RETURN JOURNEY

Who among you has experienced one of these “simulations” before?

[that’s right - no introduction or pleasantries, mello just cuts right to what he wants to know. he’s not here to make friends, just collect whatever information he can - which shouldn’t be too hard, he thinks. people typically enjoy talking about themselves.]

[Today's lunchtime address comes from an observation deck — similar, but quite obviously smaller than the passenger one. The Navarch sits on the single bench. The lighting is tinged purple. She looks pleased.]

Good afternoon, passengers.

The Admiralty has indicated to me that we are clear to run our first simulation. It will begin on April 1st, and end on April 7th or whenever all passengers have successfully made it through — whichever comes first. I apologize in advance that we will be missing April Fools day. I understand it to be an important holiday on many Earth Variants.

For those of you new to simulations, please know there is no preparation needed in advance. For the duration of the simulation, you will recall nothing of your personal life or history. You will be given a whole new identity, and though you will still be yourself at your core, your memories will be unlike your current ones. [She smiles, suddenly. It's dazzling.] They can be quite exciting. No life is free of hurts or troubles, but to try another one on for a time is novel in its own way.

[She knows she could get carried away on this subject, so she puts herself back on topic:]

This simulation will see passengers investigating a strange biological phenomenon that has overtaken the coast of a region called "Florida." It is dangerous terrain with very little documentation. Your simulated selves have accepted this mission with the understanding that there may be no return. You can fight it, or you can accept what is to come.

Best of luck to you all, and may the experience be enlightening.

hi im doing some research

please answer these questions its for science so be honest

1 what year are you from
2 why are people vegetarians
3 did you have a face book what ws it like
4 what is your favorite show
5 what is your favorite movie
6 is pepsi or coke better & why

thank you

Let's suppose hypothetically back home you could do something a bit unnatural, and since showing up here it isn't working anymore

How would one go about getting that fixed

Asking for a friend

we're getting a lot more inmates lately, now with some of us getting double bookings. seems like a really good time to start combat training/review. not sure who all has had even basic training, but i'd like to share what i know since fighting is one of the things i do best, and even on a simple level, self defense would be good. to avoid what happened with mr velvet. before he left us.

anyway, i've found and prepped a room down the hall from the pool. last door on the right. matted floors and walls. MWF at 8pm for an hour or so, based on the ship clock. we'll start with hand-to-hand and shift to simple weapons later on. if you've never fought before and aren't interested, i can separately prepare a defense-only regimen, but i'd have to know beforehand, so let me know.

best to wear your regular clothing too. yes, it's physical activity, and you'll definitely break a sweat, but i doubt the inmates are going to wait for you before attacking if they get the chance.


oh and if you're already familiar with fighting, then i could use a good sparring partner (or two). reading is fine, but i need my exercise.

two questions:

1. who the fuck can open the rec room so i can punch some shit, unless one of you assholes feel inclined to get decked.

2. advil, bro. where the fuck's that at.

[At precisely 7 A.M. on the Peregrine's standard time, both CommLink screens and wardens' cabin control panels flicker to life with a live video stream.

Today the Navarch is at her desk. The tabletop is somewhat busier than usual, with stacked tablets and an empty coffee mug. She's crisp and to the point, perhaps a little more than usual, but with careful professionalism.

She speaks:]

Good morning, passengers. It is time for a rotation in the assignments. For the next thirty days, wardens will be the primary point of contact for their assigned inmate, and responsible for the inmate's moral development and well-being. Inmates are also permitted to live adjacent to their warden's quarters for the duration of the pairing, if the warden deems it appropriate.

During this particular period, we will also be testing the acquisition of limited files on inmates. Through their communicators, wardens will have access to basic statistics on their paired inmate, including simplified details of their crimes. Please use this information wisely.

Without further ado, here are the pairings for this month.

Warden Viktor, paired with Conner Jaskulski.
Warden James Barnes, paired with Jason Todd.
Warden Misty Day, paired with Malekith the Accursed and Amanda Young.
Warden Claire Fraser, paired with Silco.
Warden Grace Gibson, paired with Alex Mercer and Jeremy Pascal.
Warden Aki Hayakawa, paired with Ellie Williams.
Warden Lucifer Morningstar, paired with Rhys Strongfork and Travis Touchdown.
Warden Loki Odinson, paired with Theon Greyjoy.
Warden Alice Quinn, paired with Theodore H. Crawford.
Warden William Temple, paired with Jack.

