TEST DRIVE MEME #4

[sailmods]

1. you will survive being bested

[you wake up.

it doesn't matter where you were before. going to bed? dying? opening the door to face a great evil? same result. you wake up in a soft bed with starched sheets in a cool, darkened room, sunlight peeking out from behind thick curtains. maybe you're alone; maybe you aren't. maybe you immediately notice the folded paper on the bedside table near your head. if you don't, you better fix that real quick: you won't be able to even open the door before you read it.

the note itself is written in a neat hand on white card stock; there is a stylized logo of a ship with the words SERENA ETERNA printed underneath. the note reads as follows:

Dear Passenger(s),

As your cruise director, it is my great honor to welcome you aboard the Serena Eterna, your destination for fun and adventure! We know you could have chosen any cruise line for your vacation, and we're very grateful you chose ours! On behalf of the Captain, I would like to assure each and every passenger that will we do whatever it takes to fulfill all your needs and desires during your journey with us.

At your earliest possible convenience, please attend the mandatory lifeboat drill by the end of the day. I'm sure everyone is very eager to get started on all the fun and sun, but safety always comes first! You can find your life jacket in your cabin's closet; carry it to your assigned muster station on deck one, where I will take you through the drill. If you can't find me in the crowd, just look for the gal with the winning smile!

See You Real Soon!

Sincerely,
Gal Friday

you walk to deck one. you have no other choice: every time you try to step in a direction some unseen being considers "not towards deck one," you find your legs no longer move, staying stock still, frozen. whether compelled quickly by curiosity, or delayed by pure stubbornness, the result is the same, and you are left milling around with other similarly curious or stubborn people.

you see someone in uniform near the front of the crowd. she seems to be a gal, but is missing the winning smile, along with most of her other features. she seems to see you, though, rushing to your side and placing a lei around your neck with great formality. a voice, cheery but artificial, sees to come from nowhere and everywhere.]

Welcome! We're... I'm very glad to have you aboard!

[you touch the lei. rooster feathers, lotus seeds, and a carved circle of something white and hard, linked onto a silk string.

after the drill is completed, you are seemingly free to go. or, well, your legs work, now. and maybe that's as good as it's gonna get.]

2. think about how many times I have fallen

[for the most part, no one has given the elevators much thought. they've all done their job reliably and dutifully this entire time, never so much as being blocked off for maintenance.

until today, when the doors close behind you as you enter, and don't open again.

for the most part, that's all that happens. the doors can't be pried open, or broken with force or magic, and though the glass walls remain stubbornly shatterproof, you can look through them and try to get the attention of anyone outside. (Friday, down in the atrium, sees your desperately pounding fists and gives a wave, but does nothing else.) the elevators don't move... except, when they do. going up two or three stories, and then dropping, sometimes as many as five stories at a time, stopping just as suddenly.]

3. it was the easiest thing to do

["physically assaulting people is an easy way to get attention" was probably a very bad lesson for the neglected locations to have learned, but it they did it anyway.

this time, it's the sushi restaurant on the promenade, Mikabo. it turns out, the conveyor belt can go faster than one would assume. much faster, actually, with the apparently ability to stop on a dime. both of these factors have combined to create what is functionally a pitching machine, but for dragon rolls, wads of wasabi paste, and exceedingly sharp steak knives, all of which are being aimed at anyone foolish enough to walk by the doors of the restaurant without coming in.

its aim, at the very least, doesn't seem to be the best. for now. because it very much seems like it's getting better.]

Comments

[lenivy]

Even hearing her approach and having her announce herself, he still tenses a little bit as she touches him, but then makes an effort to relax. Part of him never wants to be touched again, while another wants about a billion hugs. Right now he probably leans towards the former, at least for people he doesn't know very well.

He feels a little queasy, now she mentions it, but he hasn't eaten in at least a dozen hours, so he doesn't really have anything to throw up.

He shakes his head a little. "I'm okay," he says. He's clearly not, but he's not about to pass out or anything.

[opheliac]

Yeah, uh-huh. And the "City of Progress" is actually makin' progress.

(she knows he wouldn't get that but to her, that just shows how much bullshit he is spitting and she can definitely see by his body language he is way far from okay.)

Just rest here for a bit, alright? Remember to take deep breaths.

[lenivy]

"Well, it's a... relative sort of 'okay', alright?" he argues, but without much power behind it. He doesn't get the reference, but the sarcasm is still obvious.

He does respond well to having someone ground him a bit though, and he takes a few deep breaths in through his nose, which steadies him a little.

