08.25 - action, action, action - OPEN

[lefthandfree]

(A) 0800: awakening + Monolith recon

[Well, ain’t that just damn peachy. He closes his eyes and sinks into a deep sleep, hoping he’ll awake to a clearer head and Steve still in once piece, but wakes up to find himself in a completely unfamiliar place with technology that seems like it’s from one of the films Sam made him watch. It’s eerie as hell, but one thing is clear: this ain’t Kansas anymore.

He explores. The place he finds himself in is awfully deserted despite being so advanced and clearly useful to someone. He doesn't know what to make of all of it but catalogs the information away in his head as he goes from room to room, examining and gleaning all his technologically ignorant mind can. He can think of a few people who would have a field day cracking open the panels and playing around with cables, but he has difficulty finding any reason to try, especially with only one hand and a complete lack of experience.]

(B) 1300: jet ski + explosions

[Convenient is the word he uses, even though it shouldn't be. He would normally be more concerned, but the obvious lack of human presence makes him a little less wary or concerned about taking what he can. He manages to figure out how to get the jet ski running after some investigation, and takes a few minutes playing with the controls to figure out how best to operate it without both arms.

There's a guidance system, and it locks on to what seems like its place of origin. There's not much else to go off of, so he takes it.

But also jet skis are fun, he learns much too quickly. Somewhere in the middle, he wastes an hour figuring out how tightly he can turn and how many waves he can hop and dive under. The freedom is cleansing. Not even a day before, he could remember thinking he may never have liberty again, but here he is with no one to stop him, and there's joy in that. He's still having fun by the time he reaches his destination, but he'll take what he can get before all of it gets taken away again (which he imagines will be all too soon).]

(C) 2000: base recon

[Fascination doesn't capture his awe enough. While he doubts the sincerity of his host, the computer lady as he likes to think of her, he knows better than to let opportunity fall to the wayside. He takes this chance, as soon as he's fed himself properly, to check every single room he can find to gain a better understanding of what all he has to work with (or flee from, should the moment arise). It's nothing like the palace, yet everything as advanced, peculiar, and ingenious.

Unlike the earlier monolith, he finds himself much more welcome here. It's and odd sort of happiness he finds for himself as he takes it all in. Though everything is different, he feels peace. There is no Red Book here. Maybe this is good.]

Comments

c.

[highflights]

[ The library is embarrassingly low on her list of places to explore: Kara spent a long time looking over what she could in the farm and the labs. The technology here is reminiscent of Krypton, enough to offer an eerie sense of reverse culture shock. There's too much in the library: Kara barely organises, just wanders around marvelling at what's there. ]

[ She looks up and smiles at him when they're browsing the same shelf, and when they both abruptly reach for the same book, ]

Oh, sorry, here, you read it.

[lefthandfree]

No, no. [He waves his hand dismissively, taking a step back as he cocks his head to the side.]

Ladies first.

[He smiles modestly and gestures for her to take the volume, the fact they had reached for the same book seeming awfully rude for him. He has patience and is in no rush. He just hadn't thought, and that was poor of him.]

[highflights]

[ She smiles back, something effortlessly sunbright. ]

I'm a fast reader. If you still want it, I'll only be an hour.

[lefthandfree]

[Good Lord, her smile is so damn bright. It’d hurt his eyes if it weren’t such a welcome sight, years of hard looks and blank faces burying a part of him that knew and cared to make others smile that way. An image of a rambunctious, young Rebecca beaming up at him after snatching five jacks in one turn comes to mind.

His expression loosens a bit, the smile widening.]

Only an hour? [He makes a small noise in disbelief.] That’s a real talent. Is that normal where you’re from?

[highflights]

[ The smile's more in his eyes than his mouth, but Kara knows how to look. ]

[ Lightly, ]

Faster if it's a good book.

[ You know, she doesn't think people are going to be too shocked by her being an alien, but the instinct is still to play it off. ]

[lefthandfree]

[He hums quietly.]

