returnjourneylogs | MINI-EVENT: RENDEZVOUS

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MINI-EVENT: RENDEZVOUS

March 9th, 2022
Tasked with picking up some emergency botanical supplies, the Peregrine stopped in Meodriotope in February and is now making haste towards another ship, for a rendezvous and hand-off of the supplies. In late morning, the view out of the windows on one side of the Peregrine will be blocked almost entirely by another ship — the Feather, also from the Admiralty's fleet. The hand-off will take place here, between two ships.

In the afternoon (local Peregrine time), a mini transport from the other ship docks in the Peregrine's loading bay. Three passengers disembark to assist in the loading, have some brief conversations, and then be on their way.

If you have any questions about the event, please ask here.

1. Observing the Feather

The Feather is one of the oldest ships in the Admiralty's fleet, a fact that is perhaps less known than intuited, simply by looking at it. While the Peregrine's sleek helices and centre spire move through space like some deep-sea organism, the Feather is a great drifting whale, its broad and boxy body speckled with simple portholes. The sides are painted with murals — abstract swirls of colour, flowers the size of houses, massive birds flitting between them. There's text that must have taken quite the ladder to paint: "Hope is a thing with feathers!" The murals are patchy and worn, but there's a lot of love there.

But despite how massive it is, it floats weightless in space. It comes so close to the Peregrine's side that it almost seems like they could brush, and the ships' respective force-fields thrum as they "merge", blending into one large bubble. In the distance, one can see quite a number of passengers on an outside deck, gathered at the railings to watch. Too far to shout across, but certainly close enough to see tiny limbs waving hello!

In the observatory, the computer monologues:

"The Feather. Currently on the 18th year of its current mission. Current population consists of 295 wardens, 306 inmates, 5 graduates in-transition and 53 supporting staff. Most passengers are from Earth Variants. The Feather is currently headed by Navarch Margaret "Old Lady" Lloyd, a Navarch with 45 years of experience..."

2. Loading the Materials

Want to lend a hand? The more the merrier. The crates of Lover's Kiss must be brought to the loading bay, checked and then loaded into the waiting transport ship. Caution is a must; we can't have the flowers crushed or damaged when they're sorely needed for medicines at their final destination.

Helping, of course, are the representatives from the Feather: two wardens and an inmate. (They'll have their own top levels below!)

3. Rewards

Passengers identified to the Navarch as having assisted in the gathering efforts will have a delivery bot stop by with a clear plastic container fogged over by steam. The container is warm to the touch, and opening it reveals a lusciously greasy cheeseburger with all the fixings, a mound of thick-cut salted french fries, and the fattest, cheesiest, richest-looking slice of pizza known to mankind. The food is cradled by red food-wrapping sheets with a white PIZZA PLANET logo. Enjoy!

(Or kill someone for a french fry after weeks or months of eating processed food substitutes. You do you.)

4. Oops, Caught Red-Handed!

So there was that thing the Navarch said — the flowers are fragile and must be handled with care, as they are only useful intact. And sure enough, on the surface of Meodriotope, dutiful flower-pickers had discovered that if you plucked them too roughly, they'd explode, leaving red stains that take weeks to wear off skin, even with dutiful scrubbing. It's been weeks and they're just starting to fade, fortunately, but there's a second phase.

Passengers stained red might discover they're having trouble sleeping. The redder they are, the longer their minds refuse to rest. In severe cases, this results full-blown insomnia. In mild cases, the body may shut down while the mind remains completely alert. These effects could last anywhere between a few days to a full week.

Good luck!

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I think you need a hand, kiddo.

[Aranea is shorter than him without heels, but she's no stranger to hard work and raps a knuckle on the top of Theo's current crate.]

No good being stubborn if it puts you on your ass.

[Theo is as stubborn as they come, but he's also been brought here with one foot in the grave, so maybe too much physical labor isn't a great idea just yet.

He stops to catch his breath, and finally nods, not looking happy about it.]

Fine. Okay.

[He sets his current crate down.]

I just need a minute.

Don't worry about a minute.

[It's dry, even as she swoops in to move the crate herself. She's stronger than she looks, but the things are unwieldy.]

What are they feeding you here? [He looks like some Gralean orphan, pale and spindly.]

[He opens his mouth to protest, but he's already lost that battle by the time the box is in her hands.]

Garbage from the automat. It's-- I arrived here like this, this is just what I'm like, okay.

[Defensive as always. Though he has actually put on a few pounds since arriving. Progress!]

[She hums in acknowledgement, lips pursed as she navigates around an already full pallet to an empty one.]

As long as someone's looking after you. Rough life?

If it was good, would I even be here?

[Seems obvious to him. Theo stands up, straightening out his clothes and hair. He said a minute, but it was more like thirty seconds. He goes to grab the next free crate.]

