[Dark Matter Lounge]

Sake. The real stuff, for once, not that rotgut that got passed off as sake. It was warm and smooth - perhaps unreasonably so - and had strange, fruity flavour notes. That didn't mean he was going to stop drinking it, though. Kiryu Saitou did not pass up good sake without a very good reason.

"Unbelievable," growled the girl sitting next to him. He looked over at her and found her glaring at him. He wondered, briefly, if she was still mad at him for not dressing up. He was clean and had shaved, so what if he'd just thrown on any old jacket and pants? Why wasn't that good enough? He'd even wiped down his sheath after she'd told him it was dirty. Now it could be clean while it sat across his lap, because that surely mattered...

Rather than give her the opportunity to complain about it, he decided to take action instead.

"Barkeep," he said, rather lackadaisically. "Get a her a cup."

"I don't want a cup!" she protested.

"Oh. Well then get me another cup," he said. "This one's empty."

The robot behind the bar wordlessly gave him a refill.

"Unbelievable," she repeated, still glaring at him. "We're in the most fantastic place I've ever seen, and you're just going to sit around drinking?! You can do that at home! We might never get to come back here!" She left her seat, standing up indignantly and fastening her katana to her belt. "I'm going to go look around," she announced.

"Have fun, kiddo."

She scowled at him again. "I will! And you have fun drinking!"

He grunted in vague acknowledgement as he finished off another cup of the warm liquor.

She out a hand on his shoulder, softening in both tone and expression. "But don't drink too much, okay Dad?"

He waved dismissively. "Just go already, would ya?"

She hesitated for a moment, then left.

[Club Bizarre]

Unfortunately, enthusiasm did not grant her a keen sense of direction. Indeed, with so much to look at, so many fascinating sights and sounds, it was easy to get disoriented. And that was exactly what happened. Having been wandering around for some unknown amount of time, Sakura Saitou was in search of a place to sit down and get and get her bearings. Being completely, totally, utterly lost turned out to be much worse when surrounded by a million unfamiliar things.

Somehow or other, she'd managed to stumble into a deeply confusing locale. She had never seen bean bag chairs before, or disco balls, and it showed in the way she looked at everything as though... Well, as though she'd never seen any of it before. She couldn't help herself. Everything was just so odd.

Catching a glimpse of herself in something reflective, she paused. Her outfit was, much like her home, a bit of an anachronism, she knew that. A deep blue, old-fashioned jacket - a haori - that was slightly too big for her; some blue jeans that were tattered and faded; a white, low-cut, cotton shirt under her jacket; and a fine leather belt, assuredly the newest, fanciest aspect of her clothing, to which her katana was fastened. She'd made it as presentable as she could, but it was old and a commoner's weapon. She trusted the blade with her life, of course, but there was only so much she could do for the worn leather of hilt and the sheath, to say nothing of the completely-missing ornamentation.

She sighed and pulled her shirt up slightly in a mostly-fruitless attempt to be a bit more modest. These were the nicest clothes she owned, and she still felt under-dressed. At least she'd had the chance to clean up before coming here.

She turned to leave, but some light from one of the disco balls got in her eyes and she lost track of where she was going just long enough to trip over a bean bag chain and plant her face into the floor. She got up hurriedly and sat down in the strange chair - her face red from the blushing and from the fact that it had just become acquainted with the floor - as though pretending that nothing had happened would somehow erase it from everyone's minds.

Starlight Restaurant 1F (Astaphanos, Lucina, Emille, Carlotta)

The girl's attention was caught by the sound of someone falling off their chair. She turned to see who it was, only to raise an eyebrow upon seeing the person was a living doll. Then her eyes flicked to the rest of the procession, and suddenly her expression became extremely bemused. For a few moments she said nothing, before shaking her head.

"Forgive me," she said, in the sort of voice one might hear on an answering machine, "Living dolls are not the sort of automatons I am used to." Then her attention turned back to the one who had fallen over. "I do hope you are all right?"

She smiled slightly upon being asked if she was lonely. "Ah no. I arrived here not too long ago; I simply haven't had the chance to meet very many people yet. My position often requires long periods of isolation as it is, so it is nothing I'm not used to." Then her attention turned back to the rest of the group, with her eyes settling on the gem set in the sceptre for a brief moment. "If you're willing to have me, then I see no reason to not accept."

She stood up, before offering the group a formal bow. "I am Astaphanos, the Sixth Archon of the Bleaksteel. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

At that, she moved over to the other table, sitting herself down opposite of her newfound companions.

"Thank you for the compliment," she finished, "It was a gift granted to me by the Child of Chaos, the Bleaksteel's leader, for the purpose of accomplishing a specific task he asked of me."

"I am Iao, the Second Archon of the Bleaksteel," the man said with a smile, before offering his two companions a formal bow, "It is a pleasure to meet you, First Advocate. And you as well, Proseda."

Afterwards, he turned back out to the view before him and let out a sigh. "We probably not have had the same experiences with revolutions, First Advocate. But I can sympathize with your feelings all the same."

(Nebula Lobby- First Floor.)

A new woman entered the lobby, looking around in wonder. After all, when you've lived your entire life in a place where buildings of granite were the definition of opulence, being inside a metal city flying between stars is the kind of thing that changes one's perspective.

She was dressed rather simply, a scarlet wool cloak with the hood down. It was hard to tell her age, but it was clear she had been quite beautiful once. Yet there was something... off about her. Maybe it was the fact that her skin was ashen gray, or that her formerly luxurious red hair was now brittle as straw, or that her flesh was quite clearly rotting on the bone. Who could say?

