[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]

[Menzies is currently on her way to the kitchen, hoping to transport food supplies to additional accessible locations in the midst of the current crisis. however, out in the middle of the Plane, she encounters a familiar figure]

[the woman stands with her arms crossed, waiting. she's more put together than Menzies herself, with her dark hair tied back and her blouse and slacks neat and unwrinkled--a contrast to the sleep-deprived detective, rumpled and weary, who is approaching her. but this new woman also has eeriely glowing yellow eyes, and as she sees just who it is who's coming--and the expression on Menzies' face--her own expression shifts into a contemptful sneer]

Don't look so surprised. Or did you think you wouldn't see me because I wasn't in one of your mirrors? [the words are like a slap to Menzies, and this other woman knows it. she starts to smirk now] But you don't want everyone to know about that, do you? That you were warned that this would 'appen, and 'ere we all are just the same! Well, someone like you could never 'ave stopped me anyway, could you? Even with warning.

[tense, Menzies stops what she hopes is a safe distance from the woman. she ignores her taunting and demands:] What the hell do you want?

[the woman gives her a look of mock surprise] Sorry, am I interrupting? Gotta continue your food errand so you feel like you're in control of something, right? Otherwise you'd 'ave to admit that there's nothing you can do about any of this.

[Menzies flinches, unable to ignore that jab] I am doing something. And what's it to you?

To me? [the shadow laughs] It's nothing to me. Because you know what, DI Menzies? I know better. I know just 'ow useless we really are. I know about all the guilt we've got inside--the guilt you carry around with you like a festering wound. Verrelli. Grey. Gabriel. All that weakness is such a big part of me. Or 'ave you got it jammed down so 'ard you don't even know it for yourself?

[at that speech, Menzies just gapes at her double. and after a moment of sputtering, she declares:] Shut up! You don't know anything!

[but it's at that point that she hears someone coming, and both shadow and original turn to look, their faces almost perfect mirrors of each other--except that one has eyes ringed with dark circles and the other has eyes of bright yellow]

[ooc: Menzies faces her shadow! There will be a battle. Feel free to join in~]

[in the library, Menzies is sitting in a chair with a book in her lap, but that is everything about her appearance today that could be considered somewhat normal. at the moment, she isn't reading the book. in fact, what she is doing right now is staring at the floor as though she expects something on it to be staring back at her. she's even pulled her legs up to curl them underneath her in the chair, like she's in the middle of one of those jokes about the floor being lava]

[anyone who takes a closer look at her will notice a number of other strange factors in her normally-neat appearance, too. she's dressed casually in jeans and a blouse, her hair pulled back, but it's partially falling out of the hair tie, her clothing is rumpled, and her expression is one of weariness mixed with frustration. there are dark circles under her eyes, too. she obviously hasn't been sleeping well, and she looks suspiciously like she might have been napping in those clothes recently]

Damnit, what is that? What the hell are you!?

[also, she is shouting at the floor. because she is quite possibly at her wit's end at this point and has apparently ceased to care whether someone might overhear. either that or she's just assuming no one is around--incorrectly, as it turns out. still, from the state of her, wise characters might not approach her today...but then again, is wisdom really a strong suit for most residents of the Plane?]

[the table where Menzies is sitting in the Plane library is currently covered in a combination of orderly chaos. this includes several stacks of file folders, two stacks of papers, multiple notebooks, and editing implements like white out and pens. one of the folders is open in front of her, and Menzies is reading intently through its contents, muttering to herself as she does so]

Species name should be safe enough. Just gotta get rid of where I got the information about it. Probably just...leave that vague. [as she finishes her reading, she turns her attentions to a blank piece of paper and starts to recopy the sheet in front of her--with a few edits into the bargain]

[but after a few sentences, she pauses to rotate her wrist, sighing. she's been at this for a while already, and it's starting to wear on her] Thank god I've got all the time in the world for this. Not that Pierce is likely to notice the missing files too quick even if I do go back. Still... [after one more wrist rotation and another sigh, she goes back to her work. at the moment, she's too focused on it to pay a great deal of attention to her surroundings. after all, she has a lot to get through before she can start returning files to Manchester]

[ooc: This marks the end of the attempted alien coup (and subsequent events) in Manchester. Menzies is still a DI at Longsight, but she's now an official liaison for UNIT and has a new partner into the bargain. More information can be found here and Menzies' introduction to DC Pierce is here.]

[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~]

[Menzies appears in the middle of the Plane clearly arriving straight from work. she's in a suit, as well as wearing an ID card hanging from her neck and a belt of police gear around her waist. however, her hair is disheveled and she looks very concerned about something. ignoring her surroundings, she pulls her right arm against her, twisting the fabric of her shirt so see can see the underside of it. she frowns down at a small round scortch mark on her shirt for a moment before she presses against it, still frowning, but showing no sign of pain as she prods at the area]

[after a moment, she lets her arm go and now stares down at her own hands in confusion--as though she expects to find some sort of answer there. she considers silently for a bit, chewing her lip. but eventually she sighs before mumbling to herself:] I wish I had a knife...

