◣ OPEN ◢ HATCHING LOG 001

[raiamods]

WHO: All PCs
WHAT: New characters arrive on Ethyraia, get interrogated, and settle in at the basecamp.
WHEN: May 21 onward
WHERE: Basecamp Leviathan
NOTES/WARNINGS: Potential character nudity, violence, trypophobia (images) as well as light mentions of gore, alcohol and drug-use, light aphrodisiac effects (optional), and references to mass death.

HATCHING LOG 001 ❀

CONTENT WARNINGS: potential character nudity, violence, trypophobia (images) as well as light mentions of gore, alcohol and drug-use, light aphrodisiac effects (optional), and references to mass death.

Players who participated in our TDM are welcome to keep their CR and the content of those threads. Please make sure to chat this out on the OOC intro & CR meme before making assumptions. Please take your time reading the hatching and basecamp bullets, as some items have been altered or expanded.

❀ HATCHING

Congrats, you've woken up in an egg. I'm sure this is exactly how you wanted to spend your Saturday, right? There's no time to get curious and check out the other egg sacs. By the time you've fought your way out of the membranous sac, spilled electric blue goop everywhere, wiped it out of your eyes and sundry other orifices to get your bearings, you have a spear (or a gun) leveled at your face, throat, or other vital organs. Even if you might be inclined to fight, you can barely lift your arms to protest being grabbed and dragged off. Before you can even get a word in edgewise, you've been thrown into a holding cell.

Characters will not have a chance to retrieve their items at the time of the first hatching, and may not even know there is anything left in the remaining eggs.

The holding cell stinks of something sour and acidic, like rotted citrus, but you are not alone. Several other detainees sit in similar squalid confusion, dressed strangely and equally gooey. Time to make nice, ask questions... figure out what the hell is going on, and maybe do something about all that slime?

Over the next few days, a few things become clear. Despite the alien greeting, your captors speak a language that you understand, and the unpleasant circumstances are revealed to be a matter of necessity, not choice. Supplies are low, but they ensure that the new arrivals' time imprisoned is as painless as can be — they offer hot communal showers of less than three minutes, some strange starchy meal-replacement, and medical treatment to those in need. You might strike up a conversation with your new best friend in the shower over a low soap dispenser or when you realize you might need to share towels.

The cost of these luxuries comes in the form of touch-and-go interrogation by the security officers keeping tabs on the cells and supervising the shower time.

A few notes:

☆ Your character may get pulled away for interrogation at some point. No torture, no drugs; just questioning. If you would like to thread this out, please reply to CAPT CHILDE'S top level comment! A caveat: threads will not go beyond (TEN) NPC replies, and new tag-ins will not be responded to after MAY 24.

☆ Locals will be stopping by outside the freestanding holding cells to ogle or ask questions. Are you really going to be mean to that little kid staring at you with wide eyes?

☆ Characters will be let out for bio breaks. No one has to pee in a bucket, that's just inhumane!

☆ Attempts to escape will probably get you tasered. If your character composes a genius jailbreak, you are welcome to submit it in the MOD QUESTION comment to work out how that might go with the NPCs!

❀ EXPLORE THE BASECAMP

On the heels of a little benign interrogation, a medical inspection, and a stern talking to by Captain Childe, the survivors at Basecamp Leviathan determine one thing: you don't appear to be an active threat.

Released from the detention center after three days, you are given the run-down by the locals — you're on a planet called Ethyraia, and the people around you are survivors of the catastrophic crash of the UCSS Adamant several years prior. You, in fact, showed up on the third anniversary of the crash. Weird coincidence, huh?

The first order of the day is having a proper meal at the mess hall — some of the Adamant's survivors will be friendlier than others. They've been stranded here for years, remember? Some of them will be so desperate to talk to someone who has news of other places, and some will be giving you the cold shoulder.

You'll be fed the same as the rest of them. A plastic plate of crumbled protein of unidentifiable origin and gravy over rice with a single wilted stalk of broccoli and a cup of the worst coffee you've ever had. Maybe somebody bumps into you and spills said coffee, maybe you make it all the way to one of the long tables set out for communal eating.

