thisavrou_log | ( december event log )

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( december event log )

Who: Everyone
When: December 17th and on
Where: Throughout the Moira
What: The reasons for power failure become a little clearer...
Warnings: Possible character death. Please label anything you do that needs a warning.

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transmission theory
"A thousand fibers connect us, and our actions run as causes, comimg back to us as effects."

As of now, it's common knowledge to the crew that Tipota is dead. The manner of her death, however, is still being determined, and the other captains have sent another reminder through the MIDs to continue traveling in groups and not to wander around. The power issue has yet to be resolved, though it seems nothing is apparently wrong with the engines or the wings, but slowly, the chill begins to recede into something a little more tolerable—still cold but not freezing. The malfunctions that manifest aboard the Moira start to resemble a more systematic pattern, lights flickering in certain sections of the ship before shutting down in intervals of 30 to 60 seconds and coming to life again. It moves on through several areas, though it doesn't affect places with larger groups of people.

A day or two after the power begins to stabilize itself, everything comes to a standstill. There's a moment that seems as if time slows and stops. Things are eerily quiet... Anyone in the hallways will hear the lock of one of the I.L.R. release, security measures suspended to preserve life support functions. What had been a peaceful moment roars into chaos.

☄ Ploiatos
It's been here as long as anyone can remember. It lurks in the shadows, a human-shaped figure dressed in the tatters of a Moira uniform. In the dark, it feels the most comfortable, and its movements are impossible to pinpoint without the light. From a distance, it might appear to be someone you know, another crew member who's become lost in the corridors, but up close — well, no one actually knows what it looks like. At close proximity, it sinks itself into you, and the cold that has plagued the ship seems warm in comparison as the dark rises. Perhaps there had been something to the warning the captains had given before; maybe you should R U N.
• Together: There is always safety in numbers. Ploiatos is severely confused by the presence of more than one body, and though it's attracted to the particular emissions of the crew, it prefers the choice of one to two or more. Trying to hunt or capture it is impossible; it's gone as quickly as you can blink.
• Alone: There is no hope. You don't realize that it's there until you're waking up, the marks of its touch spreading across part of your body. These are permanent, a beacon to Ploiatos that it's had you once and only needs to get you once more to end it. Once will not kill you, but a second time will. Any attempt at contact via MID isn't likely as they momentarily short out within proximity to the creature.

☄ Bait & Lure
For those brave enough to try, a plan has been implemented by several of the crew to attempt luring Ploiatos back into its room in the I.L.R. Life support systems are drastically depleted now, oxygen levels low and the lights barely working, but it's up to the crew and those who SIGNED UP to help protect their friends and fellow crew members.

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[ He hasn't seen Miles since they fought in his office. A part of it has been the ship's failing systems keeping him busy, it's true, but by the time he'd gone looking, Miles was being hauled out of the morgue. That didn't exactly put them in the best position to talk. Clark could hardly fault him for being where he wasn't supposed to - he and Snake had gotten chewed out by a captain for their own misadventure - but he and Miles seemed to have a talent for getting into arguments, and they hardly needed the added incentive.

Miles looks a little worse than the last time Clark saw him - he looks like he needs to be here more than Clark does, honestly. He wonders how long Miles has been seated beside his bed like that, but he doesn't even know how long he's been out.

Clark pulls his shirt back on, stalling. ]

If you were me, you'd already be up. [ He says, glancing over at Miles. ] What are you doing here?

[ Not accusatory, just curious. ]

Ah, but I've had much more practice.

[ that bleak little grin sharpens, his eyes glinting, but it isn't all flippancy. there's a real edge of concern to his gaze as he watches clark, eyebrows raising as he watches clark determinedly start to dress himself, tracking those black marks on his arm until they disappear under the sleeve. miles doesn't know how long he's been out either, but obviously, not enough. he shifts on the chair, propping his chin up on his arms. ]

I heard it from Ivan. [ he clears his throat. ] I figured I ought to come by.

