thisavrou_log | ( november intro log )

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( november intro log )

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. )

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[ miles closes his eyes, quietly tucks away the urge to put his hands around ivan's stupid neck, and opens them back up to look at ivan with a look of resignation before he drops himself onto the bench next to his cousin. whatever it is ivan's eating looks pretty good, actually, reminding miles of the fact that he totally negleted to grab breakfast. ]

Right. [ he sighs out the word, rubbing lingering sleep from one eye. ] So have you managed to do anything besides sleeping around as soon as we docked? [ a sudden thought occurs to him, and his brows draw down. ] Wait -- when you say you met this woman, you don't mean one of the locals, do you?

Hm? ( ivan blinks at him, like that's a stupid question. there's like no women on the moria, miles, it's a disaster. ) Wandered around for a few hours, got lost and then un-lost -- everyone's helpful as hell. Much better than Vorbarr Sultana, and there's no shady areas of town either.

( as for the proper question: )

Yes? Like I said, nice woman, very friendly. Great hair, Miles. Exactly the turquoise of the water off the coast of the Vorpatril's District. And long.

( please stop him. )

Ivan.

[ and ivan says he talks too much. evidently ivan's never heard himself talk about women. miles raises his eyebrows at ivan, a look of ironic amusement dawning slowly on his face. ]

You do realize those aren't...human women, right?

[ miles really hopes he doesn't. please, god, give him this one thing. ]

You know ( ivan starts, suddenly very serious. face contorting in a way that might not give miles the satisfaction he wants, but at least will help ease his pain a little. ) I've been trying very hard not to think about it. They're human where it counts at least.

( no surprise parts for this individual. yet. )

Oh? Are you quite sure?

[ miles grins slightly. you know the one, ivan. it's that familiar shit-eating grin. the one that makes people want to punch his face in. ]

I mean, I suppose if you used adequate protection you probably don't need to worry about any venereal diseases of alien origin...

( god FUCK OFF, MILES )

What sort of race hasn't gotten rid of those yet?

( he says, the thought never having occurred to him before. would she be offended if he asked? probably. )

I don't know, perhaps you ought to ask them.

[ he gives ivan a thin smile, gesturing vaguely at a local passerby who's actually awake at this ungodly hour of morning. if ivan's going to be an ass, miles is going to treat him like one. he looks up and down at ivan's rumpled appearance. ]

Well, at least one of us has been trying to learn about this planet. [ and ivan didn't even think to learn anything that might have actually been relevant to his experiences here. ]

Can you imagine how well that conversations would go down? "Yes, sorry, but before we can have sex again I need to know if I'm going to get some sort of disease." Great advice, Miles.

( it's not )

Not really much to learn.

Edited 2015-11-15 21:05 (UTC)

Again? Aren't you worried you might have caught something the first time around?

[ he gives ivan an unapologetically shit-eating grin, a touch manic around the edges if only from the lack of sleep. you know how not sleeping makes him extra twitchy, ivan. but then his brows draw down, and he gives ivan a slightly incredulous but long-suffering look. ]

Not much to learn? Really? [ miles gestures wildly around them with his good arm. ] Look at this place, Ivan. It just about screams suspicious. Might as well be shouting from the bottom of a well, as far as I'm concerned. Have you ever seen a city like this? All glamour, no gutter? I haven't seen a single destitute in this place -- not one single section of the city in disarray or poverty. Everything about this place is shining and polished. And that representative -- you don't think the apparent clairvoyance was even a little weird?

[ IVAN, PLEASE. ]

The only person who's worried here is you!

( a little, and he definitely sounds a little panicked. which he knows is miles' plan all along, but ivan could never stop himself from falling for it in the twenty-five years he's spent with miles. he's not going to stop now, apparently, even though he knows better. and he does know better, dammit! )

Oh come on, it's not like we've just found ourselves on Eta Ceta IV or something, full of a planet of people who'd probably see stabbing us in the back as a favor to the Emperor. Er, not ours. But everyone here is friendly.