Time to strike up a chat with your neighbor — maybe ask them to pass the salt?

(What do you mean, there's no salt!?)

During this time, characters will be able to return to the Central Chrysalis where they hatched. While there are no clues as to how they got there, they might find items — their own, or someone else's. Everyone is strapped for supplies, but try not to snatch up anything that isn't yours. The security officers don't look kindly on people chasing one other down the hall, trying to get back their dirty magazines.

A few notes:

☆ Feel free to help out anywhere. Every little bit of assistance you offer to the locals will raise their estimation of you. You could easily help clean dishes after the meal, help fix leaky piping or repair hammocks. You could stop by the aid station and assist with the wounded. You'll be watched closely and some of the survivors will be warier than others, but most will appreciate the opportunity to have a 'break'.

☆ If your character leaves the basecamp and wanders outside the Leviathan, they may begin to notice that what they perhaps took as a giant cave is actually an enormous dragon. Everything that seems human-made will look varying levels of worn down, patched, repaired and patched again. This is not a place of prosperity and happiness. Many people are recently injured, or have new scars or missing limbs.

☆ PCs will be warned about the acid rain and inhospitable wildlife that they'll face if they venture beyond the shade of the dragon's wings.

❀ RECRUITMENT FAIR

You've been here for a week, had a chance to show your mettle. Maybe you've demonstrated a propensity for fixing gadgets (or plumbing!) or you have the command of a natural leader and the ability to wield a gun (or a tire iron!) to great effect. Either way, the Adamant's survivors are eager to put you to work so they can have their first real 'days off' in three years! Survivors have set up their various areas in the hopes of catching your attention and (possibly!) bolster their numbers! Feel free to wander around, talk to other PCs, and get the lay of the land.

ENGINEERING CORPS

Thorkil has welded a sign to a post out front, cheerfully painted by a gaggle of children to say "WELCOME!" The children are crowded around the area, and Thorkil is telling them stories about one of his many tattoos as you approach — he has a magnificent eagle tattooed on his arm, and in a hush he is explaining how it landed on him and tried to bite him like a mosquito, and how he slapped it and it just splattered right there on his arm and he's never been able to wash it off!

The children seem mesmerized by the story (maybe you are too?) and will scatter at the story's conclusion, tugging you over to the various areas, pointing things out excitedly. What is an Ehlers-Chau sublight engine? You're about to find out whether you like it or not! Or maybe you can teach them a thing or two. Those who seem to know their stuff will be eagerly invited on board by Thorkil.

The Engineering division has salvaged its tools and scrap from the Adamant’s wreckage, so it has all of the essentials from metal mills to CNC routers to circuitry tools. A holo projector throws schematics on the wall — a drill, a few potential shelter ideas for long-term settlement, and a new communications tower.

SECURITY DIVISION

Rémi has barely deigned to participate — and seems to have done so only at the request of some of his companions. He's sitting at an unadorned table and he is cleaning a variety of weapons. He will scowl if approached, and seems openly mistrustful of your intentions should you speak to him. Questions about how a conversation with Rémi might go may be posted to the MOD QUESTIONS thread. (Note: We will not be threading Rémi, so these questions will be handwaved!)

Characters who make a positive impression on him will open up the avenue to work for the Security Division later, but he will not be extending any offers now — please allow for a realistic period of development here!

Feel free to lean into another PC's space and comment on how frosty that dude seems! You can also survey the various weapons stored in racks, help out with building spears, the usual suspects.

THEATRE

The theatre doubles as a childcare center, and many of the NPCs bustling about seem very excited and eager for the chance to talk to anyone who ventures in to visit. The theatre is bright and cheerful, paintings have been done on the walls of scenes from children's stories featuring colorful characters.