[ to make amends, is the unspoken finish to that sentence, but miles figures clark will hear it anyway. miles can be proud at times, but he isn't above admitting when he's wrong -- and what had happened in his office really left a bad taste in his mouth. he's been such a miserable prick all month, no wonder clark had lost his patience. miles purses his lips as he watches clark. ]

Seriously, you ought to slow down. It's gonna hit you like a freighter as soon as you stand up.

[ That gets a wry little smile out of Clark. ] Fair enough.

[ He and Ivan hadn't been on the best of terms before this either - he'll have to talk to him again soon. It had been a frustrating time for everyone, but that doesn't excuse the fact that he'd gone too far with Miles. What he'd done had been -- petty. He should have handled things better. That Miles had come back - let alone to sit by his bed or apologize (sort of) - wasn't something he took for granted. ]

I appreciate it. [ He smiles, a little subdued, but entirely sincere. ] It's good to see a friendly face. I mean, the last time I woke up in a medbay, someone was planning to dissect me...

[ The words are light and distracted, but more than he really means to say, half focused on trying to get his buttons done up. (A far more frustrating exercise than could possibly be necessary.) The memory of helplessness and the lingering fatigue are a little too sharp a reminder of what happened on the Black Zero, and the sooner he leaves the medbay behind, the better.

He can practically feel Miles fretting at him. It's kind of him, and he's probably right, but Clark isn't planning to take much of his advice. Not because he thinks Miles is wrong - but because it doesn't really matter. As long as he can stand up, he's got to get back to work. He smiles at Miles again. ] You know, if you want to keep staring like that, you'll have to take me to dinner at least once.

[ He inclines his head. ] How are you feeling anyway?

[ dissect him? miles is starting to get a real sense of just what brand of loneliness clark suffers from. he's not really sure he deserves that smile, but he's relieved that he hasn't fallen out of the friend category as of that last spat. miles will allow that he was being kind of a prick. he smiles too, briefly, but his eyes fall on clark's hands, fumbling with the buttons, and he wonders if clark's hands are stiff as miles' are when he wakes up sometimes.

miles lets out a strangled laugh at that passing remark, swallowing it back in an attempt to make it sound a little less choked than it was. sorry, clark, miles is just a little too barrayaran not to choke on that one, and he's been having a weird time lately. ]

Ha -- like shit, thanks. [ it's an honest answer. he gives clark a wan smile. he hesitates just a beat, and shrugs. ] Osteo-inflammatory attacks. A result of my, ah, condition. I get them every so often. I don't think the cold is helping.

[ it feels a little bit like over sharing, but it's a peace offering, kind of. something to make up the deficit of honesty. he's still watching clark attempt to dress himself, still looking quite disapproving of this course of action. ]

[ It's normally all too easy to break something if he's not careful, but it's especially so when the numbness from the cold makes it difficult to tell if he's getting close to that. He's tempted to just give up on it, but it's not like he can walk around with his shirt half done-up, and even with Miles staring at him, his stubbornness will win out over embarrassment any day.

He smirks at Miles' choked laugh before he can help himself. He's never heard a sound like that come out of Miles. He doesn't seem angry or derisive just - uncomfortable. Clark isn't really sure why; he hadn't really meant it as anything, and Miles seems to know that.

Miles isn't really one to share much about himself, as Clark is getting to know very well. He doesn't expect more than the first comment. ]

Anything I can do? That hug offer is always on the table. [ The first bit is genuine, the last bit just teasing, though not untrue.

He pulls his jacket on, a thankfully much less laborious process that helps a bit with the cold that doesn't seem to fade. He hesitates.

Getting back out there and helping people is important to him, but so is sorting everything out with Miles. And frankly, there's a line between disregarding his duty and disregarding the safety of others because he's too stubborn to admit that there's something he might not be able to do.

Clark shuffles enough to sit cross-legged and pulls the blanket around his shoulders, too. He gives Miles a resigned look in the hope that he'll finally stop looking at him like a disapproving aunt. ] I'm guessing that trip to the morgue didn't help either. I'm sure you've heard this at least two times already but - what were you thinking, Miles?

