THE PLANET MINGLE

[princessia]

Who: EVERYONE!
Broadcast: Maybe, if you want?!
Action: The Planet
When: From May 11th until the end of the month

[ Willing to venture away from the casinos and investigate the nearby green planet? Here's your chance, now that it's in range!

THIS IS A MINGLE. GET HERE. ]

[ Make your own prompts, explore the planet, spend a night there, piss it off by taking its plants, whatever! MAY STAR SYSTEM OOC POST for your reference on getting through the orbit, what's on the planet, etc.! ]

Comments

Dragon form // Open!

[justamobster]

[ Before heading to the planet, Ladon had tried to call Toby. She hasn't been answering his calls, though. He's not sure if she's busy or he did something to upset her. Or perhaps she just wants some distance from him. Regardless, he's in a foul mood when he's on his way to investigate the planet. He hopes that in some ways, a break from the cold, sterile atmosphere of ships and stations will bring his mood back up. The idea of strolling along the beach and smoking and watching the sunset is at least calming. It's reminiscent of the times he's spent on Nieve's boardwalk in the off season, enjoying the empty beach and its angry waters.

However, once he's on the planet, he feels an almost immediate sense not just of calm, but of elation. His stupor is so far gone he's not even sure what caused it. Within a half hour of soaking in the magically infused air of the planet, he's already thrown caution out the window, tucked his clothing away in a safe place, and changed back into his original form. It's not just the sunlight and salty air that has him in a trance, it's the way the planet's magic gets beneath his scales, rolls around in his fiery belly and leaves him feeling something he's pretty sure he's never felt before. Alcohol is too sedating for comparison. He can only think that this is what reefers feel when they are high on the best substances imaginable.

And so the dragon can be found rolling about in the sand, belly in the air, making pleased chuffing noises and generally acting like a horse-sized, scaly puppy. He's yet to investigate the forest, but no doubt that will happen soon enough, once he's gotten his fill of the warm sand and bounded a few times through the calm surf. ]

I hope this is okay sdfjksl

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[something is watching him from the trees. the thing has a quiet little energy, but it lingers in Ladon's perception like a tiny headache. the creature itself is hidden behind some branches, and it's hard to tell if its part of the forest, or if it just has long, branch-like limbs.

either way, it's been there for a little bit, just observing.]

Totes okay!

[justamobster]

[ Ladon is so drunk on the happy magical feelings that at first he doesn't notice that he's being watched. In fact, it takes him some time rolling in the sand and chasing a few little crabs about before he finally feels something. Any other time he'd be cautious, suspicious, and angry about it. But now he's just curious. The feeling seems to be coming from the forest. And eventually he trundles over and starts poking his nose through the underbrush, sniffling noisily. ]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[the thing shrinks back into the leaves, making a sound--or, rather, it makes several people's worth of sound, since his voice is made up of nine of them, all sounding small and uncertain at once.

still, when it gets close enough... a long arm sticks out of the branches. he stretches his spidery fingers all the way out, so he can smell. this body may look strange, but he still smells like smoke and stone. maybe familiar.]

[justamobster]

[ The scent is familiar, but partially due to the fact that smoke and stone are scents Ladon grew up surrounded by in the caves with his family. And as such it's comforting. The length and shape of the arm is a little alarming, if only because he's not used to creatures that take this kind of form, but he doesn't feel threatened at all.

After all, he lives amuongst the real monsters on a daily basis. Ladon is finding that the new and different is no where near as threatening as the familiar, especially where human beings are concerned.

He keens a soft noise, curious. He assumes that this creature is native to the planet, but he's still hesitant to speak and thus out himself just in case. A fellow dragon would be a different story. ]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[with no one getting eaten, and the dragon not recognizing him immediately, he... slowly ducks more of his body out of the branches. he's certainly alien-looking, pale and gaunt. his eyes are big, all-red, and his hair is white. he's looks almost nothing like his human counterpart.

he's not keen on introducing himself either, but... the outstretched hand hesitantly turns to petting the end of his snout, if the dragon will let him.]

[justamobster]

[ This creature is definitely strange, but Ladon is more curious than worried. He's cautious, of course, it would be dumb to completely let his guard down and while the magic in the air has him feeling a bit like a happy hatchling, he's still the same paranoid lizard deep down.

