[010].

[bonnypiperlad]

[It's been some time, hasn't it, Plane? Jamie's been off with his Doctor, having adventures, fighting beasties and creeping down corridors. But the Plane has a habit of drawing you back, sometimes when you least expect it. And today just so happens to be one of those days.

Although...something seems a bit different. The man who is looking around is doing so in a decidedly reserved manner, a hint of disdain on his features. It only grows more as he walks along, taking in the destruction wrought by the other denizens of the Plane, and as he sets eyes on the new inhabitants of the forest, he makes a derisive noise in the back of his throat - something not at all like his usual 'Och'.]

Creatures again? And here I thought there might be something original this time. But...perhaps there's a 'wee bit' more to it. Would someone care to fill me in? That is, if you're not all too busy setting things on fire or destroying windows at the moment. I'd not wish to interrupt ye if ye are.

(( OOC: Jamie has also eaten a candy, and for it, he is now someone who is much more arrogant and willing to manipulate the situation to his benefit. He may or may not choose to tamper with another characters mind, given the circumstances (ie if you would like to have anything done or not), but he will certainly not hesitate to try and do so if provoked or attacked. ))

Comments

[anoblesavage.livejournal.com]

Original? You cannot tell me that you expected this, Jamie!

[bonnypiperlad]

[Jamie looks Leela up and down, then sniffs. When he speaks, it's in a much colder tone than usual.] Oh, didn't I? I would think that by now you would have realized that things go wrong here more often then not.

Unless, of course, you're much less observant than ye seem to be. [He smiles, but not in a particularly pleasant way.] Ah, but ye are a warrior. It would be very dangerous to be unaware of what's going on. Perhaps even fatal.

[anoblesavage.livejournal.com]

[That was not the voice of her friend. It was the voice of someone that she had no desire to know.]

They do, but the dangers that we face are different each time.

[bonnypiperlad]

Oh, aye. [His tone is dismissive, and he doesn't seem particularly worried about any dangers.] But they're all experiments, in the end. It's just a matter of figuring out what's been done now.

So tell me, Leela. What do ye think it is we're facing, then?

[anoblesavage.livejournal.com]

We are facing something that has taken our friends and replaced them with people who only wear their faces.

[bonnypiperlad]

Are we now? Ye seem very certain of that. [He takes a few steps towards her, canting his head as he studies her face to see if there's any small shifts in expression that would indicate anything other than her telling the truth.]

That wouldn't explain the creatures, though. They've certainly not wearing any of our faces.

[anoblesavage.livejournal.com]

I am. [She met his gaze evenly, the instinct of a warrior telling her that it would be foolish to back down.] Maybe they are waiting for a body of their own.

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye, well, if that's the case, then they may be waiting quite some time. Or...it could be something else.

Who have ye seen that's been replaced?

[anoblesavage.livejournal.com]

Apart from you, you mean?

[bonnypiperlad]

[He chuckles, although there's little actual humor in it.] Oh, but I still have my own face, plain as day for anyone to see. Ah, but ye can't, can ye? Instead, you're having to rely on things like your instincts...but maybe they're wrong.

[A few steps closer, and he's dangerously close to getting into Leela's personal space.] Who's not to say that this isn't something Jamie's been all along, deep down?

[anoblesavage.livejournal.com]

It is Jamie's face. You are not Jamie.

I may not be wise, but I am old enough to have learned to trust my instincts a long time ago. I do not believe that. He is a good man. The Doctor saw it and so do I.

[bonnypiperlad]

Good is such a relative term, though. Don't ye think so? You're a warrior, Leela, or so ye claim. Surely ye know anyone who has to kill isn't as good as all that. He's fought in a war, much the same as ye have. Do ye truly think he came out of that having spilled no blood in the process?

[anoblesavage.livejournal.com]

There is a difference between killing to save your friends or because she have no other choice than killing for the sake of feeling blood on your blade. A true warrior knows that.

[oliverplus]

Jamie! [Oliver is too glad to see his friend to mind much how Jamie's acting. he hurries over to him, catching only the end of his monologue] You saw the people doing that, huh? You okay?

[bonnypiperlad]

Oliver. [There's no glad thumpings by way of greeting like there would normally be, even though it's been quite some time since Jamie's seen him last. Instead, he gives his 'friend' a rather scornful look.]

If I'd seen what happened, I'd not be asking about it, now would I? [He's not even going to bother to answer the second question. Of course he's perfectly fine.]

Although I can't say that I'm surprised that ye seem to know a bit more about it.

[oliverplus]

[Oliver stops in his tracks at that; it's obvious there's something wrong now. he shakes his head, horrified] Not you, too...

