driftfleet | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: James T. Kirk
Broadcast: Network - open to all
Action: all around the SS Red Fish + SS Heron
When: Right now, and throughout the following week

NETWORK BROADCAST ▹ VIDEO;

[ Jim's staring seriously at the camera as the broadcast begins, concern visible on his features. He might be easily recognizable to most everyone on the Fleet, but as soon as he starts talking, it will become obvious that he is not the same man, or at least not having the very same memories. Not of this place, that's for sure. ]

My name is James T. Kirk. I'm... not entirely sure how I got here, but for what it's worth, I'm one of the new arrivals.

[ He presses his lips, glancing around. ] This isn't the first time I've been brought to a universe other than my own, but I was wondering if anyone else here has had a similar experience. Coming here from a place that's not your reality of origin.

[ A pause, ] Specifically, has anyone here heard of Riverview, or the Quarantine?

[ He can't help a hopeful look. A familiar face, any familiar face, will be welcome. He's looking for a specific one, admittedly, but he's not holding his breath on that one. ]

Thank you in advance.

ACTION ▹ SS RED FISH

[ Once he makes that broadcast, he'll be exploring his new location, so he knows what he's dealing with. He can be found roaming the ship, poking his head into all the nooks and corners, and possibly trying to sneak his way into off-limits locations, if there are any. Stop him getting into trouble, or help him? Or just come say hi to a not-quite-new face. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I didn't exactly do it on purpose, for what it's worth. But it's... par for the course, where I'm from. [ Pause. ] Where we're from.

[ Yeah that's gonna be weird as hell to get used to. ]

Remember that place I mentioned, Riverview? You were there too, for a good while. We didn't really talk much over the last few months you were there, but I did know you.

[What the fuck? Even more things he doesn't remember? He's pretty sure he'd have some memories of being in a place called Riverview with a starship captain. But nope. There's nothing here - not even a glimmer of static even. That's...

Well, that's downright goddamn disturbing is what it is. So, naturally, Taako laughs it off.]

Nope - sorry, my man. Don't have a clue about anywhere called "Riverview." But I hope it was a lot more scenic than the whole big black expanse of space or whoever made it really dropped the ball with the naming. I've only been here about a month or so, and before that? Aaaall Faerun.

I didn't think you'd remember it. [ Taako's reaction was pretty telling in that regard. ]

It was pretty nice. Riverview was originally a quarantine city built within two fortifying walls on a moon, surrounded almost entirely by nature. We had a few tough situations, mostly involving wild creatures sneaking into the city, but it was generally a peaceful place. Beautiful, too.

Wouldn't be the first thing I've had erased from memory. [But it still pisses him off. He thought he was done and over the memory wipes after drinking the Voidfish's nasty juice, but apparently this new reality was just full of new shit to rock his boat. Great.]

But I'm pretty sure I wasn't living on a different fortified moon base before coming here. Are you sure you were talking to the bonafide Taako? Not some weird doppleganger stalker polymorphed into me or something? Wouldn't blame them for choosing me, I'm pretty awesome, but I definitely don't have any gaps that would account for me being anywhere but Faerun or here.

Well, as evidenced by my being here, there can be an infinite number of versions of the same person. The much likelier explanation is that I simply met another version of you from another universe, whether different or similar to your own.

[ He's pretty awesome too and yet there are at least four or five of him that he knows of, and two of them are right here, part of the same Fleet. So anything's possible. ]

....Because that's not any weirder.

[But hell - if Lup can exist, why not another Taako? A different version of him, one from a different time or a different plane or existence or whatever else. He has no idea how any of that works. But sure, why not? It's not like his life could get any weirder than being elfnapped into an alternate reality.]

But point taken. I hope whatever version of me you met before lives up to how awesome this prime version of me is.

Don't tell me you're scared of a little weird, [ He teases. ] You didn't strike me as the type.

[ He hadn't talked to the other Taako that much, granted. But that might just be for the best now, since it offered them a relatively clean slate. They can just start fresh.

Well, as fresh as they can, considering Taako already knows the other Kirk. ]

He was pretty flashy and fabulous from what I recall. Awesome is a pretty tall order.

Pssshhh hardly. My life is basically fueled by weird at this point.

[Between gathering relics and battling their thrall and coming here and meeting Lup? Yeah his life is just about as weird as it has ever been. He shrugs a little.]

And don't worry - ya boy Taako's gonna add "awesome" to that list of adjectives for me. I'm Taako, from TV, being awesome is my natural state.

Good, then. I see no reason why this should be a problem.

[ Jim narrows his eyes and nods slowly, the look of a man who has clearly heard that whole speech before. ]

Yes, I've been informed. I guess I'll have to wait and see if you live up to all that.

[ If that sounds like a challenge, it's because it is. ]

[Well, it's a good thing Taako can rise to the challenge.

When he isn't being lazy at least.]

I may be but a simple wizard, but I'm among the only ones on this fleet that can conjure a turkey out of thin air, so I think I'm gonna be juuuust fine.

That raises a lot of important questions, though. A live turkey? A cooked one? Still with its feathers on? Don't just leave me hanging like this.

[ Questions must be answered, Taako! ]

Live is possible, but only if you want your friend turning into a turkey. Which I can also do, but it'll cost you extra.

[Also it's mean to turn people into turkeys, Jim. Even for a little while.]

It's no fun to conjure a cooked one and why go through the effort of defeathering? You might be a farmboy at heart, but I'm all about the ease and convenience of preplucked birds.