(Those who can see such things would note a steady pulse of dark magic coming from her chest, at exactly one pulse per second.)

(Starlight Restaurant- 1st Floor (Astaphanos, Lucina, Emille, Carlotta, Phagora))

Phagora was in her element, managing to keep everything in order in the multiverse's most demanding kitchen. "Get those sausages cooking! We need some rutabaga in Station 4! Where's my risotto for Table 16?" It was almost enough to make one overlook the fact that she couldn't have appeared more than fourteen years old, and was, in fact, a few months shy of even that low mark.

She brushed a curly blonde hair from her eyes and looked over at a wall clock. To her surprise, her shift had been over 15 minutes ago. "All right, Michael's in charge for the rest of the day. Have a good time, everyone!"

Phagora punched out and went towards the restaurant's entrance. As she did so, she saw a group sitting at a table. <Well, might be a chance to get some feedback. Just because I know every recipe ever made doesn't mean I can actually cook them all.> "Greetings, everyone. I'm Phagora Blackspawn, the Head Chef here. How have you found everything today?"

(Those supernaturally attuned would notice a dark, terrifyingly ravenous aura about the girl, though she seemed to have it well under control.)

[Deck 1 ~ Nebula Lobby] (Minerva, Gabriel, Injured Girl, Tigris)

Minerva paused for a moment as the primary sensors in her head, which to this point had been mostly quiet, decided to act up and were doing their best impression of Pachelbel's Canon... on speed. Apparently there was some form of interference on this ship. She sighed slightly before turning them off. Well, that's an annoying handicap... she thought, though, I shouldn't need them here.

As Minerva continued to make her way through the lobby, her attention was grabbed by the young man who came tearing into the room, clearly panicked and carrying a girl. She picked up on his rant about robots, the genocide of mankind, and apparently deicide. The latter two were news to Minerva, and took her slightly by surprise, before being incensed by the man's racism towards robots.

His actions had garnered the attention of others, and prompted a young woman to carefully approach him. Frowning for a moment, Minerva decided to help out as well. The man might be insensitive, but he was distressed. Besides, the girl he carried didn't seem too well, something Minerva wasn't to particularly comfortable ignoring.

Minerva approached the group. "Pardon me, but how may I help?" she calmly asked.

Starlight Restaurant 1F (Lucina, Emille, Carlotta, Astaphanos, Phagora)

"What?!? Automatons?" Lucina cried in response to Astaphanos's remark. "These dolls are alive! As in, they have souls like you and me! I made them that way in fact! I must say though, I've never heard of this Blacksteel organization. What business could they possibly have with a magic necklace?"

"What sort of business do you think, with a leader named Child of Chaos?" said Emille flatly from atop her own high chair, looking from Lucina to Astaphanos. "Though I haven't the slightest idea myself." She reached out for her teacup, only to see that their tea had not yet arrived.

As if on cue, a waitress came by just then - or rather, the head chef apparently. A human one, for a nice change, as all those robots seemed a bit much to Lucina. And the first thing she asked after introducing herself was ask how they found everything.

"Well as you can see," Lucina decided to cheerfully reply, gesturing around the empty table, "we are truly enjoying this invisible dish. What sort of enchantment did you use to make it vanish anyway? Even the plates are invisible! Whatever it is, it is quite delicious."

Carlotta just had to giggle at that remark, before turning back to Astaphanos. "Oh, I'm all right," she said to her as she re-adjusted the bonnet on her head. "I imagine the fall would hurt a lot more if I were made of porcelain.

Unperturbed by Lucina's joke, Emille maintained a level head and a serious tone of voice as she spoke to Phagora. "I am Emille Laroux, princess to Queen Lucina Geppetto of Solevaille." She gestured over to the ostentatious human lady with the crown and scepter. "That Ceramic you can barely see down there is Carlotta Posset, and this is the former mayor, Euler van Winkle." For the latter, she gestured her parasol towards the marionette on Lucina's shoulder.

"I say," said the marionette not controlled by strings (they were just hanging off his back as usual), pretending to twirl his wooden mustache, "I have not gone by that name since I was human. Nowadays everyone calls me Winky."

Just then, a robot waiter came by the table, bringing a plate of honey-glazed ham and a salad of fresh garden vegetables, placing both in front of Lucina, and also placing a teapot and a plate of macarons in the center of the table and small plates and teacups for all three of them (Winky didn't count).

"Miss Geppetto," said the robot, "the front desk has been paging your room for some time involving that mirror you brought. It is requested that you pick up the permit for it immediately."

Lucina sighed. "Really? This has to happen in the middle of lunch?" She looked over to the doll still on the floor. "Carlotta, I hate to ask this of you, but could you please go to the front desk and see into this matter? I'll save some tea and macarons for you!"

"Don't worry about that," said Carlotta. "I can manage on my own." She looked back up to Astaphanos. "Uh, nice to meet you," she said as she walked toward the restaurant exit.

"Well then," said Lucina after swallowing a bit of ham, looking over to Astaphanos, "this means that that teacup is for you now, so help yourself! This tea is earl grey, Emille's favorite." As she glanced at the teapot, she noticed that the waiter had placed a timer next to it, which currently was at three minutes twelve seconds and counting down. "And she's very particular about how long she wants it brewed."

Meanwhile, Emille had just taken a bite out of one of the macarons. "These are actually quite good. I hope the tea is the same."

"The ham is just about perfect!" Lucina added. "And did these vegetables come straight from the garden in the arboretum? They are surprisingly fresh for cruise fare." As she looked at Phagora, though, there was a hint of uncertainty about the look she gave her. There was something familiar about the vibe she gave off, and a strange sense of deja vu hit her when she saw it. And having a surname like Blackspawn didn't help matters much.

