TEST DRIVE MEME #10

[sailmods]

a. that's where we both belong

[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 aboard! I'm so happy you could join us!

[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.]

b. and there's plenty of that down by the sea

[it’s strange to think about, isn’t it? how all those new passengers, the ones grumbling or shouting their way through the forced muster drill, have absolutely no idea what happened just last month. no idea about the labyrinth. no concept of why anyone around them would be a bit more hesitant around shadows.

they’ll learn.

sometimes a shadow is darker than it’s supposed to be. very rarely does anything come of that; just a vague sense that someone is watching you, and little more. sometimes, though, the shadows move. sometimes they grab at your ankles as you walk. sometimes they give you a shove as you go down the stairs. sometimes they pull your hair, or pinch your arm.

sometimes you feel something sharp cut into your lower leg.

that’s not a shadow, though. that’s a fiddler crab. you see the crab, sometimes. the cut isn’t from its claws, which don’t look very intimating; it’s not a very large crab. the cut is from the large kitchen knife crudely taped onto its back. it’s probably fine. it's not chasing you. there isn't evil in its heart. probably.]

c. think I'll go back to the Keys

[one day, in the atrium, two pedestals suddenly appear. on each is a large button: one green, and one blue. pressing the blue button gives you a little treat, popping out of thin air next to you. pressing the green button sends a small electric shock through your body. weird, but, hey, pretty avoidable, right?

except, it seems to be spreading. to every other button on board.

in the elevator. on the soda machine. the arcade. your phone. the bell on Friday’s desk.]

Comments

[goodweather]

Oh. Okay.

There's a lot, a lot, a lot of stuff going on here, but in all of his time Phil has largely discovered every sapient creature to more or less want the same things. This... uh, puddle, only grows more familiar by the second. Symbiote, it said it was. Socially obligate. As they all are. Just less literally. Symbiote. Regretting. Not... not understanding. Ah. Is that why it fell off of him so quick?

He doesn't really want to say he's been there about a puddle of goo that was on his face a few minutes ago, but, like. A little bit, okay.

"You scared him," Phil says. "Well... taking control of someone's body is a good way to do that. That's the kind of thing that takes a lot of trust. The most you could give someone, probably."

[blacksludgeaffair]

"Eddie trusted... Thought as one..."

It pauses, and the liquid seems to curl in on itself.

"It doesn't like... Thinking alone..."

[blacksludgeaffair]

The cloak melts off of him and recongeals on the ground, sliding a foot away and sprouting teeth.

"Iiit does not... intend to scare..."

[aurthor]

"Are they in your time? That's how old I am, see. Photography just started for me. Still black and white, or brown."

What the blazes?

"It's a card game?" He loves card games. "Like p--" a card game for children. So NOT poker, pinochle, pontoon, baccarat, "heaaarts?" He asks slowly, not really covering for himself, but sure. "But you collect them too?" Like books. Art. Or how Le Comte collects literal artists going the extra mile in rich person things. Okay, but not books, she said she only had the ones they read in school. "Like... butterflies?" No wait, girls don't do that. "Or you're an American so... marbles or--" wasn't there cards the boys collected from candy? "Baseball cards?" Maybe? That sounds wrong, but he's not an American child.

"You can be friends with boys without marrying them. I am. Friends with women too. Not married." Anymore. "Is Doombot a superhero or villain?" Does it matter?

"That does sound rather unpleasant." Severe understatement. "I don't think a normal life is in the poke-a-mon cards for you." Hello, fellow children, how do you do? Is he doing this right-o? "But helping people so you're no longer hunted might be." He can't help the sympathetic expression. Even whaling and hunting seals, you wind up feeling very sympathetic to anyone hunted, whatever the circumstance.

[glassaxolotl]

It breaks Dedue’s heart. He has said some of these things word-for-word back in Fodlan. But what can he do, to make the situation different but in a way that doesn’t put more burden on Shouji?

He knows from experience how even dwelling too much on the unfairness of it hurts. It is easier to rationalize the actions of others, to bear responsibility for their reactions, than to feel the weight of inexplicable cruelty day after day.

He looks away. There is nothing he can say. Nothing that would help.

[moonlesstides]

Grace has very little idea what 'interstellar' means but she's better at context than she gives herself credit for; there is a short moment of the (metaphorical) math equations floating before her face before she pieces it together and beams an unpracticed smile. ~You mean to say - aliens, little one? How splendid!~

Local Lovecraftian horror & victim has not pieced together that she's supposed to be the aliens.

[goodweather]

“Most people don’t,” he sighs. Thinks.

“Listen, kid—uh, goo?—you’re going to have a tough time here if you just jump on people without saying anything first. I’m not gonna lie, I don’t have a great first impression of you. But.”

A pause as he thinks. God, he hopes he doesn’t regret this. He’s never been more regretful that there are no animals on the boat. Except maybe that evil crab.

