driftfleet | the veil is thin . . .

[ On the night of the 16th, the feeling of tension and horrid anticipation comes to a head. Everything stops when the sun goes down-- even the ever-present music in the hoppingest part of the city center. One by one, everyone turns their eyes to the skies. The young and old alike pour out of their houses, some in bare feet, and they point to the velvety blanket of stars.

It takes a second to find it, especially if one is unaccustomed to the starscape. But even a casual observer can see it.

A brightly-shining star, larger than the others, and growing larger.

An announcement cuts across all communication channels that encourages people to evacuate to the space station, but it’s clear that these are just people and they’ll need some help. Supplies, equipment, organization, there’s something for everyone to do.

Civilization is disrupted by a panicked stampede of people vying for limited seats aboard spacefaring craft. Within hours, there will be crushed glass, looting, and chaos.

The clock is ticking. Will you help? Or would you rather watch the dying gasps of a Singing Planet from a safe distance? ]

[OOC: Please see this post for plot details. Phase two has begun! Feel free to use this post as a reaction post, mingle, etc. or make your own!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sam appears, or rather is pretty obvious among the crowd thanks to being taller than most of them -- and when he does he puts a hand to Riona's shoulder, soft and to let her know his arrival. He's got a serious aura about him, of someone who is so utterly used to the chaos of panicking people and crowds, but when he glances to the two of them he paints a more comforting expression.]

Hey, don't sweat it -- I'll help you look.

Um, get her on my shoulders. [He turns his attention to the child with a sweeter smile. His voice also manages to go a few notes softer and kinder.] You'd be able to help find your mother and father up high, right? [And to that the child nervously but more openly nods, fingers nervously sucked in her mouth.]

[Riona spins at the hand she feels on her shoulder. She honestly hoped it would be the girl's parents. Instead, it's another fleet member, one who's at least offering to help.]

Thank you. I've been at it for a half hour and I think my arms are about to fall off.

[If not longer. She hands the little girl off to him, trying to angle her to get her up on Sam's shoulders. With some adjusting, the girl's on his shoulders and clutching his head, staring wide-eyed at the crowd. Riona keeps smiling for her.] Now you can see everyone!

[Sam reaches and grabs the child's ankles, keeping her steady -- Sam is about to reply appropriately to Riona, but then arms snake around his face and he has to... try to... adjust... He peers at her from over a little forearm, smiling sympathetically; yeah, he can imagine Riona was having a time of it.]

Last thing we need on top of everything is limbs popping off.

[The child is at least genuinely on the lookout. Thank god.]

You're Riona, right? Sorry, I'm Sam. Bartender on the Iskaulit, among other things.

And I do like my arms where they are.

[Riona watches her carefully, making sure she's steady as well and not ready to fall over. She can't help but smile a bit as Sam's face is suddenly smothered by limbs.]

I am. I've seen you a few times at the bar. [Maker knows she's been to them enough lately.] What a situation to have to be properly introduced.

[He's just gonna adjust the arm on his face slightly.]

I mean, hey, better late than never.

... I'm pretty used to meeting people under the worst circumstances, I guess. Never had to evacuate a whole planet before, though.

[Cities, yes. Planets, no.]

I don't think most people have.

[Certainly hopes not, anyway. Though maybe Kirk's had to do something similar. He saw a whole planet get blown up before, though they weren't able to save that many people before it happened.

Maybe it's a good thing he's in a coma for all this.]

I came from that direction and no one said anything, so maybe let's try this way first? [She points in a direction that's not where she came from.] With any luck, someone will recognize her. [She looks up at the girl.] Let us know if you recognize someone, too, okay? Even if it's not your parents, they might at least know where they are.

[He gives a little nod, the child in his hair bobbing; he tries not to wince when she takes a handful of that glorious mane and pulls him like a horse. "Yeah!" is her general determined exclamation.]

Guess there's a first time for everything.

They're taking this as well as you'd expect, considering the bad circumstances... Has evacuation been going smoothly for you so far? Any trouble?

I think that's a first I would have been happy to skip, frankly.

[You're officially a human horsie now, Sam. Good luck. She gestures him to follow, walking as she looks around.]

Some stubborn families not wanting to leave things behind, a lot of panicky people. Could be worse, though. I just hope it's going to be enough.

[He has relented, his fate is set in stone. Human horsie it is.]

It will be.

[He gives a firm nod, smiling with some certainty.]

This fleet wouldn't settle for less.

I'm glad at how many are pitching in to help. [It's all hands on deck, with people flying shuttles and helping pack and dealing with injured and sick. As much as she hates being trapped here, moments like these ease it, and make her grateful she's here with others to help.] At least these people have somewhere to go. Can you imagine if we had to cram them all onto the Iskaulit?

If they even would all fit.

[He looks entirely displeased by the thought.]

It was crazy enough when we ran out of room on the ships. That'd look like a piece of pie in comparison to being shoulder-to-shoulder with everyone.

[It's not a pleasant thought, no. The Blue Fish managed to avoid the overcrowding during that time, but she heard about it and saw it on the other ships.]

It'd be a nightmare. And then there'd be the issue of where we'd drop them off. Don't suppose we could just let them off at the next station or something.

I guess we coul--

[Suddenly, his hair is pulled back, whipping his whole head back on his neck.

URK--

"MOM!!! MOM!!! That way!!!!" The child is eager, and Sam gives a slight groan, gingerly disentangling one of her hands as she vibrates with relieved excitement westward.]

[Trying so hard not to laugh. So sorry Sam, but you should have seen the look on your face.]

Easy, sweetheart. There's a head attached to that hair.

[She reaches up as best she can to help, all the while walking in the direction the girl's excitedly pointing in.]

Is she very far? What does she look like?

[He gives her an exasperated "thank you oh god help" look, but the child has at least eased off of pulling on the glorious mane of a Winchester to point with both hands. Sam has to hold her at the back so she doesn't go toppling over. It's really not long before this mother of hers notices her bobbling above the crowd and comes running, half-frantic with cries for her child. It's... nice. Sam is more than happy to pass the little girl off to the woman and steps back, brow wrinkled in sympathy.]

It's alright -- she's alright. We'd better get you guys on board, though.

This isn't a ship you want to miss, huh?

[No, no it isn't, and the woman and child seem to wholeheartedly agree.

Riona breathes a sigh of relief, but they're not out of the woods yet.]

We're glad we found you. Is there anything we can help you carry onto the ship? The sooner we get you on, the better. [She's reasonably sure she sees some bags and whatnot, but for all she knows, they could belong to someone else.]

the veil is thin . . .

B!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject