JANUARY SWEAR-IN: DEATH ISLAND

[ghoulking]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Death Sacrifice Island, New Zealand
WHEN: 13th January
WHAT: SWEARING-IN TIME, on the beautiful Island of New Zealand, Sacrifice Island.
WARNINGS: None so far

Welcome everyone to Sacrifice Island, once known as “Death Island” (and still called so by many). Located in the beautiful country of New Zealand, and under their government’s jurisdiction, Sacrifice Island is a place where investigation and scientific development happens: it’s the headquarters for Onward Research Station, laboratories that hope to learn how to neutralize the effects on humans/animals of chemical/biological weapons.

But this island holds dark history as well. It was in this very same place that seven young imPorts permanently lost their lives on October 3rd 2008. This tragedy deeply marked the history of United States and all Heroes of the nation, and is remembered with heavy heart. With hopes to never forget these painful events but to also look for a brighter future, United States of America and New Zealand both joined their hands and decided to raise a memorial for the lives lost at the island.

This memorial will be inaugurated on the 13th January along with the Swearing-In ceremony for the new heroes who have arrived this month. Media has been invited as well as this is too a political event to strengthen relationships between New Zealand and USA. Old and new imPorts are all welcome to come and pay their respects to the Heroes who are gone, swear their allegiance to the US government (or not), forge relations with a foreign country or simply show their presences during this event. Whatever reason one has, they will be welcomed.


TRAVEL

Thanks to the interest of many, an airbus has been generously loaned for free in order to fly the imPorts to Death Sacrifice Island. The airbus includes a dining area and each imPort has their own little cubicle, with chairs that can be converted into a bed. The trip will take a while for sure, so the travelers are welcome to mingle while they are on air, meet the new faces, and try some delicious airplane food. Or they can try sleeping, if other imPorts are quiet enough.

Because it's a long flight, there will be many movies to choose from: there is a strangely big collection of Adam Sandler movies, and apparently the big hit has both Adam Sandler AND Jerry Seinfeld and tells the story of a Wasp that falls in love with a Human, while it leads a rebellion against the humankind. If you aren't into Wasp movies, well- good luck picking something else that isn't as amazing.

ISLAND

Miss the hot summer weather? Well, New Zealand certainly has a lot of it to offer. The weather is the kind that would invite anyone for a swim, even though it’s not one of the activities offered during the Swear-In; in fact, the island has no beaches as it’s surrounded by cliffs. The island itself is beautiful, with a lot of greenery indigenous to the country, forming large forests through the island’s surface and surrounding the research center. There are no animals roaming around, with the exception of some birds (do not expect Kiwis, though), but imPorts are warned not to go too deep into the island’s forests or they might get lost.

At the east area of the island, stands the top of the art Onward Research Station, near the only beach the island offers. The airbus will land not too far away, in a small flight track that crosses the green forest, and imPorts will be directed to the center where they will be greeted by scientists, politicians and, of course, a lot of media.

Onward Research Station is white, clean, and shiny. Everything looks like it has been double or triple sterilized and visitors can almost see their reflections on every surface. The technology is probably the best you’d find in the entire nation: quick silent hoover carts that transport people and objects from a section to another, trays that hoover with food, snacks and drinks, and holograms of several scientists that made a difference while working at the Research Station can be found on specific marked areas. ImPorts that wish to know a bit more about the place will have the chance to press a button for a holographic guide who will tell them the story of the Center, their researches and hopes for the future.

However, since Onward focus on chemical and biological weapon studies, much of the area is very much Off Limits to prevent accidental contamination. There will be security (physical and electronically) to stop people from snooping around and causing huge accidents.

The center has allowed local tourism to be part of this. New Zealand certainly wishes to show their own culture, and thus there will be many who are eager to share it with the new comers. Talks of their fauna and flora, their national bird as well, history of Maori who voyaged across the Pacific, good old Rugby, and of course mentions of certain really popular fantasy movies that have been filmed there – one can certainly become immerse in this lovely world. Not so far away, there is also a buffet area with a lot of variety, all typical New Zealand dishes, including Maori dishes naturally. Try Hangi, or lamb, or delicious sea food, and end your meal with good wine and cheese.

Photographers, journalists, paparazzi will be everywhere. Not just for US ImPort Heroes, but due to the political connotations this meeting has as well. It’s no surprise that apart from “who are you wearing”, heavier and much more serious questions will be asked, involving politics, past events, current political feelings, where and for whom imPorts stand for.

The nearby beach isn’t amazing, but they worked really hard to change that. The whole area was cleaned as well, with new, white and shiny pavement that leads visitors to a special area: the memorial. There is a huge marble wall with the names of those imPorts who’ve lost their lives; there is a screen as well, and whenever someone touches one of the names said screen will activate show a video of the selected imPort while a voice tells the visitors a little about their life and death. Nearly, there is another holographic guide who, when activated, will tell the story of Death Island.

MEMORIAL

Anyone can access this history by checking out the Memorial, but in the afternoon, everyone will be invited to the beach. Here, imPorts and everyone else will be taught the dark history of the island by a spokeswoman dressed in white, while the screen on the Memorial Marble wall shows the lost imPorts.

