A Rose by any other name...!

[thespaceopera]

Suddenly, the SS Three Twins and the SS Windrose begin to move on their own... slowly, calmly, they drift to into the same direction, away from the other ships of the fleet. Slowly, they move until they side by side.

Over the two ships' intercom, an old song begins to play. And that is all the warning there is before the engines engage -- full speed ahead.

Like a pair of rockets, the ships torpedo forward. As they move, they start circling around each other, like a synchronized dance. They move with incredible grace and skill, far more masterfully than the average pilot augment. Except, each time that they pass each other, they clearly get closer to one another.

And closer...

And closer...

No matter what buttons the crews press, no matter how much they might panic, nothing is going to stop the inevitable. On the final pass, it becomes clear there's not enough room between them to avoid a collision. Any impact alarms on the bridge are blaring at full blast. Any other ships watching will not have time to attempt any sort of interception.

CRASH!!

As if to shield spectators' eyes from the horrors of ships colliding in space, there's a blinding light upon impact -- and once it gradually fades, the results can be clearly seen by all: There is no wreckage. Nothing is broken. But where there were once two ships... now there's only one.

One ship that is looks completely new, but yet is reminiscent of both the SS Three Twins and the SS Windrose.

-----------

On the bridge, the crews of the SS Three Twins and the SS Windrose arrive, along with the usual pop! of Atroma confetti and ridiculous jingle music upon a successful shuffle. Sitting in the captain's chair is a round cake, just large enough for everyone to have one slice. There's a single candle, and the following message scribbled on top in yellow icing:

"Congratulations - SS Twin Roses!
Happy Fusion!"




... What, did you think you were going to die? Sorry about that.

Comments

Kitty Pryde | OTA

[passingthrough]

[action]

[She was just heading to the bridge when she heard the music start. Once the engines kicked in she ran the rest of the way. She's in the pilot's seat, trying to make the controls obey and nothing is working. Once the collision is imminent, she slaps her hands down on the console and closes her eyes with every intention of phasing the whole damn ship which was going to be a hell of a strain on her body, but when you don't have options, you don't have options. And, who knows, if it hadn't been for the augment deciding no, maybe it would have worked.

As it was she opens her eyes and to look up at the ceiling, somehow lying on her back, covered in confetti. She sits up, brushing herself off.]

Is everyone...here? [She was going to say "all right", but she expected to say it to fewer people.] We got Goldstoned.

[network]
[Because maybe you wanted to call or something?]

Lancer (OTA)

[draughter]

It's about time that awful music stopped. [ Lancer's accounted for, at the least. For those who haven't seen her face-to-face yet, she's quite a sight. At least she's fairly petite for a demon, but there's a lot of strange magical energy radiating from her. Is she dragon? Is she demon? Is she a spirit?

(It's all of the above somehow.)

At least she had the decency to walk around in an outfit that covered her body up better. After making a poor virgin elf boy scream a lot over her indecency, of course.

Oh, but there's a lot of people suddenly gathered in such a tiny space. It makes her feel slightly uncomfortable as she raises a slender finger to tug at the ruffles around her neck a bit. ] Sorry, I can't perform in this stifling environment ♪

Could you all please leave?

Ravi Chakrabarti | OTA

[arfvader]

[action]

[Ravi always seems to be in the kitchen when something major is happening. Maybe this is a sign that he really does need to get out more. By the time he makes it down the hallway towards the bridge, the ships have started circling each other and he finds himself thrown against the walls, powerless to do anything but holler while watching the Windrose come closer and closer...

When it's all over, he finds himself in the bridge, face-first on the ground with some kind of food-stuffs in his hair. Not exactly the kind of first impression he likes to make. But, hey! Still beats being dead! He manages to crack a grin, especially since there's cake.]

Looks like we survived a real space opera, eh?

[network]

[Also open to calls!]

action;

[draughter]

Where's here? [ Suddenly there's a pink haired double horned girl in her face.

Hopefully Kitty's experienced in strange looking creatures. ] I was somewhere else, but now I'm here. This place has been rude with relocating me. Have I been bumped off to a side network?

action;

[passingthrough]

[There sure is. She knew a lot of pink haired girls in the prison she was at. Are you a princess or a pop singer too? None of them had horns, but people with horns aren't exactly new to her either.]

The rudest. We should really talk to our agents about it. I think we're on a new ship made from the Windrose and the... What ship were you on? Who are you? [Kitty, that's not how you introduce yourself.]

[passingthrough]

You are too optimistic right now. I'm going to need you to bring it down to an eight. [Leaning in closer.] What's in your hair? [All this is her way of saying she's glad to see you and what the hell was all of that? Even if she knows what the hell it was. It happened to two ships last week.]

action;

[draughter]

[ Fortunately, Lancer is so simple minded that she doesn't mind answering questions whenever they're presented to her. ]

My registered name is Lancer, though that's really just my Servant classification currently. [ For emphasis on that, she holds out her hand and materializes a spear out of thin air, using it prop herself up against. Just in case things get a little rocky again. It'd be unsightly to just fall over in a dress like this a second time. ] The Three Twins? It's a mundane name... maybe I should rename it?

