Character Cruise

[Main Hall]

"Damn map. Can't tell where anything is."

A young woman stood before the large map in the main hall, grumbling and mumbling. She was short with nearly white-blonde hair and a face that would have been called pixie-like or mischievous if it wasn't for the utterly confused expression that marred it.

After all, She'd never been good with maps.

From a pocket of her frayed and beat up looking coat, the lady snatched a box of cigarettes and picked one carefully out, lighting it with a snap of her fingers.

Spewing smoke now like a little volcano, her face relaxed slightly as she reexamined the map.

"Restaurant? Museum? Garden?" Muttered she between puffs of smoke.

edited 25th Sep '12 6:32:21 AM by Matues

[Butterfly Garden]

Jane continued on to the plants and trees, etching in the barks. Talitha mentioning males being set to a higher standard than females was another strange fact about the past, This all seems very odd, hard to imagine such things happening in my time.

"Awkward, huh? Well it all seems pretty normal to me, nothing to be ashamed of. More so than my- Never mind." Jane had her own embarrassment, she was certain that it would seem even weirder.

"Well that depends," Jane returned the smile, "do you think ordinary is a good thing?"

Can't post for a while after this.

edited 25th Sep '12 11:28:30 AM by darthnazgul

Butterfly Garden

Talitha hesitated for a few moments before answering. "Well...kinda, yes. Granted, I don't think most people would consider me 'normal,' even without taking my sexuality into account. At least, most other girls my age wouldn't consider me ordinary." She stopped fidgeting with her shirt collar, letting her hand return to her side. "Thing is, if you're considered 'normal,' it's easier for most people to accept you."

"Maybe 'ordinary' wasn't exactly the word I was looking for," she continued, looking back at the butterfly on the bush. "What I'm really looking for is acceptance, and it's kinda difficult to get that when other people shun and insult you for a factor that you had no control over. If you know what I'm trying to get at here."

Another few moments' hesitation, then a sigh. "It's nice to meet someone who's in a similar situation, even if it's much different from my own case. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but it seems that we both appear to be oddballs by the standards of our respective time periods...worlds...something."

[Butterfly Garden]

"I see what you're getting at," Jane didn't feel as though she had a complete grasp, however. She tried to capture a butterfly that flew over head in her picture, despite its rapid movements making it difficult to get the details just right.

"Me an oddball?" Jane wondered for a moment, it was a pretty good question. "That's hard to say, I suppose I am considered so but. . . Gonna have to go way back on that one. There was a huge debate when I was young if people like me - created in a lab with no family - if we were even entitled to basic Human rights. Some argued that we started off better than everyone else, so we weren't worth the attention. Some even believed we weren't sentient, merely organic machines that should be taken apart. Hell, many people that helped create us felt we were just property, not people. I was too young to understand back then but right afterwards, we got our rights acknowledged but we were little more than slaves."

Jane reflected on it all, it felt like another life entirely at this point but the details were all there. All the effects. She never did give the one who fought for her and her friends' rights the respect they deserved, regretting it to this very day. "Mind you, my 'heritage' isn't exactly on the surface, it's not an obvious thing to notice. But yeah, I've heard the insults. Felt the punches. Now, my current line of work is pretty odd as well but the company I keep makes me look pretty normal in comparison."

She smiled, missing them even with the annoyances. After a moment of hesitation and nostalgia, she lifted her pencil and continued her drawing, adding in the glass ceiling.

edited 25th Sep '12 5:25:10 PM by darthnazgul

[Railing]

"Yes. The splinters," the Ambassador said with a slightly chopped-off hiss. "They are an annoyance, and always will be."

He rose from the crouch and stretched out his legs fully for the first time, putting his head at least a few feet above Anne's. "But a problem? A 'serious' problem? Never!" Another chopped-off hiss. "Splinters that are intolerant of the mere existence of other beliefs will either move away from their hostility or be destroyed in self-defense. Splinters that are not zealously intolerant can in their turn be tolerated. It's both incorrect and impossible to force other beings to follow the correct Faith."

