station72 | [MISSION: HYRYPIA] the moon drops one or two feathers into the field

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[MISSION: HYRYPIA] the moon drops one or two feathers into the field

CHARACTERS: Everyone
WHERE: The Station
WHEN: DAY :055
SUMMARY: Two veteran hosts arrive on the Station and a mandatory meeting is called. It's time to prepare for a new mission.
WARNINGS: Just chill dudes having a chill time. (Will add warnings as necessary)

I. THE SHIP.
((closed to one thread with a maximum of two player characters; first come, first serve; please don't nab this if you want to play an AFTERMATH prompt and vice versa))

[Early in the day, one of the hangar's platforms rotates upward into place. On it sits a long, bird beak shaped ship. For a moment it has all the appearance of being held together with little more than hope and a prayer. Its nose panels are scorched from the punching in and out of atmosphere and its wings have a rugged, rudimentary sweep to them. Then the illusion melts away and the ship becomes fundamentally concrete, though no less strange as it twists into a shape more closely resembling some complex origami. From it comes two hosts, both in elaborately layered stiff edged garments that cloak them from neck to knee.]

Double time, darling.

[The pale alien flashes a broad grin at her comrade as she vaults from the cockpit to the hangar floor. Her partner, hood thrown back and his scarves unwound to reveal short, tawny fur and two sets of small horns, tosses two bags down after her then follows her down.

The ship seals itself after them like a fan folding closed.]

II. MENTAL LINK.

[There is a strange, unfamiliar voice in your mind. It comes without a greeting and without the polite request for attention, but rather like a voice over an intercom, curt and low:]

( Hosts will report to the briefing room in- ) [the measurement of time that filters into your mind is not quite numbers, untethered by the standards of one people, but the meaning of it is clear- approximately 15 minutes] ( You have received the mission info on your personal databank. Proceed to the location upon review. )

[There is no invitation to continued conversation, but there is the impression of a location, one which you are unfamiliar with. The space it occupies pressed into your mind like a seal into hot wax. You can find it. You know it.]

III. BRIEFING.
((thread jacking encouraged for this - speedier back and forths seem like the funnest way to accomplish a group meeting; tag order will be treated cavalierly at best in any group threads!))

[Not far from the hangar deck, the corridors curve and then abruptly dead end at a circular room with a series of tiered benches seemingly carved from the Station's structure. Is this where you meant to be? Well, the voice had seemed like it wasn’t optional.

At the center of the small briefing room sit two Hosts. The first, a tall narrow alien with long pointed ears and solid green eyes sits straight with military precision, facing forward and not moving except to breath. The second, a pale alien with fringe touched by gold and dark lip lacquer is sitting in a spindly chair and aggressively typing on her tablet. She's shed her elaborate outerwear for one of the Station's bodysuits. She doesn't look up for a long time.

Eventually once everyone is seated, Rhan folds her databank up into a cube, sets it on the pedestal beside her and strokes along its side to trigger a projection of glittering gossamer images into the dim room's center.]

Let's get down to business, shall we? Hopefully you've all done your homework, [She arches an eyebrow, flashing a quick grin] --so the nuts and bolts won't be shocking. But Siva'co and I wanted to go over a few particulars before we take you all on this charming little adventure. Namely this one:

[She taps the side of the cube with her finger with a click of her long fingernail. The briefing report sent to the hosts earlier scrolls rapidly to the line '--one of these major diplomatic factions is believed to have been infiltrated by 'Enemy' agents.'.]

Now we've worked rather hard for the last year in this universe and we both would be very unhappy for all that effort to go down the drain just because someone thinks they'd like to be a hero. Isn't that right, Siva'co? I don't know how much contact you've had with our good friends out there, but let's be clear about this: if the Enemy becomes aware of our presence on this planet, this mission will be aborted. They'll get whatever they want out of this universe and, most importantly, some of us will die while running with our tails between our legs.

