( november intro log )

[hownkai]

Who: Everyone
When: November 1st and on
Where: The ship and on planet
What: Exploration + new arrivals
Warnings: Please label any warnings you have on your threads

THE INFLUX

"It is not so much about beginnings and endings; it is about muddling through the middle."

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.

Welcome to Caducus Primary

Shortly after your arrival, you are met by one of the captains and any of the crew of the Moira who might have accompanied him. You are given a brief physical scan and are asked to sign a contract that states you are now part 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. Much like the Moira's own Ingress, C-Primary's Ingress seems to be malfunctioning, and nothing can return through it. If you choose to disregard this offer, you will be detained indefinitely by the natives of Caducus Primary. (Joining the Moira is really the only choice you have.)

DESCENSION

"I am the keeper of fragile things."

From a distance, Caducus Primary doesn't look like much. The weather on the planet is extremely stable, and the vegetation is neat, almost pristine. What stands out about C-Primary, however, is the fact that there are hundreds of VERY TALL buildings packed together in many of the cities. They are elevated about the ground on what appear to be stilts and sway almost gracefully in the gentle breeze that is always present. Their stability never wavers; they don't fall down. The streets are lined with beautiful sculptures that are placed wherever light is needed. Many other designs can be found outside as well as in. This planet is rather wealthy, and the abundance of their natural resources reflect in everything. The world glitters just as glass would in the sunlight.

Native Details
● They have darker skin tones, but their hair styles and colors are all as unique as they can make them. This can be seen as influence from other travelers.
● Friendly, welcoming, and encouraging to the crew to trade with them for what they need.
● There are no visible "poor" areas.
● Calm and organized. If lost or in need of directions, they will offer to take you where you are going.
● Vey strict when it comes to rules. (Trade what you say you're going to trade.)

☄CITY PROPER

There are many things to do once on planet. In the city proper, stepping into one of the multiple shops reveals workers crafting glass figurines, jewelry, cups, and other items to your specifications. Trading is the same as on all other planets—there is no one accepted monetary unit. Yet, any unsavory cargo (such as weapons, explosives, alcohol, and drugs) will not be found anywhere in the vicinity of these areas. Other travelers have set up places outside the cities near transporter zones for these particular necessities. Trade at your discretion. At night, if you catch your reflection in a surface that isn't quite as transparent (on a sculpture, the side of a building, anything made of glass), there will be a momentary glimpse of your past or future self. A blink, and then, it will be gone.

Staying on the Moira isn't required during time spent on Caducus Primary. Visit one of its many fine hotels with its beautiful accomodations. The price is remarkably inexpensive: it's free.

( OOC: For any and all questions and to see new rank privileges, go here. Please comment to activity check to receive new ranks (if applicable)! Check THIS to see your tag. They have already been added to the comms, but you'll have to tag them onto a post before they show up in the list. )

Comments

[backsassin]

It’s this… thing some people are born with. Lets them move things with their mind. [She frowns.] And get in people’s heads.

[incantamentum]

Well, that much is true. Unless of course we wan't to call our gardener the botanist. I'm not sure of his skills... I just know that he exists, I've yet to meet him.

[incantamentum]

[He frowns at that.] It sounds similar to magic... however incredibly stunted.

[backsassin]

[Zam chuckles at that.] I wouldn’t tell that to a Force-user’s face. They like to think their powers are given to them by some all-knowing entity that gives them the right to meddle around in other people’s lives. [She tilts her head.] To be honest, I didn’t know there was anyone who hadn’t heard of the Force before. Not like the news will shut up about it now that the Jedi have gotten in bed with the Republic.

[whynotgoonmyown]

Wait and see how he handles what you're planting, I guess.

[incantamentum]

[He just sort of looks at her, taking it all in.] Wait... you're saying they'd be offended I called their gifts stunted? While all they can do is move things without touching them and... manipulate people's thoughts? That's, well, rather ignorant of them.

[They sounded ridiculous. Even witches weren't that entitled.] Well, it seems a lot of us have come from several different locations. I never knew things such as foreign planets, aliens, anything like that existed before now.

[incantamentum]

A small, selfish part of me hopes that he'll let me plant them and simply abandon them to one side. It would be a lot easier to tend to them if I didn't have external influence to worry about.

[backsassin]

Well, there’s two main groups of them. One of those groups would respond by smiling condescendingly and telling you that they know better. The other group would just cut your head off.

[And then he says that he’s never heard of other planets or even other races and Zam can’t help but be struck speechless for a moment. She stares at him incredulously.] You’re kidding me.

[whynotgoonmyown]

[A small shrug.] Can't hurt to ask. He might even prefer that, if he doesn't know them.

[tearmeanewone]

Fortunately, Elizabeth takes it for what it is and snorts through trying to stop crying. With a grateful smile, she takes the handkerchief and dabs at her eyes. "Well, it didn't last long. A couple of years I was like that, then I collapsed and now I'm here." Singular and present and small. Wonderfully small.

She offers Miles his handkerchief back. "I like it here. I have friends for the first time in my life, I have a job helping people, I generally know what day of the week it is..." she laughs awkwardly again. "...I don't want to go back, but I'm afraid that if the crew knew too much about this, they wouldn't care what I wanted. That's generally how it worked before."

