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.
☄ PloiatosIt'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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thisavrou_log2015-12-17 11:19 pm
no subject
[ 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?
no subject
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.
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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...
no subject
[ 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. ]
no subject
[ 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.
i'm sorry i keep writing you accidental novels
[ 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.
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
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. ]
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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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
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[ 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.
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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.