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TEST DRIVE MEME #5
1. not subtle revealings
[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! 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. a permanent reminder of a temporary feeling
[the reflections are missing. all of them. in mirrors. in television screens. on the backs of spoons. nothing looks back at you.
then, figures do show up. not your own, like you'd expect. thin, wispy apparitions, people with pleading eyes and hands, reaching out to place their palms against the surface, from their own end. faces familiar and not, beckoning, mouthing words you just can't quite make out. help me, it might be. get me out, perhaps. just until you're close enough, until your skin warms the surface of whatever it is you're peering into. and then, those same hands wrap, all too real, burning-cold against your flesh, and pull, trying to drag you through the surface, making up for their lack of strength with desperation. any flesh unlucky enough to enter the reflection comes back bone-white and cold, all sensation dead, though it will fade within a few hours.
in retrospect, it looks a bit more like they were saying something different. something more like, better you than me. or maybe it's not even words at all. they look a bit more like they're laughing.]
3. complex mementos
[but, hey. sometimes changes are good! like, today, in Playback, there's a brand-new game available for all the children to play! it's an old-fashioned sort of claw machine, the type that's so large, a particularly dedicated kindergartner could wriggle their way inside. the prizes vary, and sit loose: bags of candy, stuffed toys, firearms, painfully early-00s electronics, actually that one just looks like a dead iguana, tiny ship-branded knickknacks... like all the other games in the arcade, the game starts up automatically upon being touched; lack of quarters shouldn't keep you from having fun! pro tip: they are loaded, and they will go off if you suck at claw games and let it fall.]
nooo this is such good rambling though...aw tear..... ðŸ˜
But Jade wasn't the only one to become terribly busy in Eldrant's aftermath, no. They all had their respective duties to attend to, long-term problems that will be bound to take a great deal of time. --And Jade certainly wouldn't call Tear's current role as a liaison of Yulia City something amiss, or lesser, than everyone else's tasks. Hers is evidently a much quieter interim in many ways...but it was also perhaps what she needed most; after all, surely, she deserves the lull and time to find a new path more than anyone. The loss of Luke had stricken all of them terribly...but Tear most of all, plain as day, a loss right on the heels of the true death of her brother. ...Yet still, her options in life going forward...are quite open now, with all said and done. She's an excellent soldier, and her skill as a Melodist with the Seventh fonon is by now practically unparalleled. ...She's also a smart girl, with a steady head and even steadier heart. If ever she should set herself on a direction once more, she'd surely find fulfilment in whatever it might be; Jade would vouch for her in just this way, at least, if the matter were ever to actually reach spoken word.
...But that would mean talking about feelings. Confiding in vulnerabilities--very difficult tall order for the both of them, that. Slightly more likely in this strange circumstance they find themselves in now, perhaps...but not happening anytime soon, and definitely not at the moment.
No, for the moment, the topic of their imprisonment aboard an eldritch vessel is now at hand. And Tear's dry joke is earning a slight shift on Jade's part, of his position at the railing; a slight closing of his posture, as his attention briefly drifts back to the sea. Even as his tone remains even enough.]
...Almost a bit karmic, isn't it? --This is well beyond fomicry, though. A replication of personalities and souls...practically unheard of.
[Goodness knows he'd spent over a decade trying. And yes, he most assuredly has some feelings about this--but they're not talking about that right now, either. (Not yet.) For the meantime the dry joke is met with a dryness in turn, and then they're moving on. After all, Tear's also reaching the most salient point about this situation as she continues, and Jade's humorless smile is returning as he hears it. He does have an answer to that particular question--just what the captain actually wants from them, exactly. But the answer's also rather...well...]
You're correct; it's not for a ransom at all. From what information we've gathered, and according to the captain himself...we are in fact here as batteries. Allegedly, the captain draws upon suffering to fuel the mechanics of this ship and this overall space...and plans to eventually find some means of ascending to godhood, in using all this.
[So, you know. Yeah. Needless to say, the dryness in Jade's tone persists in this part...but the words remain completely free of any actual sarcasm. It's about as blunt as he can get, really, while having to use this utterly ridiculous phrasing. Because it is utterly ridiculous, on a fundamental level.....and the captain is also, unfortunately, rather distressingly serious about it.
...As passengers they sure haven't had much to show for spending six Earth-months upon this vessel so far, either. It's certainly not for a lack of trying, on Jade's part and many others. But perhaps that explanation in itself might start giving Tear an inkling on why that is...though her inquiries about the current shape of the passenger manifest are quite valid too.]
