❄ 1

[behisequal]

[When Loki arrives on the Plane, momentary surprise turning to curiosity as he looks around and does not see the woman, Meredith Sault, he met here previously] Of course. She would not be here again. [A small, knowing smile crosses his features.] I wouldn't be.

[He sets off to explore this new world after he is certain he won't simply be thrust back outside that little cottage once more. Stars surrounding him are not an unfamiliar sight to Loki. They are, however, not the ones he is used to in the constellations he studied and has used to guide him when no map could. They intrigue him and will warrant further inspection--but they are not his primary concern. After finding the Information kiosk and receiving aid from a helpful invisible woman--who he tried to find initially until he figured out the trick--he is left with questions not about how to go home. He has already tried what was suggested to him and found it quite clever. No, he wonders other things...] How is this world even here? Why has Father never mentioned it?

[As things seem relatively peaceful, he does not put on his armor; there doesn't appear to be any need for it, though he does stay on his guard. Instead, he cloaks himself for a time, wandering around this "Astral Plane" invisibly to see what it has to offer.

It...is not quite what he is expecting, but then again with the "Astral" denotation, he might have expected objects dealing more with the celestial bodies than what he has found. Surely, there are answers for this as well, and as he has assessed the dangers and this place well enough already, he removes his enchantments and heads towards a building which purpose he was initially unsure of until he took note of all the bottles of alcohol and suddenly it all became clear. The mortals there would be a good place to start.]

[As he speaks, he pushes the bar doors aside and gracefully strides in.] Pardon the intrusion. I must admit this is my first time getting a proper look around this plane of Astral. Yet, I find myself with more questions than the box of information can provide me. I would reward you with food and drink... [He glances at all the bottles behind the bar.] But I believe this building and one other is already handling that for you.

[He would know who would trick the trickster.]


[ooc: If you haven't already, please fill out this short permissions thing! Thank you ♥ ]

Comments

[lamb_of_gold]

[And tending the bar today issssssss..


Well okay Mu's not tending the bar, but he is rummaging around in one of the many cupboards behind the bar itself. What is he looking for? Who knows, but he sure as hell isn't finding it.

Anyways, he looks up when Loki speaks, and stands a moment later, brushing off what debris still clings to his clothing]

Feel free to ask. I cannot promise an answer, but I will try.

[behisequal]

[Loki approaches the bar, a curious expression on his face--though if that's from seeing Mu's state or his hair color, it's difficult to tell.]

Then perhaps you can tell me about the stars. The constellations...I am unfamiliar with them. They are not any that I am used to, not in any realm.

[lamb_of_gold]

[He's used to the funny looks by now]

Many were new to me as well, and the ones I recognized were nowhere near their proper places. As to why they're like that, I do not know. I always assumed that the ones I could not place were constellations that could not be seen from Earth.

[behisequal]

It is a wise assumption; it could even be true, though I cannot verify it myself despite seeing many a constellation in my travels. And yet... [He pauses, reflecting on Mu's words.] "Earth", you said? I have heard that name before. [He rests his hands on the bar, leaning slightly forward on it.] There were a few constellations I saw which drudged up in my mind a fleeting memory of seeing them long ago, but upon hearing that name, it came back to me. It is as you said: they were nowhere near where they ought to be.

Very intriguing.

[He takes a quick second to gather his thoughts before putting a pleasant expression on his face.] What shall I call you, friend?

[ex_oneiromancer912]

[Sup Loki]

[Morgana looks up from the parchments she was sorting through (inventory for the armoury) and glances over Loki in some surprise] There isn't any need for reward. I'm happy to help anybody new to this place.

[behisequal]

[His eyes flicker to the parchments before returning to her gaze. A small, pleasant smile turns the corners of his lips as he crosses the room.] I would still be grateful for the assistance, my lady. [He cannot mistake the refinery of someone of a higher station.] The odd building I saw before coming here, does anyone know how it came to be there in the first place? It is not of any Asgardian design I recognise. [It does strike him as vaguely Midgardian, but simply because he cannot place it in any other realm's general aesthetics.]

