[mission: hyrypia] hey kid wanna see a dead body

[onemind]

CHARACTERS: EVERYONE
WHERE: The Second Flight
WHEN: DAY :021 - DAY :022
SUMMARY: Leaving the Graze and flying over the Finger Maze. [insert Psycho music cue here]
WARNINGS: Corpses. Will update as necessary. Need a warning added? PM this account please!

HYRYPIA - THE SECOND FLIGHT
DAY :021

I. ALLLL ABOARD
THE SOUND OF HORNS has become familiar in your time on Hyrypia, but the low drone seems out of place here in the great open space of the main hall of the Second’s Flight. The space here is fantastically and beautifully ornate, the pale polished wood floors and rich dark paneling strangely reminiscent of sand and stone, loamy earth and some rich, dense forest not native to the arid lands of this planet. The space seems to dare the sky to claim it, acting out some daring violation of delivering the earth into the heavens. The twin heads of House Tyrisson are equally lavish both in their appearance and welcome. Two brothers, draped in elaborate pastel fabrics and glinting with enough metal accents to put the ornate robes of Seconds to shame, they trade a short speech back and forth between them:

"Once, our ancestors would have travelled the depths and turns of the Finger Maze in an effort to follow the footsteps of the First. Luckily, we don't live in such dangerous times; the gifts of the First and this planet we call home have allowed us to grow up out of our desperation. Consider this comfort our gift to you and enjoy your time on the Second Flight."

A band strikes up the moment the Tyrisson twins take their seats and you are left to your own devices. So much for living simply.

II. A MURDER MOST FOUL
A SCREAM PIERCES THE SILENCE of the saunas. The low sound of gently flowing water and the soft piped music seems to fade to nothing in the wake of the raw, terrified noise. Unsurprisingly, it draws immediate attention as a horrified Descendant practically falls into the arms of the servant that comes to his aid. The outburst is easily forgiven as word travels like lightning through the ship.

There has been a murder - or rather, two murders. Two bodies, damp with humidity and beginning to give of a distinctly unpleasant smell, have been found in one of the hot bath grottos. The mineral water they've been soaking in has reverted from a milky white to a terrible, blood rust brown.

And while it's unlikely that any Carbauschians were sharing the pool with them (robes make for unpleasant waders), the dryer albeit stiflingly hot areas of the conjoined saunas are such a communal meeting places that it wouldn't be out of the realm of imagination that one or two Hosts might be nearby… Regardless, news travels quickly and the chilly atmosphere that descends over the Second Flight is palpable. A horrific hunting accident is one thing, but murder? That's something else altogether.


HYRYPIA - THE SECOND FLIGHT
DAY :022

III. A SORDID AFFAIR
TO SAY that the atmosphere is somewhat tense is an understatement. It seems that everyone has something to say about the murders- but these things are said tersely, in whispers under the breath, with darting eyes and suspicious glances, and security- once hidden, secret- is now easily visible. They can be found at the entrance of each of the broad areas, patrolling down the paths that run alongside the outer walls of the Envoy’s cabins- never intruding, but ever present. Still, there seems to be an insistence that it will be dealt with by a member of the Tyrisson protectorate guard - Detective Savela, a hard-nosed, serious woman who seems not to want any assistance - and that the guests should continue to enjoy themselves. The bands still play, the games are ever present. Of course, those that are enterprising may wish to try poking around, instead.

IV. THE SHOW MUST GO ON
MURDER SCHMURDER-- In what's very clearly an effort to retain some sense of normalcy, an elaborate meal is served late on Day :022. The dishes are so complex that might as well be show pieces of their own, the music has an air of desperation, and the display of technomancy from a pair of Seconds is so delicate and ornate - centering almost entirely on a cloud of small metal coins that shifts shape constantly to illustrate scenes from the famous epic poem The Arion throughout the course of the dinner - that under any other circumstances it might be a singularly memorable moment.

Unfortunately, the palpable sense of suspicion between the envoy factions persists and the temper of the room is anything but celebratory. Late in the evening when most people have retired from the stifling atmosphere, a scuffle breaks out between some Meradan bodyguards and a clutch of Carpathan servants.


HYRYPIA - THE SECOND’S FLIGHT
DAY :023

V. A FAREWELL TO ARMS
THE ENGINES ever-present hum ticking down an octave is the first sign that the Flight has almost reached its destination. By the time the servants are politely knocking on the entrances of the berthings, the new dawn reveals that the cliffs and the winding passages of the Finger Maze have finally fallen behind the ship. The land here consists of rocky, relatively bare hills and is accented only with occasional short, sparse woody tree and straggly clumps of red grass. From somewhere in the distance, salt touches the wind. The Second Flight lands, setting gently down into the trough between two hills. Its now familiar gangplank extends, ready to send the Pilgrims again out onto the road.

