I’ve traveled all this way for something

[maskormods]

WHO: YOU.
WHERE: Eden East's cruiseship
WHEN: Saturday February 15th, around 5 PM EST
WHAT: Registration in motion... among other things.
WARNINGS: None anticipated; let us know if this should be edited.

" The new frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises -- it is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them. It appeals to their pride, not to their pocketbook -- it holds out the promise of more sacrifice instead of more security. But I tell you the new frontier is here, whether we seek it or not. "
( from jfk's speech "the new frontier," 7/15/1960. )

The sun hasn't set yet and the temperature hovers somewhere just below 70 degrees this evening; imPorts, both recently arrived and not, will have been escorted to this event so that they can meet each other, have a good time, and of course officially state their registration status. Or lack thereof. It's your decision, they emphasize, even though the unspoken "but" is always there.

It's an elaborate spread, certainly much more elegant than last time. Eden East herself, elegant in her backless champagne-colored dress, meets and greets each and every imPort as she flutters to and fro. She'll find you and chat for a few moments, shaking your hand and complimenting your dress. She'll know your name, and she'll have an entourage of aids and cameras following her wake. Captain Holiday, in contrast, maintains the energy of someone who feels out of place holding the Swear-In ceremony somewhere so extravagant. As imPorts arrive he tells them where to be for the ceremony part of the evening, but that they are free to enjoy themselves until then and after.

( Please state your character's official status -- REGISTERED or UNSETTLED -- in the subject header of your thread. Characters who are UNDECIDED may be contacted later in the week for their decision via their IC contact post. )

Comments

cecil | registered

[welcome]

[Cecil had found himself nodding along at Mr. Captain Holiday's speech. He didn't quite understand the heroism part, though surely a good journalist is as much a hero as anyone else -- but he did understand the need to be accounted for. The need to comply. Cecil was a good citizen, and he would do whatever was strongly and threateningly recommended.

Still, though. He hasn't left Night Vale in years. He's never been to Florida. Swamps. Why would anyone willingly go to a swamp?

Cecil twists the leather band of his watch as he stares out over the water. He's standing very near to the railings, and that's why he's in trouble when the enormous bird shows up out of nowhere.

He's not surprised by the bird, per se. These things happen. But when the mutant raven crashes into the ship, the impact and subsequent violent rocking on the deck throw him right over the rail.]

Oh, God. Oh, my own dear God --

[Cecil tries to hang on, but there's sea water everywhere, and it's made the rails much too slippery. He scrambles for purchase, but it doesn't look good.

His voice, deep and unusually, unconsciously persuasive, echoes across the deck.]

If anyone's there, anyone at all, I could use a hand. I could use an entire body, to be honest! Probably even multiple bodies! I can't swim.

[first come, first serve for the rescue; bedraggled and distressed for anyone following!]

[malodorous]

Hang on!

[ Literally. Hanging on would be the plan, here.

Kristoff is extremely confused by the bird situation, but at least he'd been far enough from the railing to suffer being thrown over it. It takes him a moment to get oriented, but after that, it's no great task to reach the other man, get a good grip on him, and haul him back over the railing. If Kristoff's got one thing, it's brute strength.

He's keeping an eye out for that bird, though. Eyes more on what's happening on the ship than they are on the man. ]

You okay?

[welcome]

[Cecil doesn't immediately let go of his rescuer after he's brought back onto the deck. He spends a few seconds heaving, first, and dripping -- he's soaked to the bone due to the waves kicked up by the bird's attack. Also, Kristoff is warm and strong. It's kind of nice.

He does eventually step back, though. He adjusts his tie, because that seems like the easiest thing to handle at present.]

Well, I'm not drowning, so I'm better than I was. But --

[He glances up, nervously.]

Still not a definite on 'okay'. Or 'safe'. Or 'not terrified by a giant bird'.

[malodorous]

Alright. Uh.

[ Now what? Kristoff twists to search out the nearest door to the spaces below, but even then... There's the matter of the bird and getting around it. At least, those are matters for this guy. Kristoff's already attempting to come up with some kind of bird-trapping plan.

Even though it still seems like it shouldn't work, it should be something too far-fetched, he digs his fingers into the cuff of his sleeve and withdraws the end of a rope. He uses his arm to wind it, pulling until the other end arrives. Decent length. Good. ]

Okay. You're either going to have to make it to that door, or I can tie you down. I recommend the first option.

[welcome]

[Cecil covers his face with his hands as the boat once again rocks violently from side to side. This is not his day. This is not his week. These current stretches of time do not at all belong to him.

