( march intro log )

[hownkai]

Who: Everyone
When: March 1st and on
Where: The Moira + Ceta
What: The crew finds themselves on the planet of Ceta
Warnings: Potential sci-fi creature death. Please label your content!

I N T R O L O G

by the inquest "Arguments on their nature are refuted by those who return to shore, wide-eyed with tales of their savagery." All Moirans are woken to the sounds of the ship coming to a rather grating halt some time in the early morning cycle. It’s no faster or slower than any other stop, but it is unexpected as the captains didn’t mention an upcoming disembarkment. Shortly after, a message is sent to every MID: Navigation has informed us that we’re approaching bad traveling conditions: an overactive star. Instead of stopping on Liant El, we’ll be docking here on Ceta. Please exercise caution while gathering supplies and during excursions. Follow their safety guidelines. If the chance allows, we’ll also be signing new crew on the planet. Please greet them first and show them to the ship. Thank you. 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 nothing is familiar. For those few who come through Ceta's Ingress, there will be crew of the Moira there to greet you. They tell you of the Ingress, how it is broken, even on this planet, and that the ship is headed back to the origin of this technology. This planet’s Ingress is set precariously atop a floating rock formation, the only way from one area to the next is on small air-propelled boats. Crew members will guide everyone back to the Moira and take them to the Medbay; contracts will be signed posthaste. WELCOME TO CETA At first glance, Ceta seems mostly inhabitable, and that's because it is. The atmosphere around the planet is surprisingly thick in most places, sometimes thin in others, and without some way to filter the air, it is mostly unbreathable; it's a giant gas planet, its core made of various molten metals and the atmosphere a mix of oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrous. Ceta's gravity is also uneven, meaning that some areas will have stronger focal points than others. The terrain, when it is visible, appears rather rocky—hardly the best conditions for life and stable living. What's more unusual, however, is that despite this fact, there is, indeed, a small populace "living" among the mist and clouds, but it's clear they do not live here year-round. It's hunting season, and they are there for the bounty. These visitors have built small platforms that are hooked together by ropes and swinging bridges, which they call "temporaries". Unstable buildings are rare, dangerous, and spread out over these temporaries to prevent damage or accidents. The temporaries float along, swaying and shifting with the planet’s atmosphere, and posted at every point of entry and all open surfaces are a particular set of rules that everyone must abide by. They are written in dark ink and large block letters so that all passing by will stop and read them: NO FIRE. Flammables, ignition sources, matches, lighters, and anything that creates a spark is prohibited. The atmosphere has higher levels of hydrogen, and the smallest spark will create a problem. AIR BREATHABILITY. Monitor your vitals. Wear masks or re-breathers if needed. WATCH THE EDGE. All walkways are the only thing from you and falling. Be cautious and watch your step. These signs should be given their due attention. The edge is just that: the end of where it is safe to walk. If a wooden plank gives way beneath your feet, you will plummet through hundred of miles of atmosphere before hitting the planet’s thin surface. The captains reiterate that crew should be careful and stick to the main temporaries, gather supplies, visit at their leisure, and then go back to the ship. ☄ IT'S A BIRD! IT'S A PLANE! The organisms that have evolved on this planet are unintelligent—a fact that is told to you by the other visitors. As there is no solid materials or ways for them to interact with their environments, these giants float along within the atmosphere, though it appears that they are flying when they are merely navigating through. They travel in groups of three or more and sometimes come close to the outskirts of the temporaries. Because there is an invisible filtration dome around the temporaries, this allows the creatures to pass through without harm and return again into the mist as they please. They are difficult to see at night and are rather skittish in the presence of sudden light. ☄ @ THE MUSEUM Every evening when work is done, artificial light sources illuminate the streets of the temporaries. There is one bar, if you can actually call it that, but the main attraction is a museum. The support structure appears to be made out of the skeletal system of the giants that "swim" and live on Ceta, and though the outside seems rather unassuming, the inside is not for the faint of heart. As it's considered informative, there are displays of the internal structures and functions of the very creatures that seem harmless and as unintelligent as the visitors claim. There are sections of the museum dedicated to their anatomy and what makes them so valuable: inside their air sacs, which is what gives the illusion to flying through the atmosphere, is a mineral that, when harvested, attunes and sharpens the senses so that brain capacity and function excel over one-hundred percent efficiency. Likewise, aside from these informative areas, there is also a history of how and when the visitors began to hunt them for this valuable, unnamed resource. ☄ HARVEST SEASON Are you looking for work? Or perhaps you're bored with your duties aboard the Moira and prefer to see just what it is these visitors do during the day? Hunters will often pay for menial labor to help with the killing and retrieval of the giants of Ceta. It is by day, not by hour, and once aboard one of the many ships, you will be put to work handling equipment or being on the lookout for "signs" of the creatures. Once they've been spotted, the real work isn't in capturing them or even trying to subdue them—though they give a good fight. It's in the harvest, done below deck once they have been safely brought into the ship's cargo areas by the tethers, that can get quite gruesome. As a defense mechanism, cutting into the skin creates a rather noxious emission that can cause disorientation, hallucinations, or unconsciousness. Worst case scenarios can often result in death. ☄ WORD LIMITS As things are beginning to wind up (or down), something seems to have gotten into the MID systems and caused a malfunction. On the morning of 03.13, it suddenly becomes clear that communicating with others who are not from the same universe or similar timelines seems very difficult. Understanding each other becomes rather hopeless as the day continues, and these repercussions can be felt across the entire ship. The Captains send out another MID message that appears as a jumble of unusual letters and symbols. However, there is one word that can be read by everyone and (hopefully) understood: RATCHET. Figuring out this problem shouldn't take long if everyone can leap the language barriers and work together. ( ooc; All New Arrivals: you have the choice of coming through the Moira's Ingress OR Ceta's Ingress. For questions, go here. Please comment to activity check to receive new ranks (if applicable)! )

