sail_ooc | TEST DRIVE MEME #3

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"No, I believe I am the one who should apologize. While the circumstances may, from my point of view seem quite self-explanatory, I did not take into account that this might not hold true for everyone else."

It's the stress, probably. But stress is no excuse to be inconsiderate, so he tips down the brim of his hat again, in a way that seems to indicate some degree of shame. While Ingo hopes he's managing to mirror her smile in turn... experience with being told he looks stern or stiff at best has taught him that this is probably not the case.

"I am the Subway Boss Ingo, and it is a genuine pleasure to meet you, Tendi! Looking at the circumstances from my perspective, I've come across no reason to assume this is not a genuine cruise liner. Have you tried stepping close to the railing to better feel the breeze, by any chance? It seems quite authentic."

He may be stress rambling. A little. At least he's friendly...?

"Oh, I agree it looks real! Maybe it IS real, but that also leaves us with the question as to why. Just because it looks real, well, holodecks are designed to trick you in that way!"

Tendi does take a step closer to the rail and look out over the ocean. "Nice to meet you Subway Boss Ingo, glad to see that no one so far has been outright mean, I was a bit worried from that message over the loudspeakers but seems nice so far. Strange, but better than a weird alien dungeon!"

It does seem as if the possibillity of this being an elaborate— hologram, he presumes —is very real from where Tendi hails. All the more reason why taking a moment to consider his stance was most likely a good call.

Though Ingo can't claim to be particularly fond of ship travel (trains are safer and much sturdier), he follows her to the railing.

"I take it holodecks are highly advanced, in that case? At any rate, I agree that even if this might be a product of holographic technology rather than an actual seafaring vessel,
the fact that the company on board appears pleasant puts me at ease."

"Well, Sort of advanced, the ones we have on the Cerritos aren't exactly top of the line. Oh wait, what year do you think it is? I've gotten some inconsistent answers with that! I think it's Stardate 57623.87, 2381 to be less precise."

Tendi pulls out the small device again, fiddling with the display, but it gives another loud disappointed Beep at her attempts at fixing it. "Damn it! Don't suppose you know where engineering is on this ship? I'll need to go by there later..."

Resigned, Ingo shakes his head. There's unfortunately been nothing so far that might let him provide a good answer.

"Unfortunately, I fear I cannot answer in either case. This date is entirely unfamiliar to me, and I've not come across anything indicating there may be an engineering section on board."

Looking down at the waves is making him a little queasy... so he decides to step back for now, hoping to cover up the discomfort with a sigh.

"But perhaps we might be able to find a map of the ship somewhere?"

We, because of course it would only be polite to help Tendi look, should she be receptive to the idea.

"Oh, good idea! Most of these ships should have a map somewhere...is there a central promenade or...other crew members? I mean, a boat this big has to have a lot of other people working on it right? Thank you for the help!"

"Regrettably, I have not yet spotted any crew members... but I believe the majority of large cruise liners feature a central promenade."

Out of habit, he points in the general direction of where he believes the elevators are.

"Shall we perhaps set course for the elevators and see for ourselves?"

"Sounds good! We'll figure this out, or at least see some more of the ship. This is quite large..." Tendi takes one of the doorways and starts heading to the elevators.

"No crew members is very odd. Maybe we should try to find the bridge or something, there has to be a Captain, right? Someone must be in charge, in some way."

"Indeed, I would've expected to come across some staff by now," comes Ingo's reply from just behind her, with just a hint in his tone that he's used to organization of an entirely different level. "Very odd."

Once they're at the elevators, he looks over the list of decks, then hits the call button. While it's on the way, he decides to touch upon the Copperajah in the room.

"The bridge is on deck seven, it seems. However... it may not be wise to head in towards that station. I recall the note from earlier not casting the Captain in a particularly favorable light, you see. According to this information, there is a Guest Services reception on this very deck, which might be able to address our concerns better."

And safer.

"Oh, there is? Hmm...You may be right, I suppose demanding to see the captain is a bit aggressive, true. But Guest services might be just we need, at least getting a map of this place. Maybe get some food or something? There has to be a restaurant around here somewhere..."

Tendi pauses for a moment, thinking. "What even ARE our concerns? I mean, I'd like to get out of here, but seems like that may be a big ask, and I want to get my equipment fixed...Is there a medical bay? May be able to help there as well..."

Ingo mirrors that thoughtful pause with one of his own. Though the elevator arrives with a typical sort of ding, he opts not to step on board just yet. All these points are quite good.

"It's quite clear that we have many concerns, yes. I, too, would like to head back to my duties... but that would at the very least be a time-consuming process, given where we are."

So...

"I think it might be wisest to gather our bearings, as a start. There are, just as you have said, quite a few practical concerns. I assume that Guest Services should be best equipped to inform us about the available facilities."

TEST DRIVE MEME #3

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oops, this got lost in my inbox! apologies o/