Well, I hope it’s good. Wouldn’t want you to have to waste an hour on it if it’s bad.

[highflights]

I'll let you know.

[ A beat. ]

Are you looking for anything specific? I could help you find it.

c

[alienates]

[ when bucky attempts to check one of the rooms, he'll find that it's locked, since it's one of the private bedrooms. except then it's no longer locked, because karkat actually chose that exact moment to exit his room to do. who even knows what? annoy people, probably.

he is very surprised to see someone else there, especially considering he has never seen this person before? ]

Where do all of you even keep coming from, holy fuck.

[lefthandfree]

[He doesn’t expect that greeting, but he schools his expression and offers a false smile, wanting more than anything to snipe back but knowing he is in no such position being so new to the damn place.]

I’m sorry?

[He steps back and out of the way.]

Who is it you mean by “all of you”?

[alienates]

You new people.

[ he gestures towards the rest of the base. ]

This is the first time I've seen you here before, the base isn't that big, so you're either new or just really fucking good at hiding.

[lefthandfree]

[He hums quietly.]

Maybe a bit of both. [A brief coy smile.]

Then, what, you’re “not new”, then? You were here from the start?

[Seems unlikely. In fact, the rage seems entirely unjustified.]

[alienates]

[ that's his secret, buck, he's always angry. ]

Ha, fuck no. I've been here for two months. But before everyone used to arrive in really big groups and now you're appearing one by one.

[ mostly karkat is curious as to what caused that change. ]

[lefthandfree]

Huh. [That’s definitely an oddity.]

I don’t suppose you know what is actually bringing any of us here, do you?

[Because he’s already gathering that the others he’s met didn’t arrive the same way he did, and that makes the mystery all the more puzzling. Normally there's a common thread somewhere under the surface, but there doesn't seem to be much of any here.]

c

[braavado]

[During her own exploration of the base, Korra's came across the observatories and had instantly felt drawn there. Why wouldn't she be, when she was essentially surrounded by sea life?

She sits there now, not really meditating, but letting her mind wander as she absently listens to the music playing in the little glass room. That doesn't stop her from hearing footsteps behind her as Bucky approaches, though. She turns toward him.]

Oh. Hi. [Korra's pretty sure this isn't supposed to be a private room, but it doesn't hurt to check when she's still so new to this place.] We don't...have to sign up somewhere to use this room, do we?

[lefthandfree]

[He normally masks his own steps, but when he realizes the room is occupied, he makes an effort to walk more heavily, though not so much that he should disturb the occupant. Who turns out to be a young woman. And now he feels a bit like an ass for making her turn to face him.]

If they do, I can’t say I know how to check it. [He offers an apologetic smile.] Sorry for intruding.

[He looks on through the glass and thinks for a moment about how what she’s doing actually seems like a great idea. Well, without the music. He could do without the music.]

It’s pretty, huh.

[braavado]

[Smiling slightly, Korra just offers him a shrug.] You're not intruding. I wasn't doing much anyway.

[Silently, she scoots over to make room for him on the floor.] You can join me, if you want.

[lefthandfree]

[The invitation startles him, though not enough that he lets it reflect on his expression. He gives a sheepish tilt of his head.]

Y’sure I won’t be buggin’ you? Might not be as peaceful with another person around.

[He steps closer and takes a seat beside her regardless. He can always leave if she decides against it later.]

[braavado]

Wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it. [She continues smiling at him a second later, before shifting her gaze back to the ocean around them.]

I've got nothing against peace and quiet, but it's a little too quiet around the base for me. I've looked in a bunch of the other rooms, but this one's the only one that has music playing.

[lefthandfree]

[He offers a small smile back and mimics her turn back toward the ocean. It’s deep and gorgeous in a way he never could see the oceans on Earth. It’s calm yet full of life. He wonders how many creatures call these waters home.]

