one.

[kindlymeant]

Who: Sansa Stark aaaand open!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: The Marsiva and the First Breath
When: Action for 24th and 26th, Broadcast on the 24th

( action; the marsiva )

[ after walking the ship with Anduin, she's come to have a better sense of the place - or it feels better, anyway, more practical, more reliable. although she had woken with some notion of where to go, it is experience that begets familiarity. so she's telling herself, anyway. it is hard to believe that steel walls will ever cease to be strange, that this will ever not feel as thought they all walk in the empty suit of some giant knight.

that would be a story, surely, but Alayne has to concern herself less with stories and more with what she has to hand; these steel walls and a realm of new faces, new minds.

and no direwolf, for that matter. being without Lady hurts less than it did when it first happened (blood on her father's blade, weight on his shoulders, something bitter and vicious painted on her sister's face) and yet she feels the absence of her wolf all the more acutely, like there is a hole where she ought to walk beside her. more than once in her wandering, Alayne finds her hands flexing for fur that is not there to grip.

she walks on anyway, mostly for the sake of busying restless feet. courtesy is a lady's armour, but knowledge might have become her mail. and she is curious, besides - suspicion that this is another fae trick lingers in the back of her mind, but the more she walks the more she believes Demeleier could be fit inside this place ten times. the assurance is not necessarily comforting; it begs the question what became of everyone else she'd been trapped with.

at least for some of them, she hopes she's the only one taken.

that's not particularly comforting either, but Alayne is quite used to that. ]

( action; ss first breath )

[ by the time that she is placed upon the first breath, Alayne is hardly more used to her surroundings but at least better at acting like it, and that's what strikes her as important. communications was the part they gave her and while she questions her abilities, her suitability, her worthiness, she is intent on playing her part. (she still feels out of place and silly in her new clothes, and with no needle to mark them as her own, but she holds her head up high so that none will notice.)

the first breath is a name of promise, perhaps, but she won't place much stock in such a thing. names have their own power but she's come to know better herself.

she spends her first day, for the most part and after learning the layout of the ship, where she's supposed to be - with the array of comms devices that she shouldn't know and yet does. but every so often she might peek in elsewhere, and despite her efforts there's still a clear kind of wonder written into her features. ]

( video )

I wonder, is there someone I ought to thank for bringing me here?

[ her smile is measured, unassuming, but the airiness in her tone suggests her gratitude is a careful, waiting thing. she does not yet know if this is safe - safer, anyway, would be a blessing of some sort. her suit sits primly on her shoulders, red hair half-braided neatly down her back.

(she had wondered about asking for dye, but there seems no means for requesting, and her red served her well enough in Demeleier. and so far, thankfully, she has heard nothing that speaks of, in whispers or otherwise, of Westeros.

it will do.) ]

My pardons. I understand there must be work to be done. But I am newly arrived, and seek only to better know those that I travel with.

[ she inclines her head politely. ]

My name is Alayne, and this place is like nothing I have seen before - but perhaps some are more familiar. Or, perhaps, you have known this already - being moved to somewhere new, that is. Whether by a means such as this, or something more mundane.

[ her gaze flits away, expression warmed by idle chatter. ]

I thank you, for your time.

Comments

[got_it_memorized]

[His expression is a little unsure, like he's trying to find a nice way of letting someone down. Maybe he is.]

I dunno that I'd be so quick to say thanks. Atroma's the one who brought us here, but we're still trying to figure out if Atroma's the one who sent a bunch of alien ships to attack us a few weeks ago. [He clicks his tongue.] I was thinking this place was better than what I had goin' for me back home, but I think maybe it's time to start looking this gift horse in the mouth.