And you don't think that makes it more suspicious?

[ call him paranoid, but there's nothing worse than when your paranoia turns out to be perfectly working intuition. he frowns, looking way more thoughtful and serious than deliberately obnoxious. ]

You haven't, uh -- taken any nighttime strolls with your star-fetched lady friend, have you?

[ maybe ivan's laissez faire attitude toward this whole planet is born out of a general ignorance to the creepier things going on. ignorance is bliss, as they say, although in miles' mind it's really ignorance is ivan. ]

I get jumpy when people start acting like they've got it in for me, Miles. Which, oddly enough, doesn't seem to be a regular occurrence here. I like that part of this.

( he brightens up at that question, finishing up his breakfast as he nods. )

Well not with her, but yeah. ( and, practically beaming at Miles: ) Captain's tabs, Miles! I get Captain's tabs. And soon, too, I don't think I was much older than I am now.

Yet, [ miles starts to argue, but then the unexpected news comes that ivan actually has been about at night, and seen something like what he saw, and his brow furrows -- and then what ivan actually says permeates his brain and he gapes at ivan in disbelief, somehow looking incredulous and like he's just been kicked in the stomach all at once. ]

You -- what? Captain? You?

[ that...isn't really what he meant to say, let alone so inarticulately, but, heyyyyyy ]

Edited 2015-11-16 22:05 (UTC)

( congratulations, miles. ivan's affable face flickers into something hurt and taken aback -- he'd assumed that miles would have been as happy for him as ivan would have been at hearing the news that his cousin had gotten the same. he does the work he's supposed to, and he does it well, dammit. the hurt settles into something more defensive, a frown crossing his face. )

It's not that hard to believe, you know. ( there's no getting out the small amount of hurt in his voice though, so miles is just going to have to deal with that. ) I do my job as well as anyone else. Just because it's not running a mercenary fleet doesn't mean I'm not good at it.

( he hates you, miles vorkosigan. you're such an ass. )

[ oh, shit. now miles feels like he's been kicked in the stomach double, just seeing that hurt look on ivan's face. he really hadn't meant to hurt ivan, even if his knee jerk disbelief was genuine. he's just tired, and annoyed, and, okay, yes, a little surly about the two-hit combo of ivan getting laid and apparently making captain sprung on him. all right, fine. so ivan makes captain in the next few years. that's not indicative of anything for miles' career.

so why is it that when miles saw himself a few years aged, it was in civilian clothes? and with those two faint white scars on either side of his neck? ]

No, I just -- that's not what I meant! [ let's try that again. ] I was just -- surprised you'd gotten out after sundown at all, what with your, uh, private engagement. I didn't think you'd have seen... [ nope, that's not it. ]

You're right -- I'm sure you worked hard for it. Er, will work hard, I guess. [ he manages to give ivan a more or less convincing smile, if tired. ] Congratulations, coz.

Edited 2015-11-16 23:07 (UTC)

( it is possible to hurt ivan's feelings, miles. who knew. especially after he'd been ragged on for sleeping with a woman. the hell is your problem today, miles? it is, ivan notes, not an apology. but he's never really expected an apology from miles in the years they've known each other. not really miles' style. he relaxes though, leaning back against the bench, even as he picks at his breakfast rather than finishes eating it.

somehow he doesn't really have his appetite anymore. )

Yeah, thanks. ( he says, moving around the food and not looking at his cousin. things that register with ivan: his cousin knows what the glass does, his cousin acted surprised at news of ivan's promotion, and his cousin hasn't immediately countered ivan's captain tabs with news of his own. things that ivan should, if he tried, be able to understand: that miles didn't see himself with captains tabs, and therefore asking him about what he did would be a very bad idea. probably.

but it's ivan, so. ) And anyway, if I've got mine then you're sure to have yours, right? Guess you saw that.

