April System Mingle

[thespaceopera]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: Possibly!
Action: April System
When: Month of April!


[Welcome to the Belt, a huge asteroid belt that's been terraformed for life. Here you can explore the different asteroids, become a rock star, race on some ATVs, enjoy not being underwater.

In other words, it's a mingle! Get in everyone!

> System Info ]

Comments

Erik Lehnsherr | OTA

[exothermia]

a. mining

[The cities are interesting, but don't hold much long term appeal for Erik. He's more focused on resources. He eventually begins to frequent one of the middling asteroids with a mining operation, with enough civilisation that he's not too worried about getting stabbed for not being a local. Erik gets into the work the same way the others do - with a pickaxe, a cart, and a shovel. It's similar enough to the steel factory he used to work in that he earns his keep easily.

Erik often seeks out the mineral compound that can be converted into plant fodder, though he also frequents the metal mines. And if his cart seems to move easily even when piled high with rocks, well, he's allowed to cheat once in a while.]

b. meston

[When not working, Erik spends his more idle time on the less urban asteroid. While the fashion in this asteroid belt isn't quite something he would choose himself, he does go shopping, and soon enough it's easy to bump into him wearing a more simple black leather jacket. He's always been good at adapting to local styles. On some evenings he visits a bar on the outskirts of the city, and has a drink overlooking the farmland beyond.]

c. sculpting

[On one of his rare visits to Telluria, an artist happened to notice Erik's metal skills on the street. After much pleading and the promise of a handsome paycheck, Erik now finds himself elongating and posing a steel sculpture under the direction of the artist. The problem is, the artist keeps changing his mind.

Anyone passing this particular open art space will find an increasingly irritated Erik moving his hands over the sculpture, rearranging the piece yet again to the artist's whims.]

You said you just wanted the top piece fixed. Make up your mind, because this is the last change I'll do for you.

d. wildcard

[Got another idea? Go for it.]

Re: scuplting;

[maledictus_semper]

[Ardyn watched; transfixed on the movements of the man's hands over the clay, sculpting it, then changing it once more to fit the whims of the artist. When would he allow the man to mould it into his own way? The clay was fascinating to Ardyn, who was now watching at a closer distance to see what the final product would be.]

You work the clay well. I'm assuming you've had practice prior to this?

[exothermia]

[Erik blinks and looks over at the man, pausing for a moment. The artist seems put out by this, but goes to get a drink, knowing the work isn't finished yet. He lets out a huff and flicks his fingers against the sculpture, which gives a metallic clang. Now that it's stopped moving, it looks far less malleable.]

It's steel, actually, though ordinarily it wouldn't be so flexible. And I'm quite familiar with how to work it.

[maledictus_semper]

[Steel? Yet, it looked like painted grey clay. Or some sort of clay that had a metallic shine to it, yet the clang was prominent. It was steel. The man was not lying.]

You have skill if you can shape and bend metal to your will. Do you use magic of some kind?

[exothermia]

[Folding his arms over his chest, Erik inclines his head slightly. It's a comment he's gotten before, and one he's more than ready to correct.]

I'm a mutant, and controlling metal is part of my mutation. I have power over magnetism. It isn't magic - that doesn't exist in my world.

meston

[brainiest]

[ Hermione's been enjoying the urban nature of the new planet, moving between the two with an ease that comes from managing herself and others for, perhaps, a little longer than she feels she ought. What does frustrate her, though, is the amount of times she's been told off for reading in public, as if she's doing something wrong. She grits her teeth and shoves her things in her bag and moves on, but she's stormy eyed and irritated, only pausing when she casts her eyes on Erik, breathing out a huff of noise. ]

You're looking very comfortable.

[exothermia]

[Erik had been considering the menu on the outside of a bar, though he straightens up when he sees Hermione approaching - and in a mood, too. He raises his eyebrows at her, then brushes a hand against his new jacket.]

It's a style I've worn before. You don't look too pleased.

[brainiest]

I'm not very pleased, honestly.

[ In fact, she's quite affronted but she's doing her very best to manage her temper in front of one of her friends. It doesn't stop her being a little grizzly, however. ]

All I was doing was trying to read somewhere quiet and someone came and told me I was going to be fined if I wasn't going to stop. Fined! For reading!