[ miles actually creaks a half-smile at that gently teasing remark, though he doesn't answer one way or another, and somehow he still manages to retain that air of disapproval. his eyebrows raise and he watches clark appraisingly until he's satisfied clark isn't getting up any time soon, and relents. his mouth twitches back into something resembling a smile, though it's thin and bleak. not angry that clark's brought it up -- resigned, vaguely irritated, perhaps, and peculiarly amused. ]

Two? Ha. You should've seen my MID when Cúrre finally pulled our asses out of the morgue. I was surprised I didn't get any angry texts from you, actually.

[ ...probably for the better. the humor runs out of him, and miles deflates, shrugging, as he slumps forward against the chair. the fingers of one hand tease at the hem of his other sleeve, fidgeting restlessly with some loose thread. ]

Death can really mess with your perspective, you know. Not in the ways you might think, though.

[ if anything, it just makes everything so much more frustrating. being forced to take baby steps when you could be taking leaps. i beat death -- i should be able to beat anything. but no, he didn't beat death -- thán beat it for him. miles shrugs again. ]

So we die, and we come back. The hell's the point of a morgue, then? And why keep it locked? [ miles gestures vaguely with one arm at the medbay around them. ] I tried asking Captain Thán about it, but I didn't get much of a real answer. Par for the course. But that told me, more than anything, that were was something they didn't want the rest of us to see. It just -- didn't sit right. I knew there was more to it, and I was right. [ he spreads his hands. ] Who do you think found Típota's body in the morgue?

Edited 2015-12-24 03:39 (UTC)

I thought I'd have the chance to come and find you sooner, but then... [ He gestures vaguely. It's obvious what's been keeping him busy - especially recently. ] You should have told someone what you were doing - the life support systems were already failing.

[ It's clear he has more to say on the subject, but Clark stops there and takes a breath. It's the kind of irritation that comes from worrying about a friend, but he doesn't really have a lot of those to lecture. It's different, worrying about someone he knows personally.

Miles does give him a reason though, in his own way. Clark leans back and cards his fingers through his hair. ]

I thought so. That was good work. [ He would have done the same thing in Miles' place - especially if a Captain had said something like that. ] This still doesn't add up. If you came back, why didn't she? And why wouldn't they want us to know right away that there was a killer on the ship?

Edited 2015-12-26 06:22 (UTC)

[ miles smiles thinly, resting his chin on his arms. ]

Oh, believe me, I've heard it from Gregor -- and Ivan, and Elizabeth. Oh, and Bel Thorne, I don't know if you've met them yet.

[ he looks...genuinely surprised at that commendation, blinking and opening his mouth halfway before he catches himself. after their last conversation, miles was expecting something a little more on the side of dry humor, at least. he twists his lips halfway into a frown, though. it's a good question. why not bring back típota, especially if thán's the one doing the pulling back? i don't want anyone to die, he said. so why... ]

You know, I'm not actually sure they knew. A lot of weird, unpredictable horseshit seems to crop up on this ship. And Típota's death could have been an accident. It was impossible to say from looking at the body -- but it was damaged badly. Electrical damage. Not like the marks people've been coming in with. [ like yours, clark, for instance. ] It might have had to do with the power fluctuations earlier in the month, or it could've been from that thing, it's hard to tell without... Hey! [ miles suddenly sits up as a sudden new insight occurs to him, slapping his fist into his palm as his eyes widen, gaze sharpening. he's suddenly talking a lot faster. ] Maybe that's why they kept the body! Autopsy, forensic investigation. Maybe they didn't know -- and they were trying to find out.

I have, actually. [ He's not generally swayed by charm, but Clark had liked Bel instinctively even before he found out he had anything to do with Miles. He hadn't realized they were close enough for Bel to start scolding him, too. ] Maybe if you hear it enough, some of it will actually get through. I know you didn't plan to get trapped, but even the captains don't fully understand this ship.