The thespians will not only try to recruit you (for acting in a play, for teaching, for script writing, for drawing on the walls or caring for children) but they will actively put you to work if they see you standing idle longer than a moment! Your character may find themselves with a paintbrush in hand, or taking part in a recital for a play (you're free to invent one, or put a new spin on an old classic! Romeo and Julio, anyone?) or building a set piece for one of the many local productions.

The Theatre doubles as the protective hub in times of need, so beyond arts education and babysitting, your character may also be tasked with shoring up those defenses, helping to fortify the walls, or other such tasks. And who knows, they may be paired off with someone else rather unexpectedly!

AID STATION

Sunya Hyacinth is the local medical doctor, fueled by coffee and spite. She doesn't have the time to recruit personally — she's flitting about the aid station seeing to the injured.

If you follow her, she will put you to work. Hold this stent, articulate this dislocation, take this blood pressure reading. If anyone appears to have a proficiency for this sort of work, she may inquire after credentials — and anyone who seems to have medical experience is going to immediately be handed the medic's armband, a white band with a blue cross emblazoned on it. This armband will grant any PC an extra amount of respect and trust from the Adamant's survivors — but you'd better be able to live up to it!

Feel free to treat any injured PCs, converse with other 'recruits', help pin that white and blue arm-band on... you know, anything under the sun. Some of the patients in the medical bay seem to be suffering from the adverse effects of some of the local flora — itching hives or burning pustules. One unfortunate soul seems only able to speak in limericks, which the medical staff will admit is one of the odder things they’ve seen.

SANITATION

CONTENT WARNING: DRUG REFERENCES

It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it! There are always latrines to be dug, pipes to be repaired, general maintenance to be done on the various sanitation systems.

A nervous-looking janitor will approach your character almost shyly, and ask if you wouldn't mind giving her a hand. If you are willing to help her (fix a pipe, dig a hole, etc), she will gradually warm up to you and seem more animated and lively and very, very grateful. Won't you please consider working with the Sanitation crew? Sure, it's not as glamorous as some of the other duties, but they're the backbone of the Basecamp and they could really use the help!

She'll even let you in on a little secret if you really butter her up or show an interest — the Sanitation Crew? Totally has a little underground greenhouse where they're growing marijuana. They're totally willing to share...

Feel free to dig latrines alongside your fellow PCs, or maybe even share a joint. It's a way to pass the time, right? PCs serving in sanitation will also have an easier time overhearing the gossip that spreads around the base, since no one looks twice at them.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

CONTENT WARNING: REFERENCES TO MASS DEATH

During their first two weeks in the basecamp, any character who stops by one of the various houses of worship (in addition to a church, a synagogue, and a mosque, there is a temple with small statues to fifteen different unfamiliar deities, many of whom seem to be from different faiths), the gymnasium, or the mess hall will come across a stand that hosts a dozen or so packages.

Wrapped in the black emergency blankets that many bring with them to and from the bunks, these packages are about one cubic foot and contain folded clothes in roughly the same sizes. The styles are all different and highly individualized. Some are luxe, some are basic, and some are clearly the undershirt (but not the proper outerwear) for uniforms of the Adamant’s crew. Warm-faced folks eagerly give out a single package to each new hatchling. Along with the clothing and blanket, hatchlings will receive basic packages containing basic toiletries — bar soap, a toothbrush, a straight razor, etc.

Come by at the wrong time, and you might see a fight break out. A young person, red-faced, shouts at the volunteers working these stands, “Those were our people! Our families! We should be the one to decide what’s done with what they left behind.”

In hushed tones, clearly trying to keep this from becoming a conflict, the lead volunteer insists, “Take it up with Captain Childe.”


A few notes:

☆ Feel free to have your character sign on to help out with any of the listed divisions, with the exception of security.

☆ Characters may collect one (1) care package from the community outreach program. If your character intends to come back for more, please let us know in the Mod Questions thread.

☆ Feel free to ask for light NPC interactions in the MOD QUESTIONS header; we can give you a general idea of how a conversation might go! Like with the Captain Childe threads, none of these threads will be lengthy, and new tag-ins will not be responded to after MAY 24.