“A scientist who held hatred for the imPorts used this island as his private base of operations, where he built a deadly ray and threatened to use this weapon against the United States. Seven imPorts heroically followed to investigate, only to find this ray permanently end their lives. These heroes and their tragic deaths are today remembered by us all, a memory of a dark and sad past – but we too hold on to hope, hope their deaths were not in vain, and hope we can rebuild and move forward.”

The speech is met with solemn nods and soft applause, while the names of the Heroes show on the screen:
DAVID GREEN; Chosen, age 19
MAGENTA MOVELLO; Mauve Avenger, age 17
IRA BRAUNSTEIN; Power Prince, age 21
JUDE BYEON; Bludgeon, age 17
CAROL "CARRIE" KING; Reign, age 18
MASON LOCKLEAR; Entropy, age 16
MALIK ISAIAH MARCHETTI; Journey, age 40

After, the woman will give stand to few more people who will give their own words about the memorial and the events of Death Island, including a New Zealand Minister and also an imPort: Tohru Adachi.

Once speeches have been spoken, people are welcomed to leave white flowers near the marble wall and learn more about the personal lives of each lost hero by touching their names and watching the movie about each. For those who don’t wish to stick around, the buffet area is always open, and people are more than welcome to return to their activities.

RETURN

The event will be over late night, and all imPorts will be brought back to the airbus. Since there are records who came on the airbus, it’s better not to try to stay behind – as welcoming as they were, those who work at Sacrifice Island have no plans to accommodate everyone more than necessary.

Media will be the first to leave, followed by imPorts and finally every politician involved. Once up in the air, the airplane lights will be turned to minimum, to allow imPorts some well needed rest. That is, if they want. Sorry if your neighbor is noisy.

Comments

[ Investigation ]

[ghoulking]

[ Threads for the imPorts involved in the plot to investigate Death Island + Vandalism. If you have any questions, please contact me at vilani ]

Kaneki

[ghoulking]

Hacking cameras
[ where to even start? Onward Research Station is a lot bigger than expected; very white too and because everyone is at the memorial, it's currently very silent as well. Almost feels like it'll echo the moment he gives a step.

The security guards walking around are easy to spot because of that too. Their steps can be heard a mile away, so moving in the opposite direction of them works - the issue is, of course, the cameras; Kaneki can hack them with ease, but he needs to approach the electronic panel to do that. Some...how... ] I need cover for this- [ someone has to distract the guards while he works ]


Sneaking in
[ he half-expected something amazing on those Off-Limits areas, but it looks like it's just more corridors and doors. Also silent. It seems like most did go to the memorial, which is good! It means they won't have to go to crazy lengths to hide as they go. But in the end, it's not like he exactly knows where to go. They didn't have any blueprints for the station, after all.

Find a computer is his first thought. Kaneki is a fighter or he will act as a hacker, and there isn't much more he can offer (like telepathy, which would be so useful right now), and to him that means probably opening door after door until he does. That will be a lot of work, though.

While he is trying to figure out what to do next there is a noise coming from behind a door. Like something breaking and then a gasp. Kaneki's eye fixate on that door for a second, before he looks back at the person next to him, to whisper: ] Do we want to see what just broke? [ they ARE in a place that does research bioweapons ]


Useful creepy powers
[ Kaneki found... the toilets. He has found a kitchen and a resting room, he has found a room with a lot of books (he's assuming that's a library of sorts), and though he did find few laboratories they didn't seem to be active in anyway, and now he found the toilets. He is sure this is the women's toilets too, because there are no urinals.

... why don't they put some identification on the doors. For some top of the art research center, they really didn't focus on directions.

Inside the toilets, the ghoul decides he needs a new approach because opening door after door sounds like wasted time. He hasn't tried his new powers just yet, but it appears it's now time to use them. Back home, they came to him naturally, but he really doesn't know if they are as stable in this world - hopefully he won't turn into a 10 feet centipede.

From Kaneki's lower back, a red tendril emerges - but it's not just any tendril. This one has eyes. Also a mouth. And the thing physically detaches itself from Kaneki's body, wriggling in the middle of the toilet. SORRY, YOU JUST WITNESSED SOMETHING GROSS BUT - ]

Alright, one extra spy.

Ken Kaneki | Registered

[ghoulking]

ISLAND
[ There are several places where you can find Kaneki!

A. Around the island: kaneki won't go too further into the forest, but he does want to have a look around the place, ending up near the green or eventually at the beach, before the memorial starts. Wherever he is, clearly he is not dressing right for this: Kaneki is wearing black heavy clothes that over him from head to toe. And look, he regrets it A LOT. He tries to find some shade here and there, sighing when there is a tiny fresh breeze that comes from the ocean, but overall he just looks like he is too hot. You can even hear him mutter "I should have brought lighter clothes..."

B. Food: Guess who doesn't eat or drink? This guy! But he loves to cook and can't waste an opportunity like this: he wants to see the dishes, learn a bit about them, and perhaps decide if he should try to cook them himself. Maybe he is nearby, staring at your plate with interest, before he asks "Is it good?", or maybe you can find him poking at food he took for himself but has no plans on eating. Ultimately, however, whenever someone offers him something, kaneki politely refuses - even that wine everyone seems to be enjoying so much.

C. Holographic guide: There is no such thing so readily available back in kaneki's world, so he can't help but to find the holo-guide really interesting. He presses the button, and the woman greets him and begins talking about the island. Kaneki isn't so impressed with the history, however. "Bio-weapons, hm. I'm not even surprised this is what they're studying." honestly, maybe this is paranoia talking. Kaneki can be quite paranoid, after all.

