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

[corviform]

[ Whoever he is, he's captured Gil's attention quickly. A bit of an oddball, but so is Xerxes Break, and his eccentric behaviour often disguised his cunning and ruthlessness. Perhaps this man is similar and while he should be wary of strangers, Gil can't help but feel drawn to him. ]

Yes, I've read the myth. Atropos is the one who destroyed that universe. [ A beat, then a shake of his head. ] Not originally. All of us had come from different universes.

[selfimage]

[perhaps in another life, ruthlessness may take its part in creating some fine chaos. for Loki, those times are gone, and he tries to wiggle and settle uncomfortably in his new role. Other-Loki spent most of his time trying to figure out how to stop his own destination in the universe—and was ruthless in the process. it fit together horribly, really.

ruthless now? it was debatable.]

Yet still ones that had the same myths. They may differ by the tongue or text. [he waves a hand, absently.] But they're the same base. Do you think that they could be here? Perhaps in another form, another pantheon. Perhaps brought like us.

A curious thing to wonder.

[corviform]

[ His question elicits a wide-eyed, non-verbal response from Gil. He stands there, suddenly his mind flooding with brand new questions about the Sisters. He remembers some of the information and stories passed around back in the City; how their Porter forms were not the first or possibly meant to be the last. ]

I hadn't thought of it... it's possible they've come over, but haven't made themselves known. Two of them, at least. [ He lets out a small sigh. ] Lachesis may have sacrificed herself for us.

[selfimage]

Perhaps she's immune to the cycle, or maybe that's simply the end for her. Different worlds, a million prospects for possibility.

[though it's curious to see that there were some who were ported and then ported once again from a dying world. he was ... familiar with those—he had passed through many—and none were no more pleasant than the next. traversing across the multiverse had its poor points.]

[corviform]

[ But then the possibility of going back home? His gaze falls for a moment. ]

It's confusing when put like that.

[ Oh, where are his manners? He looks up, composing himself once more. ]

Ah, I'm Gilbert.

[selfimage]

Confusing, and possibly overwhelming?

[he wondered if overwhelming beat confusing in that regard--but things like that never bothered him, his mind worked a bit differently.]

Well-met, Gilbert. I'm Loki.

[corviform]

Rather, both.

[ He has to admit it; it goes beyond his realm of understanding. He doesn't know if he'll ever be able to comprehend a power or being like that. There are things back home, similar to it that he doesn't quite grasp yet either. ]

Loki. [ ... Nope, not ringing a bell. He carries on without a clue. ] It's ah, nice to meet you, too.

You seem quite familiar with the myth of those three sisters.

[selfimage]

All myths kind of hold a few common threads. If not in name, then in idea. It's simple to fill in the rest if you've the general notion how these things go.

[it's always nice to meet someone who didn't know him. in the string of multiverses there were many Lokis, and if there weren't Lokis, there were always legends of Lokis. they never really worked out for him, the universe seemed to like his constant of terrible fiendishness, and fighting against it was like looking for the surface of the water when you were drowning. at least he knew he was turned in the right direction.]

I'm familiar with a lot of myths, and many of them have three sisters of all that pre-ordained fate mumbo-jumbo.

[corviform]

I'm not well read in these mythologies.

[ In retrospect, he should have done his research before Atropos decided to take a bite out of the fake Big Apple. ]

We've had brief contact with Clotho and Atropos... even Lachesis. It was difficult to contact her.

[selfimage]

[that's curious enough to get his full attention.]

What do you mean "difficult"?

[corviform]

Though she's... [ He pauses, wondering if he should correct that. What became of her? ] Though she was a machine, it was impossible for anyone to get too close to her without being injured or ported away.

Getting anything out of her was often out of the question.

[selfimage]

[Loki offers over a pastry. Gilbert still seems to have his focus.]

And what did she say when you did?

1/2

[corviform]

[ How thoughtful! But he raises a hand to politely decline, thrown off by the gesture for a second. ]

Erm, no thank you...

[corviform]

[ Clearing his voice to continue: ]

... Nothing. She spoke to the network at large rarely. [ He pauses, recalling a heated, mostly one-sided conversation. ] She would mostly talk about this hero business.

[selfimage]

[there's not even a shrug of his shoulders as his offer is declined. instead he turns the pastry and nibbles off the end as he listens.]

"Hero business" sounds familiar to our current situation.

[corviform]

[ It's what makes him cautious about all of this in the first place; Lachesis put them here for a reason. ]

Perhaps Lachesis still has a hand in porting others here.

[selfimage]

[well, now, that's interesting.]

I didn't think that there was much of a hand in who was brought here, though your situation seems to be ... unique.

[corviform]

Unique?

[ Gil wonders what Loki could mean by that.

Go on... ]

[selfimage]

How many of us have really traversed with the intent of a healthy romp across the multiverse? Instead we've been pulled around to-and-fro--[he waves his hand to demonstrate.]--where we're supposedly needed. Think of supposedly being the key term here. And you ...

This makes two of those, doesn't it?

[it reminds him of Chavez, and how he would simultaneously enjoy her company and hate it right about now. there's something he's distinctly curious about, but he can't do it without what she's capable of. whether or not her powers worked here would give him the answer he was looking for.]

[corviform]

[ Loki's phrasing stirs something within Gil's dusty memories, the ones just out of reach. His chest feels caught in something tight and heavy for a second and with very little conscious of what he's doing, his hand reaches for his neck and swallows hard.

Needed. He is needed.

Supposedly.

He thinks of Oz, and how he had been found in the Vessalius gardens all those years ago. Spat out of the Abyss, but unaware for years to come. Was that chance? Or destiny?

Gil doesn't respond, lost in troubling thoughts. ]

[selfimage]

[it was meant as casual, possibly thought-provoking conversation, but it turned into something that Loki observed closely. he watches, though it's difficult to tell if it's out of concern or interest. his prodding provoked something. he leans in carefully, trying to catch his gaze.]

—Hello-oh?

[corviform]

— huh?

[ Oh, too close for comfort. Gil's face lights up like a Christmas decoration and he steps back from Loki quickly, startled. ]

Sorry?

[ Did he drift off just then? ]

[selfimage]

[ohhhh, he partially closes the distance, but not nearly as much so as he had on his initial lean forward.]

A jog of your memory, maybe? You had quite the curious look on your face. Next time I'll test my reflexes for a photo to show you when you arrive again amongst us of the living.

[corviform]

[ He turns his face to the side to avoid Loki's gaze. ]

A photo? That's not necessary.

[selfimage]

[and as if on cue, he lifts his phone and takes a picture of him.]

I'll settle for this, I suppose.

Do you always drift off like that?

[he says, quirking his head at the picture that he's taken.]