[ There's some white noise before Hal speaks, but it isn't hesitation this time. He's bored and indifferent, addressing this to the comms unit only as an afterthought. His voice is quiet, but it's not timid - it's carried by an easy confidence and a subtle aggression, though only if you're used to listening for that sort of thing. ]

What do you people do here? To raise morale. Therapy does not seem to be cutting it; this is a war zone. Crying about your feelings to someone without qualifications is hardly going to ease your burdens.

You rally and you hide in the tunnels as though you're waiting for Hitler to drop a bomb on your head, but this is not your home front, and you no longer have the luxury of calling yourselves civilians. Quiet reflections will do nothing to ease fear and tension when the enemy is at your door; you need something much bolder.

There is a reason soldiers so often resort to the excesses of alcohol and whores.

[ There's a distracted pause, and when he speaks again he sounds amused. ]

The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of Hell, a hell of Heaven. Cheer up, all of you.

[ Someone is definitely in a cheerful mood. Chad is a new face on the network--he's never talked on it, since he arrived here when there wasn't one, and he's been a little too busy learning to live again to sit in his room feeling sorry for himself and chatting on the network. That and he finally has something to show the network. Five pumpkins the size of soccer balls sit on the desk in front of him. ]

I know, they're not much to look at, but it's not just size that matters.

[ This is where anyone who knows Spock well ought to be tripping over their own jaw. He has Spock's face, without a doubt, but Chad is about far away from Spock's manner as it's possible to be. Starting with the smile, but also the liveliness of his delivery, one hand hanging lazily over the top of the nearest pumpkin, and the other elegantly gesturing to them as he speaks. ]

I've never grown anything in my life, but I couldn't bear to let the seeds go to waste. Turns out it's easier than I thought. Now-- [ He raises a knife off the table. ] I finished one of them. The question is what to do with the others.

[ The lights flicker and then turn off, with nothing more than a particularly heated glance, but Chad is still lit up by the orange glow emitted by one of the pumpkins. He turns it around to face the screen. ]

Any ideas?

Oh, and while I'm at it, I need more ideas for things to do around here. Things that aren't carving pumpkins or improving my sex life. I have those sorted.

A-all right. It's been about -- it's been a while, a few weeks, but who knows for sure? It's hard to keep track of time around here, isn't it? I can't be the only one having this problem.

[ The video doesn't show anyone at first, just a dark room; after a few moments though, Harry turns the camera on his tired, pale face, the shadowy lines rimming his eyes stark in contrast especially in the poor light. He's lying back on his bed, so it seems. In fact, he has the look of someone who has probably not left his room much recently, if at all, because spoilers: he definitely hasn't. It's a legit look, albeit subtle. ]

Since I've been here, that is. Time flies, I think. It's at least doing a good impression of passing.

[ He does manage a smile, though it's perhaps a slightly unnerving one. Very detached. ]

Certainly enough time to immerse myself in the reality of unreality. That's the way to do it, right? Accept the dream, no questions, it's easy and I know how appealing easy is. Really. At least the food tastes like food and the beds feel like beds. Uh -- a pretty perfect simulation, if it is one. The monsters and mayhem are a nice touch, too.

But I -- I can't really get my mind around it. Someone told me we were supposed to be like a flight crew, but this feels a lot more like a giant psych ward to me. I don't know why I'd be here. None of it really fits together b-but maybe that's just the newness talking.

[ His eyes narrow slightly, wearily, his eyebrows furrowed a little skeptically. There's something mildly paranoid about his expression, though he does a fair job of repressing it. When you're prone to hallucinations, staving off the discomfort of withdrawal, almost (or actually?) died and keep yourself creepy and antisocial, it's hard to know for sure what's real and what isn't. ]

Uh. It's Osborn, by the way, if anyone can really hear this. Harold Osborn, though most people just stick to "Harry." Hi.

[ Perhaps it a bit too late for this sort of conversation, but Erik necessitates its need anyway; the Tranquility has nearly always been a bastion for acceptance and tolerance, and the idea was constantly perpetuated throughout his previous stay here, something that deeply unsettled him. He's in a deserted room, particularly one that Alex Summers might be familiar with from their training sessions long ago, but his reason for being there is more along the need for silence. ]

For those of you who remember my face, I can assure you, you're not mistaken. [ He pauses for a moment, because while it needs to be said, it still angers him that he's back here. ] The ship has brought me back since then. For those of you who don't, [ welllllll. ] I expect we'll be acquaintances soon enough. [ But not really. ] In the meantime, you can call me Magneto. [ Except the fifty billion people that still call him Erik. ]

No doubt all the lectures have made it clear that the ship is not, in any way, safe, and this is hardly any different. I won't speak on false pretenses that unity is what matters, but my issue at hand is this: if you are non-human of any sort, vampires, werewolves, mutants, what have you, I urge you to seek solidarity only among your own kind. It is our strengths that will allow us to survive, our own inherited abilities, and we must use these to secure the ship against its ongoing threats.

