TEST DRIVE MEME #3

[sailmods]

1. you're the only one you owe (GUEST STARRING: selenokinesis and creepyoldguy)

[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 Passengers(s),

You'll be unable to leave your cabin until you read this note. Congratulations on making it past the first step. Keep reading if you wish, as I have information to share with you, as a fellow passenger stuck aboard this ship. Or don't continue reading, and burn the note. I'm not particularly invested either way, especially if you choose to throw away valuable warnings.

Watch out for the Captain.

Be cautious what you sign up for.

If you die, you'll come back to life eventually, though I would recommend you try not to die.

Your life is the Captain's plaything.

Do not think for one moment that someone isn't watching you.

With that aside, I am now contractually obligated to tell you the following: You will find a life jacket within your cabin's closet, and you are required to bring it with you to your assigned muster station on deck one. A companion and I will take you through the drill. If you cannot find us, look for a tall male with white hair and blue eyes and a friendly-looking man with unkept brown hair and a winning smile.

Respectfully,
Moon Master Ebalon

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 two people standing at the front of the crowd: an exhausted-looking man with white hair who seems rather displeased that he's been roped into this, and a man with a wide grin, bright green tips on his hair, and amber eyes. the latter is waving cheerfully, having an armful of leis. he quite happily puts them around people’s necks and while they’re distracted, attempts to dip them into a kiss.

as he’s basically a walking corpse, and smells like one to boot, it’s not exactly hitting the jackpot. but, he does at least listen to the word “NO”.

the tired-seeming man ignores this and announces over the drone of chattering passengers like yourself,]

Welcome to the Serena Eterna. Do try to enjoy your stay here; it is rather permanent in nature, huhu.

[and from next to his companion, the… er, overly-affectionate man who sounds as though he smokes ten packs a day rasps,]

You’re all doomed!

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

after the duo complete the drill, you'll find that your legs suddenly obey your command, for what that's worth.

welcome aboard, passenger. we hope you enjoy your stay.]

2. one by one they'll do you in

[it starts, as most things do, with a table lamp. floating down a hallway, or the length of the promenade. ambling at a distinct clip: one-two-three-KICK, one-two-three-KICK.

and that's... not immediately concerning. after all, things float around here all the time; usually plates and drinks, but maybe the shades want to mix it up a bit. the lamp is alone for about a half hour before it is joined by others. a pillow. some knickknack from the ship store. Friday's clipboard. an empty vodka bottle. all have lined up, one in front of the other, and lead a procession snaking around the ship, growing with each passing hour. anyone familiar with the concept would begin to recognize it as a massive conga line.

there is a small chance you will want to join of your own free will. most likely, you will not want that. this does not matter: something compels you, like pins and needles in your feet, to join the dance. and once you have joined in... your body fights your mind on the subject, even as it grows more and more tired.

you pass by a familiar face. they could help pull you out. or you could pull them in.]

3. the price of vice foretold

[the scent of citrus and coconut rum hangs heavy in the air. there is a new storefront on the promenade, tucked between Sand Dollars and John's in a place where you are very certain there was not enough space to tuck a store before.

the clothes for sale are... a lot. like, a lot a lot. but, there are quite a lot of choices, though they do seem to repeat a little, once you've gone in far enough. in fact, even if you actively attempt to find it, you can't seem to find the back of the store. you can see a wall, sure, but it never seems to get any closer, even as you walk towards it.

be forewarned: the infinite tommy bahama does not have food or water.]

Comments

absolutely!!

[colorwheels]

[ Is this what whiplash feels like? ]

Right. Can't die. Still not sure how that's possible.

[ Is everyone here like this? First creepy dudes trying to kiss everyone...

But she's calmer once Jinx is on solid ground again. ]

It feels like we're in a bad video game.

[opheliac]

((ooc: video one & video two. i watch these two video religiously.))

Yeah, totally. Video games are waaaay more fun. You'd think the Captain would make the dyin' part less hurt but I guess that's part of the fun for him.

[colorwheels]

Yeah... Speaking of. This is a weird question, but do you remember how you got here?

