→ things that change or things that stay the same

[realitymods]

[ There's a whiteboard on the Plane.

Yep, pretty much right in the middle of everything - easy to spot, hard to miss. It's a relatively standard size, double-sided, held up by a very typical portable stand. Someone may as well have wheeled this thing away from a university classroom. Five different colored dry-erase markers sit in the tray: black, red, green, blue, and... well, the last one has a cap that's green, but the barrel is black, and the base is blue and... you know what, you'll probably just have to pop it open and give it a try for yourself if you really want to know.

Of course, there's also a message, scribbled across the top and boxed in:

What is this place to you?

Sitting beside it, in a metallic folding chair with a floofy red cushion, is a young woman in dark blue jeans and a plain gray T-shirt with her hands stuffed in her pockets. Her dark hair is loosely tied back in a messy braid that has probably been slept on at least one night, if not more. She has circles under her eyes, and given the way she's slouching a little, she probably looks like she should really go take a nap - but she's smiling, patiently waiting for anyone to show up and answer the question!

So, what does this place mean to you? ]

Comments

[bit_impossible]

[That board is, indeed, hard to miss--which is exactly why the Doctor makes a beeline right for it and the young woman sitting near it.]

"What is this place to you?" [He arches an eyebrow at the question, then turns it to her.] Did you write this?

[He doesn't recognize her, but as things have been quiet lately after that battle, he wasn't sure if he'd see anyone new ever again. And she certainly is new...but he wonders just what kind of new.]

[realitymods]

I did!

[ She stands up, stuffs her hands in her pockets, and her smile doesn't falter one bit. ]

I'm curious about what people think of this place - in any sense.

[bit_impossible]

Ohhhh. [He nods appreciatively, and glances at the board.] You might need a bigger one than this. Or more than one. Probably easier to get multiples.

But! How about some introductions first, hm? [He pulls a hand out of his own pocket and holds it out to her, grinning.] I'm the Doctor, and you are?

[realitymods]

Maybe! If I need another one, I'll go find it. I didn't feel like carrying two around just yet, if I could get away with it.

[ She laughs a little, then takes his hand - a firm handshake, and a single nod. ]

Omega. Nice to meet you, Doctor.

[desertdaggers]

[well, now, here's a new thing. And a new face! He doesn't mind wandering over, not by half. He considers the board for a moment, then turns, offering a smile.]

Looking to see how everyone sees about the place?

[realitymods]

[ She nods, returning the smile. ]

Yeah. I wonder what people think or feel about here. Mind sharing?

[desertdaggers]

Not at all!

[he rocks on his feet a little, and leans forward after a moment or two.]

Respite. A place to come to, and to meet people.

[realitymods]

Respite? But even the records I found say this place has periods of... intensity.

[ She's genuinely curious, as is evident in the way she sits forward in her chair, removes her hands from her pockets and clasps them together under her chin. You have her attention, Hawk. ]

[grip_on_reality]

[as Menzies approaches, she's eyeing both the whiteboard and the new person suspiciously. after all, she thought this place was meant to be done with games after everything that happened, but this seems like it being up to its old mischief. she isn't one to shy away from something just because it seems suspicious, though. and so she strides up to the whiteboard, grabs the black marker, and writes: Danger.]

[then she puts the marker back down and strides over to the young woman. her arms are folded across her chest as she sizes her up] So, I take it you're the new management. [and she leaves her comment at that, watching for the woman's reaction]

[realitymods]

[ Sorry if that marker's running a little dry toward the end of that word, Menzies - black's the most commonly marker color, after all. But at least it works! Er. Mostly. blame budget cuts

The girl watches her, smiling a bit, nods when she realizes exactly what word it is that Menzies is writing. But at the sizing up, she unconsciously fidgets in her seat a little. That's... not something she's used to. She stands, removes her hands from her pockets just so she can straighten the hem of her T-shirt. ]

Heh. No, uh, I'm not management of anything. They never even made me manager at Donut Time even though I worked there two years...

[ ... Tangent. Whoops. She brings it back around, standing a little bit straighter. ]

But the way you said that - that means what I read was right. People were... kind of "in charge" [ Yes, air quotes ] of this place? Huh.

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies isn't worried about the marker when she knows her word is visible enough that she's made her point]

[but the girl's reaction puzzles her] Yeah, they were. [she's still watching the girl, but she relaxes her posture a bit, looking more curious than defiant now] So if you're not management, then who are you?

[realitymods]

Omega. And I don't... know. [ A pause, while she mentally rummages through her vocabulary. ] I can't think of a word for who I'd be in that context, but my group found this place. Or, maybe it found us. Or, if you believe the Double Knot Theory, maybe we found each other simultaneously?

[lockwouldnt]

[What did he just walk into? Where did he walk into, Tyler corrects himself as he stares around the Plane, trying to discern if this is real life or some drug-addled dream of his. Or alcohol-induced. His roommates were kinda fond of sneaking booze into his fruit juice...

