[01]

[decrypts]

[this, ladies and gentlemen of the plane, is york. standing about as lax as he's ever been in his life - which is saying something, given the fact that he's almost always seen slouching in his armor. (catch him taking a catnap inside the safety of his helmet during a mission briefing? yeah, that's happened a few times. sometimes, he wonders how he's still the board's number two. he likes to think it's because he's just that important to the project and it's cause.)

back to the matter at hand.

york is thinking - to himself, of course - that this is probably one of the strangest things he's ever seen in his life. a stretch of sand that looks like it belongs in the middle of a desert with how barren it is, no water, no trees? yeah, this is pretty .. weird, and he's wondering just what's going on when he turns to see if he's the only one out here.

which means, basically, he's wondering if he's going to end up talking to himself when he starts working out the dynamic of how he's found himself here in the first place.

out loud.

because that's how he rolls.] If this was a training sim .. you'd think there'd be a lock or something for me to crack. Some security protocols to override or .. something - [he cuts himself off, tilting his head to the side and staring at the stretch of sand in front of him, wondering idly if it ever ends.

it's kind of eerie to think that it doesn't.] So what the hell am I supposed to do? Sit around and wait for something to happen? Psh .. man, why did I ever stop carrying puzzles around in my pocket?

[because he's convinced that's the only thing that will be able to keep him occupied.]

Comments

[punkblaze]

[Hello, York. Have a redheaded punk, smoking a cigarette. He came to the beach to think, because his life just got a fuck of a lot weirder. He... did not expect to find an armored guy contemplating security overrides. That's... that's pretty weird too.

He blinks... and then cracks a small smile.]

Hey. ... You new here?

[traitortwin]

[Oh, of all the fucking times...

She doesn't know if York's spotted her yet, but she quickly drops from the Plane so she can pick up the notebook and pen she left behind in order to deal with her brother. She returns to the Plane with both, scribbles a little something on the top page, and then marches over to York.

She waits until she has his attention, then turns the notebook around for him to see: "What the hell are you doing here ??" ]

[vengefulagent]

[If York thinks a stretch of beach, wait until he sees...well, everything else.]

[Wash is just putting his helmet back on after cleaning the inside of it--really, having a sneezing fit inside one of these things is really fucking awful--when he spots a familiar figure in the distance. Of course, York isn't the Freelancer he's looking for, but if York's here now... Ugh. He just adds many, many things to the list of rules and things he'll have to explain.]

From a good thirty-forty feet away, Wash is making his way up the beach] York? [He starts jogging, and there's no mistaking that armor] Man, it really is you.

[docinawall]

[since back home Doc is currently stuck in a wall in the desert, coming to the Plane so he can ditch the wall and wander a sandy beach might be an odd choice of activity. then again, it's Doc. plus, he's exploring the beach for the first time, and he was (mistakenly) hoping it would have water. oh well]

[while it may not have water, it does have one unexpected element--a man in armor. armor, in fact, that is neither red nor blue. the minute Doc spots York, he gasps and puts his hands up] You're a Freelancer! [you know, in case York didn't already know that] Don't shoot! I don't want to die! Why is it always Freelancers?

[decrypts]

[hello, redheaded punk smoking a cigarette. contemplating security overrides is just one of the many things he does with his time, so while it might not be normal for you, it's par for the course for him.

but at the sound of his voice, he turns to face him fully, tilting his head to the side at that smile.] You .. could say that, yeah.

[decrypts]

[of all the - whoa.

nope. he isn't expecting this. normally he stays about as far away from south as he possibly can, just for the simple fact that he never knows when she's going to be on a rampage. but .. what the hell is with the notebook?

he blinks, stares at it, and then back at her.] Thought I'd take in the serenity of this beach, here, except .. it's not that serene. What's with the notebook?

[decrypts]

[he turns at the sound of that voice - because there's no way in the world he could ever mistake it - and once he sees those familiar colors, he knows he can't be seeing things. still, he blinks, just making sure that it's not a mirage or anything.

because you never know, right?] Wash? Hey - [he waves, spreading his arms out wide on either side of him.] What're you doing here?

[decrypts]

[you'll have to tell him about that sometime, doc. it sounds .. really interesting. he doesn't really have anything to escape back home, but .. seeing new places is always fun and adventurous, right?

but when he sees the other set of armor, he just .. stares at it for a second, and when doc starts yammering ..

he has to wonder what kind of experience this guy has with freelancers. well, okay, not just that .. but that's what's on his mind right now.] Whoa, whoa, calm down, buddy. I'm not gonna shoot. You haven't done anything.

Yet.

[okay so that last little bit is just for posterity, and .. because he's kind of a brat sometimes.] Yeah, I'm a Freelancer. What do you know about us?

[vengefulagent]

I could ask you the same thing. [His words aren't accusatory or anything. He's actually more surprised than anything--as well as a little stuffed up.]

How long have you been able to come to the Plane? You should've said something!

[punkblaze]

Thought so. Welcome to the Astral Plane.

[He drops his cigarette into the sand and further snuffs it out with his boot. He was only a little over halfway done with it, but it doesn't matter. Talking to people works as distraction too.]

I'm Eithan Paine. It's... kind of weird around here, but it's not too hard to get the hang of it. Want a tour or somethin'? Explanation? I could get you a brocure? No really. Someone made brochures.

[traitortwin]

[She looks around the beach. Serene? Yeah, no, not this place. Maybe if it actually had some water... ... Okay. No. More important things first. Right. She's about to start scribbling out a short little explanation of where they are, but then he asks about the notebook. ... So she sighs switches gears a bit. One more second...