As always, I will be available to wardens for questions and concerns by appointment.

[The recording flickers on to the ground, and the toes of red and white skater shoes, flanked by the tattered hems of a pair of jeans. The camera sways, the recorder's attention elsewhere, and there's a peek at a pair of sleek stiletto high heels on a woman's feet. Off-screen, Travis sniggers –– he just can't help it. When he speaks, he's thoroughly self-satisfied:]

Play nice, okay?

[When the camera is finally pulled up, it drags along a pair of long, stockinged legs until it's fixed on a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair. Rouged cheeks, long lashes, the whole package –– she pouts for the camera like a pro. She's wearing a blouse with bishop sleeves and what would normally be a pussybow collar, but it's worn open to the ribs, low enough to reveal the gore of her bra. (It might be a little familiar.)

She is flesh and blood and bone. No foam to be found here.]

What do you think of the ship so far, Sylvia? Sweet digs, right?

[Sylvia tosses her hair over her shoulder, rolling her eyes. When she speaks, it’s with a French accent and an attitude.]

It is a prison. I’ve seen worse. One of you had better be a trained manicurist!

[Travis scoffs and wheels the camera around so he's in the shot, too. He reaches an arm out to her. She checks her nails and sighs before stepping under Travis’s arm, wrapping her own around him and resting her head against his chest. She pouts, turning big doe eyes up at him.]

At least I have you, darling. You’ll protect me, right?

[Travis's eyes widen briefly, but he doubles down to declare:]

Of course, baby. Best ten tickets I ever spent.

[Yes, this is the most obnoxious video the network will ever have. Fortunately, it is over: the feed cuts off there. Just be glad Travis isn't into PDA.




And no, Travis has not become a VFX specialist. Sylvia, a flesh and blood human being who is totally not someone else, can be found with Travis around the ship. Maybe you'll catch them eating lunch together with food taken from the mess hall, with Travis waving down anyone who shows even a glimmer of interest to introduce his wife. Maybe you've stepped into the observatory and found them on a weird little "date", arguing about the multiverse –– Travis seems to approach the subject from a purely sci-fantasy approach, while Sylvia's take is more grounded in reality. Or you've just stepped into the gym, and here's Sylvia bored as Travis lifts increasingly heavy things in an attempt to impress her. Or just around!! You do you!! In-person meetings may happen before the network post because William is gonna come down on Travis' ass ASAP after this post.]

[At precisely 7 A.M. on the Peregrine's standard time, both CommLink screens and wardens' cabin control panels flicker to life with a live video stream.

The Navarch sits at her desk, looking as put-together as usual, but perhaps a touch more perky. Today is a social day.

She speaks:]

Good morning, passengers. If you look out starboard-side windows this morning, you will see that we are pulling up alongside the Feather, another ship in the Admiralty’s fleet. Some representatives will be temporarily boarding the Peregrine to collect the Lover’s Kiss that was collected on Meodriotope some weeks ago.

Estimated docking time is 5 P.M. Ideally, docking, loading supplies and departure should take less than an hour.

The representatives will also be bringing a gift for those that contributed to the gathering efforts. If wardens who assisted could identify themselves, along with the inmates that assisted, I will arrange for gifts to be sent to the appropriate cabins and bunks.

All right, it's share time. Here's some "get to know you" questions. Feel free to answer any or all. Then ask each other new ones you come up with.

1. Who is one person you admire from your world? Historical figure, celebrity, friend or relative - anyone. And why?

2. What's a fond childhood memory you have?

3. What's your hidden talent? The thing you're good at that others might not be aware of.

4. What animal would you be, and why?

Have fun!

Warden filter

Movie night, tomorrow night, 8 pm. The Weaponizer. It's a classic.

[WARDEN FILTER]

[A quick, impulsive post as another new arrival settles in.]

We get guns?

Has anyone had to use the guns?

[Her voice is calm and clear, with a nebulously English accent. It's hard to pin down anything but 'South London' from her accent, if one's fond of specifics.]