No, so far as I am aware--you're the first other person I've met from Auldrant; up to now I've been the only representative, so to speak. Mm, I'd rather hoped that would... [...stay that way. That he'd never see a familiar face, in this place, where even death offers nothing in the way of actual escape. It's not to say that a part of Jade hasn't been sorely missing Auldrant and...the friends there, all the same. That there isn't a part of him even right now, that continues drinking in the sight of Tear standing right there beside him, solid and real and same as she was--a person he trusts implicitly, by now, someone who knows who he is and what home was. But no, the thought of the terrible things she'll likely have to suffer alongside him now...that dismay remains stronger still. If he had the choice, right now, Jade would send her back in a heartbeat. ...But he can't, and there's no use in saying it aloud; in the end, Jade lets that earlier sentence trail off, with a shake of his head.] --No matter. Either way...now it is just us two, from Auldrant. And as to the rest...I'd say there are roughly sixty to seventy other passengers, currently? The number fluctuates frequently--there doesn't seem to be much consistency, as to when newcomers are pulled here. By my current impressions of more established passengers so far, though...the ratio of civilians is rather higher than ideal. Nearly half, perhaps? Capabilities are highly varied, but extent of formal training where combat or emergencies might be concerned tends to be another story...
no subject
it would be beyond awkward for jade to just stand there and bring her to tears over how surprisingly highly he thinks of her.but perhaps one day, she may feel comfortable enough to reminisce more openly about where their lived had lead them, and where she felt she had been. some guidance from jade sounded perfectly sound for some time in the future. ]
That ... That can't be -- it sounds ridiculous.
[ she openly falters when she hears jade's explanation of the captain, her lips parting around words she can't yet form. in a way, this only feels further familiar: hadn't van created replicas to, in the end, become a god-like being? they had only just managed to escape such a scenario, and then here they were again...
karmic, indeed. ]
I can't pretend like I understand what this captain is thinking but training is something that can be done. That's the least of my concerns here... it's not like we don't have experience in that area, at any rate.
[ they'd both been teachers here and there, in a way: both as military standard and with their tenure around luke. this was, in some ways, an area of expertise for her. a niche she would find comfortable. ]
To be honest this is a lot to take in.
[ she was absolutely going to have a headache from all of this, later. ]
If about half of the population here are civilians... Then what about healers? Are there any others?
[ while it may not be openly obvious, there's a light of determination in her eyes: a hope of finding a solution, of protecting the many civilians she now knows are here.
she'd never been so overtly altruistic before, but tear feels that it's her duty -- as a healer, and that there's something of a responsibility left over from luke's wishes for a better world. ]
no subject
Either way, alas, that day isn't today and likely won't be for some time yet...though they'll probably have nothing but time, rather unfortunately, over the course of a now-mutual tenure aboard the Serena Eterna. Jade offers little visible judgment in the face of Tear's faltering, that moment of grappling at phantom words as she tries to absorb the utterly ridiculous news where the captain happens to be concerned; in fact, he's prudent enough to idly and not-at-all intentionally cast a glance back out over the sea, until she's recovered, and brings a response to proper voice. It earns a wry smile when he does refocus upon her, at least; a very grounded reaction in the end, ultimately gravitating to the sensible solutions available in the end--as expected. (Aah, of all the familiar faces Jade wouldn't want to see here...it still must be acknowledged, that Tear is truly one of the most reliable all the same...)]
Oh, no need to pretend, at least--I'm not sure anyone here actually does understand that man's thought process, all things considered. Unfortunately, however, he's apparently also been at this project for quite some time now...
[It had surely been a chilling thing, to discover just who those invisible entities mindlessly cleaning the ship and vending the amenities once were.
But...there is quite the karmic irony here, isn't there? Defeating one man with ambitions of godhood, only to be immediately confronted with another--though Van Grants never did manage to progress quite as far as the captain apparently already has. Still, it really is quite a bit like being tossed from a frying pan into the fire...and, in the end, there's nothing for it but to focus upon the things they can understand. Like training--yes--Tear's not wrong, that skill can at least eventually be conveyed. Despite Luke being an exception in the end, Jade's own aversion to teaching and explaining things in general does still persist in a knee-jerk sort of way...in that sense, it still doesn't come quite as naturally to himself as it does to Tear. But admittedly, now that Tear's here--even the slightest bit of peer pressure in these sorts of ways could change that at least incrementally, perhaps...
