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

[skindeep]

Because of the painting itself? Or because you just don't want me back in any strange part of the ship?

[Noah watches him for an answer, in a way that suggests that something hinges on which it is.]

[deprecate]

Little of column A, little of column B?

[ cillian gives a rueful grin, distracted from their predicament. ]

I quite like being the only one who gets to see whats under your tshirts. Well, outside of jumps, obviously.

[skindeep]

I can start wearing a tshirt for the jump, but would that make my arse look big?

[Noah winks at him before turning a little more serious.]

It's just that someone mentioned mapping unknown areas of the ship a few weeks back. I was thinking of volunteering.

[deprecate]

[ that kills his amusement quick smart, the expression dying on his face. ]

And end up places like this? Lost in the hallways for fuck knows how long?

[skindeep]

Hopefully not!

[Noah's voice lifts cheerfully, and he gives Cillian's hand a squeeze.]

But once they've been properly mapped, no one would ever get lost in them again.

[deprecate]

Yeah. Mapped by someone else.

[ He doesn't seem inclined to argue, just picks up his pace, tugging at Noah. Maybe sick and lost wasn't the best moment to bring up Noah risking his life. ]

[skindeep]

[No, it probably wasn't the time or place. Maybe he should've saved it for post-coitus, when Cillian is warm and a little more agreeable.]

Hey, hey, slow down.

[Said quietly, Noah reaching his other hand forward to cover Cillian's.]

It's off the table for now.

[deprecate]

For now.

[ Cillian casts him a dark look, because that just implies they're going to be arguing about it later. He sniffs hard, scrubs at one cheekbone with the knuckles of his other hand. ]

Could we just keep going? It won't fucking matter either way, if we die out here.

[skindeep]

Cillian, hey.

[Noah tries to hide his shock at Cillian's words, how it hurts just to hear them. He doesn't keep going, but instead stops completely and tries to tow the Irishman into his arms.]

It matters.

[He swallows hard, because it matters more than anything to him, and hearing Cillian say words like that makes him desperate to prove it.]

The discussion is closed, alright? I wouldn't do anything that upsets you this much.

[deprecate]

[ Cillian allows himself to be towed, and he gives a shudder when Noah folds him into his arms. He's scared, and sick, and tired, and worried that his clock is ticking. ]

[ He pushes his face into one of Noah's broad shoulders and tries to catch his breath. ]

I want to go home.

[ His voice is small, and he doesn't mean their shared room. ]

[skindeep]

Oh love, I know.

[There's heartbreak in his tone now. Noah gets homesick too, stays perpetually worried about his parents and his brother. But he's so damn thankful for Cillian, and tries to stay strong for him. Even now he tries to wrap him up, to be what's around him instead of this ship.]

We just have to get through this first.

[Noah presses his face against that dark hair, a little worried that his embrace goes too tight when he feels Cillian shiver.]

D'you want to rest for a few minutes? Maybe you'll feel better.

[deprecate]

No. No.

[ Rest is the last thing he wants. He'd been resting when Noah found him, and it had cost him precious time away from insulin, not to mention left him vulnerable to anyone or anything who might come along. ]

Let's keep moving. Please.

[ At least if he focuses on going forward he might be able to stop himself from feeling this way, saying these things that break Noah's heart so obviously. There's comfort and strength to be taken from his embrace, but Cillian still ends it too early, kissing his cheek and drawing away. ]