Pardon me if this isn't the done thing, but I've a question and, I believe, an introduction to make. I am of the understanding we are all adapting to these circumstances, but some may have more to adapt to than others.

You may call me Margaret Hugues, or Peg, if you like.

I am curious how many here have had experiences with... well, prison. What did you encounter there? From reading back through this device, it seems to me that much has been made of the conditions here-- which, frankly, I find rather luxurious, if severe in mode. But as I said, we are all adapting.

I suppose I am asking this: Is this place what you would expect, from a prison? Based on your own experiences, of course. If you have been to such a place before, in your home, or in... other places entirely.

Thank you.

[ooc if you wanna hit her up for a log thread, go for it.]

[ William jumps right in—unless they're brand new, most inmates should know his voice. It belongs to the guy who stays with them in the dorms and is usually out of bed before six in the morning. Maybe you recently heard it raised at Travis outside the commissary! ]

I spoke to the Navarch, and while it's almost unheard of for her to correspond with inmates, she's agreed to take questions on your behalf. I'll be sitting down with her and broadcasting the interview to the network.

For privacy and ease of organization [ and to minimize network arguments ] please message me directly with whatever you'd like asked. It can be anything, but I'd prefer it be interesting. If I have a problem with it I'll let you know.

[ This is not a threat, but it is wry. ]


[ WARDEN FILTER ]

We should pool our tickets.



[ ooc: TO AVOID A MILLION INBOX THREADS, just reply here with "private" in the subject line if you're sending William a question! Or ignore him and discuss shit publicly, I'm not the police. ]

[The video feed clicks on to an extreme closeup of Travis. He looks happy. It’s that raw, primal kind of happy, teeth bared, and the close-up cuts the usual glare from his sunglasses down to nothing. No matter what else happens, he has this. He talks with a sly glee:]

A new inmate rolled in today. You all better be real nice to her, because she’s a special lady.

[Travis leans forward with the commlink abruptly, setting it down in portrait mode. There’s someone just off-frame as the camera jostles clumsily through the set-up, a sliver of her visible on the edge of his lap, her posture lifeless. Jesus Christ, is this a hostage video? When he sits back, there’s a woman in his lap.]

I’d like you all to meet Sylvia!

[“Sylvia” is in her mid-twenties, and she is so petite that his hand on her ribs engulfs much of her waistline. Her figure is thin like a 90s model, her face is Eurasian, and her hair is styled in the kind of pigtails one rarely sees on adult women outside of porn. She might as well be torn from one, given the way she’s dressed: a completely sheer blouse over a black micro bikini, thigh high stockings and a miniskirt that doesn’t cover her matching panties.

She’s also made entirely of foam.

Thank you, commissary.

Travis’s grin only gets wider. He speaks with something like seriousness, even holding this waifish doll on his lap:]

Now, my wife here isn’t used to slumming it, so you all gotta be patient. When she’s a bitch about it, just give her what she wants and she’ll lay off.

[He leans forward to pick up the comm link again, bringing the camera in close to his face once more. One of Sylvia’s stringy blonde pigtails catches on the frame of his sunglasses. He doesn’t notice. He’s joking:]

Seriously. She’ll get you by the short and curlies if you don’t.

[A static image is posted. It is of a small coil of commissary tickets.]

✨🎟️ NINE FREE TICKETS - WARDENS ONLY - FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED 🎟️✨

RULES OF THE GAME:

🎟️ Ask for an item of your choice off of the commissary menu, at any ticket amount

🎟️ The item must follow the stated rules of the category in which it was requested

🎟️ If the machine fails, you get to keep what came out AND you get your full ticket amount as a prize, to re-use on whatever you want

🎟️ For a free bonus ticket, ask the owl in the library whether or not someone is living here that isn't on your official passenger records, and isn't the Navarch!

So, how about that port? I thought it seemed kind of fishy.

[ Never let it be said that Lucifer turned down an opportunity to make a dad joke. ]



Warden filter

If anyone has any chores or other menial tasks they'd like help with, I'm offering up Theo. He needs to learn there are things he can do that don't involve property destruction and temper tantrums.

