ataraxionlogs | thirty-ninth jump;

Entry tags:

thirty-ninth 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: A feeling of deep dread greets you as you stumble out of the gravcouch, strong enough to hold you still for a long moment, searching your surroundings for the source of your wariness. Nothing becomes apparent, only your fellow passengers waking up. Eventually you gather the resolve to pick yourself up and start moving, the feeling fading slowly as you progress through routine.

New arrivals will find messages spraypainted across their lockers telling them not to follow their tattoo numbers, and instead to find a room on Floors 001-010.

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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.

ＹＯ́Ｕ̴ ̧Ａ̨ＲＥＮＯＴ҉ ̷ＡＬＯ̨ＮＥ҉

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.

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Whoa — !!

[EXCUSE ME MOM AND DAD, THERE ARE CHICKENS TO BE WITNESSED.]

Whoa, Mr. Ned, where'd all these come from?!

[Just gently (and reluctantly) lowering the kiddo to the floor, so he can greet the chickens if he wants. The motion comes with a shrug towards Netherlands over the pipsqueak's head - maybe they put chickens away together, since Takeshi seems so interested, and then hit somebody's room?]

It's - [what is it? For now it's a mystery, because Takeshi cuts him off and then everything is chickens. Ned's watching all the excitement with an unmistakably proud look on his face - blinks over at Heather's shrug. What does that shrug mean.]

Uh. [Whatever, chickens.] Eggs.

[He's not even trying to be funny. That's where they came from :|]

[Takeshi looks up to Netherlands, beaming proudly at his spacedad's work.]

Do they peck people?!

[... Well, what. He hasn't actually felt like he's left, so the moment is totally ruined (or maybe saved?) by his eagerness to help with something like chicken-herding. Besides, other than Hoi Hoi over there (chewing on his paw), he isn't used to a lot of other animals being around.]

[That's a very sensible question, considering that if Heather knows the kid at all his next move is going to be to try to pet one or all of them, but that doesn't stop her from giggling quietly to herself at the enthusiastic tone of the question. Like he's hoping they're attack chickens, or something.]

Maybe we can help get them home, and you can get to know 'em better that way.

[Do they - uh. He rubs at his cheek with his fingertips while flicking his eyes over to Heather's giggles and back.]

Their, uh. Their feet are dangerous. [This feels. Really surreal. Takeshi asking questions upon questions like nothing's happened and meanwhile he feels - almost out of body, or whatever people call it.] Be faster if I put them up, today.

[Said with a significant look over to Heather. The idea sounds goddamned adorable, and good, but he needs to smoke about three cigarettes and get the freakout that's looming on the horizon out of the way, somewhere where he won't be upsetting Takeshi again. He's hoping she gets it, will be able to navigate Takeshi's questions about why not today.]

[He huffs, looking a bit disappointed.]

You know I'm strong! M'not scared of their feet...

[Parents, man. Always too worried. Still, the blanketed 'no' Netherlands gives seems to be caught pretty (surprisingly) easily by the boy, and he stretches, trying to get the kinks out from where he'd been floating in goop for however long.]

I wanna draw chickens, then! We can draw them, right??

[She doesn't get the finer nuances of Ned's look but she does get that he wouldn't walk away from them now without damn good reason, so she watches him a beat before agreeing.]

Hell yeah we can draw chickens. We'll go to your room, get all set up, and Netherlands can come over when he's ready.

I know.

[Quiet agreement - he's still gonna worry about it, though. The kid's tiny, what if a chicken got pissed and took his eye out. Or something. /fret

Drawing chickens is a much better idea. Hell yeah they can draw chickens. The corner of his mouth quirks up for a moment and he sighs in relief, runs a hand through his hair before letting it fall with a nod - part determination and part silent thanks to Heather.]

Won't take long.

[Muttered as he leans in and brushes his lips on Heather's cheek, follows it up by crouching down and reaching out for Takeshi.]

[Takeshi jumps forward and gives Netherlands a smooch on the cheek, and then beams contentedly at himself. His family's so cool; it's the best family you could ever, ever have in space. With that thought in mind, he looks one last time toward the chickens and then toward Heather, eager to start drawing up some full-hearted attempts at chickens.]

Can you draw chickens good?

[It's the best fucking family. She returns Ned's cheek-kiss, watches as Takeshi throws himself forward for smoochin' and balls her hand into a fist - she's not going to start crying again, nuh-uh, nope. It takes her a moment and a deep breath with one hand on Netherlands' arm and one on Takeshi's hair before she believes that herself, but when it all evens out she beams at the kid.]

