[008]

[grip_on_reality]

[today there is a nine-year-old girl on the Astral Plane who, perhaps surprisingly, doesn't seem that bothered about her sudden presence in a multi-dimensional nexus. she has long brown hair and is wearing a plain T-shirt and jeans that are a little tattered and dirty, as though they've seen quite a bit of exploring. but her hair is neat and she doesn't look like she's been in anything particularly dirty today. being a curious child, though, she's made for the most interesting place she could spot--the black hole. currently, she has a hand in the gravity field around it and is attempting to see how far she can reach into that]

That feels weird! [she pushes her hand a little farther in, making a face at the sensation of the gravity fighting back] What is this thing?

[anyone listening might notice that the girl has a clear Mancunian accent. in fact, she may even look a bit familiar. but on her end, she's too busy poking at the field to notice anyone who might be approaching]

[ooc: Menzies is currently under her first experiment! For the time being, she has been regressed to when she was nine.]

Comments

[bit_impossible]

Yes--well, that's technically not true. We are in space, yes, but! You can't exactly stand on space, now can you? [he taps his feet on the ground, each thump giving off a slight metallic noise] See? We're actually in a place known as the Astral Plane, or just "Plane" for short.

[grip_on_reality]

[that didn't make much sense, but she copies him and taps the ground herself. after a moment's consideration, she asks in confusion:] We're on a plane?

[bit_impossible]

[he pulls a face] Blimey, why does everyone ask that lately? No, it's not a plane like you'd fly in or anything. This Plane, however, is a place!

But enough about the Plane. It's easier to see and explore for yourself than to listen to me explain it! [that and he really doesn't want to have to explain it to her twice. once was far more than enough]

So! What's your name? [peers at her] If you ask me...you look like someone whose name starts with a "P", like Pamela, Paula, maybe even Patty! [continues to mock-contemplate "P" names that would be normal for Earth.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she pouts at him] 'Cause you said it was a plane!

[but she's shocked when he starts listing "P" names. she stares at him, a mixture of wary and awed] Patricia. But...how did you know? [she pauses, peering back at him] Who are you?

[bit_impossible]

[he's going to move on from that, not wishing to get into an argument over semantics such as that. and anyway, if she'd look around and notice things, she'd realise they were very much NOT on a plane at all]

[shrugs very nonchalantly] I just guessed. You never looked at someone and thought, "Blimey...that bloke looks like a Bob. Maybe a Tom, but definitely a Bob."?

[grip_on_reality]

[she shakes her head--and glowers at him. no fair trying to distract her, Doctor] You didn't say who you are! What's your name?

[bit_impossible]

I--[smiles]--am the Doctor. And before you ask, yes, that really is my name. See? [reaches into his pocket, producing the psychic paper. for her, it should look like a standard British ID with "The Doctor" as his name.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she eyes the ID skeptically] That's a funny name! [a thought strikes her, and she asks curiously:] Are names like that in spa--on planes?

[bit_impossible]

[boy, he knows that look intimately.] For a couple people around here, yes. On aeroplanes, which I think you mean, then that all depends on who's on it and why. But we're not on an aeroplane. There are no engines and definitely no flight attendants giving us little bags of pretzels.

You know, here I was thinking you'd be obsessed with this black hole, but now you're on flying crafts! You're a curious one, Patricia. [and one-track minded, but he doesn't want to encourage the behaviour more than he already has.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she pouts at him] You already said it isn't an aeroplane, but you didn't say what sort of plane it is!

[and that pout is now becoming a Look] Well, you're not explaining! And everything 'ere is weird. [including the Doctor, but she's been brought up with enough manners that she doesn't add that--yet]

[bit_impossible]

[blinks] But I did say. I said this is the Astral Plane and--[he sighs frustratedly, running a hand through his hair. normally, he'd just show her the brochure, but he doesn't want certain parts of it to scare her]--look, everything around here is strange. Why don't I show you around and you can ask me anything you'd like.

[grip_on_reality]

[she considers that for a moment, the nods] Okay. What's an Astral Plane? And do you know why it's got a black hole? [because you didn't actually think she'd lost interest in that, did you? she squints, peering into the gravity field again]

[bit_impossible]

[he folds his arms over his chest and considers how best to explain this to her] Let me ask, have you ever been to an airport before? Like Manchester, Heathrow, or even Gatwick Airport?

[grip_on_reality]

[she shakes her head] But I've seen 'em in films! They're big, with lots of people. Not empty like this.

[her voice is a little pointed. you can't fool her, Doctor!]

[bit_impossible]

[pulls a slight face] In the films, of course they are! But what all airports have in common is the people. Those people come from all over the planet and they meet right there in the airport. They never stay for long, not when they have their own lives to live and things to do, but for those moments in the airport, they're together.

And that's what the Astral Plane is like. It's a place where we can all come and visit for a time before we go back home.

[grip_on_reality]

[her eyes widen at that description, and she turns away from the black hole to look at him again] So people from lots of countries can come 'ere? Has it got like...a teleporter to go 'ome? [because obviously being in space means it's like Star Trek]

Or is that what 'appens when you walk in the black hole? [and yes, she's sticking her hand in the gravity field again]

[bit_impossible]

[thoughtfully] Well, you could think of them as countries, but they're more like different wor--[reaches out to grab her hand away]--Oi! No, something very, very, very, very different happens when you walk into a black hole. Well, not that I've actually done it myself, but I've seen countless in my years, and let me tell you, that--[he points at the Plane black hole after gently releasing her hand]--is no ordinary black hole. So you're best off not putting anything in it.

[gives her a pointed look] Got that?

[grip_on_reality]

[she does not appreciate him snatching her hand. not at all] Hey, let go!

[when he does, she pulls her hand back and gives him a glare. then she walks a few steps away and sticks her hand right back in the gravity field] It doesn't even suck like it's s'posed to!

[she takes her hand back out, her expression rather smug because yes, she did that purely because the Doctor didn't want her to. but she believes him that she shouldn't step into the black hole, so she nods] Yeah, I got it. So people from different worlds come 'ere? Like...aliens? [she can't help sounding a little excited at the prospect]

[bit_impossible]

[he sighs. this young and already as stubborn as her older self! he shouldn't be this surprised. if anything happens, it's on her own head now.] Actually, yes! Loads! --Well, it'll seem so, anyway. I take it that means you like science fiction? [he has a feeling she does; he remembers that Captain Kirk jab.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she nods eagerly] Is it like that on the Plane? Like Star Trek, except all the aliens come here?

[because her mind went to the same place his did, although probably for a different reason]

[bit_impossible]

Well, they can, but that doesn't mean they do. Not everyone can come to the Plane. Your mum, for example, couldn't do even if she tried.

[grip_on_reality]

What? Why not? [and, a bit suspiciously, she adds:] So you know me mum? [that would explain how he guessed her name, at least]

[bit_impossible]

You know... [starts scratching his chin] I'm not entirely certain. There must be some kind of selection process, but we're not privy to that information no matter how much we ask, beg, or--well, you get the idea. It's simply a fact that some people can't come here. They haven't got permission to. Besides, if your Mum could come here, don't you think she would've done already? [this is him cleverly dodging her question about knowing her mum but still letting on that he might know her after all.]

[grip_on_reality]

[thankfully for him, he does manage to distract her] Only if she knew I'm 'ere! [but a thought strikes her at that, and she gasps] Doctor...will she know I'm 'ere? Or is she gonna be looking for me? [she's clearly distressed at that prospect]