Comments

[soldiergenes]

So Liquid's actually from further ahead in time than Snake. It's not by much when Snake considers that Miller is decades behind him, but still, over a year's time and he has no idea what happened then. Except that Liquid and Ocelot lost RAY, which is one small blessing. "What happened to it?" he asks with a tilt of his head. Snake doesn't expect Liquid to give him the full truth, but he might be able to surmise something from his response all the same.

Shouting just to hear his own voice is more or less Liquid's M.O., so Snake doesn't see why that would have stopped him. He doesn't seem that busy either, if all he's doing is working out in the rec room. There must be something else going on here. Maybe Snake's being overly paranoid, but that's what happens when your estranged brother carries out a terrorist threat.

If Liquid were to get back to Earth and maintain his presence in his old body, it could make for a giant mess, one that Snake really would rather not deal with. It's not like there's anything he can do to stop it, though, not unless he decides to put Liquid down right here and now. That would probably benefit everyone in the long run, but he can already imagine the sort of problems it would cause.

Which means that for better or for worse, they're stuck together.

Snake narrows his eyes at Liquid and then shrugs. "I think the captains aren't very good leaders and don't know what they're doing. And that there's probably a lot they're not telling us." Frankly, they're idiots. On the other hand, putting the idea of mutiny into Liquid's head is not something he wants to do. "Still, staying on this ship is the only way I'm getting back to Earth, so..." Try not to make it a completely miserable experience for him, Liquid.

[saveyourserpent]

Liquid looks at Snake blankly. "Well, RAY's out there, somewhere," he says, vaguely waving a hand in a random direction. "And I," a gesture towards himself, "am out here." Apparently nothing's happened to RAY so far. Nothing he'll tell his brother about, anyway. "Who knows what Ocelot's done with it at this point. I can only assume he'd want to get himself a new arm immediately, and maybe he's brought it with him wherever he's gone."

He doesn't know. He'll never know, until he gets out of here.

Snake might not appreciate the possible mess but Liquid, on the other hand, is entirely prepared for whatever chaos might ensue if he returns home fully himself once more. Imagine, coming back from the dead to get his revenge. Or just to get something to eat. The possibilities are endless, and he's sure he'll have time to prepare for just what he might like to do when he gets back.

