[024]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies is standing out on the now-empty Plane today when she makes both an announcement and a radio broadcast to any either near enough or tuned in to hear]

This is DI Menzies, to everyone on the Plane. I... [she hesitates. while her appearance is mostly consistent with her normal, composed self, for a second there's uncharacteristic nervousness in her demeanor that she's obviously trying to fight. but it's gone as quickly as it came, and she's all business again] I've got reason to believe there might be a flood on the Plane. Maybe it'll be related to the recent snow--I don't know. It might not even 'appen. But it could do, and I'd rather we were prepared than not.

So, any of you out there with access to safety equipment like life jackets or, hell, even a raft--anything you could temporarily bring to the Plane and store in public areas could be crucial. This includes water bottles and sealed, nonperishable food. I'll set up supplies on the top floors of the higher buildings.

[she pauses there. and then, with a sigh, adds:] Look, I know what this sounds like, and it's possible nothing's gonna 'appen. But this could be real, and lives could depend on being ready. I'll coordinate things if you've got any more ideas. Out.

[she shuts off the radio and takes in a deep breath. she has more reason than just the snow to suspect a flood--she's seen an ocean in her dreams, showing a moon and stars both above and below. and while the dreams are vague enough that she can't be sure to expect a literal flood, she's afraid there might be. still, knowing how strange the scenes in the dream are, she only hopes she's warning the people here about the right danger]

[Menzies stays out on the Plane for a while to repeat her warning. anyone who talks to her in person might notice that she's now wearing a ring on the ring finger of her left hand. but she's worried about a lot more right now than making an announcement like that]

Comments

[hollowly]

( sam can't really ignore an announcement like that - even if his initial thought is to wonder just how menzies gets notions like these. she has reason to believe something might happen, but doesn't give any sort of indication of what reason that might be? it sounds sketchy to him, at the very least, and he's never been anything if not a thorough investigator of his own making.

why else do you think he's the one that does all the research back home?

it's been a while since he's seen her - not since following the incident with his shadow - and even though he has no real reason to bother himself with any of her predictions, suffice it to say that he's curious. )

You make an announcement like that, but don't tell anyone why you think it's going to happen? ( he peers at her for a moment with eyebrows raised, posture lax with his hands in his jeans pockets. ) Sounds kinda sketchy to me.

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies looks over at Sam's approach, but she winces at his words; this is exactly the sort of reaction she was afraid of. still, she tries not to show it. she crosses her arms in front of her, for once out of discomfort, and shrugs. but despite her unflinching demeanor, she isn't meeting his gaze] Then don't listen to it.

[hollowly]

( honestly, if it were anyone but him replying to this announcement? they wouldn't be so harsh about it.

he just. takes issue with beating around the bush at the moment, as it were. there's no point in sugar-coating something if it isn't going to do anyone any good. )

Kind of hard not to when you're broadcasting it to the entire Plane.

[grip_on_reality]

Yeah, well, I've done that now. [she'd meant to hang around to tell more people for a bit, but she's starting to consider whether to walk off and start gathering whatever food she can from the kitchen instead]

[she doesn't immediately, though. instead, she eyes him] What do you want me to say? We 'ad snow, you know--lots of it. It's warmer now, and all that moisture's gone somewhere.

[that doesn't even sound believable to her ears--not in this place--but Sam isn't someone she has reason to trust, so the truth isn't something she wants to share with him]

[bit_impossible]

[Having known the detective for as long as he has, hearing her broadcast has definitely made him worried. He knows she wouldn't say this kind of thing for nothing. So naturally, he tracks her down.]

Hullo there, Patricia! I think I've got an inflatable emergency raft somewhere in these pockets; never go anywhere without one after that incident on the Titanic. Clung to an iceberg for hours.

[But then his expression shifts to serious mode.] Did something happen recently? [He's oblivious to the ring on her finger, but give him a mo'; he'll notice it eventually!]

[grip_on_reality]

[she raises an eyebrow at his little story but knows far better than to ask] Yeah, well, keep it on you when you're 'ere and leave it somewhere high up when you're not.

[his question puts her in mind of the ring, but from the serious expression on his face, it's obviously not what he's asking about] Well, being myself again isn't exactly recent. But if you're asking if I've died, no.