She's done writing, and turns the notebook for him to read:]

"I can't talk. I can explain later. And if you laugh I'll kill you.
Did you just get here? Do you know what this is?"

[docinawall]

You're sure? [at least, that's what he says first--and then York has to add that one more word, and Doc adds a squeak of:] Oh. I won't do anything, really! I never do anything!

Uh...is that a trick question? [actually, he's been asked a similar question before, about different people. it brings up bad memories] O-or if this is an interrogation, I'll talk! You don't have to hit me!

[lamb_of_gold]

[There's someone sitting towards the edge of the barren stretch of sand, and that someone has been giving him a curious look during his little monologue.]

Not one to remain idle, hm?

[Despite the look, that voice is most certainly masculine.]

[bonnypiperlad]

[Maybe York won't have to wait too long for something to happen, because there's a blip and something appears just off to one side. It's some sort of creature - reddish-orange in color and not terribly tall, with a series of horns standing up on its head. The horns seem to be all different lengths, with knobbly bits on them that give them the appearance of pipes.

It also has a pair of wings jutting from its back, a series of raised bumps covering its arms, torso and back...and if one looks closely enough, a pair of very human-looking brown eyes.

Right now, the beast appears to be disoriented - or at least somewhat confused, as it's looking around in a way that comes across as more baffled than anything else.]

[decrypts]

.. thanks?

[he's about as unsure about this place as he ever has been about anything else, but he has to admit that it's nice to be able to talk to someone that seems to know the territory.

so he nods, friendly as always.] Call me York - and yeah, I uh .. I noticed. What's with the lack of water around here, anyway? [he pauses, smirks a bit at what eithan is saying.] How would you even go about making brochures for a place like this? But .. I wouldn't mind a tour, I guess. And an explanation. Both sound pretty good right about now.

[decrypts]

[yeeeah .. he's joking, of course. c'mon, south, you've known him long enough to be able to pick up on that sort of thing, haven't you?

but he reads what she's written, eyes carefully following the words on the page,and he really has to subdue the urge to giggle at the fact that she can't talk.

south? not being able to say a word? ... good lord he's hit the jackpot.

york clears his throat, swallows the laughter that's so close to giving him away and sending him on a one-way trip to oh god ow, takes a breath and sobers up.] Okay, okay, I promise I won't laugh. Yeah, I just got here - and .. I'm not entirely sure, no.

[decrypts]

[and he just shrugs, smirks, though wash can't see it through his visor.] First time, actually. Still, uh .. tryin' to get used to the whole thing.

[he pauses, tilts his head to the side in contemplation.] You okay? You sound a little .. congested.

[decrypts]

Okay, seriously, calm down. I was just messing with you. I won't do anything. Promise. [jeez .. he's wondering if this guy is always this twitchy, or if he's just caught in on a bad day or something. either way, he can't help but to think that this is going to be a very interesting conversation regardless of the subject matter.]

A trick question? Nah .. I'm just curious -

Would you calm down?

[decrypts]

[shit, someone heard me talking to myself.

way to be observant of your surroundings, york.]

I talk myself though things, y'know .. keeps me on track.

[never mind the fact that there's nothing to talk himself through, here. he really had just been talking to himself.

whoops.]

[decrypts]

[now, this .. this is something york isn't expecting. which is kind of stupid, because it seems like anything goes around here - just for the simple fact that he'd been able to get here without any effort at all.

even if he's still trying to fully understand what here is.

he stares at the creature that's just appeared for a moment, wary, though he doesn't take out his pistol. he never takes a shot unless he's being actively threatened, and right now .. it doesn't seem like this thing even really knows where it is, much less has any intent to do him harm.

he cocks his head to the side, just keeps on staring, thinking that he's pretty sure shit can't get much weirder if it tried.] H-hey .. buddy .. you look a .. a little lost ..

[oh god please don't eat me please don't eat me please don't -]

[vengefulagent]

[He waves a hand dismissively] I'll be fine. Just got something up my nose.

So... [He trails off, wondering where to even begin.] Have you been to the information booth yet? Or seen the black hole?

[punkblaze]

[Eithan nods in return, then laughs a bit.] To be honest, I don't know. It was like that when I got here, too. But this is just the beach. There's a lot more.

[He starts walking, motioning for York to follow. The sand should start fading into the actual starry-like floor of the Plane at some point.] Fuck I dunno man, but they did. We'll get there eventually. But uh... explanation. So! This place is like a middle point between worlds. Realities, realms, whatever you want to call wherever you're from. And you can come here whenever you want, or go home whenever you want. And I know it's sounds awesome? But it's... got its down sides too.

[traitortwin]

[Nope, sorry, she sees right through that throat-clearing and that deep breath.

Explanations later.

Smacking York on top of the helmet with the notebook comes first. (At least she only swings once??)]

[decrypts]

[hey .. hey south, wait .. hold on a second dear sweet baby jesus -

yeah he totally forgot that it's just a notebook and he has his helmet on.

whew.

.. still! indignation!] Hey! What was that for?

[decrypts]

[a beach without water. sounds like it's missing one vital part, if you ask him, but .. surely it has to be that way for a reason.

and once they start walking, it doesn't take long for the sand to fade away and leave that starry floor behind, and york .. york just stares at it for a second.

just a second being he doesn't blind for way longer than that.] So I'm not .. stuck here, at least. Gotta say, I like the idea of being able to go back home whenever I want to.

[pause. squint.] What're the downsides?