Entrez vous.

[filsdeliberte]

[He thought it'd be 'one of those days' when it'd started with the hazy realization that he'd had a horrible nightmare. Worse than the nightmares about Newfoundland. Even worse than the nightmares about England. Perhaps he should have just stayed home, but there's no use regretting.

He stands in the midst of the starfield - the Astral Plane - and after carefully looking around him reaches into his pocket for his phone. As expected there is no signal, but it still seems to be working otherwise. He dearly would like to know if America has found his way here as well, but he resists the urge to call despite no bars, or to call out. With a wan smile he huffs softly to himself.]

It's not like I need him to sort this for me.

[Pocketing the phone again he looks up to see an information kiosk has appeared not too far away. He approaches it, eager to know more about this place. When prompted by the sign he speaks up,]

Help, please. [Although it is all automated, it doesn't hurt to be polite.]

[He reads Broderick Naismith's brochure twice, then folds it up and places it in his jacket pocket. He tilts his head thoughtfully as he speaks softly to himself- a habit he will tell you helps him organize his thoughts.]

I like experiments well enough, but not so much being in them. Still, it would be rather interesting to meet people from other worlds... Science fiction has become reality. [He pauses for a long moment as his mind wanders through the possibilities.] There would be so much I could learn. And seeing as time has stopped back home – or I will be returned to the same time – there are no worries about something happening there... It wouldn't be good for me to be away from home for long though, no matter the time shenanigans going on.

Yes. Then, let's see who I can find.

Comments

[grip_on_reality]

You'd be surprised. [not that she's older than she looks particularly, but over 10 years in the force does a lot for a person--especially when the last several involve secret work with aliens]

Glad to 'ear it. There's, ah, a lot of those about. But they're all named after American states, far as I can tell.

So. [she considers his clothing, curious] "Where are you from?" seems like a redundant question. But mind sharing the year?

[filsdeliberte]

[He can't help a small smirk touching his expression- agents named after America's states? There'd be quite the story behind that, but it does sound like something his brother would enjoy.

He blinks at the question, not expecting that.]

Certainly. It's 2013. [A beat-] Ah, people here are from other times as well as other worlds, then?

[grip_on_reality]

[she nods at the year] Same for me. And yeah--worlds, times, universes. Name it, the Plane's got it!

[filsdeliberte]

How interesting!

Now, if I may return to something you said before, you said that unexplained things can happen at home? I was under the impression that time is stopped there.

[grip_on_reality]

[she nods, almost relieved to see some actual concern from this odd young man, though it isn't a topic that she particularly relishes talking about] While you're 'ere, it is. But when you're back there, this place can still make things happen. [she pauses, considering whether to share the obvious example, but decides it's probably best that he have an idea of what he might be dealing with]

Once, a while ago, a monster from this place started committing murders in our worlds. We...took care of it. But things like that can happen.

[filsdeliberte]

[Canada's expression falls in disbelief, then hardens.]

Just because I stepped into this place, now my home is at risk. [He swears softly under his breath in French.]

I'd no idea I was opening the door to such things. [He turns his head, as if looking for the exit.] I have to warn the others.

[grip_on_reality]

[inwardly, Menzies is cringing. this is exactly why she wasn't sure if she should share. when he turns, she calls sharply] Oi, don't rush off!

[and assuming he listens, she adds:] You don't want to go back there with only half the information available. And you'd better consider what you're going to say--or do you think they'll just believe that you're disappearing to a space nexus that they can't reach where you talk to people from other places and times?

[filsdeliberte]

[He does indeed pause at her exclamation, and faces her again.]

My brother will believe me, but I take your point. [He frowns slightly.] And you say that this is only half the information available?

Detective Inspector, please share with me what you know.

[grip_on_reality]

[she wasn't expecting to be taken literally, so she amends:] Part of it, anyway.

[but she pauses before she continues, not sure what to say. she doesn't want to overload a newcomer, but at the same time, she doesn't want Canada to make rash decisions based on half-truths either. she finally settles for a question] You read about mergers, right?

[filsdeliberte]

Yes, and you clarified about it for me as well...

[He pulls out the welcome brochure all the same and looks at it again.]

...There is this part about "individuals from the Astral Plane randomly appearing", but the way it was explained, I thought it would be other travelers like us who appeared, not monsters.

[grip_on_reality]

Yeah. [she nods] Usually, that's exactly what it is. I've never seen another situation like those murders, and I've been coming 'ere for about two years now. What you've mainly gotta watch for is the mergers--and you won't have any of those yet. [flatly] So calm down.

[filsdeliberte]

[He smiles, but his eyes are still dark with tension. There is no way for her to know the magnitude of what is at risk. Dieu, he doesn't even know himself, for this has never happened before! What would happen to him if something happened to his home while he was here...?

Yet despite these thoughts it does not take too much of an effort to consciously relax his posture.]

Madame, I assure you, I am quite calm. Please believe me when I say that when I am irrationally upset, you will clearly see it.

Now, I would like to depart and warn the others, but is there anything else you can add about how this place influences home?

[grip_on_reality]

[she can't help looking surprised that he still considers warning people to be his first course of action. after all, it's something that she herself can't even imagine doing--aliens are bad enough, but a nexus point between universes that only specific people can access? losing her job would be only the first consequence of a claim like that]

[she thinks about his request, though, pursing her lips. she really isn't used to piling all the worst aspects of the Plane on a newcomer immediately, but since he's asking, she doesn't hold back] I'd say the other thing to watch out for is how this place might influence you. What I mean is, experiments can follow you 'ome--even start there, sometimes. But if you know you're part of an experiment--and you're in the right mindset to do something about it--you can at least avoid those problems by staying 'ere for the duration.

[filsdeliberte]

[Canada passes his hand through his hair and breathes out slowly. What would happen to his home if he were compromised like that? It is rather disconcerting.

He smiles shallowly.]

I see. You're right, the right mindset and being prepared can go a long way.

Thank you for your honesty. Now, I suppose I will find out how travelling back and forth works a lot sooner than I thought I would...

À bientôt, Madame Menzies.

[With nod to her he starts walking, all the better to get home, according to the brochure.]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies watches him go, still curious about his strange reactions but mainly wondering how telling people at home about this place will go for him. after that last comment, though, she's also hoping that he doesn't have to find out the hard way that whether you're "in the right mindset" during an experiment isn't always up to you. but that's a worry for another day. for now, she goes back to walking across the Plane]