Who: PEOPLE (specific starters and OTA) When: Oct 15th-20th Where: The Patrick Moira What: A big bad catch-all for pre-event and beyond Warnings: Update if needed
[This would also be another good time to walk away. And if it were any other time, any other day, and if Ratchet were not under the influence of some kind of cosmically irradiated party mask, it's exactly what he would have done. Too bad for variables.]
I don't need to 'culture myself', because your culture is stupid.
[Lips pulling back, Jacky actually snarled at him.]
Oh, and jus' wha' d'ye know uv' me culture, Mister Ratchet? [She jabbed the bow, resisting the urge to hit him with it.] I have met Kings and Emperors; I've studied under renowned painters, and worked on works of great scientific importance! Just what have you done?
[Her voice is as icy as it ever was when she was forced to interact with those that ever held her against her will. Vaguely, she was aware that she wanted to leave, but couldn't; she was trapped, here in this room, arguing with a man scant hours ago she called 'friend'--
Something was not right. Irritably, her fingers started plucking out a tune on the neck of her fiddle, and her tapping feet grew even more restless.]
Well if it’s as bad as your music I don’t need to know anything about it at all, do I? [Ratchet’s tone is cool right up until her demand to know what he’d done. He scowls, standing up abruptly, even though he still doesn’t reach her eye level.]
Good for you. And while you were doing that, on your little planet that no one’s ever heard of, that no one cares about, I was saving the entire, ungrateful, universe from total space time collapse! Or being consumed by an interdimensional rift. Or...or whatever!
[He gestures widely, starting to turn away from her before stopping abruptly, seemingly just noticing the way her feet were still tapping, fingers starting in on a tune again.]
[Opening her mouth, Jacky was about to tear into him again when she became acutely aware of her feet and fingers and stilled them. Or, rather, she tried, but they wouldn't stop moving for more than a moment or two, the music forcing its way out.]
I'm trying, you bleater! I can't seem to stop--
[Thinking back over her morning, she recalled the mask that, after touching it, seemed to imbue her (and others, judging by the strange images that had come across her cuff) with the ability to turn into a dog. What if there had been other masks, that did other things?]
[Ratchet was staring at her like she had two heads now. Or rather with the skepticism of someone who didn't believe they were looking at someone with two heads. Was she joking? Just trying to annoy him further? Well, she was dedicated, he would give her that.]
A mask...yeah. From the captains, I think. So what?
[Ratchet stares on in surprise as Jacky turns into some kind of hairy animal and back again; it wasn't the first time he'd seen someone shapeshift but it sure never stopped being incredible.]
You think you can do that because of the mask?
[It was hard to believe but...then so was shapeshifting in the first place. Magic (if that is what it was and it certainly looked like) was still something Ratchet had a hard time swallowing, but there was no denying that in some way, in some places, it did exist. Or at least something indistinguishable from it.
Ratchet looks down at his hand, still holding the borrowed book. He couldn't remember anything unusual happening to him today, but...well, wasn't this unusual? How this had all played out, was unusual from beginning to now.]
And you think you can't stop dancing because I told you not to?
Mister Ratchet, I assure you that turning into animals is not something I nor anyone else in my world can do. [Though, it would've been much easier to escape all those times she'd been imprisoned in her life if she could turn into a bird and just, fly away...] I've only been able to do it since this morning, and the only new thing I touched was that queer mask.
Dancing, playing--it's the only reasonable explanation. [She snorted.] More reasonable than a ship travelling through nothing. Unless you've an alternative theory? [She wrestled, briefly, with keeping silent on what she felt was his rather unusually catty (hah) mood; it wasn't a polite thing to comment on, and really, how well did she know him? They'd only spoken twice.
But one of those two times was just this very morning, mere hours before everyone was sent those masks, and while he did make her cry then, he'd also done his very best to cheer her up. So she temporised.] You've also been...extremely out of sorts.
maybe someday she'll get to go on a zero gee space walk!
[Ratchet's listening but it's the bit about travelling through nothing that he zeroes in on. He'd just explained this to her this morning, why didn't she get it? Was it really that hard to believe? To understand? He scowls, looking away from her.]
'Travelling through nothing' isn't unreasonable! You keep acting like it's magic, but really, you're just being plain ig- [He abruptly stops, mid-gesture. He hadn't been able to see it before, but now that she'd pointed it out, it was hard not to.
He was being a massive asshole.