Edited 2015-11-17 07:26 (UTC)

[ miles winces. he knows he's really put his foot in it now -- just look at the man. it's astonishing how a grown man can manage to look so much like a kicked puppy. it could be worse, but he's not sure how. it stings a little more that ivan's so confident that miles makes captain at some point in the near future, too.

but he finds he doesn't really want to talk about what he did see now. ]

Uh -- no, actually. [ he clears his throat and quickly clarifies, lying through his teeth. ] I didn't see anything at all.

[ even as he says it, he can't help but absently touch at his throat where he'd seen those fine white scars, as if expecting to feel them on him now. ]

( for god's sake, miles, why would ivan not think you'd make captain? ivan knows you, you're the best of the best, no matter how small or brittle. they'd be stupid to not. )

Then how'd you know? ( someone could have told him, so ivan shrugs. ) Anyway, it could just be like Beta Colony. Your mother's always on about that sort of thing -- equality and such.

( see, miles. a perfectly reasonable solution as to why this place is the way it is. except for the freaky glass. )

I came down here with Clark the other night.

[ it's a distracted answer, miles looking strangely distant as he runs his hand over his throat and then rubs it against his uniform trousers, as if he can wipe away some future taint. after an uneasy moment, miles takes a seat on the bench next to ivan. discreetly, he eyes the pastry ivan is now only picking at, his body abruptly reminding him that he hasn't eaten anything since last night. no, dammit. ]

Mm...maybe. [ he doesn't sound convinced. he frowns. ] I suppose it's possible. I just -- have a feeling. I don't know.

( ivan's brow raises at that as he gives miles a once-over. he... doesn't buy it, now that he sees his cousin's expression. but okay, fine, miles doesn't want to share -- ivan won't pressure him. )

And I'm telling you that you're being paranoid.

[ miles is half-ready with a defense, but ivan never goes there and he relaxes, minutely. ]

Name one time you ever called me paranoid and I didn't turn out to be right.

( okay, miles might have him on that. mostly because #protagonistproblems, but also: )

Remember all those other times where I was panicking and you decided that it wasn't important until it turned out to be a Cetagandan plot and I got kidnapped? Turnabout's fair play, coz. Just try and enjoy yourself while we're here.

Edited 2015-11-19 04:01 (UTC)

[ miles scoffs at that, lips twisting. he could argue the point -- in fact he kind of wants to -- but he's not up for it, all things considered. the tone of this conversation has gotten too uncomfortable, thanks to miles' thoughtless blunder, and besides that, he's just too damn tired. he rubs at his eyes and eyes the remains of ivan's pastry. it might be worth investigating the food around here. he gives ivan a bleary look that somehow manages to look skeptical. ]

Got any suggestions?

That depends on what you want. Food, night life, someplace quiet to go and stare at glass contemplatively and make occasional agreeing sounds. Don't do the last one, it's dull.

( he sees you eyeing his food, miles, and he's going to take a bite and savor it just to annoy you. )

[ miles gives ivan a sour look at that, his own stomach growling in complaint. ugh, fuck off, ivan. this whole conversation has left a bitter taste in his mouth -- beyond even the petty jealousy, what with ivan's forecasted captaincy, and miles'...less than tactful response. he's hungry, but he's frigging tired, too, and now the reflection he saw in the glass is really nagging at him, weighing on him. he'd almost managed to put it out of his mind, but now he can't help but compare it to ivan's. something feels wrong, but he can't tell what, and it's going to drive him mad until he does. ]

I'd like to see you look contemplative. [ it's a muttered remark, totally petty and not even particularly clever. he blows out his breath, decides this horseshit conversation is no longer worth the effort, and pulls himself to his feet with a grunt. ] I'm going back to the ship. To catch some sleep. [ he gives ivan a look as pointed as his tone. ] Don't forget to check in every once in a while. You know, so we know you're not dead.

Edited 2015-11-20 15:33 (UTC)

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