video/action | I'VE BEEN BEDEVILED

[theroadwarrior]

Who: Max Rockaaaaaaatansky (At Age 22)
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Starstruck, or at the Iskaulit bars!
When: Today.

[Augment glitches really are a bitch and a half, aren't they?

Max wakes up — different. Young, fresh-faced, barely over into his twenties. He wakes up in a shuttle, and boy, his mind is reeling; this isn't home. This isn't home at all, it's something out of some old sci-fi movie on the television, something a buncha' jockeys'd muck around on smoking some seriously fucked up mull. He knows things, certain particularly strange things: like how to pilot this strange shuttle contraption, like how the parts work, how they purr. He knows not to damn well airlock himself, knows how to use the phone. This is a phone, right?

He steps out of the shuttle, an old crippled dog whines at him. Ah, a friend, his only friend in the world at the moment. He crouches down and rubs at the dog's ears, eyes still glued in wonder at the room around him.]

Ahhh, hey, old mongrel, hey. Don't suppose you've got any clue what's going on?

[A pause.]

Right. A dog out of something science fiction that speaks a lick of English would be a stretch. Atta boy. Alright, alright, sit. Thatta' boy.

[He pats the dog's chest, stands up, adjusts his jacket... which is clean, but it's... different, in some ways. Where's his damn sleeve? Someone take a switchblade to it while he was unconscious or what? He puts a hand on the gun at his hip, in the holster, wandering quietly through the corridors of the Starstruck. Nobody pay him any mind, he's just... y'know. Exploring. The augment's still a bit jacked up, so the information is sketchy at best, but he's getting bits and pieces about the place. Jessie and Sprog aren't here. That much is clear, and it concerns him the longer he wanders (and questions the thing strapped on his leg, what the hell).

He can be found just about anywhere, poking at the squared space food on platters, investigating the rooms, hell, even just running a hand along the wall of a shuttle, interested on how it works.

What the bloody fuck is all this, guys.]

[VIDEO]

[Somewhere during all that — a broadcast. Hey look, it's some young buck transmitting from the Starstruck, don't mind him.

His accent is certainly more pronounced. Less gruffy. In fact, it's downright high in comparison to Max's grumbles and mumbles. Clear. Legible.]

If someone told me I was gonna wake up on some slick spaceship, I woulda' told them they've gone troppo and put them under observation. Starstruck — fancy name, sure is good for any means of transport. But. Why'm I here? Where's Earth, and where's the next space-cab to get there? Don't tell me there's some big conspiracy I wasn't privy to — honestly, I'm having a helluva' time trying to come to terms.

I need to go back home. Or at least get to bring people back here with me. Hell, I'll take that; as it stands, I got too much waiting for me that I can't go leaving behind, but I could be willing to move to space if I get a few people for the ride. Otherwise... No thanks.

And he way I hear it, we're all stuck here until these Atroma give us a punch-card out. Don't suppose anyone could tell me where to find one, because while I'm dying to take one of these shuttles out for a spin, I'm not too impressed by being stolen away by a bunch of dickheads in astro-suits to get the opportunity.

... They even took my badge... Buncha' bastards.

[He blinks, still a bit dazed, like he's living in a dream.]

I'm gonna go grab me a heart-starter at the bar, think I'll need one or five.

[BRB GOING TO YOUR BARS ON THE ISKAULIT. Feel free to meet him there, he's not doing much but staring off into space in thought.

OOC: Max is younger Max (who has a family and is a cop yoooo) for 2 weeks thanks to an augment glitch! Enjoy the improved personality while you can.

Also don't make fun of my attempt to give him Mad Max Slang. Y'bastards.

Replies will be from theroadcop .]

Comments

action

[resnipstance]

[Ahsoka is intricately attuned with the life force of her fellow Starstruck crewmates. Especially the ones she's attached to. Spending six months living together in a small ship, travelling through space, tends to have that effect. Where ever she is on the ship, so long as they're on the ship too, she can feel them. She feels when they're happy, when they're absent, when they're sleeping, when they're angry...

And she can feel when something feels distinctly not right. Suddenly, Max's energy signature no longer feels like Max anymore. At least, not the one she's familiar with. She runs down the hallway to his room, but pauses before knocking at the door. Of course he isn't there.

She runs down to the hanger instead, opening the shuttles one at a time until she finds the one he's in.]

Meathead?!

action

[theroadcop]

[Max jumps at the sudden noise, bashing the poor crown of his skull on a low spot of the shuttle — but instead of whipping around and threatening with a punch or pulling a weapon, he swivels around to stare at her with some surprise. He takes in that she's young, younger than him by a few years at the least, but... uh. The rest of her look is sort of what takes center stage. What a weird hat. What a strange tan. What interesting markings.

But by no means Max's idea of what an alien would look like.

He stares for a long moment, and then, in a thicker accent:]

... S'pose I'm a bit of a meathead.

action

[resnipstance]

Yeah you are!

