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

[ex_heaved685]

[ Vi gives a start with how quickly this person has pinpointed her amongst a sea of garments. Not only that, walking with purpose like she knows exactly where Vi is. She ducks behind a stack of t-shirt, but she can see shoes walking over here, too, and what's more embarrassing than being caught in a fit of paranoia is being caught in a fit of paranoia while crouching.

Vi groans and straightens up. ]

Yeah. Hi. Right here. Pretty determined, aren't you?

[ Maybe if she's kind of a dick, then maybe this person won't ask too many questions. ]

[colorwheels]

It seemed like you were hiding, it was kind of suspicious? A girl has to have her guard up.

[ Judging by the way her eyes drift down to Vi's fist, she hasn't overlooked the makeshift fist cover.

She looks between Vi and said fist a few times, but oddly, doesn't actually seem threatened. ]

Did you just get here?

[ex_heaved685]

[ Vi stands corrected, this girl is ballsy. The way she's honed in on her fist tells Vi that she knows exactly what that's there for and isn't shying away from the possibility of getting decked. But she's talking...

'one of those diplomatic types.'

Vi shrugs and drops the kaftan-thing on to the display of t-shirts, not bothering to explain or apologise for her rational. ]

Uhh, how would I know that? Woke up sleeping in a bed I definitely didn't tuck myself into. Might have been here for days. Weeks? Can't say.

[ Vi turns to face Alex head on, slipping her beat up and busted hands into her jacket pockets. Her emotional space turns quickly confrontational, not because she has any beef with this stranger, but more because that's the only way she knows how to get answers of any sort. ]

Maybe you would be a better person to answer that. You seem really cozy in here. Right at home.

[colorwheels]

[ Foster home, group homes, orphanages. Alex has been through more of them than she can count. Despite the good intentions of the adults around them, at the end of the day, she'd had to learn to defend herself. They all did, eventually.

Vi could, without a doubt, rock her shit if she wanted to. Alex can see that. But her problem isn't directed at Alex herself. That makes it easier to be calm, to see the confrontational behavior for what it is.

Ugh. I'm starting to sound like Dr. Lynn. ]

I arrived here a few days ago, same as you. Pretty much everyone you'll run into is in the...[ With the regretful look of someone who realizes they're about to say a bad pun right before they do: ] Same boat.

[ex_heaved685]

[ Vi stares deadpan at Alex's choice of words, before she snorts. There's a very slight quirk at the corner of her lips. Dammit. ]

Really? 'Boat'? Have you been sitting on that one for a while?

[ Gotta give her decent amount of shit for that one, it was terrible. But Vi's posture and tone is more at ease. ]

[colorwheels]

Don't tell anyone, I'm saving it until I find some sunglasses. It's gonna be a whole bit.

[ The boat isn't ready for the puns she can bring. ]

I'm Alex. Okay, so.

[ She pulls out a journal from her back pocket, lifting a finger to count of each point as she reads from a small list.

A product of too much time conspiring around Gabe's her coffee table, compiling information on Typhon. It's useful at least. ]

We're stuck on a cruise ship captained by a man who can bring us back to life if we die. People have tried to attack him, but he was stronger than everyone and had no problem showing it. Dying is a semi-frequent occurrence, from what people have told me. Sometimes from each other, sometimes from messed up stuff like battle royales that everyone was told would be a camping trip. That's what I've managed to find out so far.

[ex_heaved685]

'fraid you're going to have buy my silence on that one.

[ She says it lightly enough that Alex can pick on the fact she's joking. Mostly. Not like there's anything that could buy her over in here... ugly shirts? She's already got most of the haul shoved in her pockets.

Vi hesitates at the introduction, trying to decide if she wants another rando knowing her name, but she's spared when Alex launches into monologue from her notebook. Vi cranes her head over the edge to read it upside down. ]

Strong? Strong in what way? How'd he show it?

[ Focusing on what's important here, truly. ]

[colorwheels]

[ The journal seems to be color-coded, instrument chords and lyrics scribbled in the edges. ] I don't have specifics, unfortunately. But he can bring us back to life and trap us here, so...

[ A grimace. ]

People here are pretty all over the place, though. Crazy otherworldly powers, apparently. So if he's stronger than them, it doesn't bode well.

[ex_heaved685]

[ Vi's eyes do drift over to the doodles, and a little pang of nostalgia twinges in her chest. It reminds her so much of her sister and how she draws wherever she goes.

No monkeys, though.

Maybe this Alex isn't so bad. ]

"Crazy otherworldly powers". I definitely don't have those, so I'm screwed.

[ Her tone isn't resigned, however. Like she's still considering fighting the guy regardless if he'll put her in the ground with just the power of a well timed stink eye.

Vi snags the tip of the current page in Alex's notebook with her finger tips, mindful not to rip the pages. ]

Can you make me a copy of this? I want to read it later when I'm less...

[ "lurking around a clothing store ready to beat someone shitless" sort of jumpy ]