( october intro log )

[hownkai]

Who: Everyone
When: October 1st
Where: The mess hall, kitchen, and other locations
What: The crew
Warnings: None, but please label anything you do that needs a warning

SHIP LIFE

”Working together not only helps us move more quickly, it changes the nature of what we can undertake.”

The Ingress has pulled you in. Your body experiences several sensations at once: being pushed forward as if a hand is resting on your back, momentary and startling blindness, a gentle ringing in your head. You have difficulty discerning whether it is hot or cold, but where you have been prodded is noticeably warmer than the rest of you. Some may suffer from dizziness while others are perfectly fine. Once equilibrium has been reestablished, you will notice you are standing on a long platform and that the room is filled with a soft cerulean light. It's slightly humid and dark despite the glow around you, and various machines line the walls on either side, though they are not accessible from where you stand. Shortly after, you are led out and toward the medbay.

Inside this room, you are given a physical scan and sign a contract that states you are now part of the crew of the Moira with a specific job. This process consists of a complete work-up of medical history and current health, and afterwards, you are given your MID, a device that is integrated into your hand with only the slightest pinch. From there, you are guided out of the medbay and to your living quarters.

MERO DECK ● NOMO DECK ● MORO DECK

☄Crew members exposed to Exuo will notice that effects are slowly beginning to taper off. However, most will still continue to feel some agitation over the smallest things. Perhaps a visit to the UV beds will lighten that mood of yours.

☄MINI RECEPTION

Orders have been sent down to the kitchen to prepare something small but fulfilling for the entirety of the crew as a way to thank them for their hard work gathering supplies and returning to the Moira mostly unscathed. The mess hall has been decorated—kind of. There are small, tidy bows stuck to the backs of chairs and “party favors” spread out across the tables. These favors make a room smell sweet but are otherwise harmless. As a gift from Thán, he has provided the crew with a treat of sorts in addition to the foods the kitchen has prepared. All crew scheduled for morning shifts in the kitchen will have helped with these preparations. As a note, there is also a soft, unfamiliar melody coming from an old radio on one of the tables. The captains encourage everyone to relax, have fun, and get to know one another better.

Other areas of the ship are also open to exploration! Privileges for crew ranked Tiruncula** are as follows: (1) shift in kitchen and/or mess hall duties can be skipped each week without repercussions.

( ooc; **Ranks are listed here with an explanation. Please comment to activity check to receive new ranks (if applicable)! )

Comments

[tearmeanewone]

Well that... makes her raise her eyebrow. Elizabeth knows she can't see the nuances of other timelines anymore, but there's something about having to give someone independence that rankles her.

"...chocolate and nonpareils." She tilts her head. "Why not give them independence if they want it?"

[whatdidisay]

"Because they're our connection to the rest of the galaxy. They sold us out, an entire planet, to the Cetagandans for a profit." His voice isn't aggressive, but firm. "Twenty years and five million lives later and we finally kicked the Cetas off our planet. Which," he gestures with his spoon in her direction as he leaves her for the ice cream. "used horses in a war against an empire armed with nukes."

Barrayar will never let Komarr go. Not ever. Ivan manages to figure out what nonpareils are by process of elimination and returns, bearing one cup of ice cream with the proper toppings -- presenting it to her with a flourish. "As requested." He says, biting down on the instinctual milady that normally follows it.

IS COOL 8D You're only making me question my sanity when I keep seeing the same email in my inbox 83

[tearmeanewone]

And this is why she needs to learn to not express her opinion on things she can't see anymore. She feels a little low as Ivan walks off, like she insulted him by suggesting the situation wasn't right when she knew literally nothing about it. And she's honestly wondering if he's going to come back. But he does, surprisingly enough.

"Thanks," she says, accepting the bowl from him. "Sorry, it's a sore subject for me. Independence and exploitation. But obviously, I don't know what happened," she picks up the spoon out of the bowl and tries to direct more of the chocolate from the sides to the top. "So I really can't talk."

that's what i'm here for TBH

[whatdidisay]

He shrugs one shoulder, a noncommittal acceptance of her apology. "Yeah?" About it being a thing for her. Ivan continues on regardless. "It's weird, having to explain it to people here. Everyone back home knows about it. They aren't really happy about it either, but we've been pretty big on integration with Komarr."

[tearmeanewone]

"I imagine it's like a fish trying to explain coral reefs to birds. You've grown up with it as a fixture, so when you have to describe it to someone, the words don't quite come out."

That was why Booker hadn't been able to adequately explain to Elizabeth why the bathrooms in Battleship Bay were segregated. And why the Little Sisters as a concept didn't seem to bother anyone in Rapture. 'It's just the way it is.'

"But, in a way, it's an opportunity to stretch your brain-- exchanging concepts that you don't think about anymore with someone from a completely different experience. It probably won't happen to us ever again."

[whatdidisay]

"Probably not," Ivan agrees, and then grins slightly. "M'mother's been clamoring that I need to get some culture. I don't think this is what she meant."

He's not sure what else his mother expects from him, except something other than what he is. He gets the uncanny feeling that his mother knows what he does and why he does it, and he's never been sure how well that sits with him. Not that Alys Vorpatril has ever called him out on it, thankfully. That's one conversation Ivan never wants to have.

