thisavrou_ooc

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ABOARD THE MOIRA

Whether adjusting to space travel has been difficult or not, there is always something to be done. From working to leisure, the Moira offers a multitude of opportunities to get to know your crewmates a bit better. Exploration of the ship is highly encouraged, but as another planet grows closer to being docked, things start to get a little hectic. You'll notice a slight change in the artificial gravity as the Moira is pulled into a gravitational field; however, more noticeable changes can be found in the overall morale as you prepare to descend.

☄ on your own
There are plenty of other communal areas on the ship to explore! Pick a place, and see where it takes you. ( These scenarios can be used as in-game canon. )

☄ round 'em up
The day begins normally. You check out the mess hall and report to your assigned job, and so far, nothing seems incredibly out of place. However, as the hours pass, you begin to notice something strange scurrying along wall edges and into open vents. For the most part, these rodents are harmless—in this stage. While they may get into the food supply in the Cargo Bay or terrorize those in the kitchen, they are not violent and appear to be skittish. However, once they've "matured" - the color of their tail will have changed from a light gray to a very dark purple, prompting them to enter a temporary stasis inside a cocoon - they aren't so cute anymore. These paklers are vicious, will bite if they're caught, and defend themselves with claws as well as the protrusions on their bodies. There is nothing to be done about them except capture them and eject them into space as they are considered a pest and very harmful to the crew and the ship. Once they run out of food, they will turn on each other as well as anything resembling a living creature. The captains provide the proper equipment, electric nets as well as tranquilizers, to assist with the capture of the paklers and their immediate removal from the Moira.

☄ what's yours is mine
Something seems a bit off about the laundry delivery service these days, doesn't it? Has the Moira always had one of those? Whether you realize it immediately or not, something is very wrong about the clothes that have suddenly appeared in your wardrobe. They are either much too big or far too small, and as far as you can tell, there seems to be no happy medium in all of this. Will you Dress To Impress in your new uniforms? Will you swap with someone who might be a similar size regardless of the fact their uniform colors are not the same as your own? Or will you simply walk naked through the halls of the ship, carefree and bare to the rest of your crewmates?

☄ n'sync
While exploring the ship, first down one hall and then another, you come across a strange door you've never seen before. When you pull it open, you'll find someone, a crew member, standing on the other side, hand outstretched as if they've just opened that door from the opposite side. Every move you make, they mirror, and if they shift to the left or right, you also shift left or right. Absolutely everything the both of you do is the same except for the words that come out of your mouth; somehow, you still manage to maintain the ability to talk without mimicking your partner. You're unable to completely control your movements again until someone says "in sync". Good luck figuring out the magic words, and if you decide to question the captains (or anyone else) about it, they won't have any idea what it is you're talking about.

OUT OF CHARACTER INFO

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For mature or graphic content, please label. For questions, please direct them to the FAQ. As always, be kind and have fun!

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( ivan doesn't flinch at his father's name, but there's a brief flash of sadness across his face before he buries it down with the dregs of what he thinks about captain lord padma vorpatril. which isn't much, really -- a certain amount of childish jealousy that miles had a father when he didn't. but his father had never existed for ivan, just a name and a plaque on the ground where he burned his hair every birthday morning before the melancholy was replaced with celebration. and sometimes a cake, right after, from a bakery down the street.

he does wish for a good, long moment that he'd left this to aunt cordelia. who would understand better about having an adult child thrown at you upon arrival. ivan swallows past a lump in his throat, and attempts a grin. it is mostly successful, he thinks. )

Er, no. ( smooth, vorpatril. ) Ivan.

( unlike miles, ivan doesn't see the point of breaking his identity to his mother gently. there's no real point to it -- it's bound to come as a shock, anyway. and at least his mother isn't carrying around a severed head demanding a uterine replicator back. vorkosigans.

he is also slightly reassured by the fact his mother doesn't seem to have a set protocol for moments like this. it makes him feel like he'll be excused from any fumbling he does of the situation. )

[ No amount of time in Vorbarr Sultana's social and political scene could have prepared her for this. No matter how much she wishes it had.

She catches that flicker of sadness, the name means something to him at least. It adds more weight to his next words, as fumbled as they are, and she's looking at him with new eyes. It takes another moment of searching, but it clicks. There as much her in him as Padma and is this really her son once he's in adulthood?

