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

[elvenking]

[Two slow blinks before he thinks of a response, turning to her.]

I beg pardon I was not able to see to Aithusa this last week, nor to warn you I could not be there.

[Because that's what he can think of. How many responsibilities he missed out on because someone decided to play the innocent.]

[impitoyable]

[ she's shaking her head, then. slowly, carefully. her brows crease, draw in a flicker of confusion. her words are carefully chosen. ] You owe us nothing.

[ it's true enough. he's helped - aithusa had even looked just a little more alive, but morgana did not set expectations for the elven king. expectations lead to disappointments, and her pride still pushed for distance, for her to not depend on the help of others, even when it is needed. appreciated.

so she brushes his words away with nearly blatant disregard. but then, she hesitates. ] - Something troubles you?

[elvenking]

Deeply, Lady, but I would not lay such cares on you. You bear enough.

[And he doesn't like appearing vulnerable. He's been very careful about who he has told about September. All the same, he's not going to insult her by pretending to be okay.]

[impitoyable]

[ she understands that. not wanting to be seen as vulnerable. she would much more readily bare her teeth than show her fears. she knew all about armor worn for these moments.

shoulders squared, she shifts her weight. clearly, this wasn't somethings she was terribly used to. ] Yet you've taken some of mine. [ a beat. ] Aithusa seems - better. Her wellbeing is to be my care, yet you've...insisted on your aid.

[ she was walking on stones with unsteady feet. it felt like that, anyway, in her guarded and distant way. ] For that, I am grateful.

[ which means she should, by some semblance of manners, offer the same. he has not shown ill intentions. ] Do you require anything? A troubled mind is as heavy a burden as any.

[elvenking]

[He doesn't really want to tell her. He doesn't think she can do anything to help him. But she's offering. The troubled woman with so much power whom he is trying to rehabilitate for the sake of the ship is offering help to him, and to refuse is to discourage her to do so again.

But then he thinks about her power, how it seems to different from his own, and he hesitates before speaking again.]

If I were to show you a drawing of a face, can your spells locate the person on board the ship?

[impitoyable]

[ she's on a wavering edge; help offered because that is something she should do by the manners that she still remembers and because she feels there is a debt existing. for aithusa.

when he asks, there's a flicker of curiosity to her cool eyes, and she folds her arms. she sounds thoughtful, careful. ] Such incantations are possible.

[ her lips thin. ] It would be better if you had something of theirs. Something they once held or owned.

[ then, she offers a shrug. calculated composure. ] But a face would do just as well.

[elvenking]

[It had been a long shot, but a flicker of interest sparks in his eyes.]

I have nothing of his, I fear, but I will never forget his face. When I have drawn it I will show you.

[He hesitates.]

I want nothing ill done to him. I only wish to know where he is.

[impitoyable]

[ she sighs. she wants to ask, why he needs to be found. was it for care of whoever this was, or some kept wariness?

wants to, but doesn't.

nods, instead, allowing herself a wry smile to what he says. (who, me?) ] And no harm shall be done. I am no brute, Thranduil. [ she feigns hurt; (but she can be vicious, even if some situations wouldn't call for it.) ]

I will prepare all I need. You know where to find me.

[elvenking]

I do, Lady. I will see to Aithusa then as well.

[He's deciding if this is a good idea.]