WEEK 1 - Online

[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE CAPTAIN'S LOG: WEEK (1)

monday (41) survivors It had been three days since you had awoken. The ship was still quiet, except for the low hums of enigmatic machines with no apparent purpose. You awake, like usual, to dim lighting and poor rations. Perhaps being on the ship had grown monotonous — it was, perhaps, amazing how little anything seemed to happen in space, a final frontier of malaise. That monotony is crushed by a voice echoing through the narrow hallways. Reformatting . . . Reformatting . . . Reformatting complete. The Pygmalion is online. Welcome, travelers. Please assemble in the meeting room. Your presence is mandatory. Silence falls once again. A minute or so passes, and the lights around the ship finally brighten, the walls looking more alive and more unfamiliar — as if you must relearn the ship's interior once again. The robots on deck begin to make rounds, nudging and pushing at the ship's passengers to make their way to the meeting room. You hear the doors behind you lock. It seems there is only one path to take. ENTER COMMAND_

Comments

[tevinteriscoming]

[Oh, dear. And she'd seemed so hesitant to mention it earlier, too.]

I know, these things are dreadful. I'm glad we got to learn about everyone's manicures.

Are you all right?

[brooches]

[ Put on blast, smfh. Elizabeth turns at a familiar voice - one she had been discussing such issues with to an extent... Her eyes look as if she had walked into the room naked, embarrassed and defeated. ]

I'll be fine. [ She says sternly, but it's up to Dorian to believe it or not. ] This is not the first time I've been studied, but the revelation is still the worst part.

[ She fakes a laugh, especially at the recollection of his manicure comment. ]

Yours - [ She's been mindful not to look too deeply into anyone's profiles yet. ] - have your secrets been revealed as well?

[tevinteriscoming]

[Yeah, he feels for her. Not that he's ever been secretive about his abilities, but no one likes their personal details disclosed prematurely. It's okay, she doesn't have to laugh -- he just can't be nice if he doesn't preface it with some banter.]

Oh, yes. I don't know where they get off, disclosing my real age. Disgraceful. But the rest doesn't trouble me particularly.

[brooches]

[ Okay, that one gets an honest laugh. One of pure amusement but it almost chokes into a sob. ]

How can you joke like this?

[ But, it's not serious. It's almost in disbelief. ]

I'm afraid I can't even fathom prodding at my deformity or weight during moments like this.

[ She actually wishes she could. ]

[tevinteriscoming]

[Well, that's a tricky question.]

During moments like this, where someone is clearly attempting to get a rise out of us, I find I prefer not to give them the satisfaction. But it isn't a universally admired trait of mine, if you can imagine that.

[brooches]

I see... [ She studies the way he speaks, wondering if it was some coping mechanism? Some of the books she's read - the dashing heroes with a steel tongue have some of the most tragic backstories imaginable... Could that be the case? ] It's a sound strategy, I can't deny. If it's worked well for you, why stop?

[tevinteriscoming]

[Maybe. Just a little bit.]

Exactly! I'm glad you understand. And it's not all bad. I must admit, I've been wondering who exactly the other mages around here were.

[brooches]

I'm surprised there are others here with such power. It would have been coveted... and used in my world.

[ Vigors are bad enough, she's come to realize... ]

It seems we're kindred in both power and ... the untimely loss of ability.

[tevinteriscoming]

Power is coveted and used in any world, I'm afraid. Perhaps the methods change. Even here; the motive of our captors is likely something more than an opportunity to taunt us.

[brooches]

It is not my first time under a microscope, then.

[ That's why this hits so close to home - hits so deep. ]