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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 ownThere 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. ) H A I S T O SUnlike previously visited locations, the sweltering heat of this planet can be felt long before arrival. The surface of Haistos is not a place for those with a weak constitution. It’s in a constant state of low-level volcanic activity as its land masses are dotted with many volcanoes—all of them spewing black ash into the air. Breathing is difficult without the aid of a respirator due to the potential of breathing in ash, and the plant life is stunted, adapted to living in an environment with little sunlight. The weather is unpredictable, and ash-storms will often blow in fiercely, leaving people trapped for a hours at a time before they blow themselves out. But that same ash which chokes everything on this planet is what also provides its livelihood. Haistos’ volcanic resources are a highly sought-after commodity elsewhere in the universe, and as long as gathering the ash is profitable, people will continue to return.
Looking closely, etched into the curling paths of ignimbrite deposits that swirl along the base of the volcanoes is a language that is easily translated by the MID, often resembling Latin. Carved over time by visitors and travelers, it tells a tale of fire and stone and power. Some might even say there are mystic abilities associated with these volcanoes, though the rumors and myths behind it seem to be nothing but a warning to those who think to go looking for it. It’s also hard to tell if the words carry any true meaning since there are no natives to question, and all those who harvest the ash can only tell stories. Still, it’s apparent that people from many different times have all added to the scrolling messages.
A word of caution: you cannot build here. Stone, metal, and wood all burn, all crumble. Only what is true can survive, and fire will show its true quality.
☄ breathing sparksDespite the haphazard lay of the land, there are things to do. Or, at least, things to see. The rocky terrain often leads to some inactive volcanoes that are perfect for exploring and harvesting the ash that continues to rain down across Haistos. There are step-like structures built into the sides of the volcanic craters, narrow but sturdy. With each move down, the air gets even thicker, and your respirator takes longer and longer to filter the unbreathable atmosphere the deeper into the planet you travel. Yet, the risk of asphyxiation is worth what awaits at the bottom of the staircase. Still warm, the volcanic rocks that are sunk into the deposits are both smooth and clear as crystal. Most of these gems retain heat permanently and can be used to warm small spaces. Gathering too many together in a single place, however, creates a reaction with the limited air supply and can spark a faux volcanic eruption—yes, these rocks are capable of producing lava at an impossibly quick rate.
Is it possible to outrun the flow and reach the steps before it begins filling the bottom of the crater? The only thing worse than a sudden swimming pool of lava would be the respirator finally breaking because of the abrupt, extreme heat, wouldn’t it? ☄ under pressureDespite being unable to actually build any structures of substance on Haistos, walking around the planet itself is surprisingly easy. Due to its unusual composition, the ground itself is a noticeable mixture of dark rock and shining surfaces. More than that, each step around the bases of the volcanoes reveals something both amazing and rather fascinating: the ability to create diamonds without much pressure at all. It only takes a single step or even a hand print. Take a break and sit to rest? Diamonds. Wrestling over what pile of ash is yours to claim? Diamonds. Tripping and falling and refusing to get up so that no one sees your embarrassment? Diamonds. Suddenly, moving around on Haistos has taken a whole new turn. Especially when it’s completely possible to keep what you make with your very own body weight. ☄ if you break it, you buy itOut of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.
At the base of one of the smaller volcanoes, this message is carved into the rock in large, curling script. The volcano is currently inactive and is dotted with openings large enough for visitors to enter through. Stranger than the message is the faint tinkling sound - almost like glass clinking against glass - that grows louder the deeper into the volcano you go. The intricate honeycomb of paths all lead in the same direction—towards the sound and a mellow blue glow.
At the center, the sound is loud and the light illuminates a large space. Thousands of crystalline creatures swirl and bump against one another, the source of both the sound and light. They appear to be a cross between a lightning bug and bee, glowing and noisy and harmless. The beautiful sight may, or may not, be dampened by the fact that the cavern is littered with glass honeycombs that have been built up within the bodies of fallen travelers. It’s clear that the organisms didn’t harm them, perhaps the result of too much ash or broken respirators, and the honey they’ve produced is light blue and clear. It’s sweet if eaten, bright and citrus-y, and carries an earthy undertone, making the skin glow temporarily after ingesting.
