twenty-eighth jump;

[ataraxites]

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: It could just be the standard sensation of air on wet skin, but if you bother to check, you might notice the steam rising from your body, barely there and gone within a minute. By the time you get to the showers, it will be clear that it's not just taking you time to adjust. The room is cold — colder than usual, but no worse than the last jump. While it's nothing dangerous, it's certainly motivation to hurry through the usual routine and get dressed quickly.



It's getting closer.




YOUR EYES ARE OPEN.

KEEP LOOKING.

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

Elizabeth Woodville - OTA

[twicequeen]

The Pods

Suddenly, she can hear herself gasping aloud. She's drowning in cold blue liquid, grasping for life. There is something in her throat and she claws at the object she's choking on, wrenching it from her throat and letting it fall to the ground with a clatter.

Breathing. Her chest heaving, her lungs once more filling with air she stumbles from the pod, stumbling and collapsing to the ground. It's too bright, disorienting. At first she can only open her eyes partly, trying to see her surroundings, take in everything. It takes her another few moments to realize she's naked and there is something on her arm, numbers, which do not come off when she presses her fingers against them. A permanent ink of sorts.

There is an explanation for all of this, she will find out what's going on, she's determined as she gets to her feet, shaking with cold.]

The Lockers

[Elizabeth is more certain once she's dressed, glad to have some clothes on. It's cold, a chill that gets to her bones. She pulls on one of her plain gowns, drawing her hair back.

She takes a moment to glance around at the others around her, no familiar faces. There are still no clear answers, but she won't give into the doubt that gnaws at her as she ties her pendent around her neck, quickly tucking it out of sight.]

Pods

[longestnose]

My lady, you might be needing this.

[Fili is walking by, already dressed. He had wanted to try and find a friend, but instead saw the blond woman naked and shivering. Luckily enough he had an extra towel in his hands, so he held it out to her, keeping his eyes on her face (which is a bit of looking up, but he is well used to it).]

Just try to breathe. The first jump is always the worst.

[twicequeen]

[Elizabeth jumps at a man addressing her, covering herself as best as she can. She's not sure what to make of such a man as she peers at Fili but reaches to take the towel, wrapping it around herself quickly.]

My thanks to you, I seemed to have lost my gown.

[She does as he suggests, taking a deep breath to gather her courage.] Do you know where I am?

[longestnose]

We all lose our clothing when we first arrive--but they will most likely be found in your locker. I can show you the way, at least.

[He gives a slight bow of his head.]

I do, lass. It's the ship Tranquility. And as strange as it sounds, it is traveling the heavens. It is not something that happens in my own world, either, but I assure you it is the truth. I have been here for many months.

[He shows her his own arm, which reveals a tattoo with "13" encoded.]

The tattoo states which month you arrived in.

[twicequeen]

Thank you. I would like to dress as soon as possible.

[It's beyond indecent for anyone to see her in such a state of undress but Elizabeth knows she's in no position to refuse aid. She's not sure what a locker is but she steps forward to follow him.]

Traveling the heavens? How is such a thing possible? [She looks at the number on his arm, remembering her own and it's difficult to resist the urge to try to scratch it off.] And is there no way to remove such a mark?

[longestnose]

We all usually do.

[He shakes his head.]

I am the wrong person to explain either--but as far as we can tell, no, there is no way to remove such things.

[He gestures for her to follow, moving towards the showers. His steps might be quite short, given his size, but he walks with confidence.]

My name is Fili. I am King Under the Mountain, but that matters little, here. But regardless, I am happy to be at your service.

[It feels good to say that again; to feel like himself a bit, once more.]

[twicequeen]

King Under the Mountain? I have not heard of your country but I am grateful for your service nonetheless, and I know my King and people would be as well.

[Elizabeth seems to trust him a little more then as she follows him, it seems she's not the only royal to be brought here.]

Is your Mountain far from England?

[Because it never occurs to her that he could be from an entirely other world.]

[longestnose]

Your King?

[He tilts his head, curious enough about what she is saying.]

Ah--it isn't in England, lass. You will find here, some people are not exactly from the same world as you might be--though I hear about England quite often. I am in Middle Earth--part of Aule. The Mountain is also known as Erebor, but I do not doubt that you know nothing of it.