After a few moments he turns to face her and gestures at his face and neck with the wet rag. "Did I get most of it?" he asks. He didn't, and there's a bunch stuck in his hair which is harder to get out, and he desperately needs a shower no matter what.

[opheliac]

(if he needs someone to ground him, jinx will definitely be that person. not because of caring for others (sometimes) but mainly because she enjoys bossing people around. when he turns to her, she stands on her toes as she grabs on to his chin; thumb and index. jinx moves his head around slowly to get a closer look while murmuring "Letseee...".)

You missin' some spots. Want me to get it?

[lenivy]

Dylan is mostly okay with being bossed around - as long as he doesn't really disagree with what he's being told to do, of course. Then he'll argue stubbornly - although he might still do as they say (pouting all the way), as long as he doesn't strongly disagree.

"Sure," he answers, handing her the rag. He's a lot more okay with being touched when he can see it coming, it turns out.

[opheliac]

(one whom may know jinx being so "caring" to dylan might find it very strange. her offering to clean him up, let him speak when need to, even wrap his wrist (which she will do so in a moment). but in her mind, it all makes perfect sense to do this. when there is an injured animal in the wild, fragile, weak, and defenseless -- what would another animal or human do? there would be two options. one, put it out of its misery and kill it or two, nurse it to health.

jinx could very easily put dylan "out of his misery" and most likely would if death was permanent(and if she was armed). but she decides to do the latter. why? if she nurses him to health during this very sensitive time, she'll gain his trust. and then with this trust, she can easily manipulate him in the future if necessary -- to call this a "you owe me". now what reason she would need him to be her ally? well, he dealt with this "werewolf" which meant he couldn't be too much of a pushover. and maybe in the future, he can do her dirty work for her wherever need be.)

(perhaps she won't need to do this but perhaps she will. at least by doing this, that option is always there. so on her toes again, jinx wipes off a few more blood from the side of his head -- mostly towards the ears.)

Think we gave that enough air so I'll start wrappin' it up. You still okay with that?

[lenivy]

It doesn't occur to Dylan to find it strange, since he doesn't know her. If is however a very welcome change from... well, the last night especially, but even just the past two months. He hasn't really been in a situation to have this kind of gentle closeness with anyone all summer.

He tilts his head to less her at the bloody spots, standing there patiently, mostly just listening to the music still playing from his phone, letting himself zone out a little bit.

"Oh, yeah. I mean, I dunno of it's necessary, but probably best to be safe, I guess..." he answers. Though at this rate, it'll probably be fully healed pretty soon. As fully healed as it can be.

[opheliac]

Yeah, you're probably right in the end. Buuuut maybe some gross bugs will fly in it or somethin'. I mean I haven't seen any bugs here but this place is kinda whack.

(finishing up, she then tosses the blood stain rag into the sink then no longer on her toes.)

Think you can manage sittin' back down or do you wanna stand? I'm following your lead on that.

[lenivy]

Dylan makes a face at the gross bug possibility. Yeah, he'd rather avoid that.

He shrugs, then goes to sit down. It probably makes it easier for her to wrap it up if he can rest his arm on something and keep it still.

"Thanks for doing this, by the way," he says quietly.

[opheliac]

(she follows him along and takes a seat next to him -- grabbing the bandage. with her slender fingers, she begins to peel a nice lengthy strand before glancing over to him.)

No need to thank me. ('you'll owe me later.') — Couldn't let ya just leave you high and dry. ('yeah i can.')

(so carefully, she begins to wrap along this bummed wrist.)

Soooooo. I think the next thing is to get the blood outta your hair then get you some clean clothes. Probably get you some water along the way. Food, too? Somethin' small.

[lenivy]

Dylan watches idly as she wraps up his arm. It doesn't hurt exactly - certainly not as much as it did earlier tonight, before he was bitten - but it does feel kind of weird.

"Sure, that sounds good, I guess," he answers. Intellectually he knows both food and water is important and helpful. Especially the water. He's lost a lot of blood, so he needs to replenish those fluids, right? He's pretty sure that's a thing.

"Can't you just drink from the sink? Or is it like weird cruise ship water?" He feels like that's a thing but he's not sure.

[opheliac]

Hmmm... — I mean sure if you wanna drink from the sink. Dunno how it tastes like. Can't be any gross than the ocean or pool water, right?

(him drinking from the sink would knock out the rest of the list they need to do to help him get situated and taken care of.)

[lenivy]

He shrugs one-shouldered, not wanting to jostle the arm currently being tended to. Might as well try it. For now he just sits and waits until she's finished up.

