ataraxion | 001

[Dean's been around a while now, long enough to get settled in and learn how to work the stove, so he figures it's about the right time to give the Tranquility a formal greeting. Video feed opens up to Dean clearly trying to keep himself in frame, chin ducking once he's sure everything's set up and running.]

For anyone I haven't met yet, which... I'm sure is probably most of you, my name's Dean Winchester.

[It sounds a little rehearsed. He's run it through his head a few times, and it drags on a little as the words spill out.]

I'm, uh... well, apparently I'm not exactly new here, but for all intents and purposes, let's just go with that. If I knew you any more than, say, a month ago, I hate to break it to you, but all that's pretty much gone now. Blank slate. Sorry.

[He doesn't seem all that perturbed by it, but he's been through it too often to really put a lot of heart in the sentiment. He does offer up a tight sort of grimace in apology, but a second later he plows on. His eyes duck down for a second, and then they're back on the camera.]

I've got a couple of questions for anyone who thinks they can answer them. First of all- has anyone ever been anywhere before this? I'm not talking about back home on Earth, or... wherever it is you're from originally. I mean, has anyone ever been bounced to another dimension, or universe, or... something like this ship, but different? Possibly 80% less Star Trek?

[There's a sort of awkward pause there, and it looks like he wants to extrapolate on that. His lips twitch, and then he shakes his head, evidently changing his mind.]

Second off, does anyone know anything about tech crap? See, I got this...

[The camera jiggles a little as his head ducks, he searches through his pockets to find another phone. It isn't a ship-designated communicator, but it looks similar. He holds it up irreverently, flipping it back and forth to display it.]

This other thing, but it's... [He gives it a floppy shake] dead as a doornail, and I can't exactly pick up a charger from the nearest Apple store, so. If anyone has any ideas on how to give it some juice, I'd appreciate it. I'd like to get some crap off of it.

[It's shoved absently back into his jacket pocket.]

Oh, and uh- one last thing. Any word on why some people aren't popping out of the space womb tube things? Is there an ETA on that, or is it step one to getting shipped back home? What's the deal with that?

[It's asked with a sort of consternated, displeased expression. Obviously his phone isn't going to answer him, so after a weird second, he shrugs it off. Scratches awkwardly at his cheek.]

That's pretty much it. Anything you got for me would just be... awesome. Over and out.

[The camera gets a lovely second of vertigo wherein he shifts the view from his face to his boots before he can finally cut the feed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

We don't have an overabundance of space cow. But there's canned ... something.

[ But she's quickly distracted from diet woes by his question, and Emma's quick to raise one hand in passive surrender. ]

You're the one who brought up Wonderland. I was just trying to get an idea of how different it was from here. I mean you said it was a lot alike, it could help us to figure out how much so.

[He squints a little, thinking it over. He's not above canned meat, god knows he's had his fair share of spamwiches, but canned something?

He's between a rock and a hard can. It's a tough call.

He relaxes a little at the explanation, even if he doesn't seem fully convinced.]

It's kinda like heaven and hell- completely different landscape, but the rules ain't all that different. At least from what I can see. Memory loss, people coming and going, no way to get home.

[And then he pauses, something a frown on his face.]

Let me ask you something- anybody ever die here?

Yeah.

[ She grows rather somber, dropping her gaze. ]

A fair few.

[...Crap. Probably could have been a little more sensitive about that or something. He scratches absently at his cheek.]

Judging by the puppy eyes, I guess they stay dead here.

[He mutters unhappily. Weird as it sounds, that's going to take some getting used to again. He'd managed to get to a whole new level of reckless in Wonderland.]

You say that like it's surprising somehow.

Freakily enough, yeah, it kind of is. Things were a little different in Wonderland- the dead didn't really stay dead.

[A pause, and he holds up a hand.]

But not in the, you know, Walking Dead way.

I'm having a hard time imagining another way.

[ But, on the other hand— ]

Sometimes, people who ... who were dead back home. They come back here. But never after they've died on the ship.

[His lips purse.]

Yeah, no, we got our fair share of post-death arrivals, but it's a little... different. Either way, that's important information for everyday life. Thanks for the intel.

[Even if it was... slightly awkward and a little weird. At least he won't go throwing himself in front of any unnecessary bullets.]

There is one thing ... [ Her brow furrows. ] Commander Shepard died. She was on board, missed the jump. When she came back, it's like ... It's like she's someone else entirely. Doesn't remember the ship, looks different. But she's the same woman. It might be something like what you saw in Wonderland, but I don't know.

[His brow furrows, too.

...He never learned what happened to people who made it beyond the fifth and final death back in wonderland, maybe it's something like that.

Maybe. Or maybe it's nothing.]

Commander Shepard.

[He repeats the name and, after a pause, finally nods.]

I'll look into it.

Let me know what you find out.

[ She'd hope it would go without saying, but just in case ... She says it anyway. ]

You got it.

[With that beautiful parting sentiment, he cuts the feed.]

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