We all need to be more careful than what we're accustomed to - myself included. [ He rubs a spot on his arm absently. ] Doesn't mean we should stop trying to find answers, though. [ However unexpected the commendation was, he did mean it.

He didn't know the details about Típota's body, but they raise as many questions as they might answer. He watches Miles light up as an idea occurs to him, and Clark sits up a little straighter too, something in his gaze sharpening. He's already turning over what Miles has said. He almost tells Miles to slow down, but it's not really a big deal. ]

But couldn't they just ask what happened after they brought her back? Unless it would take too long, and they got caught up dealing with this before they could examine the body...

Ah, good. Bel's an old friend of mine, I figured you'd meet them sooner or later.

[ an irreverent grin, though somewhat fond. oh, yes, an old friend indeed. ]

Maybe not. I don't think she knew what hit her, if it was that...thing. Or even if it wasn't -- electrocution isn't really a slow death. If it really was electrical, she wouldn't have seen it.

[ but then he slumps as though all the air has suddenly gone out of him, frowning in dismay. ]

Or...maybe not. There were no autopsy incisions on the body, and she'd been dead at least a few days. You'd think Cúrre would get on that immediately. I don't know.

[ he doesn't, and that's the most frustrating thing of all. there is a bigger picture he can't see yet, but he knows it's there -- a thousand-piece puzzle, but miles only has a handful of pieces. his gaze darkens in thought, a hand rubbing over his chin. with that trail of thought trickling off, he's all too aware of the unaddressed tension between himself and clark. what had happened in his office a couple of weeks ago wasn't what he'd wanted to happen. miles knows he's playing it close to the chest with clark, especially with everything clark's done for him, but miles can't break security to clark. he just can't. he could bring it up, but he doesn't really know where to start. he ought to bring it up. ]

Clark... [ he starts, but the air runs out of him and the rest of it comes out as a sigh. god dammit. apologies have never been his strongest suit, and he's not even sure where in here the apology even fits in. there are so many other things at play here. ]

They seemed pretty fond of you for some reason. [ It's obvious from his tone that Bel isn't the only one who feels that way. ] We didn't get to gossip about you too much though - how did you two meet?

[ As for the body - Clark just shakes his head. Miles is right - this is Cúrre's department, and she seems like the type of person who stays on top of things as much as possible.

All they've got at the moment is blind guesswork, and that's not going to lead anywhere unless one of them can get a hold of a captain who's willing to talk about it. ]

Hmm? [ He glances at Miles, who seems to be lost in thought for another reason now. Clark takes in his expression. He shifts a little in bed, drawing a knee up to his chest so he can wrap his arms around it. ]

You know, back home, I work pretty hard to be invisible. I get it if there are things you can't tell me, or don't want to. But you didn't have to treat me like an idiot because you wanted to pretend what happened between us didn't mean anything. [ He sounds more tired than anything. He rubs a thumb over the scar on his arm again. ] I shouldn't have... Sorry about your desk.

Oh, it's ancient history.

[ miles waves a hand, though he's grinning slightly. the story he's remembering is different than the one he's telling, of course, but it amounts to the same thing. well, actually, he thinks clark is missing out by not hearing about how bel threw miles into a wall the first time they met. ]

Back when I was first made an ImpSec courier, I got tangled up in a nasty hostage situation with a host of diplomats from other planets. One of their governments got so desperate they hired some mercenaries to come and break us all out -- Bel's a captain of a mercenary ship, don't know if they mentioned it to you. Fastest in the fleet, the Ariel. Anyway, one young upstart of a courier managed to team up with the intrepid mercenary captain, and with his inside information they managed to save the day with no loss of life. [ he finishes the animated tale with a sweep of his arm. ] We've kept in touch since then.

