[001]

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

[There's a high school-aged school wandering on the plane today, her schoolbag clutched tightly in both hands, dangling in front of her while she examines her surroundings. Her neck is craned backwards at an awkward (and possibly somewhat uncomfortable) angle so she can stare up at the star-patched sky, bushy hair falling haphazardly down her back.

Her facial features are contorted in curious confusion, brows furrowed together and nose wrinkled, and she releases one hand from the strap of her bag to brush a few strands of her bangs from her eyes.]

This isn't right...

[It's mumbled, mostly to herself, and her sneakers squeak against the metallic ground as she turns on her heel, shifting her searching gaze from the sky to the stars underneath her feet.

A few more moments of silence pass, before she straightens. Without ceremony, she lifts her free hand up to her arm and pinches it-- hard.]

Ouch!

[That plan certainly didn't work.]

Mou... so much for that dream theory.

Comments

[misplacedsword.livejournal.com]

No, dear girl, I'm afraid this isn't a dream. Or if it is, it's certainly the strangest one I've ever had. The first one I've ever had, as a matter of fact.

[He seems to have gone off on a tangent there, which is far from his original intention. He'd been planning on offering her assistance. Aziraphale offers her an apologetic smile.]

This is your first time here, I imagine?

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

[She stiffens in surprise a bit, turning on her heel again and whipping around to face the man who addressed her. He didn't look menacing-- in fact, he looked more helpful than anything-- and so she lets out a relieved breath and nods, indicating that yes, this is her first time]

And it's not yours?

[misplacedsword.livejournal.com]

No, it isn't, though my first visit here wasn't very long ago.

If you have any questions, I'm more than happy to attempt to answer them for you.

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

Not very long-- um...

[Well, she was right about him being helpful. With a nod, she relaxes her shoulders and takes a hold of her bag again]

I visited the information kiosk and read one of the brochures, so I know what this place is. I guess my question is-- [a beat]

How is this even possible? You read about this in science fiction books, you don't actually live it!

[misplacedsword.livejournal.com]

[He smiles brightly at hearing she's read the brochures. Oh, excellent, that does make his job easier.]

Ah. I suppose this means you don't come from a universe that has such things as time travel or the occult?

[It has been a bit easier for him to accept, as reality altering isn't particularly new to him.]

[mirakill.livejournal.com]

[ Have a quiet observer. Another person from that kakera...? ]

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

[She almost misses her at first, too busy trying to make sense of the sky and ground. But when she does, she turns on her heel to face this quiet observer, curiosity still lacing her expression.

A little girl?]

-- hello!

[mirakill.livejournal.com]

A true newcomer, then.

[ That voice was far too deep for just a little girl. ]

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

[It is, and it makes Aoko start once in surprise before she continues]

Mmm, I think so. You aren't?

[mirakill.livejournal.com]

I've had my time here, certainly.

[ Judging you quietly to see if you'll affect her 'game' any... ]

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

[Have a pretty mage who is very amused at her reaction] I suppose it would be slightly easier to deal with if it was a dream.

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

[She lets out a light huff]

I wouldn't be stuck here wondering what the heck happened if it were.

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

[Still amused] I assume this is your first time here then. This is the Astral Plane, and you were brought here just as the rest of us were, but don't worry. It's not like you're stuck here, at least not totally.

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

I read the brochure at the kiosk, so I know what's going on, but...

[A beat]

That still doesn't make this any less weird.

[oliverplus]

[Oliver hurries over to her with a friendly wave, spotting the typical uncertainty of a newcomer] Hey! Um...this isn't a dream. I know it's weird, but welcome to the Astral Plane!

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

[The enthusiasm nearly startles her, and she takes a step back in surprise before she realizes he clearly means well... and a small, weak, and somewhat sheepish smile works its way onto her lips]

-- thank you! Ah... I guess you see stuff like this often?

[oliverplus]

[his smile catches; he didn't mean to startle her. his tone is gentler when he replies] Yeah, I've been here for a while. I'm Oliver--Oliver Day. How about you?

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

[She relaxes a bit more and nods]

I'm Aoko. Aoko Nakamori. It's nice to meet you, Day-san.

[oliverplus]

[makes a face] Oliver's fine! Nice to meet you, too, Aoko. Have you seen the brochure about the Plane yet, or can I help you out?

[asmallamoroso.livejournal.com]

[ It wasn't very often she bothered to greet any of the newcomers to the Astral Plane. But this time around, when she came across the teenage girl staring at the sky she actually had to pause for a moment. She looked... vaguely familiar. Her eyebrows narrowed before shaking her head.

No, no, that was ridiculous thinking. Really now, she's been becoming more and more paranoid about who could show up these days. ]

It's real, despite this all being ridiculously over the top.

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

-- ah?

[The new voice causes Aoko to turn around to face the newcomer, blinking a few times in surprise as she does so. A little girl... and one who seemed familiar with this place, too.

The girl lets out a small, short, and amused laugh as Ai describes the plane as 'over the top']

It really is, but I guess all of the stars make it feel like outer space. Which would be the point, right?

[asmallamoroso.livejournal.com]

[ She shrugged her shoulders in response as she glanced up at the sky. ]

The only point to this place is to be an experiment. That has always been my understanding.

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

Mou... I read about that. I thought it was some kind of joke.

The brochure didn't really elaborate on what that meant, though.

[ravenchaser.livejournal.com]

[Oh, great. The Plane dragged in another idiot. Those were clearly Gin's thoughts.

He was not impressed.]

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

[Aoko notices the man out of the corner of her eye, and she lifts one hand from her bag to brush a few bangs out of her eyes. He certainly didn't look like the friendliest sort, but there was no one else around...

She hesitates, gaze flickering away from him and back to the sky, a frown tugging down the corners of her lips.

To approach, or to not approach...]

-- hello?

[Or to call at him from afar]