[uncertainly] What do you mean?

[bonnypiperlad]

[Jamie's eyebrows arch upwards.] "Not me, too?"

Ah, but that's my point, isn't it? Ye obviously know something what's been going on. You're always in the thick of things, aren't ye, Oliver? Affected by these experiments in some way or another. Almost as if ye were some great magnet for trouble.

Does it bother you?

[oliverplus]

[he's taken aback by the comment. yes, it does--very much. but Jamie already knows that]

[trying to sound firm] That's not important right now. Jamie...did you find any candy recently?

[bonnypiperlad]

[There's an almost amused-sounding noise that comes from him at that.]

Surely ye know the answer to that question, already. Oh, wait. [He moves a little closer to Oliver, looking at him almost as if sizing him up in some way.] You've not been placed under an experiment yourself, have ye? One that's made you forget who it is I'm traveling with?

Or, should I say, who I was traveling with. He's a wee bit...shall we say...indisposed, currently. But never mind that. I think I'd much rather know why you're interested in finding out if I've had a sweet lately.

[oliverplus]

[Oliver resists the urge to take a step back when Jamie comes up to him. it's terrifying, the way he's acting, but he's still Jamie. Oliver knows he has to face whatever is happening to him--for his sake. Jamie needs his help]

No. But you have been, Jamie. Can't you tell?

...what!? [he can't hide his alarm. he swallows hard. Jamie is talking about the Doctor, and since it's the Doctor, Oliver is sure he must be okay. but if he had any hope left in his mind that this is still Jamie, it's gone now. he struggles to keep his voice calm] B-because you did. Because it's changed you!

[bonnypiperlad]

Have I, now? [Oh, now he is amused. His mouth curls into a smile that, while it is on Jamie's face, bears very little resemblance to any smile he normally would have.]

My my. So alarmed-sounding, Oliver. Ye would almost think something's happened to him, from that reaction. [The smile stretches, just a tiny amount.] No, he's playing a very intense game of infinite chess on Halemat Station at the moment. They've decided to try the four dimensional variant, and I got a wee bit bored watching them.

[He reaches out to clap a hand onto his shoulder in a seemingly friendly gesture.] Now, how, exactly, would ye say I've changed?

[oliverplus]

[as firmly as he can manage] Yes.

[he's surprised--but relieved--by Jamie's explanation of where the Doctor is. he only hopes it's the truth. when Jamie touches him, he fights the urge to move away. instead, he looks his friend in the eyes, steeling himself for whatever his empathy might cause him to feel in response]

You're not like this, Jamie. You're kind--one of my best friends.

[bonnypiperlad]

Tsk, using your powers on me so soon. What's the matter, Oliver? Don't ye trust your best friend? [He's actually not lying about what the Doctor is doing - just about why he had left. He doesn't want the Doctor to find out how he's changed...not just yet, until he's had time to plan some things more properly.

But now Oliver's gone and meddled, like he usually does, and Jamie's face twists into a rather unpleasant expression. For a moment, there's displeasure that can be felt there, backed by a coldness that lacks any hint of kindness to it. Then, quite deliberately, he snaps a shield into place, blocking the attempt to probe any deeper. His grip tightens on Oliver's shoulder, and his other hand snakes around to grab the back of his former friend's neck in an attempt to prevent him from backing away.]

Hasn't anyone told ye that someday you'll do that to someone who'll return the favor by using their powers on ye?

[oliverplus]

I--I didn't for that! [which is true; he only meant to make eye contact to show Jamie he was serious. but he was also hoping the empathy might tell him more about what's happened to his friend. he shudders at what he does feel, but perhaps even more alarming is when those feelings suddenly disappear. Oliver blinks, startled. he stares at Jamie. they're certainly maintaining eye contact, but...there's nothing there. it's like being around Irving--or the Doctor with his shield up. it takes Oliver a second to think of what this might mean, or more importantly what to do. he does try to pull away from Jamie, but his friend is not only in a better position but also stronger. and at that statement, Oliver's blood runs cold] ...what?

[bonnypiperlad]

Don't pretend as if ye didn't understand the question. You're oh so willing to use that empathy of yours when it's convenient. Surely you're not afraid of the consequences for going where you're not wanted?

Jamie, the fool, may not have minded having his emotions being known by his 'best friend', but I do not share those...heh. Feelings.

[He wraps his fingers in Oliver's hair, tightly enough that if Oliver continues to struggle it'll be rather painful for him. The hand that was on his shoulder moves to the side of Oliver's face.]

You're lucky that I'm not a more vindictive person now, or I'd let ye experience some of the more...painful things Jamie's been through over the years. After all, ye did want to know what he's feeling, did ye not?