[ except now this is the part of the conversation miles can't breeze through with airy humor and savoir faire. his expression subdues, his eyes flicking to the scar on clark's arm, and miles winces slightly with the faint air of a scolded puppy. and oh, he knows damn well what he did. he lets out a breath through his teeth, leaning forward against the back of the chair, and shakes his head. ]

No, I think that was at least a little bit called for. [ he draws in a breath. ] And...you're right. That wasn't called for, particularly after you helped me pull my head out of my own ass over the whole...dying...thing. Frankly, I don't think most people would've had the patience to do much more than tell me to do so. You wouldn't have been the first. So I'm...sorry, Clark. That wasn't what should've happened.

[ there you have it, clark, a bona fide apology from miles naismith vorkosigan. not that they're all that rare, he's just occasionally bad at them. miles gives him a slightly sickly grin, too tired to be sheepish, and it fades into a thin flattening of his lips as he bites them together. he looks a lot more serious. ]

But there are things I can't tell you. That in itself was supposed to be a secret. It isn't that I'm not willing to reciprocate what you told me, it's just... [ he holds a hand out helplessly. ] It's different.

[ Even while he's absorbing all of the details of the story, Clark can't help but think Miles is fascinating to watch, with all of his barely contained energy and animation. There's a spark in him that all but glows. Clark wants to ask questions - he always does - but it's better to deal with one thing at a time. ] You know Miles, sometimes your life makes this place sound downright ordinary.

[ His expression sobers as the conversation turns toward the more serious subject of what happened in Miles' office. He doesn't really expect a full-fledged apology, but that's exactly what Miles gives him. Clark's shoulders sag a little. ]

It's okay. We both did things we're not proud of, and there's no guidebook for dealing with... with coming back from the dead.

[ It was a bad time all around, but Clark is glad that their friendship seems to have survived it, at least. He looks little pensive, but he nods. ] It is different. And it's not just yourself you have to worry about here. I understand. Maybe someday...

[ They can be completely honest with each other. It's a thing most people take for granted. What does he really know about Miles? And what does Miles know about him? Is it naive to trust someone because he can't help but see light in them? ]

Come up here, seriously. [ Clark grins, easy and boyish. ] I'm cold. And miserable. And injured.

[ miles has to lie to at least half the people in his life about who he is or what he does for a living -- a regular necessity, but that doesn't mean miles doesn't hear the faint echo of a door closing whenever someone gets added to that count. miles smiles lopsidedly in some kind of weak assurance. it'd be nice to be that honest with clark, considering his secrets... not the same as being covert ops, exactly, but he depends just as much on keeping his secrets. maybe one day when i'm not going crazy just trying to keep minestraight.

okay, well, after clark put up with his sorry ass long enough to actually extract an apology, miles figures the least he can do is meet that request. something about that smile makes it harder to decline. ]

Well, my mother does say it's bad karma to refuse the requests of the infirm. [ miles smirks good-naturedly at him and slides off of the chair, pushing it closer to give himself an easier boost onto the medbay cot next to clark. ] I don't know what you think I'm going to do for the cold, though. You're about four of me.

[ hospital beds never are intended for more than one person, but miles, at least, doesn't take up nearly as much space, making it easier for him to tuck himself in next to clark, one leg dangling over the edge of the cot. ]

[ He remembers sitting across from Lois in an army interrogation room months ago. You let them handcuff you? She had asked, bemused. But it wasn't so different from what he'd been doing most of his life. He tries to allow people to believe what they needed to, in order to feel safe. Whether it comes in the form of handcuffs and assault rifles or a pair of thick-rimmed glasses, there will always be a necessary barrier between who he really is, and who the world is ready to accept, if he wants to be a part of it. It might not be the same thing that Miles does, but it's a distance he's readily familiar with.

Thankfully, things are a little different here, so maybe there's hope for the future - for both of them. Clark moves a little so he can lean back against the pillows and lifts his arm so Miles can fit against his side. It's really not a very big bed. ]

I think I need sunlight to recharge, but you're the closest thing right now so... I just want to warm up a bit.