---

((OOC Notes: This log covers days :021 and :022 on the Second Flight. A log will be posted for the walk on DAY :023 and the arrival at the Red Coast. Please be sure to review the MISSION: HYRYPIA ooc information to find setting information for the Second Flight. If you have any questions, please hit up either the mission's question thread, the FAQ or MOD CONTACT pages!))

NAVIGATION • GAME CALENDAR • MISSION: HYRYPIA • FAQ • MOD CONTACT • GLOSSARY

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Comments

[otrazhenie]

I { day :021 | main hall } and I tried to hold these secrets inside me

[ To say the Second Flight is beautiful is to do it an incredible injustice. The ship is magnificent, a masterpiece of technology that Elena doesn't understand and artistry that she can't begin to put into words. Just the sight of it makes her fingers itch for a pen, a sudden longing for the journal she'd once turned to daily to put down on paper all the maddening thoughts and happenings in her life. She has nothing like that here though, and so instead she's left to simply commit things to memory as best she can.

Starting with the main hall. The colors take her breath away, those dark and light shades resonating in her soul the way a painting might resonate with others. With the music wrapping around her from the temporary ballroom, Elena wishes desperately that she could shed her costume and take to the floor. She misses dancing, and that longing seeps through to any of the Nest who might be nearby. ]

II { day :022 | forward cabin } the house was awake, the shadows and monsters

[ It's not until the middle of the night that Elena finally makes her way to the Forward Cabin, sleep a distant thought while her thoughts whirl over so many things. Her new relationship with Damon, the possibility of ever getting home, Gildor's current comatose state, the ever-present danger of someone finding out about the Nest. Again she wishes for pen and paper, a tangible way to organize those thoughts and try to make sense of something, anything, but all she finds is more confusion and uncertainty while watching the dark expanse below.

Eventually, likely around the time she's on her third cup of 'coffee' as is getting tired of sitting at that table and is considering finally returning to the shared berthing, the sun will come up and both the world and her spirits will brighten. It's a spectacular sight to behold. ]

III { day :022 | closed to damon } i'm meaner than my demons, i'm bigger than these bones

[ At the time, it had been a bit surprising to Elena that Damon had so willingly agreed to watch over Gildor for her while she visited the hot springs, but in retrospect it wasn't really all that out of the ordinary for him. He'd grown so much over the year since he'd waltzed back into her life after that night on the road (the one they hadn't yet really discussed), but if something mattered strongly to her, he'd almost always supported her. So long as it didn't threaten her own life, he'd stood by her side, and he knows how much Gil means to her.

Still, she's so grateful, and that comes over their connection as she returns to the berthing they're sharing with the rest of the Nest. Once safely behind closed doors, she tugs off her veils and outer layers while making a beeline right for him. ]

IV { day :022 | host berthing } my mind's like a deadly disease

[ Gildor is her broodmate, but more than that, he's her friend. A good friend who has looked past what she is to see the person beneath. They've laughed together, danced together, helped each other through difficult moments. He let her feed from him despite his own aversion to blood. With all of that, it's only natural for her to watch over him while he sleeps, especially while so many of the others are off enjoying the hot springs. She'd taken her turn at relaxing for a short while, of course, but then she'd returned to relieve Damon of the duty she'd asked of him.

And now here she is, sitting on the floor next to the bed where her 'sleeping' broodmate lies, the connection between them dark and frayed. It's wearing away at her, her heart aching to have him smile at her again, to hear that music drifting through their link. The world is too quiet now, and she reaches up to wrap her hand around one of his, holding tight as if that might bring him back to her sooner. She can't allow herself to contemplate the possibility that he won't wake up at all. ]

V { day :022 | closed to lakshmi } and i couldn't stand the person inside me

[ At least she's not the only one worrying over Gil. For all the problems she and Lakshmi have had, still have, their shared affection for Gildor is not among them. The both of them care deeply for the bard and Elena finds some solace in knowing that the other woman would also do just about anything for their broodmate. So when Lakshmi returns from the hot spring, Elena rises from her spot beside the bed and offers the woman a small ghost of a smile. ]

Safe and sound. [ Just as he always should be. ]

II

[redheadcarrier]

[ Sleep doesn't always come easily to Asuka. She still has nightmares and bad dreams and memories from so many different things bouncing around in her head that some nights she just... can't. She has to walk or find something to do until exhaustion finally knocks her unconscious. It's one of those nights and she's out and about, trying to find something to keep her mind occupied. The forward cabin is quiet and she makes her way there on silent feet. She hesitates when she feels the touch of another sybmiote, but it's not one she "knows" as well as some of the others and she's definitely not about to go back to her cabin to just... sit.