[kindlymeant]

[ although his words are not precisely what she wants to hear - really, she's not sure what that might be - she does not seem overly perturbed. concern furrows her brow, but her expressions are quite calm, ripples in still water. ]

I am sorry to hear that. [ and she sounds it, truly. the notion of a bunch of alien ships is challenging, naturally, but she can get the idea. there's always something. ] But, how was such a threat fended off? And why, if I may, might you believe that was the work of Atroma?

video;

[dragonflight]

Interesting! Why do you think who -- or what -- brought you here should have your gratitude?

video;

[kindlymeant]

[ her smile lingers, as she pauses to consider. not the answer itself; that is prepared, sculpted already. instead, his question makes her curious in itself. here, she thinks, is one to be careful with. ]

Shouldn't I be grateful, my lord? [ still, it would be childish to answer a question with a question, at least when she's trying to gauge people, to learn, so she continues. ] I should like to have cause, at least. Alas, I know so little.

action; the marsiva

[survives]

[It's downright amazing, really, being in an actual, real spaceship. (Not that she'd even known what they were a day ago.) Amazing, unbelievable, and so... So quiet.

(It's easy to forget sometimes that Basel's gears are constantly turning, after all. Until she finds herself somewhere without them.)

So, as much as she's straining to catch any and all sounds, it doesn't take Leanne long to realize there's someone walking further along, in the same direction she's going.

After only a moment's hesitation, she quickens her pace and, once she's sure she's close enough, raises a hand to wave, smiling brightly.]

Hey... Hi! Are you looking around too?

[kindlymeant]

[ footsteps behind her are always enough to make her tense, uncertain, but Alayne is a practiced hand in hiding such things and so far there's been no need to feel directly threatened. that seems a cold comfort, but she has known worse.

regardless, it is something of a relief to see another girl, and her smile is heartening. Alayne returns it, nodding. ]

Yes. It's so unlike anything I've seen before. Have you just arrived, as well?

video

[destinyembrace]

I think that's the first time I've ever heard someone wanting to thank Atroma for bringing them here.

[But everyone has their reasons. Kairi doesn't dwell too much on it past that.]

It's a bit jarring for everyone brought here, I think, especially so suddenly. You're handling it really well, though. [Trust her, she's seen way too many people freak out in some form or another.] Nice to meet you, even under the circumstances, Alayne. I'm Kairi. I'm a cook on the SS Blue Fish.

video

[kindlymeant]

[ handling it well is the best that she might hope for right now - she inclines her head graciously, offers a smile in greeting. ]

Thank you, my lady Kairi. It is a pleasure. They have told me [ somehow ] that I will work with communications, though I am not sure yet what that might entail.

Have you been here for a long time, if I may? [ she assumes so, given how she speaks of the place. ]

video

[coppermarigolds]

This place isn't like what I've seen before, either.

[Greetings, have another redhead, though Aveline's expression is gently stern. She'll have no nonsense here, but she has a certain amount of sympathy for someone else thrust into what is a ridiculous situation.]

I can't say approve of kidnapping, but I also admit it could easily be worse. My name is Aveline.

video

[kindlymeant]

My lady, [ she inclines her head in greeting. there's something reassuring about Aveline's tone, perhaps how earnest it seems. ]

I agree wholly. None should suffer capture, but there may be reason for thanks.

Have you been here for some time?

action; first breath

[detectivewonder]

... You're settling in fast. Welcome aboard.

[Tim had missed the moment of her arrival, out flying one of the shuttles, but as soon as he saw the update he'd come right back, only to find his newest crew member already at work. That was... impressive.

'Impressive' is not an adjective that people apply to him on first glance. An inch under five and a half feet tall, floppy-haired, eighteen and still just a little baby-faced when his expressions are mild and his eyes are wide, dressed in the ubiquitous ship uniform, Tim often undersells himself on purpose when he's meeting someone new. Right now, he wants to be casual and nonthreatening, approachable, amiable, more than he wants to be an authority figure. That part comes later.]

action; first breath

[kindlymeant]

[ looking up at the sound of his approach, her banked caution settles beneath her curiosity. reaching out to the fleet as a whole is important, certainly, but perhaps of more immediate necessity is learning about those she now shares a ship with. she greets him with a smile, and rises to her feet to offer him a curtsey. ]

My lord. [ a safe address, at least to begin with. she's taller than him by a good bit, and he looks young to her old eyes, but he carries himself with confidence. ] Thank you. It is - quite amazing, to be here.

text

[theboogieman]

[rather unhelpfully, some text appears in response to her video.]

how old are you

text

[kindlymeant]

[ an odd question, isn't it? Alayne supposes there's no point in secrecy on such a matter, but the asking of it piques her curiosity, or her suspicion, or perhaps both.

she switches to text smoothly enough, thinking. a year and a half in Demeleier, and that on top of the rest -- ]

I am seventeen. Is that of great importance here?

