assume formation

[thespaceopera]

[with everyone's augmentations having returned to proper functioning order, all interference has cleared from the network. Atroma's signal comes through loud and clear, with the usual jingle announcing this week's shuffle uninterrupted. and when it finishes, Diamond's voice rings out with overflowing excitement.]

Fifteen ships! ...Have you all looked out the windows, dear passengers? Have you noticed the way that the Fleet swells with life and activity? The SS Paisley drifts with us now, empty and waiting for someone to boldly take command.

...Will it be one of you? Or are we waiting on the next round of intrepid souls to fill her halls? The suspense is palpable! We're on the edge of our seats, here...

The first fifteen of the fleet are flying, and as a reward, they've all received a little boost. Just a little roomier, a little shinier, just for you.

[and she pauses for a deep, satisfied breath. give her just a moment.]

...As such, there are seven new souls joining our ranks this week, replacing the three that are leaving us. Please make them feel welcome!

The fleet is heading toward a special treat this month, since you've all been so wonderful. We will be stopping by one of the most famous historic getaway spots in this stretch of the system, so take advantage of it! There aren't many of these left in such pristine condition, so don't miss out.

And please behave yourselves. ...Though, I don't need to remind you of that, do I?

[she's grinning when she says it. it's there in her voice.]

Remember, the worlds are watching!


ooc post: → here

Comments

[puro]

[Oh, hey, there are other people here. Manolo looks up to give an...awkward wave. ]

Oh...hello? I'm guessing you're trapped on this [he'll struggle for the right word ] ship, too?

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[...Robin gives a little wave back, remembering himself. he eases up, turns very casual in a manner of moment. nice to see you, buddy.]

I am. I happen to be captain of the ship this crew is trapped on, actually.

[puro]

I guess it's too much to hope that you might know a way to pilot this thing somewhere else?

[He's kind of expecting the answer already, but like hell if he's not going to ask anyway. ]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Unfortunately... Yes. We have a pilot, but he's limited by the range field put out by the Marsiva.

[he offers him a smile.]

But that won't stop us from trying to figure something out. My name's Robin. What's yours?

[puro]

Good. I've come too far to give up now.

[He's still pretty sure Xibalba put him here for shits and giggles. He never knew it was possible to legitimately hate a deity before now, but there you go. He smiles back. ]

I'm Manolo. Good to meet you.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[deities sure have a way of doing that, don't they? Robin walks closer to him, holding out his hand for a proper handshake. totally not just to see if he feels like he's made of wood.]

And you as well. Come on, I'll give you a tour. It's a small ship, so it won't take long.

[puro]

[Manolo has zero issue taking the hand for a shake. He really does feel like he's made of wood, but there's a pliability to it. He's definitely a living organism. ]

I'd like that. Better I know where I'm going, or I'd pribably get lost, even if it's only small.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[thaaaat's weird. but you know what? he can roll with it.]

How much do you know about ships, to start with? And, ah... Do you know what specialty you're supposed to have?

[puro]

Nothing. It's 1920, back home, for me. These things are only in books, or moving pictures. We've never even had a car pass by San Angel.

[He squints, thinking, and his augment helpfully plops that into his head.]

Personnel. Guess I'm here for you guys to talk to?

[Wow, what an unmanly job. His father would flip every table in the place. ]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

["1920" means nothing to him, but "moving pictures" is a little more telling.]

Is that on Earth? I'm not from there, so... I had a bit of catching up to do myself.

[and he nods to his assignment... he must be replacing Michael. it all works out, he supposes. he'll start talking more once he figures out where he's from, exactly.]

[puro]

Hmm, it's a tiny town in Mexico.

[He brightens more, this is all fascinating, he honestly wants to know about all that's out there. The hundreds of types of worlds and realms that there can be. ]

You're not? You're from another world, then?

[birdsbirdsbirds]

That's right. My world's called Gratia. I'm from Skeleton City, the finest little settlement north of the Dyt Mountains.

[he says it with just a little bit of pride. he kind of misses the place, especially recently. either way, he finally gestures around the very room they're in.]

So you've already found the bridge--this is where the pilot, captain, and communications officers all take their place. We've only got the first two, currently. It's kind of the central hub, you could say.

[puro]

[Sorry, Robin, you said something extremely relevant to his interests.]

Skeleton City? Is it full of skeletons?

[His tone does not suggest he is joking. At all. ]

Where all the magic and work happens, huh?

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Well, they say it's named that because it's where all lost souls go to settle... [eeeeh, a shrug!] But there are a fair manner of skeletons. Ghosts. That kind of thing.

[he nods, gesturing Manolo to come walk out into the hall.]

Hallway. Pretty self-explanatory. Bunk rooms are that way, kitchen is that way, engine room is all the way down at the end.

[puro]

That sounds...very similar to the Lands of the Dead. At least the two I visited.

[He follows, glancing around, getting his bearings. ]

It is a small ship. How many of us are on here?

[birdsbirdsbirds]

What are those places like...?

[maybe they're similar... can't know until he asks.]

There used to be six of us, but now there's... Hm, five? And believe it or not, this ship just got bigger. There's some empty rooms...

[puro]

The Land of Remembered is where the dead go who have living people who remember them. It's a beautiful place, vibrant and full of...well, life, for lack of a better word. The Land of the Forgotten. [He visably shudders. ] It's where the dead go when there isn't anyone alive to remember them. It's cold and bleak, and the dead eventually just...crumble to ash.

[He came so close to that fate. He could still have that fate if he doesn't get to San Angel on time. ]

Wonder if they're planning on sending more people our way.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Grim. [he shakes his head.] Skeleton City isn't much like that. The souls mostly belong to the living. The ghosts aren't very kind ones.

[so not the same place. Manolo's description sounds more like an afterlife...]

Not sure. Hard to say what anything is planning, around here.

[puro]

That';s different, then. All the dead I met were good people.

[Which it sure is. ]

Have they given any reason at all for us being here? Apart from entertainment?

[birdsbirdsbirds]

So, the name may just be a coincidence.

[c'mon, buddy. he'll wave him into the kitchen so that he can have a look around the real hub of the ship.]

Not really. The whole thing is still pretty mysterious...

[puro]

Sounds like it.

[Shame, maybe eventually he'll find some link back home. He'll wander after Robin, glancing around. For someone who never stepped foot outside of his tiny village for nineteen years, the last week has been full of the weirdest possible places he could be. There's no gentle medium for him. Quiet humdrum or mind bending weirdness. Pick one.]

You'd think they'd set us a task or...something.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

"Be entertaining" isn't a big enough task?

[he shrugs...] Anyway... This is the kitchen. Protein dispensers are your default food, though it's not very good. Riku, here on the ship--he can cook pretty well, so don't feel shy asking him for something if you want a meal that resembles actual food.

[puro]

Not really. No.

[Then again, he's not long come back from fighting a giant, demonic bull, so his idea of what makes a big task is somewhat skewed. ]

I'll remember that. I take it it's like the food they had on the big ship, then? If you could even call it food.