He takes an unsteady step forward, and then seems to marshal himself. Seems to mutter some kind of pep talk, something like 'Cecil, you are a professional, and that means occasionally running for your life at top speed. So just go.'

He takes a deep breath, and he bolts for the door.]

[malodorous]

[ It's not like Kristoff has room to fault people for talking to themselves. He feels somehow intrusive on the pep talk, though, and he awkwardly claps Cecil firmly on the shoulder. Hang in there, man. You can do it.

His parting words probably come out less assured than his gestures, right before Cecil takes off. ]

Good luck, buddy.

[viced]

[ Staying inside had been really what he preferred. He didn't do well on boats, but Mitchell very well intended to brush elbows with everyone he could, make sure that his face was out there -- and not just because his job was listed as import representative as a secondary. Two jobs, at least. It seemed like the people who ran this place recognized that he needed to be as far from home as possible.

Which really, considering how things seemed to be going -- how the other people in the home was compromised as fucking Two-Face, the Punisher, and another large, loud woman in the home, the addition of another recently had been a shock.

A nice one, though, because he didn't seem to be as... well, out there as the rest.

Then again... With the way things went, in this place, he shouldn't be surprised when the entire boat was shocked by the giant bird. He shouldn't be surprised, really, and it's only after things calm down that he catches sight of the new roommate again, looking much more worse for wear.

He approaches only then, giving him a smile that says more than anything else: "I know this pain", and then shifts his gaze to the rail. ]

Looks like you're having a bad night.

[welcome]

[Cecil is having a terrible night. He's practically dissolved against the ship's railings, his clothes rumpled and damp, his fingers bruised from the effort of trying not to fall into the ocean.

He rubs the side of his face, sighing.]

Well, you know. Monstrous birds are a hazard of everyday life. One does one's best.

[viced]

Uh huh.

[ He looks him over, nodding, but reaches out a hand. ]

Want a little help? You look like you could use a damn drink after that. At least you've got the right attitude for a place like this. It looks like this kind of shit hasn't changed -- despite a new universe. We had crap happen like this all the time back in the City.

[ Where else in the world are monstrous birds an everyday hazard, he wonders? Or maybe it's just sarcasm. The guy's tone of voice do little to guide him toward the right answer on that one. ]

[welcome]

[Cecil takes the outstretched hand gratefully, though his own palm is a bit damp, still.]

Something warm would be quite nice.

[He's stuck on the rest of what this guy's said, though.]

--but, ah--are you saying that you're from another universe?

[He's not incredulous. Just interested.]

[viced]

[ He hauled him up, before nodding. ] I'm sure we can dig out some coffee. Or are you more of a hot chocolate kind of guy?

[ He asked it, even as he turned his head, like he was scanning the rest of the boat, looking for the direction he should nudge the new roommate. He remembered seeing him around, and he seemed decent -- sane.

Compared to the rest of the people in the household, it was a breath of fresh air. ]

Everyone here is from one universe or another. A good load of us were trapped someplace else, before we arrived here. It was...an experience -- ah, this way.

[ He pointed in the general direction of the nearest coffeemaker he could hear, before he started to lead the way. ]

[demonspawn]

[ clearly coming to this event was a mistake. he'd felt obligated, being registered himself and all, but social gatherings had never been his strong point -- and he wasn't really into the whole being attacked by giant animals thing. nope. fortunately, being immortal means at least the bird can't kill him. it can painfully rip him to shreds though -- and if he's lucky, he'll get over it in a few days.

not a fate he'd be looking forward to.

too bad it's pretty hard to find a place to hide on the deck of a ship. not to mention all the panicking is throwing his fear-hungry powers wild, budding into a pleasant headache at his temples that's effectively distracting. he almost doesn't notice the other distressed, bedraggled person until he literally walks into the man. ]

Hey, watch it --

[welcome]

Oh!

[Cecil is a fearful man on the best of days; it's the healthiest perspective for any alert Night Vale citizen. The bird isn't helping, though. Or the near-drowning experience, which has left him shaken, waterlogged, and a little achy in the joints. He winces as the young man bumps into him, but comes back with a weak smile.]

Sorry, I'm a little disoriented right now. Menacing ravens and rocking ships and a complete inability to swim, you know how it is.

[demonspawn]

[ that weak smile is met with an instinctive scowl that only eases a little once terry gets a good look at the guy he's bumped into -- definitely worse off that terry himself is. it looks like someone tried to give him a bath with all his clothes on. ]

Right. [ his head is still buzzing. more insistently now. ] Look -- can you not think about monster birds and drowning so loud? Maybe try puppies and rainbows? Cupcakes? Preferably non-menacing cupcakes?