[exothermia]

[His eyebrows go up. Reading, of all things? He rubs at his chin in thought.]

I'd heard they had some absurd laws in this place, but reading in public? Even I've only been told off for walking on the road instead of the footpath.

[It's possible the man had shouted something about fines at him. Erik simply hadn't listened past his initial incredulity.]

[brainiest]

[ It's obvious that she's just frustrated, her hair a frizzed mess around her face. ]

I can't believe you're being better behaved than I am. [ She scoffs. ] I just wanted to read in peace - this is nonsense, honestly. How do they expect to keep people if they're being so utterly ridiculous?

[exothermia]

Well. [His tone is serious.] I do all my reading in my secret hideout.

[brainiest]

... Your secret hideout. [ She raises an eyebrow. ] That can't be real.

[ d ]

[axiomed]

[ Charles is forever grateful Wrath spent time to get him the hover chair, since it made traveling gravel roads and rocky terrains that much easier. It was late evening, the shadows deepening into the grooves of the strangely formed rocks. Charles brushes his fingers along the sides of one glowing rock. Bio-luminescence was characteristic of living creatures. This rock, however, was coated with a special dust that allowed it to glow. He briefly makes a note of that in his communicator. The lack of wildlife on these planets was disappointing. It meant Charles couldn't make a linear path of knowledge like the last few planets. Perhaps the Atroma were catching on.

He lets his telepathy spread out. The bats keen quietly, their wings brushing against each other. Without turning, he says. ]

You're late.

[exothermia]

[There are so many asteroids around the place that Erik is certain he would have been forgiven if he went to the wrong one at first. He didn't, of course, so he merely snorts as he comes around from behind Charles's chair and brushes his hand against the other man's arm.]

Sorry. Work went long.

[He's opted for his more regular jeans and flannel shirt over the local attire, even if he has invested in a decent leather jacket. Erik's lips quirk as he looks over the softly glowing rock, illuminating the sleeping bats nearby.]

But you seem to have found some company to tide you over.

[axiomed]

[ Charles is certainly not going to opt for leather or any of the other, more showy outfits they have on display. He bought a cardigan and that'll do for now. He squeezes Erik's hand gently. ]

I'd hardly call them company. They're rather lethargic at the moment.

[exothermia]

Better than having them fly into your face.

[Having experienced that several times since working in the mines, Erik speaks with absolute certainty.]

What have you been up to?

[axiomed]

Oh.

[ He hesitates before putting it forward. ]

Some people on the Fleet got together and we might put together a few courses. Nothing like a school, but . . . a start.

[ He grimaces slightly. ] Another start, I should say.

[exothermia]

[Erik raises his eyebrows, surprised to hear that others have put forward an effort on classes. Charles had, he knows. He brushes his thumb over Charles's knuckles, considering.]

That's good news, isn't it?

[axiomed]

It is. I'm glad there is initiative for it.

[ He huffs. ] It's just a little . . . galling, I suppose. Not that it matters. My students are gone.

[ And it won't be the same. Not that Charles expects it to be, but he misses his students. The ones that wanted to be around him, the ones he tucked into bed and passed in the hallways. ]

c

[passingthrough]

[Kitty caught the display and made her way over, smirking a little when she sees that artist about to protest.] I'd listen to a man who can bend metal with his will if I were you. [She smiles at Erik.] Looks good. Having fun? [It didn't sound like it.]

[exothermia]

[The artist tosses his head haughtily, and declares he needs to make a phone call. Erik watches the man huff away with a frown, before turning to Kitty with a wry look.]

Hardly. Remind me never to agree to good deeds for money ever again.

[passingthrough]

[She nods to the artwork.] Maybe you should resculpt it to say that.

[exothermia]

I think it may get lost in translation.

[He steps away from the sculpture, leaving it alone for now.]

How are you finding this system?

[passingthrough]

Dangerous. I think I'm up to three leather jackets already. [Smirking.] I like it. Dancing tends to go along with music, so never anything wrong with that and it's fun to see Winn get into the singing. What about you?

[exothermia]

I can't say the style here is one I'm very fond of. But they do make decent leather jackets.

[He was able to find one similar to the kind he wore in the sixties, and that was good enough for him. He shakes his head slightly.]

The ones without spikes everywhere, at least.

I've mostly been working in the mines. I'm intending to see more of the actual sights later.