❀ THE DREAMING

You are standing at the edge of an immense, underground lake. Water laps at the shore, echoing in the cavern. There is a sense of peace and warmth and — welcome.

A creature emerges from the lake and approaches you. Its gills flutter, its eyes are a faint bioluminescent glow in the darkness. It reaches out to touch you — one long, elegant finger presses against your chest. It feels as if it might crack your sternum open and ferret beneath your bones as if looking, looking for something. Yet, there is no malice from it, and you feel no fear.

But the creature relents. It backs up. Bows to you once, and then turns and walks back into the water.

You stay for some time at the edge of the lake. Eventually, it seems as if another person is here with you, or perhaps they simply came into focus after being here just as long as you. Should you speak with them?

A few notes:

☆ PCs may interact with one another in the dreams. They will be in a semi-conscious state, not wholly aware they are dreaming and not wholly under the impression of its normalcy.

☆ Your character will wake up naturally from the Dreaming, they will feel peaceful and refreshed.
The lake, if they choose to swim in it while dreaming, would be perceived as the perfect ambient temperature for them — some characters may prefer it to be warmer or colder!

☆ If they duck below the water, they will see far-off glittering city lights, but no matter how they try to swim towards them they will never get any closer!

☆ If your character tries to drink the water, they might notice that for a few minutes after they wake they can hear little snippets of NPC thoughts. Weird!

☆ Every character will have a small, pale lilac mark where they were touched on the chest. It will fade over the next few days.

❀ FETCH QUEST

CONTENT WARNING: REFERENCES TO LIGHT APHRODISIAC EFFECTS

A small, perky woman corrals you somewhere near the latrines. "Hey!" she says insistently, pushing her hat back and sending a spill of inky curls askew from her forehead. "We need a hand. There's this plant we get for Sunya — the Doc? You met her yet? — it's a painkiller. Go through a shitload of that, which I'm sure is quite surprising," she says all this in a single breath, and her expression is sour despite her cheery tone.

"You any good at botany? We need another round of Starspire root. Can't harvest the ones we've got in camp, they've been a little cranky lately. You'll have to go about four kilometers due west, towards the old Adamant wreck. Just watch them — if they start to sweat, you'll need to get under cover, means the acid rain is coming. I'll upload the specs to your Comm."

Seems like you're being partnered with somebody else for the run — another person looking perhaps about as equally haggard as you, and at least as equally voluntold. Hopefully you won't run into any difficulties — how hard can retrieving one plant be?

A few notes:

☆ Feel free to have random monster encounters along the way! Don’t forget to wait for approvals on bestiary submissions before incorporating them into threads.

☆ The plants are at a high elevation, so they will exist on rocky outcroppings along a cliff-face. The landscape here is mostly high desert, which means it is full of thin, calf-high grasses, scrub plants, and non arable land polluted by dense, alkaline soil and rocks. Be creative in how you get there!

☆ Somebody gets hurt? Here, chew this root! They said it was a painkiller, right? What's the worst that could happen? (People can get a little ... flirtatious, shall we say.)

☆ Or you could go one step further and try exploring portions of the Adamant! Remember, the ship itself was built to house seventy thousand people — it's the size of a city, and it cannot be adequately explored in an afternoon! If you'd like anything specific to come of this, or if you’d like to know specifics about the Adamant’s layout, please consider submitting a plot request!.

NAVIGATION ❀

Comments

76

[mylawn]

i. egg time

[Who has two thumbs and is not having a nice time? This guy, who is currently being forced into the cell you are currently in. He’s clearly trying his very best to put up a fight, despite being entirely too old for this, completely disoriented, and not in any kind of state to throw hands. Still, he throws hands regardless, even as the holding cell door more-or-less slams in his face. In an apparent last-ditch effort to improve his situation, he outright body-checks it, or attempts to, given his current physical state. He still manages something of an inhuman snarl, a sound more befitting of a caged animal than anything else. Very pleasant. It’s possible he was just tasered a bunch.