D. Media: He didn't advertise his involvement, and people forgot about it as soon as the two governments started talking about the memorial - and that's good! Kaneki actually doesn't want to be so flashy and exposed - but some still remember he and Riptide were indeed the ones bringing up the idea of a memorial and pretty much kickstarted the whole thing. Some reporters too. And so, they approach the ghoul, eager to ask comments, not just about the memorial but also the people he had to meet to make it possible. Kaneki, on the other hand, is just awkwardly trying to escape while going "No comment, no comment". Please help this man. ]


MEMORIAL
[ Gasp, Kaneki is no where to be found. ]


RETURN
[ Kaneki magically shows up when it's time to leave. Not that a lot of people would notice he was missing in first place, he is a quiet person who doesn't like big crowds and avoids the media, after all. Though, for someone who brought up this idea to the government and pushed things to make it happen, for sure he should have played a more visible role, right? Right.

During the trip back home, Kaneki doesn't sleep much. He spends most of the time in his cubicle, reading through his notes, through the network, through the news... even though he is reading (kind of), he is lost in thought about everything that happened. Decisions Are Hard.

At least the plane seems to be quiet. ImPorts seem to be tired, so probably there won't be a lot of noise. Probably. ]


WILDCARD
[ Make up your own prompt and I'll follow along, or contact me at vilani ]

apollo | new & unsettled

[solarcharged]

Arriving at the Station

[ Well experienced in the fine art of avoiding red carpets, Apollo gracefully sidesteps the media with the ease of a professional as he heads inside the research station. Despite what he’d said to reassure Jenny only two weeks ago - “I can stand to see myself in the news - hell, I almost miss it…” - Apollo has no intention of working the press.

It’s a point of pride that Apollo is purposefully wearing his colours today – the white and gold uniform that would mean something back home, were he still there. He may not be stopping to talk to the media but it’s a statement of its own kind: Apollo isn't swearing-in, but doesn’t have to be Registered to be a hero.

Inside, the research station is impressive. Even Apollo, jaded as he is by fancy science outfits, is quietly fascinated. It makes a change, meeting scientists of the non-crazed variety. His long career of dramatic heroics had started with one and Apollo has a horrible suspicion it will probably end with one too. From Bendix to Krigstein and everything I.O. cooks up in between, it seemed to be a superhero’s lot in life to stop strange little men in white lab coats from ending the world with their weird science. Even when you technically are the weird science.

Apollo selects a glass of good New Zealand wine from the buffet, cradling it in a broad, tanned hand that’s more suited for punching airplanes than sipping Sauvignon Blanc, and inspects the gathered crowds. He stands tall in the crowd, noticeable in his white and yellow uniform, and surveys their surroundings once again. ]

It’s all very shiny and well-meaning, isn’t it? [ Said to whoever is nearby. ] Very science chic.

Brooding at the Memorial

[ Most heroes don’t get a memorial like this, not in Apollo’s world. It’s a testament to this world’s fond obsession that these ones – nearly all children, Apollo notes with an uncomfortable twist of his stomach - have something nice to remember them by.

A failed mission. Heroes, people who were only trying to make the world a better place, slaughtered. Apollo remembers what that had been like: the paralysing fear, the rising bile, the chilling panic. Watching your team mates die, knowing that the mission was a loss. Knowing that some evil fucker had won and your death would be completely useless.

There was no memorial for Amaze, for Crow Jane, for Lamplight, for Impetus, for Stalker. But at least they had been adults, created by Bendix for the express purpose of living – and dying – to create a finer world. Who knows what these kids had thought they were signing up for, the day they embarked upon their final mission.

After a moment of contemplation he shakes his head, murmuring: ]

Poor bastards.

[ He’ll be there for a while, studying each entry in pensive silence. ]

BYO Starter

[ Apollo can be found mingling around the research station; he’s happy to talk to anyone who approaches him and is happy to strike up conversation with anyone who looks approachable. He’ll listen to the talks on rugby (considering he’s built like a forward lock on steroids) and Maori culture, as well as just generally being nosy about this whole biological weapon studies thing. Come and chat with him! ]

( ooc: catch me on plurk (fizzier or disco (shaz#0911) if you'd like to do something specific! )

@ memorial

[divaricate]

[ After being sent home briefly almost a year ago, only to meet her own death there, Wanda relates a little too much to this. ]

Yeah. [ A sad sigh. ] No good deed goes unpunished. Or, you know, something like that.

Kasia Nyx | Unsettled (for now)

[iliveidie]

🞛 TRAVEL
[Kasia originally had no intention of going on this trip but Nox insisted they check it out. He seems more excited about the research facility and what information he may be able to dig up from it than the event itself.

So here she is, stuck in one of the seats watching some horrible movie that makes her want to gouge her eyes out.] Are all ancient Earth movies like this? [She asks this loud enough that anyone nearby can hear her complain.]

[Occasionally she will travel to the dining area, half to get away from the movie and half to stretch her legs. While there she's likely to just sit off to one side and watch people rather than actually eat or drink anything.

Totally not creepy at all.]