And considering the entire ship's supposed to work together here, there's nothing Snake can do without some sort of repercussions at stake. As far as he knows, he's pretty safe.

A wide grin spreads across his face when Snake makes his opinion known. "That so? Good information to have. I do appreciate the heads-up, brother." He's going to collect information like an information sponge. Hell, it's pretty much part of his job, isn't it?

"I want to get back just as much as you do." Maybe more, since he'll no longer be dead. "I understand we're going to have to be some form of civil." But he can't make any promises. "I admit, I've had my suspicions. But I haven't been here long enough to form any real conclusions."

[soldiergenes]

Snake wouldn't be surprised if Liquid knows exactly where RAY is and simply isn't telling him. Not that he would expect Liquid to show his cards so easily in the first place. This situation may be new and disorienting, but both of them know how to adapt quickly. Say what you want about Liquid, he's a quick thinker and clever when he wants to be, when he doesn't let his anger or his ego get the better of him.

The upside is that there are no Metal Gears anywhere near them. There might be sentient robots the size and shape of Metal Gears running around, but they probably won't just let Liquid tell them what to do. Unless he ingratiates himself to them, but Snake's going to do what he can to make sure that doesn't happen.

He could tell Liquid that Ocelot is here, but he keeps that to himself too. The less that Liquid knows about the situation, the better.

It's a struggle not to snap each time that Liquid calls him "brother," but reacting to it will only goad him on, and so Snake keeps his expression composed even as Liquid taunts him.

There's a pause, just long enough to make most people nervous, before Snake takes a few purposeful steps toward Liquid, shortening the distance between them until they're face-to-face. It reminds him of their last confrontation in Shadow Moses, before FOXDIE claimed Liquid and he collapsed into the snow.

For a few seconds, all he does is stare. Then, finally, he speaks up. "Let's get one thing straight." He lifts his hand and points a finger at Liquid accusingly. "If you try and make any trouble here, if you do anything to hurt anyone, if you pull anything, you're gonna have to answer to me for it."

And Liquid knows just how hard Snake punches, just how tenacious he can be.

[saveyourserpent]

Liquid knows where RAY was, but that could have changed easily since he got here. It's kind of frustrating, not knowing just what he's left behind. Has Ocelot replaced his arm already? Has he bled out? How's he going to account for the years with Liquid?

It doesn't matter what Snake tells him about who's here or not. He's already run into a few people, and with anything else? He can't be ignorant of the situation for long. He's going to learn who's here, either on his own terms, or otherwise.

He glares at Snake when he approaches. There's definitely something familiar about the situation. "Oh, put your bloody finger down." Sneering, he reaches out to shove Snake's hand away. "I'm not going to hurt anyone. I want to get out of here. My bloody existence is leaning on it. This isn't just some sort of fun little holiday for me. I don't like being here as much as you don't, but I'm not going to just squander my second chance. I can assure you I'll be on my best behavior." Although whatever his best behavior is... doesn't mean he won't be looking for the little things he might be able to do.

He knows how hard Snake punches, sure. But he punches just as hard in return, and his own tenacity easily rivals his brother. Hell, he's certain that if it hadn't been for FOXDIE, he would have won in the end.

He wants his revenge on the world, sure, but this ship isn't the world. He's not stupid.

[soldiergenes]

When Liquid swats at his hand, Snake responds in kind by shoving at his arm -- not hard enough to throw him off-balance, but there's still some force there to get his message across: don't touch me. Any physical contact is bound to deteriorate into some sort of fistfight. (What else do they know, except for how to throw punches at each other?)

Unfortunately, Snake has to admit that Liquid makes a good point. It isn't to his benefit to try and make trouble on the Moira when this ship is his only chance at getting back to Earth. There's no doubt in Snake's mind that Liquid would yet again become a thorn in his side as soon as they got back, but until then...

They're on the same side. It's enough to make his skin crawl.

There's still the chance that Liquid will decide he can run the ship better than the captains and make plans to overthrow them, endangering the rest of them in the process, but all Snake can do about that is keep an eye on him and take action if he notices Liquid moving in that direction.

