[025]

[oliverplus]

[in the library, Oliver is sitting in one of two large armchairs with a side table between them. he doesn't have a book in front of him, though--he's just holding his black datapad, furiously typing something into it. on the table next to him is a cup of tea and a plate of scones, although they're no longer as warm as they were when he first started. he appears to have taken exactly three bites out of one of the scones, but the cup of tea has been reduced to half-full. at least it's not going to waste]

[Oliver himself is completely oblivious to his surroundings. he's so focused on what he's doing that, most likely, he won't even hear anyone approaching. but he doesn't seem to mind that at the moment; his expression is one of concentration. he looks tired, too. it seems all of the events on the Plane recently are taking their toll on him]

[muttering to himself] Damnit, I can't remember. They're my friends! I should know all this...

[does anyone care to interrupt whatever he's working so hard on?]

Comments

[oliverplus]

[he scratches his head, embarrassed] Ah, yeah... So, um. I'm Oliver! I don't think we've met.

[he hopes not, anyway. he doesn't entirely trust his memory at the moment]

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

[Then Conan's reply should reassure him.]

I'm Edogawa Conan. It's nice to meet you, Oliver-san!

I'm not as new as I was but I'm still learning this place.

[oliverplus]

[Oliver smiles] Nice to meet you! Ah, it's Conan, right? [he always gets confused with Asian names]

[he makes a face] With the Plane, I think we're all always learning... About how long've you been here?

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

Right!

Um ... about two months I think though it's hard to tell sometimes. What about you?

[oliverplus]

Hah, yeah, I know what you mean there. But, uh... [he frowns thoughtfully] I think probably about two years.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

That long?

[oliverplus]

[he nods] Yeah. Well, something like that. I mean, like you said--it's hard to tell! [he smiles sheepishly] But if you have questions, I've been here for a while.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

I do!

[Poor Oliver -- asking Conan for questions without any clue what he's in for. Conan decides to start with the biggest.]

Do you know how this is possible? The Plane, I mean.

[oliverplus]

[he really has no clue what he probably just brought upon himself]

[surprised] Uh...wow. Well, no. I mean... [he pauses, thinking for a moment. there are some things he knows about it, at least] It's a place where a lot of universes meet. And it's some sort of Machine. But I don't know how...like, something like it is created, if that's what you're asking.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

Sort of. I was also wondering how it works. Ne, if you've been here two years, I bet if anyone had tried to research it, you'd have heard about it, right!

[oliverplus]

Well, yeah... [he's tried to research it himself often enough--not that he's had much success] We know there's this...sort of control panel. This ghost woman, Roe, has used it before. It watches everything that happens on the Plane, and... [he hesitates, not wanting to frighten this kid right when he's first met him, but he wants to be honest, too] It...well, it sees our worlds, too.

Have you seen the black hole?

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

Ghost woman? Is Roe-san still here? Can I meet her?

[... our worlds. It's not a surprise but it's still a chilling realisation. How much do they know?]

Ah -- not yet.

[oliverplus]

Ah...I think Nathan's written to her before. You could try that?

It powers things--I think. I don't know the details, but...well, going in it would give you control. Or that's what they claim, anyway. [quickly] But at a cost! So don't, you know, try to do that. [he stops, feeling like he's putting his foot in his mouth more than being helpful] You might want to see it for yourself. It's blocked off now so people can't touch it, but you can still get pretty close.

[since this is a kid, he gives him a reassuring smile. clearly he should be a responsible adult and try to change the subject] But anyway, I wouldn't worry about it too much. There isn't much to do but take things as they come.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

I will! Thank you, Oliver-san.

Powers? [Conan stops himself from saying 'that's not how black holes work' -- no part of this has been how things work after all.] Ne, who claims that?

Really? That's too bad ...

[oliverplus]

Yeah, sure. Let me know if you hear from her, okay?

Ah... [Oliver frowns, thinking. unfortunately, a year and a half is a long time, but he thinks he remembers, at least] Shay told us. He... Well, we haven't heard from him in a long time. [really, Oliver had forgotten about him. he wonders if Shay's silence means anything. did he find a way to get free from the Machine after all?]

No, like I said, just--don't worry too much. All right? [he gives another reassuring smile] Everything'll work out somehow.