→ 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.

[bit_impossible]

Well, we'll just have to be succinct then! [The word may be in his extensive vocabulary, but it's not one that he often puts into practice.]

[He freezes for a split-second at that name, and stares. That name might not mean anything exceptional for many people here, but for him...well, "Omega" is the name of one of co-founders of Time Lord society--who also happens to be very insane and dead. Once he finds his tongue, he chuckles slightly, shaking his head.] Sorry, I thought you said your name was Omega for a moment. Must be something plugging my ears.

[realitymods]

Maybe in writing, but that's what I'm here for. Conversation's nice. Easier to get your point across sometimes.

[ ... Huh. She blinks at him while he stares, wondering what could be wrong - was it something she said? It's not like she's done anything, so it couldn't be anything like that, right? Then what--

Ah, name. ... Interesting. She shakes her head. She's not going to apologize for her name, that's a little ridiculous. (she doesn't even like it, honestly!) So instead, she just tries to move the conversation forward. ]

Heh, no, you heard right. It is. [ A pause. ] Some people call me Meg? It's shorter.

[ Omega is... not the smoothest of operators, or the best with people, necessarily. So how... How do you get past a hangup like this? Hmmm. ]

[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.

[desertdaggers]

[he gives her a wry smile.]

Well, I can't deny that. And that's certainly given me cause for concern at times. But… those things haven't happened all the time. On the other hand, things back home have been… consistently ongoing, shall we say.

[realitymods]

I see. So at least here, there are breaks? Is that it? [ Beat. ] Ah, sorry things are consistently ongoing in your world like that.

[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?

[grip_on_reality]

Omega? [she doesn't adjust her British pronunciation of the word] Bit ominous for a kid, I'd 'ave thought.

[she narrows her eyes at that, though] Oh yeah? And what does your group want this place for?

[realitymods]

[ That wins Menzies a blink. She's a little defensive now - this is the second person to get twitchy about her name, after all. ]

It's... It's just my name. I didn't exactly get to pick it. And we don't want it for anything? We're just here. It's a machine, right? A self-sufficient, evolved, and aware machine? And it's keeping all our worlds together at this focal point, so... [ She shakes her head sharply, eyes closed. ] I don't know about the others in my group of friends, but <>I just want to find out more about it. And I read about some of the stuff a lot of you have been through here already so now, I'm just asking what you think.

[ Menzies has her incredibly on edge. She's never been in any real trouble, never been under any serious suspicion - let alone interrogated! And apparently, when feeling backed into a corner, her propensity to ramble kicks in even more than usual. ]

[grip_on_reality]

[her answers are still surprising Menzies, who was clearly expecting something much more sinister than what this girl has been so far. if anything, she wonders if the girl is a pawn in a larger group--either that, or another victim like the rest of them] Wait. What do you mean it's keeping our worlds together? You mean you were drawn into it, too? Like us?

[she scowls at the reminder of the Machine's mischief, though. and she doesn't like that last comment one bit] I've been coming 'ere a long time, so I can probably tell you what you want to know, if you're looking for information. But... [her tone grows pointed again] Just where exactly 'ave you found written records about this place?

[realitymods]

It's keeping a huge number of worlds together. I'd hesitate to say "all worlds," because that's not something someone can know, obviously, but... that's just how it is. We found it, it found us. I mean, that's only possible if my world is joined to this place, too.

[ If there's another sort of differentiation, she doesn't know it. ]

There are archives. In the, um, archives. Of this place. They're locked down really tight. We can't get them out, we have to be in there if we want to read them. [ Security/infosec: clearly not her area of expertise! ]

But... Are you really offering? I mean, I'd love a first-hand account, a real explanation, from actual experience, because the archives are so clinical. But...

[ But you've kind of done nothing but bark at her since you showed up and she's pretty sure you're not suddenly going to start being that nice. She even looks incredibly wary now, like she's expecting to get lashed out at again and is already bracing herself for impact. ]

[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?

[grip_on_reality]

Makes sense. [she's not sure what to think--this girl still smacks of the sort of people who have run this place more than anything, but her explanation also seems plausible]

[at the very least, the talk of archives has her curiosity piqued] Oh? Can you take people to that archive?

[Omega's right, though--she isn't exactly that nice. but you can learn a lot from how people react to information, which she'd like to do. and Menzies doesn't mean to tell her anything personal or secret anyway. not to mention, if Omega might be tied to this place like the rest of them, there are some things Menzies does feel she deserves to know at least] Yeah, I'm offering. So what's that archive told you about this place and experiments?

[realitymods]

I guess? And i've read a bit about the experiments. They changed a lot over time, based on what was going on or who had access to what. But the consistent thing is that they affected the people here.

[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.