"Right up until we get back, anyway," Snake grunts out as he crosses his arms over his chest. There's no way he could believe that Liquid's actually capable of change. Any good behavior is just a means to an end.

[saveyourserpent]

Liquid sneers when Snake shoves at his arm. He'd only pushed Snake's to get it out of his face, after all. It's taking him all his self-control to not let a punch fly, and it's pretty obvious, the way his hands are balled into fists. Still, he automatically pushes back, his own message being something along the lines of don't give me a reason.

He doesn't want to be on Snake's side any more than Snake does. They're meant to be opposites. He's known that all his life. And if Liquid can't kill him or otherwise get rid of him, he'd rather not be anywhere where he is. Unfortunately, this ship's meant to work together.

He scoffs, his own arms crossing. It's easier to avoid trying to sock him one this way. "And you expect me to just magically start doing what I was doing again once we get back? I certainly won't be commander of FOXHOUND. I won't have my team. I won't have Ocelot's resources. I won't have any Metal Gears. I'll have my body. That's it."

Of course, he doesn't mention that he's going to be planning things every chance he gets. Let his brother think he'll go back despondent enough to be reformed.

[soldiergenes]

The pattern of shoving each other could have continued until they ended up sprawled on the floor throwing punches, but Snake manages to restrain himself. Without thinking about it, he mimics Liquid's movements, his arms crossing tight over his chest. While Liquid's mannerisms are generally much more dramatic than Snake's, there are still ways in which they mirror each other.

Liquid can say whatever he likes, but Snake doesn't believe for a second that he would get back to Earth in his renewed body and promptly fade into the background. Liquid is nothing if not persistent, and for as long as he has breath in his lungs, he'll be making trouble for Snake and the rest of the world.

"Let's just say I have faith in your ability to be a complete pain in my ass," Snake grouses with a roll of his eyes. If they can manage to coexist here on the ship, though, Snake will deem that a miracle. They can call a truce while they're out here in space, but Snake already knows that all bets will be off as soon as they're back on Earth.

Assuming they ever get there.

[saveyourserpent]

Liquid certainly wouldn't mind if he could get a good fight in, but it looks like they're both holding back for now. Probably for the better, in the long run, as much as Liquid's still itching to lash out. He'll have his time eventually. He just has to sit back, see what's going on. And, well, they're sort of the picture of twins standing there like that. Go figure.

"So confident in my abilities this time, hm?" He laughs. "What good would I be if I couldn't? Oh, I promise I'll keep the being a pain part to a minimum." Of course, with Liquid, a minimum is still excessive, even if he cares to keep his promises.

Hell, even if he can't put together some kind of grand scheme right away, maybe bothering his brother'll at least be entertaining enough in the meantime.

He might not be as mature as he likes to put on.

[soldiergenes]

While Liquid might not be able to hatch a plan in such a short period of time, they'll all be stuck on the Moira together for a while. So that will give him more than enough downtime to plot, if he decides to go that route.

Snake's already made his point, though. Liquid should know that Snake will be keeping a close eye on whatever he does, though chances are Liquid will also be trying to cover his tracks. It'll be a careful dance on both ends.

"I'm not sure you're actually capable of that." Snake's guess is that Liquid's ability to be a pain comes naturally to him, and it's not something that can simply be turned off. Granted, he's going to find that out for sure now that they'll be held in relatively close quarters for some time.

He's thrilled about that.

"But I guess we'll see," he finishes, dropping his arms and then stepping back to take his leave. He won't let Liquid's presence stop him from exercising next time this happens, but for now Snake knows it's better to put some space between them.

[saveyourserpent]

At the very least, Liquid knows he needs to be careful whether he comes up with something or not. If he starts plotting something, he'll have to keep it from Snake. If he doesn't, he'll have to make sure there isn't anything suspicious that'd make Snake think he was plotting something.

It's complicated, being Liquid.

"Oh ye of little faith." Yeah, being a pain is pretty much what he does sometimes, or a lot of the time, but, well, there isn't much else he can do about that.

"Guess so. See you around, brother." He feels like he's won this one, whatever it is. Nodding, he hops back up on the treadmill. He's got some things to think about (and maybe some internal gloating to do).