There's one question keeping her in place, though the urge to stride toward him and examine him more closely is growing close to overwhelming. ]

Ivan? But how?

[ He's alive. If this is really Ivan then he's alive and that thought alone has her fighting back the few tears that threaten to fall.

Surely even a place like this wouldn't play a joke so cruel. ]

( how is a lot more complicated than it seems -- even ivan's not aware of the ins and out of the ingress. )

The Ingress doesn't really care about when we're from, I guess. Miles probably knows more, or Aunt Cordelia. They're both here, along with Gregor, by the way. Although Aunt Cordelia's from the middle of the Pretendership.

( his mother knows who he is, and dressed the way she is means that she has to be from after, although ivan's not sure when. he doesn't ever remember his mother looking this young, but he supposes she must have been. at some point.

he never imagined his mother showing up. well, that's not exactly true -- he feared his mother would show up in all of her vorish glory and take charge in the way she always does when managing social events. he wasn't expecting this, the difference in times between the two of them tugging at the bonds of family he tries to ignore. it almost makes him have a small amount of sympathy for his cousin.

running a hand through his hair, ivan finds himself aimlessly lost in what to do next. how do you do this? he should have asked miles instead of making fun of him, damnit. well, too late now. and the answer would have probably been vastly unhelpful in the first place. )

[ Starting to feel like she has a stronger grasp on the situation, she steps closer, gaze still tracing the features of his face. She can see the young, ambling boy she left behind in him clear as day now.

So they're not the only ones here. It's easy to tell from Ivan's, her son's, words that Miles must be of a similar age. That must be a burden off of Cordelia's shoulders to know that her boy made it too, Barrayar be damned. Does that mean Gregor is an adult too? She's sure she'll be introduced to them in due time, if her son has any manners. ]

From the Pretendership? That's been over for years. [ She motions for him to come closer too. ] I want a better look at you before we're off for the tour.

[ Is he at that age where he's too old to hug his mother? She can already hear what her Betan friend might have to say about how silly a notion that was, about how such an age didn't exist.

If he was too old, hopefully he'd indulge his mother because she holds out her arms. Everything feels so unreal and she wants to be sure that her son is truly there. ]

( indulge he does, closing the distance between them and letting her wrap her arms around him. the image of his mother in his mind -- the one that sends him running for the opposite of vorbarr sultana -- wavers. no. that's not right. it shifts and changes to accommodate this sudden side of his mother he always knew about but never saw as an adult. refused to see?

either way, he wraps his arms around her in a return hug. )

She was carrying the severed head and everything. Actually-- I wonder, no. No I don't wonder where she put it. ( not in the slightest. ) Tour, and then I guess you'll want to re-meet everyone.

( he does have manners! )

[ She wraps her arms around him in a tight hug, her cheek pressed against the side of his head. He's solid against her, he's really here. The tears she was holding back streak her cheeks and she's glad he's not in a position to see them, even if they might be felt.

Despite her best efforts, she can't help her voice losing some of its steadiness when she speaks. ]

Of course she'd keep her purchase safe. [ Alys knows how much that souvenir from Cordelia's 'shopping trip' played to ending that civil war. ]

Yes, I'd like to see where we're staying before I see everyone.

[ Alys, you have to let go for any of that to be possible. ]

( is his mother crying? ivan goes still, as if he's afraid moving will do something and-- well, he's not sure what. something equally as shocking, he's sure. but he doesn't move, doesn't attempt to break away from alys. as much as their relationship is.. what it is, she's his mother. ivan can't escape that as much as he protests he wants to.

maybe having his mother on board would not be as terrifying as he sometimes imagined it would be. after all, she hasn't asked him if he's married yet. that's good, ivan can live in a universe where his mother never inquires after his love life. or lack of suitably acceptable one. )

Did you get an assigned room? We can start there if you haven't found it already.

( you know, if they were going to move at all. which they are not doing. )

[ She squeezes him tightly and takes a deep, calming breathe before pulling back. Her hands are still on his shoulders as she takes in the sight of him with unmistakable pride.

But he's right, they can't stand around here all day no matter how much she might like to. She brushes away any remaining tears with a finger before offering him her arm. Surely he knows how to escort a lady properly. The subject of his love life is one of many things she hopes to address during this tour of theirs. ]

Yes, I was having trouble finding it in this... [ She waves vaguely at their surroundings. ] Mess of halls.