[ Maybe a little of this is because Miles looked cold too, but Miles doesn't have to know that. ]

I sort of wish I had my tablet here. I could subject you to country music while you can't refuse.

[ miles knows he's in a unique place of closeness with clark, if only for what clark had revealed back on caducus primary -- but would he have shared even that if he knew miles wasn't going to stay dead? and clark already knows more about miles than most people on the ship. he's closer than the thinks, is the thing. and oddly enough, that's what makes miles twitchy about it.

but they're still friends. came through the other side alright. and at least they know where they stand now. miles hesitates only a moment before he scoots in closer, leaning against clark's side. ]

What, because of my sunny disposition? [ miles gives him a thoroughly sardonic grin, then his brows draw down. ] Wait, you're solar powered?

[ something about this evidently strikes miles as delightfully fascinating, going by the grin that lights up his entire face. no, not just fascinating -- oddly charming. he wrinkles his nose at what he is fairly certain is some kind of threat from clark, though, and snorts, working his legs under the covers next to clark. ]

I don't know what country music is, but that sounds ominous. [ he smirks. ] Well, I suppose it's probably a good thing that I can't force you to sit through old Barrayaran war ballads in retaliation, then.

[ Clark just grins back. Maybe one day Miles will actually figure out that he's being flirted with, but he's sort of hoping it doesn't happen right now.

He doesn't expect the sheer delight with which Miles seems to take to the stranger quirks of his physiology. Clark chuckles. ] Sort of. [ He usually leaves it there, but Miles told him a little bit about himself earlier, and feels like he should return the favor. ] My cells absorb solar radiation - the younger the star, the better it is for me. But if we end up somewhere with an older sun, like a red giant... I become just like anyone back home.

[ On Earth, on Krypton - both would be true. Clark smiles, though there's something a little distant in the expression. As for music... ]

I've been told it's an acquired taste, but it's not as bad as people make it out to be. [ He wrinkles his nose a little, copying Miles' expression mostly for effect. He can't help being curious - a war ballad sounds interesting, honestly. Like an oral history. ] You know what? When things around here settle down, you're on.

[ don't worry, clark, he's totally behind the curve on this one.

but miles doesn't mind sitting with clark like this, although it's certainly not the sort of thing men do on barrayar -- excepting close family, like ivan, and at times when one gets properly vor drunk. he's grinning through the explanation, though his eyebrows raise in curiosity and interest, the grin fading into a more contemplative look. ]

Huh. I didn't realize it affected your, er, abilities. [ he rubs at his chin thoughtfully. it's hard to picture clark without them -- he can still remember watching clark rocket off into the sky, the strange look of his eyes when he'd used his laser vision to keep miles warm in his last moments on caducus primary. ] You seem to be doing alright so far, though.

[ he damn near bursts into laughter at that challenge, managing to keep it down to an amused snort. oh, it's oral history, alright. ]

You may regret that. Barrayaran war ballads are...well, they're very old, and some of them are a little, well... Not for the faint of heart. [ that comes with a smirk. he sees that little mimicry there. it's not as though he thinks clark is so faint-hearted, but it does merit warning. it is barrayar, after all. ] That, and I can't carry a tune to save my life.

[ He hums absently. ] I learned about it recently. Must be your nurturing presence helping me along, too.

[ Clark is definitely teasing him, but it's nice to get something that close to a laugh from Miles after everything. And it does help, actually, just talking to someone about things that aren't life or death.

He might not be this close to a lot of people back home, but there was enough that he misses the easy human contact after months and months. ]

You're gonna sing it? Oh, no, I'm holding you to that.

[ miles lets out an amused scoff -- as if he can't tell when he's being teased -- but he's still tucked warmly against clark, evidently not going anywhere soon. this does help, a lot. miles is just glad for the release of tension. ]

Oh, no. Like hell you're getting me to sing anything. [ he smirks, then looks considering for a moment. ] I bet I could get Ivan to do it.

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( december event log )

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i'm sorry i keep writing you accidental novels

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