[031]

[oliverplus]

[Oliver is very slowly getting through a pint of something blue as he sits at the bar, looking pensive. at the moment, he's holding the glass and sloshing it a bit, watching as the liquid slides around. he mutters to himself:] But what could've happened for all of them to be so....weird? It doesn't make any sense! [he sighs, taking another drink. currently, he's so focused on his own thoughts that he's unlikely to even notice someone joining him--which might be happening right now]

[ooc: Unbeknownst to Oliver, his flatmates have been replaced by Zygons as part of an invasion the Doctor is trying to handle. Anyone up for helping him work this out--or at least helping him through his sulking?]

Comments

[truth_is_cold]

[Rhade has been preoccupied, and therefore he's avoided the Plane for a while. He is here, though, today as Oliver is ruminating on something. He sits down beside of him and eyes items across the bar.]

What is so unusual?

[oliverplus]

[Oliver jumps at the discovery that there is suddenly a person he doesn't recognise sitting next to him] Um...hi. [feeling a bit awkward, he shifts, turning toward Rhade. he waves a hand, trying to look cheerful and not half as worried as he really is] Oh, just my flatmates. Hey, are you new here? I'm Oliver. [he offers his hand--it seems the right way to greet someone in uniform]

[truth_is_cold]

I've been here for quite some time. I'm just not particularly talkative. [He's had a lot on his mind. But he shakes the offered hand.]

How are they acting?

[oliverplus]

[Oliver's handshake is vigorous but not quite as firm as it should be] Well, it's nice to meet you! What's your name?

Just really... [Oliver wrinkles his nose] Okay, so this is gonna sound mad, and I've probably been watching too much telly, but it's like they're being sort of...secretive. [quickly, he adds:] Which doesn't make any sense! I mean, we're just students at uni. You know? [he laughs uncomfortably. he's been telling himself how ridiculous these thoughts are for weeks, but it hasn't made them go away]

[truth_is_cold]

I don't even know if it sounds mad. [He smiles for the first time in a long time.] I don't know what a telly is.

[desertdaggers]

[he contemplates the liquid for a few moments before settling down next to Oliver, attention turning to his face.]

What doesn't?

[oliverplus]

Hawk! [Oliver smiles at his friend--but that smile quickly slips] Oh, just...my flatmates are acting really weird. And...well, I think something must be going on, but they aren't telling me what. [he takes another drink, frowning--but quickly snaps himself out of it. trying to sound cheerful, he asks:] How are you doing, anyway?

[desertdaggers]

Maybe you need to try another way of finding answers.

[but subject change, sure, why not! He reaches out for a a glass, with a slight forehead scrunch as some of the cut that are still healing pull.]

I'm alright- well, I'm doing better than I was a little while ago. Things are still a little troubled, but… [he'd rather deal with the Rolante soldiers, who are at least in control of themselves.

He gestures at Oliver's drink.] Is that any good?

[oliverplus]

[he gives him a curious look at that] What do you mean?

What happened, anyway? [because Oliver is definitely eyeing those cuts]

Um... [he frowns at the glass, as though realising for the first time that you're supposed to taste beer while you're drinking it. he really has been very distracted. he takes another drink, considering] Yeah, I think so. It's just got this sort of...weird bubble gum-ish flavour. Don't ask me how that works. But it's on tap if you want some. [he gestures]

[desertdaggers]

Snoop around a little, see if anything looks out of place.

Ahhh… I got into some trouble getting out of being locked up. [he waves a hand] Not that I shouldn't have expected that in occupied territory, but I hadn't thought it'd be quite like that.

Bubble-gum? Alright. [hm. heading over to get himself a glass now, and he takes a sip.] …that's definitely odd. But in the kind of way where you want more. [more sipping as he comes back.]

[bonnypiperlad]

[And lo, a wild Jamie appears. Or wanders in, more accurately. Either way, he'll be taking a seat at the bar next to Oliver, giving him a puzzled look in the process.]

What do ye mean, weird? Who's being weird?

[oliverplus]

Jamie. [Oliver relaxes a little, smiling gladly at the sight of his friend] How are you? How's Victoria? [because those two questions definitely go together]

[at Jamie's question, though, his smile fades] My flatmates. [quickly] I mean--not Chloe! She's in Brazil. But everyone else... [he frowns] I don't know what's going on.

[bonnypiperlad]

Ah, she's fine. She's off doing something in the TARDIS.

[And he'd gotten bored, which is why he was here now. But Oliver's reaction causes him to frown as well.]

Your flatmates? What are they doing that's making ye think that, then?