[ A small pause as she glances over at him again. It's not the most polite question, but she's curious and it'll give her a benchmark for how far along he's made it in that future she's always envisioned for him. ] How old are you now?

( he does, because if there's one thing that alys made sure of it was to see ivan armed with the knowledge of how to behave himself properly. actually getting him to, well. that required a far less gentle hand. ivan takes her arm in his and begins by gesturing to the floor around them. )

This is just one of the rooming halls. There's two more, and then various levels of infinite rooms. All locked, except for when someone like Miles goes and breaks in. ( and does he have stories to tell about that. but, moving on. ) Twenty-five. Soon to be twenty-six, if the months shake out anywhere like they do back home.

( the months aren't in nice, even chunks. and it's always hard to tell seasons on a ship but his birthday should be soon. and unlike both of his cousins, he intends on doing something to celebrate it. )

[ She links arms with him and nods as her gaze follows the motion of his hand. She knew she had been in the right area, it had been finding the specific room that had thrown her off. Unlike Cordelia, she hasn't had need to step on a ship before in her life. ]

They must have a reason for building a ship this large. [ Because surely by 'infinite rooms' he merely means this vessel is large and not actually unending.

At the mention of his age, her gaze is back on him. That soon? But if he's made it that long, then surely he has a respectable career and the start of a family waiting for him. She makes a mental note to ask him once they've gone through the basics. ]

The captains didn't build this ship, they found it. In the same way we ended up here. If there's a reason for it, I don't know it and they probably don't either.

( he knows this because miles apparently badged all three captains into coughing up information. as his cousin does.

he's caught snatches of information here and there, but hasn't put the effort towards connecting them. not when miles did that himself. was doing it himself, he's been a bit off, recently. best not mention that to his aunt right now, and since he didn't have any warning about his mother showing up, he's debating inflicting her on his relatives without any as well.

oh god, he needs to keep his mother away from elizabeth. )

[ She sniffs lightly in disapproval at that bit of news. ]

I would hope they've at least been properly trained to handle a ship of this size.

[ If they're to be left in charge of this unknown vessel. The mention of captains however has her searching her son subtly for any sign of rank. Surely he's made progress in a career suitable for his station. ]

Did you go into the Imperial Service once you were of age?

( ah, there's the sort of disapproval ivan has imagined coming from his mother towards this whole mess. he grins, but shakes his head. )

Not a chance of it.

( his crew uniform doesn't reflect his rank on-board -- which is high, but they're mostly just handed out to them at the beginning of the month. being barrayaran, however, they matter a little; miles likes flaunting his. but he has a satisfactory answer to that question of his mother's. )

When I was seventeen, along with Miles. I'm a Lieutenant now, in Ops. I was just finishing up a year's stint embassy work on Earth before I got dragged here.

[ She'll have to meet these captains for herself and see what's going on with this command structure of theirs.

At the mention of his rank and placement, she smiles brightly and lightly squeezes the arm linked with hers. Of course he'd make it through the Academy and be a Lieutenant. ]

I'm sure you were using your time there well. Is your wife waiting back on Barrayar or traveling with you? [ Because surely he has one by now. ]

My wife? ( he says, voice squeaking slightly at the end of the word. it's not like he didn't think this was coming, but he'd hoped to avoid it for as long as possible. a foolish hope when confronted with his mother, maybe. ) I'm not married. And I have no plans to be in the near future.

( or distant future, actually. but he feels like he should break that to his mother gently. )

[ Her footsteps come to a halt and she stares at him for a moment. The quashes her immediate thought of what must be wrong with him, but no, no he has manners, he's handsome, he has a respectable job...

So either he's sabotaging everything himself to put her future self through pain or he loses all manner of etiquette when he's with Vor ladies his own age. ]

...You're not?

( ivan is pulled to a stop as well, swallowing over the lump in his throat. he's had-- well he's never had this exact conversation with his mother before. it's more a battle of wills. it's definitely versus. )

No. Never been engaged, either.

( the first is more likely, although he never really means to cause her pain. just-- to resist this one thing, the one thing he can deny his mother. who he loves, obviously, but also who terrifies him and all of vorbarr sultana.

it's complicated. )

[ It's not quite clicking in Alys' mind. Once the Pretender had been executed as he so deserved, she had focused on her young boy's life. On everything she knew he could and would be. He was only two when she left, but already she had a map laid out for how his life would progress.