Video

[wolfuncaged]

Yes, I have been to another place, before here. And apparently more that I do not remember. It seems it is a more...common thing than I could have anticipated.

It takes time, but you learn to adjust.

Video

[kindlymeant]

[ he has strange features, enough to catch her attention, but she does not stare. it would be impolite, and besides, she's seen plenty of strangeness where she's been.

her brow furrows, perhaps in sympathy. ]

I suppose that we are given little choice. I'd never even dreamed such a thing possible, and yet now I find I have been twice chosen.

action, First Breath

[deptofsass]

[ Steve's job is pilot, but (1) the First Breath already has a pilot, and (2) there's this nifty little muggle invention called autopilot where the ship basically can fly itself. So, Steve spends a lot of his time wandering. Upon this wander in particular, he comes across the Comms area, and notices the ginger-haired girl inside. She's young, so she's safe from his flirtations, but his curious nature draws him in nonetheless. ]

Oh, hello. You're new. Or, I haven't seen you before, I can only guess that you're new.

action, First Breath

[kindlymeant]

[ approaching footsteps always make her wish for her rowan. she came with her iron, a single, rough link of it, and the piece of metal is comforting, but there was no such thing as too prepared when it came to the Fae.

only, she isn't dealing with the Fae here. that, in itself, is not particularly reassuring, but all the same she smiles when she sees him, rising to her feet. ]

Very, very new. [ she curtsies. the effect of it is, regrettably, lessened by the clothing choice of Atroma, but she makes do. ] My name is Alayne.

[video]

[delincuente]

Jeez, what kind of hellhole did you come from that this place needs thanking?

[Alex gives her a confused, slightly disgruntled squint.]

[video]

[kindlymeant]

It's not that I'm thankful for being taken from home, my lady. Far from it, in fact. Had I a say, I should not leave my home.

[ there are plans there, after all, and even if she knows now that they will wait, she does not relish the wait. ]

But, my taking could have been worse. And perhaps they believe I ought to be flattered for their choice.

[openhands]

[Cassandra scoffs.]

They are undeserving of your gratitude. They brought you here for the purpose of entertainment, not for your betterment or well-being.

[kindlymeant]

[ there's a near-daunting amount of ire in the woman's voice, but Alayne assumes it is quite well placed. despite appearances, she has no reason to love Atroma. ]

I am certain of that, my lady, but all the same, there are those who may find their entertainment in cruelty. In such a strange place, I find myself relieved.

perma-action!

[realhumanbeing]

[He's only just starting to learn who his crewmates are, but nonetheless, Steven is fairly certain he's never before seen the girl who just entered the observatory. She's a few years older than he is, and terribly pretty-- but despite his nervousness, he offers her a friendly smile.]

Hi! Are you new here?

[He hops off the chair and comes over.]

I'm Steven.

[kindlymeant]

[ she returns that smile brightly when she sees him - truth be told, it's hard not to. he seems so young to be here, but there had been younger in Demeleier, and he does not seem unhappy, thankfully. ]

It's lovely to meet you, Steven. I am Alayne. [ a quick dip of a curtsey, less rigid than it would be for someone older, or less sweet in their greeting. ] And I am terribly new. I've only just arrived.

[ she looks around, eyes widening. ]

You do not work here, surely?

[action]

[mysunnydisposition]

[ Steph's on the treadmill in the cargo bay when the newcomer pokes her head in. She doesn't bother slowing it down or turning it off, but she does grin brightly when she realizes she doesn't know this girl, and lifts a hand to wave. ]

Hi! I'm... guessing you're new here and not just visiting?

[action]

[kindlymeant]

[ she's briefly distracted by the sight of the treadmill, a thing she's never seen before that seems at first to have no real purpose. whatever it is, however, is of little consequence. she returns the smile, and nods. ]

New today, my lady. You seem better settled than I.

video

[serves]

There are a good number of us that haven't seen anything like this before. Many couldn't even fathom something like this before now.

video

[kindlymeant]

Well, I hope it will not speak ill of me that I find such a thing heartening. This place is strange enough.