EVENT: ARIMA ▒ APRIL 22-23

[ataraxites]

CHARACTERS: Ensemble production!
LOCATION: Arima Mining Colony
WARNINGS: Potential for gambling, drugs, violence, sex work.
SUMMARY: Passengers departing for and arriving by shuttle at the Arima Mining Colony.
NOTES: Covers April 22-23. IC event start commences post-Gunnery announcement. Divided by locations; players are free to indicate which day, and to begin new subthreads wherever they'd like! April 24-26 log here.

You step off of the shuttles into one of the bustling, heavily-guarded docks buried deep within the rock of an asteroid. Everyone seems too wrapped up in their own business to pay much mind to the group pouring out with you, and the mechanical sounds of takeoff, landing, and regular maintenance fill the air with clinks and whirs. As you begin to explore the colony, you find dingy and worn streets filled with a ruckus that's easy to get lost in: pushy merchants, booming, scratchy voices coming from inebriated patrons, and the scurrying footsteps of opportunistic thieves darting through the crowds. The colony no longer seems to profit off its mines, but this waystation for undesirables does have a taste for myriad forms of entertainment.

Comments

▒ SHUTTLES

[ataraxites]

CORRUPTION PLAYER PLOT | THE SHUTTLE TAKEOFF | APRIL 22

[morgoth]

The shuttle is overcrowded, and more are pouring in-- Melkor looks up from where he had stood at Harry's elbow, mostly obscured by other passengers, lone living eye glittering hard in the severe planes of his pale face. His mind has helped to shield their pilot from the noise and jostling of the hostages; to Harry, it is only the quiet murmur of a polite crowd while he engages the small craft's various flight systems.

Corvo. Break the legs of Legolas, cleanly beneath the knee. Bind and gag him, and the young woman with him; cast them swiftly into the cargo hold.

The thought rings in the subject's mind, harsh as a whiplash; and in time to the names flicker mental images of the individuals he notes.

Bonnie; there is a vampire. Damon Salvatore. He is a danger to us. The mental image of the bloodsucker wavers in her mind's eye; strong-featured, smooth-skinned. Set Erik on him; for Erik is your hound, now, and shall do as you bid without question. Make sure they are both kept in the cargo hold 'til we land; they cannot be allowed to feed.

His lip curled, flashing teeth like a wolf might flash fang; and his gaze lands upon William. Melkor's corruption had awoken easily change of form in that one; the points of dark horns were already cresting from his temples, his skin darkening. Perhaps it might be encouraged, during the flight, to go to scale.

William. Hurl all the others who squirm overmuch into the cargo hold after the others. Edgeworth, first among them.

And to them all, clearing his throat first, having utterly ignored all other attempts at conversation, demands for answers-- knowing his selected soldiers would stop any blow before it landed.

"Initiate the countdown, Harry. Freedom awaits us, beyond the black."

He makes a motion with his hand, casting out with his mind one last time back into the belly of the ship-- clinging one last time to Mairon's mind, squeezing tight--

but also seeking out the ace he'd kept tucked outside of the shuttle near its bulkhead. A waste, to leave such a worthy servant behind... but his mind curls into that of Shep; and with a thought that rings like the voice of a hivemind, leaves his last instruction.

Secure our exit. All that lives is your food; devour what you will.

And with that, the hatch is closed, and they are rushing forward.

(( ooc note: This log is for captives and corrupted who want to play out the jarring realization of their captivity, for unruly captives to be dealt with by their captors, and for unwitting participants to realize what they've just signed up to! ))

[mindtricks]

( she'd struggled but been overwhelmed — now she is still. there is no point in offering resistance in the face of overwhelming odds, much better to preserve her strength, gather what information she can, and then find a way to free herself.

she's been captured before. memories of peach tress are at the forefront of her mind. she'd managed to stay calm then and she will manage to be calm now despite the panic that is bubbling up inside of her, despite the fear and panic and anger of those around her, emotions that feel like they are closing in on her.

anderson tries to touch the minds of their captors, but there is a barrier there she can't reach behind — it makes bile rise in her throat, makes her head ache to even try. someone stronger than her is behind this — it feels almost familiar and she thinks she knows, but there are more pressing things right now.

determinations of guilt will have to wait.

the shuttle moves below them and anderson's stomach clenches. she made the announcement, together with chris. maybe if she hadn't — but she forces that thought down as well.