Having exhausted all his options, his next course of action is to wheel around a little woozily, taking in the rest of the cell. 76 had obviously hoped to spot an exit. He is clearly disappointed, and possibly enraged by what he sees instead.]

Who the hell are you supposed to be?

[That’s you. You better tell him who the hell you’re supposed to be! Also he’s still covered in goo and it’s gross.]

ii. base camp

helping hand; [76 isn’t stupid—having been in survival situations before, he knows firsthand that unexpected events like this can make or break whatever tenuous peace they might have. He doubts the locals were preparing for an extra forty-something people dumped on them, and he imagines that were he in their position, he might be looking for an excuse to get rid of the interlopers and look after his own, if things come down to it.

So, he has to make himself useful. Luckily, there are many odd jobs to be done, and though 76 doesn’t necessarily have medical or engineering training, he’s able to lend a hand, even if he cuts an intimidating figure in the visor and tactical gear (now that he’s dug it out of another egg…gross).

What he is very good at its tasks that require brute strength, and having noticed this, some of the locals have put him to work hauling crates of equipment. If you’re tasked with the same errand, he’ll give you a hand, too.]

Let me get that.

[He’ll lift it with surprising ease, whether you need the assistance or not. You’re welcome???]

exploring; [All of this is a bit much for 76 to absorb--back home, on his version of Earth (because he's coming to understand that there are possibly multiple versions of Earth), they'd only made it to the moon. Interplanetary travel is the stuff of science fiction, and he's trying to wrap his mind around his apparent dimensional kidnapping. Wandering the perimeter of base camp just puts it in further perspective.

He'll give them points for resourcefulness. Building something for themselves out of the corpse of an impossibly huge and equally impossible creature. Of course, to explore all his options (including escape options), he needs to take matters into his own hands. 76 isn't surprised to find others outskirts of base camp. He knows what it's like to need to be alone. Still…]

Shouldn't be out here by yourself.

[Says this guy, who is out here by himself. To his credit, he appears to be armed, hefting a large gun (to say nothing of the tactical gear), but he seems to be disregarding the advice to stay beneath the dragon's wings, moving with purpose past you, clearly on his way out.]

iii. recruitment

security; [The rifle and tactical gear give a pretty good indication of where 76’s talents lie, so when it’s clear that the new arrivals should be figuring out a way to contribute in an official capacity, he knows exactly where he’d be most useful.

What’s surprising (or is perhaps not surprising), is that he’s rebuffed.]

You’d think they’d want someone who can shoot a gun.

[Despite the fact that he knows it’s a matter of trust, he sounds insulted! He’s very good at shooting guns, thanks, and he’s definitely not going to mention the fact that maybe security is not so keen on accepting his help because they had to taser him a bunch.]

community outreach; [Or, maybe you find him at the mess hall, having picked up a care package and been present for one of the ensuing fights. It’s not that he’s bothered by having a dead person’s possessions, or the recycling of them (you have to do what you can in a situation like this), but it’s definitely a little awkward to know that not everyone is on board with this kind of thing.]

Not sure how I’m supposed to feel about that.

[He says to no one in particular. But he’s definitely not returning the package, so…]

iv. fetch quest

[Generally speaking, 76 is still wrapping his mind around being on an alien planet. What is familiar is a gun in his hand and a team and an objective, which means he can compartmentalize all of his feelings about the current state of things and focus on the mission. It’s what he’s good at, after all. Congratulations! Here’s your new partner.

Despite the fact that he’s not a very good conversationalist, he seems to know what he’s doing, and he navigates the difficult terrain with the speed and energy of someone half his age. Weird, right?]

Keep moving.

[He doesn't seem to be the patient type, or maybe he just doesn't want to linger when alien monsters are part of the equation. Well, it could be worse.]

v. wildcard

[I will do anything you want! 76 can mostly be found exploring the Adamant on the fetch quest, eating grouchily by himself in the mess hall, and patrolling the perimeter. If you meet him in a dream he might be a little hostile. Feel free to hit me up or add me on plurk at whitticus.]

community outreach

[spalten]

[ vidar just shrugs, and finishes his terrible coffee. ]

You'll do nothing.

