the white noise is deafening silence

[thespaceopera]

[In the very early hours of January 20th, as the Marsiva and her captives drift nonchalantly through the depths of the universe, there is a call. Every single personal communicator and console springs to life, spitting out a stream of indecipherable static and showing only gray snow on screen. It continues like this for a few seconds longer, going black and then going staticky, and then the signal switches to the encrypted channel generally used for speaking to the Interceptors when something big goes down.

This is a little more successful. The voice may be familiar to some, at least through the static.]

Zhade here! I trust I ███ your attention? I'm having some ██▓▓ble ██tting through. Some of the ░▓██▓█ are missing. I can't ░▓▓▓ read on their loc█████ns. [A particularly long burst of static.] ███stening. I'll s█▓▓█ more inf██▓▓▓▓▓█ I get it.

Stay sharp! [There's the sound of someone actually doing the fingerguns wink noise, and then static.

Any messages sent back won't get through, and Zhade isn't there to answer.]

[ A blip of lost time passes right after those words, before every passenger mysteriously wakes alone in their own unfamiliar room. The style of decor resembles that of the Marsiva's Hospitality Deck, if any passengers should remember what that's like. It sounds and smells the same as the host ship as well, all clean and chrome.

Welcome back to the Marsiva, dear passengers. It's time for round three of calibrations. ]

[ This mingle will cover all non-calibration room interactions. Please continue to come back to it for the duration of the plot! You are, of course, free to post any other mingles/posts/etc. that you'd like. ]

Comments

a

[theirondragon]

[Bull is really doing his best not to be creeped out by all the, you know, sudden transportation, or the idea of being trapped in close quarters with no means of escape for an undetermined amount of time. He doesn't trust himself, not that he's really explained that to anyone save a select few who have mostly gone home. He needed a distraction, and Lup had always provided. It didn't take much for her to get him to come over, and as uneasy as he is, he's smiling.]

I'm pretty good at not sleeping during sleepovers, so sure.

[necromanswers]

Rad. Come on in and-

[She pauses, glancing at her little tent.]

Hold up, might need to modify the fortress first. I didn't take minimum horn clearance into account.

[theirondragon]

[He crouches down, but nods, chuckling.]

Sure thing, Sparky. Take your time.

[necromanswers]

[She starts fussing with the chairs, blankets, and other materials to widen the space available; it's still going to be a very tight fit, because no amount of adjustment can make a blanket tent fully fit a fellow of his... caliber... but he should be able to lounge comfortably enough by the time she's done.]

Want some hot chocolate? I made a pot.

[theirondragon]

[It's all good, Lup. The Bull's used to barely fitting places, being large for his people. His one good eye lights up at the prospect of hot chocolate, though and he grins.]

Shit yeah! Nobody knows how to make it in the south, at least back home.

[necromanswers]

Yeah, nobody really knows how to make it here, either. Thankfully you've got a professional around to help.

[She pours him a mug and offers it out; it smells amazing, far better than what the crap ingredients they've got here ought to allow, and it tastes just as good. Enjoy!]

[theirondragon]

[Oh, he does enjoy, and gives a grunt of satisfaction just so she knows he's enjoying it. That and when the Bull is pleasured, that just what happens... especially with food.]

That's the stuff! Damn, Sparky. Is there anything you can't do?

[necromanswers]

Mmm... well, I can't heal anybody. And I can't tie a knot in a cherry stem with my tongue. But those are all the freebies I'll give you!

[theirondragon]

[He chuckles.] What's tying a knot in a cherry stem prove? There are better things to tie in knots. Just saying.

[necromanswers]

[She smirks at that. Was that a bondage joke? In her blanket fort? Beautiful.]

Oh, for sure. But I always figured it was just a silly status symbol... or at least a way of proving that you're good with your tongue.

[theirondragon]

[He laughs heartily at that.]

You know what's really good at proving that? Doing something productive with your tongue.

[necromanswers]

I don't disagree! On the other hand, the fun sort of productive tongue-tying isn't safe for public consumption, usually.

[theirondragon]

Ha! Speak for yourself, Sparky.

[necromanswers]

Oooh, you an exhibitionist, Cap?

[theirondragon]

I've been known to enjoy group company.

[necromanswers]

[She laughs.]

Somehow that does not surprise me at all!

[theirondragon]

[He's still grinning.]

That easy to read, huh?

[necromanswers]

You're not subtle about certain things, my dude. It's just the impression I get.

[theirondragon]

I'm subtle about being subtle. That's the important one, right?

[necromanswers]

[She giggles and clinks her mug up against his in obvious agreement.]

I like your style, bull-man.

[theirondragon]

Heh, you too, Sparky. Keep blowing shit up and we'll be just fine.