she's not actively struggling until someone comes close to her, then she presses herself back against the shuttle, leg kicking out. ) Stop. ( she puts as much authority as she can behind it.

of course, in the end it is to no avail and anderson ends up in the cargo hold. there are others — and she sets her jaw, swallows around the edge of panic that burns in her throat now and forces her voice to remain even, low. ) Can anyone get free?

odessa

[de_void]

[it doesn't take long after bonnie lures stiles onto the shuttle and the doors close before he starts to get a little anxious about the whole proceedings. something doesn't sit right in his stomach about this trip, and his nerves have always been a reliable narrative in the past.

for one there are way too many people stuffed into this place. stiles hasn't had a chance to really explore the shuttlebay too much but he's reasonably sure there are about a dozen shuttles available to them so why are they call getting crammed into this one like sardines?

it's not the tight fit that's unsettling some of the passengers though, stiles can tell that well enough even with the majority of them being complete strangers to him. he's just beginning to entertain the idea of getting up and getting off the ship and just apologizing to bonnie later for being a buzzkill when a sudden jolt informs him that is no longer an option.

his hand tightens into a fist by his side and he regrets not bringing his meds with him, breath already running a bit tight.]

Shuttlebay cont.

[warandapiece]

[ He'd still clung to some semblance of himself throughout all of this, to his sense of humanity, his ability to make decisions remained, even if instinct had trumped it now and again. He'd played his part, fought and obeyed and delivered, and now he was the sacrifice, and the key.

The ace and the joker.

With a single instruction, instinct took control. Yellow eyes flashed open, and Sheppard sprang away from the bulkhead, plunging toward those who would try to stop Melkor from escaping. The people around him no longer exist, no longer are people; they're cattle, food, warm bodies full of life spirit. Slashing blue-scaled, clawed hands outward, he plunged toward the nearest of them, unruffled even by the roar of the shuttle's engines as it took off but a few feet behind him. ]


[ OOC: Timey wimey shenanigans applies, so anyone is welcome to fight with Shep like he leapt at them personally. Takedown rights go to Charles and Severus, in which Shep will reveal the details of M's dastardly plan. ]

ota + closed to legolas.

[vindictam]

→legolas;

[ He barely cared to the orders themselves. To hurt, to maim, those things came easily now. His cold and empty mask was impassive as he approached in measured even steps. Orders were orders in the end. He would not risk the silence. Corvo's mind was set to that end, and the mark on his hand burned bright as he moved closer, a few steps away where he landed with a curl of smoke.

Empty, perhaps, but not cruel beyond necessity. Dragging this out was not efficient. He simply stopped before the unconscious man -- though not quite a man . There was no reference there for what he was, so he did not linger on it. Whatever he was, he would not wake him for this. ] Try not to scream.

[ A pointless mutter, knowing he would. Waking him up would pointless, for something so harsh and cold. He grabbed the man's legs, yanking them one after the other, feeling the lightness of his bone. Lean, more like the nobles he'd killed than the city guards men. Not hard to snap then. Precise, he'd been asked. A man cursed as he was, blessed as he was, precise was not difficult. He set Legolas against the cold floor, then rose up. Made sure he was set straight, and brought his foot down with a savage snap. The wet sound of muscles ground against bones, ripping and pulling in ways they were not intended. A clean break, it would heal neatly, given the correct treatment in time. The heart beat against his chest once more, and his foot rose again. Another wet snap echoing out as boot broke bone and skin.

He stepped back then, expecting a response from all that. Eyes watching every little twitch behind his mask, any sign there might be a further complication. His face back down to the twisted legs. ]

→ota;

[ He settled to one corner of the ship, wiping the blood off his hands onto his jacket, his head down. Short practiced movements even if the stains just wouldn't quite come clean. But calm, in his element. This he knew, could weave through and about. There was nothing mimed. As empty as his mask, but the whisper in his mind and the strong beat of a heart against his chest, made him smile and his shoulders settle.

Others may protest, but this was what he was trained for, gifted for. ]

CORRUPTION PLAYER PLOT | THE FLIGHT TO THE COLONY | APRIL 22

[morgoth]

As the shuttle departs, Melkor ignores the cries, the violence, the ripples in the minds of those seated under his command; as implacable as stone, he makes himself a barrier between the pilot and the rest. As soon as those requiring it have been subdued and tossed into the hold, he speaks again; and this time, the power in his voice is heavy.