Okay, my turn for a supernatural awareness report, as a private message one was not a good idea on my part. Of course there will be a notable air of white magic about the dolls (though faint) and also Lucina's scepter, but Carlotta has an unusually strong dark presence hidden within her, leaking out of hidden spots on her body.

Nebula Lobby 1F (Carlotta, Rotting Scarlet Lady, possibly other onlookers)

Carlotta had to be careful descending the steps leading down to the first floor of the lobby, since those stairs were clearly designed for humans and she was about a sixth the size of one. But she managed well enough on her own - even when she lost her balance on the last few steps and rolled over onto the hard floor, she picked herself up completely unharmed. After adjusting the bottom of her dress, she began looking around for what might be the info desk.

But before she could get too far, one of the people lingering around in the lobby caught her attention. There was a woman in a scarlet robe, with surprisingly brittle hair, and greyish skin that looked like it was on the verge of rotting. Immediately Carlotta took a step backward, feeling a slight tinge of weirdness, but the feeling quickly passed, as she, like Lucina back at the restaurant, was stricken with a sense of deja vu.

And so, walking up to the woman with an odd sense of wonder, she asked her, in what was perhaps a hilariously sweet voice, "Are you dead?"

edited 26th Feb '17 11:45:24 PM by ladytanuki

[Nebula Lobby First Floor]

Ulf gravitated toward the agitated man, but thought better of it when a tall blonde moved to assist them. He passed another woman, and something made his hackles rise, he found himself backing away and accidentally bumped into someone. He turned around and muttered harrowed apologies,

"Sorry." He raised an eyebrow wondering why the man with a ponytail and a Van Dyke seemed so familiar.

He found himself at the front desk and after a quick look of confusion stated his name and handed off the duffle bag.

[Club Bizarre]

An apt name. The being reflected on the particular area's title. The data coalesced into a wonderful landscape like a roiling sea, spikes of activity ebbed and weaved. The beings by the table, the human tripping and trying to retain dignity. Strange little entities humans, alight with manic energy despite their longevity, a race of contrasts, and those proved the most interesting to study.

A great wave rose from the data, activity with both purpose and direction. They pondered it briefly before rising through the layers back to the third dimension. The human speaking with the two entities regarded them, "Hate I will to offend, but... may I touch you? Very curious since your form is."

Curious, humans were quite curious as well, it was an impulse the Technomancers understood the most of all perhaps. They gathered their form back to their consciousness, their body coalesced into something more solid but still mist-like and approached the table. While more directed, their speed varied as they tried to remember what timeframe wholly organic beings operated on. Upon reaching it, they issued a series of gentle light strobes.

No, no. Humans, communication protocols. The cloud defined itself into something more symmetrical. While indistinct one could garner the impression of a face or perhaps a head, points of light seemingly corresponding to eyes appeared and faded at varying intervals but always retained their symmetry. For the moment they glowed a gentle teal-blue.

"Audio communication, of course." the being finally projected in a sterile, but clear voice. It has been a long time since using purely audio forms of communication. If I were still myself you would not be able to feel at all, but as we are now it may result in a differential outcome. What that outcome is I cannot say, but I admit interest in such an experiment though I cannot attest to it's reaction to matter."

edited 27th Feb '17 12:37:03 AM by Slysheen

Deck 1 - Nebula Lobby.

Aubrey and Pearl turned at Joshua's pronouncement as it was clearly a response to what Pearl had said.

He certainly had an unusual taste in clothing, Aubrey mused, but he seemed friendly enough and didn't look particularly threatening.

Aubrey extended a hand. "How do you do, sir, I am Aubrey Branscombe and this is my-" he paused, wondering how best to describe Pearl to this stranger.

Pearl got in before Aubrey could continue. "I'm Pearl." She gave a smile. "This is our first time anywhere like this. It does seem a bit overwhelming, compared with Terra Nova."

"These are our travelling companions," Aubrey was relieved to have been spared the necessity of introducing Pearl. "Wolfe, Gwion, Teri and Sophia."

The others gave polite nods.

Just then, four newcomers entered the lobby from the direction of the rear of the ship. Wolfe gave them at first a cursory glance - a young girl in jeans and red T-shirt carrying another, younger, girl who seemed to be dressed up like a doll, a tall red-haired woman with horns and a blonde-haired woman with black boots and blue camouflage top - then did a quick double-take at the inordinately tall and extremely well-endowed red-haired Japanese-looking woman.

The horns were "new", but she was clearly the same woman that had met up with James, Kris and Kaitlyn out in the desert.

She was heading towards the information counter, so Wolfe gave an apologetic "Excuse me for a mo'," to Joshua and the others and headed after her.

He caught her distinctive Cockney accent, which confirmed her identity all the more, and her blonde-haired friend had an American accent.

As they turned away from the counter, Wolfe raised a hand in greeting. "G'day. Mari, isn't it? Not sure if you remember me, but we met in that Frontier town."

Over near the others, Teri nodded as Junko introduced herself and Ayako. "Pleased to meet you as well. Is your friend OK?"

Another arrival tore Gwion's attention away from the introductions and completely obliterated his nagging annoyance at not being able to determine why the man in the strange Victorian-styled attire seemed so familiar, for here was a face he could recognise - despite the addition of a greying beard.

Sophia looked up as a black-clad man raced in carrying a girl and started yelling about "tinbuckets", purging humans and killing gods.

Sophia wondered if she should give assistance but another couple of women moved in to console the distraught man and aid the stricken girl so she turned her attention back to the rest of her own group.

