(Untitled)

[clockworkclanks]

There's a shuddering boom from the lobby; the mansion trembles in the wake of the noise and the jarring -thud-. In the centre of it all is a mysterious capsule, looking like it might have been a diving bell at one point before it was modified, wires and strange mechanics attached to the top and sides. The marble under it is cracked, and sparks

Comments

[ran_of_steel]

"This yours?"

It's the door.

Holding it up is one Ran Mouri, replete with tracksuit bottoms, an old t-shirt and what looks like bedhair. The fact that she puts a hand to her mouth to hide a yawn while supporting the still smoking door with the other would suggest that it is, in fact, bedhair.

[clockworkclanks]

Waving a few last curlicues of smoke from his face, Saguru brightens, shoving his goggles up onto his forehead.

"Indeed it is!" He gestures her over. "Put it there by the transporter, would you? I'll need it when I go back."

[ran_of_steel]

Muffling another yawn, Ran does as she's bid, propping the door against the diving bell. "Transporter?" she asks. "I suppose that makes sense -- wait you came here on purpose?" Ran stared at him, rapidly waking up. "You know how to go back?"

[clockworkclanks]

"Yes-and-no." Hakuba is speaking very quickly, almost... embarassed. "Due to the vagerities of spatial transportation and the inherent difficulties of transversing the dimensional boundaries in a vessel designed to carry oneself rather than a portal which can, technically, break through to any place and thus there is far more finesse required to actually define an endpoint--"

Feel free to interrupt him, he'll be talking like this for a while.

[ran_of_steel]

Ran nods, quickly assuming the same glazed sort of expression that she adopts whenever Shinichi launches into one of his theories. Smile and nod, she reminds herself. Don't ask questions. Questions only lead to answers and you'll be here all da--

"How did you know to get here then?"

[clockworkclanks]

"I calculated it." Hakuba looks mildly affronted; somebody is questioning him! "Or, to be more precise, I calcuated how to break through to the correct alternate universe, rather than the paralells I had previously visited."

He's also mildly relieved they've gotten away from the subject of 'getting back'.

[ran_of_steel]

"Did you know this place was here before you got here then?" Forgetting her survival instincts, Ran is asking another question.

[clockworkclanks]

"In a manner of speaking. I knew I would end up somewhere with alternate versions of me present, but not the precise location." He smiles. "'For science' as they say."

[ran_of_steel]

"Did alternate versions of other people factor into the equation? Or are we an added bonus?" Oh, Ran. Playing with fire here.

[clockworkclanks]

"I presumed in a universe where I existed, others I knew would too. And if they didn't, I would simply enlist my help to return home and try again. After learning about that dimension, of course." And the scientific developments...

[ran_of_steel]

"Of course."

[clockworkclanks]

"--oh, I am sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Saguru Hakuba." He extended his hand to be shaken, after stripping the glove off of it. "Do you have a name, or did your creator not give you one?"

[ran_of_steel]

Ran returned the handshake bemusedly. "I have a name, just not a creator. Mouri Ran."

[clockworkclanks]

"...No creator?" Saguru blinks bemusedly, neglecting to let go of her hand. "But aren't you a construct-- you're surely not telling me you're human?!" He leans forwards to peer at her, frowning.

[ran_of_steel]

It's hard to back away from someone who is still holding your hand but Ran gives it a good try. "Ah -- more or less ... You know that's a really personal question, right? You shouldn't be asking a girl that!"

[clockworkclanks]

"But--" Hakuba lets go, absently, leaning in closer to peer at her. "Surely that's an impossiblee level of augmentation for a human, without any visible signs-- Let me take a look..." He makes a grab for her bicep, intent on prodding at it.