If careful, visitors may harvest the honey, but do not disturb the creatures. Their wings are sharp, and when agitated, they swarm out of fear.
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thisavrou_ooc2016-06-07 03:39 pm
no subject
Did Alva come down here too? Or is he back on the ship still doing stuff?
[ Maybe he got told he should just stay put for the time being, at least until his body settled, but considering he's never been without some kind of charge before, he's feeling a little reckless and a lot of freedom he's never really gotten to taste before. He adjusts his respirator a little, albeit, with his sticky hand accidentally and mutters a quiet "oops" which is quickly followed by an "oh" noise when he adjusts it and ends up tasting just a little bit of the substance off his fingers that had rubbed off onto the breathing device. ]
... Whoa... It's sweet.
no subject
[ Said after he reads a text on his phone, and shoots something back, pocketing it before he goes pacing around a little, exploring, investigating. Until the point that he see Val move out of the corner of his eye, and glances up just in time to see the three year old smear alien honey on himself and have an accidental tasting. "It's sweet". Oh my god ho.
Val is being given the most flat of looks.
And then Andyr's looking down at his phone, just typing.
Not even commenting on that. Nope. ]
no subject
Also sweating.
He really hopes this doesn't give him some kind of crazy disease... it was definitely, totally an accident and not at all just. Some excuse to try it out. Valarie has the weirdest sense of curiosity and maybe that is the
three-year-oldchild-like part of him wanting to put everything he possibly can into his mouth. ]Nurse-man thing. Got it. Can we bring some of this stuff back? For... testing and whatever?
[ Code words: I wanna make sure I'm not gonna die. ]
no subject
His brows lift, looking at Val like he might've grown a second head. Since when are you so into research and sciencing?
Oh. Wait. That's why. Haaaaa. ]
So we can figure out if you're dying or not? [ Let him tell you the results: yes, you are dying. Everyone is rejoicing. Hurrah.
Except Andyr maybe doesn't actually want him as dead as he says, especially since they aren't back home anymore, and it's sort of a moot point. He just has gross body functions. So, okay, whatever. Swinging is pack off his shoulder, Andyr goes digging through it, trying to find some kind of container they can scoop this nastiness into. ]
Yeah, sure, I guess.
no subject
[ Don't be silly.
Hah.
Hahahaha.
Haaaaaaaaa
Though I guess he'll probably be glowing a lil bit in a few minutes I mean. That's normal right. Totally normal. He doesn't feel funny at all and he probably doesn't notice this at first, kind of just meandering between the various honeycombs among the bodies that are haphazardly strewn around the place. He's keeping his hands to himself now, cautiously stepping and turning a bit to avoid stirring up the little alien-bee buddies. ]
no subject
[ 'this guy' being the corpse he's knelt at right now, trying to gather up some of the honey into the little vial he'd pulled out.
just the fact he's collecting samples to keep Val healthy is probably enough to tell how serious he is about murdering him with some dude's ribs. Or at all.
In the few days they've been here, he's seen what Valarie looks like relaxing, enjoying life outside of Bathory, wandering around and looking at everything all starry eyed and full of wonder. it's hard to really want to end him on principle.
besides, andyr isn't exactly in the same cage either. not every person he sees is the enemy anymore.
doesn't mean he won't still shit-talk. ]
no subject
[ But he watches Andyr collect up a sample of the honey, resting his hands on his knees from his place crouched now so he's more Andyr's height. He doesn't smile outwardly, but his eyes glance from the vial to Andyr himself and then the body again. Yeah. It might actually say a lot about that kind of thing. ]
You too though. And Alva. Apparently he's not a big fan of space. Asteroid collisions and black holes and stuff.