We have far fewer resources. As newcomers we make rather convenient targets, which isn't new.

I'm sure you don't need my encouragement, but keep your package.

[mylawn]

I was being rhetorical.

[Even if he didn't actually ask a question. The arch of 76's eyebrow is visible at the top of his visor--because of course he's going to take the stuff. Beggars can't be choosers in a situation like this, and he supposes he should feel lucky they're being offered any supplies at all.

That said, if it turns out there are heirlooms or other personal items tucked into the bundle he's been handed, he'll make a concerted effort to return it, but as it stands this doesn't really seem to be his problem.]

Guess it's better than being thrown out to fend for ourselves.

[spalten]

[ vidar shakes his head. ]

Indeed. I'd rather not have to worry about too many things on top of being stuck here.

[ he's going thru his package, which seems fairly standard as far as packages go - it reminds him of gjallarhorn. ]

Have you been to another planet?

[mylawn]

[76 is still clutching his, as if despite the assertion that they shouldn't worry about things like this, he's a little reluctant to open it. Maybe he just wants to sort through it in private, so he's relieved for the change of subject.

He shakes his head.]

We only made it as far as the Moon.

[And that hadn't exactly ended well.]

For all we knew, we were alone.

ii. base camp

[fossils]

Pot meet kettle.

[ Spoken with a vaguely conceding cant to his head. ]

You late for an appointment or something?

[ Called out as the other man continues toward moving beyond the accepted perimeter. He's not necessarily going to follow just yet. Guy's decked out better than most of the survivors here. Steve's got his dark blue stealth suit on and dark metal attachments on each arm, less obviously weaponry than the gun the guy's hauling, but clearly not just decoration either. ]

[mylawn]

[He comes to a stop, turns, and offers a shrug, as if to say he knows exactly what kind of hypocrite he's being, and he's not going to apologize for it. Despite the fact that he's obscuring his face with a visor, the slight tilt of his head indicates that he's looking Steve up and down, trying to assess the kind of person he's dealing with. He recognizes tactical gear when he sees it, though of course it's less ostentatious than emblazoning a number on the back of a jacket.]

Who wants to know?

[The truth, of course, is that he's the kind of person to take "don't leave the shade of the dragon's wings" as a challenge, but he's not going to give that up so easily. He doesn't exactly trust the locals, and needs to explore his options, which includes evaluating the feasibility of striking out on his own.]

[fossils]

[ Might as well be looking in a mirror for the way Steve sizes him up right back. At the question he frowns slightly before answering. ]

Just another guy who hatched out of an egg... [ And a shrug. If the guy wants to go exploring, he's not about to stop him. But someone ought to know he's out there, at least. ]

The name's Steve Rogers.

[mylawn]

[Ugh, don't remind him of the eggs. His face is hidden, but it's easy to imagine the cringe underneath. It’s possible that recent events were not exactly his favorite thing, but it is good to know he’s dealing with someone else who's been kidnapped (because that's what this is, a kidnapping) and not one of the locals.

So he'll nod in acknowledgement of the introduction, but it seems he's not going to return the favor.]

And you've got no idea how you got here, I take it?

iv.

[trassel]

[ Matthias is not yet so keen on the guns they have here, and even more unwilling to use his limited ammunition that came from home, never mind that his own rifle might be more effective in his hands than just his knives. But still he follows just a half-step behind 76 — Trass chose to shadow Nina, today, so Matthias is alone. ]

[ He's not in need of great conversation. Simply of someone that can keep up — it's intriguing that he has to work to get there with 76, clearly age has not dulled any skills the other soldier possesses. ]

The path is clear so far. We're making good time.

[mylawn]

Yeah, we've been lucky so far.

[Maybe 76 is a little more cooperative because he's already met Matthias--though perhaps he finds himself wishing they had that big dog, if only for the extra protection. Still, he's not going to complain about teaming up with someone who seems to know what they're doing.