Gwion watched as Ulf bumped into Wolfe - who was apparently talking to Mari - then made his way to the counter. "Half a sec," he said to the group at large and headed back over to the counter, nodding politely to Mari as he passed. He arrived just as Ulf had handed over his duffel bag.

"G'day, Ulf. Long time no see."

edited 27th Feb '17 1:56:07 AM by Wolf1066

The Conveyor of Souls

Deck 3, Nebula Lobby

Shattered World's psychopomps can sense traits and manipulate emotions in people, in accordance with the domain they serve and represent. Maybe that's why the woman takes the elevator to descend to first deck? To not be overwhelmed by a wave of compassion emanating from the crowd in the Nebula Lobby? Or, it's to not be disappointed by the severe lack of it. Most likely, her legs are simply too tired to take the stairs.

Deck 1

Elevator's doors on deck 1 open, and the woman, following her temporary robot companion walk towards the spaceship's nose, through the Arboretum. The sight of nature puts a pleased smile on the woman's face. She takes a deep breath, filling her lungs with pleasant aromas. Soon, they reach room 1007. Her room. The bellhop opens the door, puts the luggage on the rooms' floor and hands the keycard to the woman:

"Here's your key, miss Shireen. I can help out with your things, if you want."

"There is no need, thank you," rolling her r's, replies Shireen. In contrast to her unassuming appearance, her voice is somewhat stern and authoritative. The voice of a person who not only knows the Way, but can also lead it. But lacking the innate coldness of the voice of people who can clear it.

"Then I'll be going, then. You can call me or some other servant robot anytime," says the robot and exits the room, closing the doors behind itself.

Next twenty minutes passed in opening and arranging her luggage, which she did with speed and efficiency. After that, she finally takes a good look from the room's porthole, and becomes the first person from the Shattered World who has seen the stars.

"Pretty..."

But she doesn't get the sensation like when one looks at the Core of her Shattered World. The breathing of the world. The feeling that the Core gazes back. It's just a very pretty picture in the sky.

Deck 2, Starlight Restaurant

With a disappointed frown, she picks up her black leather purse, exits her room, takes the elevator to deck 2 and enters the Starlight Restaurant. A logical choice after an exhausting trip. Despite the fact that she has other means of sustaining her body.

Maybe because of it? Restaurants are usually very crowded places.

Nebula Lobby (1st Floor)

Hearing soft footsteps, the young man looks up as he notices someone kneeling next to him. Hearing her softly cool voice and locking onto her aquamarine eyes, he looks her over as if in disbelief- Taking note of her white-blonde hair, of her apparent age, her slender physique, but most of all... How she looks human. Before he could respond, another woman approached, only really taking note of her hair/eye colors and vague age. Sighing sadly once the newcomer spoke, the strange young man looked towards her.

"Well, if you could reverse time for a destroyed universe, that would be great. Sure a lot of them wouldn't call me their friend, but I really don't like the idea everyone I knew is dead. Which does make me wonder..." Turning to the first woman, he sighs with a bit more fear, before asking her. "Am I just getting punked on right now? I mean, seriously, I end up on a cruise ship after witnessing all of reality shatter... Figured the blasted alien Nazis would just straight up kill me instead. Oh god, I really hope there's no Altens here..."

Chuckling a bit madly to himself, he speaks with a more unhinged tone. "Hell, I-I thought some of these creatures running around are the angels of God, that the r-robots here believe what they were saying... I've had a very exhausting day, and I'm in no mood to die now or be trapped in a lotus eater machine. I-I just want to adjust, and live out my life with little Anna here..." The young girl, clad in what looks like a machine-interface suit, points towards the second girl and manages to squeak out "C-cyborg...?"

Looking to the blonde & blue-eyed woman, a look of realization and then awkwardness crosses his face, before calling out with a more stable voice. "Oh boy, probably in a new universe and I'm already offending people... I might not look it, but I do believe in equality. T-the whole 'tinbuckets' thing, I just thought they were going to kill me. Pretty sure at least some of the Eldritchian nicknames were to insult them, and I figured they were working for them so... I'm sorry miss, if you were offended by what I said about the robots..."

Letting his head dangle, the man waits in silence... Yet, Anna then squeaks as she points up at him "G-Gabriel..." Blinking his exposed eye, he looks up to the two women before saying himself. "My name is Gabriel, Gabriel Jones... I guess formerly a pilot for Seed Esper, specifically of the VESTA Crimson Exosso. Anna here is a Mentalist, an Esper designed to be an 'AGI'. As for myself... I'm a Human Fey Touched, mutated by the Eldrit- Angel known as Skeletal Conqueror. The material covering the right of my face? That's bone I grew..." 

[Deck, 1 - Nebula Lobby]

Joshua shook Aubrey's hand, "A pleasure."

Joshua had some admiration for Pearl's sense of wonder of the place, "It's always overwhelming the first time. You get used to it, but the smallest bit of amazement might never really leave, depending on the person."

Noticing the commotion, and ever growing group number of people in the lobby, Joshua's posture became less relaxed. They experienced some relief as the injured man and the girl he was carrying were being attended to by other people, even if he was being rude to the robotic workers,

They turned toward Aubrey and Pearl, "Do the two of your mind if we continue this conversation somewhere a little less stressful? I hear there's a garden near by."

Bringing in a newer (timeskip) version of a character from Frontier and a new character I need to work on ENJOY.

[Club Bizarre]

It was like fate really wanted to fuck with him.

