EVENT; LIFTS & CORRIDORS

[ataraxites]

CHARACTERS: Ensemble production!
LOCATION: The Corridors.
WARNINGS: Space crazy, violence, etc.
SUMMARY: You may have simply been taking the lift with passerbys, but now you're hopelessly lost.
NOTES: Notes on the corridors.

Those on their way to meet a friend at dinner, or heading to their department, may never reach their intended destination. Instead, characters will find themselves in an unfamiliar part of the ship, abruptly stranded. All attempts to access the elevator will prove fruitless, as the doors cannot be pried open and the lift will not respond when called. It looks like you have no where to go but forward. Hallways will connect only to other hallways, giving you the impression that you're always on your way somewhere- but can't quite manage to arrive. Time spent in the hallways will seem endless, but with luck you may find a break in the monotony. It is possible for characters to find one another, which would be preferable, as it's probably safer traveling in groups. Those that spend an excessive amount of time in their own company will find themselves feeling increasingly hostile and paranoid, until even the walls seem to be watching. That may not be such an exaggeration, with those murals that continually appear...

Comments

o baby

[picnmix]

[ Merlin thinks he was scared half to death? Try being high and wandering repetitive hallways with freaky murals for what feels like hours (but isn't, really); drugs don't tend to help in the paranoia department, and this certainly isn't an exception.

So when he turns a corner and runs into Merlin, he lets out a loud scream that sounds several shades of awful. You're honestly lucky he didn't just shit himself. ]

Jesus - I scared you half to death? I nearly shat myself. [ see!! Then there's a pause where he settles one hand on Merlin's shoulder, and it's definitely to steady himself rather than to offer comfort. Another second to regain some semblance of balance; the walls are a bit shifty at the moment. ] I think this cunting ship gave me bad drugs, man.

[servant]

Well I'm glad that you didn't! This is a small hallway and we might be in for a very long walk.

[Merlin scrunches his nose. And that scream, he's going to be hearing that in his dreams for many weeks to come. Merlin looks from Nathan's hand to his face, which is kind of pasty and sweaty in the faint light, and reaches out to help steady him even more.]

You don't look so well. Wait, did you say bad drugs?

[Merlin starts sliding the pack from his shoulders at that.]

Don't worry, I've got some good drugs with me!

[picnmix]

[ Most drugs are good drugs, as far as Nathan is concerned, so his face takes on an intensely intrigued expression at Merlin's offer. His off state is really only half due to the drugs, frankly, but he's not going to admit as much. So he ignores the concern, moves on to the more important part. ]

Why have you got drugs on you? Is this more of your new age earthy bullshit? And where the fuck is this, I've been here for hours. I think I got off on the wrong level.

[ Mostly still interested in whatever you've got in that bag, even if he's attempting conversation. ]

[servant]

I was delivering them for someone.

[Merlin sets the pack on the floor before stretching his skinny arms up over his head. It wasn't really that heavy, and he's actually stronger than he looks (he'd almost have to be). But he has been wandering around for hours himself.]

The same thing happened to me. Does the ship really have no stairs? Whoever made it really didn't think things through.

[He might not know that much about technology, but he knows that things break. Merlin crouches down and starts going through the pack.]

Okay, what are your symptoms?

[Yes, let's play doctor.]

[picnmix]

[ Oooh yes let's play doctor.

But hang on, symptoms? Is he talking about actual medicine? Not that some of that can't be just as exciting, of course, but Nathan's not particularly optimistic. ]

Well, mostly I'm just high off my fucking face and lost in a fucking spaceship, but otherwise, I'm grand.

[ There's an aggressive edge to his tone that hasn't really been there before, not even when he was giving Arthur shit at the bar. But then he presses the heel of his palm to his own forehead firmly, eyes closing for a second to chase off a fleeting headache and maybe a bit of that bitter mood. At least enough to not be a raging asshole to Merlin, anyway. There aren't many who aren't completely useless or pretentious or murderous on this ship, and Merlin's one of them, so- ]

Seriously, man, I'm fine. It's just this ship, it's a load of wank. You know, I took a piss on one of the walls fucking ages back, and I swear I've only just walked past it again five minutes ago.