He made a rumbling sound, tilting his head slightly to turn one eye towards the sky. "There is, after all, more than enough room for the whole of us out there, yes?"

edited 25th Sep '12 9:20:33 PM by nrjxll

[Railing]

"While we would like to think that..." Anne paused. "I am a soldier. I am the living embodiment of the belief and reality that this is not true." An almost-smile, slightly bitter. "Best to maintain few illusions about my job."

What a huge fucking waste of time.

It never ceased to amaze Ulrich how the collective intelligence of a group of people could be so much lower than that of an individual—and given the IQ of the average person, that was saying something. The only thing that amazed him more was the fact that the staff had deemed it necessary to do such a drill in the first place. Emergencies breed sheer pandemonium, no matter how many times the idiots have practiced for them.

Then again, in an hour or so, we might need any practice we can get. And you didn't even know where the lifeboats were until now.

At any rate, the guy he'd been on the verge of worming information out of was nowhere to be found. Nor was the lizard. There was no time to try again with someone else. He was going it alone.

He drew his cell phone and dialed Harrow's number. Harrow answered on the fourth ring.

"—rich...—ought you...you were gonna—ax for once."

"Quick," Ulrich snapped, ducking out of earshot of the crowd. "Before I lose reception completely. Send me all the information you can on this ship."

There was a broken, humorless laugh in the earpiece.

"Look, work found me this time, alright? Just shut up and do it. Manufacturer, operating company, specs, past voyages...what else? Oh, and how about looking up the shitfuck who gave you these tickets! Did you even check into that?"

"...rse I di—...pid you think I am?"

Ulrich stifled a sigh. He'd made a mistake in accusing Harrow, of course— he'd trust the guy with his life. But there was no time for please and thank you.

"Just trace it back again. Far as you can go. There's just...something about this ship, and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Get me the data and it's a win-win. If it's not dangerous after all, then I promise I'll shut up and relax. If it is dangerous...well, I think we'll all be glad I called, won't we?"

He didn't wait for a response. He hung up and trekked off in search of the lizard.

[Railing]

"...But of course," the Ambassador said slowly. "I did say that coexistence is only possible when both parties wish it. For any other time, there is the fleet, and the army, and the claws."

He growled, though not angrily. "I only meant that religious dissent among isn't as great a problem as you thought."

Assume Kazuko is doing the drill offscreen, because I don't feel like writing it out and I'm going to reintroduce her as soon as everything's settled.

The drill was boring and tedious, but necessary. It was good to see that the ship at least followed the required laws and protocol for the safety of her passengers. You might retract that statement if the emergency happened, but you're not going to worry about some hypothetical situation. This is your time to have fun.

Cain slogged back into their room to have his belated midday nap, and left the others to themselves.

Jonathan, Robert, Andrew, Gabrielle and Haruka were all standing in the front deck.

Which means you're free to talk to them

B2

After regaining her energy from the failure of trying to chi create a life boat Sukio looked out over the water and mused. Then drawing a different power she focused again. It took a few moments but the life boat started to take form and solidify. Leaving her once more exhausted but the task complete.

To bad it was made out of peppermint.

[[Hall -> Butterfly Garden]]

Pausing, the woman sniffed slightly and glanced towards the Garden.

Finely tuned instincts clicked into place and she took an involuntary step towards it. Her face turned a bright red as boot heels clicked into place, forcibly stopping herself before another step was made.

No. Nonononono. She was on vacation. No working.

The smell of backstory drama wafted out of the garden, prickling her nose as she took another drag from her cigarette.

Sighing with familiar exasperation, the young woman let her feet lead her along. Her boss would have dropped dead if she saw how far from the dress-code she had drifted. Hair all stringy, big ugly boots, worn jeans and an old faded jacket.