So what, you draw a short straw to get stuck with this chore? Aren't there hundreds of wardens on your ship?

[She laughs, short and dry.]

There are. But that makes the opportunity to board another ship a little competitive.

[She dusts off her hands, eyebrow arched as she watches Theo fetch another crate. Making sure he's steady on his feet.]

It's been a few weeks since our last port, so people have been getting antsy.

[He's doing his best, though his best is a little slow-going.]

I guess this kinda thing doesn't happen often then.

[Funny that she should mention port.]

We've only landed once, to pick up these plants. You guys do that a lot usually?

[Aranea can live with slow; she just does not want an overzealous inmate injured on her watch.]

Every couple or months, or thereabouts.

[Offered easily as she checks a label.]

Encountering other ships is much rarer, especially one this new. [She motions to the loading bay.] There isn't even any graffiti.

[Couple of months. He nods.

He shrugs about the graffiti comment.]

All fun things are contraband, which includes paper. So I guess no one's thought to get anything to write with, either. Guess I have a new goal, now. This place could use some flavor.

[The loading bay can look so much nicer with some intimidating sigils and circles, couldn't it?]

Guess you do look the type.

[He's scrawny enough, with dark circles under his eyes that might translate to "tortured artist".]

But don't go causing your warden too much trouble, kiddo. You're young; you should get back to your life sooner than later.

[That last statement causes him to clam up. He's quiet for a moment before he responds, but it's hard to tell which comment of hers he's responding too.]

Too late for that.

Yeah? And why's that?

[Give an open-ended response and get an open-ended question.]

Long story. Trust me, you don't wanna hear it.

[At least this warden never had to see his name badge when he arrived.

He's struggling with his next crate again, and eventually sets it down. He cocks his arm back and for a moment, it looks like he's about to punch in frustration, but decides to pull back and just give it a half-hearted knock instead. No sense hurting himself further just because he's made at himself for being in this shape. It's his own fault.]

[Aranea watches him out of the corner of her eye even as she carries on with her work, maneuvering another crate through the growing maze of boxes.]

Any warden worth their salt will want to hear that story.

[It's frank, though she doesn't intend to push. She can't, when she's only here for a day.]

So keep thinking about how you want to tell it. If nothing else, it'll help you get out of here.

[He thinks on that quietly for a moment, before speaking up, voice still quiet.]

Hey. You been a warden long? Do you know if there are any inmates that never graduate?

There are inmates who never graduate and wardens who never get their windfalls. It's not a perfect system.

[Nothing is, goes unsaid. But she levels a sharp look Theo's way, over the top of her crate.]

You're not thinking of becoming a permanent inmate, are you?

[He meets get gaze for only a moment, before making a comment that he tries to bake sound like it's no big deal.]

There are such things as life sentences. Would that be so weird?

[Aranea sets the crate on top of the other, double-checking that it's stable.]

You're here because someone believed you had what it takes to graduate.

[She turns to Theo, hands on her hips. She doesn't know what this kid has done. But no one considers themselves fit for a life sentence if they don't feel guilty.]

You can't wallow in your guilt. You need to do something with it.

[His shoulders tense at the mention of guilt, and his grip tightens on the crate he was leaning on. He's trying to keep his temper in check; last thing he needs is to get in trouble with blowing up at a warden from an entirely different ship.]

Someone could have made a mistake, you know.

That goes for you, too. If you really want to know, you need to talk to someone about it. You're too close to yourself; someone else needs to step back to help you see the bigger picture.

[It's easy to see how that someone might be a warden. But anyone can provide a bit of perspective.]

[Theo doesn't want to feel guilty. There was a fleeting moment where he was proud of what he did. He'd accomplished his goal, even if it got him killed. His revenge was taken, his name would never be forgotten.

So why can't he stop thinking about it? Why does the violence and tragedy of that day haunt him every moment, instead of relishing in the victory of a job well done?]

It's the bigger picture that's the issue. No one's gonna--

[He cuts himself off with a shake of the head. What's the point of saying all this to a warden not even from his ship?]

Kid.

[Her tone isn't cruel, but it isn't kind, either.]

Have you tried?

Theo. Not "kid".

[He knows she's asking a question that she already knows the answer to. He winces at it all the same.]

And it's-- It's not that easy.

Theo.

[She says it like a concession. Maybe it is, for a woman who mostly addresses other people by nicknames.]

It's not meant to be easy, for inmates or wardens. Redemption isn't something you can half ass. You don't do it once and then it's done; even after you graduate, it's something you'll work at your entire life.

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sanctus_dei - 2022-03-31 22:06 (UTC) - Expand

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ramparts - 2022-04-01 00:16 (UTC) - Expand

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