eighteenth 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

[refusing]

[Rose glances over at the girl, and smiles as she's glad someone's kind enough to check up on her. She's used to seeing all kinds of things by this point, so the fact that the girl's trying to get dressed is what she pays attention to, and she nods over at the jumpsuit.]

Me? Top of the world, couldn't be better.

[This is said in a tone that she doesn't even fully believe, and she just glosses right over it to instead talk about anything other than how she's feeling.]

Not trying t'be weird or anything, but need some help with that? Looks like you're having some trouble, yeah? [Anything to switch the focus off of her and actually being stuck here is good right about now.]

[purrfectlycute]

[ Yes, very convincing there. Nepeta raises her eyebrows but doesn't press for further details. The last thing she needs is some strange kid grilling her about her emotional state. Plus, c'mon, the whole jump process is enough to make anyone cranky.

The alien nods gratefully, tugging the suit up past her hips. ]

Augh, yes please! It's not weird at all. Evfuryone's purractically naked anyway. [ She sucks in a breath and turns around. Her back is scarred along the spine and a blue tail protrudes from the base. ] If you could just hold it up in the back while I zip up, I'd really appurreciate it. Don't think these suits aren't made fur growing.

[ Nep glances over her shoulder briefly with a smile. ]

But it looks like you won't have to deal with that. And yours look quite nice!

[ Not that she can really tell, being one of the most fashion blind beings in the world but colors are pretty cool and people like it when you compliment fashion??? Yeah let's go with that. ]

Sorry if this is a purrsonal question, but I don't think I've seen you around befur. Are you new? Erm, I mean, did you just wake up here?

[refusing]

[Rose can't help but smile when faced with a personality as large as this one. It's refreshing, and makes her forget her own worries for the time being. She moves to hold up the jumpsuit, making sure the collar stays closed up near the top for easier zipping.

She notices the scars and the tail, and frowns. Has someone been hurting this girl?]

Thanks, I guess. Just some old things from back home, that's all. [She does appreciate the compliment though, and keeps her tone as cheery as possible to try and reflect that.]

And you're right. About me being new, I mean. Just woke up here a bit ago.

[She waits until she's sure the jumpsuit is all zipped up before stepping off to the side, giving the girl some space.]

There we go, all done! Now you're the one that looks quite nice and all put together, I might add.

[purrfectlycute]

[ Getting complimented back is something that Nepeta may never get used to. She laughs, her cheeks tinging green. ]

Well I'm purrsentable at least, and not without your help!

[ She rolls her shoulders to test out the fit. Wow she needs to update her wardrobe. BUT ENOUGH OF THAT there's fresh meat on board. ]

In that case, I suppaws I should welcome you aboard! I know it's overwhelming at furst, but you'll get used to it soon enough. There should be a general infurmation going up on the network soon.

[ She gestures vaguely to Rose's locker. ] If you haven't found it already, there should be a little handheld thingy. Like a... [ shit what's the human word ] ...computer? Sorta. Anyway, that should answer some of the most impurrtant questions. And you can ask me anything you'd like, but I'm afuraid my knowledge of the universe is more inclined toward stuff like "what doesn't taste gross in the kitchens" and "where to nap in the Oxygen Gardens."

[refusing]

[Nodding, she looks into her locker once again. After some digging under clothes and a makeup bag, she spots her communicator. That will come in useful, she thinks, and seeing it puts her in an even better mood.]

Well, what doesn't taste gross in the kitchens, then? [She's starving, and as she turns around to face her new little friend, she taps at her chin to think over what her first meal here should be.]

I could really go for some chips right about now. There better be a batch somewhere on board this thing, or there's gonna be a problem.

[purrfectlycute]

[ It's a relief to have someone whose immediate reaction to her isn't what the fuck are you or the frequent (and understandable) distress that comes with being suddenly abducted into space. Any bit of friendliness or normalcy is a welcomed breath of fresh air. ]

Anything that says "instant" on it is something you'll want to avoid unless you're really despurrate. As fur chips, I'm sure there's some bags around, so no worries!

[ whoops sorry she only knows the American definition sorry. ]

Unfurtunately fresh meat is almost impawsible to come by, but if you like fruits and veggies, there's the Oxygen Gardens.

[ Her face lights up at the mere thought of the gardens. ] And even if it's not, the Oxygen Gardens are one of the best places on board! Everything else about the ship sorta feels cold and sterile, but the gardens actually give you soil under your feet. Almost like you're on a planet! It's pretty good medicine fur homesickness--well, if you come from a place with lots of plants. If you grew up in the snow or desert it might not help.

[refusing]

[Watching the girl's face light up upon talking about the gardens makes Rose smile. She likes the sound of the Oxygen Gardens, and is glad that this place has something she can enjoy.]

Sounds perfect. Really, it does. Sometimes you get so caught up in traveling and stuff, you really forget to appreciate stuff like soil and plants. Think I might go and see it today, actually.

[She's not feeling homesick, but could really stand to get some positivity in her life somehow. Otherwise, she'd just sit and mope.]

My name's Rose, by the way. Rose Tyler. [There's a quick pause.] Maybe you'd wanna come see the gardens with me?

[purrfectlycute]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Rose Tyler! I'm Nepeta Leijon, and I'd love to go on a garden tour with you. Always good to clear your head and find a peaceful place after a jump.

[ She taps her temple. The disorientation from the jump has faded, but for Nepeta, it takes a little longer for the dizziness and ringing in her ears to stop.

Fresh air is a good cure, but to share her love of the gardens (a home away from home for her, or more accurately a new home) with a friendly face is far better. A little slice of happiness in the overarching clusterfuck that is Nepeta's life. Her eyes shine with genuine excitement.

(Partially because her brain is whispering, Now to acquire Rose's friendship so you'll have more roleplay partners. Priorities.) ]

But all things considered, it seems like you're adjusting pretty quickly fur a newbie! No offense, I'm just used to people wallowing in confusion, angst, or anger. Then again, it's usually been grown men doing that. Guess girls can handle life better, heehee!

[ Only half joking. ]

[refusing]

Oh, I'm kinda used to things like this. Being in new places, I mean. Not...waking up the way we all just did or nothing.

[She feels a bit awkward having just said that out loud, and she reaches up to rub at the side of her neck.]

Guess traveling's helped me out some in dealing with all this. Can't really say much about anyone that's confused or angry or anything. And what about you, you're not like that. You're all smiles and helpful. Nicest face I've seen since I've been here, even. [And she means that, Nepeta is a breath of fresh air to some of the gloom and doom that's around this place.}

But...let's go see those gardens, yeah? No point in just standing 'round here all day.

[purrfectlycute]

Oh, there's plenty of nice faces around! Mine's purrobably just one of the more unique ones you'll see, heh.

[ Nepeta nods eagerly. Her arm raises as though trying to decide whether to offer a hand to hold or not. Finally she just decides to gesture Rose to follow. ]

Right, yes! It's a big ship but it won't take too long to get there, and really, I can't think of a better welcome.

[ As she starts her walk, Nepeta glances up and over her shoulder to Rose. ] What you said about the whole, 'traveling' thing helping you adjust? I understand that purrfectly. I'm fairly used to a life of adventure, space, and oddities. Being on board is actually a bit of a relief!

[ For more reasons than one, but probably best not to get into that just yet. No use scaring off the newbies with tales of homicide and doom. ]