He sees the message first. His shoulders tense as he stuffs his hands into his pockets because wow, that was not supposed to be his introduction to interdimensional travel.] I don't even know what this place is.

[On instinct, he tightens his watch. If he has to wolf out to get answers, he will - but it doesn't exactly mean that he wants to. Finally, turning to face the young woman, he gestures towards the board with one of her markers.]

Hey! Are you, like, some kind of tour guide?

[realitymods]

[ The girl frowns - he doesn't know what this place is? Whoops. Must be new. (Newer than her? Wow!) She stands, hands still stuffed in her pockets, and shakes her head. ]

No, not a tour guide. Sorry. Just trying to learn more about this place. [ She smiles - small, but friendly. ] I could try, though? Um, welcome to the Astral Plane. Or the Machine. I don't know what they're calling it more these days.

[lockwouldnt]

[That makes two of them. Tyler sighs, not even bothering to hide his frustration.] Not your fault.

Unless you're the guy or girl who zapped me up here to-- ["the Machine?" He shakes his head at the thought.] - to wherever this Astral Plane is.

I mean, my friend and I talk about alternate universes and shit, but actually being here? That's. That's kinda new.

[realitymods]

Well, you're not wrong! It's definitely alternate universes and shit. Other worlds, all of that. This place is a center point for it. It connects all of them. But it looks like only a few people can come here at all. We don't really know why...

[ Whoops, rambling. She brings herself back in with a single nod. ]

So you just got here! That's amazing. Where are you from? If you don't mind me asking, I mean. [ Beat. ] Sorry. My name's Omega. What's yours?

[behisequal]

[Loki laughs bitterly when he sees that question on the board.] Oh, that is precious. [He continues to chuckle as he picks up a marker, pulling off the cap.] The mortals have a few words for places I think would apply, but I think this is the most appropriate.

[He writes "purgatory", then looks at her as he places the cap back on.] No matter what I do, I cannot escape this place. Nor do I wish to, not as I am. I will be restored to what I once was. [He glances at his hand forlornly, flexing it.]

[realitymods]

[ She kind of... quirks her eyebrows at him, sits up a little straighter, but lets him do what he will. And when he writes "purgatory," she hopes he doesn't try too hard to keep the marker running fluidly, since it appears to be drying out - the word is legible enough, that y is just a little bit on the faint side. Whoops. ]

So... you want to escape. But not yet? [ Beat. ] Do you mind if I ask why, exactly?

[behisequal]

[Loki doesn't think twice about the marker's quality of writing; it seems fitting. If anything, he'd blame it on being mortal-made and how, if they had such things in Asgard, they would write clearly for centuries and not reek of chemicals.]

On this occasion, no, I do not mind. You see, I am not as I am supposed to be. I am a god in a pathetic mortal body. This unnatural hunger at all hours of the day, and this body's weakness and need of sleep... I cannot stand it. I am in exile, and it's all because of the Plane of Astral.

[It isn't but he likes to lay that blame there because it's the easiest and he can't blame Thor for the Plane's wrongdoings to him. Yet.]

[vengefulagent]

[Wash has been by a couple times, but has yet to actually approach the woman and her board. He's watching her, unsure of why she's here and if she'll do anything yet to act against them. After that business with Tian and his ilk, and the demise of Wolfgang, he's not exactly trusting of new people coming here, especially ones who want to know something like that.]

[Eventually, however, his tactic of watching and gathering information from afar only tells him so much, so finally, he makes his way over and takes the direct approach.]

Who are you and what's your business here?

[He has his rifle. The safety's on, but since it's pointed at her, that threat alone should be enough.]

[realitymods]

[ More than enough.

She doesn't even hear his demand, because the second the rifle is trained on her, she scrambles out of her chair so fast that she knocks it over. Then trips backwards over it. And yelps, scared, as her tailbone hits the cold Plane floor hard. She stares up at him, wide-eyed and scared, and holds her hands up by her head. She can't even speak. The words just won't come. ]

[vengefulagent]

[And he's taken aback by that reaction that he steps back in surprise, letting out a:] Whoa! [And staring at her from behind his helmet visor. What the fuck just happened??]

L-look, I'm not going to shoot you. I just want answers to my questions.

[betrayedtwin]

[North has watched this person with the board for a bit through the scope of his sniper rifle. He, too, is cautious after what last happened on the Plane, but after watching a few people approach her, he decides to finally introduce himself.]

So, how's this work? [He gestures towards the board.] I tell you what I like about this place, but then what?

[realitymods]

Hey, you don't have to like anything. This place is... uh. Yeah. [ He's been here, he knows. She doesn't have to specify. ] And there's nothing really to work about it? We can talk about it, or we can not. I just... want to know.

[betrayedtwin]

[North chuckles, shaking his head.] That's not quite what I meant. I like a lot of things here, more than the things I dislike. But there's one person I like especially. You've probably already met her.

But really, I just want to know what you'll do with this information. I don't want my friends hurt again. We've been through a lot lately.