Ratchet glances back her way, taking a moment to actually formulate his words, a look of mild distress on his face.]
[Jacky scowled, but let it go. He wasn't himself, he couldn't be held responsible for his prickish actions. Even if he was being a right wanker.]
Is this something that happens? How do you think we can dispel it? [She is getting mighty tired of her feet tap-tap-tapping. She's run longer sets, but after the shoddy sleep she's been having since finding herself on this ship, and the early morning wake-up call, she's already tired.
Sets. Her eyes widened as she thought of something.] Oh! I've got a notion that might work; it's going to involve a little more singing, though.
[Even aware of the wrongness of what was happening, and how it was likely affecting him, Ratchet can't help rolling his eyes when she suggests....another song. A song was what had started this whole mess...or at least this particular episode. Still. He didn't have any better ideas, so he bites; even if it does come across with a bit of sarcasm.]
Fine, fine. But if this turns out to be just an excuse to play more....
[Shooting him a dirty look, Jacky took up the Lady Gay once again and slowly started to play and sing together. No dancing this time; this was a calming song, one she'd probably played more than any other, and it came easy.]
Of all the money that e'er I had I've spent it in good company And all the harm that e'er I've done Alas it was to none but me And all I've done for want of with To memory now I can't recall So fill to me the parting glass Good night and joy be with you all
Of all the comrades that e'er I had They are sorry for my going away And all the sweethearts that e'er I had They would wish me one more day to stay But since it falls unto my lot That I should rise and you should not I'll gently rise and I'll softly call Good night and joy be with you all
A man may drink and not be drunk A man may fight and not be slain A man may court a pretty girl And perhaps be welcomed back again But since it has so ought to be By a time to rise and a time to fall Come fill to me the parting glass Good night and joy be with you all Good night and joy be with you all
[As the last notes faded, Jacky waited for the compulsion to take her. When her feet and fingers stayed pleasantly still, she beamed.]
The Parting Glass. My signature ending song; I end almost all me sets with that one. I'd hoped that it'd do the trick!
[Ratchet claps slowly, giving her an unimpressed look.]
Congratulations.
[There it was again; shaking his head, Ratchet rubs a temple, making a frustrated noise. This was getting exhausting.]
Sorry, sorry. I'm not usually this, uh...you know. This. [He shrugs. At least he didn't think he was.] You really think it's those masks that are making all this happen?
Well, stands to reason, donnit? Some of the people on my deck, they got the same mask I did, and they've also been turning into creatures.
[Not that she's actually been talking to many people today. This morning was a little...rough. But she's still got eyes, and the menagerie on her floor had been a little hard to ignore.]
And don't worry about it, friend. It's not really you, yeah? [Though, she's had people make that excuse before ('Oh, it weren't me that hit you, moneymaker! T'were the drink that made me do it!'), but this time, she believes that this isn't Ratchet.]
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we're getting into the GROWN UP insults now
I don't need to 'culture myself', because your culture is stupid.
*GASP* you scurrilous cur!!!!
Oh, and jus' wha' d'ye know uv' me culture, Mister Ratchet? [She jabbed the bow, resisting the urge to hit him with it.] I have met Kings and Emperors; I've studied under renowned painters, and worked on works of great scientific importance! Just what have you done?
[Her voice is as icy as it ever was when she was forced to interact with those that ever held her against her will. Vaguely, she was aware that she wanted to leave, but couldn't; she was trapped, here in this room, arguing with a man scant hours ago she called 'friend'--
Something was not right. Irritably, her fingers started plucking out a tune on the neck of her fiddle, and her tapping feet grew even more restless.]
UHM FIRST OF ALL, HOW DARE YOU
Good for you. And while you were doing that, on your little planet that no one’s ever heard of, that no one cares about, I was saving the entire, ungrateful, universe from total space time collapse! Or being consumed by an interdimensional rift. Or...or whatever!
[He gestures widely, starting to turn away from her before stopping abruptly, seemingly just noticing the way her feet were still tapping, fingers starting in on a tune again.]
And would you stop that stupid song already!
no subject
I'm trying, you bleater! I can't seem to stop--
[Thinking back over her morning, she recalled the mask that, after touching it, seemed to imbue her (and others, judging by the strange images that had come across her cuff) with the ability to turn into a dog. What if there had been other masks, that did other things?]
