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

[abracafcku]

[People start arguing over how they're going to use a freaking couch when the chairs didn't do anything, and Taako slides on over to where Lup is sitting. He can't sit himself, that's not what Haggar does, but he can hover in the background close to her and subtly kick the back of the couch. No laughing! It'll blow their cover!

Even if watching people gesture wildly at the couches and tables and chairs is hi-lar-i-ous. Someone tries to beat the side of the sphere repeatedly with the earlier chair and-- nope, fuck he's going to lose his shit.

Taako bites his lip and looks down at Lup, lowering his voice so only she can hear.]

I can't fuckin' believe this is working.

[necromanswers]

[She lowers her voice in turn, half-muffled behind her hand as she still tries to conceal her smile. She can't see from her vantage point anymore, but she can hear the thunk sounds of various furniture smacking against the sphere.]

Right? Sure as hell didn't imagine it would last this long. I think this song has driven everyone batty.

[abracafcku]

I mean, I did put it in like...fourteen times? Twenty-one?

[He shrugs a little, careful not to lean against the back of the couch.]

And these people have the self-control of excitable puppies. I never thought I would see people lose their actual shit over music though, this is great. Holy shit.

[necromanswers]

No kidding. ....Oh shit, [Her voice drops to an abrupt hiss of horrified realization,] I should have been recording this!

[abracafcku]

A grave miscalculation there, homie.

[Taako hadn't thought to record it either though. Now he's kind of sad, but it's a fleeting thing as the people start to riot even louder. It feels so weird to be emoting right now, biting his lip and trying not to laugh, while wearing Haggar's face.]

I mean, you still could. They don't seem to settling any.

[necromanswers]

Eh, it's okay. I missed the big reveal, the rest is just icing on the cake.

[She pushes herself upright again, somewhat composed, and leans over the couch to continue watching the chaos.]

Thankfully I've got a good memory, so I think I can hold onto this one.

[abracafcku]

[Makes one of us, he wants to say, but bites his tongue back. Taako's memory is a sticking point of late and one that he doesn't like to actually think about for more than, oh, now amount of time. He quickly brushes that aside and steps around to the front of the couch, perching himself on the arm of it.

He's only seen Haggar sit a few times, but she usually "perches" rather than sits. Lingering at the edge of seats like she's afraid relaxing into them might swallow her whole.]

Man, didn't think people would be this mad over a little musical appreciation. It's got a catchy tune! They should lighten up.

[necromanswers]

We could always sing along. I'm sure that would wildly improve the reputation of the- ....us.

[Almost slipped, there. And while she's joking, even as she says it she's tempted. The mental image of Loki and Haggar doing karaoke in front of an angry mob is kind of spectacular.]

[abracafcku]

[Taako, other than his mannerisms, has all but dropped the rest of the act until Lup's slip reminds him. Right, he's supposed to be acting and speaking like Haggar.

He resumes his best attempt at her voice, getting a little closer to her doom and gloom inflection this time.]

I have been trying to learn new things since...talking to these people. Perhaps this could be one.

[necromanswers]

Ah, yes. An excellent exercise in socializing with the peons. At least we've heard the song enough to know the words well, yes?

[She gestures with a hand to materialize the illusion of a fancy cocktail in her hand and lifts it in salute, beginning to belt out the lyrics in a Griffin-esque mediocre English accent.]

[abracafcku]

I believe we have heard the song enough for it to haunt us even in death.

[But? If Lup is going to sing, then Taako in a falsetto is going to sing along, but he'll look appropriately gloomy about it because Haggar isn't allowed to have fun. Ever. Even when she's having fun, she can't have fun. It's against her DNA or something.

Meanwhile, people are staring because who the hell sings along to this cursed song??? Apparently they do.]

[necromanswers]

[Taako's deadpan imitation of Haggar singing is amazing, which is great, except that it's very quickly causing Lup to lose her shit. Her share of the singalong keeps trailing off as she pauses to take a sip of her cocktail, hiding a gigglesnort between each sip and wrestling to hold on to a straight face.

It's... not going well. Every time Taako's voice shifts an octave her own voice hitches with laughter. Deception's never been her thing as much as his - she's more of an up-front and in-your-face kind of threat - and she's rolling a critical fail on this one.

But hey, at least she's having a blast?]

[abracafcku]

[He's having the time of his life and Haggar is....well, looking like she's dead inside as she sings about loving all the different parts of a cat's face.

So all in all a good day?

Whenever someone looks their way too closely, he clams up, only to start singing again once their attention is elsewhere. It's surprisingly easy to intimidate people into not sparing him a second glance in this disguise.]