“It sounds like it would’ve been easy for you to hang onto me, but you didn’t. You left when I told you to. I appreciate that a lot.”

This is a stupid idea. This is phenomenally stupid. He should call someone and he knows he’s not gonna. His kids are gonna kill him this is so so so stupid why is he still talking.

“So I’m gonna put a lot of trust in you that you’re gonna do that again. Okay? We gotta be in agreement on that. If we’re not, then this isn’t gonna happen. But if we are, then I’ll… I’ll let you hitch a ride for a little bit. Deal?”

He holds out his hand.

[actuallyawolf]

She is still a wolf, and a giant eagle is not exactly stealthy anyway, and the urge to call is too strong to resist sometimes, but now? Now she launches into the air gleefully, wings unfurling as she starts after him.

Does he know about the barrier yet? That's a thought, if they get that far out.

Ylva beats her wings for speed, reaching with her talons.

[dupli_arms]

Shouji knows that he has a lot to prove, back in his home. Whether this version with his new experiences gets folded into the version of him that still exists during the rise of the Paranormal Liberation Front, or they remain unique and separate, he knows that that isn't going to change.

It isn't something that he wishes to has through here, not when it already seems to distress Dedue to talk about on the micro scale.

Instead, he looks down at a hand, fingers flexing as he thinks, before offering that hand in a shake. That would be more in line with those less proper customs and dealing with people that came from places that he had never been.

"Thank you again for your help. It's nice not to stumble through this blind."

[blacksludgeaffair]

It waits, still, patient, listening intently as Phil talks. Acceptance. Compromise. Offer. It starts to burble excitedly at the mention of trust and agreements, and the puddle begins to expand outward quickly. A much larger, much more intimidating mass of strange organic matter rises up, reaches a tendril out toward his outstretched hand, and-

All at once it crumples, takes on a new texture, seems to go limp. And suddenly he holds in his hand the sleeve of a black formal overcoat. Wing holes included.

[maximumcake]

And here Max was preparing to slow his pace down for the shorter man, but it turns out he doesn't need to.

"Yeah, exactly. In December we went to a fancy hotel up in the mountains and I got to play outside in the snow all day. And then I cooked a bunch in the kitchen later to warm up." He'll conveniently leave out the murder and trial part.

[skaikru]

( oh, that takes her by mild surprise. despite months of shifting through literature in search of what the captain's true nature was, and probably stumbling upon the term griffin a few times, it'd never earned much other than a passing glance. you know how you say a word enough times that it loses its meaning? yeah, that's sort of what happened with her surname, and this reminder just throws her back to natsuno yuuki drunkenly retelling how he'd named a lion after her. huh.

but! as she ultimately and regrettably cannot shape shift, in the end it's all just coincidence. voyager crowds in a little, and while this proximity with a stranger may have set her teeth on edge with anyone else, the virtue of childish proportions and enthusiasm mean it's allowed. and, moth to a flame, in this late night darkness she enjoys a bit of light. he proves her assumption in the next breath or so, and while recorded is a strange way to refer to acclimating or learning ones surroundings, it slides.

times were also when she'd kept the details of her origin tight to the chest, like they were secrets worth preserving. but ultimately they're not, and so with only mild hesitance: )

Previously Earth. Space originally. What about you?

[lordoftheozarks]

"You know I am not. But you did not know me by name when you met me so unless I'm very much mistaken, you are not one of my enemies. That could change at any moment, of course." Not a subtle threat but he does want to get his point across as clearly as possible.

"I do not know how many other vampires, or people for that matter. I've only just arrived myself. But if you call me that again, there will be one less vampire aboard this vessel."

[lordoftheozarks]

"The most unpleasant, by far, has been a woman named Erin. She's quite distinct because of her wings. I was also accosted by a man wearing a strawberry dress. He took it upon himself to ruin my suit with several stab wounds." Oh, woe is he, so unfairly attacked.

"It's been a trying time to say the least. But now you tell me that there are magic spells to be worried about too? Are the necklaces some for of talisman against it?"

[lordoftheozarks]

As Wayne rattles off that list, Erik is making careful note in his mind. These people, perhaps, might be safer to approach, especially if he does so by saying he came by Wayne's recommendation. His head swivels around with sudden attention, however, when Max's name is mentioned.

"Is that Max Maximum, by any chance? I've been told of him before."

[lordoftheozarks]

She's not... No. She can't be? She's more than half his age? That does explain how she was so able to overpower him...

"Allow me to surprise you, then. It's no use my going to look for him again. You've all made that quite clear. So, you are going to bring him to me, instead. You can prepare him, talk him up however you like, you'll supervise I'm sure. This would be for the best for all of us, don't you agree? You can protect him and see that he comes to no harm and I can finally see him for myself to know that you have not all done anything worse to him. What do you say to that?"