As to healers, though, well. Jade shakes his head a bit, slowly. (And, unbidden, comes the highly unpleasant memory of having to tend to someone else's stab wound recently; specifically, having to resort to cauterization, strapped for time and too much loss of blood already at hand for any better supplies or medical professionals to be procured during that occasion--):] Individuals capable of proper healing artes are a very narrow rarity; you are the first to arrive here that I know of, with truly extensive skill on that front. There are a few more existing conventional doctors, at least--one of them, I know, has had previous experience as a field surgeon--but the numbers on that front remain sparse as well. It's been--very unfortunate. Occasions where there's a need for medical assistance are rather far more frequent than anyone would like, in this place...
[Still, the words trail off in the end, his graver tone alongside them. A moment's taken, so to speak, to appreciate the steady determination that is in Tear's eyes over there, subtle as it might be. Indeed, though Tear had always been one to utilize her healing abilities as necessary without hesitation in the past...this is a bit different now, isn't it? Initiative, as opposed to more reactionary habit of the past. Ah, even in these ways, Luke's influence becomes plain.
He really has done so much, for all of them.
Jade straightens, shifting his weight off the deck rail, and turns to face Tear fully with a slight tilt of his head, hands habitually tucking into his coat pockets.]
This is all a lot to take in, isn't it? I was quite disoriented myself, in the first few days. [...A slight but more genuine smile, this time, more understanding than sardonic. Hmm, come to think of it, if she's been here for most of the day already...it's a guess taken, but he's pretty sure--] Tear, have you yet eaten anything since you arrived here?
no subject
as much as he may not like it, she’s stubborn enough to try and nag him with how severe these circumstances may become. although tear wouldn’t be nearly as loud or as passionate as luke or natalia would be when dealing with the colonel. ]
I wish we had some kind of resources about using the seventh fonon here …
if there isn’t any other healer, then I’m concerned about the areas my skills are lacking in. On a ship like this, diseases and illnesses can travel quickly…
[ she tips her head, glancing out at the ocean thoughtfully. unlike natalia who’s motivation for healing was to help her people, to focus on solving their problems like sickness and motivation — tear had only focused on what would be the most useful in battle. as a result, unlike the princess, tear didn’t have too many skills related to curing people or boosting their abilities.
with natalia around, there had also been no need to learn any of it …
but now, she sees how foolish that had been.
when the colonel straightens himself, tear can feel the atmosphere almost change, from dire and somber to something more warm and familiar — more normal.
she had forgotten about needing to eat entirely. ]
N-no… I haven’t. To be honest, food was the last thing on my mind when I woke up here. I wasn’t even sure if anything provided here would be safe.
I’d appreciate it if you could show me where the dining room is — or wherever else we’re expected to get food or supplies from.
i thought i tagged this ages ago oh nooo
Speaking of which, though--]
Ah, indeed, there are unfortunately nonexistent resources where use of the seventh fonon might be concerned. For that matter, you will need to adjust--the concept of fonology in general is in fact not at all a common matter, in this place. In fact, I've not yet found anyone at all here who has the faintest idea what a 'fonon' even is...aside from yourself now, of course.
[And being the consummate fonologist that Jade is, this particular tidbit had been a very odd thing to discover and process--equal parts unsettling and fascinating, as his horizons where the building blocks of the world have been concerned have been forced to expand and accommodate the idea of...other realities, with entirely different natural laws. Of course, Tear isn't any sort of scientist herself, so...well, hopefully, breaking it to her in this very blunt and simple sort of way might be the best way to go about addressing it. Since it's only going to grow more evident as she interacts with other passengers here, anyhow.]
If it's any small consolation, though, I've yet to observe anything in the way of traveling illness or disease here. There may at least be tools available to address such things as they arise, even without a full extent of healing artes available; the infirmary on this ship is quite well-stocked, so access to more conventional medicines remains on the table for now.
[There's also the potential matter of panacea bottles--though the supply chain logistics on that front are...trickier, with the discovery of an apparent limitation on his fomicry. Still, Jade's making a mental note to himself to bring Tear up to speed on that front later, and get one of those bottles in her hands one way or another.
Matters for later, though. As far as matters of the present might be concerned...the wry smile on Jade's features takes a faintly sympathetic sort of bent, as he starts towards one of the entrances leading off the deck and back into the ship.]
