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

[brooklyn_boy]

What? No! No, it's not a joke!

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki takes a moment, eyeing steve before sighing, a touch uncomfortable. ]

There is no need to compliment me for no reason.

[brooklyn_boy]

It's not for no reason.

[He shrugs.]

Just pointing out truths.

[dothelokimotion]

[ the tips of loki's ears go the slightest shade of pink. ]

Ah, then . . . thank you?

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve reaches to give his shoulder a pat]

Don't mention it. Really. It's just truth.

[He looks at the paint and shrugs]

I guess I should get working. I'll have you something of Stitch in a day or so. Depending on...you know. Sleep.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he blinks at the touch. ]

That is not necessary. The paints are yours to use.

[brooklyn_boy]

What else am I gonna paint? The beautiful sunset outside? Nah. It'll be a thank you gift.

Unless you don't want it?

[dothelokimotion]

[ this is still . . . odd. him, getting presents??? ]

I — I would like that.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Another firm pat]

Good. Okay. I'll get on that.

[Sheepish]

I might need a canvas though....?

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki rolls his eyes, but again, with a mere flick, a canvas appears. ]

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve beams.]

This is great. Thanks, Loki.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he shakes his head. ]

Think nothing of it.

[brooklyn_boy]

Well, someone once told me that magic is a gift, so I'll say thanks all the same.

[Steve hooks a thumb over his shoulder.]

I'll get going so you can go back to Stitch.

[dothelokimotion]

Ah . . .

[ loki shifts on his feet. ]

Do you still want your movies?

[brooklyn_boy]

Oh! Right!

[The joy of paint had almost made him forget.]

Yeah, I'll take Snow White off ya, if you have it.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki nods. he heads over to the stack, digging through them before returning, handing it over. ]

It's yours.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve takes it, grinning at the familiar cover]

When I'm done I'm giving this back. You need to watch the real original Disney.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki huffs. ]

It had better be impressive.

[brooklyn_boy]

Just keep in mind this was the first animated movie. Ever.

[dothelokimotion]

Even so. I have high expectations.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve tosses a Look at Loki]

It's historic. And it's an old Earth fable with good songs. I think you'll at least like the dwarves.

One's called Grumpy.

[dothelokimotion]

[ his eyes narrow. ]

I don't like what you're implying.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Picture of innocence, over here.]

Not implying anything, pal.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he huffs. ]

You had better not.

[brooklyn_boy]

Why? Would that make you...

Grumpy?