"Dream," He purrs; and his voice need be no louder than a whisper.

(( ooc note: This is for corrupted character and captive players who either 1) want to experience Morgoth's mental horrors over the duration of the flight, or 2) want their character to be able to shrug off the effects of this, and interact with others. If 1), title your post DREAM; if 2, title your post WAKE! ))

DREAMSCAPE

[mindtricks]

( the command comes, powerful and all-encompassing, and anderson obeys despite herself, no choice about it — but perhaps it is her mutation or her familiarity, however vague, with melkor's power, maybe it's because she's been in his head before and he in hers — she falls into the dreamscape, but she is aware.

aware of how she got there, aware of his presence aboard the shuttle, aware of his hold on her. she can't break it, he's too strong for that, but she is not a passive victim. anderson will never be passive; she struggles now in ways that are not physical, testing the strength of his hold, trying to find a weakness, trying to shatter it, just trying.

she has to do something.

being in his head had been overwhelming, an endless ocean threatening to swallow her whole. the dream landscape he has thrown her in is just as overwhelming. more so, because he had been holding back before. )

DREAM, or getting towards dreaming

[jurisimpudent]

[There's fear in him. Edgeworth fears being trapped, fears being imprisoned. He fears a loss of freedom; it's too much like being in a jail cell, too much like being trapped in an elevator. It's too much like being helpless, and he has long fought to keep from being helpless.

So there's fear, yes, but with that fear is an impossible stubborn ferocity. Adrenaline fuels it, and anger. He can feel the weight of sleep upon his mind, and the encroaching coldness of the dream, but he fights against it with all he has. He forces himself to twist against the bonds keeping him immobile. He tries to use the pain of it to keep himself awake.

If he falls asleep, he cannot fight. So now, he tries hard to keep himself awake - keep himself fighting.]

WAKE

[coffeeking]

Ianto has never been so thankful for the psychic training they'd drilled into him at Torchwood One. It's such a small level of skill, not remotely enough to fend off a direct attack by Melkor, but just enough to shore him up against the onslaught that takes place around him. He remains awake because Melkor wishes him to; it's his own minor ability that keeps him from mentally shuddering at the sensation of the power that brushes by him.

He thumbs the ring on his finger in a seemingly absent manner, as if lost in thought. "Creu Gwir fel Gwydr o Ffwrnais Awen," he mutters in Welsh, perfectly audible despite the low tone. The ship translates it immediately as creating truth like glass from inspiration's furnace, a poetic phrase.

Dreamscape /sob

[fertilefeet]

[It hard, impossible in fact, to resist the command to dream when she'd been knocked unconscious. For whatever power she holds, whatever would give her the power to triumph over Morgoth in some future she cannot see, this she cannot fight. There's no resistance but there is anger, a desire to fight back if not the ability. She has that at least, it isn't something he can easily smother.

Lúthien tries though, regardless. Tries to resurface from the heavy veil of unconsciousness, of dreams. Failing but an attempt is better than nothing at all.]

dreamscape

[de_void]

[stiles doesn't have the greatest mental defense to begin with, the adhd and the panic and the fear compounding and layering into something dark and angry and frightening. he doesn't trust himself, doesn't trust his own mind.

and the fact that sleep has been a rare commodity for stiles since long before he woke up and found himself on this spaceship doesn't really help.

he falls unconscious with little struggle, and while a corner of his mind might be trying to trace his steps and figure out where he came from, the rest of him is so used to thinking every waking moment is a dream at this point that it's nothing really but more of the same.

stiles sinks into darkness...]

DREAMSCAPE

[little_bullet]

[At first it was easy enough to convince Nina medical support would be need to be accessible on Arima, first aid at the very least. Even by someone she'd never spoken to before. She was willing until she had too many questions and no opportunity to tell anyone where she was going, with who or why.

To drift into the blackness of unconsciousness will make the journey easier she finds herself thinking as gradually she's lulled by a whisper, unsure if that's entirely her own notion. Even so, Nina fights it with nothing more than pure will, the weight of sleep heavier than she's ever felt before, and thus she drifts to sleep.