He does allow the pets to his snout, though, and leans a little into the hand like a cat. He's not used to affection in this form (or really in his human form) and it feels a little odd, but not unpleasant. ]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[at least his own unsettling aura has dispersed, for the most part. he's unbearable to be around, at the very start, but now he's just... a part of the forest.

the magic in the air is the only thing giving him courage to show himself. he stops petting him, after a moment, and slowly climbs up a branch higher--where he's much more visible. all of his limbs are too long, and he sits more like a primate than a human.

when he speaks, it's as nine voices at once... men, women, and children, at the same time. nine separate pitches all coming together to ask, quietly:]

Are you from the ships?

[justamobster]

[ Ladon's initial urge is to lie. Nope, he's totally native to this planet and not associated to the fleet in any way. But if this creature is from this world, that would raise a lot of questions.

And he's a little flabbergasted by the way it speaks. First that it does, and second that it sounds like a whole crowd of folks talking at the same time. It's unsettling. He's not sure he wants to anger it by being caught in a lie.

So he nods. But still says nothing. ]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[the creature nods too, and ducks its head a little--almost like it's embarrassed. it's good, though. this dragon understands human speech. he wonders if they're someone from Tek's world... probably not, since Tek probably would have gone on a long rant about it if it was.

still, Robin spent a long time around dragons, down in the tunnels. he considers them friends, and creatures worthy of his protection.]

Me too. But I won't... [he pauses, a little distracted...] ...I won't ask about you if you don't ask about me. Deal?

[dancingmd]

[In the course of her exploring, Beverly stumbles upon the beach, which lacks the oppressive feeling of the forest, so she steps out onto the sand with some relief. That relief quickly turns to wariness though, when she sees a large reptilian creature bathing in the water. There's not really anywhere to hide, unless she runs back into the forest, so she simply stops and slowly crouches, to make herself as unimposing as possible. Not that a reptile that large would have anything to fear from her in the first place. She will watch him for several minutes, hoping he doesn't notice her.]

[justamobster]

[ Unfortunately, the dragon does notice her. Fortunately he's not aggressive at all.

In fact, while he's still high on the magic coursing through the air, he does have enough of his wits about him to be wary and unsure. This is Bev, the doc, and he doubts she'd have any reason to sic the more violent members of the fleet on him, but he's better safe than sorry.

He lingers on the edge of the waves, watching her, and slowly he lowers his head as if to show submission. He wags his tail hesitantly in the surf, and his muzzle and claws disappear now and then in the foam of the incoming waves, but he keeps his big green eyes on her, waiting to see how she reacts. ]

[dancingmd]

[The reptilian's very deliberate movements and the intelligent look in their eyes as they watch her give Beverly pause. Perhaps she should not be thinking of them as a creature, but rather a person.

Slowly, she stands and pulls out her pistol, making sure they can see her movements clearly, then tosses the gun away behind her. Holding up her hands, palms out, she takes a couple of steps forward.]

I promise, I'm not here to hurt you.

[She may sound calm, but her nerves are on edge.]

[justamobster]

[ He visibly tenses at the sight of the gun, but when she tosses it, he tips his head a little. He's not sure whether he should be worried or impressed that she's willing to toss away her weapon to prove she's not going to harm him. Granted, he's himself and there's no way he'd ever hurt Beverly, but if he was a creature native to this planet, well. There's no telling.

He almost wants to scold her, but he can't risk outing himself.

So instead he takes a few steps forward, until he's out of the reach of the gentle, lapping waves and sits in the sand. She can close the distance between them if she wants to. If not, he's not going to push. ]

[dancingmd]

[Encouraged by his non-aggressive posture, Beverly, after only a moment of hesitation, takes the chance to walk towards the stranger. She stops a couple of feet short of his snout.]

Can you understand me?

[justamobster]

[ He tips his head again, watching her, and when she stops short, he respects that distance. The last thing he needs right now is to frighten anyone enough to get the people who killed Tek involved.

When she asks if he can understand her, he bobs his head in reply, but otherwise says nothing. ]

[dancingmd]

[Once he nods, Beverly visibly relaxes. If they can talk - or at least, if she can talk and have him understand - then she is confident she'll be able to make a connection with the stranger and hopefully get some information.]