It doesn't matter how prepared they are, however, if their luck runs out. So far, they haven't run into anything except some difficult terrain, but he fully expects that to change.]

Don't let your guard down just 'cause of that.

[trassel]

Understood.

[ His guard is so rarely down. He doubts the 76's is, either, but this is a strange new world. The rats had been disgusting enough — beasts beyond nightmares. Who knows what other crazy things lurk out there, waiting? ]

[ After a short while, he pipes up, ]

If we'll be near the crashed ship, there may be time to look inside.

[mylawn]

[76 is usually content to work in silence, and he does appreciate that Matthias seems to be picking up on that. He doesn’t mind the interruption, however, because it’s pretty clear they’re both here for business. The truth is that he’s been having the same thought, about the Adamant—not that he’s going to understand anything about it if he sees it, but he’s the type of person who needs to exhaust all his options before he resigns himself to living at base camp.]

Wouldn’t mind taking a look.

[If only to see if there’s anything the survivors missed. He doubts it, but it’s worth checking out regardless.]

Think there’s anything left to find?

ii: exploring

[unclesam]

[ Pot, meet...

But the man is already stalking past before the thought can half form.

The next thought catches somewhere between 'hey, we match' at the flash of red across the man's eyes - Sam's wearing red googles at the moment. But that thought is drowned out by the discomfort of the rest of the getup. Brings back thoughts of the Winter Soldier. Yikes.

Sam falls in step as if he's been asked too - no visible weapon, but the suit for all its unusual coloration is tac gear, and there's a distinct shield he carries on his back. ]

You acid resistant, man?

[mylawn]

I might be. Don't see why it's any of your business.

[He's not acid proof! But he is reasonably certain that his enhancements and sweet leather jacket might afford him an extra minute or two of being alive and in pain before the acid rain kills him. He'll assess the situation once he gets to the edge of the dragon's wings, and it's likely he'll decide it's not worth it, but he's the type of person who needs to explore all of his options, even if one of those options is certain death.]

Are you gonna try and stop me?

[Despite the vaguely threatening nature of the question, he doesn't say it like a warning--instead, he seems to be asking a genuine question.]

[unclesam]

I mean, you're the one with the gun and the go-getter attitude, man.

[ Sam's tone is light, despite that observation. He doesn't know this guy and what he's capable of, but well. Guy's got a gun and a death wish, Sam's got a vibranium shield and wings, tomayto, tomahto. ​]

Want backup?

[ Maybe the dude is acid resistant. And if he isn't, Sam can always airlift him out of the rain and pull his best 'I ain't mad, just disappointed' face while patching him up. ]

2

[angerberg]

And does the weapon exempt you from the same rule, or is it something else?

[ she doesn't look at him until after she's spoken, taking the time to train annoyance out of her expression. instead, her eyebrows only arch, expectant. ]

You'll die out there as surely as anyone else, unless you're about to tell me you've discovered immortality.

[mylawn]

I figure I can go out there and get myself killed if I want to.

[Not that he's actually going to do that, but he owns his stupid decisions--he just needs to make sure he's exhausting all options before he resigns himself to being stuck here under the thumb of the locals. They've been surprisingly accommodating so far, but he's always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Who knows when they'll decide that these new arrivals are a drain on their resources, and need to be cast out?

Paranoid, maybe. But he needs to prepare for all possibilities.]

You're out here, same as me.

[He says that with a little nod of acknowledgement. She wouldn't be out here if she wasn't curious about something.]

[angerberg]

I don't take anyone's word without seeing it myself.

[ if the planet is truly hostile, she won't need to go far to find out. she plans to at least do that much. everyone on the base seems ... content. it's quite the little city. but it is one city. how many others might actually be out there? ]

How far do you intend to go?

[ she casts a look towards the sky. without a rain shield, it might be a death sentence. ]

exploring

[fortyforged]

Got myself turned around.

[The voice that responds has an electronic tinge to it, like how it would sound if one were speaking through the comm-filter of a helmet.

