(no subject)

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

[And so Max stood there in the wooded thicket, listening to the silence brought on by his thrashing and wanton destruction. He could still feel the hair on the back of his neck raised, and he could still feel the angry tears in his eyes, but he really didn’t know what to do or where to go. He ran away, and he was never going back. Absently, he looked out back towards his neighborhood, but his eyes were drawn instead to a shop. A familiar shop that he could have sworn he’d gone in before. He burst through the bushes and romped on over, peering into the window, his warm breath fogging up the glass. Then, he moves to the door and swings it open, trumping right on in with his head turned down, his hands like claws. Scary, right? He looked up then and gasped.]

Mister? Hello?

[It seemed natural for him to call out to the man he thought had run the shop, but he got no answer as he stepped out onto the plane, gazing around with curiosity and confusion, but mostly apprehension.]

Hey Mister, are you there?

Anyone?

Comments

[lamb_of_gold]

There's always someone here, child.

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

Where is here?

[lamb_of_gold]

The Astral Plane.

[It's been awhile since it brought someone this young, though...]

It...is far from home, but it's easy to return, should you wish.

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

[The Astral what?]

Far? It's like we're in outer space. I thought you couldn't breath here either.

[He stops at that. Hm.] Do I have to? Go back?

[lamb_of_gold]

It does resemble that, doesn't it? I don't think Space has a floor, either, however.

[Not quite the reaction he was expecting...]

Not if you do not wish to.

[empirical_data]

Are you looking for a particular individual? [Data has his worry on.]

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

[Max nods, looking to the older man. He seems to have plenty of answers for him, why he's here? He looks behind him only to see more plane, more space. Too him, this was excellent.]

I don't think it was supposed to. [Nobody said anything about it in school.]

I'm Max.

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

The guy from the shop. [Maybe it was him? He didn't get a good view. He looks at Data expectantly from under his hood.]

[lamb_of_gold]

This isn't quite space, however. It's...another universe, one could say.

My name is Mu.

[ainsophaured.livejournal.com]

[Hello, it's your friendly neighborhood Aster. He smiles at the boy.]

Don't worry. There are others here.

[empirical_data]

I am afraid he visits infrequently. [Sympathetically.] Do you know much concerning where you currently are?

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

[Max doesn't get that one bit. They don't quite cover quantum physics in the third grade, nor did he read or watch much science fiction. So now there's just a really tentative silence as Max nods at he name, but has nothing else to say on the matter.]

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

Oh. [Max looks down with confusion and mild disappointment. But that's fine. He doesn't need the shop keeper.]

I thought... Maybe I was in outer space.

NOW WITH PROPER SPELLING!

[lamb_of_gold]

[Well, he's not a teacher for nothing. Mu can see the lack of understanding, so he exhales, and looks for simpler words to put this into.]

Do you know of ghosts?

[empirical_data]

It is a place known as the Astral Plane. It can be very dangerous... You should not remain unattended while here. [He leans down to have a better look at Max.] I am Lt. Commander Data. Greetings.

I've had my share of typoes this week too, no big!

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

Ghosts?

I know about ghosts, but there aren't any here, are there?

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

[And Max leans away. This guy was a stranger than most he's ever met. He's never really given much pause to the warning of don't talk to strangers, but he's beginning to understand why all the parents in his neighborhood made such a fuss about it. Besides, Max was in no mood to be told what to do. He was a wolf. A mighty predator who could take care of himself. On the other hand he was finally getting some attention.]

I don't need anybody looking after me. [He growls in a way that he would consider fiercely. He doesn't care what Data thinks of him. Maybe he could live his life here instead, rather than going back to his mom and stupid older sister.]

[lamb_of_gold]

Of course not. Only that being here is similar, in a way, to being ghosts. We can return home and stay there and do as we wish, but here is a place that is not-quite home that only we may come to.

Hmm, perhaps that was a poor analogy after all....

[ravenchaser.livejournal.com]

[And Gin will simply ignore the boy; he is no fan of children.]

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

[That didn't sound too bad actually, but weren't ghosts dead people? He didn't mean that, did he?]

Can I stay as long as I want?

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

Where is here?

[lamb_of_gold]

Of course you may, although I do not recommend it. There's no way to tell time here, and it can muck up your sleeping and eating if you're not careful.

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

You mean there's no food here? [Would he have to find another place?]

Maybe there are other places I can go.

[lamb_of_gold]

Oh there is plenty of food. The refrigerator in the kitchen will restock endlessly. I meant more in terms of knowing when it is time to eat or sleep.

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

That's easy. You eat when you're hungry and sleep when you're tired.

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

Hey!

Hey Mister! [Yep. He saw you.]

[ravenchaser.livejournal.com]

[He stops, but does not turn to face the boy.]

[lamb_of_gold]

You'd be surprised at how long one can go hungry before realizing it. However, if you think you know better, then far be it from me to stop you.

[wildwolfking.livejournal.com]

[Maybe he doesn't know better, but it made sense to him. But if he says he won't stop him, then that's good on him.]

So. Um. Will you tell me how to get home? Just in case?

[lamb_of_gold]

Just in case, hm? It's more simple than it sounds, but you must think of home, and make a conscious effort to return, something like taking a step.