[hatch log] welcome to the void-- wait no, waypoint shril

[onemind]

CHARACTERS: New Hosts & EVERYONE
WHERE: The Station, Waypoint Shril
WHEN: DAY :027
SUMMARY: New hosts take the universe for a spin.
WARNINGS: Will update as necessary. Need a warning added? PM this account please!

YOU WAKE UP and suddenly you're a different person. --No. Wait. Scratch that. Not suddenly. It's been a while, hasn't it? Something feels off anyway - a combination of the strange and familiar right there in your own head - and you know intuitively that you've been unconscious for more than just a blink of the eye. It’s impossible to tell exactly how long ago or how exactly you escaped the danger that had been breathing down your neck, but you know it was more than a moment ago.

But here you are, a small miracle of the multiverse: lying in a small faintly hexagonal chamber, a gentle white light emanating from the surrounding walls. If you were injured during your escape, those injuries have been healed. If you were anxious or frightened or distraught, those feelings have been briefly calmed. There's something strangely peaceful about waking up here. That feeling persists even as you find the tube running from the base of your neck to the compartment's rear wall.

But when the tube's disconnected? Things get loud. A wave of emotion fills that peaceful void - fear, uncertainty, relief, a sense of purpose or loneliness or anxiety. Maybe some of these emotions are yours, but they can't all be. After the initial sensory overload, the mental buzz elongates: stretches out into a murmur like the sound of a party happening behind a closed door.

You can sit up - barely -, and shift out of the pod. There’s a ladder at your feet and a little cubby just before it with anything you brought with you as well as a set of crisp, loose-fitting white clothes; while your injuries are healed, whatever you’re wearing is in the exact state it was before. Maybe it's time for a change? Drop down the ladder to the floor of the Nesting Deck and you’ll find you’re not alone - and that those sounds in your head are louder the closer you are to these strangers. --No. That's not right either. A sense of familiarity runs so deep between you it might as well be cellular.

Welcome to Station 72. It is... exhausting. There's both a both deep weariness in your bones and a pulse of anticipation crawling under your skin. Your body feels heavy at first, like you're somehow too dense or too real. But maybe that sensation eases eventually. Or maybe you just get used to it?

( ▬▬▬▬▬...There you are. Join us on the hangar, won't you....▬▬▬? )

It doesn't sound like a voice as much as it just resembles sounds, the sensation of warmth and security like napping in a window at the height of summer. If it's followed, you'll eventually wind your day to a massive hangar bay peppered with a myriad of small and medium ships ranging from strange to ornately beautiful to hardly recognizable. Waiting in front of a small silver craft is an aging woman with greying hair, fine jewlery chains tinkling with a multitude of metal charms sound through her clothing and along her forearms. You know instinctively she was the one who spoke to you.

She smiles now, moving to climb into the (very) small ship. There's room enough for all of you if you pack in tight. "Come along," says Cathaway. "The line for Platform Alfa is long enough that we can answer your questions on the way."





WAYPOINT SHRIL might be bursting at the seams with activity, noise and people, but there's no missing when something in the universe shifts. For most older Hosts, they wont quite be able to put their finger on what's going on, but Chuuya and Elena? They know exactly what's happening - somewhere in this universe, new Hosts are hatching and at least one of them belongs to you.

Not that the mystery lasts long for everyone else either. A few hours after the shift, Cathaway's speaks to you. Her voice is clear as a crystal bell, suffused with an intense and simple joy that has nothing to do with--

( New hosts have arrived. Please come meet us at Platform Alfa if you're able. They'll need your assistance. )

--and everything to do with the sensation of a ship hurtling as a bullet through space, the nauseating feeling of darting between other small craft and buzzing around larger class ships.

Come fetch your new friends, everyone. Waypoint Shril could be dangerous for the initiated. After all, the Catacomb Hotel is filled with construction zones and open elevator shafts, the streets are thronged with vendors looking to make a quick Shen off unsuspecting tourists, the area immediately surrounding the Stadium Zone is jammed with intergalactic reporters and especially hot headed or famous competitors filming a pre-competition conference, and - most mortifying of all - the line to leave Platform Alfa is apparently several hours long. What's a new Host to do without a little guidance?