Nope. I don't think I ever drew a chicken before. I'm probably gonna need a lot of help.

[Smooches!! Luckily Takeshi moves onto chickens before he can go as wobbly as Heather does - can feel her hand tighten on his arm and knows what that means - instead of addressing any of it, he snorts and jerks a thumb up while he gives his head a little shake as she answers.

No. Heather's shit at drawing.]

Help when I get back.

[LATER GUYS if he doesn't leave now he's not going to. It's a little rushed, him taking off and shucking on the jumpsuit and going, but whatever. Have fun without him for a few.]

[Takeshi watches Netherlands retreat to return the chickens, and whatever concerns he has for his space!dad's reaction is quickly distracted by Heather's words. He looks ot her, cocking his head to the side and smiling.]

I can help, but I bet you're gonna be really good at chickens!

We just gotta practice, practice, practice!

Makes perfect, right?

[She should be so lucky. She probably hasn't drawn anything since she was about 12. Still, she doesn't have the heart not to try, so she watches Netherlands and his poultry caravan rocket off and moves to her locker to collect her weapons - knife, shotgun and phaser all stashed there in deference to Erik's warnings - and then ruffles Takeshi's hair.]

You got all your stuff? Ready to go? I wanna get a head start.

[He nods, smile completely care-free. There's no real signs that he even remotely understands he'd been gone, that they'd been suffering so much at his loss; it's hard to compute, when you're young and you've felt as though you've never left. He knows they're sad, but he just can't figure out how it happened. It must've been sad that he was gone. But he's here! It's okay!

He tugs at her hand.]

I'm ready! My tummy feels better, too. I made new friends today!

[Well, who can say no to that? Weapons strapped on, she takes his hand. Laces her fingers through his, needing as much surface area contact for this reunion as possible, and beams at him.]

You meet anyone interesting? Anyone you wanna tell me about?

[She's already plotting as they start to walk. Set the kid up with drawing stuff, rearrange the furniture. Mattresses on the floor, bedding strategically laid to cover all three of them - because hell if the kid's gonna sleep alone his first night back. ~~Or possibly ever.]~~

[OOOOOH MAN INTERESTING!!]

I met someone from Japan who knows about me fighting aliens! And I met someone who can fly, and someone who took me to get food 'cus my stomach hurt, and, and — and a tanuki!! It talked!!

Holy shit.

[It's mild, but SHE'S IMPRESSED. That is an awful lot of interesting for a little dude who just got back, okay? Interesting enough that she damn near forgets to punch the button for the lift, because -]

What's a tanuki?

[Holy shit indeed, I'm awesome.

He seems to have a hard time coming up with a decent reply to that, though, biting his lip and shifting his feet. What's a... Well, they're...] They, um, they got big fluffy tails and sharp teeth! And they got different lots and lots of fur...!

[The most perplexed face and she chivvies him into the lift. Fluffy is good, sharp teeth are... less good. But he's fine, so it's probably not a big deal, right?

She still has no fucking idea what he's talking about, though.]

Hey, as long as it's using those sharp teeth for chatting and not biting, it's alright by me.

[The doors close and she stands close again, the strength of her affection welling up hot in her chest again now that they're still rather than moving, puts a hand on his head and ruffles gentle fingers through his hair.]

I'm so glad you're back, buddy.

[MEANWHILE.]

[Dad seriously

But regardless, Takeshi — for all his troubles and misery in another life — can't help but reach out for any sort of physical comfort or love. He's practically glowing in contentment when she cards a hand through his hair. Having a family is so nice. His Dad at home, he was family, too. And he was always ruffling his hair and being kind. But... he needed more of that. Lots more. He hoped Dad would understand. He always tries to make him happy, after all...!]

M'sorry, Heder. I never ever woulda' left you! I never woulda'!

It's not your fault. Don't be sorry. Be happy with me instead, okay?

[all of which is delivered with her eyes closed, breathing heavily through her nose. She knows how this can go - Capa, Kitten, Tillman, people who disappear and come back and then disappear again, like it was some kind of blip. She's determined not to let the thought upset her - she'll use it for drive instead, a reason to relish every moment with him.]

C'mere, you little booger.

[At which point she scoops him into her arms again, hoists him onto a hip, and unless he does something to protest she'll stay exactly that way - cradling him close, breathing him in - until the lift stops at their floor.]

[Far be it for Takeshi to push away from physical affection from Heather; he sighs blissfully, surprisingly (what kind of six-year-old sighs in bliss really at all).]

I'll always be happy with you here!

[But — huff! He looks up at her, scrunching his nose.]

Boogers are gross.

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