[oliverplus]

[that's not what he meant, but he'll let that go for now]

Just... [he pauses, thinking about how to explain] Okay, don't laugh. But they're being sort of...secretive. And not really doing stuff they normally do, like sports and video games and music. And...well, they're drinking weird things. I mean, not weird alcohol! Just energy drinks. Which is also weird. [quickly] But I know that all sounds really mad and I'm probably worrying over nothing!

[bonnypiperlad]

[He's good too, really, apart from being bored. Which is rapidly changing as Oliver talks, and the frown deepens somewhat.]

Aye, well, maybe. What's an energy drink, though?

[bit_impossible]

[There has been one person he's been neglecting to check in with this entire time--not because he forgot, oh no; for once, he's remembered!--but he knows he can't risk doing it back in their reality. He's had to wait for Oliver to come to the Plane. That's a test in itself. Then again, to be fair, he hasn't exactly had much time to come to the Plane anyway.

Thankfully, Oliver's Plane habits are predictable, so he checks the bar first (with plans to go to the library next), and lo, there he is! The Doctor hurries straight over to him, his sonic screwdriver in hand.]

Oliver!

[oliverplus]

Doctor! [Oliver jumps at a combination of the Doctor's sudden appearance, the urgency in his tone, and the fact that he has the sonic screwdriver out] What is it? What's going on?

[bit_impossible]

[He doesn't speak at first. Instead, he immediately turns on his screwdriver, the device whirring loudly away as he scans Oliver with it and somehow understands what's being said. Thankfully, Oliver knows better than to ask how by now. And, thankfully, Oliver knows that the Doctor can and will ignore questions to ask his own. As he's doing right now.]

Just as I thought. Now! Ollie-boy, have you noticed anything odd lately? People acting strange or out of character, and maybe drinking something called "Karmaless Kin"?

[oliverplus]

[he gapes at him. and then he eyes the sonic screwdriver somewhat suspiciously because did the Doctor just read his thoughts??] ...how did you know that? [but he pauses as it sinks in] Oh god, it's aliens, isn't it? Are aliens brainwashing people!?

[bit_impossible]

[He sighs loudly, rolling his eyes.] No, no, no. I know because I've had this feeling that something was going on for a while, and oh hey, turns out the Doctor isn't going barmy!

[He takes a seat next to Oliver, keeping his eyes right on him.] They don't brainwash. It's worse than that; they kidnap you and use this body-print technology that allows them to adopt your appearance. No skin suits or anything. Effectively, they are you until someone notices that you're acting odd.

And that's when things go from bad to worse.

[punkblaze]

[Eithan is indeed joining him! But he tries to make his presence known (not that he's that great at stealth anyway, which is a benefit here, right?) walks around to the other side of the bar in order to go ahead and start making himself something. Strong, preferably.

He'll just talk while he's rummaging around...]

What doesn't make any sense? [Beat.] Sorry, missed the first bit. [He flashes Oliver a grin before returning to rummaging.]

[oliverplus]

[Oliver turns at the sound of Eithan's very considerate rummaging] Hey, Eithan! [he grins at the sight of his friend--but that quickly dissipates at Eithan's question] Oh, just...my flatmates are acting really weird. [quickly, he add:] But how are you? How's...you know, everything?

[how's life as a traitor? how's your girlfriend? have you seen her lately? he hopes Eithan can pick up on the unspoken questions]

[punkblaze]

[He shrugs as he finishes pouring himself a glass of rum over ice with probably only enough dark soda in it to provide coloring. Oops?]

Eh, same shit, different day. Layin' low and keepin' busy.

[Too bad for you, he's got nothing to report on! So, let's back this conversation up...]

Weird how? Like, "Wow, my flatmates are bein' really shitty to me," weird? Or "Wow, I think my flatmates are fuckin' high" weird?

[oliverplus]

[as that's not really a satisfactory answer from someone making an expression like Eithan's, Oliver asks:] So what have you been up to lately?

No, like...well. Sort of like they're high. Or, you know, suddenly political activists! Or something. [he tries for a smile like that was a joke, but it falls rather flat]

[punkblaze]

[He takes a sip of his drink before answering.]

Figured out I'm not alone, for one. [He actually smiles a little at that.] I mean, okay, I knew I wasn't. But dear Miina, you've got no idea how hard it is to find these people! For good reason. But still. [Snort!] Otherwise, yeah. Nothin' different, just... tryin' to figure out where to go from here.

[... Blink!] Suddenly political activists? [He snickers at the not-joke, but he can see right through that flat smile, and he shakes his head.] In the creepy, insistent kind of way, or what?