Riku's not dressed in a way that he recognizes, and he finds that peculiar.]

it's okay, I can words good too

[darkercalling]

[Stranger than you know yet, man. Stranger than you know.]

It's difficult to surround and attack somewhere that goes on forever in all directions. As for guards... maybe some people who show up here need to be guarded, but for the most part, everyone watches their own backs.

I know what I'll do. I'll play a genius while I have the verbal ability of Porky Pig. Great Idea.

[truth_is_cold]

It would make for an excellent chess board. [Someone likes his strategy games.]

Is it relatively safe? [Even if someone told him it was, he probably wouldn't believe it. He's vaguely under the impression that everyone is out to get you in some way or another.]

playing pretend is fun! :Db

[darkercalling]

A chess board that changes, has a beach, and occasionally breaks down and traps the pieces, sure. [Faint smirk~]

Not really. [Riku's expression gets a little dark, a touch angry.] The people behind this place run experiments on us. And like I said, sometimes we end up trapped here, unable to go back to our own worlds.

[truth_is_cold]

[It's a justifyable anger!] Are you currently being held?

[darkercalling]

Not at the moment. [He shrugs a shoulder.] Like the paper says, just think of your home and you'll go right back.

[truth_is_cold]

[And he tries it then, just to double check. Though it takes him a good fifteen seconds to come back (because when he returned, he wanted to see if the Plane left any evidence)] Intriguing.

[This would be the best place to stockpile materials. Unless someone else found them.]

What sort of tests does it conduct on its subjects?

[darkercalling]

I guess in the end, anything goes. Change in age, change in gender, change in behavior... Right now, many of us don't have our own abilities. We've been given someone else's.

[truth_is_cold]

[Change in gender sounds a little frightening.] You have someone else's abilities? Against your own genetics?

[That could be useful or terrible.] Do you have your own currently?

[darkercalling]

I don't. [And he does not sound at all happy about this.] Everyone affected got a note, though. Apparently if we find an item we're also missing, everything will go back to the way it should.

BACKTAG AHOY!

[lamb_of_gold]

Investigation may yield very little, I'm afraid. [hello, my hair is lavender!]

\o/ Backtag!

[truth_is_cold]

[Lavender hair is not as new as his choice of dress and the style in which he wears it. It gives Rhade a moment of pause.]

At least the areas worthy of investigation are very noticeable. You are?

[lamb_of_gold]

A fair point. My name is Mu. I've not seen you before, so I will assume you are new to this place.

[truth_is_cold]

I am. And I must admit you're new to me. [He gives him a curious glance-over, not knowing what to make of his attire.] No offense intended. I am merely surprised.

[lamb_of_gold]

None taken. You're not the first.