That pleasant thought helped buoy her along towards through the door, into the Garden.

edited 27th Sep '12 5:21:43 PM by Matues

Butterfly Garden

Talitha nodded. "So it was like that sort of story where people make robots that can think to themselves and start wondering if they're just as entitled as humans are, with the exception of the beings involved. At least, I think it's like that; I didn't read a lot of those since sci-fi was never my cup of tea as far as books went."

"Well, you've found acceptance of a sort, at least." she added, then noticed Jane had gone back to drawing. "If I'm distracting you, I can shut up. I can start rambling sometimes."

The sound of someone else entering the garden reached her ears. As she had thought earlier, she wasn't too bothered by it; this place was going to attract a lot of attention sooner or later. Granted, Jane and herself were pretty much standing in the middle of one of the paths. It would probably be polite to move so other people could get around. Then again, the newcomer might not walk this way.

Maybe I'm worrying too much, she thought.

Apologies about the late reply; I was waiting for the other posters to show life before I went on.

[Butterfly Garden]

"It's fine," Jane added the final details, the various insects tucked away in the vegetation, "could use the distraction from this distraction." She muttered quiet enough not to be heard as she got back up, "good juxtaposition."

"Besides, I'm just finishing up-" Jane turned as she noticed someone walk through the door, someone she hadn't noticed before. Awkwardly, she looked to the nearest plant, trying not to stare as she got out of the stranger's way.

[Railing]

"Fair enough." Anne nodded. Something about the water here unnerved her. Granted she lived in Nevada, but she'd grown up on the far shore of Virginia. Open water didn't, or shouldn't, bother her.

She shook her head violently to clear it. "What else?"

[Butterfly Garden]

Pretty garden. Lots of.. butterflies..

One of them flitted by and landed on a strand of her rather greasy hair, antennas flickering curiously. Several more fluttered around her.

By the stars, if she didn't get out of here fast, the damn things would bury her. It would be England all over again.

Stupid Stupid Little Animals.

Walking with brisk speed and leaving a trail of butterflies behind her, the young woman made her way down that middle path.

edited 28th Sep '12 11:46:37 AM by Matues

Butterfly Garden

As it turned out, the newcomer did want to go down the middle path. Talitha stepped to the side to let her pass, and while she was at it glanced briefly at her. This new woman honestly didn't look all that friendly to Talitha, but the butterflies apparently liked her. Maybe they were attracted to the perfume she was wearing or something.

Her gut told her it would probably be a better idea if she didn't engage the newcomer in conversation (since she didn't seem to want to), so instead Talitha simply turned towards Jane and shrugged slightly.

Floor 2B -> First Floor

Jacob slowly climbed up the stairs to the first floor, unsure of where to go now. He didn't feel like drinking anymore, and he wasn't particularly hungry either. As he reached the first floor, he headed straight for the map. Butterfly Garden. He looked to his right as he read the words, but immediately turned his head back, having rejected the idea without much consideration. Museum. Hah, right. Store. Nope. Arcade. Hmmm...

Jacob sighed. He found it sad that the best thing he could think of doing on a cruise ship like this was to play alone in the arcade. He hoped they at least had some good games. With that, he walked off towards the arcade.

B2 —> First Floor

Sukio looked over her work, the peppermint lifeboat was...something. And apparently the best she could do. With a sigh she made her way back to the main level, letting her feed rather then her eyes guide her, as she entered the Arcade she smiled.

"Coool"

[Butterfly Garden]

Jane shrugged back at Talitha, though she wasn't sure what prompted the gesture. The mysterious stranger had a bit of a cult-following, judging by the unnatural way the butterflies took a shining to her. Must be one of those, what do you call them? 'Colognas'? Awkward thing to pronounce.

She decided to let her instinct keep her on a leash and made a simple nod to the woman followed by a humble "Hi."

[Butterfly Garden]

She paused in front of the two girls, allowing the horde of butterflies to settle onto her.

