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[beagoodman]

[Steve looks around with a slight surprise. Now, this wasn't something he had expected to happen when he just wandered into the shop.]

Is this a symptom of that possible stress disorder they were talking to me about?

[But no, it can't be that. This feels too real, too home. And that's something to be wary about, this could be a trap.]

Hello? [He slowly walks around, then spots the brochures, somehow he manages to get a paper one. Still not familiar with modern devices but at least he can tell what 'paper' means... He opens the gotten brochure absently while he looks around one more time, then starts to read. His expression turns more and more suspicious, he's not so sure about what he's reading.] Hello, can someone please explain this? I'd prefer to talk to a real person before I... [Takes a look at the paper again.] ...before I believe all this.

Comments

[most_feared]

[If only you'd caught him a few months ago this would be really confusing. But as it is, Kay only sounds like a younger version of someone he could know.]

Yeah, it's all true, Slick. And it's annoying as hell and unsafe.

My name's "K". Sorry to meet you under the circumstances. [Being recruited to the Plane is, in his opinion, not an occasion to be celebrated.]

[beagoodman]

[Indeed. But Steve here is still confused slightly because he can tell what you did there! He recognizes the features of someone he knew very well, yes. Actually, K's presence is calming for him, somehow familiar.]

Thank you, sir. I try to keep that in mind. I'm Steve Rogers, nice to meet you too. I'd be happy to hear more about your experiences about this... Plane. [He attempts a handshake, eying K very intently, because he so wants to ask if he knows Colonel Phillips, but since he had obviously given him a fake name it could blow his cover.]

[most_feared]

My experiences have to do with a giant monster taking victims from the worlds of the people here and biting off their hands. [A ray of sunshine, that's what this man is. He takes the hand though, and shakes it with an earnest expression.]

...There's also a bar, a beach, and sometimes someone does an experiment and you end up with wings.

[beagoodman]

[Well if the mention of a giant monster hurting others doesn't make Steve perk up. He decides to put this Colonel matter aside.]

A monster? Is it still-- [He starts but then the next sentence that leaves K's mouth sounds a bit strange.] ...With wings. Right. I'm sorry, sir, I can't quite follow.

[most_feared]

No. It's dead. But there's still plenty to be worried about- the experiments for one. They can and will cause changes that will prevent you from returning home without falling under intense scrutiny so it's recommended that you familiarize yourself with the locations cited in the brochure. It is also advisable that you keep supplies in some are, because it is pretty much a guarantee that they will become useful at some point.

And don't expect to follow it, Sport. They want you to stay as confused as possible. Just be ready for it and then the rest will work itself out.

[beagoodman]

Oh. [Steve mutters, but he listens carefully. He feels a light relief because he realizes K just gave him something to do, something to occupy himself with.] Thank you, sir, I'll do just like that.

I'm always ready for anything. By 'they' you mean the lady I've met before? Her name was Meredith.

[behisequal]

[Loki happens to be passing close-by when he sees this new man heading for the box of information. Wondering how he will react, he follows, cloaking himself and waits until the man begins to speak. Once he does, he removes his enchantments and seemingly appears suddenly from behind this man.]

It does seem quite fantastical, does it not? Yet I fear that everything you have learned from it is very much the truth.

[beagoodman]

Whoa-! [Steve spins around, staring confused at the magician... because what else he could be.]

It sounds more like something from a comic book. [He comments still a bit disturbed as he turns toward the stranger.] You seem like someone who would fit right in, sir. Are you from around here?

[behisequal]

My apologies. [Loki definitely is not surprised by such a reaction the man, however, he does tilt his head curiously at what the stranger has mentioned. "Comic books" are unknown to him.]

I am no more a part of this realm than you are. I am a mere visitor, and nothing more, but I have learned much. Far more than you will find there.

[beagoodman]

I'm sorry, it's just... Well, your appearance is slightly [A beat.] different from what I'm used to. So I supposed you're from this place.

[He looks down the brochure thoughtfully, then back at the other.] I'm Steve Rogers, nice to meet you. I'd be grateful if you could help me learn more about this Plane.

[behisequal]

[He smiles faintly] Think nothing of it. Your manner of dress reminds me of those from Midgard. [Come to think of it, many people he has observed here do, though some do remain unknown to him.]

And I am Loki, of Asgard, and son of Odin. The pleasure is all mine. [He gestures broadly, sweeping one arm out to his side.] Come, Steve Rogers, and allow me show you. Some things must be seen to be believed.