[welcome]

Oh -- uh -- [Cecil massages his temples, struggling to comply. He thinks of Carlos. Yes. Warm eyes. Lovely, dark skin. A smile like moonlight. For a few moments, the tension drains from his body, though that's quickly swinging from relaxation to melancholy.]

I'm terribly sorry. I'm really not trying to engage in any psychic attacks.

[demonspawn]

Coincidentally? Neither am I.

[ in fact, he was actively trying to avoid reading anyone's mind at the moment. which was something of an effort, considering his control over his fear-based telepathy was generally tenuous on his best days. a cruise ship full of panicking people dwelling on monster birds was not exactly ideal.

through his headache, he squints at the man slightly. whoever he is, he seems to have successfully quieted his thoughts -- the buzzing becomes slightly more bearable, and terry manages to get a better look at him. ]

You look pretty awful.

[retropolis]

[ Nelson is of course not present for the attack itself, but the news travels fast; when he comes back out onto the deck he almost bumps right into the distressed-looking Cecil. Were Nelson thinking more clearly he'd almost wish Hooded Justice were there to literally slap the sense back into him -- being there alone only amplifies a general feeling of helplessness that does not help with calming down. ]

I'm so sorry! [ His own eyes are wide. He has no way of knowing if Cecil witnessed what happened directly or, like Nelson, is simply upset about the fact of it, but either way, distress is contagious. ] I heard someone yelling-- did you see what happened, sir?

[welcome]

[Cecil's wringing out the corner of his shirt when this new fellow shows up, his hands trembling. He's not unfamiliar with near-death experiences, but he does prefer that they be kept to an absolute minimum.]

Oh, yes. An enormous and extremely impolite raven bum-rushed the ship. I don't know what we've done to agitate it, but someone should really do something. Sacrifices, maybe. Or a sincere note of apology. Something.

[retropolis]

[ The distress doesn't fully leave Nelson's face, though his expression becomes more immediately sympathetic, more focused on Cecil than the abstract notion of a giant raven. ]

Goodness. Here I was hoping we'd actually get to enjoy the festivities tonight without a disruption, the military's gone to such trouble and we've been through plenty already ourselves. Giant birds aren't among the dangers I've ever been trained for. Or most of us, I imagine.

[ He puts his hand upon Cecil's shoulder, mostly meant amiably. ]

Um-- would you like to come inside? I'm sure there are towels about, and m-maybe some food or dancing will help to, uh... salvage your evening.

[welcome]

[Cecil doesn't mind the hand, but his eyes are wide with surprise at this man's mention of giant bird training.]

Are you serious? Menacing Bird Readiness was an essential part of my high school curriculum. What are they teaching kids these days? If not to be absolutely ready for an attack by either a flight of unusually sized ravens or a solitary, massive mother raven bent on collecting us as food for her thousand children?

[retropolis]

I-- yes, of course I'm serious.

[ The look he gives Cecil is mildly incredulous, as if he can't quite determine if Cecil's joking with him. He fidgets nervously with his tie, guiding -- non-aggressively -- Cecil indoors so that he can at least dry off in more comfort. ]

There were much more important things to learn about when I was growing up -- if we'd had birds that size in 1930 I'm sure someone would have, er, developed a system for hunting them. [ If only. A bird that size could feed a whole family during the Depression, probably. ] Are you saying you're used to-- to that?

[ He gestures vaguely toward the sky, awestruck. ]

[glowsferatu]

[ kanaya hadn't bothered helping to fight the bird, not this time. she has so few clothes she really likes anymore and absolutely refused to get blood on her dress. that doesn't mean she can't see to the other passengers. after all, it's always good to have a walking lamp around when some of the lights are knocked over.

even though he hadn't quite hit the water, she hands him a towel. you never know how high the surf might've hit. ]

Can't say anything quite like that has happened before. One wonders what sort of fauna might inhabit this world if such a thing could occur randomly.

[welcome]

[Cecil is definitely soaked. Still dripping, even. He takes the towel gladly, and begins patting himself down. He's still operating under the presumption that this world is his world, so he just offers a friendly shrug.]

Oh, there's all kinds. Giant birds. Desert yeti. Sasquatch. Experimental spiders, the size of two average teenagers. Deer. Deer that live inside other deer. The usual sort of thing!

[glowsferatu]

[ deer that live inside of... well, that's just ridiculous. ]

You seem rather knowledgeable for someone who only just arrived. [ to the point she's pretty sure he's only just making it up. ] Granted, that's rather small for a spider where I come from, but on Earth they don't generally come in that size.

[welcome]

I just arrived here, but I've been on Earth for as long as I can remember. Probably.