in a world you've grown | OPEN

[leaderboards]

WHO: Agent Carolina + OPEN (+ state-named castmates)
WHERE: various
WHEN: Jan 5-9 or so?
WHAT: get adjusted + making friends
WARNINGS: n/a for now

a | check out the new training room fixture

[ in terms of familiarity, she'll take what she can get. the training areas are a damn good place to feel at home on a strange ship, so she's going to wind up a regular within her first few days.

there's a lot of time in the rooms set up for martial arts training, beating the shit out of a punching bag or pushing herself through drills. there's even more time on a treadmill, eyes ahead and focused on just keeping herself moving so this feels less strange unless someone takes up a space somewhere around her, when she'll give them a nod. if you're here two days in a row at the same time she is, she might comment on it. if you look like you know what you're doing with any particular skillset... well, she's probably going to comment on that, too. ]

b | being a loner in the atrium

[ it's been so long since carolina really had to be social. chorus doesn't count, being a warzone and all, so there was never anything as bustling as the common areas of this ship there. and besides, a war zone means never having to bother being out of her armour, but it's too weird to wear it here and so she isn't, but then she just kind of winds up feeling naked. there's no way to not feel weird about being here.

the shopping centre reminds her of having a life back before project freelancer went to shit. the residential areas remind her of the mother of invention. she can't live at the gym and her new job. so she's here, looking terribly awkward as she wanders the atrium, eventually finding a place to sit next to a pond and dip her hand into the water. if she looks like she can't quite remember how to enjoy a scene like this... well, it's because she can't. ]

c | she leaves wash alone for like ten minutes and this happens [ closed ]

[ at first it's just the this feels like the moi sensation that has her thinking that the man down the hall, a leash around an uncooperative cat, is someone she knows. surely, surely, wash isn't here and trying to walk a cat. but then he talks to the cat and oh god, it is him. on one hand, it isn't entirely out of the question that if she were dragged here, he would be too - they'd been fighting together back on chorus, along with the local armies - but on the other: really? ]

Washington. [ it's the explain command tone, coming from behind him, carolina's arms folded across her chest. it's not meant to question his presence here, just the cat. ]

d | fun police wildcard

[ maybe you're running in a potentially dangerous public area. maybe you're messing up a store's front display. maybe you're just being loud outside her room when she's trying to sleep and it's really getting to her. regardless of circumstance, you're suddenly getting a hand on your shoulder or a glare-down by a scary-looking redhead. ]

You need to stop.

[ or! if you're lucky, carolina's just lecturing someone else. hopefully she doesn't make that one npc cry in front of you. could be awkward. ]

Comments

[leaderboards]

[ for someone with all of her thoughts on her face, carolina sure wasn't aware of it until just now, looking briefly baffled by the question before she realizes how lost she looks and tries to act a little more neutral. of course, this only makes her look peeved instead of relaxed or anything like that, but she's trying. ]

No. No, it's just... odd. To have a space like this in a ship.

[ in a ship that someone like her is on, no less. it's such a luxury. ]

[yokunaru]

[The concerned look melts into a tentative smile, even as he nods in agreement.]

I thought so, too, when I first saw this place. I didn't even know they could have all this on a space ship to begin with. [He pauses, looking at her curiously.] Does that mean you're not used to being in space, either?

[leaderboards]

No, I'm plenty used to space. I've just never been on a ship that needed a garden. [ there's a flicker of a smile as she keeps staring at the scenery a moment longer, but it fades into something more neutral when she looks back to him. not unfriendly, just not sure what to do with herself. ]

Guess that's what I get for only travelling military. No frills there.

[yokunaru]

Oh... [Of all the things, Yuuri supposed it isn't surprising the military would have their own space ships down the line. He nods, keeping a bit of distance between them until she looks more comfortable with him around.]

What were the military ships like? Um, other than missing places like the atrium? I'm new to...space in general, so I wouldn't really know what's normal and what isn't.

[leaderboards]

Smaller, but more organized. Any civilians were there for there for specific technically jobs, so you'd always know who did what and why it was necessary for them to be there. This is... like a city. So, not like this.

[ not that there's anything wrong with this. she might even like it, eventually. ]

[yokunaru]

My...friend compared it to being on a cruise ship. Because of the shops and everything. I guess saying it's like a city wouldn't be missing the mark either.

[Since she doesn't seem too bothered by him, Yuuri edges closer, sitting down beside the water.]

Does it bother you, that there's all this extra stuff on the this ship?

[leaderboards]

[ a cruise ship. that's not something she'd ever thought she could compare her situation to but... well, maybe. that would make this a vacation, though, and she's about as used to those as she is gardens on spaceships. carolina shifts, pulling her knees up so she can lean forward and loop her arms around her legs. she looks a little more relaxed like that, at least. ]

No, it just- [ yeah, it does bother her a little. but that sounds ridiculous, so she's not going to say it. ] It takes some getting used to. I'm sure this being your first spaceship is throwing you for just as much of a loop.

[yokunaru]

It definitely does. [Yuuri smiles down at the pool now.] I've never been in a cruise ship either, so I can't even really pretend that's where I am.

