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deep in the murk
"It comes first and follows after. Ends life, kills laughter."
With the outcome of the battle against the Caducans and the Moira having twisted together with their ship to form a strange combination of glass, metal, and organic parts (both across the ship and among the crewmembers), there is still the matter of the Ingress not functioning “properly”. It hasn’t worked correctly since the very first person arrived on the Moira through it, and there is little the Captains themselves know about its functions. However, now, more than before, it’s even worse than that. The Ingress malfunctions yet again. This time, though, it doesn’t simply combine time and space and objects around it—it encompasses the entirety of the ship and sends it far off into a completely different universe. Welcome to:
( click text for a rough map/layout )This puts the Moira closer to its final destination, and most of the glass has disappeared as the Caducan ship has been left behind aside from small things here and there (i.e., some of the walls in the corridors, random furniture in the rooming decks, the rooms themselves). Even the mess hall has permanently changed. Yet, there is some bad news that comes with this transition. The universe the ship is in is so terrible that it has been given its own name so that travelers avoid it altogether. Even the Captains themselves are aware of just how Bad News this universe is and had originally planned to take “the long way around” to avoid it. Anything shady or unsavory can be found in the Runoff, and while it might not appeal to the majority, it is simply second-nature to those who inhabit it. From arms trafficking to drugs, whatever one might think is illegal somewhere else is suddenly very legal and very dangerous.
Through the transition, some of the crew will accidentally end up on a nearby outpost specifically used for slave trade. It is a covered, temporary establishment used only for this purpose, meaning there are no open markets, hotels, or businesses of any sort. Stalls and tents line dirty streets, and ships litter the space around the outpost. This is a slave trade zone. People come and go but do not stay. Various lifeforms can be found here, and there are many different forms of slave trade happening. The motto “honor among thieves” does not exist in this place either. Crew who end up here will be “free”; however, this means that there is the potential to be taken and sold or kept by those of the Runoff. The Moira will not be close to this outpost, but the signals given from their MIDs will alert the crew to their location. Rescue, obviously, is imminent, but those who choose to help their fellow crewmembers must keep to small stealth missions using transporters or other crafts with one important detail in mind: they cannot bring attention or notice to the Moira itself.
Almost one-third of the crew has found themselves on the slave trade outpost, leaving the rest to plan for rescue. The Captains will immediately divulge all information that they have about the outpost, which is unfortunately very little outside of the stigma associated with the Runoff. The Captains will ask any MID techs or those with skills to create a program that allows person to person location; this function will allow crewmembers to search for those on the outpost via their MIDs. Rescue efforts are encouraged, and all the ships and transporters in the cargo bay will be available for public use. Crew will be told to be careful and quiet, bringing no attention to the Moira’s location, and most importantly, do not stand out. If crew look and act like they don’t belong there, others will notice. Stealth is the name of the game, and blending in is a necessity. ☄ time goes by slowly The unfortunate crewmembers who ended up on the outpost have now found themselves pursued by those looking to make a profit through slave trade. The standards of hard labor vary from owner to owner, but it is what it sounds like. Rough, hard work that will last as long as the body performing it can endure. If purchased, owners might examine their new property to determine what type of work they’d be best suited for and then split them up into holding areas until they are done with their purchases. Others might have their slaves begin work by cleaning their ship or holding stalls or packing up their tents and gear. The owners, and their needs, are as varied as the universe. Did you manage to escape? Or were you forced to work before you were rescued? ☄ and it seems to last forever Like the crewmembers taken by general labor owners, the murdersport slavers buy and take whomever they believe can last the longest in the pit. Some take those who appear to be strong or have great stamina, and some take those who are light on their feet or are quick-witted. Some crew are chosen simply based on appearance and how good they’ll look in their gear. If pursued, the slavers will do everything they can to capture the Moirans, and if captured, crew might be taken to a holding stall or a testing pit so that their skills can be witnessed by the public and tested. Some slavers want to show off their new property by throwing them into small roped off areas with other slaves, various creatures, or machines. Some make them stand up in front of groups and simply show them off, boasting that, at the next big event in the Runoff, they’ll surely win the grand prize. What kind of slaver has taken you? Will you be forced to fight before you rescue? Or will you not make it to the Moira before the Ingress pulls you back? ☄ but then it starts to fly ( cw: sex ) As is typical of this universe, slave trade comes in various forms. The most notorious being its illustrious sex trade. Slaves are bought and sold quickly and often, with no notable preference for appearance or species. Buyers come from all over to find slaves to work in their brothels, for personal use, as in-house entertainment, and much more. While the other two most popular type of slave trade don’t care as much about the physical well being of their property, these specific owners usually do. They might try to incapacitate first, so that the slaves aren’t bruised or cut, and if necessary, use binds until they can get them back to their ships or holding stalls. Some owners have their slaves cleaned and dressed in the finest attire, while others shove them into uniforms and tossed into stalls. Were you captured? Did you escape? Or were you rescued before something untoward occurred? What's more, events of the past always have a way of coming back to haunt you.