[ It hasn't quite clicked in her mind that they're on a new ship even though she was just told that. ]

action;

[passingthrough]

[She watches the spear appear without much visible reaction. It's not the first time she's seen that sort of thing either, but she can't claim it isn't impressive. She's running through a list of possibilities in her mind, starting with options that would make more sense to her as a mutant even if "servant classification" should cue her into that being the wrong avenue to follow. Guessing not a princess or pop star though.]

I have a feeling someone already changed it.

I'm Kitty Pryde. No servant classification. [That might feel distantly familiar to her too.]

action;

[draughter]

[ She thinks she's both (countess and idol), so don't worry. It'll probably come up a lot in the future... just don't let her actually sing, if you enjoy hearing in any way. ]

Kitty Pryde, huh? Is that a stage name? It's pretty good if it is. [ She laughs at the thought. ]

You must have a really good producer.

[arfvader]

I mean, someone had to say it. It might as well be me. Give me a hand-up?

[He holds a hand out towards her, the other one combing through his hair, a little embarrassed.]

Probably my attempts at preparing dinner. So I guess this means we're shipmates now?

[arfvader]

Is there a point to performing if there's no live audience? I mean, the two usually go hand-in-hand.

action;

[passingthrough]

[Her boyfriend is pretty much always breaking out his karaoke machine, so they may all be doomed.]

No, it's pretty much my everywhere name. [She could mention the part where it's short for Katherine but...she doesn't.]

What's a servant classification?

[passingthrough]

[She grips his hand and helps pull him up.] Yeah, I guess it... Shit, does that mean I'm captain or Vash? I just got the big bed.

[draughter]

[ Logic, her greatest weakness! Lancer pauses, as if trying to come up with an answer, and quickly blurts out the first thing that comes to mind. ]

I'll just do solo song over the network once everyone's cleared out of here!

[arfvader]

There's no way to know! You're clearly going to have to battle it out in an epic rock-paper-scissors tournament. There can only be one!

[And here is his attempt at a boxing stance and punches! It's... not good.]

[arfvader]

Just curious whether you know where "here" is? Or what's happened in general? Or whether you know who I am?

[He's seen what had been his newest shipmate around on occasion, but they hadn't really had the opportunity for any heart-to-hearts.]

action;

[draughter]

[ Her voice is an actual weapon (but she doesn't acknowledge that) so... RIP everyone. ]

It's my class as a servant. [ Lancer... that's not helpful at all. Though, she does recognize that and perks up. ] Oh, maybe you don't know!

That keeps happening here.

Heroic Spirits are sorted into one of seven classes. The seven standard classes are, um, the Three Knight classes of Saber, Lancer, Archer, and the Four Cavalry classes of Rider, Caster, Assassin, and Berserker. [ Whew, that's a mouthful. ] I don't really think of myself as a knight though so please refrain from asking me to save any princesses. Unless they're youthful.

[ What a creepy weird specification. ] What's an everywhere name? Is that your true name? Am I supposed to give you mine in turn?

[draughter]

[ Nope. Nope. And nope! ]

I don't know those answers, but I know plenty of other things! [ Her tail flicks in slight agitation at her surroundings, as she tries to ignore the loud banter of other passengers around them. There's too many people here. Why. ]

[arfvader]

Well, I'll take it upon myself to catch you up anyway. I'm Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti, and we were on the Three Twins, which appears to have collided-and-therefore-combined-with the Windrose to form a whole new ship.

[Making a little "ta-da!" motion. You know, for showmanship.]

[draughter]

[ Ooh, how flashy! She likes making motions with her hands too, sometimes with special effects from magic. ]

Oooh, you're a doctor too? [ She taps where her augment is. ] Should I introduce myself as Dr. Lancer in the future? It doesn't sound as cute as Eliza though.

[arfvader]

Do you actually have a medical degree? Because generally that title is reserved for those who do.

Also I one hundred percent agree that "Eliza" is a cuter name.

action;

[passingthrough]

[Oh, that's why it sounded familiar.] Saber, blond girl? Kind of serious?

[Eying you.] And as luck would have it I'm fresh out of princesses. I only seem to meet queens here. [And they're both gone too. They were youthful though and why was that a metric?]

Yes, true name. Given name. Only name. Unless you count Shadowcat. You can give me whatever you go by, so if that's Lancer that's fine.

[draughter]

[ She beams proudly at that. Of course her name is cute. ] It's short for Elizabeth Bathory, you know!

[ Though does she have a medical degree? ] Isn't a degree a modern day thing? Doctors in my time didn't have them.

action;

[draughter]

I wouldn't take that pig seriously at all. [ She's thinking of a different blonde haired Saber, but they look so alike that they could be mistaken for the same person. ]

Incredible though! Shadowcat sounds so cool ♥ [ And yes, she does sincerely believe that if her body language is any indication. ] Kitty Pryde. Shadowcat. Intense!

[ She may have accidentally picked up a fangirl. ]

[passingthrough]

I was thinking I might just bully him. [Is this a joke? She's not even sure.]

...Hey, I have a cook on my ship. That's fun.