OTA: Second World Series Game

[awondrousplace]

I know we all have bigger and better things on our minds at the moment, but one question for everyone.

How long do portals usually stay open? I realized that I have kept one open for about three hours while I was a bit caught up in a book.

It... does not seem to be of much importance, but it was certainly curious.

Comments

[comebewe]

Usually? Ten seconds. But we had wondered if keeping one open for longer might be possible.

...Maybe not three hours longer, but you know.

[Private...mainly from Maria, who has too many terrifying portal skills already]

How'd you manage it?

[awondrousplace]

Interesting. I had a feeling it was quite a lot longer than normal, but I was not necessarily aware how long it typically was.

[Private]

To be frank, darling, I am uncertain how I discovered it. It simply stayed open.

Private forever

[comebewe]

Think you could manage trying it again? You might be able to see what exactly you're doing, once you're paying attention.

[awondrousplace]

Oh, certainly! It would not be any use to anyone if I were to keep this to myself.

Are you on the side with those who have been Marked or those who have not? I can find my way to your side if you are not Marked.

[comebewe]

At the moment I'm on the side of the unmarked, but I can portal over.

[since it's much easier to not let anyone know your Marked status when you keep switching from one side to the other]

[awondrousplace]

I have a set of rooms on the Marked side. Just look for a wooden door with a bronze knocker.

Do you care for tea, or would you prefer something else to drink? I shall have something ready.

[comebewe]

Tea's fine. I'll be there soon.

[sure enough, it's not too long before Matthew's portalled into the area, and there's a knock on that wooden door]

[awondrousplace]

Do come in, darling!

[When he enters, he will find Helena sitting in a large armchair with a book in her lap, a fine china tea pot beside her, steaming some lovely-smelling tea, along with a few scones and finger sandwiches. Beside the teapot are two cups, along with cream and sugar dishes.]

Welcome to my rooms. Have a chair and something to eat and drink, if you would like.

[comebewe]

Thanks. [and they don't need any more invitation than that to grab one of those scones. And a finger sandwich. And maybe another scone.]

We met one of your overlay's once, didn't we? Back in Misericordia.

[awondrousplace]

Yes, I believe so. I was running a shop with Claudia. That overlay was... a very interesting person.

[All of her overlays have been odd in their own way, but that one hit a bit close to home.]

It is good to meet you as ourselves. I am Helena Wells.

[comebewe]

I remember. The one with the 'Please Buy A Lot' sign.

[It had been the whole reason they went in in the first place, after all]

I'm Matthew Swift. So, this portal you kept open...?

[awondrousplace]

Yes. I have no idea where that came from.

[She shakes her head, amused, before turning serious. Holding out a hand, she creates a portal on a blank wall next to a bookcase. Through the portal, a bedroom can be seen, somewhat cluttered, but quite Victorian.]

There. We can have some tea, and it should stay open.

[comebewe]

[As nice as tea and scones are, their attention right now is diverted to the portal - which, as he notes, is certainly staying open longer than ten seconds]

Can you tell what's keeping it open, now that you've done it on purpose?

[awondrousplace]

[She thinks for a long moment, considering, then stands up and walks over to it.]

The closest I would surmise is something akin to 'force of will'. I am determined to keep it open, and this place seems to respond to that."

[comebewe]

[Matthew nods - nebulous as it is, this explanation does make sense to Matthew]

Liminal space likes change. Shifting states, fleeting existences; these are natural to it. It makes sense that keeping something stable, something more solid and lasting, would take more will and determination.

[awondrousplace]

Yes, exactly. The nature of this place seems to be rooted in chaos, and it takes a force of will to keep something solid.

I believe it is possibly similar to how people seem to have created structures that last even when they are gone or Infiltrating.

[comebewe]

Not complete chaos. There's still a logic to it, still an underpinning set of rules that determine what is and isn't possible. It's just that what's normal for Liminal Space is very different to what's normal for any other world.

[awondrousplace]

That is true. It is a chaotic system compared to the ones that I am used to.

[She pauses, thoughtful.]

But then again, there are objects at home that no one has been able to understand in millenia.

[comebewe]

[they shrug] I doubt there's any world where all the mysteries have been solved. Even if you thought you'd managed to solve them all, you'd find new ones.