---

((OOC Notes: This is the hatch log for the new hosts and anyone looking to greet them after their hatching. You’re welcome to make your own logs separate to this going forward and tag any old logs that have been forward dated to this point or beyond. We're about halfway through the first week at Waypoint Shril, so feel free to touch the mission drop post as long as you're appropriately timing your encounters.


Additionally, you can find a more detailed overview of the hatching process HERE. You can find additional setting information about the Station HERE. Information about Waypoint Shril is located at the Current Mission Brief - you may consider this information more or less ICly known. Last but not least, if you have any questions, please hit up either the FAQ or MOD CONTACT pages!))

NAVIGATION • SETTING • FAQ • MOD CONTACT • GLOSSARY

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Comments

[lavelly]

[ 01. wakey wakey big mistakey ]

[Lavellan's starting to think he should never have disconnected that strange tube in his neck: it's unbelievable how much he's been feeling like shit ever since he dropped out of his chamber. Everything here--wherever here is--is just too much. Too bright, too loud.

It's not like he's not used to hearing strange voices; at first he'd just thought it was Mythal's will trying to tell him something, though he hadn't heard anything from it in years. But the longer it goes on the more he realizes this is something entirely different. It's too chaotic, like he's in a crowded room surrounded by everyone talking at once, and none of them are making any sense.

There are... one or two voices that stand out from the others, he thinks, but trying to concentrate on them just makes his headache worse, so he stops. Instead he focuses, shakily, on following the one calling him to the hangar. In better circumstances he'd be trying to get his bearings rather than blindly obeying some strange voice, people have met grisly ends for less, but these aren't better circumstances. These are circumstances where his head is pounding, he's covered in cold sweat, and he feels like he's about to vomit any second.

Honestly, if this voice is leading him to his death, he welcomes it. Consciousness isn't very appealing right now.

Every so often on his path he has to stop and lean against the wall to catch his breath and wait for the world to stop spinning. Was he drugged? It would make about as much sense as anything else.]

[ 02. everything happens so much (station alfa) ]

[Well, he's feeling a little better, but he's still thinking he'd prefer death. So much is happening around him that he can't even begin to comprehend, so he's just kind of numbly waiting for something to happen that actually makes sense. He gets the impression he's supposed to be meeting someone here, but he has no idea who or why.

Maybe he's just dreaming, who knows. Even the Fade made more sense than this.

To an onlooker, it might even look like he's bored, as he sits with his head propped in his hand and just watches the people around him go. In truth it's more like he's in a stupor. He's not totally unaware, though; if he's approached he'll sound perfectly casual. Conversational, even.]

This is probably a strange question, but could you tell me if I'm dead?

[ 03. mystery box challenge ]

(Hit me up on listen to has something else out!)

2

[shiro2hero]

[Honestly, he would have passed this person by entirely. If it wasn't for the brush of another mind. Someone's mind who is unfamiliar. Someone he doesn't yet know -- but someone who is part of their... group. So to speak.]

[So of course he stops, stepping up near them. He's about to answer the question, but once he takes another look at them, the answer dies on his tongue.]

[The ears... Can this--?]

... can I ask you something first?

[lavelly]

[His eyes focus sharply as Shiro approaches, and he realizes that one of the voices (that until now had blissfully faded into the background, for the most part) has accordingly gotten louder.

Then this man must be... another one. Another of some group Lavellan can't quite wrap his head around but exists nonetheless.

His eyes narrow as he automatically shifts his weight. Just in case. Though something in his head is telling him there's no danger here.]

That depends on what it is. I can be very sensitive when it comes to personal topics.

[shiro2hero]

[At least in his case, he's been here long enough to build up decent shields. All he's projecting are stars. The thought of stars -- of galaxies in distinct colors. Nothing else. A useful skill when you're meeting new people.]

[His expression, though, relaxes, into something apologetic.]

Does the word "Altea" mean anything to you?

[Because now that he's looking, this guy doesn't have anything like markings. Just the ears.]

[lavelly]

[Even just that much information makes him inhale sharply in surprise, brings the nausea back fresh. It's not that Shiro is projecting too much--just the effect at all sends him reeling, unable to separate Shiro's thoughts from physical reality.

He'll never get used to... whatever this is. He's not sure he wants to.]

Stop--stop that.