[ex_oneiromancer912]

[Morgana rises to her feet. Her eyes scan him again. He almost has the look of royalty, and something of him reminds her of the stories of the Norsemen, but she hesitates to presume.] If you mean the shop that would have brought you in here, none of us know, but its appearance is the least of the strange powers the Machine has shown.

[behisequal]

[If his curiosity wasn't piqued before, it definitely is now.]

The least? [His mind begins to race, but his expression is only thoughtful.] I would know more about this "Machine", but first, may I ask your name?

[truth_is_cold]

Whatever is in the brochure seems to be the bulk of the informational content that we're permitted to see.

[Is Rhade suspicious? Yes, everything about his tone is suspicious. He's not even drank any of the strange Plane booze yet for fear of random experimentation.]

I can't tell you much more. I'm knew here.

[He thinks. He could swear he dreamed about this place once.]

[behisequal]

[His eyebrows raise slightly.] "Brochure"? Ah yes, the box of information mentioned such a thing. [He folds his arms over his chest in thought, taking a few steps forward.] It was a start, but not enough to truly explain why one is here.

Perhaps as we are both strangers to this place, we may both be able to find some real answers.

[truth_is_cold]

From everything I've gathered we're randomly chosen subjects for experimentation. [There's a dull glimmer of a memory before. He can't quite pinpoint it, but it makes his stomach hurt in a strange way. He carefully guards a reaction from reaching his face, and instead looks towards the various buildings.]

These were taken from different locations, from what I can tell. Even the beach.

[Because everyone steals beaches.]

[behisequal]

[His eyes narrow slightly, something flashing in his look for a brief second--but blink and one misses it. Besides, the look is not directed at Rhade--but at the thought of being subject to experimentation. No one would dare if they knew who he was.] I see.

Locations as in...different "realities"? [The word sounds odd as he speaks it, but that's because it is. He knows of different realms and worlds, but not once have they been referred as such a thing as a "reality".] I have seen none that could have come from my own.

[decrypts]

[york is pretty much minding his own business. (it's a stretch for him, of course, but .. hey, he can pull it off.) but ever since eithan had shown him the bar, he's been drawn to it. it's a pretty peaceful place, he has to admit; a lot less creepy than that beach with no water,and he's still trying to get used to the whole starry-floor-thing.

and it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the bar magically restocks itself. nothing to do with the fact that he has an endless supply of bourbon at his immediate disposal, along with some other questionable stuff that he hasn't bothered trying yet. he'll get to it. eventually.

but that still has nothing to do with why he's been hanging out here.

of course, he looks up when the doors open, eyebrows slightly raised at the man that enters. he listens to the words coming out of his mouth, just barely managing to keep from chuckling as he wipes a hand across the back of his mouth and turns to face him. his posture is about as lax as it's ever been, and he's smirking at the newcomer like he knows everything there is to know about the plane.

which .. is about as far from the truth as you can possibly get.] I dunno what kind of .. intrusion you think you're making here, man, but .. uh. [a single brow quirks upward.] The answer to any question you might have about this place is pretty simple:

It's freaky.

[hello, loki. meet york.]

[behisequal]

[He's not at all surprised to see that expression upon someone's face in here. There's always someone who does.] I know not what reasons one might have for being in here. Some may wish to be left alone to their thoughts, or perhaps to conduct business.

Or just to enjoy the company of others. [He smiles slightly as he gestures vaguely around him.] One does meet all types in such a place.

Now. Might I inquire as to what you mean by "freaky"?

