[018]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies can be found in the library today, which, while not unusual by itself, is certainly accompanied by a few unusual things about her. for one, she is sitting in a chair rather than at a table, her legs crossed and looking quite relaxed. there's a small table next to her with a cup of tea and a half-eaten bar of chocolate with hazelnuts on it. next to that is an open chair]

[instead of being accompanied by her customary paperwork, she is reading a book--a textbook, in fact, on Supersymmetry. her clothing is also quite different. her hair, now back to its usual shorter length, is tied back with a red plaid ribbon. she is wearing a white blouse graced with light blue polka dots under a navy blue blazer, a yellow skirt with vertical black stripes, and kneesocks decorated in horizontal rainbow stripes. this is all finished off with a pair of white trainers. all in all, the different clothing pieces make for a very striking ensemble. not that she's particularly concerned about this at the moment, as she is completely engrossed in her book]

Well, it's not bad for a theory, but humans 'ave a lot to learn...

[she's muttering to herself, and while her accent hasn't changed, her tone is surprisingly condescending. and yes, she did just speak about humans as if she's not one. perhaps someone should approach her and find out what's going on]

[ooc: Experiment time for Menzies! The Plane is making fun of a canon event, and the joke's on her~]

Comments

[dododo]

[ That is ... quite the sight. The Doctor wouldn't really have taken notice of her, if it wasn't for the unusual appearance.

As it is, he has to check on her. ]

Err ... Patricia?

[grip_on_reality]

[at his question, she glances around, as though she expects more than one person must have joined her. realising it's just the two of them, though, she looks up at him, her expression questioning] Do you mean me? [because she doesn't recognise that name at all]

[ooc: How do you feel about her recognising him as the Doctor--and thinking he's a past self of hers?]

[dododo]

I do, yes.

[ Pause. ]

Is that not right?

((OOC: I love it! Go wild.))

[grip_on_reality]

Uh, no. [she scoffs] Doctor, you're not telling me you've forgotten yourself, are you? We have met, you know.

[ooc: Awesome!]

[dododo]

[ Give him a moment. A quick one.

Is that so?

He supposes he'll play along, at least for a while. ]

Of course I haven't forgotten. What are you doing?

[fallbythesword]

[Jacqli's making her way to the library for a little bit of pleasure reading for herself. When she spots Menzies, she makes her way over to say hello. And immediately upon seeing the random stuff on the table and her... ridiculous outfit, her eyebrows go up. What in the...??

She crosses her arms, puts on a small smirk and makes her way the rest of the way over.]

I agree with that statement completely, though I have to wonder if you're including yourself with it.

[She maybe should start worrying. This could be bad. But she'll just pay close attention, for now, because the scales are tilted toward amusement instead. At least, for the moment.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she scoffs, glancing up at her visitor. if anything is amiss, she doesn't seem aware of it] Why in the world would I do that? No, I think I'll leave the humans to their own devices in that respect. I'm sure you understand that better than most.

So 'ow are you doing, Miwa? [she snaps her book shut, sitting up a bit as she turns her attention fully toward the other woman]

[fallbythesword]

[Oh Goddess, so she thinks she isn't human... her smirk grows a bit. Whatever this is, it's still about fifty different kinds of amusing! So she helps herself to a seat nearby, head tilted to one side as she reads the title of that textbook. Sounds interesting to her! Maybe she'll pick it up next... but, first things first!]

I have some experience in that area, yes. [nod!] I'm managing. Compared to the last thing this place turned itself into, my days back home have been uneventful lately. And how are you, Menzies?

[grip_on_reality]

Ah yes, wasn't that just fun! [she wrinkles her nose at the memory] Obviously I miss the decor very much. [it seems her sarcasm is still fully intact. but she frowns at that name, shooting Jacqli a confused look] "Menzies"? Are you coming up with code names for people now?

[it's not much of an explanation, but she can't think of any other reason that Jacqli would randomly give her a name that isn't hers]

I'm all right. [she makes a face] Well. Maybe a bit bored. Actually, I'm waiting for my companion to turn up so we can be off again, but Norm's not exactly the best when it comes to timeliness. [she gives a rather long-suffering sigh. really, good companions are so hard to come by]

[fallbythesword]

[She makes a similar face.] It was someone's idea of fun. That child... I'd like to know more about him.

[She frowns, just slightly, at the confused look. Interesting... She doesn't know her name in addition to believing she isn't human? Well then, that just adds another level to things, doesn't it? She shakes her head, schools her expression back to neutral as she tosses some stray hair over her shoulder, crosses her arms in front of her.]

Hmm. No, I'm not. I was just speaking to someone else earlier. I must be tired after dealing with the Holy Maidens all day. [An easy lie, since it's all just unspecific truths~] I don't believe you've mentioned Norm before, though.

[decrypts]

[ there aren't very many instances that york would find himself in or even around the library, but today, he's wandering. he's re-familiarizing himself with the plane, even though all of his memories have come back to him in entirety, and once he sees menzies sitting in the chair upon his arrival, he decides hey, why not stop and say hello?

her outfit catches him off-guard, just the slightest bit, but he doesn't think much of it as he makes his way over, grinning lightly as he plops down in the empty chair next to her. the book she's reading is way over his head, but that won't keep him from commenting on it. ]

Don't tell me you call that light reading?