There's a sense of confusion emanating from the other nest member and Asuka quietly slouches over to find a chair to sit in. ]

What are you doing up?

[ Not that she knows them. ]

[otrazhenie]

[ She hadn't been expecting company. Someone new brushes against her senses, that gentle wave in her mind signifying the presence of a symbiote but not pinging any sense of recognition. There are so many of the hosts she hasn't met yet, it feels wrong when they're so... connected to each other.

Turning to look at the other person, Elena wishes they weren't in their costumes, that she could see her companion instead of just feeling them. Her gloved hands wrap more securely around her cup and she gives a slight shrug in response. ]

Couldn't sleep, thought I'd come enjoy the view. You?

[redheadcarrier]

I couldn't sleep.

[ Asuka confirms that bit. She mentions nothing about the view, because she doesn't much care about it. The more important part is just finding something to do to eat up her insomnia. Gnawing at the edges of her thoughts are the memories of nightmares and the memories of memories. Haunting, violent, and misshapen.

She slides into another chair. ]

What's keeping you up?

[otrazhenie]

A lot of things.

[ It's a cop out answer, she knows, non-committal and not fair to the other. For half a moment, she contemplates leaving it at that and trying to keep her thoughts to herself, but why would she? They're connected, their fates tied to each other so long as they're on this mission, and it's not like her shields are good enough to keep things tucked away for long.

There's a moment's pause while she takes a careful sip of her drink, then continues. ]

I'm worried. About... my relationship with my boyfriend, about my broodmate who's in a coma, about finding someone discovering us. I'm worried we'll never get home.

[redheadcarrier]

[ Asuka isn't sure she really wants to hear about her problems, but... she's here and she has nowhere else to go, so she settles her elbows on the table and rests her head on her hands, watching Elena with a bored sort of attentiveness as she listens. ]

That's a lot of different worries.

[ She sounds... not that concerned, honestly. ]

I'm never going back home, so who cares about that?

2

[shiro2hero]

Which cup are you on?

[Sleep has literally never come easy to him since he can remember. This place has only complicated it. Especially with Lavellan's ghost chasing around his mind anymore. So running into Elena in a similar situation is both sad and reassuring.]

[Sad, in that insomnia is never fun, and reassuring in that he's not downing a coffee substitute instead of rest. He'll apologize to Sam, and Pidge, later. He slides into a space across from her, the all-black outfit probably making it clear who he is, even without the vocal question.]

[otrazhenie]

[ Shiro. Of all the people who could have shown up to her sad little party, she's so glad it's him. Shiro, who she doesn't have to justify herself to, who understands the feelings she's grappling with even if he might not always understand the cause. Shiro, her white knight black paladin who means the absolute world to her and who she trusts in all things.

Glancing down at her cup, she has to think for a moment, the others having all been whisked away and immediately replaced by the servants attending the cabin. ]

My fourth, I think.

[shiro2hero]

Same here.

[There's the trace of a smile under his disguise. Something tired. Something sympathetic. His hand reaches across to rest on hers. Attempting comfort.]

Anything I can do?

[otrazhenie]

[ She abandons her cup to rest her other hand over his, creating a sandwich effect that isn't nearly enough. With everything that's been tumbling around her mind, she feels like she's floating out in the middle of the ocean, just waiting for something to come along for her to grab onto. ]

I don't think so. I just-- I've been thinking about a lot of things, you know? Heavy stuff.

[shiro2hero]

You can talk about it, if that'd help.