[decrypts]

[.. man does this guy have a way with speech. it's not that he's having trouble keeping up with him or anything - because he isn't stupid, thank you - but he's never heard anybody talk like that.

well, outside of some really old movies he'd seen as a kid, and even then .. it wasn't this exaggerated.

but he hums at the question, tapping his chin.] I mean exactly what it sounds like. You ever seen a floor made up of stars? Or a black hole? And don't even get me started on the bar that restocks itself ..

Don't you think that qualifies as freaky?

[behisequal]

[He shakes head, but despite not seeing any of these things, he doesn't seem particularly surprised by them] No, these seem quite tame to me. Strange, most definitely. But not "freaky".

[A small, mischievous smile begins to creep into his expression.] Of course...that could be changed.

[dritte_tochter]

[have a little living doll, Loki!]

What sort of questions, desu?

[behisequal]

[Loki--who is used to creatures big, small, and all sizes in between--is only slightly surprised by the appearance of such a tiny person in the bar.] What realm do you hail from, little one?

[It isn't his original question, but now he's really curious.]

[dritte_tochter]

[Suiseiseki blinks, wondering what he means by realm]

I was made in Germany, desu, but I live in Japan now. [waaaaaarily] Do you know about the n-field, desu?

[fallbythesword]

[Jacqli is not usually found in the bar. In fact, you won't even find her sitting and enjoying a drink. She's behind the counter though, looking for... well, empty bottles, apparently. Of all sizes. There are a few sitting on the bar behind her while she continues to rummage through the shelves and cabinets, looking for more.

At first, she doesn't look up from her business at all when she hears the man enter and speak. She figures him for just another newbie, and she doesn't exactly want to play welcoming committee right now when there are others around.

Until he mentions that he's already been to the information kiosk. ... Well then. Okay. She stands straighter and turns to look at him from behind the counter. ... Which just serves to point out how short she is. Poor thing. But never mind that.]

That isn't surprising. What questions? I can maybe answer them.

[behisequal]

[He spots the empty bottles, wondering what possible uses she may have for them--for there are many where empty containers are concerned--then returns his attentions to her and strides over to the bar.]

Perhaps you can tell me more about the people who rule this realm. I would know more about them. The woman, Meredith Sault, was not exactly forthcoming with her explanation.

[fallbythesword]

[She sighs and shakes her head. As she speaks, she moves her bottles to one side and then picks herself up to sit on the edge of the bar.]

Meredith Sault will continue to not be forthcoming with any explanations at all. Besides our initial meeting, I did run into her once, in the store. She was... the same. [She shrugs a shoulder.] She belongs to a group we apparently don't need to know about, and her motives are only for her to know.

I don't think anyone rules this realm. There are just some who seem to run it, like the machine it is. Or at least, they know more than they're willing to tell us.

[ex_dragonnerd309]

["Food" is a much more appealing word than the sense of "friendship forever" to Toothless apparently, as he's rushing in front of Loki, expecting some freshly gotten fish, and leaving poor limping Hiccup behind. So have a very eager dragon in front of you.]

He-hey where do you think you're going...?! [And here comes the owner with a prosthetic right leg, still unsteady on his feet, and slightly annoyed. But then he spots the stranger.] Oh, hey, uuh... hi.

[behisequal]

[Thankfully, it takes more than a creature like that to surprise Loki, so when he hears it approaching, he is more than ready to side-step in time so he isn't barrelled into. He also hears the odd foot steps of one who has lost a limb, but doesn't blink twice at the fact that it is a young man. Such accidents do happen; it isn't unusual for an Asgardian to have a limb lost due to fighting.]

Greetings, young one. [His eyes flicker over to Toothless, a somewhat amused look on his face] Does that creature belong to you?

[ex_dragonnerd309]

[Toothless wishes they would get over this interaction soon so he can get his well deserved dinner.]

No, actually he's my friend, Toothless. He's a dragon. Sorry if he... uh... scared... you... [Hiccup is so used to tell that to people that he automatically said it, even if this man doesn't seem frightened at all.] I-I'm Hiccup by the way, nice to meet you.