[014]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies enters the library looking annoyed and a little weary. she's carrying a file with her but is actually wearing jeans and a blouse--evidence that she's visiting on a day off for once. even so, her manner is intent; she's on a mission of some sort]

[the first thing she does is wander into the stacks, scanning titles and headings. after a few minutes, she sighs, looking unsure of what to start with. and after another look around and an idle flip through a book from a nearby shelf, she gives up on that idea. instead, she steps out of the shelves and picks a table to have a seat at. she opens the file and begins to flip through it, revealing that it's full of sheets of paper--one or two at a time--with photos paperclipped to them. and these aren't forms, either; they're handwritten notes of some kind, all in the same small, clipped handwriting. after a moment of looking through them, she stops and looks up]

Oi! Anybody about?

[and she waits expectantly for an answer]

Comments

[lamb_of_gold]

I'm here. You seem restless.

[He's still slightly subdued from last months' fiasco but hey, he's making an effort.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she missed that fiasco, so she gives him a curious look at his mood. but she isn't one to dive right in with that sort of questioning--especially when she's in the process of an investigation of her own at the moment. she just asks:] What do you know about mergers?

[lamb_of_gold]

A few things. I know how they are caused and repelled. Why do you ask?

[He sits opposite her at the tabe

[grip_on_reality]

Repelled? [her surprise is obvious, and she ignores his question for the moment] I didn't think they could be repelled.

[lamb_of_gold]

It's possible, but difficult. I've never managed it myself, but I know those who have. You must be indifferent towards whoever's reality you do not want, and you must will it away consciously as well.

[desertdaggers]

Something up?

[he's assuming there probably is, but. doesn't hurt to check, does it?]

[grip_on_reality]

What, 'round 'ere? [she smirks when she sees the unfamiliar face, amused at his eagerness to jump right in] Nothing more than the usual, at the moment.

So, been coming 'ere long?

[desertdaggers]

[well… if it turns out there's something he can do… But he straightens up a little, smiling, and shrugs.] Well, that's probably good, then.

Mm, it's been a while now. You?

[grip_on_reality]

[she snorts] Suppose so.

[she nods] Probably a year and a half or so. This place doesn't make it easy to keep track. [her smile is wry]

So... [she leans forward, looking at him curiously] Got a name?

[desertdaggers]

It really doesn't, does it? [matching her wryness with his own.]

Hawk. Nice to meet you, ah…

[bit_impossible]

[The Doctor isn't in the library, but he's definitely been looking for her. He dashes in, hoping to catch sight of her anywhere, and he looks a bit, well, rumpled. Like he hasn't stopped moving in a couple days (and in some ways, it's a bit true and it's maybe felt that long but it really hasn't been.)] Patricia! Patricia, are you here?

[grip_on_reality]

Over 'ere! [she's surprised by the urgency in his tone--enough so that she stands, swiftly gathering up her papers into the folder so she can head over to meet him] What is it?

[bit_impossible]

[And he splits the distance, meeting her in the middle and grabbing her shoulders] Patricia, I have to know. It's very important. [He pauses for a second, searching for her face for something that he isn't voicing.]

[Finally, he says:] Have you heard of a drink called "Karmaless Kin"?

[He really hopes she hasn't.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she will never cease to be amazed--and annoyed--by his apparent constant need to be hands on about things. she puts her hands on his arms, guiding him away from her shoulders if he'll let her. as he stares at her, she just gives him a slightly impatient look, waiting. at the question, though, she blinks] No, can't say that I 'ave. What, new alien alcohol--beyond all human tolerance?

[the joke is, naturally, a cover for how concerned she is to see how riled up he--the Doctor, of all people--is about this]

[bit_impossible]

[And he'll never stop being hands-on. Sorry Menzies, that's just how he rolls.]

What? No, how ridiculous is that? There'd be an immediate increase in alcohol poisonings, especially with the way humans drink. [He shakes his head.] No, Patricia. It's actually like this...energy drink, but it's got this gimmick. It's citrus-flavoured to humans and filled with all sorts of addictive caffeine additives that really aren't healthy in the long run, but drop this special little pill in it, and the entire drink becomes this...milky thing. It's non-toxic to humans; most just think it's awful because who's ever heard of green milk that isn't mint flavoured?

[fallbythesword]

[Jacqli's sitting with her back against a bookshelf, surrounded by pillows and wearing her nightgown as she pours through a relatively large tome of a book. Because she's a word nerd at heart. She looks up when she hears that familiar voice call out - she'd heard the woman enter, begin rummaging about, but hadn't bothered looking up to see who it had been. Now's better than never at least, right?]

Yes, detective?

[grip_on_reality]

[she perks up at the sound of the voice] Miwa! That you? [standing, she gathers up her papers and heads over to where she thinks Jacqli's voice was coming from. spotting her, Menzies is momentarily surprised at her appearance--and then she smirks] What, taking a break from saving the world?

[fallbythesword]

[She matches Menzies' smirk as she closes her book and sets it aside.] Apparently, the world can't be saved at night. Maybe the Holy Maidens need their beauty sleep.

[She shakes her head, stands.] Do you need something?

[grip_on_reality]

[she chuckles] Sounds inconvenient.

[gesturing to a nearby table, she has a seat there herself] Have you 'ad much experience with mergers yet? [because she knows that Jacqli and York have one, but she's not sure about any others]

[fallbythesword]

[She sits as well, nodding already in answer to Menzies' question.]

Yes. I think I've had a few so far. [She just barely keeps from rolling her eyes, but her tone tells her exasperation well enough.] Why?

[tricksterofthelord]

[Gabriel snorts, stepping from behind a shelf. For some reason he spends more time on the Plane that he would like to admit. Anyway, yay distraction.]

Goin' casual today, Menzy? I approve, I really do.

So, what up, anything I can help ya with? [Smirks, because bargaining is a great thing.]

[grip_on_reality]

Hullo, Loki. [she smirks at him, ignoring his comment about her apparel as usual] Depends. Seen anything new popping up 'round your world lately?

[tricksterofthelord]

[Gabriel refuses to roll his eyes, because his name coming from Menzies' sounds like mockery somehow. Though she has his attention.]

Whadd'ya mean?

[Because there were indeed some... 'new things popping up', but...]

[grip_on_reality]

[it might be a little. then again, would he prefer she walk around using his real name?]

Mergers. [she gestures at the file, though she doesn't open it yet] A whole heap of things that don't belong in Manchester. Is that 'appening in your world, too?

[because she has a sinking suspicion one of the new additions to her world might be his fault]

[tricksterofthelord]

[Probably not, he's still going as Loki for most people around the Plane.]

Mergers, what the hell... [Frowns, and eyes her a bit suspiciously. Things that doesn't belong? He could have something to say about that too. He eyes Menzies, still suspicious.]

Let me guess, sudden underground lizards are exactly this category, huh?