I don’t mind the quiet so much, but a little music never hurt. I’m not used to this kind of music though.

b

[napstablook]

[ Well, Napstablook would normally leave well enough alone. They didn't like getting into things, especially if it meant they could just stay out of it and mix things.

But right now they were trying to befriend some rabbit rays. Staying away from the noise was hard to do when the curious little critters were deeply attracted to the sound of the jet ski whirring around in the water. Napstablook tried to coax them back a few times, then faced up to the fact that they had to go there themself. ]

Uh... hey.

[ Being a ghost meant they didn't have to use telepathy in the water. The Rabbitrays seemed to like their voice, and chirruped happily as they swam around. ]

[lefthandfree]

[If there had been much reason for him to notice the distraction he was causing for the creatures around him, he likely would have paid more mind and tried to keep from disturbing others, fish and ghosts included. However, there is still much to learn for him here, and he has yet to acquire such an instinct. Alas, that he should force someone to approach him regarding the matter instead will seem rather cruel in retrospect.

Regardless, a sheet-like ghost floating before him is not by any means what a guy like him expects to see. Ever. Unless on Halloween back before the war when things were a lot simpler. But even then there’d usually be feet and arms that go along with the ensemble. He cuts the engine immediately, debating the threat, but it’s clear from how gentle he’d be spoken to that there is likely very little cause for concern. Beyond there being a floating ghost in front of him. That’s not so normal where he comes from.]

Uh. Hey.

[He repeats it back, uncertainly, not sure how people are supposed to talk to ghosts or ghost lookalikes.]

[napstablook]

[ They felt bad for disturbing his fun. He really looked like he'd been enjoying himself. Napstablook would normally have just apologised and made as quick a getaway as they could have done. It was horrible to bother someone when they didn't want to be. They, a ghost who said 'no thanks' to the apocalypse, understood that probably more than anyone.

But this was important. A good farmer cared about the health of their (soon to be) livestock, and that included emotional health too. It was their responsibility to address something that was making that difficult.

Though the rabbitrays went right back to whizzing back and forth and chirruping in their normal, non-excited or threatened tones, of course. ]

I don't... mean to disturb your fun... but um... it's kind of... alarming the fish? And I'm... trying to help them...

[ This was hard. This person was really staring. ]

... help them get used to... being around us...

[lefthandfree]

[Well, that’s one way to ruin his mood. Not that he blames this, uh, ghost in the least ’cause it seems they’re just trying to do good in protecting their surrounding wildlife. Someone probably should. The ocean’s gorgeous, and if there are enough people (not that he’s seen any yet, but when he reaches the base, he’ll be more assured), then it’s always good to take care of things before you lose track of them.

He smiles sheepishly and cocks his head to the side.]

No, that’s fair. Don’t be sorry. I wasn’t really paying attention. I wouldn’t want to be disturbed like that either, if I had the choice.

[Um.]

Who do you mean by us?

[Because if there are more sheet-ghosts around, Bucky needs to make sure he’s not having some kind of extremely realistic but fantastical dream that he can’t wake up from.]

[napstablook]

Oh, just... the people on the base... which I'm one of...

[ He looked a bit... nervous. Napstablook felt bad for making him feel that way. They already felt bad about ruining his fun, even if the chirruping rabbit rays gamboling around in the water seemed a lot more content. ]

There's... a lot of humans... one robot... two fish people... Korosensei... a turtle person... and a few, um, aliens? They're called? I don't know...

[ They're the only ghost. Especially when you put them beside the only robot. ]

[lefthandfree]

[That’s definitely a spread that Bucky isn’t expecting at all to hear, but he can tell he's not on Earth anymore, so that’s probably not as strange as he’s finding it. At least he has an idea now of what he’s walking (jet skiing?) into now.]

What about you? You’re, uh, a— [Sheet-ghost? Is that discriminatory for ghosts?] —ghost? Don’t suppose you’d have a name, would you?

[Because that’d probably help with endearing himself to the ghost(???) and making up for what he did.]

I’m James, by the way. James Barnes.