🞛 ISLAND
[Kasia does her best to avoid being noticed upon arrival, a feat that's not easy with or without her helmet. With her helmet on, she draws attention as being suspicious while without it's because of her complexion and eyes. Eventually, she just disappears from the sight of a few reporters hounding here. Like, literally. One moment she's there and then for a few seconds there's the shadowy afterimage of her before even that's gone, leaving the reporters baffled.

When not dodging reporters or prying eyes she tries to find a quiet corner here and there to let Nox lose so he can scan various objects and terminals.

When not attempting to sneak around the Station she can be found learning about the locals. While Earth was not her home prior to resurrection she does find its past fascinating.]


🞛 WILDCARD
[Feel free to catch her snooping around the Station or even elsewhere on the island, she's certainly brave enough to poke around the forest a bit.]

Island! hope this is okay

[plentystrong]

[ Catra is mostly hanging around the buffet and also doing the utmost to avoid the reporters, but still, she happens to catch a glimpse of Kasia disappearing. She blinks a few times, but quickly comprehends what happened. Just like that Bright Moon princess, then.

The next time she spots Kasia, she quietly follows her, only to make her presence known at what seems like an opportune moment. ]

So. That's a nice ability you got there. The disappearing thing.

[ Honestly, she didn't intend this to be a mission to find out about other people's powers, but she can't help herself -- she's interested in the matter. Who to avoid, who to potentially ally with. ]

Walter Strickler | New & Registered

[janus_scholar]

ISLAND
[Walter is here for a single-minded purpose: to make a good first impression on the world. He's even dressed for the occasion; wearing a black blazer over a white collared shirt with a blue silk tie.

Unlike some other new imPorts, he doesn't avoid the reporters and paparazzi, he openly welcomes it. He's receptive to their questions and quick with a joke or charming little anecdote about his time here. It's not long before he's part of a small circle of chit-chat, wine, and laughter. It only seems so effortless because he's come prepared. He's studied this world exhaustively, worked out the false details of his life story until it sounds true, and is largely answering based on what will sound best. He's already been working hard to establish this persona among imPorts as well. (He can be trusted. He's friendly, and open, and kind, and oh so grateful to the United States government.)

It's not all a lie. He does care about others, and does intend to help in some way. But even after all the good he's done, the wrongs he's righted: he probably shouldn't be trusted. He needs to look out for himself. Despite his best efforts to keep his true nature hidden, some imPorts with magical sensitivity may sense that there's something... off, about Walter. For some it will be an aura of darkness surrounding him, for others it will be a sense of wrongness. Something inhuman. He's unaware of the vibe he's putting out, and nothing about his actions or demeanor would explain it.

Eventually he breaks away from the crowd, and mills off to the perimeter of the room to gaze at the hologram presentations and sip wine. He's more than open for conversation.]

MEMORIAL
[This is perhaps the one time in the night that performance is not on his mind. In the aftermath of the memorial service, Walter also stays behind and lays a flower at the wall. During his research, he has already learned about these imports, and the misfortune of this incident. But it's another entirely to see their faces and be standing on the land where they died.

He's reminded of his own foolhardy young heroes back home. He knows that they would have done the same thing. He wonders about the families of the deceased, and what life must be like for them now. Did they wake up one day to find their loved ones missing? Did time stop and never continue? He mumbles, half to himself:]

What a tragedy.

WILDCARD
[I'm open to other starters, you can reach me at genalovestoons]

island

[planetary_bonds]

[Yusei's one of the imPorts who actively tries to avoid attention, spending his time skulking around the paparazzi while trying to feel out information. In a place like this, however, he can't learn by just glaring at everybody, so he might as well talk with someone who can at least put up a pretense of acting polite.]

...I don't understand how people like you can keep that up. I'm almost jealous.

[The contrast between them is like night and day - Walter's neatly pressed blazer vs Yusei's frumpled riding jacket; one sporting an open countenance while the other's expression is about as unapproachable as one can get without being hostile; Walter rocking a clean and presentable appearance while Yusei smells slightly of grease.

It's an odd sight, these two talking.]

rogue | new & registered

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ cw: all threads likely to contain mention of war, concentration camps, torture/experimentation, death of children, scars ]

i s l a n d

[ The flight to the island does little for Rogue except give her time to finish reading a book and renew her yearning to be back in the cockpit again. It's been years since she last flew, and seeing the clouds beyond the window reminds of how much she used to enjoy it. In the end, she makes a mental note to look into what it would take to get her pilots license in this world, and she gives the plane a grateful pat before departing upon arrival.

The paparazzi are an unwelcome sight and Rogue does her best to avoid them, hiding behind other ImPorts while trying to edge her way past the nosy journalists, pretending to speak only French and thus not understanding the questions directed at her, and outright (somewhat rudely) informing one woman with a recorder that ] I don't wish to comment on the events that happened here.

[ She doesn't enter the research complex, knowing full well that the memorial will be hard enough, she doesn't need any further reminders of the life she left behind. No, what she needs is to soak in that summer heat and remind herself of what it feels like to be alive. So off she goes, hiking through foliage to follow the quickest path to the nearest cliff, shedding her button-down green shirt along the way to reveal a black tank top and pale skin that will likely burn in the sun. But she doesn't care, not about the risk of sun damage or the fact that she's exposed the strips of scarring on her back or the tattoo on her left forearm. M4827.