[Rhan tips her head to her partner.]

How do you feel about getting killed by someone with ideals, Siva'co?

[There is a long pause before he answers- and it is difficult to read his face exactly, but he seems somewhat exasperated.] Whatever the source of the failure, to die for reason other than the success of the mission is not acceptable. All must fulfill their roles with focus and dedication in order to see victory. Foolishness will not be tolerated.

[Rhan looks back to the assembled Hosts, cheerful smile unflagging.]

Questions?

IV. AFTERMATH.
((each prompt limited to one thread, first come first serve; please don't pull one of these if you nabbed THE SHIP prompt and vice versa.))

SIVA'CO.
[Regardless of the fact that the meeting is complete, Siva’co does not immediately leave. Rather a) he waits, stiff backed and formal by the door as Host’s filter out, not particularly inviting conversation but not fleeing, either. When the last host has left the room, he is found b) in the Training Wing, working his way through a number of the exercise machines with a single-minded focus, breathing heavily through his noses, hooved feet silent on the treadmill and the foam mats.

RHAN.
[After the briefing sessions, someone quick on their feet might manage to catch Rhan a) in the corridor leading from the briefing room. But you'll have to be very quick as she clearly has things to do and is shortly swallowed up by the labyrinthine corridors of the Station's interior. Some time later, she appears b) in the library, making space to shelve a series of small leatherbound books. Rhan flips open each one to check the label on the first page as she takes them from the open bag at her feet. The bag itself appears to be stuffed with…. well, stuff in addition to the books.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Aloy listens to the argument with a pinched sigh. Reaching up, she rubs a hand against the bridge of her nose. This whole plan seemed complicated, but it was what they were going to do and she didn't think arguing against it would accomplish anything. ]

I'm best suited to play a guard, but if you need servants, I can do that too.

[ She looks pointedly towards Seviila, a sense of look, I'm being a team player so why can't you? rippling outwards from her. ]

I'm not a noble though. I didn't grow up that way and I'm not looking for anyone to treat me that way.

[ She's not the agent of a God. She's not special. She just wants to be Aloy and have that be enough, for once. ]

The important part is getting this done and getting it done without being found out.

No matter what, we can't act as if these are simple matters. We can't act as if we are naive, or if we are easy to read, because it will limit our options. Acting as if we can be straightforward will only make it more difficult for us to act for ourselves in the long term. But I understand that some of us—[this is a not at all subtle snipe at Parker herself, because Lexa isn't exactly inclined to believe that she's actually intending to care about a mission]—are ill equipped for that aspect of political intrigue.

I'm certain that those will be better off being left unheard. [As servants. A double snipe.]

Going to agree with Adra. That was my whole point -- I'll do what I have to. Wherever I'm needed.

[A glance to Aloy, and a nod. Grateful.] And with Aloy. We should move on. We can figure these logistics out in better detail once we've got a better idea of what the ground looks like.

[ Parker gives Murphy another look - the only time she has looked up since the conversation of role-assigning begun. They are thinking about the same thing at the moment. This is a fake society. This is like playing dress up but taking it beyond the necessary seriousness it needs. Then she goes back to transcribing stuff from the datapad down to her notebook quietly. ]

It doesn't matter. [ Parker says without looking at Lexa. The snipe flies over her head. She looks over the datapad, writes down something, and continues to scroll through it. Being called a servant is not offensive. Neither is it saying that she lacks diplomatic skills. She is aware. ] It's fake. It doesn't exist. Take advantage of that.

[ He manages to suppress an amused snort at Murphy's comment, but only barely. There's a one shouldered shrug at Lexa and Parker's conversation. ]

They're politicians at war. Everyone there is going to be supicious, looking for blackmail, hiding their own agenda, trying to get in with the right people. That's all I meant about giving them something to see.

[ Deep sigh. ]

Yes, it's fake. But we have to make everyone else believe it's real, so we have to take it seriously--and in that sense, it does matter. It literally life or death matters.

