[021]

[oliverplus]

[Oliver has not been having a happy time of it on the Plane recently. first he got pulled to it only to be trapped in the dark, then the blood was utterly traumatising, and then he witnessed others with god powers--not to mention that awful hologram showing everyone about his empathy. the hologram in particular was troubling because he's afraid

Comments

[promisedsomeone]

[Hahah... look who has the worst luck? Asch comes here when the library is being paTROLLED by Jade or Peony, and he's been trying to avoid them lately, so that only leaves the ballroom-- which stings of things he'd rather not remember-- or the theater, which has popcorn and some projections to watch.

He wouldn't admit to being fond of this place. But nevertheless, he finds himself here in the theater with Oliver. He's actually been here for a couple minutes just trying to figure out how to approach him about things. Not that Asch is one to solve problems like this. But he's curious. He... has a few questions, even.

It's almost worth the risk of having his emotions exposed.

From Asch's point of view, Oliver is freaking out about nothing. Maybe going crazy is a part of the Plane suddenly gaining a mountain, a shitload of blood, a red field, and other things. He steps forward, keeps his voice low. One hand rests on his sword hilt in case he has to defend himself.]

What's going on?

[promisedsomeone]

I'm not surprised.

[His eyes narrow at the readout.]

It's calculating something.

[oliverplus]

[it only takes another moment before the screen display changes to: Subject: Oliver Day. Percentage integrated: 74%]

[Oliver gapes at the screen] Wh-what?

[promisedsomeone]

Percentage integrated? With what?

[He studies the monitor in an attempt to decipher what he can about Oliver's situation. He's not a complete retard with technology, but there's not much he can do about... /this/. Whatever this is.

He reaches toward the holograms, trying to touch the readout himself and possibly bring up more specific information.

He knows their time is running out.]

What the hell is this!?

[Apparently button-mashing gets results. A readout begins to print for Asch himself.

Subject: Luke fon Fabre, alias "Asch"
Percentage integrated: 15%
Favorite stuffed animal: Bear |

Yep.]

[oliverplus]

[good thing Oliver is so busy panicking over his number that he isn't going to ask Asch about his name--at the moment. instead, he focuses in on that 15% compared to his 74% and feels his stomach drop]

The...the Plane? The Machine? I don't know... [he leans forward, trying to see if he can get any more information, but it's at that point that a different message appears on all the screens:

UNAUTHORIZED USER DETECTED
LOCKDOWN MODE ENTERED]

What!? No! [but none of the controls are responding now, no matter how much Oliver whacks them]

[promisedsomeone]

[His eyes widen as everything goes to hell and locks them out. Frantic button-pushing does nothing to alleviate the situation. Tch.]

Damn it!

[Clearly someone like Asch hitting them will make them work. Except not. He lets out his breath in a soft hiss.]

We were so close.

[oliverplus]

[Oliver continues trying to punch keys as well. he lets out a cry of frustration--at which point the screens disappear completely]

Nooo!

[he throws his hands up in the air, too angry to know what to say for the moment]

[promisedsomeone]

[Asch looks pensive as he stares into the space where the screens were.]

We probably won't get another chance like that again.

[He pauses.]

... Not bad for someone who was cursing himself just a minute ago.

[oliverplus]

'Course we won't! This place wouldn't let that happen. [yells at the sky] It doesn't let us do anything except what it wants!!

[but he's brought up short by that. he turns to Asch, surprised] It was your idea.

[promisedsomeone]

I'll just have to find another way. [He doesn't sound defeated so much as... determined. He's closer than ever to solving the mystery of the Plane. Closer than ever to fixing the situation at home. It's a precarious position that he's in, but it's key.

He notices Oliver looking at him and almost meets his eyes, then remembers and avoids his gaze. He's used to it, anyway.]

I wasn't sure if you could do it.

[... Don't question an Asch compliment. They are few and far between.]

[oliverplus]

Like what?

[he notices Asch avoiding his gaze, though he hopes it's not for the reason he's thinking. he's a little defensive when he responds] I couldn't not try!

At least now we know the Plane is watching our homes, too. [not that he can think of anything good about that discovery]

[promisedsomeone]

I don't know yet, obviously. [Prickly prickly. He scoffs at Oliver's defensive remark too.] It wouldn't have surprised me. You have other things to worry about. [He adjusts his gloves and continues.] The monitors make sense. If they didn't watch our worlds, they wouldn't know how we lived outside of the experiment. It's just another form of control.

... How much power do those bastards have?

[oliverplus]

[frowns, wondering what Asch is getting at] I still want to work out what's going on with this place!

Yeah, but... [struggles for a way to explain] They were seeing in the TARDIS. That's the Doctor's ship! It...well, it shouldn't be possible. I mean, really, it shouldn't! But obviously it is...

[frowns worriedly, thinking much the same thing]

[promisedsomeone]

[He shrugs off Oliver's frown.]

Why not? [This is the first he's heard of such a thing, even though Oliver seemed to imply it with his freakout on the screens.] What's so special about the ship?

[Asch really needs to stop getting such lovely ideas.]

[oliverplus]

It's... [but Oliver falters. how do you explain a TARDIS?] Have you got spaceships on your world?

[promisedsomeone]

[Asch gives him a very odd look.]

No.

[And he forgets for a moment that he's supposed to ignore Oliver's eyes, and so-- if he's paying attention-- there's a mixture of curiosity and trepidation in one.]