[Mercifully, it stabilizes quickly enough on its own. More quickly than it had when he first woke up here. Maybe he is getting used to it.

It still takes him a moment to find his words again.]

I'm afraid it doesn't.

[shiro2hero]

Stop? Stop wh...

[Oh. Oh, he gets it. His eyes widen a fraction. It's hard to try and scale back his mental shielding. But maybe just... pull it in closer? Does that work?]

[He actually shakes his head, holding up his hands, while he tries his best to do that. It's not something he exactly has experience with.]

I'm sorry. I didn't realize.

[But hey, at least the apology is sincere.] But thanks. Are you okay?

[lavelly]

[It does help, a little. Lavellan's own thoughts are much less regulated; raw, sharp, and chaotic, they're little more than a mass of impulse and feeling and if written down they'd probably look something like: ?!??!?!?!?!?!.

He hopes that's not having the same effect on Shiro that Shiro's had on him. Lavellan does look at him a little incredulously, though.]

Honestly, not really. How do you--is this normal for you?

2

[somnifacient]

[Meanwhile Noct is walking around in a state of confusion; he's used to crowds (the city of Insomnia was a bustling city in its own right), but this wasn't something completely different. This was barely navigable, and it seemed that no matter which way he went, he was always walking against the flow.

And some point, he wanders close to another, and something makes him pause. A brushing of minds, enough to distract him.]

You-

[An alien bumps into him, and Noct staggers forward just a bit. He catches his balance, then tosses the offender a displeased glance -- or he would if they hadn't already disappeared into the mass of others.]

...You look pretty alive to me. Starting to doubt yourself?

[lavelly]

[Oh. Another one. He does his best to quell the sense of anxiety that flares to life at another one, and probably fails.]

It seems a simpler explanation than the alternative. You could only be a figment of my imagination, certainly.

[Yes, that's shade for no reason. He's in a bad mood.]

[somnifacient]

[Yep, Noctis feels that anxiety. He can't hope to know how to shield himself from it, not yet, and so he crosses his arms across his chest, as if trying to force it away with body language alone.

It doesn't work, of course. Now he just feels uncomfortable.

Still, at least his words come out with an edge of sarcasm, though far from being ill-willed.]

An interesting imagination you must have there, thinking up people like me.

[He shifts his weight to the other foot. Wow, that sounded kind of... vain, didn't it? Not at all how he meant it.]

[lavelly]

[It sure did sound vain, but Lavellan takes it with humor, at least. He sort of walked right into that one.]

You'd be surprised. But I don't usually get sass from figments, so you must have been right the first time.

( Unfortunately. )

[He doesn't seem to realize he'd actually "said" the last part as he gives Noctis a casual shrug.]

[somnifacient]

[Whereas Lavellan's speech before now had been slightly muddled thanks to the hubbub of the crowd, the one word rings clear in his head. It's jarring, especially since Noct is pretty sure he didn't see him utter anything after his initial statement.

This is going to take a long time to get used to. Should he respond back in kind? He not sure he even knows how-]

(What, you'd rather be dead?)

[lavelly]

[Lavellan immediately shifts his weight into a ready stance, his eyes darting for escape routes. From his perspective, Noctis had straight up read his mind--and then spoke directly with his own. In his experience, that's what demons do.

(It had happened when he first woken up too, he dimly remembers, but some part of him had been convinced he'd just hallucinated it.)]

How did you do that?

[earthborn]

[Shepard's not sure how to react to that, honestly. But she gives Lavellan a good once-over, appearing to take the question seriously.]

I mean, you might've died, but you're not dead now. [This is a new host. This is a very leaky host, at least-- Shepard's never been so glad for Sam's instruction on how to shield oneself away from others.] Look, you need to focus. This isn't a pleasure-trip.

[Shepard likes Cathaway, but sometimes she thinks the woman has forgotten what it's like to have human limitations.]

[lavelly]

[He snaps to focus immediately, not because of her words, but because of the feeling she exudes. Like Cullen, but moreso. Not as soft.

He doesn't know if it's her body language, her tone of voice, or what he can sense because of this... worm, but his impression is this is a woman who doesn't fuck around. That's something he can appreciate.

Of course, that doesn't mean he can't. He offers her a wry little smirk.]

