Let the games begin!

[thespaceopera]

[several days late, as has been the trend lately, the Shuffle's transmission plays for the Fleet.

...or, it tries anyway. the music doesn't even make it--just a punch of static with sad, scattered pieces of musical notes trying to struggle their way through.

when Diamond's voice is finally heard, it's only intelligible in three little bites.]

--Three disappearing from-- ... --new faces, so-- ... --Captain Halliwell--...

[and then the music blends strangely with other sounds, like someone flipping idly through broken radio stations. it takes some time for anything to come in clear, and every frequency turns up the same interference. it isn't until several minutes later that one signal suddenly stutters into clarity, and music begins to play.

wherever you are, they are playing your song! and if there are multiple people in the room, maybe the speakers nearest to each person are playing different songs, each specific to the closest passenger. and after the signal connects, the speakers will continue to play whatever song they started with, even if different passengers move toward or away from them, and will only play something else when the controls are messed around with. and the signals and machinery will continue to behave in this way sporadically, all through the month.]

ooc: the musical madness has begun! feel free to use this post as a mingle for interactions relating to shuffle day and the ensuing musical chaos. if you have any questions, please post them to the January ooc post!

→ Shuffle ooc post
→ January system ooc post

Comments

[misconceived]

Just don't take one of the top bunks, okay? We'd have to get you a stepstool and that sounds like a pain.

[ NEVER ]

Uh-huh. Aren't you the armory officer or whatever?

[merchantprince]

Don't worry, I already licked all the bottom bunks so everyone knows they're mine.

[So much sarcasm you could cut it with a knife.]

That's right. Security officer. The one with a big weapon is me. Sure, a gun isn't as good as my crossbow, but I'll take it. I'm never gonna turn down a chance to shoot someone in the... face.

[He trails off slowly as he realizes the staticky reception on the speaker closest to him has suddenly, inexplicably, turned into the Chant of Light. It sounds like a bunch of Latin choirs, not much different from pretty much anyone else on earth, but it's very soft and warm and... ill-timed.]

Maferath's balls. That's the Chant. All the way out here?

[misconceived]

Good thing I don't sleep in the bottom bunks. [ Or... at all... lately. ]

[ There would be a snarky comment, but then Chris's head tilts to the side at the music, eyes wandering and curious before he places it coming from right next to Varric. ]

What chant? What is that?

[merchantprince]

The Chant of Light. It's the stuff they sing or teach in the Chantry. The church.

[He looks more than a little disturbed.]

And it's playing here in the middle of space. The Chant just went from easy listening to slightly foreboding. I feel like we're about to accidentally interrupt a dark ritual.

... Maybe I'll grab the guns.

[misconceived]

[ Yeah, okay, that adds some context and Chris looks wary just from the description. Random, perfectly-clear church music after a terribly distorted message isn't the best of omens. ]

Do that. Just in case.

[merchantprince]

[He knows his way around the ship by now. It's fairly small.]

You want to come with? There's sidearms for everyone else.

[Otherwise, he's turning to leave.]

[misconceived]

[ Chris knows it about the same, and he moves to follow Varric. ]

Guns aren't really my thing, but let's see what else is in there. When you say everyone else, is there enough for more than the crew or did they just stock us bare basics?

[merchantprince]

[Varric is glad to have someone with him, but he's not going to admit that shit out loud. He walks fast.]

Just enough for the three of us. And here I thought sharing is caring.

[They round the corner towards the armory.]

[misconceived]

You can have mine if you—

[ He's cut off as a male voice begins to sing softly. Chris freezes in place and before he whirls toward the speaker in the armory that is clearly the source, looking rather spooked. Like he's hearing a ghost. ]

[merchantprince]

[Varric takes a couple steps, not realizing Chris has stopped, but the music starts and he glances over his shoulder. Sounds like it's... the same kind of deal. Music that should be comforting just sounds fucking creepy out of context.

He struggles for a moment with what to do. In the end he stays over here just in case Chris goes psycho and starts shooting lightning everywhere.]

Hey. It's just the Atroma guys screwing with us. It's not real.

[misconceived]

[ Good call, Varric. Chris is incredibly tempted to just shoot something at the speaker to shut it up because holy shit this is not okay. One coil of electricity rolls along his hand before he quells it. ]

I... I know it's not real. It's impossible. They're—who the hell do they think they are?

[merchantprince]

[Yikes. Good thing he's experienced with mages who throw temper tantrums.]

People who can yank us through time and space, shove information in our heads, and find out every gritty detail about our pasts... apparently.

Come on. I have a feeling Roses doesn't like fighting, so we'll have to do overtime.

[misconceived]

[ He swallows hard, closes his eyes as if to shut out the noise. ]

Not cool.

