[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

[lamb_of_gold]

I'm afraid I don't know. You return to point where you left.

[grip_on_reality]

You mean I can't go home?

[she's starting to look worried now. unfortunately, she doesn't know enough about the situation to realise that the flat where she appeared is the one that she'll own when she's more than 20 years older]

[lamb_of_gold]

It may be best if you don't, for now. The Plane likes to play tricks, you see - it could be affecting where you appear.

[Or, you know, she's in the apartment she'll own when she's a grownup, but Mu really doesn't want to try and talk her through that.]

[grip_on_reality]

So...maybe I can go home later? [she can't keep her nerves out of her voice. she's quiet for a moment after that, considering her situation and what Mu has already told her. finally, she asks uncertainly:] But you said it's like being on holiday 'ere? There's a kitchen and stuff?

[lamb_of_gold]

Things such as this rarely last very long.

There is. There is a mansion, and a bath house as well, to sleep in.

[grip_on_reality]

Okay... [she's still nervous about not being able to get home, but the mention of a mansion distracts her] A mansion!? And anybody can just go in?

Um...can we still go to the kitchen?

[lamb_of_gold]

Anyone so inclined, yes. There's nobody living there any more, after all.

We may. Are you hungry?

[grip_on_reality]

[it is almost inconceivable to her that someone who lived in a mansion would just leave it for anyone, so she might be staring a little] Really? Where they'd go?

[she nods, smiling eagerly] Yeah. What sort of food has it got?

[lamb_of_gold]

I don't know. Sometimes it happens that people leave The Plane and never come back.

That's a difficult question to answer - It changes every time I look.

[grip_on_reality]

[she frowns] Why do they do that?

[but his description of the kitchen is exciting. in most ways, this place is sounding better by the minute] Do you think there'll be food from Tibet?

[lamb_of_gold]

I'm afraid I don't know. [He seems sad as he answers, but brightens somewhat at her next query.]

I've found it now and again, but more often I find the ingredients with which to prepare it.

[grip_on_reality]

[she looks up at him, eyes wide and hopeful] Are you gonna cook something?

[lamb_of_gold]

I've a feeling you'd like me to.

[grip_on_reality]

[she nods] What's food from Tibet like?

[lamb_of_gold]

I hesitate to say 'plain,' but it's mostly hearty fare - barley, meat and hardy vegetation, such as potatoes. "Comfort foods," as it were. It can grow quite spicy, depending on the cook, however.

[grip_on_reality]

[she's picking up her pace now, getting excited] Ohh, I like spicy food! Do you like spicy food?

[lamb_of_gold]

I'm very fond of it, as a matter of fact. I spent part of my childhood in China, which is where I developed my taste for it.

[grip_on_reality]

[it's a good thing she doesn't know where the kitchen is yet or she'd be running ahead about now] How far is the kitchen? Let's have spicy Tibet food!

[lamb_of_gold]

It's not far now. Over there, see? We'll see what's there.

[grip_on_reality]

Oh, I see it! [and now that she knows where it is, she does indeed take off at a run for it]

[lamb_of_gold]

[Mu follows at his own pace, arriving not long after she does, and opens the fridge.]

Lucky us - there's some in here already.

[He reaches in and pulls out a bowl of what look to be smallish dumplings, and a plate of flatbread, the pieces of which are about the size of a pancake.] Momos and Balep Korkun.

[grip_on_reality]

[she leeeeans forward, trying to peer into the bowl from behind him] What's in those ones? [she points at the dumplings]

[lamb_of_gold]

[Mu picks one up and sniffs it.] Potato, I think. Why not take one and find out?

[grip_on_reality]

Okay! [so she does just that, grabbing one and taking a bite]

[lamb_of_gold]

[It is, in fact, both full of potatoes and rather spicy! Not mind-blowingly, but certainly with a bit of a kick]

And?