Months past, a monster terrorized the crew and left a very literal mark upon those that it touched. Those scarred by encounters with the Ploiatos will find their minds drifting as they work and go about their day. They may also find themselves in a different part of the ship than intended when they come back to themselves. It happens slowly, these small moments of lost time. But both before and after these events occur, one might notice that the scars seem to shift slightly. Where the patterns have been stable for months, suddenly the branching arms of the scars appear to be in a slightly different position than before. More often than not, those who lose time will regain awareness and find themselves in Navigation. When this happens, oftentimes Captain Manasseh will herd them out with a quiet, but undeniably firm, suggestion to visit the infirmary. More unsettling are the moments when they awaken in the I.L.R. standing outside the one door that should never be opened. As for those who were lucky enough to avoid encounters with the creature locked within, they must figure out how to deal with their friends and fellow crew who seem to walk around in a fog with no control of their actions.
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thisavrou_log2016-07-19 01:11 am
aftermath
Small favors that at least the people he cared about came back alive.]
I was hoping I'd find you.
[It's been a few days since Peter's come back to the ship, a few days since he's heard that Billy was back. He's waited the appropriate amount of time to satisfy the directions to rest, long enough that his bruises are gone and there was little to give away what he'd been up to on the outpost.
When he finally had these conversations, he wanted to focus on the other person, not give any reason for the questions to come back on him.]
I guess I should be apologizing for not coming to talk to you sooner.
no subject
[He jerks at first, when he hears talking he hadn't exactly been expecting, but he hopes the smile he gives is apology enough.]
Hey.
[It's honestly good to see him again. Out of cryo, walking around-- he's glad that his family is still here, still alive. It's just-- a relief, honestly. Something to keep pushing on for.
And maybe he shouldn't, but it's the first time he's even got to talk with Peter since he's been back, and he's relatively in one piece from the looks of it... Well, Billy is at least going to attempt to go in for a brief hug. If he's anything like the Pietro he knows, if he's anything like Tommy, he expects dodging or complaints, but Billy isn't above showing his affection, especially after the outpost an the entire ordeal.]
Don't apologize. How are you doing? Okay?
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Hey, no. I really should have been looking for you earlier.
[He grew up with a little sister clinging to him at every opportunity, physical affection from family isn't unusual. But he wasn't expecting it from Billy and it makes him stiffen a moment, give an awkward laugh when Billy pulls back.
His expression pulls tight, shaking his head. He's glad he waited for the bruises to disappear before doing this, even if he knew he should have come sooner.]
Me? I'm fine. I came back in one piece right? I was more worried about you. I didn't see you, you know, at that place or when I came back. Kind of wanted to make sure you were in one piece too.
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[Mostly because facing anyone is still a little hard-- and it's mostly Billy's fault. Still, he's not about to dump that on Peter.]
Sorry-- you got out of cryo and pretty much ended up in a terrible spot, huh?
[He shrugs his shoulders.]
We all got separated down there, I guess. We all ended up in something different. I'm in one piece mostly, nothing permanent. I mean-- except for an annoying tattoo. You're sure you're okay?
no subject
[He shrugs, smiles sheepishly.]
I had a little time before things got weird. And it's not like it was- Wanda and River came quick enough, so. Just some bruised joints and shit. Nothing that can't be healed, you know?
[Another shrug. He doesn't want to treat what happened like a big deal.]