Quite fair enough! Being rather suddenly kidnapped to some bizarre vessel in the middle of an unknown ocean tends to put off an appetite. But the fact remains that it does little good to neglect such matters here; best to keep up one's strength, in preparation for whatever might yet occur around a corner. ...And I have personally verified that thus far there is no evidence of poisoning in the foods whatsoever! [Which ought to be a fairly reassuring thing, for the meantime; Tear's quite familiar by now, no doubt, with Jade's nigh-hobbyist interest in poisons and the applications of them in things like food.....] Not that I didn't have those suspicions at first too. A very prescient concern to have, all things considered.
At any rate, I'm inclined to show you around anyhow, so this works quite efficiently enough. The dining hall is nearest from here, and has a buffet sort of setup for selection...if that would be amenable to you?
its ok !!! happens to me all the time B )
[ there's a brief moment where her voice is tainted by worry.
she's tempted to demonstrate, to try and sing a hymn -- but she can still feel the ability to draw fonons to herself,
and can hear them floating through the world if she stops to close her eyes.
fonons were just energy that comprised all matter, in a sense -- so even if the system doesn't exist here,
or at least doesn't exist with the same words, tear has no trouble with it all as long as she can still do... something.
she is definitely not as well-versed in fonology as jade is at any rate, so the casual adaptation isn't a hassle for her to wrap her head around. ]
A.. A buffet? [ how fancy.
well, this was supposed to be a vacation, a luxury cruise ship or somesort. so perhaps tear shouldn't be too surprised to hear there would be so much food. ]
Of course it would be 'amendable'.
[ she can't quite tell if he's teasing her again, for the amount that she tends to eat, or if he's just being polite: but there's a slight colouring to her cheeks from the comment either way. a slight stubbornness to her agreeance.
unlike the princess, tear had never been raised to worry about the more trivial aspects of femininity, like needing to eat less than men or some nonsense like that.
food was just fuel, and she needed quite a bit... like most soldiers do!! right?? jade was the anomaly here. ]
Showing me around would be really helpful... I appreciate it. I'm especially curious to see what's in the infirmary. Do they carry gels, or just general supplies?
no subject
[Without fonons they themselves would not survive, after all...as is the nature of a normal (Auldrant-native) body's fon slots. Yet others have different properties to their bodies entirely in some aspects, here. To say nothing of the multitude of somehow-functioning magical systems...
As forever a consummate scientist, these are the sorts of questions that occupy many of Jade's more sleepless nights, truly. Yet still, this remains the best answer he can offer to Tear for the meantime...it'll have to be sufficient for now. --And at least there's slightly more of a sense of normalcy, in the way they can segue to the matter of food after that.
It's slight, but there may yet be something of a very familiar smirk happening on Jade's end for just a moment here, at Tear's mildly stubborn agreement to the prospect of a buffet and the bit of coloring to her features that accompanies it. He sure is aware by now that Tear really is quite fond of food, especially in variety.....not that he'll ever claim to be teasing about it. Goodness no! Definitely nothing but politeness here, totally...]
Ah, yes, the infirmary would naturally be very relevant to your interests. It does have more general supplies--specialized medicines, painkillers, small tools for mending or patching of wounds. However, I'm afraid gels aren't vendored here in general...do you have any gels on your person currently? I arrived with two pineapple ones--I shall lend you one of them, later. Hmm, alongside a few other things...
[It feels--a bit--like slipping into business as usual, in the oddest sort of way. If he closes out the too-familiar ship surroundings from thought for just a moment or so...it's almost as if he and Tear are having a rendezvous in some foreign place after some time apart, catching each other up and gearing up for a difficult task ahead. A sort of rhythm their entire party had fallen into at the various times they'd had to split up, for the last year or so back in Auldrant, before the events of Eldrant and the true end of such travels...
In a way Jade's still not sure how to feel about this. He doesn't...want to be happy. Or pleased, or relieved--that Tear is here, that she hasn't changed, that...he himself also hasn't changed--at least to an extent where they couldn't fall into that familiar co-working rhythm so quickly, even despite these terrible circumstances. And yet, all the same...it's still as if something's easing just a bit in his chest, speaking to her now...some gnawing ache he hadn't even realized was there.
There's a guilt in this. But he sets that aside. No, Tear needs to be supplied and brought up to speed, as promptly as possible--oh--]
--Actually, now that I think of it. There was a phone on the dresser near your bed when you first woke, yes? ...That is--here--it's a piece of fontech, I suppose you could call it... [As the thought occurs to him, Jade's reaching into an inner pocket of his coat, and pulling out the phone in question--that thin slab of black glass small enough to be held in a hand, you know.]