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

[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. ]

[yokunaru]

It sounds like a like to have on when you're on the move.

[This coming from someone who's used to wearing just thin layers out on the ice for better maneuverability.]

Wait, strength boost? There are armors that can do that kind of thing?

[leaderboards]

That and more. [ she looks genuinely excited to talk about this. okay carolina, you do you. ]

Base armour back home is going to give the wearer help with strength and stability across the board, not to mention being tough enough to hold up to just about anything. But if you know the right people or find the right equipment, you can modify armour to do just about anything- give you camouflage or produce bubble shields, heal wounds, set off EMP blasts, holograms, temporal distortions, make you stronger, or my personal favourite: speed.

[yokunaru]

[Though he looks a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of possibilities she's just listed, there's also an undeniable interest growing in him.]

Do you think we'd be able to find anything like that here on this ship? [He worries at his lip.] If it's true that there could be problems when we reach the other planets, my--my coach and I could probably use all the extra help we can get.

[leaderboards]

I'm sure they're not going to send you down to a planet naked. [ or... without armour. they're almost the same thing to her. ] As for whether or not this ship has any equipment to get excited about, I don't know yet. The ship itself is advanced enough that they should, but if they're not military-oriented, they might not.

[yokunaru]

Don't even joke about that. [Yuuri huffs, brows scrunching together in concern.]

Um, so... if it turns out that Viktor and I really do need the extra armor, do you think we could ask you for...help? I wouldn't know the difference between all the armor types, and he wouldn't either.

[leaderboards]

[ it's such an innocent favour to ask, she thinks. not something she has any reason to say no to, of course, but it's so simple and easy and she's not sure she's ever been asked for something that easy. but it's been a long time since she was around anybody who wasn't military in some capacity. maybe that's it.

either way, the response is a blink of surprise, and then a softening of her features, almost smiling. ]

Yeah, you can give me a shout and I'll make sure no one's trying to sell you short. Same thing with weapons, since you'll probably want the basics in those at some point, too.

[yokunaru]

[Something in his expression relaxes then, brightening up his smile. Though he sometimes has trouble asking for help, there's not much of a choice if it involves his and Viktor's lives. Besides, everyone's been kind so far, making it just a little easier for the words to come.]

Thanks. There's just so much we don't know, it's... nice of everyone like you to be willing to help us. Um, I'm Yuuri Katsuki, by the way.