[ She doesn't have her headphones to fiddle with like she normally would, so instead Alex tugs at the bracelets on her wrists. ]

Not like here here, but before the boat? I keep trying, but there's this gap, and...my head starts hurting when I try to think about it. Just...wasn't sure if that was normal. I feel like a part of my day is just...gone.

[ ooc; omg those are so good!! have you heard Don't Remember Me? ]

[opheliac]

Sorry, Goggles — Iiiiii think it's just you. 'Cuz I remember exactly what I was doin' before waking up here.

(a beat.)

I mean I don't remember the Captain snatchin' me but I remember before that.

((yes i have!!))

[colorwheels]

It's pretty weird, but...

[ gestures at

everything

She's just going to have to figure it out on her own. ]

Anyway, I'm Alex.

[ ooc; I love how much the fandom loves Jinx. So many fan songs and videos. ;; ]

[opheliac]

Alex, huh? A very normal name. The name's Jinx. — Aaaaand before you ask, Jinx stands for Jinx...!

((ooc: aaaa i know! i love the whole series. im just obsessed with it.))

[colorwheels]

[ She laughs a little, despite the oddness of Jinx's name. ]

I hate that question. I like Alex more than Alexandra, but people always want to know what it stands for. Like I didn't just tell them the one that mattered.

[ ooc; the first time i ever watched Arcane, i put it on for background noise while i played Animal Crossing and ended up watching it straight through. i'm dying waiting for season 2!! ]

[opheliac]

People are stupid all around no matter where ya from. That goes for this place, too. I've met a couple of dummies.

((ooc: i decided to watch arcane cause i was just bored one day and clicked on it. and it was the best decision ive ever made. i looove rping as jinx even tho she isn't my favorite. tbh, vi is. but i never rp my favorite characters. idk why. its this weird...thing i have.))

[colorwheels]

So I'm figuring out.

[ See: Nearly punching Beetlejuice for trying to kiss her. ]

Anyone else I should avoid? I'd rather not be known for getting in fights on my first day. Or. At all.

[ ooc; I'm the opposite lol! Jinx is definitely my fav, but I ended up making a Vi journal. Something about punchy lesbians. xD I've been thinking about making a Alex journal since the game came out, I just had to sit down and actually make icons. ]

[opheliac]

Hmmm... — I'd say the Captain but he hardly pokes around. There's a girl named Darcy that got some spunk. You might end up fightin' her, 'cuz I did.

(she grabs on one of her blue braids and twirls it in circles.)

Spunk as in, I told her I wasn't up for talkin' and she called me a, "Bitch". She's PRETTY out there. And that's sayin' a lot coming from me.

((ooc: it was suuuch a good game. i can't remember what i chose though. it's been so long. i think i ended up with a "eh" ending. like wasn't bad but wasn't good either. just normal.))

[colorwheels]

For not wanting to talk?

[ At the very least, Alex knows she can hold her own if it did come to a fight. Doesn't mean she has to like it. ]

It sounds like I'm going to start missing my headphones pretty quick.

[ ooc; yeah i got a fairly normal ending the first time, but managed to get everyone on my side in the most recent playthrough! i just wish it had been longer. haven springs was so pretty i wanted to be there forever. ]

[opheliac]

Welcome to the whack ship of the whackos!

(she giggles before pushing herself off the railing. once more, she scoots on over to alex's personal space but not so much so they can feel each other's breath and all.)

You're not as boring as I thought, Goggles. I think I'll keep ya around for a lil' longer.

[colorwheels]

[ She's trying very carefully to maintain a decent distance between her and everyone else. It's hard to do it inconspicuously, but Alex has a lifetime of practice. But it's reflex that has her jerking away as Jinx closes in on her personal space, before the brush of emotion can become stronger, in the most unsubtle way manageable.

Trying to cover it with a nervous chuckle, the more open, casual air she'd slowly adopted in the short conversation is gone, walls back up like a door slammed shut by the wind. ]

Sorry, you-- Uh. You startled me there.

[ Smooth, Chen. Boring is better. ]

I don't want to disappoint, but I'm really not that interesting.

