poly_chromatic | ⚘ [ fringe event #1] || arrival

Astrid, I need you to check for all reports of unexplained, mass disappearances within the last 24 hours. Not just livestock-- any sort of unexplained disappearance. Start with stations in Boston, then expand out toward Maine and Pennsylvania. I'm heading over to the farm right now.

Astrid? Astrid? Can you hear me--

[ The line suddenly cuts off. ]

[ A moment is all it takes for the world to change. The cacophony of the busy mid-day City has replaced the quiet privacy of Olivia's room, as she's pushed and shoved through a busy crowd. A man slams against her shoulder, nearly knocking the laptop underneath her arm to the floor. A woman runs into her heels. Her first instinct, amidst all this confusion, is to place her hand on the grip of her gun. A reassurance that wherever this is, she'll be ready for any sort of attack--

Olivia sidesteps the crowd, turning a full circle as she looks for those foreign, yet familiar markers: the twin towers, the floating Zeppelin - except what she expects isn't there. This isn't the alternate world, this is another world. Instead, she finds her eyes trailing across the gilded poles of that polychromatic carnival, that bubbling liar's fountain that decorates the square. It's like she's stepped into an amusement park. ]

Where the hell am I?

[ooc: Both action or network responses are welcomed. ♥ I will try to stagger the action threads so that they make sense chronologically. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh holy crap, naked lady bits]

Right so.

Um.

[His eyes are shut. Very tightly]

I'm gay, I just think you should know that, though you don't seem at all bothered or anything.

[Spazzing.]

Do you, uh, need me to do anything?

My entire universe is in danger, Billy.

[ Meaning: I don't have the time. ]

One foot in, then another, and soon she's halfway submerged. Before closing the doors, she pauses. ]

Just take care of Gene for Walter. [ She was lucky this time, meeting someone decent and honest. ] Thank you.

I hope this works, just so you know.

[ She doesn't say anything before closing the doors of the tank with a shrieking slam. Whether Billy decides to stay or not--to see if Olivia succeeds, that's up to him.

But it's a good seven minutes before the doors open again.

Olivia first sticks her head out, and she's feeling as though she's failed. That familiar hum through her body--the energy, disorientation and even the fatigue of crossing over seem to be missing. ]

[Billy is sitting in a nearby chair reading the instructions to the cotton candy machine. He looks over]

So...I'm guessing that's a no.

[ She doesn't saying anything to that, though her expression clearly reveals her frustration. ]

There should be a lab coat in Walter's office.

[Clothes are easy. Billy's eyes glow, and she has on a pair of jeans and a shirt]

Sorry.

[ That's really kind of creepy, Billy.

She examines her new set of clothing, then shoots Billy a rather disconcerting look. ]

Thanks. [...] But don't ever do that again.

Don't ever undress in front of me and we've got a deal.

I know it's hard to believe, but I was trying to get home.

[ Olivia makes anxious circles in front of the tank, fingers pressed against her lips. Cue talking to herself. ]

I've done it before, but I don't know, it's-- it's different this time. It was as though my mind hit a wall.

I don't doubt that. The City's like an onion, but the skin's a bitch to get through.