[ Bit of an understatement there, kid. He does seem to get a hold of himself because soon he opens his eyes and takes a deep breath. ]

Right. Roses being Shirley, right? [ who else would it be, Chris ] Look, just—ignore this... whole thing. I've got that tragic backstory thing going on right now, and it doesn't really matter.

[merchantprince]

Right.

[He tilts his head.]

I won't say anything. But... for the record? You're not a bad kid.

Besides, everyone has shit they don't want to talk about. [He disappears into the armory before Chris can call him out on being paternal.]

[misconceived]

[ That is not the reaction he wanted, Varric. Chris stands dumbfounded for a moment before he shakes his head and follows Varric inside where he can see what kind of weapons they have. They're not really his thing in general but it's always good to know what's available. ]

Do we even have guns on the ship? Like, if something doesn't beam on and try to kill us in our sleep or anything.

[merchantprince]

[There's a big automatic gun of some kind, which Varric takes for himself, and three armored spacesuits, as well as three smaller handgun-looking things. There's also a dwarf-sized suit of flex armor, but Varric passes on that. He doesn't want to wear it unless he has to.]

Yep. We're prepared for space... battles. If it comes to that.

[He turns around, careful not to point the bad end at anyone, and loads the thing. It makes a satisfying noise, and Varric lets out a low whistle.]

Not bad. Heavier than my usual, but I'll take it. [He leaves the safety on, then slings the rifle over his shoulder.]

[misconceived]

[ Chris inspects one of the handgun things for himself. He discovers it's a goddamn phaser but at least it works like an automatic with some kind of energy cartridges. He shifts it around until it fits in his hand, points it at the speaker still throwing out that song that is slowly driving him insane, finger off the trigger the whole time. He sighs and sets it back once he makes sure it isn't primed any longer. ]

Your usual?

[merchantprince]

My crossbow. My beautiful, one-of-a-kind repeating crossbow. Bastards confiscated it when they kidnapped me.

[He inspects the intensity switch, but doesn't flip it over. Non-lethal is good for now.]

I'll come for you, sweetheart. Just you wait.

[misconceived]

[ Chris raises a brow, then brings a hand up and a crossbow appears with a bolt already loaded. He looks down the shaft while holding it up to the wall while turning to see Varric's reaction. ]

You want one of these over one of those?

[merchantprince]

Andraste's sacred ass! Did you just conjure a bow? You just conjured a bow.

[He looks at it. Looks at his gun. He just can't win here.]

Thanks, I think, but I don't want the lady to get jealous. Besides, you just pulled that out of your ass. I've had bad experiences with that kind of thing.

[hearsthesea]

[Shirley comes rushing in then, still holding a pair of tongs she forgot to leave in the lab a moment ago.]

Both of you hear that singing, don't you? I'm not imagining it?

[That song playing - she'd know Relares anywhere. They'd taught her this one early on in her old village, before everything happened...but surely there aren't any Ferines here?

Then she notices the crossbow and all the other weapons.]

Are...are we being attacked?

[misconceived]

That is definitely not where I pulled this.

[ Chris scoffs, lets the crossbow hang off his finger from the grip and it drops, disappears before it even touches the ground. He turns when Shirley appears in the doorway, brows raised. ]

Maybe, maybe not. We're just being careful. [ He swallows, turns to glance at Varric. ] It's still the same song, right? Baby Mine? Is that playing through the whole ship now?

[merchantprince]

Not yet, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

[Yeah, no. Varric is not going to use some FAKE MAGIC WEAPON instead of Bianca. He adjusts the carrying strap on the rifle. It's solid, and it's going to stay that way.]

I think we're all hearing different things. What did you hear, Roses?

[hearsthesea]

[Roses? Her? ...Well, it's no Shirl, but she can live with that.

Shirley frowns at the question; she's not sure what Baby Mine is, but it's sure not what she heard earlier. She tries to listen to the song again to confirm the words, but now that she's paying attention to the music in here she's sure that it's different from what was outside.]

I heard something different from this in the lab. It's an old song I learned when I was little, about two people swimming together.

[She also eyes the weapons wondering if they really are going to see battle, although there's nothing there for her. Her quill's already lost, but at least her eres still work.]

[misconceived]

[ It's okay, Shirley. Chris will call you by name. He's not the type for nicknames. He runs a hand through his hair and glares at Varric for the lack of an answer before he crosses his arms as if to keep himself in control while another voice, female this time, starts to sing along with the first during the chorus. His head bows involuntarily as if to hide. ]

Something old to you. Something religious to Varric. Something... [ He shakes his head. ] ... something old to me, too. Are they just things from our past?