And at this age, everything else seemed to fit in perfectly. Except for his love life.

She maintains a polite expression as she regards him. Surely he has a reason. ]

I'm afraid I don't understand.

[ By which she really means, please, explain why and/or what in the world must have gone horribly, horribly wrong. ]

( trust him, ivan knows that. he probably wouldn't be so adamant about not getting married otherwise. but how to explain that to his mother? )

It's just not something I want to do, Mamere.

( ever. back home she'd begrudgingly accepted this after a certain point, although ivan occasionally caught whiffs of disapproval whenever he'd just come out of a relationship. or a fling. or any time he stood near a woman, for that matter.

yes, he absolutely needs to keep his mother and elizabeth as far apart as humanly possible on this ship. blissfully unaware of each other's presence. yes, that sounds good. )

[ Hm.

She's appraising him again. With Padma gone, she knows who she'd turn to for a male figure in Ivan's life. How much talking had the two shared over the years? Aral's male companions hadn't been a secret in the Vor gossip circles and she wonders if he'd given Ivan advice on how to pursue that if he truly didn't want to marry. It would be a choice many would disapprove of in high Vor society even if it was a tolerated dirty secret for many, but this is her son and she wouldn't love him any less.

But how does a Vor lady even ask her son that? Not outright. ]

Is that so. That is your choice. [ The words are said slowly, carefully. A small underlying hint of disappointment thrown in for good measure. There's a pause for good measure and she begins walking again as she turns the conversation down another path. ]

Did you spend much time with your Aunt Cordelia and Uncle Aral over the years?

( oh, see, there's that disappointment he was waiting for, although the pause makes him curious. still. if his mother is going to let the topic drop that quickly, ivan's not going to complain. this is surely better than telling his mother all about his various romantic liaisons. surely.

he brightens slightly at the topic change -- this is a lot better than the remarks about his romantic life. )

I guess? Uncle Aral never really had time for me ( in both senses of the word ) and Aunt Cordelia was always busy with Miles. But I grew up with Miles and Elena and we spent time with the Koudelka sisters too, when they were old enough.

( the thing that ivan will never really admit is that miles is more like a brother than a cousin, if he had to pick a member of his family to describe as such. )

[ If only. Aral could at least teach her son discretion if this was the route he was taking in life. ]

That's unfortunate. [ But she's not really surprised. With how much care Miles would require and Aral's position, the Vorkosigans had their hands full. ]

I'm sure you have other friends now besides those you grew up with. [ Friends he might be very close to. It would explain his unmarried state. ]

We still visited plenty. Something about the bonds of family. ( ivan hates that. it makes him obligated to do things because he's related to them. you can't just chuck them out the moment they start dragging you into trouble. and believe him, miles started doing that from a very young age.

as for the question, ivan shrugs one shoulder noncommittally. ) The usual. Other officers from work, a few Vor.

( the ones who he hasn't upset by sleeping with women they had their eyes on, or their girlfriends/fiancées/wives.

he doesn't know how to say it's not a very exciting life to his own mother, who's disappointment ivan both courts regularly but hates being the target of all the same. he hates to think of what she'd do if she found out that he doesn't live up to any and every expectation she no doubts has in her mind. ivan already knows what she does when he's an adult. but he's still a kid to her, and maybe his mother hasn't gotten used to being constantly disappointed in him yet. )

[ Yes, yes, she had a feeling they visited frequently. She has maintained that friendship with Cordelia that quickly began to grow when the woman came on planet and needed a local guide. Not visiting the Vorkosigans even with their busy schedule simply isn't an option.

And he's hanging out with other Vor. Which can be good or bad depending on which families. Surely she taught him which ones to keep his head down around.

She says carefully, ] It's good to hear that you have companions.

[ Is there something you need to tell her, son? ]

( she absolutely did, and he absolutely does. except for that bit with donna vorrutyer a few years back.

right, companions. ivan certainly has plenty of those, but they're distinctly female. ivan's eyes go wide at the idea that his mother might have hit on his womanizing without him leading her straight to it. )

Er.

( no? )

Edited 2016-03-20 02:26 (UTC)

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