[001]

[grip_on_reality]

Oh. Would you look at that.

[finding herself in the middle of a field of stars, Menzies' first instinct is to spend a moment looking around to get an idea of her situation. her eyes roam over the star patterns reaching as far as she can see. she taps a foot on the ground, frowning at the feel of it]

Well. That has to be the smoothest trip to another planet I've ever had. Not that I make a habit of it, but I do have some experience. Now... [she straightens, her demeanor growing more serious--ready for anything--though her tone remains conversational] Are you going to show yourself? Because whoever you are, I think I oughta recommend you to some people. I bet you could have yourself an interdimensional taxi service if you wanted.

Or do you just make a habit of kidnapping police officers? Because in case you don't know, some planets frown on that sort of behaviour.

[takes a step forward, watching for anyone around her] Well? What have you got to say for yourself?

Comments

[grip_on_reality]

[continues to eye him, trying to make sense out of that] So you're a time traveler? Or I've travelled in time? Is that what this is? Because if it is, you'd better stop talking right there. I've got some experience with this sort of thing, and nobody's supposed to know their own future.

[bit_impossible]

I'm not exactly worried about that, Patricia. Nor for you, for that matter. We're not exactly from the same reality, you see--well, I don't think so, anyway.

[grip_on_reality]

[raises an eyebrow getting a little annoyed at how nonsensical he's being] Care to explain that? And, in that case, just exactly who you are?

[bit_impossible]

I will with th--[sticks his hands into his trousers and discovers that he doesn't have any of his usual pocket contents]--this brochure that I will give you once I show you to the proper kiosk. Definitely helps with the basics.

And me? Well...let's just say we're well acquainted with one another. The question is: where exactly are you in your timeline? Have you been down to London yet? Investigated any suspicious 'gang' leaders? Or are you investigating a suspicious coin, by any chance?

[grip_on_reality]

A brochure. Right. [she's learned by now that it's best not to question items like that, even if her mind is wondering why the hell a place like this would offer brochures] So which way's the kiosk? [she gestures at the unending stars around them]

[but her jaw drops at that. for a moment, she just stares at him. then she narrows her eyes, pointing at him accusingly] Oh no. I should've known you'd be in the middle of all this!

[bit_impossible]

[he's about to head off towards the kiosk when she starts giving him that accusatory glare] Me?! I didn't do anything. Haven't we been through this already?

[grip_on_reality]

But every time my life goes completely bonkers, who do I find more tangled in the mess than the person who started it? You--Doctor.

[bit_impossible]

[immediately starts to rub the back of her neck] Oh, figured that out did you? [doesn't wait for her to speak] Well...I'm not entirely surprised. You've always been quick on that sort of thing.

But for the record, it isn't always me who gets you into these..."messes"! I seem to remember you walking into them on your own just fine.

[grip_on_reality]

[she just eyes him. yes, she knows it's you. the whole regeneration bit may have sounded bizarre, but she did believe it then, and she can certainly see the obvious evidence of it now]

But you know, the only time I see entire cities--or the Earth--about to be destroyed, you're always there. Coincidences are really amazing. Why, I might almost think you do it on purpose!

So what is this place? And what are you in the middle of this time?

[bit_impossible]

Yes--because I just happen to be passing through and have to stop these things while I'm there. But it's never on purpose. Well...saving the Earth and the universe is, but not instigating the trouble to begin with!

This is the Astral Plane--and I was in the middle of doing something that apparently wasn't important since I came here. [really, he's avoiding making a stop to restock the kitchen, so he just nips here to grab something to eat when he's feeling a bit peckish]

[grip_on_reality]

Ah, yeah, of course! That explains it! [and that's not sarcastic at all, of course~]

You mean like dressing up for a Halloween party? [because don't think she didn't notice the extreme change in your sense of style] So what's an "Astral Plane" when it's at home? Beside the worst nightmare of someone who waxes floors.

[bit_impossible]

[arches his eyebrow] Yes, that explains it. [and he's going no further with that line of argument!]

No, but that's not a bad idea. Haven't been to one in ages. But since you've asked, no, that is not the answer. The answer to what the Astral Plane is, well, exactly what it says in that brochure. It's a nexus point, which makes it far easier for me to run into you and in the proper order this time.

[grip_on_reality]

[she snorts, but she doesn't push him. she figures her smirk is answer enough]

But I see being at a "nexus point" doesn't get us to those brochures any faster. What a shame. Did you want to explain, or were you going to show me where to find them after all?

[bit_impossible]

[he gives her a look, and then launches into a very long and very technical explanation about the Astral Plane, nexus points--and really, everything she'd possibly ask after looking at one of those brochures--or so he hopes. she canbe very tenacious and persistent when it comes to information.

her and Sarah Jane would get along.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she rolls her eyes. really, how pedantic can someone be?] Yeah, thanks. I think I'd be better off with the brochure. Which way?

[bit_impossible]

[exasperatedly] Oh sure, my highly detailed explanation--which I don't just give to everyone, by the way!--isn't enough. Oh no, you want the brochure.

[reluctantly grabs her hand and stomps off towards the kiosk]

[grip_on_reality]

You know, I can think of a few reasons not to give that explanation to everyone.

[assuming he isn't holding on too tightly, she tugs her hand from his grasp, but she does follow him]

[bit_impossible]

[gives her a somewhat annoyed look, but really with her, he sort of expects it.]

[it doesn't take long to get to the kiosk. instead of giving her an option between Broderick's and Nathan's brochures--surely Nathan's would draw more questions of things he already explained--he skips through the menu options and hands her a paper copy of Broderick's Plane advert.] There. It'll just say the exact thing I previously told you about.

[grip_on_reality]

[she smiles] And I bet it'll even say it in English. [she takes the brochure, starting to read through it]

...you're kidding.

[bit_impossible]

[gives her a look that says he is very much not kidding and really, didn't you hear his wonderful and detailed explanation that he rarely ever gives?]

[grip_on_reality]

So let me get this straight--now that I've found this place, I can just...go back to Manchester, and come back here whenever I like? Without even clicking my heels together and saying "there's no place like home"?

[bit_impossible]

Well, you could do, but you'd look awfully silly, don't you think? I mean, I sure there's a pair of ruby slippers somewhere in the TARDIS wardrobe if you really want to look the part, but you don't strike me as the type, Patricia.

[grip_on_reality]

[she snorts] So what's stopping me from just swanning off, then? If this place really is all about experiments, I can guess why you'd be here, but what about someone who doesn't spend their life looking for trouble?

[bit_impossible]

[he drops all pretence of being annoyed, his expression going completely serious] At this point, you don't have a choice. Trouble, as always, has a way of finding you somehow. But you won't be able to bring this one to justice quite so easily. And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, but you are in even more danger here than you can ever imagine.

[grip_on_reality]

[outwardly, Menzies is unruffled--curious, if anything. inside, her stomach just dropped] All right, give it to me straight, then. Just what have we got ourselves mixed up in this time?