Act 1 | text

[poisoninmypocket]

Who: Monty Navarro
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: SS Heron
When: September 16th

[Monty isn't a complete stranger to being one place and then suddenly being another. This typically has some element of delusion or other magic involved, though. Suddenly finding himself aboard a random ship in the fleet is disconcerting. But Renart's given him a basic rundown of what's going on, and he's glanced through this latest communications network. There's far too much to take in. But there is one matter he's been wondering about.]

To All Souls Present,

My name is Lord Montague D'Ysquith Navarro, most recently of the Fortress Between. I should extend my apologies if this is a query that has been answered before, but is there, perhaps, a list of persons who once were held within the confines of this fleet who have since departed? And is it known where these disappeared persons might go?

Regards,
Navarro

ACTION - SS Heron

[Monty's not entirely sure how much he should go just wandering about a strange ship when he's just arrived, really. He probably ought to introduce himself to the captain, find out if there's some place for him to actually sleep, where the food Renart mentioned might be... But, well, a man does get distracted. Specifically, he's been distracted by the Med/Science Lab. Everything in it should, by rights, be absolutely foreign, but his hands seem to know what they're doing when he picks up devices, and he knows what the different medicines he finds are and what they do.

It's unnerving, disturbing, whatever had he done to be so deserving of such an augment? And how in god's name is this possible? He's really trying to take it in stride, but he's back to being a no one, stranded away from all the people he's known for more than a year, except Renart, whom he hasn't even found, yet.

Anyone stepping into the medical lab will find a young gentleman dressed to the nines in a suit from a bygone era, moving around and trying desperately to keep himself distracted from... everything by mucking about with the equipment.]

Comments

[poisoninmypocket]

Oof! [As the tackling comes from behind, Monty's half-thrown up against a wall.] Who-?

[But Renart's voice is unmistakable, and he drops the scanning device he'd had in his hand to better pull at her grip so that he can turn around to face her. It's only been a few days for him, but for her... It's only a few seconds before he's pulling her into a kiss - short and passionate.]

It would seem our captors have a sense of humor, if nothing else.

[To 'randomly' assign him here.]

[aigue]

[It has been far too long since they've made out, in her opinion, so she's a bit reluctant to stop kissing. She'll keep leaning against him, her tail wagging furiously.]

Are you really assigned here? I'd have no problem calling them benevolent if you are.

[poisoninmypocket]

I seem to have simply appeared here. Does that constitute being 'assigned'?

[Monty certainly isn't going to push her away. She's the only familiar face he's seen in days. For good measure, he drops his head down for another kiss, this one a bit less frantic, but no less needy.

Wait. People are watching this. The gentleman's head jerks up suddenly.]

Um... is there anywhere private on the ship?

[She's probably going to need to lie to him if she ever wants him to relax.]

[aigue]

[He never liked Zexion's illusions... there's no way he'd react well to being watched 24/7 and no way to stop it. So she has no problem lying, and if someone tells him otherwise she'll entertain mindcontrolling him. It'd be for the best, right?]

Oh, the usual places. Bathrooms, bedrooms.... [She waves a hand.] Don't worry about it. If you showed up here with confetti then this is your new home.

[poisoninmypocket]

[Well, that's a relief. Monty relaxes marginally.]

Is that what that was? Confetti. I tried to clean it up after I arrived. Do they enjoy making new arrivals make a mess in their new homes? It hardly seems like something the rest of the crew would enjoy.

[aigue]

[She shrugs.]

Someone will clean it up. Not me, I handle the vermin.

[poisoninmypocket]

Vermin?

[There are vermin in space? What?]

Do they not have to... breathe?

[Space doesn't have air, right?]

[aigue]

The ships have oxygen systems. I assume, anyway. You'd all be dead if they didn't, right?

[She wouldn't, of course.]

[poisoninmypocket]

How did they get in the ship in the first place? Surely they didn't just... swim through space holding their breath to find everything here.

[How do ships and space and vermin work, Renart?]

It's not like a proper boat.

[aigue]

Oh, I imagine they crawl in when we've stopped somewhere. We get smaller ships to take to planets or visit other people, or to go to the Iskaulit.

[She releases her hold on him finally to tap her chin.]

Or they swim through space like you said. I haven't asked them, I just eat them.