Mostly? [He latches on that, eyebrows raised.] What's mostly? I mean, the ink has to suck. Maybe you could get someone to cover it up with something, you know, that you want. But, sure it's not more than that?
no subject
[That actually gets him to give a bit of a smile, even if it's followed by a disapproving shake of his head. He's got to sort of set an example, right?]
I'm glad they found you, Peter. None of that-- was good. [And even if it heals physically-- well, it sort of sticks with you, right? Or at least, it is in his case.]
I guess I could cover it up... I was going to see if I could use magic, but... [He gives a bit of a grin, running with a more pleasant topic for the moment... slightly more pleasant, anyway.] Think I'm the tattoo type?
[He shrugs his shoulders though, he can only dodge so much.] Yeah-- sorry. I'm fine. Whatever bruises and scraps I had healed mostly.
[He is-- rather disappointed in himself though, in ways he can't really say. He should have been stronger. He's got all this power, this magic, and he feels more like a burden on others than much else--
Still, that's not something he wants to dump on his sort-of uncle. Or anyone for that matter.]
So you're free? We could hang out for a bit or something...
no subject
[He smiles tightly, shakes his head. It was awful in ways he doesn't know how to unpack. He's clinging to the idea that others had it worse, had more to be upset about. A few beatings should be nothing next to what someone like J, like Billy had been through.]
I know. But it's over now.
I think you could rock a little ink. [He's glad for the subject change, smile turning a little more real.] Make yourself look all tough, like some kind of rock star. Best part is, your mom here can't even yell at you about it.
Don't apologize about it. [It comes out quiet. He's never been good at this kind of thing, emotional things that matter. Billy's already seen how Peter reacts to anything upsetting, by yelling and fighting and letting anger override everything else. He knows he can't do that now. There's no fight left in him anyway and this isn't the kind of problem he can punch. This isn't the kind of thing to run away from.
He nods.]
Sounds good to me. I've got nothing on my plate right now. Where'd you like to go?
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[It's something he clings to, that at least they're mostly safe. That nothing has been as bad as where he's come from yet-- mostly. This whole experience was on a different level. He'd never been subjected to being a thing in that light before but--
He shakes his head and lets out a laugh.]
You're right. I should live a little while I don't have to hear the 'William Kaplan, what were you thinking?... yet at least. [Since they'll get home eventually... even if he's not sure how to feel about that.
He nudges at Peter. He knows he's not great at emotional things, yes. Billy isn't terribly amazing at them either.
And maybe they just need to hang out a bit.]
I don't know... something distracting though? We might both need that kind of thing.
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[Until they have another malfunction and end up somewhere worse. Or they get attacked again. Or the fighting starts again within the crew. Or, or.
He's not feeling terribly optimistic about the future right now.]
That's the spirit. Because who around here is really going to go with William. Billy really suits you better.
[He claps a hand on Billy's shoulder, squeezing just a little.]
We could do a show marathon. I've got a bunch of stupid DVDs in my room. Or find someone to pull a prank on.
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[Although he does have a tendency to pull out full names too, when someone is being stupid so he cant even really complain that much...]
Yeah? Show marathon sounds good. We'll have to think about pranks though. It might take some plotting.
[And who'd be the best target, of course.]
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[He jerks his head toward the other end of the hall, taking off at a slow walk and expecting Billy to follow.]
I'll get my DVDs and you can find the snacks, fair? And yes to the plotting. I'm sure you've got some people you'd like to pull on over on.
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[He nods at that.]
Totally fair. And I'm sure we'll find someone who could stand a little pranking... I mean, what's the point of super speed and magic otherwise, right?
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[He's practically immune to the full name treatment after years of causing problems for his mom. It doesn't quiet sound menacing from his nephew of all people.]
Now you're starting to see things my way. We'll have a trouble-maker out of you yet.
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[That angry, disappointed look. He's not sure he's perfected it, but Wanda kind of has it down pretty good.]
You better watch it. What if I become a monster or something? I might turn on you.
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[Because that's totally a thing that can happen on demand.]
No, I've seen too many monster movies for that to be a problem. I could totally handle you.
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[He huffs out a laugh.]
That sounds like a challenge, you know.
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[He grins.]
Maybe it is. What are you going to do about it?