[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.

[grip_on_reality]

Indifferent? [she frowns, her lips a line of annoyance. indifference is an attitude she's good at putting on but not good at actually meaning. she's glad for the information; it's an option to keep in mind if she ever has a specific need. but it's not one she expects to come easily or to be able to use regularly]

Basically, there 'ave been strange things popping up 'round Manchester for a while now, and I need to know as much as I can about 'em. 'ave you noticed anything in your world that might come from mine?

[because Mu was one of the first people she met here, so it would make sense. still, she can't think of anything she's seen that smacks of the Greek Mythology course she imagines Mu's world to be]

[lamb_of_gold]

Mm-hmm. It is our emotional bonds that cause mergers in the first place, be they positive or negative. Stronger feelings make for larger points of merging, especially if nothing is done to stop it.

[He ponders her question for a moment, turning over the oddities in his home world before shaking his head] Certainly there are things that may have come from yours, but nothing immediately telling as yours, if that makes sense.

[grip_on_reality]

Yeah, I'd gathered that much. [her expression is annoyed; she hates the power this place has--particularly as there doesn't seem to be any good way to counter it. in fact, it seems to have made quite sure that there isn't]

[she nods at the description, though] What seems like it might be? [because she reasons that even if something, to him, only appears to be from about the right place or time, it might be more significant to her]

[lamb_of_gold]

Electricity in the village, signs that are distinctly English, and a small collection of novels that have found their way into my library. Do you suspect something of mine? I have not noticed anything missing.

[grip_on_reality]

I see what you mean. [she sighs, wishing there were an easier way to narrow this down] What did the signs say? Or what sort of books were they?

[she shakes her head] Not that I know much about where you're from, mind you. [she gestures at the file in front of her] Anything seem familiar? [and she pulls out the papers one by one so he can see the photos, though she leaves several in the folder. she's already guessed or narrowed down the origins of those]

[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?

[lamb_of_gold]

Mostly directions, place names and the like. From what I can tell the contents are no different, they are simply written in English now. The books? Novels, as I said. Science fiction, I believe.


[He shuffles through the photographs, stopping at the one of the calendar.] Perhaps this? It's 1991 now, but...how long have you had this?

[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]

Science fiction? [that catches her attention] Who by? Do you remember if any were by...say, Douglas Adams, Isaac Asimov, or Arthur C. Clarke?

Long enough for the year to be wrong. [she nods; it makes sense considering Mu was one of the first people she met here] Right, that's one off the list. [and she adds a note to the paper that was accompanying the calendar photograph]

[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?

[desertdaggers]

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

Hawk. Nice to meet you, ah…

[lamb_of_gold]

That sounds right. Are they yours?

[grip_on_reality]

Detective Inspector Patricia Menzies. [she nods to him] Since you've been 'ere for "a while," Hawk, 'ave you run into any mergers yet?

[desertdaggers]

Detective Inspector? [the idea comes across, if not exactly, and his brow furrows for a moment. He tilts his head, expression turning considering, and his tone is lighter when he speaks.] Should I call you by that all the time?

That's… when parts of your worlds are shared, isn't it? [he shakes his head, and lifts his hands in a shrug] I haven't noticed anything. [and he knows the room he has right now well enough to be aware of any changes]

[grip_on_reality]

[she nods] Seems likely, anyway. [her relief is obvious; at least that merger--so far--seems harmless. and that's a good sign as Mu's world doesn't strike her as particularly harmless as a rule]

So I got a calendar and you got books--and maybe electricity and signs. [she frowns thoughtfully] Not sure 'ow you could narrow those down if they're not specific. There are a lot of people they could 'ave come from.

[remembering her conversation with York, she adds curiously:] Mu, 'ave you tried to read any of those novels?

[grip_on_reality]

[she snorts] Only if you want to. Or, if you're not feeling that ambitious, Menzies is fine.

Yeah. [she nods, her tone wry] Lucky you. I'd keep an eye open, especially if you're getting to know more people.

[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?