[grip_on_reality]

[she shrugs, glancing up at him] It's not bad. Bit simplistic in its explanations, really. [curious, she asks:] What brings you here, Agent York? [because the library isn't a place she would normally expect to find him]

[and yes, she did just call him by his actual name]

[decrypts]

[ OOOKAY ALARM BELLS ARE GOING OFF. she has never called him by his given codename. never. ever ever. ever. and just with one tiny word he's already thinking that something is wrong, though he's careful not to let it show in his expression.

though it does twist a little bit in contemplation. ] Nothin' in particular, just felt like wandering around a little and wound up here. [ a beat, aaaand … ]

Did you really just call me York?

[grip_on_reality]

[she raises an eyebrow at the question, not understanding why that would be odd because the memories she has now have been tailored to fit with her new personality, and "the Doctor" didn't engage in that nameplay] There something else you're wanting me to call you now? [she chuckles] What, 'ave you all 'ad to rename yourselves? Copyright infringement issues?

[decrypts]

[ this name has been removed due to copyright infringement? no i mean. this is serious!!

york … does not know how to respond to this. one of menzies' most defining attributes is that she's called him everything but the name he was given once he'd joined the project. hearing her call him by that name now … it has him so confused that he doesn't quite know what to do with himself.

so he just continues giving her that strange look, trying to keep his speech nonchalant and unassuming. if there's something wrong, here – which there most assuredly is – he doesn't know what, and doesn't want to risk something going wrong.

subtlety. he's screwed. ] Not particularly, it's just that you've never called me that directly before. Lately it's been Agent Bermuda, and I thought it stuck.

[bit_impossible]

[It's been far, far too long since the Doctor's seen the good Detective--mainly because of many things going on the Plane that she'd surely blame him for--but it's by pure happenstance that he comes across her in the library today. He actually does a double-take because he doesn't recognise her with those clothes on, squints at her book, and then walks right on over with one eyebrow arched as high as his face will allow.]

Hullo there, Patricia. Donning an outfit from the lost property box, eh? I seem to remember a pair of jeans from--

--Hold on, did you say "humans"? And since when are you interested in Supersymmetry?

[grip_on_reality]

[she looks up from her book, her eyebrow shooting up right back at him] Norm, I 'ope for your sake that was some sort of joke. [she makes a show of adjusting her blazer because yes, her sense of fashion is jealousy-inducing, isn't it? though she doesn't understand why it should come with a strange name into the bargain] And if you're wanting something to call me besides the title, Jane Smith 'll do, but I can't see why that should suddenly bother you now.

And yes, humans. Like you. And you know, I developed this sudden interest in Supersymmetry about the time that you, oh, disappeared on the Plane so I couldn't leave without you! Funny 'ow that works. [she gives him a pointed look]

[bit_impossible]

What? [Of course, that initial exclamation of "what" is out of confusion because his name is definitely not "Norm"--but then it hits him and his eyes go wide.] Oh. Oh! ...Wait, really?! No... [He walks away, his mind racing. This is major deja vu, but at least this time, he's dressed far, far better. Then he spins around again, peering into her face.] You're not joking, are you?

[Short pause.] Quick, what's 23,496,451 times 759,381?

[grip_on_reality]

[she just watches him, her eyebrow still up because she can't understand why he's reacting like this at all. after all, it's certainly not the first time one of them has had to stay put on the Plane to wait for the other--and it's usually her. at least, as far as she remembers. because obviously she's much more punctual than he is]

No, I'm not--what the hell are you on about? [after that question, she's just staring at him now. and it's starting to sink in that something must have happened. so she ignores the question, and leaning forward, her expression now serious, she demands:] All right, then--out with it. What's going on?

[bit_impossible]

[He sighs loudly, rolling his eyes.] Oh, would you just answer my question?! You can't answer a question with a question, not even a rhetorical question--and especially not a maths one! So out with it: what's 23,496,451 times 759,381? Hmm? I bet you can't do it, can you?

[betrayedtwin]

[It's not the first time he's had to look for Patricia in the library, but he has to admit seeing her in that outfit and with that book is very surprising. He chuckles warmly and walks over to her with two cups of coffee in his hands that he sets down next to her. He gives the cup of tea a sort of confused look, but figures maybe she wanted something different. Still...]

I can't wait to hear the story behind this get-up. What kind of alien did you have to deal with this time? [He takes a seat nearby.] And uh...when did you start drinking tea?

[grip_on_reality]

Excuse me? [at North's comment about her outfit, she bristles, turning to him with a very unimpressed look. she straightens her blazer] I'll 'ave you know this is the height of fashion in much of the universe, thank you! And certainly better than anything the Quaggorians 'ave to offer.

[but she throws a confused glance at those cups of coffee as well] Um...when 'ave I not been drinking tea? Agent North, are you feeling all right? [she eyes him consideringly, wondering where in the world that barrage of odd questions could have come from]

[betrayedtwin]

[Okay, now he's just...he's going to settle on confused for right now.] Height of fashion, huh?

You can drop the undercover thing here, you know. [She only uses "Agent" in certain situations, and this sure as hell doesn't seem like one of them.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she sniffs, her expression haughty] Obviously.

[but she raises an eyebrow at that comment, just as confused back. however, she assumes that by "undercover," he's referring to the fact that she's using his codename]

You know, that's a bit of a tall order considering you 'aven't given me your actual name. Besides, I thought you preferred titles anyway. I mean, nothing wrong with a good title! I'm fond of 'em myself. You might 'ave noticed. [she chuckles briefly at her own joke and picks up her cup of tea to take a sip, wondering what he's going to say next in this odd mood he seems to be in]

[betrayedtwin]

[The name thing stings; he's explained to her before why he still goes by 'North' with her. It's who he is now. His real name is attached to a person--a past--that he's left behind. (Not to mention the safety issues.)]

Patricia, what's going on?