Akira sat at one of the bar stools, looking down at some white gems that were originally glowing, but now seemed to dim, then stopped glowing altogether. He was a young Japanese man, with light tan skin, dark brown (almost black) eyes, a white plaid shirt, blue jeans, and black shoes. In his right hand was a lit cigarette.

His companion, John, was much older looking (possibly in his late thirties or early forties). He was a black man with black dreads, a green shirt, black pants, brown shoes, and a black stockman hat. His dark brown eyes looked around the club, very clearly also displeased.

"So," Akira said, his accent very thick, "You got any idea how this happened?"

John gave Akira an annoyed glare. "If I did, I would've told you by now." He tapped his fingers on the table, "How about you put that thing away and ask some people about this place."

"I don't think we're gonna get a lot of answers—aside from the fact that this is a club."

John rubbed the back of his head. "True...damn lights." In the midst of the flashing disco lights, he noticed a girl, which got his attention. "Still doesn't hurt to ask; and put your damn ciggerate away."

Akira sighed, got out from his chair, then walked over to Sakura. "Hey, uh...excuse me! You have any idea what this place is?"

Starlight Restaurant (Astaphanos, Lucina, Emille, Phagora)

"I did not mean to imply your dolls were anything less than living beings, and I apologize if you may have thought otherwise," Astaphanos explained, "The closest equivalent the Bleaksteel has are our drones, who are simply machines with no free will of their own. Developing an AI that can truly be considered 'alive' is not high on our current list of priorities."

She noticeably frowned when Lucina outright called her necklace 'magic,' but she didn't get the chance to comment on it before the supposed head chef approached and asked how their meals were. She shook her head in response to the supposed Queen's joke, before turning her attention to the Chef and raising an eyebrow.

"You seem to be awfully young for someone in your position," she commented, "Though I do not mean to question your skill. After all, I myself am awfully young for someone in my position." At that, she bowed her head in lieu of a full bow as she was currently sitting down. "I am Astaphanos, the Sixth Archon of the Bleaksteel. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Blackspawn. Thus far, the food here has been excellent."

At that, she turned her attention back to Lucina and her dolls. "The Bleaksteel are the group currently ruling the entire continent of North America, your Majesty. We have been for roughly the last twenty years. We are primarily known for our level of technology that is decades beyond the rest of the world's." She frowned. "Despite what his title would have you believe, our current Child of Chaos is actually a pleasant and reasonable man. I know him personally. The title of 'Child of Chaos' was created by our founders and is not necessarily reflective of our current leadership."

She shook her head and continued. "Unfortunately, the exact task I required this necklace for is considered classified information."

At that, she started to prepare herself a cup of tea. "This is the first time I have heard of this 'Kingdom of Solevaille.' Going by your names, I would expect it to be somewhere in France. However, I was informed beforehand that some of the people here would be from completely different worlds than our own, and I suspect I have met just such a group."

Then her attention turned to Winky, and she raised another eyebrow. "You were formerly human?"

[Observation Deck]

Enkar's glass finally arrived, and he took a sip before continuing. The cheery tropical glass, with its paper umbrella, was a surreal contrast to the grim behemoth.

"That is so," Enkar said, "but we also lose something standing still." His expression grew dark. "Carceral regimes, built upon injustice and dominaton, depend on those who fear to move forward for what might be lost almost as much as they do the men who pull the trigger." He paused, silently adjusting his glasses, a massive, callused hand dwarfing the thin frames. He was curious to read Proseda's response to this statement. It would be... telling.

"And," he said to Iao , "no offense is taken. The first revolution I encountered in my lifetime was a pack of machismo-soaked generals and soldiers throwing a temper tantrum. My own Revolution, in fact, was to overthrow them. I imagine you've had to suffer similarly deluded fools dreaming of their jackboots upon their foes' throats?" He sighed and added, more as a diplomatic disclaimer than anything else "no particular offense is intended to soldiers in the abstract, of course. Especially since, I suppose, I and my brothers," and here he, following an Uelane tradition that had made its way north to Zavi, spilled a few drops to the ground for his fallen kinsmen, "were soldiers ourselves, even the KRR treasury was not in a position to formally requisition us uniforms or equipment during our service."

edited 27th Feb '17 6:11:32 PM by KillerClowns

[[Nebula Lobby]]

Tigris stared blankly…and then blinked. She had to rack her brain for the last time she’d had that much information and implication dumped on her all at once. She supposed she could forgive a few harsh remarks from one who’d just emerged from the losing side of a xenocidal war, but out of everything he’d said, that was by far the easiest to understand.

Another blonde woman had knelt down beside them. She looked human, but Tigris was instantly aware of some anomaly in her aura. The radiance was nowhere near as intense as it would typically be for someone of this newcomer’s height and build. Could she be a shapeshifter?

But what was more pressing was that the man in front of her was not calming down—quite the opposite, actually. He was going a mile a minute, and he was ignoring the poor state of his companion, who could barely speak.

“Gabriel,” she said, calm but firm. “Anna here needs medical attention. Right now. You have to let the staff take her to the medical bay.” She turned around and motioned to the droid staff. “I’ll come with you and help you get all this straightened out.”

(Nebula Lobby- Carlotta, Rebecca)

The woman groaned at the question. Not the moan of a B-grade zombie, but more a 'This? Again?' sort. "No, my body's rotting for no good reason. Of course I'm dead. I just happened to take precautions to deal with that sort of thing."

She reached out a decaying hand for a friendly shake, though the other woman might well decline for obvious reasons. "Name's Rebecca. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss..."

Deck 1 - Nebula Lobby... towards Arboretum

Aubrey had noticed the commotion and also some of the stranger, more disturbing-looking new arrivals, so Joshua's suggestion sounded great. This was, however, a rather strange place, and Aubrey had reservations about just wandering around.