Nothing matters as she sits on the grass and listens to the sound of the ocean. The sound of a world that isn't made of ash. ]

m e m o r i a l

[ The memorial is harder than Rogue had anticipated. Back in her button-shirt and even wearing a pair of thin black gloves, she hangs back at the edges of the crowd, hands clasped tightly in front of her as she listens to the tragic story of those poor people. So many of them were so young, she can't help but remember her teammates, her students, so many of whom died in the war...

She doesn't notice the tears at first, not until her vision blurs enough that she can't make out the names etched into marble. By then, it's too late, and she turns and heads away from the assembly before she loses control completely. She shouldn't have come today, she wasn't ready for this. ]

w i l d c a r d

[ Interested in something else? Send me a PM or hit me up at taintedcrimson and we'll come up with something! Also, reminder of her permissions. ]

memorial

[redcosmedic]

[ Knock Out has spent a good deal of this Swear-In in vehicular mode, between the necessity of it for the travel portion of the trip and traversing a site intended for only human visitors. He did get a chance to stretch for a while during the paparazzi flurry outside the center itself; his Cybertronian form certainly had drawn plenty of interest and interview questions. For the memorial ceremony itself however, he's resumed his alt mode and parked at the edge of the paved area. He can still hear everything, but at least he's not obtrusive this way.

He has no strong reaction to the memorial itself, nor the displays of the lost victims of the island's past. There's acknowledgement of lives being cut unfairly short, of course; he's not entirely sparkless, but it's tempered in a way that only someone who's been at war for literally millions of years can have.

He isn't expecting to see Rogue breaking away from the crowd, and certainly not showing signs of only barely holding back tears or worse. His headlights blink once to get her attention. ]

Rogue.

[pullsheavendown]

transit; coming & going

[Roxas wasn't sure what he thought about taking a big plane to another part of this world. It seems...unnecessary? Which is a silly thought, he knows. Not everyone has dark corridors or gummi ships or other anything so fast. Eventually, though, he decides to go, because he's intrigued by the idea of seeing somewhere new, and because moping around the house is getting kind of old.

He's lucky to have his flight cubicle...or whatever this is called; next the window, and once they reach cruising altitude, he's practically plastered to it, eyes wide. He's flown himself, of course, but they're so high and everything looks so small.]

Wow...this is really cool, huh?

[Definitely more fascinating to him than to the seasoned air traveler.

It's a long trip, and eventually his stomach rumbles. In the dining area, he piles his plate high—a little too high—with snacks, but he doesn't see much worth having dessert-wise. Is it rude to make his own? Holding out a hand, he focuses and summons a bar of ice cream. Immediately, he recognizes that it's butter-rum. Not his favorite. Turning to the person next to him, he offers the be-sticked frozen treat.]

Hey, do you want this?

[When the flight is smooth, he's okay, but going up and coming down, and when there's any kind of turbulnece at all, he finds himself feeling....queasy. What the heck? He's never even been sick before, so the nausea catches him off-guard. For a while, he just sits there, trying not to move and looking kind of gray and sweaty. Eventually, he jumps to his feet and darts down the aisle. Who was that kid? Better not get in his way, it looks like he's gonna barf. The return trip is much the same, although he's prepared for it. The 'dramamine' potion one of the airport ladies sold him helps a little, though.]

for sora;
[About six hours into the flight, Roxas falls asleep in his cubicle. About forty-five minutes after that, the nightmare comes. He won't even remember it all when he wakes up; the only memories Roxas will retain of it are fear and pain, loneliness and loss. There's the evening light of Twilight Town and something like glass shattering; there's the emptiness of in-between and a dying fire, and he's trying so hard to get somewhere but he can't, he can't move, something terrible is happening and there's nothing he can do.

From the outside, it's not so dramatic. Some light twitching, a little whimpering. It grows, but it won't be noticeable from a few aisles away. At one point, he shifts in place, tossing an arm out as his hand grasps for something that won't come. A light shimmer of sparkles in the shape of a hilt, but nothing more.]

island adventures;

[Well...he finally made it to the beach. Roxas is kind of glad that this is a formal ceremony, not a casual day where people are just sitting around having fun on the sand, because he's not sure how that would feel, or if he would even stay. It would be too lonely without a friend to enjoy the vacation day with. The reporters catch him off-guard; new as he is and not really having an idea of what politics even are, his responses are mainly "um" and "I don't know" and "what was the question again?" Consider lending this clueless teen a hand.

He sits through the speeches, but honestly, kind of zones out after a while. It's not that he thinks it's no big deal that some people died here, but it was a long time ago and he didn't know them. If he bumps into your shoulder as he shifts back and forth, trying to stay awake, feel free to quietly call him out...or give him a commiserating smile.

Eventually, when all is said and done, he sneaks off on his own for a while before the flight, seeking out the quietest patch of beach and sitting there, heels dug into the sand as the waves lap up close. It's no sunset, but it's nice.]

choose your own adventure;

[What it says on the tin!]

transit heheh

[heartslight]

[ Kairi is wandering her way about the plane, mostly looking for her friends so she can talk with them a bit (about how cool this plane thing is and have you guys looked out the windows??), when she ends up finding Roxas.

She immediately smiles softly at him, and moves in to talk. They haven't had ... too much communication since they first met, and she thinks this is a good chance to at least say hi. ]

Hey — Roxas!