[servant]

[Merlin looks up at that tone, as sharp as Arthur's at his angriest. But he watches Nathan press a hand to his forehead and he's back to rummaging. He holds a bottle up and shakes it gently.]

Here, take a couple of these. Gaius used to make a tincture of willow bark for me, but these are a lot easier to swallow. [Merlin sighs and settles back on his heels, thinking about his own experience with the walls.] I keep passing the same terrible painting, no matter how much I try to get away from it. But how is that even possible?

[picnmix]

[ Nathan takes the bottle without hesitation, doesn't even make an attempt to read the label before popping the lid and pouring a few into his hand. Probably one or two more than a couple, but who's counting, and he tosses them into his mouth and swallows a second later.

Then the bottle's dropped unceremoniously back into the open bag as he makes a slight face, considering Merlin's comment on the paintings. ]

Well, I suppose that's a relief. I thought I was imagining the creepy bastards - but I haven't a clue how it's possible. I mean, we're in space, aren't we? I don't think I'm wrong in saying all bets are off.

[ There's another pause to glance down the hallway, and the frustration fades to something more like exhaustion. ]

How long's it been since you got lost?

[servant]

I'm not sure anymore. A few hours. Overnight, maybe.

[Merlin wraps his arms around his legs, head bowed.]

This ship is really massive, isn't it?

[And if he doesn't actually say what he's really thinking, the worry still bleeds through his voice a little. Camelot's patrol has come across the remains of people who got lost in the woods before, little more than bones most of the time. Sometimes they're scattered from the wild animals feasting on them after the person died - if they were dead when it started happening. Somehow he didn't think the monsters on this ship would wait.]

We have to keep looking for a way out. They might not find us in time.

[picnmix]

[ Intentionally or not, he makes a show of camaraderie when he sinks down to the floor to sit next to Merlin, back against the wall. It's half because he's just tired, frankly, and his attention wanders over the wall opposite as if it's got anything remotely worth looking at. ]

In time for what? [ A pause as he catches up. ] You mean before we starve to death? Get eaten by those bastards with the faces? [ Because right, there's also the manticores. ]

I hate to break it to you, but I'm not entirely sure there is a way out. I think the ship's fucking with us. It's got us all trapped in here. [ Another pause, then a quick addition as something new occurs to him. ] Maybe it'll be like those Saw films. It'll crap us out in a room with some seriously fucked up shit and we'll have to murder each other for our own survival, just you wait.

[servant]

I hate to disappoint it, but that'll never happen.

[Nathan is his friend, he could never-]

[Merlin halts mid-thought, suddenly looking warily in the other young man's direction.]

You would never murder me, would you?

[picnmix]

[ Oh, awkward. But Nathan doesn't even seem a little bit surprised by the question, offers a thoughtful look before shrugging it off. ]

Nah, I'm not so great with the hands-on murders. If they put is separate boxes with buttons, then you might be in trouble.

[ Which is completely untrue. He'd never kill Merlin, but he can't be getting a reputation, here. He gestures vaguely to the bag then, aiming for a subtle change of subject. ]

So what's all this - deliveries, yeah? You looking for anyone in particular? I haven't seen that posh bastard of yours anywhere.

[servant]

Here's hoping that they don't.

[Merlin seems morbidly amused, but the reminder of Arthur sobers that.]

I haven't either. I hope he's not in any danger. Or looking for it. If we do run into him, I might have to tranquilize him.

[Because Arthur generally needs to be unconscious before Merlin can get him out of trouble.]

[picnmix]

[ what ]

Tranquilize him? What, for being a twat? That's a bit harsh, isn't it? And I'm not being funny, but he looks like he'd be a bit of a pain to carry. Unless you mean tranquilize him and leave him here - which is still quite harsh, but hey, fair enough.

[servant]

If I tranquilized him for that, he'd never be conscious.

[Merlin sighs before giving Nathan a crooked smile.]

But I know him. He'd keep looking for people instead of the way out. And I bet you're stronger than you look.