It isn't? And here I was all getting settled in.

[Still, he's new and hasn't learned to shield. It's probably obvious he's being more wary than flippant.]

[earthborn]

[Shepard regards Lavellan at length, nonplussed.]

You're obviously new to this, so I'm going to cut you some slack.

[This said with a rising sense of pressure, an overbearing sensation of intolerable pressure and heat. Shepard doesn't shield herself from people so that she can get peace from them. She does it so that they can get peace from her. This is posturing, yes, but just because it's a threat, it doesn't follow that it's an empty one.]

I'm Commander Shepard. You are?

[lavelly]

[Lavellan tenses, but he doesn't quail. Instead, he straightens up and meets her gaze dead on, eyes narrowing.

Okay. This is someone to contend with. If he still had both his hands, he'd lace his fingers in front of him: casual, but still authoritative, still putting a barrier between them. Circumstances being, he doesn't. It's a fidget he's surprised to miss.

Instead, he spreads his right hand in a "who, me?" gesture. Commander, huh.]

Lavellan, no rank. Have I offended you in some way? I apologize.

[earthborn]

Trust me, when you've offended me, you won't have to ask. [She's nothing if not honest, at least about that much.] Alright, Lavellan...

[Deep breath, Shepard, you're dealing with a one-armed rookie, nothing to worry about here. Nothing at all. Fuck me he's going to be dead by tomorrow.]

Welcome to Waypoint Shril. As you can see it's a real shitshow, and also there's a competition happening. We're all trying to get the prize. [Her tone implies that the prize is stupid, but the nuance of her mental touch says something more sly. Winning isn't the only way to get the prize-- and it's a desirable one, for them, at least.] Also, you're not hallucinating, or dreaming, or high, so unless you're looking for a suicide method...

[She might imply otherwise, but Shepard would probably fish him out of vacuum if he floated himself out there. Not that doing so would save his life.]

...I'd watch your step here. Dancing with the stars isn't really all that cute in reality.

[lavelly]

Concerned for my well-being? But we've only just met. Commander.

[Lavellan can recognize when he's being talked down to. Even if the person doing it certainly has more experience than him, it's not something he takes well to. And it's very, very hard for him not to respond to anything with sarcasm.]

I appreciate the concern.

2

[greentech]

[ The tug of another symbiote leads Katie down the street, oversized "SECURITY" hat perched on herh ead. Weird. She gets a few looks, but she's just another strange being on a station full of them. She winds her way through the crowd and pauses as she spots someone who looks a bit more of place than anyone else and then she detours, following the little whispers that tell her she's found another (new?) member of the Nest. ]

...Dead?

[ Weird question. ]

Uh, I'm pretty sure you're not. You're still talking right? Most people can't talk once they die. Or really do much of anything.

[lavelly]

[...Security. Another host doing security?

As if he can really question anything that happens at this point.]

You never know. This could be a metaphorical hell of my own imagining. I don't claim to know the workings of the universe.

[This looks like a child and now he feels bad.]

Sorry. You're not meeting me at my best.

[greentech]

[ Look, she signed up for a temp agency and somehow they decided she'd be a good fit for security. Don't blame her for this weird mish-mash of confusion. She just works here. ]

Sure, this could all be a simulation or inside our heads, but until anything proves that that's true, I'm choosing to treat this all as very real.

[ Katie snorts. So much for that idea. She's heard the theory before and it doesn't impress her. ]

Yeah, well, are any of us really at our best when we're stuck on a weird alien spaceship in a completely different universe from the one we grew up in? I don't think so.

[lavelly]

[He grins. He could learn to like this... girl? boy?

Whatever. At least someone here is willing to give him lip.]

You have a point. You can imagine why I thought to assume the worst, however?

[greentech]

Maybe? But I wouldn't have jumped to being dead.

[ She adjusts her glasses with a little frown. ]

I mean, once you're dead, you're dead. There's nothing to think about, as far as I know. I don't think you'd care because there's nothing left.

[lavelly]

[He stares at her, a little incredulously. There's no talking rationality to someone who is from a universe where magic is a measurable phenomenon.]

What makes you say that? If we go somewhere when we dream, it makes sense that we go somewhere when we die.

[Yeah, that's definitely some logic.]