[poisoninmypocket]

... Wait. They can talk?

[Now you have him looking mildly concerned. Are you eating sentient creatures, Renart? Are they going to need to have a talk about not eating the talking mice? Again.]

[aigue]

[She just chuckles and nuzzles up against him.]

It's a joke. I doubt anyone would let me if they could.

[poisoninmypocket]

[Monty tuts, and slides a hand down to rub the base of her tail.]

You really oughtn't tease. However should I know if you're joking here?

[aigue]

Oh, that's easy. We'll get you set up reading some science fiction, so that you understand this place better!

[She grins.]

There are some books accessible on the network. Movies and music, too. I want to figure out how to get some monster movies on it.

[poisoninmypocket]

[Monster movies make him think of Joseph, which makes him think of Sebastian, which follows on with other names and faces and arguments unresolved that will never be resolved now. Monty takes a moment to push that thought down and away. Renart is here. That's something. That's a great deal more than she apparently had. His grip on her becomes just a little fiercer for a moment.]

Godzilla, right? Yes, I'd like that. They aren't really very scary, are they?

[aigue]

[She's quite happy to lean further against him. And sniff him a little - don't mind her, she's just happy he's here.]

No, they aren't overly scary. They certainly aren't horror movies, and some of the later ones are very comical.

[poisoninmypocket]

All right, then, but you mustn't laugh if anything is frightening. I've... I didn't go to the cinema really.

[He didn't have much in the way of money for it.]

In the meanwhile, where are we meant to sleep here? You mentioned bedrooms? [For private places. He wouldn't mind getting her to a place that's a little more private.]

[aigue]

The cinema you know is nothing like the modern kind, so just pretend you've never gone.

[She finally, finally steps back, taking his hand.]

This way. [The ship is small enough that it's no time at all to leave the lab and head over to the main hall, where their bedrooms are located. She's taking him into hers, which has had very little decoration applied outside of a couple extra blankets she picked up on the last planet system. Balled into a nest, of course.]

[poisoninmypocket]

[That's not... difficult, really. To pretend he hasn't been. He recalls people talking about giant screens and sound and color and all sorts of fantastical things for films. Well, apparently, he'll get to enjoy that here. It's a step up and in the right direction, particularly after Aletheia's wrath had taken everything from the fortress that had been made with belief.

It's a little strange navigating in the cramped quarters, but it's only a moment before Monty's down next to Renart and pushing her lightly down onto her bed. This is one of the places that doesn't have watchers, so it should be fine.]

You've been here far too long alone. Shall I make it up to you?

[aigue]

[She's sorely hoping that if the Iskaulit doesn't have a proper theatre then the next planet does.

She happily flops down on the bed, tugging him along too. Her tail is wagging slightly.]

You'd better. Before we do, though... [She hesitates. This is so weird to say.]

There's another Fairy Tale here. Sort of.

[poisoninmypocket]

[Monty lets himself be pulled down, moving to wrap her in an embrace as he kicks his shoes off. He probably should meet the captain or first mate before engaging in certain acts, but he's been starved for intimacy, even the platonic sort, on the Marsiva. And he's a young and healthy man!

Her words draw him up short, though. The gentleman blinks in confusion.]

Sort of? Not one you know from your world, then?

[aigue]

[She's yanking her boots off and moving to curl up in his lap. She can be patient, sure, but she's missed him.]

No. He calls himself a Fable, for one. And I only sort of get the same feeling from him as I do Fairy Tales. It's faint but it's there.

[She sighs, ears drooping.]

He's the Big Bad Wolf. Not the one I know. But they're still the same.

[poisoninmypocket]

[Monty's brows shoot up.]

Is he on this ship? [Because that's someone Monty would very much like to meet. Except... why is she telling him this just before they're about to be intimate? Has she been...? No. They don't ask each other those things. He shouldn't ask.

But now he wants to know.]

[aigue]

No, another one. He was able to tell what I was right away.

[Of course, she doesn't mention anything about sleeping with him, since she hasn't.]

He's the only one who knows. He also doesn't seem like someone you want to cross.

[Which of course pains her, since he's a wolf and she wants to mess with him.]

[poisoninmypocket]

[Good. He... probably shouldn't mention that it's a relief to hear Bigby's not here.]

Is the Renart afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?