It's...a lot to take in, but I've been trying to read up on space travel when I can. [He tilts his head toward her, looking hopeful.] Any tips?

[leaderboards]

Probably not anything that's useful for civilians. [ she shrugs, offering an awkward half-smile. ]

But I don't think you should think of it as different than any other form of travel. If somethings's going to go wrong, it will, and there's nothing you can do about it except knowing what evac procedures are. And keep your dog tags on, like they told you to in orientation. You want someone to be able to find you if everything goes sideways.

[yokunaru]

I guess that makes sense. [Yuuri laughs a little sheepishly.] Even if I know anything about...space, I'm not going to be anywhere near the controls for this ship.

It'd make me feel better just knowing what to expect.

[leaderboards]

I don't think there's anything special that you can really... expect when it comes to space travel. For the most part, there's nothing to worry about. Of course, if we were in some sort of active conflict, that'd be different.

[ of course, the command staff of the ship could always just be lying about things like that, but it doesn't seem like the rest of the population would just go along with it. ]

[yokunaru]

It does seem pretty peaceful so far. [Bit by bit Yuuri looks like he's relaxing, too.]

My um, my coach has been here a few weeks longer than I have and he said nothing's happened since he's been here either.

[leaderboards]

That's a good start at least. [ things can go downhill so fast, though. carolina doesn't add that out loud because even she knows when she's just dwelling on the past. ]

And I'm sure there are worse introductions to space than something this laid back. That's in your favour.

[yokunaru]

[Yuuri turns toward her, brows raised.] Speaking from experience?

[He is, admittedly, sort of curious what kind of "bad introductions" she could be thinking of.]

[leaderboards]

I was military. Saw lots of rookie freakouts when their first interplanetary mission went sideways. Ships under fire, orbital drops gone wrong, jetpack malfunctions... There's always something worse.

[ she shrugs one shoulder, as if this is all the most casual stuff ever. ]

[yokunaru]

[Yuuri winces, getting the point with just those examples.] You're right. That does sound a lot worse.

Well, I haven't heard anything about missions. But I think we're supposed to be able to explore planets when we pass by them in the future.

[From his wide-eyed look, this is something he might actually be excited for.]

[leaderboards]

Really? [ well that catches her interest. having something to do that isn't being the fun police and wandering around trying to pretend she's comfortable with any of this would be nice. of course, it depends on the type of mission. they might not wind up needing skills like hers. ]

That'd give us something to do, at least. [ she pauses, smirks a little. ] Of course, then you might have more to worry about.

[yokunaru]

Yeah. Some of the past anomaly people like us even decided to stay behind on other planets instead of staying with the ship. At least, that's what I've heard.

[Her last words make him pause.] E-eh, really? Is it really that dangerous? [Has anyone ever deflated so fast? Maybe.]

[leaderboards]

[ just look at this little space rookie. carolina almost feels bad for being so amused. ]

It's gonna depend on the planet, isn't it? If it's even hospitable for humans, there could hostile aliens or wildlife, and if there's humans there, well, chances are good that they're not friendly.

[yokunaru]

I...I guess you aren't wrong about that. They wouldn't send us out to a planet that's not suitable for humans, would they?

[His voice seems to get fainter with ever word that leaves his mouth...

Until he catches the amused look on her face. He gasps.]

A-are you teasing me??

[leaderboards]

[ and now she's grinning, because yeah, she's teasing, but not by making anything up, just phrasing it in worrying ways. that's fun, right? (disclaimer: carolina is the worst at fun.) ]

No, that's entirely possible. Not every planet's got the same temperatures or atmosphere or gravity. And who knows what commmand might want us to do.

[yokunaru]

[She didn't exactly answer him, but that grin says it all. Yuuri sighs, shaking his head after shooting her an unamused look in return.]

But they'd make sure we were safe if that's the case...right?

[He has no idea how this all works, and it's obvious in the hesitant way he asks for her reassurance. So while she's teasing him, she also seems to be answering his questions truthfully.]

[leaderboards]

Probably. [ or she'd just refuse to use their equipment and recommend anyone with a brain do the same. ] Entirely self-contained suits are pretty standard for space or hostile planets where I come from. My armour can handle just about anything. These people shouldn't have any excuse.

[yokunaru]

Self-contained suits?

[Despite his growing worries, Yuuri looks fascinated.]

They gave us suits with those duffel bags they hand out at orientation. I...can't tell what technology they're equipped with, but they look pretty thin.

[Guess who hasn't even put his on yet. If you said Yuuri, you'd be correct.]

[leaderboards]

I don't know what their weaved with, either, but it's something durable. Maybe even spacetight, but I wouldn't worry too much about them. It's whatever gear goes over that to wear off the ship that really makes the difference. How thick the armour is, what sort of strength boost it gives you, if it comes with shields or other enhancements. The basic suit on its own will be comfy, but if your exosuit is uncomfortable or impossible to move in, you might as well not wear it.

[ carolina may be getting a little off topic, but she's gesturing with her hands now as she talks, as if tech like this is a favourite topic of hers. mostly, she's just really passionate about the fact that her gear is probably better than anything they'll have here. ]