Nina might be strong, defiant and stubborn, but she's never fended off something like this before. Beneath her tough exterior, she has plenty of insecurity, fear, a past.]

dreamscape

[vindictam]

[ He did not sleep, not truly, not anymore. Death and misery had seen to that, since the day he had become interesting, he'd stop welcoming what happened behind his eyes and in the depths of his mind. Such places were not his own anymore, pried apart by cold fingers and sewn back together with silk thread stitches.

But he had hardly felt the needle.

The word is a whisper, and he could not refuse it anything, not anymore. Sitting with his back to a wall, his mind falling to the command, he slipped into unconsciousness. Not as some trickle of water, but all at once like falling into a great dark place. Whatever came, he would expect perhaps, the emptiness that always followed, even here, even so cut off. Never free of it, he knew that now, never free of the gnawing inside his gut that was going to devour him (and all the lights in the sky.

But many did not seem to understand that doom yet. ) ]

dream

[redheaded_rock]

[She falls asleep.

For Alexis, there's not such thing as mental defense; it's not needed back home. His power is impossible to resist and, for one brief moment, she thinks maybe it's not so bad to fall into sleep and leave all the fear behind.

It's a naive thought and she knows that.]

DREAM

[doesntdohumble]

If this were a regular shuttle trip there would be no way in hell that Eric would be falling asleep in any way, shape, or form. Sleeping, dreaming, it leaves him vulnerable in such a way that really isn't comfortable for a vampire. But there are outside forces acting on him right now. And so when Morgoth's voice whispers across his mind, heavy with power, his influence steely and tight on his thoughts, it does not take that much time before his eyes are drooping and his body is following the suggestion that his mind is feeding him.

Sleep. 'Dream' And so Eric does...

Shuttle #1

[cargojet]

[ OOC: This shuttle departs some time before the stolen shuttle, therefore if your character wants to avoid the Corruption plot and still go to Arima, this is a good one to leave with. Feel free to sign up ICly HERE. ]

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen; my name is Nathan Petrelli and I will be your pilot for this flight. Please keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times, keep animals leashed or in their crates and strap any luggage safely in the hold. If one of you starts smoking weed or throws a party back there I reserve the right to deliberately fly at an asteroid to make the lot of you behave yourselves. The exit is behind you, but since you'd die a grizzly death from decompression I suggest you all just sit tight and try not to panic instead.

Oh, and one more thing: I know four hours is a long time to be trapped in close proximity to other people, so if you absolutely must kill one another stick to fisticuffs and bladed weapons.

Pre-flight checks have been completed; now just hold on to something until the artificial gravity kicks in.

[ Four hours is a long time. Feel free to start mingle threads in the shuttle below! ]

Nathan Petrelli OTA

[cargojet]

[ Asteroids and landing is the difficult part of this trip, and the asteroid belt is still quite a journey away from the Tranquility. The trip around the moon/planetoid is long enough, and then there's a vast chasm of space to cross before they get near the mining colony. Nathan only wishes there was a better view out behind them; he almost wants to see the Tranquility getting smaller in the rear-view mirror, rather than just feeling the distance like a looming threat.

They're really flying away from it. It feels almost surreal.

Talking with him at any time between departure and arrival at the edge of the asteroid field is fine. After that at your own risk of his biting your head off. Also he meant that one line about flying deliberately at celestial objects if shit kicks off. ]

open!

[askedtobe]

[ When Peter's not in the front with Nathan helping him fly the darn shuttle, Peter's in the back, seated nearby his dog and generally trying to keep an eye on things. The propensity for a fight to start is high - as Nathan already stated - and he's more than willing to put himself in the middle of a skirmish if it arrises. Which he hopes it doesn't but.. what can you do.

People have a habit of getting testy around here.

Mostly, he's refusing to shut himself in a corner and close his eyes until they get there, wanting to be involved in the crew and the passengers, even if he's doing so quietly. Sword slung over his back, he's offering up more pats to Izzie as she finally settles down, his attention still out on the rest of the shuttle. ]

Shuttle [Piloted by Wash]

[dino_zarf]

[Wash can't help being a bit excited to get to actually fly again. Sure, the place they were heading to might be risky. Risky was kinda his life.

He's a right friendly pilot, too.]

This is your pilot speaking. We'll be running through an asteroid field so I really recommend strapping in now. You're responsible for cleaning up the results of any avoidable injuries.

[likescats]

[Yay, friendly pilot. Meet friendly Death. Who is still fascinated by the things humans do. Sitting politely inside and watching everything.

Sorry he has a question.]