We must defend ourselves by striking out towards the enemy and to an equal degree, protect the sections of the ship we have acquired. While the Security team has this under control, the ship's size makes this difficult. [ Considering Erik is on SEC, this is just asking for double protection. ] Your offense is our best defense.

PRIVATE » Alex Summers [ All that he gets is a ping to notice this, because the location should be familiar to him: its where Alex and he had trained a while ago and there are some things better discussed in person than over these. ]

[HELLOOOOooo Tranquility it's Simon. Today he sounds like what you expect a surgeon who just helped autopsy a child would sound like--sort of tired and maybe a little sad.

But he is nothing if not professional, so here goes.]

This is, uh. This is Dr. Tam. In Medbay.

Just a few reminders from the doctors on board--I'm sure everyone has figured out by now that last month's stasis chamber malfunction has...corrected itself. If you were asleep last month and have experienced any prolonged side-effects from the jump, please inform a doctor or nurse.

[And speaking of...]

I guess we might...also consider this the obligatory call for doctors, or...[cough healers. If you're new and have medical experience, we could use your talents.

Recently, I've been speaking to several people about assembling a team of paramedics, maybe an overlap between Security and Medical. A team of first responders might be helpful, given...recent events.

[There's a second or two of silence and the brief hint of a sigh.] I know we're all stretched a little thin, as it is, but it can't hurt to gauge interest. I'd be willing to help train anyone who wants to learn.

going down.

the truth is somewhere. written on the walls.

[THE CAKE IS A LIE THE CAKE IS A LIE THE CAKE IS A LIE aka Chell's being stupidly cryptic and will be wandering the depths of the ship.

HOLES DON'T SCARE HER.]

[ good evening tranquility ( or maybe it's daytime, hard to really tell on this ship especially with everything that's happened within the past two days ) you are being greeted by a tony stark in his natural habitat, also known as one of the actual science labs and not one of his fun little makeshift labs on the first floor. it looks like he's actually doing something ( spoilers: not exactly ) but everyone really believes people better when they're working first. at least when they're tony stark. in any case he puts down what he's working on ( which is actually just a buttload of calculations ) and finally actually speaks, exhaling heavily. ]

Good evening Tranquility, at least I'm pretty sure it is, I haven't actually checked, if it's not, replace that with whatever time of day it is. I felt like we needed a Hitchcock flair after the events of oh, what last two months? I'm saying hi from the science not going to tell you all which one because I don't feel like listening to all of you storming the gates. Could have just done this from one of my labs on the first floor, but then I'd definitely have to tell you where those are. And I don't feel like it personally. By the way, not actually going to ever give those up, so if we're consolidating floors, personally vote the fourth floor, so many open rooms up there.

Generous, Tony. Are you-- you're posting? [ and this would be jenna wandering onto camera, carrying a plate in her hand, clearly bringing lunch to tony and prepared to stay and make sure he eats. stefan follows behind her, just nearly out of frame, flashing bits and pieces.

follows like a broody, spiky puppy. kind of. he's fixed his hair, it's very suave. ] Hang on.

[ and she ducks out of frame again. ] Stefan, this is my friend Tony-- not a pirate. Tony, Stefan-- you guys have a lot in common.

[ like being alkies. MASSIVE ALKIES is the subtext here. ] And you guys shake hands or something and I will... not be fixing my hair, because I'm not vain. Tony, you were pretending you speak for the whole first floor?

[ and the whole network gets to see that awkward moment where no one knows if they're shaking hands or not. stefan ends up nodding pleasantly, shuffling a little to the side like he wants to be out of the way. you kids and your newfangled posts. ]

[ ...right yes the— handshake. how about no. because no. so nod back because jenna what does that mean. MOVING ON! MAYBE. KIND OF. ]

I was. Look, a fair amount of those rooms were claimed by me and have my shit in them. So, I can speak for my room. There's like twenty rooms occupied there by us and there's single digits on the fourth floor. it's the logical place if you're going to move us all. Besides, I know someone kept her room and yet is still living in sin in another. Just saying. [ tony that's mean stop that. ] And yes, to the posting. I have another PSA because I'm apparently learning how to be really responsible like that. It's weird.

You're calling dibs. [ comes the quiet, off-camera contribution from stefan, accompanied by the clink of glass against glass. ]

...Traitors. "Dibs". [ hair successfully fixed, jenna steps back into frame. ] As I'm sure Tony meant to say, the first floor has open rooms and if everyone can get along and agree and you don't mind an unreliable lock, dinner is every night.

Okay, pitch done. Continue with the science and telling us all we're doomed. [ it would sound waspish except for how it's clearly an old enough joke 'lol tony you keep fucking it all up' is affectionate. somehow. ]

--oh! No, no, I lied. I would have announced this last month, but-- you know. No Network. I found a therapy department, so... if you don't mind a grad student who you might see at the bar sometime, please come in.