[ Val isn't convinced just yet, okay. He doesn't believe that they're gonna run into five million black holes anytime soon. Alva's just a giant puddle of worry in a strange, new place. He clutches the fabric covering his knees a bit and waiting patiently. Maybe he should be more nervous about this place, but he can't bring himself to be, not even after being in the medbay, being in the garden--being asked if he could do this or that, and if he couldn't, that was okay too. They could work around it. They could work around it and never once was he made to do something by force.
His fingers tighten in the fabric and he glances up at the soft, swirling alien-bees, noticing that they're flying in a bit of a more frantic, agitated manner. ]
We should leave. Soon. I don't like the look of that...
no subject
[ It puts you in the care of just Alvary, who's more concerned about you than about your spare organs. More danger otherwise - like Alva's issue with black homes and the lava and all - but on the ship, Valarie's more safe than he's been since birth, likely. ]
I'll take lava flows and alien bee-hives over Hapsburg any day.
[ even if he's constantly running from lava flows. at least he's getting to run from things if he wants to. or allowed to stand still and be melted. not that he would, but the option's there. despite whatever dangers there are, the fact remains, they're free here. and that's worth all the rest.
screwing the cap onto the vial, Andyr's tucking it back into his pack, and glancing up just in time to see the alien-bees starting to get a little frantic. Ooookay. It's a good sign to get going. A hand reaches out to Val's shoulder, he's starting to ease them back towards the way he'd come in, some part of it protective, like you might be for a little brother. ]
Yeaaah, me neither. We're going. Come on. No sudden movements.
no subject
[ A blunt truth. He shakes his head and turns his eyes upwards, training them on the careful swirl of insects as Andyr touches his shoulder, bringing him up and out of it and causing him to brace fingertips on the ground, pushing himself up with a grunt. He follows where Andyr's hand is initially nudging him before pulling back from the guiding touch, taking very careful steps down the way they'd both come (albeit at different times).
His lips form a thin line and he pulls fully from Andyr's hand, separating them a bit. He can find his way just fine (maybe he's taking this independence thing a lil too far. Fight him.) ]
no subject
Val, stay close.
[ he mutters to him anyway, backing up slowly. this would not be a great time for him to go prancing and frolicking off, and out of reach, thus, out of protecting proximity. a few of the other bees seem to huddle up with the initially agitated ones, now more looking like they're inspecting than getting angry. okay, that's fine. now is a good time to shuffle out. which he will do, with a shooing motion towards Val. Gogo. ]
no subject
[ It's probably a bad time to practice aforementioned independence, self-agency, but he doesn't care, remaining within arm's reach at least. Valarie looks back along with Andyr, squinting into the faint glow of the insects humming and buzzing, jostling into each other in residual panic as they all begin to crowd a little around the corpses, examining closely and giving them time to gradually slip away from the main chamber.
Of course, once they're far enough away from the gently glowing room it might be a little more apparent that Val's skin is... kind of sort of glowing.
He hasn't really realized it yet... um... ]
no subject
[ Andyr snaps back, as they made it out of the main hive, through the tunnels and towards the outside, however, when he looks to Val just at the last arched exit, towards the outside, he halts where he is. ]
Um. Valarie. [ this isn't good. this can't be good. ]
You're glowing.
no subject
[ Clearly this is what he's most concerned about, bracing a hand against the wall as the floor gets a little uneven and he tries to avoid giving Andyr any kind of excuse for lifting him up off his feet. It isn't until Andyr mentions the whole glowing thing that he pauses in his steps and blinks a little bit, turning on his heel to look at Andyr, bristling. ]
If you're gonna mess with me, make it more believable.
[ Glowing's stupid. ]
no subject
[ he mumbles, distracted, because threatening Val has just become second nature to him, apparently.
but his attention is mainly on Val's whole. Glowing. Episode. That's really the only word for it. Glowing. reaching out, Andyr grips at his elbow, and drags Val back a few steps, into the shadows of the caves, and points. ]
Look, dumbass. Glowing.