[tearmeanewone]

"Oh? Is your mother here too?" she looks around briefly, wondering if she was going to meet some critical gaze somewhere.

[whatdidisay]

"God, I hope not," Ivan breathes, casting a wary look around them as well. "I've already got Miles and Gregor here, one more relative would really be pushing it."

His mother would be too much for him to deal with. She normally is, but he'd be trapped on a ship with no escape from her. It's bad enough being in the same city.

Ivan loves his mother, really.

[tearmeanewone]

She can't help but chuckle at Ivan's response-- she supposes she would feel the same way if she had several family members watching her every move on an enclosed ship. "But you at least have people who understand when you talk about politics from your timeline. And I would think that if things get tough, you have a foundation to fall back on. A... 'support network'."

[whatdidisay]

"I think you've got the wrong message about my family," Ivan says, but there's no ill-will in his tone. "They're--" he flounders for the right words to describe Miles and Gregor, "the sort of people who don't talk politics, they're the sort of people who wander into the middle it and enjoy the feeling of it closing above their heads." Thinking about that for a moment, Ivan decides to amend the statement. "it's not hard with Miles because he's so damned short, and Gregor--" doesn't have a damn choice because he's the Emperor and he knows that Miles and I would rather die than be his heir "is Gregor."

He hadn't thought about the support network, though, and that gets another shrug from him. "Yeah, guess so." Except Ivan knows his lot in life, and it's to play second fiddle to his metaphorically bigger relatives, and be there to make sure they don't self destruct. He's okay with that, because if one of them does blow up, he's absolutely going to be collateral damage. Ivan would like to avoid that fate.

[tearmeanewone]

Elizabeth arches an eyebrow at the fairly cool response. Sure, not everybody got along with their family members, Elizabeth's case is no doubt extremely rare-- but it goes a little further than just that for her.

"Hm. I think one of the things that makes life harder is feeling as though no one can understand where you've been and how you think. Even if you don't talk about the same things, or don't have the same views, you still come from the same place and are familiar with the philosophies of your timeline. You never have to explain to them what a... Cetagandan? Is. There's something to be said for that."

There's something to be said for the cold, prickling feeling she'd had when a confused shopkeeper told her he'd never heard of the book she was asking for and Elizabeth realized it hadn't even been written yet. Maybe if there had been someone who could have laughed with her about it, she wouldn't have felt like she was the only person in a gallery of paintings. Moments that she could watch, but never enter.

[whatdidisay]

Ivan loves his family. His family just has a habit of putting themselves in the line of fire when all Ivan wants to do is keep his head down and go unnoticed. Barrayar excels at creating messy, violent ends for people who stand out too much -- and normally wrapping everyone around them up in it as well. Distancing himself from that is self preservation at its finest.

His look and nod of deferral is absolutely practiced, but no-less sincere for it. "That's true," he offers, talking through his last spoonful of ice cream. "And it could be worse. I've got worse relatives somewhere on my family tree. So what about you? Got any family you'd want to see here?"

[tearmeanewone]

She hadn't expected that question to be turned on her. For a moment, she looks like Ivan just punched her in the diaphragm-- it hurts and she can't speak. This is probably the longest and most awkward pause she's inserted into the conversation thus far, but finally she manages a sad smile.

"Trick question-- I wouldn't want his life interrupted so I could have someone to talk to," she says, busying herself with her ice cream again. "My father was my only friend, but his other daughter needed him more than I did. He needed her more than he needed me, too." That's really the only way to explain it.

[whatdidisay]

Score a point on the unknowingly tactless scorecard that the universe is keeping for him, then, but that's nothing new -- he's already racked up quite the tally.

Ivan doesn't really have anything to say to that, though, except for: "That sounds rough." That's... appropriately sympathetic, right? Right.

[tearmeanewone]

Elizabeth looks at him for a moment, wondering if something else is going to be said to elaborate on 'that sounds rough', but when nothing else happens she chuckles.

"I'm happy for him, bottom line. You'd want someone you cared about to be happy, even if you weren't around to see it, right?"

[whatdidisay]

"Yeah, of course." Mostly. Sometimes he wishes a world of trouble on his cousin when something comes up to annoy him. "Actually, I prefer it that way. Not being around to see it, it means they can't drag me into trouble."

As if he didn't make that clear before.

[tearmeanewone]

Well, it's not exactly what Elizabeth had in mind, but it makes her chuckle. "Fair enough. I have no idea what that's like, but I can still take your word on it. I guess that means you've been dragged into trouble, then-- because your relatives are here?"

[whatdidisay]

"Because I'm related to them," he simplifies. They're always dragging him into trouble, wherever he is. "Guessing yours don't cause trouble for you, then? Must be nice."

Would you like to trade, Elizabeth? He'd be more than willing to do so. "So, off the subject of family members, get your job assignment yet?"

[tearmeanewone]

"Oh no," Elizabeth laughs and shakes her head. "He caused plenty of trouble for me. But I did the same for him, so I think that made us even."

Nope, no deal Ivan. She wouldn't trade Booker for anything. "I did. Apparently I'm in charge of starting a library on the ship. Exciting, isn't it?"