[oo1] Welcome to the Collective Imagination

[sidestoriesmods]

[The first thing you'll notice upon your arrival, aside from the immediate strangeness of the surroundings, is a long table--it looks like someone's prepared for a conference, though a very small one. Of course, all appearances of professionalism disappear upon seeing--well--a unicorn (or is it a Pegasus? It's purple, it has wings, it has cat paws

Comments

[whitetempest]

[Caution and uncertainty are plain on his features, with a healthy dose of suspicion as he looks around. Conference table, okay... Strangers, sure, why not? ...is that some kind of bijuu over there? ...oh dear gods... please don't tell him that's Gai-sensei over there, sparkling at someone with equally horrid fashion sense...]

[The sign catches his eye.] ...information on what...? [Of course that comment was directed more to himself. That was beside the point.]

[whitetempest]

I can choose when to go home, but someone else is pulling the strings on when I come back? [He is clearly both surprised and annoyed by this revelation.] Isn't it usually the other way around?

[sidestoriesmods]

[Donovance laughs, just a little.] No, it's all your own doing from here on out. Once you properly adjust to this place, you can leave at your leisure. Whenever your mind wanders, though, it will wander back here.

[whitetempest]

[He frowns at the laughter. Whether or not it's directed at him, he feels like it's at his expense.]

[Well, he's got the two plus two part. But for some reason, the answer keeps coming up FISH...]

So I don't get to say "Hey, I don't want to come back here"?

[sidestoriesmods]

Well, you can say it all you want. But the fact of the matter is, that won't change anything.

[whitetempest]

[He's definitely not liking the sound of this. In fact, it makes him feel very uncomfortable.] I don't get a choice in the matter?

[Yep. Leave it to Neji to consider some place like the "Collective Imagination" akin to prison...]

[sidestoriesmods]

Well, technically, you choose to stay focused or let your attention stray.... [Donovance spreads his hands, shrugging.]

Look at it this way; whenever you daydreamed, you were halfway here, anyway. We just led you down the rest of the path, so you'll be able to get here whenever you set off after this.

[whitetempest]

...that's not a very conscious choice. [He'd frown again, but he probably hasn't stopped frowning yet.]

So... if I daydream or let my mind wander, I'm going to end up back here, like as not?

[sidestoriesmods]

Maybe not. But then, what is conscious about the imagination?

[Donovance nods.] That's right. And you can go back whenever you're through here, just like you went back to paying attention before this.

[whitetempest]

[Neji mulls this over. It still comes up akin to prison in his head. For someone who values his freedom as much as Neji does, and for the reasons Neji does, the lack of control with regard to comings and goings unsettles him. Sure, he could leave when he's done with... whatever... but... it's the not being able to say "No, I'm not going back" that's really bothering him.]

[He takes a moment to figure out how to phrase his next question.] Is there anyway that I can just not come back?

[sidestoriesmods]

Not really. [There, it's as simple as that; he looks calm, and only mildly apologetic.]

[whitetempest]

[He heaves a rather large sigh and looks positively miffed.] Of course.

[He runs a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture.] Why exactly am I here? [Might as well find out the reason for his, ah, incarceration...]

[sidestoriesmods]

Novelty and company, mostly. For us. [He glances at his companions talking to other new arrivals.]

[whitetempest]

Right... [Yeah, he forgot that he already asked this question. He'd tell you where to shove it, but...]

...and just who are you to bring me here for amusement? [Neji narrows his eyes. He is not happy with this, at all.]

[sidestoriesmods]

My name is Donovance. [There, simple enough; he gestures to the others.]

That's Macy Scarlett, that's.... Princess.... Aislanna, and that's..... [It's his turn to sigh now; he shakes his head.] Captain Awesome.

[whitetempest]

I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you, but I'm not certain that it is. [He's being blunt, unfortunately. Annoyance tends to make it harder to sugarcoat anything.]

[Neji looks over at the others Donovance pointed out. Captain Awesome definitely reminds him of Gai-sensei and Lee... ...and... he's not sure he wants to know exactly what the, er, Princess is...]