[as far as what's actually going on, she'll tell him eventually, but she'd rather start with reassurances first]

[bit_impossible]

[He pulls a face and nods] Oh, yes ma'am. Will do, ma'am.

[But when she says that, he looks at her blankly--but then it hits him.] Oh, ohhh. Well, no--I mean, yes, I was wondering if you'd been killed, but you're you again! Obviously, else you'd be calling me 'Norm' again. Sorry 'bout all that.

[Of course, he's not thinking about the contact he made with her mind during that. He's thinking of how lousy the part of a companion he played during that. At least there weren't any Terravore this time...]

[grip_on_reality]

[she eyes him, and he's lucky that she's sure he knows better than to mean that mockingly] Good.

[but at that reaction, she frowns] Been a while since all that 'appened, Doctor. But yeah, I'm me again, thank god. [she smirks a little as she says it]

[but even if he's forgotten about the contact he made, she certainly hasn't, and she still firmly believes that she deserves an explanation for it. so she considers him for a moment, her eyes narrowing, before she asks:] If I refuse to tell you what's 'appened now, would you go into my 'ead again to find out? Is that what you do now?

[bit_impossible]

[Yeah, that takes him aback. The surprise is very evident on his face.] What? No, why would you think that? I rarely do that, Patricia.

[grip_on_reality]

[she shrugs, keeping the expression on her face stony, though his surprise at the accusation is actually a relief] You did it easily enough. You didn't even tell 'er--me--that you were about to look at my memories. She might 'ave taken it fine, but you still did it without my permission--without hers, even. If you don't go around doing that, then why did you?

[bit_impossible]

You--the "Doctor" you was convinced I was human. I had to see that your mind wasn't ruined by an experiment or worse--some alien influence or hypnosis from back home. But I knew any explanation I gave about what I was going to do would get me even more questions and delay me further. I had to see. Your life was at uncertain risk and I was only thinking about you.

You need to understand that I wasn't going to touch or alter any of your memories. They served as a guideline for me. If I could find a memory where our paths crossed, then I knew I could find you in there. [He looks away for a moment, remembering what he saw.] I've never seen anything like it. Your mind was nearly hollow, fragments clinging together to form the fiction the Plane had created for you. How was I supposed to explain that to you with the way you were? You had a hard enough time accepting poor Norm had any kind of ability that wasn't grade-A human.

[fallbythesword]

[Of course Jacqli heard all of that.

She approaches when Menzies is done with her speech, head tilted just slightly to the side, considering.]

There's no need for anything like that in my world so I have nothing to bring. Except... maybe some food. I'll see what I can do. Where did this come from?

[Because "the snow is melting"? Yeah no, she doesn't buy that for one second, and she knows Menzies doesn't either.]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies sighs. she wasn't expecting to fool Jacqli--she isn't expecting to fool many people at all, really, but she wasn't going to give details publicly, and so she gave a message that didn't include them]

[telling the truth at all isn't going to be easy for her. it certainly isn't something she means to do with many people, but at least Jacqli already knows more about it than most. so she pauses to consider how to explain and then says:] Remember those nightmares I was 'aving? Turned out they weren't just random--not that I knew that until those things I 'eard scratching at the floor came out of it. [she scowls]

But now that I know it was real then? I've started dreaming again. About a flood.

[Jacqli may notice that, unlike last time, Menzies doesn't look sleep-deprived or tortured, but she's definitely worried. she leaves her explanation there, knowing Jacqli will be able to draw the conclusion herself]

[fallbythesword]

[She frowns, trying to think back...] What came out of the floor?

[But whatever.] You're having prophetic dreams.

[That's not really that usual to her. Granted, usually, it's a load of crap. But if anyone is actually having them? It's probably someone associated with the Plane. and Menzies isn't one to lie about something outlandish like that.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she grimaces, wishing she didn't have to explain but willing to, at least] Those things--the angels. Those...shadow things. That was the noise under the floor, back before that mess started. Their fingernails. [she shudders] And in my nightmare, I saw white wings and mirrors showing people from the Plane. Miwa, it wasn't just some...trick from this place to drive me mad. It was a warning.

