ataraxionlogs | twenty-sixth jump;

Entry tags:

twenty-sixth jump;

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: Your average, run-of-the-mill jump—except some characters don't seem to be waking up from stasis like they should.

Don't worry.

THEY NEEDED THE REST.

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Let's just have you agree for me now. We can talk about it later.

[Because they will have to. She needs to know enough about what might happen, so that she can protect herself. Watch for the signs. He lets out a breath, not letting go, either.]

Did you have a dreamless sleep, at least?

Okay. [ October finally pulls back, though her hand stays on his shoulder for a moment. ] We will talk about it, though. [ It's not a question; she's not just going to let that slide. Besides, she wants to make sure Alex is okay.

Giving his shoulder a squeeze, she moves to lean against the locker next to hers. ]

I think so, yeah, but it's possible I just forgot what the dreams were about.

Yeah, we will. [He drops a kiss to her forehead, though. He knows they will talk about it, but that doesn't mean he won't worry about her reaction. She's been so...uneasy, lately, and he hates to add to that.]

Well, that isn't such a bad thing, is it?

[ The corner of her mouth lifts slightly as she closes her eyes. Then she leans her head against the locker as well, enjoying the coolness of the metal against her temple. ]

I guess not. Though I probably dreamt about the answers to this place and that's why I don't remember shit. [ Highly unlikely, but you never know. ] I definitely don't feel any more rested now than I had before I went into the goddamn thing, either.

See, that's really the thing that isn't fair, isn't it?

You'd think if you slept for a month you'd actually get to feel rested for once.

You'd think. [ She opens her eyes again, reaching up to brush some wet hair from her face. Then she glances down towards the cat when it starts rubbing against her leg. ] I'm glad they seem to have handled the jump better than I did. You, too, for that matter, [ she says when she looks back towards Alex. ]

I've never done a whole month sleep.

[Alex smiles, watching Bozo purring, tail curling around her leg.]

And yeah, they always do handle it well. But that's animals for you. You need to borrow Anya for a few nights?

Fingers crossed that you never do. [ If this is how it feels afterwards, October doesn't wish it on anyone.

She lifts one shoulder in a brief shrug. ] I don't know. All I really know right now is that I want to curl up somewhere warm and not move for as long as humanly possible.

Well if you want, you can come to my room a bit later. Really. Got the animals, got me. I'd say you can take a good nap, but I'm sure you really don't want to sleep.

That's pretty much the last thing I want. [ Laying down and trying to get her stomach to stop freaking out would be good, though. ] How long do you think you'll be here? [ She doesn't want to get to his room first and just sit there in the hallway, not after what's gone down for her in the hallways. ]

Probably an hour. I just want to make a few rounds, see if anyone from home is here.

I should just give you code accesses to my room.

I didn't realize we were at that stage of our relationship. [ It's a joke, indicated by the slight curling of her lips, but she nods. Carefully and not too much for fear of getting sick again, of course. ] I should give you access to mine, too.

Yeah yeah. You're one of my best friends. And as long as you message me before hand, I don't really have anything to hide.

[Messaging before keeps her from walking in on anything if Josias is over.]

Probably a good idea.

[In case something happens. He never knows these days.]

What, you mean I can't randomly show up in the middle of the night? [ Whenever that is up here, anyway. ]

I mean--uh...I guess you could?

You just might see things you um--don't want to see.

[He flushes, because well oops he's really awkward.]

[ She laughs a little, though it doesn't last nearly as long as it might normally due to the pounding of her head. ]

I was kidding, Alex. Barring special circumstances -- [ like being attacked ] -- I don't show up unannounced.

[Alex chuckles, and nods.]

I know. I'm just--you know.

[Awkward.]

Still, though. Really. You're welcome whenever.

Right. [ He doesn't need to expand on that; she knows perfectly well how he can be.

Then she smiles a little, nodding faintly in response. ] I'm glad to hear it. [ Especially since she doesn't know what she'd do if things between her and Alex dissipated at all. ] I have to ask, though: who would you be doing things with?

[Alex bites his lip, and shrugs.]

Um...Josias?

[He doesn't really talk about it. It's not like Josias is exclusive. And Alex is always awkward about it. He likes girls, he likes guys...but it's always been his own business. No one elses.]

[ October tilts her head slightly but the name doesn't really ring any bells. Which is weird; with being trapped on a ship, you'd think she'd be familiar with just about everyone, at least on a name basis. But then, there's no real way to know how many people are here. ]

I don't think I know him. [ She shifts a little, leaning a bit more against the lockers, and switches which hand is holding her towel together. ] I didn't realize you were gay, either. Not that I give a shit; you can fuck whoever you want. [ And she means that; he could be hooking up with three people at the same time and October wouldn't care, so long as he's being safe. ]

Oh. He uh--he helps run the oxygen gardens.

[Alex flushes, coughing.]

I'm--I'm not? I like...girls too.

[He shrugs, looking down at his feet; he isn't good at this sort of thing.]

All that matters is if that person cares about me, or whatever.

Maybe I've seen him around. [ Though when she goes to the gardens - which hasn't been for a while - she generally sticks to one specific area. ]

Oh. [ There's a slight smile on her face at how awkward he is about this, but it's not teasing; it's actually more affectionate than anything. She reaches out, bumping his arm gently with her hand. ] Hey, I think that's a great way to be. Love's love, no matter what. But if he does anything to hurt you, I'll kick his ass. [ It's said in a joking tone, but October's 100% serious. ]

Maybe--it's not..a big deal, I guess.

[Alex snorts.]

Yeah yeah, whatever.

[He smiles, and moves to drop a kiss to her forehead.]

You're the best, you know that?

[ She rolls her eyes, even though she's grinning and definitely leaned into that kiss. ] If you say so.

[ As she settles back against the lockers, realization sort of spreads across her features. ] Does he know we have sleep overs? Because home-wrecker really isn't a good look on me. [ Obviously nothing ever happens between her and Alex, unless you count the fact that October usually sleeps pants-less at the very least, but it could look really bad to someone else. ]

No?

But he's a prostitute.

[Alex shrugs. It's really complicated.]

Trust me, I doubt he'd care.

twenty-sixth jump;

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i don't THINK she knows about josias? correct me if i'm wrong!

I don't think so, no

o7

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