03 ▒ EVENT: STRELA OUTPOST ▒ ASSIMILATION

[ataraxites]

CHARACTERS: Ensemble production!
LOCATION: Strela Outpost.
WARNINGS: Mind horror, hivemindery, etc.
SUMMARY: Communal brainwashing.
NOTES: Divided by locations; players are free to indicate which day/stage, and to begin new subthreads wherever they'd like!

Looks like the authorities have apprehended you and have brought you in for processing. After being forced to wait in the waiting room, you're brought to the assimilation room - a terrible white cell, where you're trapped for hours, sentenced to be slowly stripped of your individuality.

Comments

[jurisimpudent]

[He stops pacing to scowl at the boy.]

Is this funny to you?

[theredchampion]

[ He jerks an eyebrow at that, begins to slowly push himself to his feet and brush himself down. ]

Did it seem funny? I was merely countering your claim. Is that not how these things work? Is anything I said incorrect? Please do feel free to bring it up. I had thought we were trying to pin down what exactly is going on here, but if you do not wish to partake or have already concluded of your own accord do go back to pacing.

[jurisimpudent]

I merely found your foolish parody of courtroom procedure facile and idiotic.

[He frowns.]

You seem amply amused by it, however.

[theredchampion]

You seem amply irritated by it.

[ He runs a hand through his hair, gives a slight shrug and turns his palms upwards. ]

I merely moved to make my interjection in a way you would understand. Would you prefer to argue about the accuracy of my legal language with regard to your own customs, or to attempt to focus on the problem at hand?

[jurisimpudent]

We're not arguing about your accuracy. We're arguing about your levity.

[He starts pacing again.]

[theredchampion]

So I was quite accurate that?

[ He flicks another humourless smile, lets his hands drop to his side and frowns slightly. ]

Tell me, are you deliberately redirecting to avoid my statement or does the tone of it legitimately bother you so greatly you find it impossible to address?

[jurisimpudent]

What do you wish me to say regarding the statement?

[He scowls over at him.]

Shall I counter your speculation with my own, perhaps? If I could get out of here, I could speak in a more substantive fashion. I could perhaps interview the two of them again or search for some evidence you missed. But as it stands there's nothing we can do but sit here and disagree with no way to resolve the disagreement.

[theredchampion]

So you agree there is no evidence to support it, then?

[ Niall lofts an eyebrow, shrugs slightly and turns to run fingers over the waiting room wall. ]

I merely wished to establish the facts, the things we know to be true rather than mixing that which we have been told.

[jurisimpudent]

...Very well. So tell me: what did you witness in this place?

[theredchampion]

A lack of Alliance logos, as I earlier stated. A lack of communication, too, among what you might term 'the locals'. An incredibly large docking bay that was incredibly quiet for an outpost that you'd think might be more busy, although I'll not enter into speculation about why. A lack of willingness to respond at all to us outsiders, despite our attempts to trade with them.

Things are certainly not as anticipated, for myself at least.

[jurisimpudent]

Did you attempt to communicate with "the locals"?

[His voice sounds less curious and more interrogative.]

[theredchampion]

Aye, I certainly gave it a shot. Was rather hoping one of them might point me in the direction of some-place I could find tobacco or its like. While they most certainly appeared to hear me they rather lacked in answers, gave me something of a strange look and carried on.

[jurisimpudent]

What were you doing at the time of your apprehension?

[theredchampion]

Specifically at that time? Why, I think I was studying some of the other ships out in the dock. Been there a while if the weather-wear is anything to go by.

[jurisimpudent]

Had you done anything untoward up to that point?

[theredchampion]

Untoward?

[ NIall gives a short laugh, amused by the wording of the question. ]

By association, I suppose so yes. I found a young man rifling through some things in a storage lock up, and I cannot say I turned him in.

[jurisimpudent]

[Miles immediately frowns.]

Who?

[theredchampion]

Who, you ask? Who but not what, or why, or when? I suppose they were to come. Interrogative, are you not?

[jurisimpudent]

Just answer the question.