[ooc: Menzies' wish has had the accidental side effect of making her invulnerable for a month! Just a warning that if you give her something sharp, she's going to do a little (ultimately harmless) test with it.]

[Menzies is currently sitting at a table in the library, looking rather disgruntled. to her right sits a cup of coffee--half-empty. to her left sits her ever-present notepad, opened to a page of scribbled commentary. and directly in front of her is a tiny, handheld metal device with one button on it. she closes her eyes, sitting quietly for a moment, and then reaches out to press the button with her eyes still closed] The bar.

[nothing happens. she opens her eyes again and scowls at it] Damnit! I knew it was too good to be true. [she sighs, running a hand through her hair in frustration, and mutters to herself:] At least I got to see the workings of the shop, for all the good this thing is doing me... [she glowers at it]

[but then she purses her lips. as she thinks this over, she stares out among the stacks of books, talking the situation through softly out loud] Well...probably better no results than getting cursed with some strange or morbid compulsion. [she snorts, thinking of the possibilities described by Ray. she was ready for this to blow up in her face, which obviously would have been a problem, but somehow no results at all is a bit of a letdown] Maybe it is cursed--cursed to never work. I wouldn't put it past this place.

[she picks up the cup of coffee, taking a sip before she turns to her notepad. then she settles in to reread what she's written and jot down any new ideas, a decidedly disgruntled expression on her face. this is a position in which she will remain for a while--unless she's interrupted, of course]

[ooc: Menzies bought a teleporter from the shop! And paid off her debt by helping Kross out with shop inventory. Unfortunately for her, while she's found out from Ray that there is something odd about the device, she has no idea that it will only work if you don't have keys on your person. Feel free to bother her as she tries to work this out!]

[the most noticeable feature of Menzies' appearance today is the bandage wrapped around her head from the injury she recently sustained on a case at home. though she's still dealing with the resulting headaches and a concussion, the fact that she's wearing a suit and her name badge are evidence that she's back at work. and predictably, she isn't letting it slow her down on the Plane either; she's on a mission today]

[at the moment, she is setting a pile of flyers on the information kiosk. after finding out from York about his murder, she's made it her business to tell everyone she can about Christopher. anyone who reads one of the flyers will find that it is a typed public service announcement, warning the Plane residents that the man known as Christopher is an armed and dangerous murderer. it includes a rough sketch of his appearance (that she pulled a few strings to get), which shows his brown hair and red eyes. it also notes that he is roughly in his 40s, gives an estimated height and weight, and states his origin as early 20th century America, Earth. in general, she's included all the information she has about him]

Now we'll see if anybody listens... [she eyes the stack of flyers, thinking if there's anything else she should add. but after a moment, she turns away with a sigh. it seems to be the best she can do, under the circumstances. she mutters softly:] And we'll see if there's any retaliation...

[with that cheerful thought, she heads away across the Plane, walking in the general direction of the kitchen]

[ooc: Menzies has also placed a copy of the flyer in the all the Plane mailboxes (except Christopher's), so feel free to assume your character has seen it!]

[Menzies enters the library looking annoyed and a little weary. she's carrying a file with her but is actually wearing jeans and a blouse--evidence that she's visiting on a day off for once. even so, her manner is intent; she's on a mission of some sort]

[the first thing she does is wander into the stacks, scanning titles and headings. after a few minutes, she sighs, looking unsure of what to start with. and after another look around and an idle flip through a book from a nearby shelf, she gives up on that idea. instead, she steps out of the shelves and picks a table to have a seat at. she opens the file and begins to flip through it, revealing that it's full of sheets of paper--one or two at a time--with photos paperclipped to them. and these aren't forms, either; they're handwritten notes of some kind, all in the same small, clipped handwriting. after a moment of looking through them, she stops and looks up]

Oi! Anybody about?

[and she waits expectantly for an answer]

[403 has had enough of being cooped up in that strange bathhouse. after all, when you're thrown into a weird situation, the first thing you do is explore, and that's exactly what she intends to do. with that plan in mind, she heads outside, stepping onto the Plane itself. for a moment she frowns at the ground, tapping it with her foot] What the hell is this?

[with no answers forthcoming, she continues forward, looking around her suspiciously] Some sort of...city? [she murmurs the words to herself as she looks around at the nearest buildings. her lip curls] Well, at least there's plenty to see.

[but before she sets out to explore one of those buildings, she cups her hands around her mouth and calls:] Oi! Anybody out 'ere?

[she waits a moment, her expression wry as she mutters:] We can probably rule out an egomaniac. They'd 'ave 'ad more to say by now... [but, cupping her hands, she gives shouting one more go before setting off on her own] Anybody around? Hello?