[ Waving a bit as she approaches, and then ... realizing his gray expression. And is he sweating? It's not even hot in here. There should be some sort of magic air machine over his head, too, that he can use to cool off. ]

... You okay?

Tina Belcher | OTA

[continuousgroaning]

Transit

[Tina's not spent a whole lot of time on planes before, so to her, this is the height of luxury. She's packed her favorite horse pajamas and treats the entire flight over like it's an extended slumber party, sampling the food available, watching movies, and sleeping.

Unfortunately, she does sleepwalk, and even in her little bed she thrashes about in her sleep now and then. Is she having a bad dream? Who knows.]


Island

[Tina's not too keen on participating in the memorial part of the ceremony; it was long before her arrival, and some of the imPorts involved were too close in age to her for her to feel comfortable thinking too hard about their untimely deaths.

So instead, she basks in the attention, and the semi-forbidden allure of seafood, which her dad had never been keen on the kids eating despite living within view of the ocean back home.

She can also be found showing off her new water manipulation powers, attracting a crowd of admiring onlookers as she flings small globs of water through the air, freezing and unfreezing peoples' drinks, and the like. She just wishes some of them were teenage boys, she thinks ruefully. Having a makeout session with a cute Kiwi boy before returning home would have been amazing.]


Wildcard

[Or if you want to run into Tina elsehwhere. She's going to be avoiding the memorial itself, however. Hit me up at shurimon or on Disco at Yedong#9491 if you want to plan.]

transit

[kanyounot]

[ Kanan just doesn't sleep much, honestly. He meditates more than he sleeps, though that only puts him in tune with everyone's emotions. It doesn't give him trouble - he's used to sensing a lot of pretty intense stuff - but that doesn't stop him from becoming slightly concerned when it's someone he knows. ]

Tina?

[ He's there, kneeling next to her cot, a hand on her shoulder. ]

Alphonse Elric | OTA

[sonofgold]

Transit

[Al is alert and excited for a good part of the trip over. He's never been in an airplane before, and the sights are almost overwhelming. The imPorts are traveling in the lap of luxury, too. He's fascinated by the individual cubicles they all have, takes the time to savor the meals and snacks they are served, and spends a lot of time just reading descriptions and scrolling through the movies on offer.

This Adam Sandler must be a big star, he thinks, finally settling on a movie. However, the longer it goes on, the more people can hear him exclaiming in disbelief at the plot of a human falling in love with... a wasp.]

Do people really find this entertaining??


Island

[Al has savored the taste of a good meal ever since he regained his flesh and blood body, and so the buffet is one of the first places he heads after he politely gives some attention to the press. He's going to be an Aegis representative when need be, of course, but he's going to enjoy himself in the meantime. He also watches the available guides and videos of New Zealand's history and culture with interest.

He gives alchemy demonstrations for the watchers upon request, redoing some of the decorations or giving people small wooden cats he creates.]


Memorial

[Truth be told, Al's not big on wanting to attend the memorial- it reminds him way too much of people like Hughes and Martel, casualties of Father's attempt to play God- but as a member of Aegis Force, he feels obliged to. Part of him is watching for danger the entire time, half wondering if some villain is going to take advantage of the somber mood to come back and perhaps try and raise the body count. Villains certainly weren't above it. Anyone who knows him will notice he's in a somber, quiet mood in general, and he seems relieved when the ceremony is over and it's time to go back to the buffet.]


Wildcard

[As above, ping me on Plurk at shurimon or Yedong#9491 on Discord if you want to hash out a prompt with Al.]

Island!

[plentystrong]

[ Catra, as it happens, is also mostly hanging around the buffet, as large varieties of food are somewhat of a novelty for her as well. But her attention is especially attracted by... whatever it is the blonde young man over there is doing. She saunters over to him. ]

Hey! Whatcha doing there? Some type of magic?

Knock Out | new + registered

[redcosmedic]

island - paparazzi;
[ Knock Out gets his share of the media attention, especially when the tours of the Onward Research Station take the majority of the imPorts inside; he's simply not equipped in either form to tag along with that, and he is positively not going to take a stab at his human form again (unless it's to literally stab it, so as never having to deal with it again). He's glad he polished and shined a little extra for today; his chassis is gleaming with a showroom finish under the New Zealand sunshine. Therefore, he ends up answering a lot of questions, changing between root and vehicle modes a few times obligingly (and not being shy about encouraging any admiration of either form).

He deftly avoids answering too many questions about Cybertronian biology beyond the basics, and given the political sphere, stays away from the topic of the war as well. Despite these intentional obfuscations, he proves to be a gregarious and witty interviewee. Let's be real, he's never been shy talking about himself, and he's got the attitude to preen on command for the happy photographers. ]

This isn't all what I was expecting-- [ he says to the nearest imPort, when there's a break between questions and vebal glad-handing with the politicians ] --but I can't say I'm not enjoying it.

island - local tourism
[ One of the things that caught Knock Out's attention was just how proud of their regional things the locals were. It was a little bit endearing, and it reminded him more than a bit of the way various mechs from differing city-states on Cybertron would claim this or that to be better than anyone else's. Unfortunately, some of said locals are trying to get Knock Out to try some kind of fruit-based delicacy, and he's having a hard time convincing them that he's not being rude in refusing, it's that he literally can't eat organic food. ]

It's not that I don't want to try it. [ he vents in irritation ] I cannot. Are you understanding what I'm saying?