[She grabs his face with both hands-- gently-- so she can turn his head this way and that, looking at it all over.]

What did you do to your hair? What happened to your face? I thought you hated shaving!

action

[theroadcop]

Whoa, whoa, you can take back your ten.

[He pushes back her hands, looking... not particularly worried about whatever she is now that she's coddling at him like an oldie.]

Bit young to be pinching cheeks and fixing hair, aren't you?

How d'you know me?

[That's the most unsettling sensation, that there.]

Video

[kill_switch]

Badge? What did you have a badge for?

[There's something oddly familiar about this kid, but Furiosa can't quite put her finger on it.]

Video

[theroadcop]

Sorry — bit vague, I guess. I'm a cop back home; MPF, Max Rockatansky. Pleasure, ma'am.

[He rubs his scalp, frowning.]

But I guess the bronze is worth about as much as the food here, now.

Re: Video

[kill_switch]

[She gets a strange look on her face and regards the video more carefully. Something seems to click, but it still doesn't make sense ...]

Max ... ?

Video

[theroadcop]

[Max blinks at the older lady in the screen. She's got a real strong look about her, seems like someone who'd own a bike, f'he's honest. Yet another person who seemingly knows him, in some capacity...? He frowns.]

Max, yeah. There something the matter?

action »

[mucked]

[ in time, his investigation reaches the captain's quarters. the room is modestly more spacious than the others -- and on this particular morning, the door stands open despite clear evidence of activity inside. peg is sat at her vanity/desk; she leans forward on one elbow while applying lipstick. it's her armour for the day.

she can't be certain of anything, but there's just enough noise underfoot outside her door that she can make a guess at someone hovering. without looking away from her mirror (she can see the doorway from this angle, anyway) peggy clears her throat and raises her voice. ]

Come in, then. I can't abide dithering.

action »

[theroadcop]

Ah —

[Well great, he's about to go peeving someone immediately. He wanders in, his steps fluid and unhitched and easy, and pauses just a few steps into the room. He feels like he very well shouldn't be here, but he's at least one for trying to be civil; his father taught him as much. Gentlemanly. The world is going to hell, son, so leave a good impression on the girls before it all falls down. He clears his throat, assuming the generic and rigid pose of a cop reporting to his supervisor.

She seems very official, this lady.

He voice that speaks up is young, not a grumble or rumble to it; the twisted up accent Max had gained over years of integration has crumbled, leaving a simple Australian accent, strong and sharp and a bit humored.]

Righto then, I'll be sure to pass along the message; no dithering.

Feels like that's been my occupation so far today, so I might be in a heap of trouble.

action »

[mucked]

[ she pauses mid-application of colour to her lips. the voice is odd, now that it speaks. and the face is familiar but (looking only at a reflection over her reflected shoulder) peggy isn't quick to place how she knows the bone structure beneath bare cheeks.

with a pop, she presses her lips together and releases them. then, in one motion, she turns and stands. the tube of dark red lipstick becomes something to be brandished -- and she points it at him with all the cautious intention of a broadsword. ]

New crew? [ peggy lifts her chin. ]

action »

[theroadcop]

[He purses his lips, looking a bit troubled. He's already had the weird experience of... maybe being here before? Or at least things are particularly screwy. But he might as well go through the motions, try to keep a level head, eh?]

Fair Dinkum, ma'am, I'm still trying to sort that out.

I woke up in this ship with a helluva' headache and strange orange schoolies patting my face and claiming to know me.

Did you say Iskaulit

[namisan]

[Nami finds his face familiar to say the least, and a measuring glance as he walks into the Space Bar is enough that she's reminded of a younger Max or Tuck. But that's the problem. Apparently face-snap is a new thing around here-- FDR with that other guy on the network, Max and Tuck-- that she just shrugs and writes it off the moment she thinks it.

New guy, right?

She smiles cheerfully as he approaches the bar.] Hey, new face.

[theroadcop]

[New face, that's much better, okay. He takes a quick seat at the counter, offering a little smile. While he's not in the most jovial of moods, he can at least appreciate a nice barlady offering him anything other than some confusing statement (thanks guys). He glances around the bar.]

Hey, barkeep. Don't suppose you have something for me up there?

[namisan]

[And the accent is totally different, so she smiles lazily.] Depends on your preference, but we've got a variety. Beer? Something harder? Something sweeter?

[You look like a beer drinker tbh.]

[theroadcop]

[He pats the counter, as he considers it.]

Well... Think maybe I'll let you choose, and we'll just see. You're the expert here, and I've got to admit, just about anything with alcohol in it will do right about now.

[JUST FUCK ME UP, 'KEEP.

no i'm kidding don't outright kill me with booze but give me the booze]

Iskaulit

[dancingmd]

[You know... somehow Beverly has gotten along here without meeting any doubles. Oh there's Kirk, sure, but he doesn't look like the Kirk from the history books, not exactly. So when she walks into Malum, carrying her weekly delivery of synthehol for Crowley, and sees someone who looks an awful lot like Max, she's not sure what Atroma is up to this time - but they're definitely up to something.