Both of these men are correct. If we don't have servants, we may seem weak. If we have too many bodyguards, we may come across as if we're afraid. We have to balance the appearance we project, because we want to appear as if there is some value to an alliance with us.

[She's happy that Sam gets her, and through the link, she sends a nod of approval.]

[ Pidge has been taking copious notes since the start of the briefing and she glances up from her computer to finally chime in. ]

I mean, some people just aren't good liars. We have to be able to factor that in, right? I can do support and tech work, but I... probably shouldn't be trying to imitate a politician or something.

[ She rolls her shoulders in a shrug. ]

So, I'm happy to play servant if I have to.

It's about balance. Lexa is right. If we come with both hands open, we look weak and needy, but with both fists closed we're too ready to set off a fight.

[ The analogy is clumsy, but Aloy is doing the best she can in the rapid fire conversation. ]

[ She rolls her eyes at their words and shrugs. ]

I don't care what you want to do. [ She points at their general direction with a floppy pencil. ] But if you think that will make you naive or weak or both, then good. People will try to take advantage of you. And people reveal a lot more when they're taking advantage of someone else. Aren't you trying to scoop out the other guys that everyone is calling the enemy?

[ Her hand flops down, limp wrist, then she leans back again on her chair. ]

Do whatever makes you feel better. I don't really care either way.

Edited (i dont know how to english) 2017-07-05 21:19 (UTC)

[Seviilia may or may not be smirking at the general clamor and need for agreement, butt she says nothing else. After all, she's already stated her own personal plan -- everyone else will find their role eventually.

But Aloy does get a very pointed look in her direction, and after a fashion, her smirk fades away to something challenging.

Go ahead. Throw shade again, little girl.]

[ Adra's feelin' this friction, and he just rubs his temples. Be cool. Be figuratively cool. ]

Well, we seem to be mostly on the same page. Or otherwise very helpfully apathetic, which is fine, I guess.

[ Aloy's mental reaction is to prickle. She stares back at Sevillia with a grim set to her face. She's not afraid of you and she doesn't care how great you think you are.

I've fought gods. You don't scare me. She rolls one shoulder and looks back to the others. Not paying anymore attention to you, Seviilia. ]

[Noctis finally decides to chime in from the edges of the group.]

Put me wherever we need more roles. I can do a little bit of everything -- that includes acting as nobility.

[But... he hesitates.]

Though delegating exactly what we'd be best at... this doesn't have to be a conversation for right now. Is there anything else vital we need to know about the mission, before we decide who to dress up as?

[Murphy has at this point resorted to dramatically letting his head flop back, and follows on Noctis's comment with a very loud:]

Please.

[Murphy gets an obnoxious echoing and mental chuckle knocking around in his brain. Initially, she had been annoyed, but the direction of the argument has clearly brightened her mood some.]

I believe we have been given everything we need.

[Which had been the only reason she'd begun the apparent argument in the first place, but she glances toward their alien hosts to see if they have anything else to add.]

[ Misato has her arms crossed, quietly glaring at the entire room. Well, doesn't this already feel like a meeting between government officials each with their own interests and pride to protect? Only occasionally does she turn to Lexa when she speaks, an unspoken signal of support. It's only when Seviilia talks on their behalf does she speak up. ]

I'm glad we're all excited to play dress-up, but remember we're there for information, first. Then for influence. Don't waste your time on convoluted backstories when you can have the flexibility to change into someone else more useful later on, just by revealing only what's necessary.

[ Her voice is stern, spoken from the diaphragm, lacking warmth. ]

Rhan, one last thing, on the Enemy, are they like us? With symbiotes and varying Hosts who can talk to each other with their minds? Do they all have unique abilities like us?

And how can we kill them?

[ Someone had to ask. ]

If it comes to that, is there a way to do it? Will our abilities work on them?