[ Someone help him out please. ]

memorial;
[ Knock Out has resumed vehicular mode to observe the memorial ceremony, parked at the edge of the paved area where he could still hear clearly. He wonders just how few of those assembled have actually known war, even if the thought is particularly cynical. Sending children into battle and then being surprised when they didn't return... well, it seemed to a point as if they had recognized the error in judgment. Then again, looking around at the assemblage of young faces in the imPort crowd, perhaps not... ]

Have they really learned, though...

wildcard;
[ Hit me up at sojourney if you want a custom starter, or just tag in with anything! ]

memorial

[rebelhealer]

[Anders didn't now any of these imPorts, because they all died ten years before he even came to Earth. He only just recently learned about why this Memorial is here. These imPorts died to save the world. Anders would have done the same, just as he would if he were still in Thedas.

He's gazing at the memorial, near a very shiny red car. Then he hears a familiar voice and turns around. Is the Doctor in the car? Why does it sound like the voice came from the car?]

Maybe they have.

Catra | New & Unsettled

[plentystrong]

TRAVEL

[ Events like this aren't usually Catra's kind of venue, but this world and its workings are still novel enough to entice even her curiosity. She has no plans to swear her allegiance to a government she has little knowledge about, because even though she never really cared about the Horde very much, the idea still doesn't sit well with her; but she figures she can still check out the event.

So she picks an outfit and lets herself be herded toward the plane. She's lucky enough to get a window seat, which grabs her attention for a while. She has flown before -- on skiffs or other low-flying craft. She's never been above the clouds. For a lot of the flight, she can be seen pressing her nose to the window.

When the novelty has worn off and the clouds prove to be the same all the time, she decides to try out the small TV in front of her. She's pulled out her seat and perched herself on top of it to be more comfortable and turns on the screen, and of course, the movie recommended to her is the Wasp Movie. It quickly turns out that the movie makes so little sense, it actually enrages her, so if you can't sleep because there's yelling? Yeah, that's Catra. ]

This doesn't even make any sense! How can a wasp and a human be together? They can't even hold hands!

ISLAND

[ The island is perhaps the first time she's seen this world so bright. It's almost painful, the vibrant, lush greens and intensely blue sky. She is, however, glad to get out of the cold. On the other hand, she's starting to think she might be overdressed, having chosen a suit similar to the one she wore to Princess Prom, because why fix something that's not broken?

Throughout the course of the evening, she tries out the holograms out of idle curiosity, but quickly gets bored and wanders off when they go on too long for her liking. Talks about the history of the island and the local birds get the same treatment.

A lot more time is spent with the food. She's got to say, that's the one thing this world has got going for it -- there's so much different food! It's honestly a little overwhelming for someone used to choosing between gray and brown ration bars, but Catra dives into it, sampling a little bit of every dish.

She's doing just that when a reporter approaches her, holding a microphone in her face and asking her questions about her political stance. Catra fixes him with an annoyed stare. ]

I literally just got here, so I have no idea. Can I get back to my food now?

MEMORIAL

[ Catra watches the memorial. It is, after all, the central cause of the event, ot it seems fitting. She goes unusually quiet while listening to the history of the seven dead imPorts. A part of her is aware that she is expected to care, but mostly, she feels detached from everything. Like nothing here has anything to do with her. Except it does now, doesn't it? She mutters to herself. ]

So what. It's war, people die. Right?

[ But she sounds like she's trying to convince herself, more than anything. These people, some of them around her age, died a senseless death because someone had a hate-on for them. Then again, they went there, knowing it was dangerous. If you run headlong into danger, you only have yourself to blame, don't you?

She does not lay down a flower. She doesn't really see the point. ]

island!

[merging]

[As much as he misses his galaxy's food, new food is very exciting when you've also mostly been living off of rations. Ezra's stuffing his face when he notices a Zygerrian(?) girl being bothered by a reporter. When her response doesn't seem to be shaking them, he finishes off his last bite and approaches the both of them, waving a hand as he speaks.]

You don't want to talk to her.

[The last time he tried this it didn't work, but... after a few seconds the reporter repeats after him, "I don't want to talk her."]

You're going to leave her alone now.

["I'm going to leave her alone now," they say and then do just that. Ezra seems a little relieved it actually worked, but it seems he also had an ulterior motive to all this!]

Where'd you get that one? The little brown one. I thought I had tried everything, but I didn't see that anywhere.

Rodimus | New & Registered

[flameout]

I. ISLAND
[ Jeopardy isn't the friendliest city when it comes to welcoming imPorts, so Rodimus is basking in his first opportunity to walk around in robot mode without getting death glares from suspicious locals. He loves attention, and this is the most he's gotten in years. He's starting to think that this whole imPort thing could be good for him. He's posing for photos, happily answering any media questions, and making finger guns at random people he passes by. It's the happiest he's been in a long time.

You might find him just walking around and exploring the island, or you might find him grandstanding in vehicle mode, doing tricks and maneuvers for the benefit of the press and paparazzi. He's shameless like that. ]

II. MEMORIAL

[ Rodimus watches the ceremony in his human form -- he at least has enough tact to know when to blend in. The possibility of having cameras in his face during something like this felt wrong.

