seventeenth jump;

[mathematically]

CHARACTERS: any and all
LOCATION: Gravity Couches and beyond
WARNINGS: maybe some swearing, or even some violence, and more than likely some implied (and possibly explicit) nakedness.
SUMMARY: Another month, another jump, another round of new faces.
NOTES: Keeping up with the tradition and copy pasted like always from the last one 



You wake up in darkness.

There's a breathing tube jammed down your trachea, and you're suspended in a tube of clear blue fluid. Upon registering your level of consciousness, the gravity couch drains the fluid surrounding you and retracts the breathing apparatus; the doors in front of you open, and you're deposited on the floor of a stark, sterile medical bay.

You are not alone.
There are others who have come before you, others who are awakening beside you. Some may be familiar to you, perhaps even friends. Others have much less amiable plans. Some are merely alien and inexplicable, but there are always those who might mean you harm.

After you catch your breath and your vision returns, you notice a number on the inside of your forearm. Maybe it's a familiar number. Maybe it means something. Maybe it's just a number. But the number—completely unique to you—is a tattoo, and it does not come off.

If you enter the room adjacent to the medbay, you will find a small locker with your number on it, surrounded by rows upon rows of identical lockers. Inside, you will find a few of your personal items, a communications device, and a ship's uniform in your exact size. The comms device is fully powered and connects directly to the ship's network; it's your only means of communication beyond physical conversation. Upon turning the device on, a neutral, automated voice will say, "Please take the blue lift to the passenger quarters." Any other attempts at communicating with the rest of the network are met only with static.

This is your welcome party.

Comments

[testgasm]

Exactly!

[He seems to light up at that, because there's no bonding material quite like commiseration and finding you dislike the same things as someone else. Wheatley will fully admit that organization and orderliness are not exactly his top priority, but surprises are only okay if he's the one doing the surprising.]

Surprises, I mean. Can't believe he tried to pull that on me. So, yes, sorry if I--if I came off as perturbed, in the lab. It wasn't you, it was just--just Topher. Being Topher. I'm, uh. What do you say we start over?

[glassesonachain]

A large portion of the population thrives on surprises. Then they don't understand those who think differently. I like knowing what to expect. Or at least having a few set variables beforehand so that I may hypothesize the outcome.

So...yes. We should start over. That's a good idea. Starting over on our own terms, not Topher's.

[testgasm]

[Wheatley seems to have brightened considerably now that one of many elephants in the room has been addressed. He can save the others for another time. Right now, there is commiserating to be had.]

Right, good. Glad that's all sorted out.

[He beams, apparently very pleased with himself.]

I really am sorry about Topher, though. Wish I could tell you he wasn't always like that.

[glassesonachain]

[Her smile grows to match his. This was all going a lot better than she expected.]

It's okay. You shouldn't feel the need to apologize for his...

Antics.

Though it really does make me curious how you manage to put up with him.

[testgasm]

Well, if he's giving you a time of it--

[He trails off, clearly unsure of where he was going with that. What he doesn't say, of course, is that people can't stand him, either, so he latches onto the people who can--in this case, Topher.. Eventually, he shrugs.]

Not a clue, mate. He can be pretty infuriating, as I'm sure you've--you've figured out. Just have to be--have to be patient. Let him know when he's doing something you don't like.

[glassesonachain]

[Actually trying to communicate like a person. What a novel concept. That's actually pretty foreign to her since Bennett dislikes dealing with people.

And since she hasn't really discovered her crazy streak, yet, she has the backbone of a sea sponge.]

Does he listen to you when you tell him he's being infuriating?

[testgasm]

Usually I have to yell.

[Somehow, Wheatley manages to look very pleased with himself.]

Terrified of it. Something about the accent, I think, but a good shouting at usually does the trick. Doesn't like it when I get angry.