[027]

[oliverplus]

[Oliver is walking by the stream in the forest when he stops and closes his eyes. after a second, he opens them--and looks startled. frowning, he closes his eyes again, taking a deliberate step forward. when he opens them again, he makes a face and turns to look up at the sky] Really!? You had to take the mickey out of me now?

[he sighs, looking very put out, and kicks a rock into the stream] What does this even prove, anyway? I've lived here before! [he's pouting mightily now as he stares at the stars. he kicks another rock. clearly this is a productive way of dealing with annoyance]

[then he turns and starts stalking back along the stream. but after a moment, an idea occurs to him, and he stops short, frowning] Wait. What if it's not an experiment for me? [worried now, he cups his hands around his mouth and calls:] Hey! Is anybody around? Is the Plane doing anything weird to anybody else?

[because he hopes they aren't all trapped on the Plane again. that's never a good sign]

[ooc: Oliver doesn't realize it, but the reason he can't leave the Plane is because of an experiment. His memories of the last several years of his life have been rewritten, and he believes he's happily living in Birmingham and has never traveled with the Doctor at all.]

Comments

[sosweet]

I don't believe he is. Though he will notice your absence at the TARDIS.

[oliverplus]

What, his ship? [Oliver gives his friend a look] Saga, what are you on about? I've never been in the Doctor's ship.

[sosweet]

[At that, his expression turns into a serious one. Then, indeed this is...] Never?

[oliverplus]

[Oliver shakes his head] No. [and he doesn't like that expression you're making, Saga] What's going on?

[sosweet]

[asdfghjkl] [Expression changes!] Nothing. Think I need to rest a little more once I get back to the Temple. [Except he's not tired.] Where were you before ending up here?

[oliverplus]

Ookay... [something is definitely weird here] What, before I came to the Plane? Home, of course. Chloe was on me to wash the dishes, so I thought I'd come here for a bit first.

[sosweet]

[Indeed.] [He stiffens at the mention of the name. Wasn't that his lo-- his girlfriend's name?... Did Oliver really...?] Is that so?

[oliverplus]

Yeah. [and this is getting stranger and stranger] Saga, come on. What is it? What's wrong?

[sosweet]

[Saga reacts at the last question. Now there's a slight worry.] I didn't know you were living with your... girlfriend now. [Okay. Now you can make a joke about it.]

[oliverplus]

[Oliver scoffs] Girlfriend? Uh, Chloe's my wife. [he gives Saga a skeptical look] Are you seriously saying this hasn't come up before? It must've done.

[sosweet]

[Silent for a moment. Maybe Oliver will hate him for this.] It maybe an experiment for both of us. I... ["Oliver... Forgive me..."] don't recall certain things about what happened with your life.

[oliverplus]

You mean it's messing with your memory? [Oliver frowns, immediately concerned] What about your life, Saga? Do you remember that?

[sosweet]

[;;] [Doesn't give a hint of his discomfort but does look away.] I do remember who I am. But... there are details about the Plane I cannot put into place.

[oliverplus]

You mean you don't think you remember everybody here? I mean, not properly. Like amnesia?

[sosweet]

[Thinks for a moment as if pretending to remember. What hates about himself because he's very good at faking.] People I know or information about their lives.

I apologize. Can you tell me?

[oliverplus]

[Oliver is, as ever, just eager to help] Yeah, sure! Uh...what do you want to know about?

[but he frowns thoughtfully because how would Saga know what to ask if he can't remember? Oliver will have to tell him the things that would be most important] If you remember you, do you remember Mu and Athena? Being here, I mean.

[sosweet]

I do remember them. Though... [A sheepish smile. Less suspect.] I feel there are more people I know outside of Sanctuary but cannot picture them quite well. As if they were... gaps.

I do remember you. Because you are my closest friend. I just don't know your life... or I believed I did.

[oliverplus]

[Oliver's expression is a bit dismayed at that. his closest friend, is he? he wishes he could do more to help] Is there anything you want to know?

[sosweet]

[Oh, he wants to know everything. And can't help but feel like a piece of trash because of his friend's face.] Tell me about your... wedding.

[oliverplus]

My wedding? [that's a surprising request. but Oliver shrugs since it's easy to answer] It was a little over a year ago--well, a lot longer than that here! I hadn't even been here yet. But not nearly that long at home.

Chloe was beautiful, Saga. You should've seen her! In her dress, with her veil and the flowers and...she was gorgeous. And all our mates from uni were there. God, did they get pissed at the reception! [he's smiling fondly] My father didn't take that too well, but there wasn't much he could do about it. And Chloe was just...she's amazing, Saga. She smiled the whole night, and she was beautiful even when she was tired. And when she got mad at the DJ! [he chuckles] You should meet her. You'd like her.

[sosweet]

[See his heart? It's breaking into small pieces. And-- What is this burning stir inside him? As if he were...? Is this... envy?

"No... You should be happy for him. Even if this isn't real. He does have someone who loves him back home, and... and..."

A gentle smile at the enthusiasm of his best friend. Not a single hint of sorrow visible.]

If she's the only one who can give you such happiness, then there's no doubt about it. I would love to. Someday.

[oliverplus]

[unfortunately, Oliver's empathy means he feels that sorrow. he doesn't let on at first, though] Yeah, definitely! [he makes a face] I mean, once I can go back there.

But Saga... Something else is wrong, isn't it? [he hesitates, not sure if he should ask, before he decides a generic "What's wrong?" is probably not going to cut it] Did something happen with Morgana?

[sosweet]

[Startles at the question... and a tiiiiny faint of a blush on his cheeks.]

... Nothing. Why are you asking?

[oliverplus]

[now that he can see through without his empathy] Look, if you don't want to talk about it, that's okay. But you look upset.

[and he feels upset, but Oliver doesn't like to be that blatant about his empathy if he can avoid it]

[sosweet]

[Oh crap.] I apologize if it looked that way, my friend. [He‘s just... worried and hurt and a little unhappy about what‘s happening with his loved ones.]