You know, I think they're going to kill us if they ever find out.

[necromanswers]

[She's doomed, she's out, she can't do it anymore. Lup has her face buried against one arm, draped over the couch, her shoulders shaking with muffled laughter. Taako's Haggar game is too good.]

We... haha... we probably should not let them find out, then. Naturally.

[abracafcku]

[Fucking win for Taako! He barely stops himself from grinning, the corners of Haggar's mouth twitching from the strain of it.]

Oh, natch, they're not going to hear it from me.

[And if the gods be willing, none of these numbskulls will tell either. He's fairly certain no one saw him actually sing, even if they'd heard his voice. Haggar's voice. Whichever.

As he watches, the people at the bubble are getting frustrated again, agitated enough to go at the sphere's shield one more time, when it suddenly bursts, the spell coming to an end.

There's a pause and then someone runs to the panel, slamming a hand against the stop button.]

Entertainment's over for the evening, I guess.

[necromanswers]

Mmmhm. It was pretty good while it lasted, though.

[Damn you, spell slots, ruining the fun. With a final giggling huff, she lifts her head to watch the room begin to wind down.]

...We... may wish to evacuate, before they think to ask us questions about what just happened here.

[abracafcku]

[No sooner than is the suggestion out of her mouth, Taako's already up and heading for the door. He's never one to refuse a chance to bug out before things get bad and with the mood of the people in here? It could go very, very bad.]

Yup, peace. Taako's already out. You better keep pace or I'm gonna dust you.

[necromanswers]

Like hell I'm getting left behind!

[She has no qualms about ditching all hints of Loki behaviour and immediately lurches into a mad dash, scooting past him and running down the hall as fast as her legs will carry her.]

[abracafcku]

[Wait are they not-- SHIT.

Taako barely gets a glimpse of her as she rushes past, people turning to look as Loki books it out of the common space. He has a decision to make now and he wavers on the edge of it, eyeing the other captives as suspicion dawns in their eyes.

Gotta save the goof, no matter what.

"Haggar" shakes her head at the others.]

Only ask if you wish to incur his wrath.

[And then Taako is shuffling off after Lup, biting his lip to choke back his laughter once the hood can properly conceal his face. He's pretty sure no one wants to incur any godlike wrath so they're likely in the clear. Time to go find Lup and smack her one for almost ruining their perfect disguises.]

[necromanswers]

[As soon as Lup turns the corner and gets a few doors down she casts Invisibility on herself, pressing up against the wall and holding her breath as she waits for Taako to pass by so she can jump him. This is gonna be good...!]

[abracafcku]

[As soon as Taako trudges out of people's view, he straightens up, tossing the hood off his face so it's easier to see what's going on. He can't see Lup in the hallway ahead of him, so she must've booked it right on straight outta there.

He turns the corner and stops as he's confronted with an empty hall. He could believe that she got one hall ahead of him, but two? He can't even hear her footfalls slapping against the floor anymore.

This is.

Suspicious.

His eyes narrow, but he really has no choice. He starts moving down the hallway, eyes sweeping for anywhere she might be hiding.]

[necromanswers]

[She waits... and waits...

And then, when he comes up right beside where she's standing, she drops her invisibility and tries to crash playfully into his side, hands up.]

Blarghhh, they found us!!

[abracafcku]

[Yeah, she's definitely here somewhere. She may be good, but he's been paranoid since he was born and even with only a few months of knowing her, he knows she's not this quiet.

"Haggar" continues to carefully creep down the hallway, head turning this way and that, looking for nooks and crannies, open doors, anything. She's looking the opposite way when Lup appears out of nowhere and comes crashing toward her, hands up and yelling. She turns in shock, hands thrown up and---






Lup passes straight through Haggar like she's a ghost. The illusory image shimmers and then dissipates as Lup crashes through, the shocked look on Haggar's face remaining.

From behind Taako starts to laugh, doubling over as Mislead ends, pointing at her.]

The prestige!!

[necromanswers]

Wh-

[She flails, practically pinwheeling (which makes her Loki illusion look super graceful, which is an added perk) as she tries to catch herself. A last minute turn keeps her from completely eating shit face-first, but her back does smack against the opposite wall, and she gawks at Taako for a moment before her face goes bright red with indignant irritation.]

Oh my gods, you little shit! Mislead!?

[HE'S SO DEAD!!]

[abracafcku]

[Taako takes a flourish of a stage bow, grinning ear to ear. It probably looks super freaky coming from Haggar's face, but he's counting on that disconnect.]

Should know better than to try and put one over on me, nerd. A quiet hallway after you went down it? Waaaay too suspicious.