[keelahselai]

She's not even sure if she's really hugged Shepard before - in the CDC, probably, but Shepard clearly doesn't remember that. Tali's past the point of caring if any of her old friends from the Normandy remember the CDC - she's not going to tell them, will take that to the grave - she just wants them there.

Even if sometimes she feels that now she's the worst of them.

Either way, she's not too surprised if Shepard's tense.

"I know the feeling," she murmurs, and it might be a little uncomfortable holding her around the armour, but it's the thought that counts. "Trust me, I know the feeling."

She pulls back a moment later, still smiling broadly. "Do you want to go and eat somewhere? I can fill you in on what's been going on with this ship - with the Moira."

[seeingscarlet]

[She's still not entirely sure how to act around him, but it's easy enough to fall into the old patterns she had with Pietro.]

It is not what I thought another planet would look like, but it is nice here. Peaceful. And not the ship. [Wanda makes a face; she misses fresh air and sunsets and all sorts of little things you don't even notice until they're gone.]

A warning about the glass would have been nice, but at least it's safe here.

[forwardmomentum]

It's oddly warming to hear that at least someone's life has been bettered by their arrival here, rather than worsened or even just severely inconveninece. Miles' mouth twitches into a rueful smile in response to her laugh, shaking his head and pressing his hand back. "No, no. You keep it." His face sobers again, and his breath trickles out in a sigh. "I can't say that isn't a healthy paranoia. But," he adds, "I did give you my word, and I intend to keep it."

Miles straightens up, meeting Elizabeth's gaze head-on, his gray eyes oddly intense. "No one's going to take that away from you, Elizabeth. Not if I have anything to do with it."

[tearmeanewone]

Elizabeth feels her jaw tremble a little from the force of Miles' words. She looks into his eyes, her own full of the desire to believe he's telling the truth but so, so guarded from years of her power bringing her nothing but fear and exploitation. There wasn't any going back now, of course, she'd spilled everything and she had no choice but to trust him-- but there would always be, she realized, that thought that someday she would be sold out for greener pastures.

"...Thank you," she says, squeezing the handkerchief until her knuckles turn white.

[forwardmomentum]

That look of deep-seated fear in Elizabeth's eyes makes Miles' stomach wrench. A fear like that isn't innate, it's learned, and often the hard way. Elizabeth deserves to get out from under that shadow. Miles smiles faintly and sketches a half-bow at her, only part joking.

"It's the least I can do." Miles lifts his eyes back to her face, his expression almost unreadable. "I think we each of us have secrets we don't feel like we can trust with another. A fear of some kind of exploitation of another. I'm just honored you chose to trust me."

[keelahselai]

Glass, crystal... Maybe when money's short, they're OK with clear plastic. [Her own tone is pretty light as well. She's still not sure what it is about this place making the other woman uneasy, but at least they're going back to the ship, which is decidedly unglass.]

Have you been on board yet? The Moira, I mean. [Probably easier to make small talk than keep on about the glass.]

[pallantias]

[Athena considers this for a moment.] It’s possible, [she concedes.] Whatever I saw happening, it was on Pandora. [The implications of the notion slowly dawn on her.]

If we are seeing our futures, does that mean we all manage to get home?

[incantamentum]

It sounds like, well, it sounds like certain groups I might know of back home.

[He shakes his head slowly.] I'm not, unfortunately. I almost wish I did have prior knowledge of these things. It would make this whole situation easier if I was forewarned.

[incantamentum]

That much is true. If not, I could convince him that their magical properties are incredibly volatile if not handed by a witch.

[whynotgoonmyown]

[He grins at that.] Sneaky. I like that.

[incantamentum]

I shouldn't pride myself on it. But when one is responsible for many young, inquisitive minds, a white lie here and there saves a lot of effort.

[backsassin]

[She continues to stare at him as if he’s grown another head. She’s heard of primitive cultures before; encountered them, even. But she can’t quite reconcile that image with the seemingly urbane, educated man before her.]

So you’ve never met anyone who wasn’t human before? Or anyone from another planet?

[tearmeanewone]

[Huh, she'd never seen the thing with the water before. In Paris, everyone had just poured from the bottle and drank it straight. But maybe there was something to that...]

[She takes up the bottle once Jacky's done.] I've never seen anything like this either. It does seem rather convenient, but I wonder how good the seal is... [She pours herself a glass then does what Jacky did with her water.]

[whynotgoonmyown]

That, I really can't comment on, so I'll be taking your word for it.

[intherigging]

[Taking another large sip, Jacky hummed with pleasure.] Well, we might not need to worry about the seal long term--this wine is cursed good!

Don't know 'bout you, but I've enough coin to treat us if you need. [Looking around, Jacky caught the eye of a waiter and waved him over.] Oh, it feels like it's been hours since I've eaten; I could eat a horse!

[Not an actual horse. They're a bit tough, and while she doesn't mind them in burgoo when she's at an actual restaurant that she's going to pay actual coins for, she prefers to have the higher-end meat.]