[He's not sure if it would. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it just drags things to the surface you'd rather not think about. It's sort of a crapshoot for him. Elena could be the same way.]

i

[stilettoes]

[ the main hall is stunning. as appreciative of good art and lavish decoration as peter is, this does indeed take his breath away just a bit - which is a difficult thing to do, as well-traveled as he is from planet to planet. there are soft comparisons to be made in the undercurrent of awe, colors relating to a sunset over the oceans on venus and the neon staining the sky on mars, the way that there's a particular sheen of indescribably color in that sunrise you can see just over hyperion's city skyline, colors in iridescent blues and purples.

the sentiment floats in like a lure and peter glances against it, amused, a sensation that bubbles up pleasantly. ]

( A difficult task under all these robes, but no less a pleasant though. From what I've gathered, I take it Carbauschians are not the dancing kind. )

[otrazhenie]

[ The words come from someone she doesn't recognize, and Elena turns her attention toward that voice, that presence in her mind that seems newer than most of the others. A recent arrival, most likely, though she certainly hasn't met everyone in the Nest yet. ]

( I don't think anyone really knows for sure. The costumes are because we're supposed to be modest about our appearances, but not much else is known about them. That works in our favor, really - people don't have anything to compare us to, so they can't tell if we're doing it wrong. )

[stilettoes]

[ the source of the voice isn't far, rather tall and slim, even under the guise, and it turns in kind to her, a faint smile mentally spreading towards both ends. he takes a few steps in her direction, but it's clear his attention is still held fast by the colors just as equally as it's held by her remark. he divides it equally. ]

( Then it means that perhaps with some maneuvering dancing could be in the cards for you if you really put your mind to it. )

[ though he also gueses the boots would make it difficult, wouldn't it? and that thought does make itself known. just a bit restrictive for something as free as dancing might be. ]

( Might not want to stick out too much, though. ) [ a small pause. ] ( I do hate to intrude if you'd meant the thought to be private - a bit difficult to not the sentiment. This place is quite marvelous, most impressive thing I've seen in a long, long while. )

[otrazhenie]

[ For a moment, Elena actually contemplates what it might be like to try dancing in the costume. Between all the layers and the boots that have taken some real getting used to over the weeks, it wouldn't be quite like it was at home. But besides that, her favorite dance partner isn't here. ]

( It's alright, if I'd really wanted my thoughts to be private, I'd have put effort into my shields. And I agree, this place is amazing. We don't have anything like this on my world, not that can fly, anyway. )

[stilettoes]

( I've managed my way onto a few luxury shuttles in my travels, but never ones quite this opulent. You're lucky to get a decent bar that doesn't tip itself over during take off. )

[ the place is practically a floating castle, something that peter hates to only be able to take in from sight alone. there's been time spent enough casing joints that it's not too difficult to commit certain aspects to memory, but there's only so much memory can do. ]

( Now where does your world sit, exactly? )

iv.

[detestable]

[ Gildor's slumber is less than ideal. Seth feels like he's been gutshot over it. The quiet should be nice, but the sense of being off balance and incomplete keeps Seth from truly enjoying it. It's uncomfortable to feel this invested in a near-stranger, even without Lakshmi's accusatory anger prickling between them.

Just like he hadn't meant to spend all that much time in the sauna, Seth hadn't meant to check in on Gildor. Just look in on his way back to the bar is all he'd wanted to do, because Seth doesn't plan on getting more attached than he has to. It'll only encourage the kneejerk compulsion to stay close to these people; Seth doesn't have any intention of letting that urge get stronger.

But all his good intentions, as usual, blow up in his face. (It might be Elena's heartache; Seth hadn't planned for what that would feel like when he strayed into close proximity.) He hesitates, cursing internally, then crosses the room. ]

Planning on taking a break any time soon?

[ She isn't. Seth recognizes what kind of vigil Elena's holding. But he still has to ask. Sitting here isn't going to have any kind of effect, if what people tell him is true. ]

[otrazhenie]

[ She wasn't expecting visitors and yet -- here he is. Seth, her broodmate, someone she should be close to and yet knows almost nothing about, save for the pieces that leak across their connection. But despite that, they are close, whether he likes it or not. He feels like family, and when Elena looks up at him, it's with tired fondness. She gives him a small smile, reaches up to tuck her hair back, and nods slightly. ]

When Lakshmi comes back, I'll take a break. I don't want to leave him alone until then, it isn't safe here.

[ The thought of losing someone else she cares about is too painful to bear. If sitting with him for a little while might keep him safe, then of course that's what she'll do. ]

[detestable]

[ The familiarity between everyone here feels dishonest. Seth doesn't have any real leg to stand on when it comes to honesty, but he can't help but be uneasy when he sees how Elena turns to him with unexpected fondness. Should she even be happy to see him? Seth can't help but think the symbiotes are muddying the picture. He can't even consider the advantage it might afford him. ]

You look like you could use a nap just as bad as he did.

[ And who knew how long they were going to have on this airship? Long enough for Gildor to wake up, Seth hoped, but he doubted it would last much longer. ]

You worried?