The song changes, and unfortunately it's to the song that was playing at the end of their truth or dare session, when they were interrupted, and Dylan frowns, reaching over to turn the music off. That's enough of that.

[opheliac]

(hm, that was an interesting reaction to that song but she doesn't pry. it's better to have him have the floor if he wants to explain himself or not. jinx continues to wrap him up until finally, thinking that's enough. and since there are no scissors around, she simply uses her teeth to tear it -- a rough jerk back of her head to rip apart from its roll.)

Alright, there. That oughta do it!

(she uses a bit of stick tape to fix up the ends.)

[lenivy]

Alright, well, he's pretty sure she could find some scissors if she had a look, but that works as well. He's not fussy.

"Nice," he answers, looking it over. Looks good. And this time it's not soaked in blood, so that's good. (He's trying very hard to stay positive and not think too much about the events of the night.)

Dylan hops to his feet again, and heads over to the sink to try the water. He takes a sip right from the tap, and then pulls back making a disgusted face. "Nope. No thanks. Let's find something," he says, shaking his head a bit and then sticking his tongue out. Whether it's the water itself that's gross, or just his werewolf aversion to clean water, well, who knows.

[opheliac]

Pffffft! — HA HA HA! Alright, alright. We'll find somethin' else. But let's wash your hair before we head out.

(she playfully hops out of her seat and makes her way over to him again; hands intertwine behind her.)

Blood in your hair isn't great soap for your scalp.

[lenivy]

"Ah - nah, let's just wait until I can get into a shower or something. It's all dried now anyway. Don't want to go around dripping sink water," he answers awkwardly. Even just drinking it was sort of... weirdly tingly. "My clothes are already covered, it's not like anyone's gonna worry about my hair."

[opheliac]

Alright, if you're sure! Then I guess we're headin' to the clothing place.

(with a spin, she leads on by heading out the door.)

Juuust to warn you, the clothes there are terrible. So not my style. — Don't really get why everyone else here is so into it.

[lenivy]

"Well, yeah, Tommy Bahama is beach-wear, it's supposed to be terrible," he answers, grabbing the life jacket and the lei. (Does he really need either? Probably not, but he's a mostly responsible boy, he's gonna bring them along.)

"You can find stuff in there that's alright, though," he says. It's kinda hard to tell, given he's covered in blood, but Dylan already has a slightly preppy style, just with more band tees sprinkled in. So as long as he stays away from the flowers and palm trees, it's acceptable.

[opheliac]

I'll believe it when I see it. If you can pick out somethin' that isn't shit, then I'll take back what I said.

(thank goodness for elevators though because from here to that place is a very long way if they wanted to do the stairs route. anyway, she hums quietly as they make their way to the cabin hallway now.)

Oh! For future reference, if ya ever need me — I'm in room one-one-nine. Sometimes I'm there but a lotta times I'm in the theatre.

[lenivy]

"Well, you know, taste is like the butt. Divided," Dylan quips. Which is definitely not the stupidest thing he's ever said, but he does realise it sounds weird. "Sorry, I read that in a book somewhere."

He too is thankful for elevators. Especially after a summer with zero elevators, and then being awake for... way, way too long.

"Oh, right, cool. Sure. I'm in, uh..." he says, then stops, like his mind just bluescreened. He stops and turns around a little, trying to orient himself. "It's on the left side - uh, the, whatsit, the port side of the ship. I'm pretty sure."

[opheliac]

(she glances over her shoulder at his "saying", she assumes? there's a look of how she really didn't get the joke or what he is trying to say. what he said legit made no sense to her.

and the expression she gives him goes even further when it appears he doesn't seem to know what his room number is.)

... You don't know where you're roomed in.

[lenivy]

"Well, I know... vaguely. I dunno, I was a little bit distracted when I got here!" he answers defensively. "I don't think I even have like a keycard or anything though! Can't we just ask in reception?"

For a weird coma dream with mysterious cruise ships and faceless ladies, this is turning a lot more annoyingly mundane the longer he stays here.

[opheliac]

(a quirk of an eyebrow of him getting frustrated but maybe this means he is slowly snapping out of it. she rolls her eyes as she pulls out her smartphone.)

These things are the key. You hold it up to the door and boom. Door open, room access.

(jinx would tease the fact that it was definitely told to him because she was lurking from above during the whole no face's demonstration. but she refrains for now.)

[lenivy]

Bold of her to assume he absorbed any of that.

"...Oh," he answers. He did find one of those, yeah. He goes to reach for it in his back pocket, but, well, he's holding shit in the only hand he has available. (God, this is annoying to deal with.) He holds out the life jacket and the lei to her, so he can pull out the phone to look at it.