[005]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies has chosen to stay at the information kiosk today, hoping that it will be a good place to catch a lot of passersby. it seemed to work last time, after all. and after her conversation with Grey and subsequent conversation with Conan, she's eager to share some information--and look for people willing to help her get more of it. so she's leaning against the kiosk with her arms crossed over her chest, her expression serious despite her casual position]

Hey! So I'm guessing you know about the disappearances? 'Cause I've got a feeling something's going to happen soon, and I don't want to just wait around and find out what. Got a minute?

Comments

[lamb_of_gold]

Several, as it were.

[grip_on_reality]

[well, that's one person in particular she was looking for. good luck, that]

Good, 'cause you might be able to do something about it. I paid a visit to the shop and met a bloke called Grey. It sounds like he knows where to find our toothy culprit--only he won't share unless someone "special" drops by. But, naturally, being the wealth of information that he is, he wouldn't explain what he meant by "special" either. [she quirks her lip; it seems like everything around here is out to be as frustrating as possible] I've got some ideas, but it's a toss up, really.

[lamb_of_gold]

[His attention. You has it.]

Special, hm? What sort of ideas?

[If you even think about Athena....]

[grip_on_reality]

[she's on the short list, not that Menzies is going to start by saying so. this is why she thought about asking Athena without telling the others...]

Well, it's not me, and that's about all the real narrowing down we can do! [she sighs]

But I'm guessing you know about the, erm, Machine blood some people've got? That's one idea. Otherwise, maybe someone who's the right species or who's got the right ability--or even somebody in the right position in their world. Could be anything, which I'm sure is exactly what this place had in mind when they set all this up. [her annoyance is palpable]

Good news is--well, Grey told this story about special people and this normal kid. Very Brothers Grimm. What it boils down to is, even if you're normal, you can get to the right place as long as you're with the "special" person. So whoever fits the bill, they won't have to go there alone. [her lip twitches] At least this place doesn't want us getting lonely.

[and, since she is hoping to bring Athena into it...] And I'm not gonna say Grey's not dangerous, but he doesn't seem to have any interest in causing us trouble for looking. If anything, he's the lonely one, so he's got himself a good excuse to bring in some visitors. Basically, I don't think he's going do anything to anybody who drops by to talk to him; he doesn't seem the type. Unless he's provoked, but we'll just have to hope the people who would do that won't be the "special" ones. [not that she didn't annoy him a bit herself, but at least she knew when to backpedal]

Think you might be up for a trip?

[lamb_of_gold]

Given that I fit several of your theoretical criteria, I think I may. Did he mention whereabouts the 'special' person was to go? Or was that as vauge as anything else?

[grip_on_reality]

For the boys in the story? A forest. But somehow I doubt he'd just up and volunteer the real answer, whatwith making such a big deal about needing a special person! For a start, I'd say stop by the shop. You might be able to get something out of him.

[watching Mu closely for his reaction] And if that doesn't work, you might try stopping by with that goddess friend of yours--together, of course. Wouldn't want to leave a goddess to do all the dirty work for us humans.

[lamb_of_gold]

[There is an instant and almost palpable shift in his attitude.]

I will not expose Her to potential dangers.

[moveslikestrider]

Whoa, hold up. Disappearances? [Dave pauses in mid-step, his white eyebrow raised and expectantly waiting for the rest.]

[grip_on_reality]

Ah, you must be new then. [she shifts positions, watching for how Dave reacts] You haven't noticed any people back where you live up and disappearing? No explanations, no clues?

[moveslikestrider]

Days fresh, yeah. [He shifts to face her, hands in his red pants pockets.] You'll have to specify on that front. Or that all is known at the moment?

[grip_on_reality]

[her expression grows rather more grim] Well, we know if you wait long enough, they turn back up. But, ah, I think I'll spare you the details.

[moveslikestrider]

They're dead when they come back. [He deadpans, nary a shift in his expression. But the air about him is more serious than it was before.] I have question for you.

The ones that disappear, are the pivotal players to their reality's future?

[grip_on_reality]

[yet another mature kid! she really shouldn't be surprised anymore] If you want to keep it simple.

[well, that's an interesting turn of phrase] No. I've got a feeling the "pivotal players" are us--at least as far as this place is concerned. And somebody wants our attention.

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

What sort of something?

I'll do anything I can to help.

[grip_on_reality]

Most likely the sort we don't want to know about. Unless I've got the wrong impression about the Plane's hospitality! You never know, they could always turn around and start giving us the missing people back unharmed. [can you hear the sarcasm, Gwen?]

[Menzies nods] Good, 'cause I get the feeling we're gonna need it. What do you know already? I'll fill you in from there. [and, just in case this woman can reveal new information, Menzies pulls out her notepad and a pen]

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

I know that people have gone missing from a lot of different worlds. That there doesn't seem to be a pattern connecting the disappearances. And that the bodies of those who have gone missing have been found without their left hands.

[grip_on_reality]

That's about the long-and-short of it, yeah.

[Menzies is a little disappointed, but she doesn't let that slow her down. her only reaction is to close her notepad] I talked to Grey in the shop. He told me a story--a fairy tale straight out of Grimm, really. [her expression is sour] Seems like what he was getting at is that he knows where the creature is that's doing the dirty work--but only "special" people 'll be able to find it. Trick is, we don't know what he considers special, but he'll tell you if you are--if you pay him a visit.

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

That isn't fair. We all have a right to confront that creature after what it's done!

[Although there wasn't much that she would be able to do, she could pass the information on to Arthur and his knights.]

I'll visit it, of course, but I doubt he'll choose me. I'm only a servant.

[grip_on_reality]

[dryly] Yeah, I'd have tried to tell him that? But I doubt he would have cared.

[inwardly, she's sighing. what sort of attitude is that?] I wouldn't be too quick with that guess, love. We've got no idea what he's looking for.

[spacewich.livejournal.com]

[Jade's passing by when she catches the latter end of discussion regarding the disappearances. One of her ears twitches as she turns to the stranger at the kiosk.]

"Disappearances"? You mean here on the Plane, or somewhere else?

[Or maybe even everywhere, for all she knows.]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies raises an eyebrow at the passing girl. animal ears! that's a new one. and she is always going to wonder why just about everyone around here seems to be under the age of 20]

Somewhere else. A whole lot of our worlds, even! People are just gone without a trace--until they turn back up, anyway. [her expression is grim]

[spacewich.livejournal.com]

[She has concern written all over her face.]

You mean, most of the people who went missing haven't been found yet? How long have they been gone?

[grip_on_reality]

Ah, no, not exactly--but I don't think you'd like the details. [and considering she doesn't know her yet, Menzies is going to spare her for now] More people went missing not long ago, and they're still unaccounted for. We're looking for them. [mainly by looking for the creature that is going to kill them, but again, details]

[spacewich.livejournal.com]

[Not really sure what to think, she frowns.]

Sounds kind of scary! I hope we are able to find the missing people....... I think I can keep an eye out for anything suspicious, but is there anything else I can do to help???

[Though she's only just heard of the situation and doesn't really know much about it, Jade wants to be able to do something useful.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she knows the type; she just isn't sure how much she should get this kid involved]

Well, Grey--the bloke in the shop--'s made it pretty clear he knows how to find the creature that's, ah, causing trouble for our missing people. He said someone "special" can find it, only we don't know who that is, and as far as we can tell, the only way to work it out is by having people stop by. Seems like he's a bit of a lonely nutter, so of course he wants to see people in person before he'll tell them anything. Someone probably ought to introduce him to the internet.