We've got every pillow ever, so you don't even have to talk to me if that's not something you feel comfortable with. Come... I don't know. Beat walls with soft things, it's a very legitimate therapy technique. Anyway: we're open for business, and if I'm not there contact me for an actual appointment at 001 » 016. And related, I'm Jenna. Okay, now you can hit the doom and science.

[ ha ha ha jenna if only this doom wasn't actually doom. for once, tony is maybe going to scare the shit out of everyone with just cause this time. even if maybe you know, black holes aren't exactly his area of expertise. ]

Jenna is lying and don't believe her except for dinner and therapy. [ oh right original reason for posting. ] So we had two deaths in two days, Chase's is incredibly sad and I miss her too, but, the last death, you know the big thing of rocks—

Shale-- [ that would be jenna. ]

—Right, Shale, tumbled down a hole and promptly died. Pretty sure it wasn't capable of dying unless something was say— oh I don't know, something that could destroy matter.

Large, killer black holes. [ stefan still not on camera, but his tone is serious. ]

Broody got it in one. For those of you who are new, once upon a time like jump, six or five or some number we all caught a weird plague that someone I know affectionately calls “dying of blue” and some of us had to go on a wild adventure for a cure that involved a maze with black holes. I know how that sounds and some of you more science savvy people are going to point out that you can't have a black hole let alone several on a ship like this without all of us dying. [ a beat. ] Yeah, usually I'd agree, but whatever killed Shale—

...question. [ that would be jenna, again, actually raising her hand for some reason. ] Okay, you can go back to the monologue but why can't black holes exist in a ship? Just... actually curious.

[ sigh! jenna no, stop interrupting him. ] In simple terms? The entire ship would be pulled into the hole and promptly be smashed into tiny pieces and cease to exist. As I was saying, normally I'd agree, but I've seen it before and nothing else could conceivably kill what was, basically rocks. The maze was from what I remember, not exactly close enough to have us communicate with the network.

Shale was able to broadcast falling down the hole. I'm not entirely sure where that hole is, but, while the hybrid hell monsters are bad. We've got a just slightly bigger problem, if we've got a black hole within broadcasting range. One that seems to kind of defy the laws of normal black holes.

[ when tony takes a breath, jenna moves in. ] It means, in not technical talk: bad things were far out, and now they're closer in. Things always moved in the ship, but this is-- new. New and bad. So if Tony doesn't mind me taking over this PSA-- be careful. Don't be stupid and I don't mean don't do anything, before someone yells about action being needed; I agree. [ jenna's not smiling, her expression earnest but not quite grim. urging.

(hypocrite.) ]

But two members of our group are dead, in two days. That's not okay, and not wandering off alone? That's a good start to stopping this.

[ tony looks like he's going to say something but then he stops instead choosing to just point to his eye that is currently glowing blue through a hole much like a pupil in a normal eye. this is what happens when you do stupid shit like go outside of the normal areas. you go crazy. or you lose an eye. or something like that. ]


[ ooc | in order the fonts are as followed: jenna, stefan, tony. ]

[The room Taylor's sat in is dark, unidentifiable from the wall behind her, but soft, blue-tinged light from another source washes over her face intermittently. It highlights how drawn she looks, pale, tired. She's a mess, really. Even by Tranquility standards.]

It's January, right? Been counting on the jumps since I got here. [She isn't slurring as she speaks, but the lack of focus in her expression and sluggishness to her movements makes it clear she's inebriated to anyone who knows what to look for.] Guess it doesn't matter though. Just start calling them by numbers. I was meant to turn twenty in December. Be an instructor back at the Academy. [She frowns for a moment, taking a drink out of an unlabelled bottle.] Or maybe they'd have terminated me.

[Another pause, and she shifts off to the side for a moment, putting the bottle down. When she comes back into view she’s holding something else – a mask. Her mask, an mongrel canine face, beaten, bruised and bloody. She holds it up, hanging off the fingers of one hand.]

Turns out these show you ghosts. Hallucinations. Whatever. If that isn't fucked up enough to get you thinking don't touch them, you're a fucking idiot. [Very evidently angry, suddenly, half a snarl on her mouth. She looks at the mask again, then drops it to one side.] Didn't want to see my old man the little he was around, sure as fuck didn't want to see him here. Thing I've been thinking, though - what do you see, you wear someone else's?

[She doesn't hold the second mask up for the camera, but it's there in her hands, looks like a modern military gas mask. She's quiet for a long while, like she maybe forgot she even had the comms running, all of the anger and energy drained out of her again.]

Tommy's gone. Gone last jump. Told him he would, cause everyone goes. [A thin smile, strained, sad, and then gone again.] Guess I didn't wanna be right.