[At precisely 7 A.M. on the Peregrine's standard time, both CommLink screens and wardens' cabin control panels flicker to life with a live video stream.

Today the Navarch is on what appears to be the bridge of a ship — this ship, of course — and is speaking from a captain's chair. Behind her are banks of navigational equipment, all with blue screens showing illegible numbers and text and diagrams. The one somewhat-legible piece of material is the massive screen showing a map. Particularly watchful viewers may notice they are on course for another planet.

She speaks:]

Good morning, passengers. It is time for a rotation in the assignments. For the next thirty days, wardens will be the primary point of contact for their assigned inmate, and responsible for the inmate's moral development and well-being. Inmates are also permitted to live adjacent to their warden's quarters for the duration of the pairing, if the warden deems it appropriate.

This month's supervising warden is Alice Quinn. Supervising wardens have no specific pairing and thus are responsible for assisting paired wardens, and the supervision and onboarding of any new inmates.

Without further ado, here are the pairings for this month.

Warden Aki Hayakawa, paired with Theon Greyjoy.
Warden Bucky Barnes, paired with Rhys Strongfork.
Warden Claire Frasier, paired with inmate Alex Mercer.
Warden Grace Gibson, paired with inmate Silco.
Warden Lucifer Morningstar, paired with inmate Theodore H. Crawford.
Warden Loki Odinson, paired with inmate Jack.
Warden Viktor, paired with inmate Malekith the Accursed.
Warden Waver Velvet, paired with inmate Joshua A. Volkhov.
Warden William Temple, paired with inmate Travis Touchdown.

As always, I will be available to wardens for questions and concerns by appointment.

[At precisely 7 A.M. on the Peregrine's standard time, both CommLink screens and wardens' cabin control panels flicker to life with a live video stream.

It's the Navarch at her desk again. There's the slightest pinch to her brow today, the subtlest purse to her lips.]

Good morning, wardens and inmates.

We have just received a transmission from the United Federation of Oos about a troubling circumstance on a nearby planet. As we are the closest ship for 30 million miles, we have been selected for a modest mission that will require making port in Meodriotope to gather some needed supplies. We will be gathering Lover's Kiss, a delicate flower used in the making of medicines, and handing them off to the Federation later this month.

As such, we will be making port on February 11th. We will have seventy-two hours on the surface, during which as much of the flower must be gathered as possible. I will be deploying both ATVs with full campsite gear to facilitate better work on the ground. The flowers are fragile and must be handled with care, as they are only useful intact.

Wardens, it is crucial that we depart in time in order to meet the rendezvous with the Federation on time. Anyone who has not boarded in time will be left behind.

[So Theo's little journey came to an end on Sunday night when Bucky fished him out of the storage warehouse, and probably dragged him back by the scruff of his neck like an angry kitten. All wardens would have been alerted that Theo was found safe and sound, or some variety of that anyway.

He refused to talk to any warden about it, but that doesn't mean he won't address the inmates. Any wardens that respond might get ignored.]

--

I can't believe it took those dumb fucks that long to find me

I suppose I should give an introduction as well, since I've just arrived, though I'll admit right out I'm not much for talking about myself. I'm a new Warden, my name is Waver Velvet. I'm from London, which I hope is a recognizable name to people out there. I know that we're all meeting here from different corners of the universe.

Ice breakers do seem a bit awkward in a situation like this, don't they. It feels out of place to say something like "I can't wait to get to work" or "I'm glad to be here". So I'll just say that I'm here to help in whatever way I can. Back home, I'm a professor, and I'd rather handle this position as a teacher rather than an actual warden. I am looking forward to meeting everyone and doing whatever I'm able to.

WARDEN FILTER
I'd rather meet my new coworkers face to face than over this, so I'll be in the lounge going over my materials at Warden Command if anyone cares to chat. But over this is fine as well. I'm not picky.

[Action tags welcome for any Warden who cares to meet. Waver will be sitting at one of the open-air tables looking over his communicator with a cup of coffee. He has a lot of reading to do, so better get that caffeine flowing. Right now, he's going over any inmate information he can access, and is taking some notes. He's planning to hit up the library later to check out books from and about their homelands, to get a better idea of where these people are coming from.]