If we're in a position to kill them, there might be a bigger problem on our hands. Otherwise, there would be no need to warn us to maintain secrecy. Or for us to hide in a place where we can't be found.

[Lexa doesn't point out that the symbiotes aren't the only source of "special abilities" among the Hosts. Hopefully Misato has figured that out already.]

[Rhan has been more than happy to let them talk. At length. But when conversation circles back toward the most dangerous element of this, she's more than happy to let herself be called on. She clears her throat - a small 'Oh yes, thank you for remembering me' -, and shifts forward in her chair.]

The Enemy is like us in the sense that they're not from this universe and could look like anyone. I realize most of you are all rather similar [she makes a motion in the face region], but species variation is as common with our Enemy as it is among our numbers. But I'm sure you all know that from how you got here - I imagine no one had the same close call, right?

[She flashes a grin. A shrug.]

Princess has it right though. If we're that close, something's gone wrong. Your abilities may or may not work on them. I can't say I've personally used mine on one and this is one of the few instance where I hate to be a teller of stories instead of relaying fact, but rumor has it anything which effects them directly tends to be... difficult to predict. If your ability is throwing lighting or setting the world on fire, I suspect those still should work in their presence. But it's said rho abilities can sometimes go... strange.

--In any case, I've never killed one. But plenty of them have killed plenty of us.

[That's all rather dark though, isn't it? She straightens and claps her hands once as if to bookend the matter.]

Now then, are there any other pressing questions or can we all break for dinner? What time is it here? I don't know about you lot, but I'm starving.

Commander. [This is an aside and meant to be read as one. Being referred to as princess is ... wrong ... very wrong.] Or Heda if you prefer. [Though the bond of the symbiotes is strong enough to know that this is a different language for literally the same thing.

She then raises her voice to add:]

I believe our questions have been answered, at least for now. If you could provide more information before we leave on how those abilities have led to surprising ends, that may help us identify their numbers among the factions. Or it may prevent some of us from using our abilities in dangerous situations. Some of us have acted as if our mind-based powers can open many doors. We'll need to be cautious if it's bound to make us stand out among strangers.

[As that seems like exactly the thing to highlight them as Other.]

Edited (needed to edit for clarity and also to make her say more because she's lexa) 2017-07-06 02:17 (UTC)

[Siva'co cuts in, words clipped, tone slightly lower- irritation beginning to seep from his mind. They did argue.]

She said it was rumor. We do not know exactly what does and does not work against them, or if there is any consistency. The rumored issues may not even be due to their status as agents of the Enemy, they could simply be due to a power natural to their people. [He turns his attention away from Lexa and to the room as a whole-] Use your abilities cautiously.

[He shifts back in his seat and then presses his hands against the arms of the chair and pushes himself to stand at his full height.]

You do not need a complete history prepared and you do not need a set role. We have chosen the Carbauschians precisely because they are deeply secretive. And none of you are expected to be the leads of the delegation. Collector, Lyr, Rhan and I have the most experience with the people and the current political situation, and we will take point. Lyr and Collector are already on Hyrypia, acting as the forward vanguard in their role as lesser nobility.

[He is silent a moment, eyes flickering slightly- as if remembering something, suddenly.]

It is good to be thoughtful of your strengths and how to best apply them to the success of the mission.

[The thin praise complete, he rests his hands across his stomach, elbows at sharp angles.] Any further questions?

[ Parker lets out a dry, humourless chuckle when Misato asks her question that could very well just be an hyena throwing up bile. It's a closed-mouth sound from the back of her throat. And when the answer comes, she isn't the least bit surprised. In fact, she had written it out, something similar to that. Just a little ghost with "it is a mystery" scribbled on it.

Her humour is terrible, but nobody ever claimed otherwise.

While Siva'co talks, Parker closes her notebook, turning off the datapad. She stands up while he's still talking, exiting the room without a word. ]