When Banshee turns it becomes clear that it's no helmet he's speaking through, glowing optics falling upon the man, but only briefly as his gun is quick to get his attention. The Exo's not without his own weapons, including a large sword on his back whose blade looks more like some fancy circuit board crossed with a chainsaw, and a couple of rifles slung from either shoulder.]

...you going out there?

[The question of 'why' seems implied, blue light spilling from his throat as he speaks.]

[mylawn]

Sure.

[He says, like he doesn't really believe that. Still, he understands that he's being a little hypocritical, when he's asking what other people are doing here. The quality of this man's voice gets his attention, and after a few moments of studying, 76 gets the sense that he's not actually dealing with a human at all.

Still, he's not going to complain about the buddy system when said buddy is as heavily armed as Banshee seems to be. Despite his complicated history with artificial intelligence, 76 generally harbors no ill will towards individual robots.]

Was thinking about it. Seems responsible to check the perimeter.

[Figure out just what, exactly, he's dealing with.]

[fortyforged]

[The Exo doesn't seem too bothered about whether the man believes him or not. It probably won't be the first time he gets himself lost around this place.

There's little enough for him to do at the moment otherwise, and the idea of patrolling is at least a familiar enough one. He's seen the state of these people. He's not sure what all's out there, but it reminds him of the Last City, at least in the idea that this is a refuge. If they're stuck and he's got no shop to mind, he may as well be useful in other ways.]

Mind some company?

[On a more personal level he just feels better having someone else who won't forget what all they were doing in the middle of checking things out, much less forget where to go after.]

i!

[needfully]

[ Illumi is about the opposite of the other man; he's hardly put up any resistance since he got thrown in this slammer. In fact, he seems completely content to just watch this guy body slam the cell bars and not aid him in his attempt to tussle his way out— he was also definitely staring as the other man got tasered. Not out of concern, really, but rather, something closer to curiosity, or a bored type of mild interest. ]

Illumi. [ Funnily enough, he answers the pointed question completely genuinely, his voice as passive as his body language is; he's sitting up against the back wall of the cell, still completely wet with goo. ] I'm sure you can gather that I hatched, just like you.

[ Considering they're both currently blue, smelly, and sticky! At least no one else is in this cell adding to the stink, for now. ]

I was wondering when they'd put someone else in here.

[mylawn]

[Even without the recent tasering, 76 feels sluggish and dazed, which he imagines is a result of falling out of a horrible alien egg. He's had his enhancements longer than he hasn't, at this point, so the feeling sluggish and somehow fuzzy is new to him. The locals shouldn't have been able to overpower him the way they did, and it's just something else to be angry about.

What he doesn't really expect is for his cellmate to be generally polite, given the circumstances. 76 looks up, still dripping, apparently thrown for a loop.]

You seem to be taking it well.

[That's said fairly sardonically, like he can't believe anyone would just sit here in a jail cell and take it, not after waking up the way they did. He needs explanations, and he's the type of person who's not going to stop until he gets them. Once he manages to get to his feet, he's attempting to inspect the door, looking for something he can exploit.]

I don't know about you, but I'm getting out of here.

[needfully]

[ Illumi's in the same boat; he hasn't felt this sluggish or close to powerless since he was very, very young. Which is alarming. But he also knows the best thing to do when you've been compromised by some foreign substance is to either 1) try to get it out of your body, or 2) ride out the effects in as neutral of a space as possible. The latter option seems preferable, for now. ]

Hmm... and then what?

[ He asks, as though he didn't pick up on the cynical way in which the other commented on his behavior. No, he's much more concerned with the apparent confidence (misplaced or not) this person has re: charting into the unknown on a clearly hostile planet. ]

Getting out of here is possible, sure. [ Actually, it's probably even more possible with two people, but the fact remains that he's sure there's some way to get out. Even if it means getting tased a bunch. ] But what do you expect to do once you do? There's a lot we don't know about the area.

[ It's pointless to try and discourage him from escaping - he can tell that much just by the way the other man carries himself - but he can't help but want to know what his gameplan is, if he even has one. ]