He looked about. Both Wolfe and Gwion had wandered back towards the counter with the automated staff - there was a Japanese woman over there that looked familiar - so he gave Teri a querulous look.

Teri gave Aubrey a reassuring smile. "It's perfectly safe, 'ere. Feel free to go where y' like."

Aubrey turned back - once again catching sight of things he would rather not ponder too deeply - and gave Joshua a nod. "The garden sounds like a splendid idea. Doesn't it, Pearl."

Pearl smiled. This was a great adventure and she was keen to see more of this strange 'ship'. "Certainly."

edited 28th Feb '17 10:49:44 AM by Wolf1066

[Observation Deck]

Proseda had been trying to avoid having Enkar wax poetic on politics and nostalgia, but it appeared that at this point, it was unavoidable. Not only was the man questioning what he had intended to be an unoffensive platitude, he had taken credit for what he had deemed "his revolution". He was going to have to walk on eggshells if he was going to try to get through this in one piece, considering that there was a pretty decent chance this "first citizen" might be a crackpot dictator.

He takes a rather hearty swig of beer to buy some time, before looking at Enkar, having to look up slightly despite the other man's seated position, due to the revolutionary's immense height. "Undoubtedly inaction is an action as well. For those with limited time, stagnation can often be the most painful thing you can pursue." He chuckles, before adding "I haven't much experience in organizing revolution to back that view up though. Hopefully I never will have any, not exactly the sort of thing you daydream about as a kid." He turns his attention back to his beer, hoping that this would satisfy Enkar enough to shift the conversation over to Iao. He'd rather not have to babble about Enkar all day, let alone his own past. His regret for not just going to the spa or something was growing by the minute.

edited 27th Feb '17 9:50:31 PM by Aqueos

[Nebula Lobby-Check In]

The voice set a smile on Ulf's face.
"Not many strangers with that arm or eye." he noted and reached out to lock hands with Gwion.
"We do seem to run into each other. I just hope there's less bullets this time." He turned and nodded his thanks as the robot handed him a set of keys.
"So what brings you aboard, work or pleasure?" he caught the absurdity of the statement and chuckled depreciatingly.

Deck 1 - Nebula Lobby Check-in Counter

Gwion returned the handshake and grinned at Ulf's hope that there would be "less bullets this time". Fewer crazy magic users making the fight unpredictable would also be a bonus, he thought.

"Actually, it's pleasure for once," he said. "Met up with some people," he swept a hand in the direction of Wolfe and then towards Teri, "that also keep running into me - or vice versa - and accompanied them on their search for a missing person. After that was sorted successfully, we all decided that a relaxing break was in order. How about yourself?"

edited 28th Feb '17 10:50:39 AM by Wolf1066

Starlight Restaurant 1F (Lucina, Emille, Astaphanos, Phagora, Shireen)

As she entered the Restaurant, Shireen notices, that there's some sort of ... calamity going on at one of the tables. An attention-grabbing funnel cloud with bits of wood and porcelain orbiting it, to be precise. She confidently approaches the tables where Astaphanos and Lucina with her entourage are sitting, and, with a pleasant smile, speaks in a polite tone adressing no one in particular:

"What an interesting company has gathered here! Do you mind if I join you? I arrived here without a companion. My name is Shireen. Of the Karaozen Valley."

Deck 7 (The Captain, The Mechanic and The Healer)

You know, Ira, I think I found another thread for you.

There was no particular need for that, but who is it?

There, on deck 7.

These guys! How did we miss them?!

It's not really important right now.

There's a peculiar man in black shirt and white summer trousers who stands in deep thought leaning on the railings near the elevators. Although he has the build of a strong man in his prime, his appearance gives off the vibes of a much older and jaded man: his short black hair is starting to turn silver, his dark skin, covered in tattoos and geometrically perfect burn scars (which make his resemblance to some malicious spirit even closer), is deeply wrinkled. The scowl he is wearing doesn't help. To be fair, even without the scars, a pleasant smile wouldn't help either. If a man with Max Ahlstrom's (that's his name) features smiled at me, I'd simply ran away.

Now that's an interesting role reversal...

Suddenly Max turns around and sees a tall dusky young woman in yellow cocktail dress approaching him. She seems to be not used to wearing her unruly, shoulder-length copper hair loose. Her chiseled figure and callused hands give out the fact that she does a lot of physical work. She is quite attractive, and even though her features are somewhat mannish, they are, interestingly, seem to be softened by her attire.

"Van Segher." Max's voice is strong and raspy. The voice of a former chiliarchos, strained by a lifetime of shouting out commands, and, in Ahlstrom's case, unfortunately, also by drinking countless liters of aqua vitae. "Weird to see you in a-" he hesitates, "-out of uniform."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Chief," says van Segher, rolling her eyes.

"Where's Bergmann?"

"They didn't allow her to take her lab animals aboard." She leans on the railing next to Max. "Probably trying to catch some ship rats for later torture. What 'bout honorus Hummel?"

"Took Frost and Ed to the restaurant. Or was it the other way round?"

"Mmm. Pity Sunshine couldn't join us. She'd like the liner."

"Yeah, well, you know Iolana doesn't like to leave the Afalina behind for too long," says the captain of the aforementioned airship. "And this liner doesn't have the mooring masts."

"True." Robin van Segher looks at her captain with curiosity. "You seem to be even more cross than usual. I thought vacation will cheer you up."