Did you get a mask in the post this morning?
no subject
[Ratchet was staring at her like she had two heads now. Or rather with the skepticism of someone who didn't believe they were looking at someone with two heads. Was she joking? Just trying to annoy him further? Well, she was dedicated, he would give her that.]
A mask...yeah. From the captains, I think. So what?
no subject
[Placing the Lady Gay down, she turned into Millie, dancing on her hind legs for a bar or two before turning back.]
That's not normal. D'you recall what you said, when I asked if you mind me playing? 'Don't let me stop you,' and now I can't.
no subject
You think you can do that because of the mask?
[It was hard to believe but...then so was shapeshifting in the first place. Magic (if that is what it was and it certainly looked like) was still something Ratchet had a hard time swallowing, but there was no denying that in some way, in some places, it did exist. Or at least something indistinguishable from it.
Ratchet looks down at his hand, still holding the borrowed book. He couldn't remember anything unusual happening to him today, but...well, wasn't this unusual? How this had all played out, was unusual from beginning to now.]
And you think you can't stop dancing because I told you not to?
she is not going to let that go any time soon
Mister Ratchet, I assure you that turning into animals is not something I nor anyone else in my world can do. [Though, it would've been much easier to escape all those times she'd been imprisoned in her life if she could turn into a bird and just, fly away...] I've only been able to do it since this morning, and the only new thing I touched was that queer mask.
Dancing, playing--it's the only reasonable explanation. [She snorted.] More reasonable than a ship travelling through nothing. Unless you've an alternative theory? [She wrestled, briefly, with keeping silent on what she felt was his rather unusually catty (hah) mood; it wasn't a polite thing to comment on, and really, how well did she know him? They'd only spoken twice.
But one of those two times was just this very morning, mere hours before everyone was sent those masks, and while he did make her cry then, he'd also done his very best to cheer her up. So she temporised.] You've also been...extremely out of sorts.
maybe someday she'll get to go on a zero gee space walk!
'Travelling through nothing' isn't unreasonable! You keep acting like it's magic, but really, you're just being plain ig- [He abruptly stops, mid-gesture. He hadn't been able to see it before, but now that she'd pointed it out, it was hard not to.
He was being a massive asshole.
Ratchet glances back her way, taking a moment to actually formulate his words, a look of mild distress on his face.]
Okay, I think you might be right.
god, you'd never get her back in the ship
Is this something that happens? How do you think we can dispel it? [She is getting mighty tired of her feet tap-tap-tapping. She's run longer sets, but after the shoddy sleep she's been having since finding herself on this ship, and the early morning wake-up call, she's already tired.
Sets. Her eyes widened as she thought of something.] Oh! I've got a notion that might work; it's going to involve a little more singing, though.
well. i mean, she would run out of AIR
[Even aware of the wrongness of what was happening, and how it was likely affecting him, Ratchet can't help rolling his eyes when she suggests....another song. A song was what had started this whole mess...or at least this particular episode. Still. He didn't have any better ideas, so he bites; even if it does come across with a bit of sarcasm.]
Fine, fine. But if this turns out to be just an excuse to play more....
Oh really? Ratchet never seems to
Of all the money that e'er I had
I've spent it in good company
And all the harm that e'er I've done
Alas it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of with
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all
Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They are sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They would wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call
Good night and joy be with you all
A man may drink and not be drunk
A man may fight and not be slain
A man may court a pretty girl
And perhaps be welcomed back again
But since it has so ought to be
By a time to rise and a time to fall
Come fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all
Good night and joy be with you all
[As the last notes faded, Jacky waited for the compulsion to take her. When her feet and fingers stayed pleasantly still, she beamed.]
The Parting Glass. My signature ending song; I end almost all me sets with that one. I'd hoped that it'd do the trick!
10,000 years later, a super late tag!
Congratulations.
[There it was again; shaking his head, Ratchet rubs a temple, making a frustrated noise. This was getting exhausting.]
Sorry, sorry. I'm not usually this, uh...you know. This. [He shrugs. At least he didn't think he was.] You really think it's those masks that are making all this happen?
Eh s'all right there chief!
[Not that she's actually been talking to many people today. This morning was a little...rough. But she's still got eyes, and the menagerie on her floor had been a little hard to ignore.]
And don't worry about it, friend. It's not really you, yeah? [Though, she's had people make that excuse before ('Oh, it weren't me that hit you, moneymaker! T'were the drink that made me do it!'), but this time, she believes that this isn't Ratchet.]