[ About being murdered in their sleep, or about Gildor having to be schlepped back up to the Station or both? Seth had been thinking they only had one enemy to keep track of before the murder. Now it looked like they were just as likely to be offed by some unrelated bullshit while they were trying to deal with their assignment. ]

[otrazhenie]

[ Seth hasn't been outwardly hostile to her, and there's no lasting offense felt toward him for his reaction to her vampirism. It's understandable that he wouldn't be thrilled about being connected to her, or to any of them really, but the fact that he's talking to her now means he isn't like Lakshmi. That hatred and disgust doesn't run deep enough to color all their interactions.

Glancing back at the sleeping man, Elena gives a slight shrug, trying to brush it off, then sighs deeply. What's the point in trying to get around it when he can feel what she's feeling. ]

I don't want to lose anyone else I care about. Being afraid of that is exhausting.

[detestable]

[ The stupid thing is that Seth forgets about what Elena is. She's a girl who shouldn't be stuck here and that clouds his perception. There will come a point when it won't, maybe, but for the moment it's enough to let him take the seat next to her with a sigh.

It helps to hear her verbalize her feelings. Seth already knows, but he can at least pretend he isn't losing his goddamn mind when Elena tells him outright that she's terrified of losing someone else. Her fears sneak down in the back of Seth's head and hook in, make themselves impossible to shake. It means he has to work harder at separating himself from them. Knowing that doesn't help him in the moment. ]

At least you're doing something about it.

[ For Seth, that's miles better than what he'd seen on display in the wake of the funeral. Proactivity he can work with. (Conveniently ignoring his own inertia in the wake of losing Richie.) ]

Whoever's bumping people off would be an idiot to try anything else up here. It's not that big a ship.

[ A second hit would be risky. Seth's assuming whoever left those bodies in the sauna had done it deliberately to make some noise. Turning the heat up further would be foolish and Seth thinks they'd know that. ]

[blooded]

❰ as far as damon is concerned, this is not the weirdest thing he's done for elena's sake. in fact, it makes sense — it's the same thing she would ask if jeremy was in the nest and had fallen into a coma, and now that she's a vampire and can take care of herself, he has no problem leaving elena alone for a few hours with murderers on the loose.

...alright, he has a little bit of a problem. but elena would never relax if she thought gildor was vulnerable, and damon's whole deal this entire time has been trying to get her to relax. if he wants her to do that, he has to trust that she can take care of herself and not stand over her shoulder all the time.

knowing that doesn't stop him from perking up the second he can feel her presence coming closer, though. he watches as elena divests herself of her costume, smiling, then holds an arm out for her to cuddle under. ❱

Hey, you. Have a good time?

[otrazhenie]

[ Relaxed, she most definitely is. The heat has done wonders for the tension she's been carrying, both physical and emotional, and being around everyone else while they were relaxed didn't hurt any either. When she reaches Damon, her smile matches his and she doesn't hesitate to curl up under that arm, depositing the pieces of her costume to the side. ]

I did. Thank you for doing this so I could go.

[ Because she wouldn't have otherwise. Keeping Gil safe is a priority for her, and she isn't going to let just anyone look after him while he sleeps now that people are dying on the ship. But Damon she trusts implicitly, both to take it seriously and to be able to protect her friend and broodmate. ]

[blooded]

❰ his smile spreads a little, but damon shrugs and wrangles his face into control, managing to look blandly disinterested after a moment. ❱

Eh, I had nothing better to do.

❰ he nuzzles his nose into her hair, eyes slipping shut as he lets himself relax, relieved by elena's proximity. ❱

You should get Sam to teach you to fight, ❰ he muses, apropos of nothing. nothing to elena, anyway — damon's been thinking of it for a while now, ever since things started getting shitty. elena knows a bit about self-defense thanks to ric, but she could stand to learn more, and sam would be the best teacher in the nest. ❱

[otrazhenie]

[ Anyone looking in from the outside might be fooled by that look of disinterest, but Elena knows better. Sure, she can feel the difference in their connection, but more than that, she knows him. Over that summer together, Damon had become one of her best friends, whether he realized it or not. She might not always be able to predict the actions he'll take, but she can usually understand why he takes them.

His suggestion takes her by surprise; she's confused for a moment, trying to find the connection and finding none, then coming to the conclusion that: ]

That's a good idea.

[ There's no telling what lies ahead for them here, or on any other mission, and she might have super strength, but without knowing what to do with it, she's still half-useless. Sam has training, she knows that, and they trust each other. Reaching up to smooth a hand over his chest, she lets his presence soak into her, his nearness chasing away all her worries for the moment. ]

What made you think of it?