WERE YOU A 'PILOT' BEFORE YOU ARRIVED ON THE SPACESHIP?

Peter (and Daphne too if she likes, idk)

[de_void]

[stiles didn't have too many people on this ship that he got on with well. that wasn't to say that there were very many people that he got on poorly with, he simply hadn't cultivated too many relationships as of yet.

he could hardly be blamed for that, with the trouble sleeping and the panic attacks and the avoiding the people from his home town at all costs. it was a lot on his plate and it had kept him far too busy to go out and make friends.

that being said, despite their rather rocky start, bonnie was someone stiles might actually think to call a friend, and the opportunity to get off the ship wasn't one he was entirely willing to let pass him by, so an hour after his conversation with her he was making his way into the shuttlebay to meet up with her again.]

[extrabraincells]

[ Peter was more or less in the same boat. With the rare exception of having next to no one from his own home to avoid. It was more like a universal sort of avoidance. He was use to moving from town to town. Staying in on spot, even on the ship. Was a totally new thing. Still even chance seemed to want him to make some sort of connection with the people on board. Derek was one of the few people he thought he could rely on. And Stiles? Well...

He was getting there.

Peter was just sitting on one of the crates as he watched the shuttles start to take off. His leg swinging as he glanced over at the crowd of people. Everyone was eager, some less then others. Peter himself just wanted to find something new. Maybe he could live on the colony? Provided there was enough people. He might have been able to slip away.

His eyes landed on Stiles with a little smile on his face. His hand raising to give the boy a little wave. Whatever their relationship was. It was something Peter liked despite himself.]

leaving for arima | ota

[suddenlycaptain]

((ooc: This shuttle is also leaving before the player plot gang does their stuff!))

Place your belongings in the designated areas. Once you're seated, strap yourselves in; I can and will assist if necessary. If you have any live animals with you [ please god, she wishes you wouldn't, ] they need to either be held or kept motionless.

[ Last thing they need is to hit turbulence and have a direwolf smash into the walls of the cabin. ]

This is not going to be a short trip, and we will be going through an asteroid field. That means I'll have to be at the controls and moving around them, which can and most likely will add on time before we get to Arima. If you get motion sickness, let me know before we take off, even if you don't think it will be a problem. We're not going to be happy with you if you throw up and we have to avoid it on the floor for the next few hours.

[ Carolyn turns at least from where she's been checking the shuttle systems. She's wearing blue clothing from home and a necklace made of teeth, with a bone knife and a handgun in her belt. Only the necklace is an addition; Connor had made it for her, and it seems like a good time to wear it. She has more belongings with her, strapped into the co-pilot's seat; after all, she doesn't have a co-pilot. ]

Any questions?

CORRUPTION PLAYER PLOT | RESCUE SHUTTLE | APRIL 22

[busdriver]

(ooc: open to anyone signed up as a rescuer.)



Up in five, lock it or lose it.

[She doesn't completely skip her take-off speech, but she trims it down as much as possible. Given what they're setting out to do—given that this is a rescue mission—she won't condescend to anyone aboard. The shuttle will be navigating a significant distance through an asteroid field, and while that would typically deserve a mention, she decides it's the least of these passengers' concerns. She'll tell them when to belt up. For everyone's sake, as well as her own, she projects ease and familiarity as she runs through the pre-flight checks. She's clinically aware of what every lost second might mean for the people being held prisoner, but she can't and won't rush.]

My name is Melinda May. I've worked hostage extraction before. If you have intel on the enemy, I want to hear it. If we're coordinating rescue efforts, I can help. If I tell you to sit down and strap in, do that. Otherwise, use this time. It's gonna be a long trip. I need to stay on the controls.

[As much as she'd appreciate the additional information, Sheppard gave them enough to go on. She's walked into similar situations knowing a lot less.

During the flight, there's purpose and calm concentration in her body language. It's not worth a tragedy to make her comfortable, but she's more in her element now than in her entire time on the Tranquility. It hasn't got much to do with piloting. She has a mission, a list of names, specific objectives. That's how she's accustomed to living. There's no edgy fear rolling in her stomach, no significant anxiety. She's been trained to keep emotional considerations out of her field work, and at the end of the day, that's exactly what this is. Her participation isn't down to any emotional investment. She won't let things get personal.

Unless she has a visitor, the co-pilot seat is empty next to her.]