[opheliac]

(there is something about how alex is behaving that makes her wiggle a brow -- her gaze start from her toes to her head; observing her very carefully before a grin spreads wide along her face. is she nervous around her? good. jinx enjoys making people nervous and uncomfortable, at times. they're easier to mess with when they're that way. although alex is attempting to keep distance, jinx only takes a few steps closer. she sways to her innocently but there's something hidden there in her movement. playful? fliratious? mixture of both?

clicking her tongue slowly, her chemical pinkish eyes resumes to glimpse over her with even another step closer.)

Hmm~. That's where you're wrong. You're plenty interestin'. Like, you're cute, for starters. That gets ya a point.

[colorwheels]

[ Just like before, the behavior might be more menacing if she could sense any real ill-intent from Jinx. Liking making people nervous... It could be worse. Jinx certainly isn't the first.

It's an act she's familiar with by now, done too many times to count, always with some new girl in the group home. At least now it feels more playful, rather than the troubled kid equivalent of cats testing the hierarchy.

Still, she has a little too much pride to let Jinx walk away thinking she could be made nervous so easily. The flirtation might be a little infectious itself.

There are worse things to do than flirt with pretty girls, really. ]

Maybe I shouldn't mention I also play guitar, then?

[ THERE IS NO GAY PANIC IN THE HOUSE OF CHEN. -- Gabe, probably. ]

[opheliac]

Oh, really? You just got yourself another point there. — Look at you, rackin' up.

(a grin and wink before taking a step back; now allowing her to give her some space.)

What kinda songs do you usually play? I got a few recorders of my own at my place. Maybe I oughta let ya borrow them, see whatcha think.

(sadly, it's just three but hey - better than listening to some of the music the ship provides. some are... a bit horrible, in her opinion.)

[colorwheels]

Covers, mostly. But I write my own music too. That usually stays in my journal, though.

[ The lack of her guitar is a true tragedy. ]

And I'd be willing to listen. I usually have headphones, but.. [ vague gestures at her poor, empty neck. ] Something to listen to would be awesome.

[opheliac]

Great! We'll make a play date sometime. The ship's got its own lil' karaoke thing, too. I don't mess with it much buuuut you can do your thing there.

(and for the first time in long while, jinx is actually feeling happy and excited over this! maybe someone ordinary was exactly what jinx needed in her life. sure, alex isn't the only one on this ship that's normal that she interacts with but almost all of them started off such a rocky start. some ended out smoothly and the other half continued on the rocky boat. so it's nice that with alex, it's still going rather nicely!)

[colorwheels]

[ It's impossible not to smile at that.

Yellow is definitely the best color. Making someone happy and knowing just feels good. ]

Sounds like a plan. I'm in cabin 132 if you ever want to stop by. If I ever find a guitar, maybe we could make some more music.

[opheliac]

Yes and double yes! One thirty two, got it...! Oh! — Should I show you around? I got time to spare.

(well, technically, they all sorta do. usually, she would start breaking things along the ship to start making new bombs but she'll make it today her day off.)

[colorwheels]

Sure. You mentioned a buffet?

[ Presuming that wasn't a sure fire way to being poisoned for the Captain's amusement. ]

[opheliac]

Yeah, yeah! Ya hungry? 'Cuz I'm starvin'. Sorta missed breakfast, eh heh heh...

('what am i doing? this is stupid. she's not going to like me in the long run, why am i even bothering? no one here really wants to be my friend. they're just fakes.' jinx turns on her heel with a spin -- braids flying around as she leads the way.)

— By the way, the food is preeettty good. Some I've never seen before.

[colorwheels]

[ Ouch. Been there.

It's not a feeling she can soothe automatically, though it's her first internal reaction. Maybe she should keep an eye out?

Here five minutes and already trying to save someone. I can hear Steph already. ]

I'm open to any and all recommendations.

[opheliac]

Okayokay, have you heard of "chicken bites"? I tried them once and it was the BOMB! — Especially the hot ones.

[colorwheels]

I have, but only the cheap kind where it's 99% breading. My cooking skills are...lacking.