My name is Dr. Crusher. I hope I am not intruding but I originally came here on a starship and one of my crewmates ... [Best not tell him about the exact nature of the Noah] he became ill when we got close to your planet. We got him safely away, but now I've returned, to try to figure out why he reacted the way he did. Do you have any idea of what caused this? Or maybe know someone who might be able to help me?

[justamobster]

[ He was unaware someone had gotten sick from the planet. He's heard of magic poisoning before-- specific humans with a particularly harsh reaction to inherent magic, but they're rare back home, and he didn't imagine Atroma would be stupid enough to bring one here among other magical creatures. He's not the only one, after all.

He keens a worried noise at the news, but then sadly shakes his head. He doesn't know what to tell her. So far he hasn't encountered anything here that is sentient enough to provide help. The animals here are larger than normal but still just as much animals. ]

[dancingmd]

[No, that would have been too easy, to stumble upon someone who could give her all the answers. She sits down in the sand with a heavy sigh, looking very defeated.]

I have no idea what to do for him.

[And she doesn't really mean here and now. Keeping Allen away from the planet will keep him safe for the moment, but ... in the future, what will happen to him? Especially once he leaves the fleet and goes home, where there's no augment to keep the Noah in check?

She looks back up at the reptilian.]

I'm sorry. You probably don't really want an alien moping about on your beach this morning, do you?

[delicioustea]

[ Iroh was just kind of strolling along the sand there, probably fiddling with his little ukelele he found at the last waystation, when he sees something very much not human rolling around nearby.

Well. That's ... interesting.

He'll put the ukelele back on his back, and approach with curiosity and caution. Maybe it's friendly ... ? ]

[justamobster]

[ The dragon can be found on his back in the middle of the sand, wiggling like an excited dog. Part of it is of course the magic in the air, making him feel like he's half his age again. Another part is the amazing way the warm sand feels. It's been a long time since he felt genuine, sun-warmed weather like this and it's comforting in ways most other creatures couldn't grasp. Not only is his blood warmed by it like most reptiles, but his internal source of heat finally completely relaxes. It's like having a muscle tensed for months at a time and finally getting some relief. His furnace is cool and the rest of him is warm and he's just so. Darned. Happy.

Which is why he doesn't get up when the older man approaches. Instead he lays on his back and looks at him, upside down with his belly in the air. His tail wags lazily. He has no interest in being a big bad dragon right now. Let people think he's a big, scaly puppy. He feels like one anyway. ]

[delicioustea]

[ Iroh is not sure he has ever seen a cuter and more bizarre sight in his life.

He chuckles a little at the sight of him, relaxing a little now that it seems the dragon has no interest in attacking him for the time being. ]

Well, hello there. Aren't you a dashing fellow ... ?

[ He's so intrigued, mostly because it's been so long since he's last seen a dragon -- because, you know, pretty much all the dragons in ATLA world are dead. Whoops.

He moves to sit on the sand nearby, giving the dragon its space, and pulls the ukelele off his back to tune it, now ... ]

[justamobster]

[ Dragons have a way of going extinct. That's part of the reason Ladon is so paranoid.

But right now he doesn't care. And this person does not seem threatening in the least. Plus he's never been called dashing. Not even in his arguably more traditionally attractive form.

He rolls over onto his stomach and watches the man fiddle with an instrument. After a few moments, he rests his chin on the sand, expectant. If Iroh wants to play, he has an audience. ]

[delicioustea]

[ Iroh simply grins at his newfound audience, before looking down at the ukelele to tune the last string ]

Do you like music? I have found that my ship does not seem to appreciate it, so much.

[ And now that all the strings sound right, he'll start to pluck at them and sing. ]

Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall ...

[justamobster]

[ He makes a contented noise, like the groan of a very large dog, and taps his tail against the sand. Ladon's not sure what's the matter with the other people on this man's ship, but he definitely enjoys music. He's not as obsessed as his friend Draig is, but it's a part of human culture that he would miss if by some miracle or act of God he wound up solely around dragons again. Sure, they had songs of their own, but it's hard to play instruments with claws.

He closes his eyes and listens, pleased. ]