[twicequeen]

You know England? [Elizabeth pauses, clutching her towel a little tighter to herself.] Then there are others from my country here?

[She looks thoughtful before shaking her head.] I have not heard of such a kingdom before. This is such a foreign place, only made even more so if there are those from other worlds.

[longestnose]

I know of England--though I have never been there.

And yes, it is my understanding that there are.

[He shrugs, giving a slight nod of his head as they continue towards the showers.]

Hopefully you will find your feet fast enough; most do--there will be those here who will be more than willing to help you, lass.

pods

[inafadingcrown]

[Galadriel has long since learned to stow a simple little robe by her pod, both for modesty's sake and for warmth, which makes her a little more inclined to linger in this room, looking around.

It's become habit, almost, to check for the new arrivals in each jump. She's neglected it a bit since Morgoth's arrival, too eager to get in and out of the common space as soon as possible. But every now and again, someone draws her attention and she just doesn't have it in her to ignore a person in need of help.

Which is why she approaches Elizabeth, wordlessly but with a sympathetic smile, and hands her a towel.]

[twicequeen]

[Elizabeth is still unsteady and uncertain, trying to find her way in this bright place. But when a woman with a kind smile approaches her, she manages a smile in return, reaching out to take the towel. It's still cold for her but it's at least more modest.]

I am forever grateful to you, madam. I am not sure how I arrived in this place, in such a manner.

[inafadingcrown]

Think nothing of it; we were all in your place once. [And it's overwhelming for everyone. Even Galadriel had lost her composure, somewhat. It's the nature of the beast.]

[twicequeen]

You have been here some time?

[Such a thing seems incredible, she doesn't want to think what would happen to her country in her absence, or to her children.] There is no way to leave, there must be.

[inafadingcrown]

Over half a year now, I think. [Something which she's decidedly displeased about, to say the least.] If there is a way, I have not yet found it.

[twicequeen]

I will pray that there is then. [Because Elizabeth doesn't want to think about being absent for such a long time.

As her eyes adjust to the bright light, she's able to notice more about the kind woman though at first she thinks it must be the light deceiving her eyes.]

Where might you be from? If I am able to return to England, I can arrange for you to be taken to your home.

[inafadingcrown]

If only it were so simple. [A rueful little smile.] I fear my Lórien and your England are likely separated by more than leagues.

[twicequeen]

More than just leagues? Is Lórien in another place? [The idea of someone being from such a different world is strange, but then again this is all overwhelming to her at the moment and hasn't really sunk in.]

[inafadingcrown]

Unless I am very much mistaken, it is in another world entirely. I assume that the name 'Arda' means nothing to you?

Lockers

[naytheist]

[A new arrival. That in itself isn't what catches Cesare's interest: he has witnessed plenty of neophytes coughing and spluttering on the tile in his time here. Instead what intrigues him is her attire. She is not quite of his world but she is close enough and he makes his way to her as he tugs at the ties of his doublet - he should probably be reasonably dressed when meeting a woman of his time.]

My lady. [He smirks.] Are you lost?

[twicequeen]

Indeed I am, good sir. [Elizabeth turns to address the man who spoke to her. He's not dressed so strangely as the others around her. Out of habit she smooths down the wrinkles in the fabric of her gown but even plainly dressed there is a regal tilt to her chin.]

You seem at ease in this foreign place.

[naytheist]

[Cesare tilts his head, half shrug, half nod and smiles.]

I have grown accustomed to it, yes. I have been here for some time by now. Might I ask your name, my lady?

[twicequeen]

Queen Elizabeth of England. And you, sir? [she asks, if he is from the same world she had come from, he will no doubt know of her and perhaps could be an ally.]

[naytheist]

[Being from a later time, not yet having spoken Elizabeth of York and having never seen any royals from across the channel, Cesare is going to mistake Elizabeth for her daughter.]

Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander Sextus.

[He smiles and bows.] It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, your majesty.

[twicequeen]

And it is a pleasure to make yours, Cesare Borgia. [There is a different Pope at the moment from her time but news does travel slow times across Europe and the Channel.]

I was not yet aware there was a new Pope in Rome.