Fortunately, she's not too easily fazed. She sets the jug down on the floor at Max's feet.]

Excuse me, sir? I hate to bother you but - do you think you could give me a hand with this?

[So sneaky, Bev.]

Iskaulit

[theroadcop]

[He glances over from his pint, curiosity brimming on his face -- and he's already quick to jump to his feet, eyes moving from her to the jug. It does look a bit heavy; hell, helping the general public was his job, huh? Might as well keep doing it. The fresh-faced boy looks to be barely out of his teens, ready and willing to be set to chores. His father bestowed a few nuggets of wisdom before he carked it: respect your elders, treat kids nice because they're doomed to be adults, and mind all the women in your life (which he... partially does; partially).]

Sure thing, ma'am, not a problem.

[He adjusts the waist of his pants crouches over, and hefts up the cargo. He's much different in build in some ways than the Max she knows -- not as bulky, more twiggy, but still lean and muscular. He's got a fresh shave, a shaggy head of hair, and a polite smile aimed her way.]

Don't suppose this is your idea of a bottle of liquor, is it? Because this seems like something to call an ambulance for.

[dancingmd]

[She laughs.]

No, no it's a week's worth of synthehol - an alcohol substitute from my world. I've been making it for Crowley, for anyone who would like to come to the bar but don't want to drink, or can't.

[She points towards the back of the establishment.]

We'll just be taking it to the back there. I'll get the door for you.

[theroadcop]

Alcohol subtitute-

[He carries it toward the back of the place, as his mouth upturns into a humored smirk.]

You're not pulling my leg here, huh? We sure could use this back home.

Alcohol's going slowly extinct, and whatnot.

Iskaulit

[lord_wizard]

[It seems that, collectively, the crew of the Starstruck is having something of an off week, though clearly far more off in some cases than others. In the midst of Max's temporal crisis and confused wandering, Felix has also been suffering the last few days from an increased bout of nightmares, courtesy of the spirit residing somewhere in his head. Sadly, getting blackout drunk at all hours was not actually a long term solution, and one his stomach thanked him for. If anything, because he did not want to take the risk that, inebriated enough, he would fold to the fantôme's bargaining.

Sleep-deprived and unhappy, the wizard does his best to distract himself. Today that means he's back at Malum, though today the goal is to try to con Crowley (or anyone else) into a game of chess. Okay, so he's having a drink - his usual bourbon - just not a whole bottle.

The chess board is not exactly...standard. Because the moon didn't have exactly that game. The board itself is plastic, the black squares painted like space. The pawns are simply polished black and white stones of some kind, while the rest seemed to be cobbled from one of two other sets. Black and white plastic pillars take the place of the rooks, while the rest seem to varying designs of spaceships.

He's in the process of drawing the pieces of a small cloth bag when Max wanders in. Felix eyes him tiredly, goes back to arranging the pieces, then glances back up with a slightly sharper look. He's not sure if that feeling of recognition is genuine, or an artifact of his somewhat frayed mind.]

Good afternoon. Or evening? I'm still uncertain of how to work that out in space.

[theroadcop]

[Max pauses in his step, but eventually slips into the seat nearby.

Lucky you, this Max is more sociable. He's familiar with Felix's type -- well, you know. Sitting in a bar, looking pretty out of it. He raises his eyebrows at the man. He considers space -- god, it's bizarre, utterly loony. He's in space.

After a moment:]

Good morneveningnoon?

[He offers a youthful smirk, the face a distant, paler mimicry of Max Rockatansky. Sharper angles for less muscle, youthful eyes, a shaggy haircut. He waves for a drink, himself, looking eager for a quick one.]

You usually sit alone with a game board, do you?

[lord_wizard]

[He smiles slightly at the answer, eyes still scanning Max's features. He can see it better in the eyes and the mouth but he's sure it's there. This version seems far more talkative than his crewmate, but that doesn't mean anything either way.]

Not usually. But I was hoping to ambush a bored bartender into a game, or perhaps another patron looking for distraction? I don't suppose you would be either of those two?

[theroadcop]

[He laughs quietly under breath.]

I'm not much of a barkeeper, but I guess I'm another patron who could use a distraction. I don't know if I'm much good at board games. Maybe that's a benefit to you.

a million years late

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[..................

Okay, that's weird. But Arthur knows how this feels. Knows that Max is going to feel horrible when he's back to normal, like he's revealed something entirely too personal to people he didn't want to share with.

So he makes his way to the space bar at the Iskaulit, the only one he's explored so far. Luckily, he finds "John" there.] Hey.

[God, he looks even younger in person. Weird.] Mind if I sit? I, uh... I suppose you've had the 'you're older and dirtier usually' talk.