With a long-suffering sigh, the young woman glanced at the one who had quietly offered a greeting.

"Well hello!" She responded, pasting a smile on her face that had all the sincerity of a used-car salesman. "So, which one of you has some traumatic backstory? Orphaned, Evil Step-Mother, Locked in a Tower For Childhood, Raised by Wolves?"

[Butterfly Garden]

Dear instincts, Jane immediately regretted greeting the stranger, please meet up with your old friend, common sense. It misses you.

The stranger did not seem to be in the mood at all, hiding their annoyance through sarcasm certainly didn't help. Jane didn't want any trouble from someone like this, so she grabbed Talitha's shoulder. "Traumatic backstories? Well, I don't know about myself but I'm sure Talitha here has some gold worth its weight in drama! This is Talitha. Talitha, this is, um. . ." Jane pointed at the stranger, "you."

"Sorry," She whispered across her shoulder, "I promise I'll buy you a drink. . . wait, do we even have to buy drinks on this ship?"

edited 1st Oct '12 9:07:27 AM by darthnazgul

Butterfly Garden

Butterflies aside, it appeared Talitha's initial suspicions about the newcomer were proven correct. She really didn't like being right about gut feelings, especially when they were about something negative. Even better was the fact that the newcomer was already asking about their potential "tragic backstories." To people she'd just met a few seconds ago.

I'm never going to get used to the weirdness on this boat....

"...Isn't it a bit early-" she started, and then was promptly interrupted by Jane grabbing her shoulder and hastily attempting to draw the newcomer's attention to her. Talitha responded by giving her an odd look. She was never fond of being the center of attention, and she definitely didn't appreciate it now.

"...I'm pretty sure there's a better option here than using me as a scapegoat," she whispered back with a rather unamused tone to her voice.

[Butterfly Garden]

"Look, I really honestly don't care what it is. But If I don't help you in some way, it will become an itch at the back of my mind for my entire vacation." She said with a groan that caused a dozen butterflies to flutter off her head and resettle on her arms.

Puffing a small cloud of smoke towards a few of the little insects, she shifted uncomfortably. The girls obviously didn't want her around, but she'd be damned before she let that ruin her first vacation in nearly a century and a half.

edited 1st Oct '12 11:25:21 AM by Matues

[Butterfly Garden]

"Lab rats don't get thrown into theses kinds of experiments," Jane whispered back, ashamed. "I'm not used to this kind of thing. That and I'm still trying to be someone-"

Jane stopped whispering once the stranger started talking again, a little more comfortable this time given what she was saying. She brushed the hair out of her eyes with her spare hand, "Help? Well in that case, I'm sure we're both just trying to enjoy the vacation. No need to worry about the past but thanks for the offer."

edited 1st Oct '12 12:35:19 PM by darthnazgul

Butterfly Garden

Oh, so she was actually looking to help them? They weren't discussing anything particularly drama-worthy when the newcomer first walked in, and Talitha was pretty sure they weren't speaking loud enough for anyone outside the garden to hear them before that. Something didn't feel quite right here. It then occurred to Talitha that, between the "helpful" nature and all the butterflies, this situation strongly reminded her of some fairy tale. Fairy godmother, perhaps? Given the nature of this cruise, that didn't sound all that farfetched.

Grumpiest fairy godmother I've ever seen...or heard of, rather, she thought.

Outwardly, she smiled weakly. "My past is nothing worth talking about. Personally, I'm more bothered by the fact that some random stranger is asking people she just met...barely a minute ago?...about their back stories."

Given the response to her earlier statement, there seemed that Jane was more bothered by her state of being than she was letting on. Just like Talitha's state of being bothered her more than she had let on. It wasn't quite appropriate to be pushing the subject now, though. She needed to see where this relationship went before trading the more personal anecdotes. Besides, there had to be something else here that would be a less stress-inducing conversation topic that they could speak about once this little issue was dealt with.