[Menzies is in the kitchen today, enjoying a curry and some milk and looking pensive as she mutters to herself about that pesky cross-reality murder case]

What are my chances of finding it if I just search their flats? And would one of 'em warn the other if I started with the wrong one? Not that they've exactly been acting like they're in league...

[but she lets that thought trail off with a frown as she realises she has company when something large and furry rubs against her legs] ...what.

[she ducks down to look under the table, staring at the tiger that is happily rubbing her and giving off what must be a purr. she gapes] Again! Damnit, he did set this up! Of all the absolute--

[she cuts off as the tiger noses her face, apparently unhappy that she seems so displeased. it makes beseeching noises at her as she quickly pulls back] Oi, get off! I don't need comfort; you're the problem!

[ooc: Menzies messed with Gabriel, so he thought it would be fun to have the tiger that was trailing him follow her around instead. It's acting as a pet and bodyguard, so be warned that upsetting Menzies at the moment will also upset the tiger. But feel free to visit her and her new friend! He's generally quite tame, really.]

[for the first time in weeks, Menzies stands on the Plane looking completely like her normal self. her eyes aren't glowing, she's not sniffly or congested, and there is no rash on her neck. she's wearing a suit like usual, but today it's unruffled, and her hair is pulled back neatly. and most of all, she can see]

[she cups her hands around her mouth, making a shouted announcement at anyone in the area] Oi, anybody who's been sick from that blue pollen! We've found a way to stop it!

[lowering her hands, she waits a moment for anyone who means to approach before explaining:] Think about the symptoms: sneezing, itching, a rash--it's like an allergy. So 'ow do you deal with it? Allergy medicine. If you've got it in your world, get some and take it. If not, we'll get it for you. After that, whatever's wrong will slowly disappear.

[she smiles, relieved and thrilled that they've solved something for once] And it'll be over.

[ooc: Feel free to use this as a mingle post and thread-hop to help each other. Let's solve the plot together!]

[Menzies appears on the Plane near the bathhouse. she has an overnight bag slung over her shoulder, and she looks disgruntled. also, her eyes are glowing faintly with dark blue light, and hidden beneath her hair is a rash on the back of her neck]

[she starts walking forward, slowly, with her hands outstretched in front of her. it's obvious that she can't see where she's going, although she has picked the right direction] If that worked, then the bathhouse should be... [she frowns, hesitating. she thought she'd brought herself to the Plane right in front of it, but apparently not. she mutters:] All right, if this didn't work, there'd better be something nearby. [she continues somewhat haltingly forward, but before she even reaches the building, she abruptly stops and turns her head]

Who's there?

[she's sure she just "saw" a flash of colour, so she's turned in the direction she expects to find a person. considering the situation, she hopes it's a friend]

[ooc: Menzies has inhaled the pollen! she has taken on a couple specific alien attributes, meaning that she can't see at the moment. instead, she sees the essences of people (and other living beings). if you'd like her to be able to see your character's, please indicate in your tag what color their essence is, as well as an idea of their current feelings/intentions. if there's anything you don't want to share, we'll just assume she's seeing on the wrong wavelength to sense that character or information. and let me know if you have any questions!]

[today there is a nine-year-old girl on the Astral Plane who, perhaps surprisingly, doesn't seem that bothered about her sudden presence in a multi-dimensional nexus. she has long brown hair and is wearing a plain T-shirt and jeans that are a little tattered and dirty, as though they've seen quite a bit of exploring. but her hair is neat and she doesn't look like she's been in anything particularly dirty today. being a curious child, though, she's made for the most interesting place she could spot--the black hole. currently, she has a hand in the gravity field around it and is attempting to see how far she can reach into that]

That feels weird! [she pushes her hand a little farther in, making a face at the sensation of the gravity fighting back] What is this thing?

[anyone listening might notice that the girl has a clear Mancunian accent. in fact, she may even look a bit familiar. but on her end, she's too busy poking at the field to notice anyone who might be approaching]

[ooc: Menzies is currently under her first experiment! For the time being, she has been regressed to when she was nine.]

[Menzies arrives lying on the ground somewhere in the middle of the Plane. she's breathing hard, looking rather horrified and a little pale. she quickly sits up, looking down at herself in apparent confusion. then she starts to pat herself down, as though checking for injuries] All right... No gunshot. Fine now, then. Sure.

[taking a deep breath, she pulls herself to her feet, still looking completely frazzled. after a moment's thought, she takes hold of the ID badge that hangs around her neck. pulling it out, she briskly runs the edge of it along the back of one her hands, creating a small cut. she winces but watches with apparent interest as the cut bleeds red] And not dead. [she breathes a sigh of relief] First thing that's gone right all day... [she replaces her ID card before looking around, her expression uncharacteristically uncertain. she still looks pale and out of breath, and she clearly has no idea what to do now] Maybe this is payback for pissing off Ray.

[ooc: Menzies is in the middle of major trouble back home! See my OOC post for details.]