Hmm. Weird way to prank someone.

[ Would he? Probably not. But it is good to know Taako could do something like that. One never knows when they might need to turn someone into a turkey. ]

Do your amazing skills extend only to turkeys, or can you conjure up other protein sources?

[ Joking aside, this probably could come in handy in the middle of space. Not that Jim is that great at cooking, but... ]

No shame if that's your jam, my dude, just putting it out there that Taako's for hire if that's the case.

[He shrugs easily because it might be mean, but he'd do it if he's paid enough. Being ever-so-slightly morally gray came in handy when it came to being paid.]

I can conjure just about any food if I know what it is. It's how my crew is rolling in deliciousness. What I don't conjure, I transmute.

I'll keep it in mind.

[ But the rest sounds far more interesting, particularly given where they are right now. ]

It's a pretty handy power to have, while in deep space. I don't know if Kirk's ever told you about replicators we have on board our ships, but even then supplies have to be rationed carefully. Sometimes we can be out in space for months on end.

It's a pretty handy power to have anywhere. S'why I decided to specialize in it.

[He never went through space, but traveling on the road with caravans and later when he was on the run, sometimes it was easier to conjure food than to risk taking a trip into town. And when he was young and he'd needed something to make the caravans decide to pick him up, transmutation was a good skill to hawk.]

I've been traveling around before, I know how things can get scarce. Never heard of "replicators," but something like that might be happening here. The kitchens restock themselves on a regular basis. Unfortunately, it's mostly with that weird paste they like to pretend is edible.

Smart of you. [ It's a good thing to remind himself of. Not that he ever did know Taako that well, and he never spoke to him aside from a couple of conversations. ] Someone like you would be an asset to any crew.

[ Credit where credit's due, and Jim believes in complimenting people for their strengths. Just... don't brag too much about it. ]

Yeah, it's entirely possible that's the case, though there might be some sort of malfunction with the system in place. Replicators could recreate any kind of food you could think of. If they got stuck on something specific, then it was definitely because something was wrong with the system.

Tell that to the First Breath.

[He's more than earned his keep there though. And he knows Loki knows it, so he's not all that worried about losing his place. It's mostly just complaining to complain - a Taako speciality.]

I think it's more likely that the Atroma just don't give enough of a shit about us to give us real food. They revel in us suffering their protein junk. Cutting corners in food production forces us to go out and hunt or barter or whatever else. Makes for better TV, I'd guess.

I would, if I knew who they are.

[ But for now, Taako can just take the compliment as is. Though Jim has a feeling that Taako's current captain and crew must value his skills immensely, considering what their dietary alternative is. ]

Oh, good. That sounds just like my notion of fun. [ Dry sarcasm. ] Just hoping someone on board my ship can cook, because I'm practically null at it.

The God of Mischief Loki, the space elf Haggar - don't tell her I know her name - the dwarf engineer Tyrion, and the newest addition: the vampire Akeldama. Lord Akeldama. I guess he's kinda fancy wherever he's from because he reeeally insists on the title.

[There's his introduction of his crew. Save them from their own lack of taste buds please.]

You're on the Red Fish, right? [He's pretty sure that's where the transmission is coming from at least.]

Ah! I do know Loki. Or I knew him before, anyway. He plays mean, but he's secretly nice. Well, a little bit nice.

[ Kind of a softie at times, though God forbid Jim ever says that to his face. He could end up getting turned into a frog or something. Yikes. ]

For the moment, yes. But I'm putting in a transfer to another ship, the Heron.

Pfft don't you daaare tell him that. He isn't exactly the menacing type, but the old stories tell of all sorts of shit he can do to you if you're out of his favor.

[It's one of the reasons why Taako likes Loki so much - other than the fact that he was a paranoid, innocent little shit as a kid. Never hurts to have a god - or three - on your side.]

Ah if you're going to the Heron, you'll meet Lup then. Looks like me, cooks almost as good as me, but not quite the Taako original.

I'll tell him whatever I want, he'll just have to deal. [ He purses his lips and shrugs with a casualness that probably shows that he got along with Loki just fine before coming here. ]

I might have to try both of your cooking and judge for myself. [ He cants his head. ] Do you also do pastries and cakes? The Taako I knew before, he had a cute little pastry shop.

[Taako raises an eyebrow at that. Good luck having that attitude with Loki, my dude. It'd be sad to see Jim's handsome face turned into a toad, but it could be veeeery amusing, so he leaves it at that.]

Natch. Pastries, cakes, tarts, cookies, macarons, macaroons, scones, pretty much everything. I don't have much to do here but cook.

[And mess with the fabric of reality, but that's a side gig, really. He doesn't like hearing about "the Taako I knew before," though. It smacks too much of what Lup tries to skirt around, and he makes a face.]

Whatever deals or discounts some other version of me had with you though - it's null here, my man. Sorry, but no memory means no freebies. [A beat] No offense.

[ That's Jim for you, he likes playing with danger, and to him it's hard to have any other sort of attitude around Loki. He's done the whole careful and cautious act once already. Now, he's confident that he knows enough about the god to get on his good side a little more easily than the last time.

Either that or it will go disastrously. One way or the other, fun times. ]

What? Oh, no, I didn't have anything of the sort. Like I said, we only spoke a couple times, and that was a long while ago. It's just... [ He trails off, then lets out a soft sigh. ] I'm getting married. Thought I might need to find someone who could eventually bake us a really nice wedding cake.