"That's because he thinks that we're on a mission," comes woman's voice, filled with arrogance and coldness. Max and Robin turn around and see its owner: Cecilia Bergmann, the airship's healer. The air of aloofness surrounding her could rival those of the members of Royal Family of rulers of the Universe. Or of your average university professors. The hair of middle-aged brunette is cut in a bob. She wears white blouse and trousers. Her cold gray eyes behind round glasses seem to be trying to see the Canis Major constellation through Max's head.

"And I don't have valid reasons to think so? After all we've been through?" says he with restrained indignation. "Ed's here."

"Ed's always with Frost," sighing, says Cecilia. "And we're here only because Frost has decided that he needed a vacation and Ed's company is too boring. Relax. That's my official recommendation as a healer."

Max gives out a "Hmpf!"

Robin lets out a chuckle.

"And we left Sa'ad back home, too. If that won't convince you I don't know what will," says the healer.

"Maybe we should turn our attention to a more pressing matter?" says van Segher in a mock talking-to-superiors tone. "Like where we should go next? This liner has lots of entertainment to provide."

Max speaks up:

"Well, there are about ten different bars upstairs-"

"Not just your entertainment," says Cecilia. "Ours, too."

"Hey, I'm all for the bars, C.B." says van Segher. "Let's get shitfaced!"

"Not so fast. I'm too hungry for that. There's a pie parlor on the second deck. Let's fill our stomachs first and then inebriate ourselves. It's healthier that way."

Having nodded in agreement, the three enter the elevator that goes down.

edited 28th Feb '17 6:53:25 AM by Millership

In Space Outside the IMS Carpe Noctem

Two points of bright blue light appeared in the star-speckled expanse to the IMS Carpe Noctem's aft.

It was a spacecraft, hundreds of kilometers distant and decelerating fast, the twin flares of it's retro-thrusters clearly visible to the naked eye as it attempted to match velocity with the larger vessel. Any occupants of the Starlight Restaurant that cared to look would get quite a lightshow.

As the ship came to a relative stop just a scant few kilometers away, it's retros cut. At this distance, the vessel was close enough to see. It was a boxy craft, with a cockpit at the front, a reinforced spine, and an engine section in the back. The midsection appeared to be composed of a series of modular cargo containers that hung off the central spine to form the majority of the vessel's bulk. Faintly visible was the name "Pride of Rust" marked out in chipped lettering across the vessel's side.

RCS modules dotted across the vessel's hull lit up and began to nudge the ponderous craft towards the Carpe Noctem's docking bay.

Club Bizarre:

Interestingly enough the human was not intimidated by the anomalous being approaching, despite their weaker attempts to integrate. Not that they could be blamed for it, specially not by The One Who Brings Horizons, who made sure to not forget their initial failed attempts of communication with biological actors.

"I would avoid direct physical contact for now. A brief failure in modulating energy fluctuations could result in irreversible structural damage. Maybe one of those bio-luminescent fungi the one I presume to be Nemaforte showed us could be a proper sacrifice material for testing purposes?"

Partially detaching part of their filaments from the rest of their body and solidifying new parts for their skeleton, The One Who Brings Horizons extended a newly formed arm towards the table, its end forming an amorphous mass of tendrils instead of a hand proper that touched the jar of mushrooms with their tips, not as much gripping as attaching to it on a microscopic level. "I am actually interested in components for an artistic work of mine. I assume you would accept accept large quartz or corundum crystals as compensation for any materials taken?"

Deck 7:

That day was one of the few Baron Verez burned a flower for the thrones, and would be the first time in years he would sing the anthems if it continued like that. While his mouth was concealed, like with everyone in the procession, few would not notice the smile in his eyes, the way he climbed the staircases two or three steps at a time or crossed the corridors with clear purpose trying not to break into a sprint. His followers could barely keep up with his pace, even if they didn't stop to wonder at each new strange being or technological marvel in the way. But there was no time for delays, for destiny awaited!

And so the hurried procession followed through the decks, often marching and often running, stumbling along behind their leader as they carried and dragged bags and boxes of all sizes, some grunting under the weight and some carrying nothing at all. They were of all sexes, heights, builds and colours, including some normally not seem in humans like the snow-white paleness of their towering leader, or greyish or red stonelike tones of some of its members. All wore boots, white gloves and green trousers, the greatest variation coming from the colours of their hooded coats, which ended in the mid-thigh and had not only pockets, but lateral slits that allowed one to access the trouser's pockets. The coats where relatively form-concealing and all members of the group held them closed by their large wooden buttons, and where hidden from the neck to the nose by white cloth masks, which together with the gloves and hoods made sure only the area around the eyes of each of the missionaries was visible. Some carried some other distinctions, like the sceptres hanging from the belts of some of them, Verez's sword or the few thin, colourful ropes young Sii tied round his waist and wrists to make his coat look better in his small and thin frame.

Finally the leader came to a stop before the doors of their new base of operations, Suite 7.070 and rooms 7.072 and 7.074, hands clutching his keycard like a shipwrecked sailor clutching a stone in the tides and stormwinds. Turning his head to the left he inspected his audience, seeing the missionaries gather around him awaiting for a command. "For now, we should organize our possessions and prepare ourselves for the day to come.", he said loudly to his followers, invigorated by being trusted with such an enterprise "After that, I believe it would be wise to dedicate ourselves to less serious tasks until the mechanical workers come. You have the freedom to transit the vessel, but remember that your actions will weight on our nation as a whole and that we have goals other than discovering new forms of debauchery.", breathing deeply, he resumed the instructions in a more relaxed tone "I will leave this deck shortly. Report to Steward Valerus for further information, which you shouldn't have to ask for as far as I am concerned. Imperial Word!".