[lordoftheozarks]

He doesn't dignify the rest of that with an answer, he simply stomps away to go find himself a new change of clothes.

[lordoftheozarks]

He is not aware of the barrier, and that may soon be his downfall. Her approach forces him to bank away from the ship to avoid being caught in her talons. Instead, he turns out to sea. He's hoping to out-maneuver her. He doesn't want to be separated from the ship (and Max) for too long but, with some clever flying, perhaps he could wear her out over the water and force her down. Her endurance can't be better than a vampire's can it?

[aurthor]

Arthur is only a mature grown adult in absolute theory, but without Daddy le Comte around to protect, resurrect, or help him, that is a real threat. Still, he's a cheeky writer with an impeccable vocabulary so, "Right-o slewfoot! Lead on gov'nar! Let's not keep yon wayward houseboy waiting, shall we?"

There are more days than NOT where Comte regrets bringing Arthur back, truly.

[redlightgreenlight]

Well, two out of three isn't bad, not that demanding she bring Max to him is that far off from looking for him. However, it's the demand and the order that draws a small laugh. He's insufferable even when he's been defeated, just like so many men.

"You should really consider asking nicely. Perhaps make it a request. As the queen of my race I'm really not inclined to take orders from beings with lesser standing."

Valdis is careful to keep the haughtiness and amusement in her voice and body language. The fear that Max will revert, will choose Erik over the rest of them, over her fills her with dread. It would be like losing Malachi all over again, except it would be Max's choice to leave. It's why love is so dangerous. Why Erik might have some advantage over her if Max is here. Max makes her weak, yet she cannot help but love him.

[konpeito_aji]

"It's fine. I'd only ask him because he likes to feel needed. You conditioned him well for that."

It is pretty similar to warlords, yes, except the daimyo were granted territory by the emperor and inherited it.

"Policed by?" a small laugh and a headshake.

"I too, hate that metaphor. Valdis is overly fond of it, and it makes me think she'd do poorly at Shogi or Go. I simply assumed you were more familiar with it as a Westerner." A quiet hum. "You were scared of Klaus. Though he is not wholly human. If you're not scared of humans, are you scared for them?" A head tilt and Nobunaga's eyes search Erik out. "As I said, you should consider growing your ambition. Not everyone has to try to take over the world by force, but if you consider this your peak, you'll always just stay afraid of losing what you've gained." The eyes narrow and he goes back to the bread, setting it inside the oven finally.

"And I don't think you're that weak." He thinks everything over. The dissonance between Max's words and what Nobunaga saw himself and then again Valdis and Klaus' words. Maybe the vampire was, really. "Seek bigger and you'll lose the fear of losing what you already have. Until then, mada mada dane. Still a long way to go."

[goodweather]

Phil seizes up as the symbiote reaches for him, eyes screwing tight and shoulders tensing and he prepares to be completely wrapped in black goo again and to have another voice prodding at the back of his mind, but--

--but it doesn't happen. Something falls into his hand instead. He opens his eyes.

"... Huh. Is... is that you in there, buddy?" He can't say he isn't still kind of freaking out, but if it's between this and living slime invisibly all over and in his body, this is the far better option. Obviously if something is gonna cling to him, clothes make sense, but... he still can't help but notice the difference between what it did before and what it's doing now. Clothes are something you put on and take off. It's even got wing holes.

Tentatively, carefully, he slides it over his shoulders, arms in the sleeves, wings pushing through. It fits like a dream. This is honestly probably the sharpest thing he's ever worn.

[decohere]

At first she's like, yeah, Erin can be a bit much on introduction. She's had her own conflicting interactions with the woman that set her on the defensive. But then the mention of the strawberry dress, she knows immediately he's referring to Klaus. Because Ava owns the same dress in an alternate color.

And Klaus isn't the sort to just go stabbing anyone. So her eyebrows raise. Hm.

"Nobody could figure out specifically what they were for, just warned that if it ever looked like the end..." And so she collects spares, from passengers that have since vanished. She's had two roommates leave them behind. "But. That's the boring part. You've already discovered we come back to life." Since he's tracing this path again after some stab wounds, she figures he never quite made it. "Neat trick, huh?"

[ablativeholopleather]

He might have been more suspicious, if not for the clarification that Erik had been told of Max before (l o l). He nods some, and digs briefly into a pocket to pull out a rather bitcrunched-looking cupcake. "Great guy, good at food. He's been helping me stock up for emergencies. There's another Max too, that's Maximilien, he's made of metal so it's easy to tell the difference."

[lordoftheozarks]

"Lesser is a matter of opinion."

It's simply too much for him to lose all sense of authority at once, but she's so damned determined to deprive him of it. He grits his teeth and sucks in air through his nose. A queen is she? She's trapped here like all the rest now. Kingdoms topple.

And lords learn to bend a knee when it counts.

"Please, will you arrange a meeting between myself and Max?"