[but she wishes Jacqli hadn't put it like that. prophecy isn't usually something detectives go in for, after all. she hates being associated with it, even if it's true. but she swallows hard and nods] Yeah. I...guess I am.

[quickly, she adds:] But who knows, maybe it won't be real this time. Maybe nothing will 'appen and everyone here will think I'm paranoid. [she tries for a smirk, but it's weak. in some ways, she thinks that would be a better outcome than the alternative--being right and everyone knowing that she knew in advance] We'll 'ave to wait and see. But either way, I mean to be ready.

[fallbythesword]

... Right. Once could be a coincidence, after all. But not twice. If something does happen, then you'll have real confirmation.

[Why yes, that was ever-so-slightly sardonic. If someone's dreaming about wings and mirrors and then that happens, why the heck is that worth attempted dismissal? But after that, she drops it, since clearly Menzies doesn't want to talk about it right now, either. So if Menzies wants to carry on in denial, then whatever. Doesn't mean she won't speak her mind about it, though.]

How... else do you prepare for a flood?

[Ahhh, Tower life...]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies catches that tone, but she ignores it. while having one repeated dream that turned out to be true does imply that another would also be, she wants more evidence before she admits it--even if deep down she also knows that doubting it is silly]

[at that question, though, she frowns] Not sure what else we'd 'ave the supplies to do, honestly. Sandbags can 'elp protect buildings, but if this is gonna be high, we'd need a lot to even have an 'ope of doing anything worthwhile. Most people don't just 'ave boats lying about, either. [she pauses thoughtfully] Hopefully we won't be trapped on the Plane to wait it out, but having accessible supplies in case we are is the best idea I've got. So...food, like I said, but blankets and dry clothes would be a good idea, too, if you've got access to things like that.

Actually, maybe I should pay a visit to lost property... [after all, odds are small that anyone will miss anything she "borrows" from there]

[fallbythesword]

Sand bags.

[What.

.... She just shakes her head. Floods, man. What are they and why.]

I'll get what I can. Looks like I won't be that helpful this time, though.

[desertdaggers]

[this isn't quite what he anticipating coming to the Plane to hear today, and he listens with some concern.]

A flood? I'll see what I can do. […probably just add to the supplies, honestly.]

Any ideas on when it might happen?

[grip_on_reality]

[she nods to Hawk, grateful that this is how he's reacting and not more suspiciously. she wonders if he heard--or remembers--her shadow's words: "You were warned." but she certainly isn't going to bring it up]

No, unfortunately. [she shakes her head] Probably soon, but who knows. Look, like I said, I could have this completely wrong anyway--I just don't want to take that risk.

[but not terribly fond of that subject, she tries to shift it by asking:] So 'ow 'ave you been, anyway? [and, with a hint of nervousness:] You...come out of that trouble all right in the end? [because the last time she saw him was when he helped her face her shadow, and she wonders if he had to face his]

[desertdaggers]

[only vaguely, if at all, so he's not likely to bring it up either.]

That's fair enough. It'd put rather a damper on things, at best. […well.]

Oh… more or less. [he frowns, reaching up to push some of his hair back.] I suppose it does some good, facing the truth, but I still wouldn't recommend it.

But- that remind me. [he straightens, offering her a bit of a smile.] Do you have some time now?

[grip_on_reality]

[she snorts] That's one way to put it.

I could 'ave told you that. [her smirks is wry] Still, glad to 'ear you managed. [more glad than she can say. she's still hoping, though she knows it's naive, that there weren't any more deaths to the shadows than the one she witnessed]

Time for that lunch, is it? [she smirks back at his offer] Sure, why not? I'm betting flood preparations can wait that long, anyway.

[desertdaggers]

First-hand experience certainly makes it more evident! [he grins, with a soft sound.] That makes two of us.

I shouldn't think it'll move that fast. [he gives their surroundings a quick look around anyhow, but nothing seems to be changing.] To the kitchen, then?

[grip_on_reality]

[she nods] All right. We can see what they've got on offer. [and without further ado, she starts in that direction, motioning for him to join her]

[desertdaggers]

[he doesn't really need the urging, but it doesn't hurt. He moves to walk alongside her as they go.]

Hopefully it's nothing too finicky! It'd be handy to take something back…

But besides that- Menzies, how have you been since?