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

[heartstings]

I doubt they need any of us, they're just using us because we showed up. [Her tone was flat as she spoke.

She'd already made her mind up on what she was going to do, she wasn't going to help the government out just because they gave her a job, a place to live and other stuff. She could do all that just fine on her own if she needed to.]

[corviform]

Did we?

[ Did Lachesis really save them? Or did the military snag them up? Or was it just a perfect opportunity for them? He has so many questions and suspicions, which leaves his tattoo glowing with UNDECIDED so far. ]

[heartstings]

Think about it, we could have ended up anywhere but we end up in another place with a 'porter of it's own. A place that had heroes once but they're all gone now. It doesn't look like they really need us for anything but they'll gladly use us because we're here. [She keeps her tone low, it wouldn't do well to be shouting this at the party.]

And these tattoos that they're probably using to track our every move, it's wrong.

[corviform]

Mm.

[ He brushes two fingers against his wrist where the nanites are embedded. He doesn't understand how they did it in the first place. It's invasive... disgusting. ]

They don't seem fond of that other country I've heard a little about. Russia? I wonder why.

[heartstings]

[Kenzi tries not to think about it, although it can hard when they glow in the dark and become so noticeable when she's trying to sleep.

She pursed her lips a gave a thoughtful hum.]

I'm not sure how different the history for this world is so I can't say for sure. I would say pick up a history book but it's just going to be the American side of it. [She sighs.]

The hate does make it hard for me to use my full name here though. [She wouldn't be surprised if the government was keeping an extra special eye on her just because her family is Russian.]

[corviform]

Ah... right.

[ The surprise returns to his face; he's almost forgotten Kenzi's Russian heritage that she's mentioned a few times. He even remembers now she's sometimes muttered words in the language. ]

They haven't given you trouble for it, have they?

[heartstings]

No but now that I've made up my mind to not register they probably will. [She rolls her eyes and takes a sip of punch.]

Oh well, not like I've gone by fake names all the time in the past.

[corviform]

[ His gaze had slipped away from her, following Eden East's movement across the room, but he quickly looks back at Kenzi, mildly perplexed. ]

You're not going to register?

[heartstings]

[She looks up at him and shrugs.]

I don't see a reason to. No interest in playing hero for these people and so what if I don't get all the benefits, I've lived on less.

[corviform]

Oh, I see.

[ It makes sense on her behalf, but he hasn't decided for himself yet. He also isn't aware of what Sharon's decision is or will be. He hasn't been leaning one way or the other since their arrival for extremely personal reasons. ]

[heartstings]

What about you? Made up your mind yet?

[He hadn't said anything about it lately so she's pretty curious.]

[corviform]

[ He looks down a moment, then back at the crowd. ]

No, I haven't. I'm not sure I understand any of this.

[heartstings]

Ah.

[Kenzi shrugs as she looks around. She doubts anyone really understands any of it and is just going with things for the time being.]

I wonder how long you can go undecided before they demand an answer from you.

[corviform]

Who knows.

Will their attitudes change if we decide not to? [ So many questions and no way of knowing.]

[heartstings]

They've scared enough people into registering so I somehow doubt it.

[She finishes off her punch and floats her cup to the nearest table so her hands are free.]

[corviform]

Scared?

[ He's not sure if that's the word for it, but it's possible he missed something. ]

[heartstings]

[Maybe scared wasn't the right word but she doesn't know what else to call it. Everyone showing up is confused and frightened so the government is just taking advantage of that.]

Scared, confused? I dunno, the government's just taking advantage of our situation and most people don't want to upset those in power.

[corviform]

Do they have the power in this case? If they want us to register... it sounds as if they're trying to harness it from the imPort community.

[ He should talk to Sharon about this later, find out what she may have learned if she's using Eques to trail others in their shadows tonight.

He looks at his own, for a fleeting moment, then back up. He can never tell if Eques has been attached to his or not. ]

[heartstings]

[Kenzi shrugs.] I dunno. My powers aren't made for spying, they're more for making messes.

But yeah, they want us on their side, they've said as much. I guess if it ever does come to all out war with another country they want us to fight for them. [She snorts at that. Like hell she'd put her life on the line for people she barely knows.]

[corviform]

[ He thinks about the table being flipped over that night and mentally cringes. Reasonably upset or not, Shade and Sharon live in that house, too.

But her next comment has him thinking. ]

Do you think it's possible this is what it's all about? An approaching war?

[heartstings]

[At least she kept it focused on the table and didn't actually break anything. She could have done a lot more damage if simply let go of any sort of control.]

I'm sure it's what they fear most.

[corviform]

[ His lips press down into a firm, but thoughtful line for a moment. ]

Then they'll build an army by offering us shelter and other benefits.

[ Is it fair? He can't decide; desperate times sometimes called for desperate measures. ]

[heartstings]

Which is what they're already doing, is it not?

[Kenzi finds it to be an annoyance that they'll use people displaced in time and space for their own means. She has no intentions of being used. She'll help if she feels like it but she's not going to be their pawn if she can help it.]

[corviform]

... Yeah, you're right.

[ He doesn't want to think ill of Captain Holiday so soon, but he hasn't been able to lower his guard in a month. ]

[heartstings]

[Expecting the worst and thinking ill of others is something Kenzi used to do all the time. Sure, she'd take up any alliance she could, easily switching from one to another in order to survive. But there was always some kind of mutual trust there. Perhaps trust isn't the right word but she wasn't left feeling as in the dark as she feels here. She feels like they're holding back info they should be sharing and she's not willing to help out without seeing a few more cards on the table.

She sighs and looks over at Gil, forcing a bit of a smile as she reaches out to pat his arm.] Might work in your favor to register but it's not for me. Not right now anyway.