[beagoodman]

Midgard? [Steve asks back as if he hadn't heard right. But he have... and it doesn't ring a bell.] I've never heard of it. Our... well, the planet we live on is called Earth.

Loki. [Nods firmly and attempts to follow him.] Not all things. But this place might really put up a challenge.

[behisequal]

[Loki nods patiently.] I am aware. We call your realm Midgard, but it and Earth are one in the same.

[Casually, he folds his hands behind his back and leads Steve around, walking past the onsen. He's headed towards the black hole.] I have heard many tales of the trials here on the Plane of Astral. Some have not lived to see another day. Those who have survived from the beginning are few in number.

And no one knows when the next trial will appear.

[beagoodman]

Oh, I see. I'm... from Midgard then. [Steve nods, and follows the other, constantly looking around checking out the place. But it looks like something from a dream, yet it feels even more home than his current 'home'.

But he turns to Loki, alarmed.]

People die here? In those experiments...?

[behisequal]

Indeed, but I can refer to your realm as "Earth" if it makes it easier for you to understand.

[Loki glances at him, a mischievous gleam in his eye.] Some have...yes. I have not witnessed this with my own eyes, so I can only trust in the words of others.

[beagoodman]

[Smiles a little, looking down.] It's fine by whichever name you prefer.

[Steve tightens his lips hearing the news.] This is not right. These people were tricked to come here. [Just like him, probably.] Who's running this? Miss Meredith? [He says, looking at the brochure he has.]

[behisequal]

Midgard, then.

[An eyebrow raises at that statement.] Tricked? Perhaps--yet what falsehood has been presented to us? Meredith acts as herald, though has imparted upon us very little information. There must be someone who reigns over this very curious realm where anyone can come and go as they please, yet show no fealty to any lord or king. No one is certain who truly controls the Machine. [Or so he has learnt so far.] The only trickery I can see is what brought the mysterious shop to our realms. Not once in my life have I seen it--until a short time ago. I suspect the same must be true for everyone with permission to come here, for that is what I believe it truly is. "Permission". No one else can see it, even if I lead them right to the door.

[beagoodman]

[Steve's no happy about what he heard. He sighs, looking around.]

So it's more like a trap then. Targeting specific people. For the experiments? To kill people?

[behisequal]

[He spreads his arms wide for a moment before letting them fall back against his sides.] Could be anything. However, I do feel there is a reason why we have been chosen. We will discover the true purpose in due course.

[While they have been talking, Loki has been leading them to the black hole. He lets it and everything else around it speak for itself.]

[beagoodman]

[Steve shakes his head.]

They chose us then test us? And there is still not an explanation of why?

[He looks around, more wary this time. The place seemed strange at first too but now it's dangerous, and terrifying. He eyes the black hole and the space around it.] It looks like space, but it isn't. It's artificial?

[behisequal]

Sadly, no. [He says, though he does not sound the least bit sad.] It is all a very curious mystery.

[He frowns at that question. In truth, he isn't certain if it's real or false, but he can't exactly manipulate it himself either.] Perhaps, perhaps not. These celestial bodies are not unknown to me, but this ground... [He taps a foot, listening to the metallic thumping it makes.] Do you hear that? There is an illusion of some kind here. The stars are not truly like this.

[beagoodman]

I don't like it. [Steve comments dryly.]

[Then he listens to the sounds, frowning. He eyes Loki a bit remembering how he just appeared when they met.] An illusion... Similar to yours?

[behisequal]

Nor do I.

[He smiles faintly] If only. I would be able to banish it with a wave of my hand if that were the case. But as you can see--[He waves his hand, nothing happening.]--everything is still the same. [And while he sounds calm and okay about it, he isn't. He really isn't because that means there is someone out there who is stronger than him and he wants to learn that magic.]

[beagoodman]

[Steve watches as Loki... does nothing. Well, for him it didn't seem that spectacular.] How strong is it? The illusion.

[behisequal]

[It's a challenge. It has to be.]

Seeing as it is something even I cannot banish? Very.

[And while he isn't about to explain how powerful his magic is, the serious look on his face should be enough for the mortal to understand the gravity of the situation.]

[beagoodman]

[Steve's just eying Loki for a few seconds, debating. In the end, he nods with a heavy sigh. He understood.]

I see. Well, thank you for telling me all this. At least I'm prepared for what could come.

[behisequal]

[He nods his head] You are very welcome. Aware and prepared is the most we can be right now.