"Eternal Word!", they replied, some more enthusiastically than others, except for two figures in the back, one sitting with his back against the wall and the other kneeling near him with a hand on his shoulder. Instead of investigating them right now, Verez opened the suite's door with his keycard and proceeded to show others how to do the same. After that he beckoned two women in white coats in front of room 7.072, one red-skinned and another with yellowish-grey skin, both with short ashen hair visible under the hoods.

"According to the last crew member I spoke with, our friend was last seem in one of the above decks. Knowing him, he is probably comparing the nudity taboos of different cultures in the pool deck or something similar."

The telepaths did not move at first, but Verez felt the rising temperature that accompanied a reading, and soon the grey-skinned one nodded to him. "That is possible.". Looking to the side to see Sii entering room 7.074, he nodded back to her and walked towards the elevator, the two sibyls by his sides.

...

"I can't believe you choose this time to just collapse", the words echoed in his head, mocking him as he struggled to keep his eyes closed. They were so distant from... from anything. He always told himself being in space would be like being in a ship, but that was only because he knew it wouldn't be easy to face the emptiness, the enormity of it all, and also how tiny that vessel was in the void. What would be like to be trapped in a spaceship? To live years in it, to be born and die in it? A world with no horizon, with no clouds, where the illusion of infinity is replaced by a space as limited as a mortal life, and the mysterious vastness outside?

"Hey are you... you are still here, aren't you?", the young woman said, jest now being slowly devoured by doubt. Eating away, like a fire... maybe it would warm him, if despair started to rise? No, dark thoughts, improper thoughts. Lifting weak eyelids his grey eyes shone back unto the brown ones of Indel, and so did his answer: "Maybe."

"What was that? You were starting to freak me out, and I know my freaky stuff better than most.", she said, offering a hand for him, which he promptly ignored in favor or rising to his feet by himself. He wanted to feel the ground beneath his palms, to remind himself he was still there, occupying a small part of the universe's space. A very small one, to be honest, but still significant.

"Unlikely, since you don't seem to notice the freakishness of this place. It is too real for me."

"You can go and have a drink after we finish unpacking our things then. Will sure make this feel less real.", she said with a hint of amusement in her voice. Forcing himself to smile, he said "I am unsure if that is a... safe idea, but I suppose distractions are welcome. I just hope Gobu does not force me to turn our room into a copy of the Tearful Abode."

So they entered room 7.074, together with chaplain Gobu and a couple other missionaries, all in red coats except for Sii-razh himself, who wore dark blue as a symbol of his position. The surge of activity from organizing the room to fit all people proved itself a welcome respite from the mental stress of confronting the void, and while Sii didn't fight for the better bed-roll spot like the others or questioned why Gobu had rights over the bed, he did join a passionate discussion over whatever the ventilation system had ghosts in it or not that interested Gobu to the point he just gave everyone a license to do whatever they wanted for a couple hours while he conducted a few experiments.

Finally free from chores, Sii-razh pondered on how use the hours to follow, standing on the dusty staircase and hearing the sound of elevator doors opening and closing not very far away. He had a map in the information-processing device handed to him by the crew, yet what use was it when all the locations seemed to be part of the same strange dream, bearing names and images that pushed his mind to its limits as he tried to imagine those strange environments. Sighing, he returned the machine to his pocket and wondered why was the initial enthusiasm draining so fast. Maybe he should trace back his steps? Breathing deeply in preparation and bringing his messenger bag closer to his body, he descended the stairs towards the third floor of Nebula Lobby.

[Deck 1, Nebula Lobby -> Arboretum - Joshua, Aubrey, Pearl]

"Excellent!" Joshua said as the group of three walked toward the Arboretum.

Joshua took a deep inhale as they entered the Arboretum. The scent of fresh air was welcome as Joshua walked toward the tree nearest to the entrance. Crossing their arms and leaning against the tree, Joshua took in another deep inhale.

"I hope you don't mind sitting on the grass, I can't exactly be a 'resting on your laurels' person anymore," they said to Aubrey and Pearl, "And this is the most relaxing that my vacation has been in a long time."

"So what are your stories?" Joshua asked the two.

edited 28th Feb '17 6:41:32 PM by DarkbloodCarnagefang

[Club Bizarre]

Sakura sat stiffly and awkwardly in her bean bag chair, even as she began to sink backwards into it. Just as she was contemplating taking her leave, as no one appeared to gave spotted her embarrassing gaffe, a young man walked up to her and asked her a question.

She tried to get up but, confused by the strangeness of bean bag chairs, somehow managed to sink further backwards. Hastily, she tried to play it off as though she'd meant to do that, even as her cheeks reddened slightly. "Oh, uh, this place?" she said, trying (and failing) to sound casual. "I don't really know what it's called, sorry. It sure is weird in here, though, huh?" She grinned, albeit a bit sheepishly.

Nebula Lobby 1F (Carlotta, Rebecca)

The woman was dead, but she was not pleased when Carlotta asked her that question. Which stymied her for a moment, until she figured not everyone took kindly to directness.

"Carlotta," she replied as she reached up and calmly offered a hand to shake. "I'm sorry for stating the obvious like that - I asked that same question to another dead woman a while ago, so I must have felt the need to repeat it." That's when she noticed some peculiar dark wisps floating around the woman's chest... in pulses, it seemed. She pointed to it. "Is that the precaution you took? Though I've never heard of a soul being contained in a specific part of the body - in the living it's all throughout it, right?"

She looked down at her own chest. "I'm one to talk though - I don't have a heart. Not literally anyway."

edited 28th Feb '17 7:49:17 PM by ladytanuki