It's hard for Rodimus to associate flowers at the base of a monument to the dead with a respectful display of mourning. This certainly doesn't feel like Necroworld -- no towering statues of the living, no rolling hills adorned with seemingly endless monuments, and the flowers here are white instead of blue. Still, the memorial wall reminds him of the wall in honor of the disappeared, and seeing people placing flowers at the base of it... Well, he knows what the intent is, but the association makes him uncomfortable.

Nonetheless, he'd feel a lot more awkward just standing there without paying his respects. It sounded like the kind of tragedy that had become all too familiar to him, the sort of mission he could have lost crew to when he was captain of the Lost Light. He follows the crowd's lead and lays flowers at the base of the wall. Being in this human form makes the monument seem so much larger than he knows it really is, and he looks up thoughtfully.

Trying to find some levity in a awkwardly heavy moment, he makes a quip directed towards anyone who might be listening. ]

This all feels kinda morbid for a welcoming party, huh?

i!

[knaval]

[at one point as rodimus is exploring, he might come across a location that has a familiar voice. cursing loudly, as he climbs back up the rocky cliffs. riptide's only tangentially related to the investigation, but he'd still wanted to scout around the island to see if there were any other built-up parts that weren't immediately advertised to them on entry.

unfortunately, it seems like he was wrong, and the only actual use he'll be is scaring some of the fish schools, breaking some of the cliff and being the absolute last resort punching bag if everything goes sideways.

he clambers up the cliffside, water still pouring out his armour and shakes himself off like a wet dog at the top.]

--Bloody useless! Utterly... [he kicks a small boulder off the cliff in frustration. it goes KERSPLASH.] --Ugh!

Jacob Taylor | Registered | OTA

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

A - Travel

[Jacob gets about ten minutes into the Wasp movie before he groans, shuts off his screen, and stuffs it back into the seat pocket in front of him with a disgusted look on his face. Somebody is not a fan, and is facing the prospect of a loooong flight without entertainment worthy of the name.]

Should have brought a book or a podcast or something.


B - Island

[It's Jacob's first time in New Zealand, and he doesn't mind the chance to play tourist in shorts and a polo shirt- even if he did stash his full superhero gear not far away just in case a crisis breaks out. Swear-Ins do get attacked sometimes, after all, and if there's an international incident, Jacob wants to be ready.

As he explores the island, Jacob can be found eating a hefty amount of the offered food, particularly enjoying the Hangi, and listening to a talk on rugby with rapt attention. He also engages with the media, putting forward the positive public image he needs to as leader of Aegis Force, saying confident, friendly things about how honoured he is to be a guest of New Zealand and how most imPorts stand for a peaceful and cooperative relationship with their hosts in this world.

He's not here for investigations directly, but he will be paying careful attention at the Research Station, checking out one of the holo-guides with his arms crossed.]

Sure as hell hope they're keeping their research samples secure around here. It would be a disaster if anything ever leaked.


C - Memorial

[Jacob is a sucker for this kind of thing. He never met the seven dead imPorts, who died years before his time, but he still respects anyone willing to risk their life to protect others and feels grief at the destruction of those lives, as well as the disintegration of the imPort-government relationship that ensued afterward. So much could have been different for this world and for imPorts if Death Island had never happened...

Jacob's head is bowed throughout the speeches. Afterward, will be leaving white flowers at the wall. And he'll be touching every name and watching every movie all the way through, with a sombre expression on his face the whole time.]

memorial

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ It's only as the crowd begins to dissipate that Rogue returns to the memorial to pay her respects to the seven souls remembered here. She's doing the same as Jacob from the opposite end of the structure, going from name to name and watching the films about those lost lives. Each one is harder to watch than the last, and when she reaches the same name he's on, she's wiping away tears with a tissue, trying to be subtle about it so the journalists still floating around don't descend on her again. ]

Do you mind if I watch with you? [ She keeps her voice soft when she addresses the man she's joined. If he urges her to move on, she'll just come back to this name later. ]

Princess Allura | Registered

[patchricide]

TRAVEL

[Boy oh boy, Allura looks bored to tears on this plane. Her seat is in the center aisle, depriving her of even a view of the world outside. She's slumped in it as if sleeping, but with half-open eyes that clearly give away the fact that she's awake. There's a movie playing on the TV, with some comedian who is probably hysterical if you understand Earthling humor. That's the only reason that none of this is making her laugh, right? Right.]

[There's a quartet of pastel-colored mice with her. (Are they actually allowed here, or did they stealth their way past security? It's not exactly clear.) They are sitting on a dining tray, having eaten more than their fill of peanuts and are now playing with some of the other snacks. One has fashioned a sword from a pretzel stick and a shield from a bagel chip. Look at him, all dressed up and ready to save the plane kingdom.]

[She groans in the sort of undignified manner you wouldn't expect from a princess.]

When I said I missed flying, this isn't what I meant...

[But there's really no chance she can take over and fly the airbus herself. Not without committing a planejacking, which... no, we're not doing that. So she has no choice but to endure the boredom.]

[And this is only the flight to the island!]


ISLAND

[It's a good thing that Allura has recently moved to Heropa, or else she would be tempted to do some diving right off those cliffs. Although... nah. No. This is a serious political ceremony, and she's a literal princess. That's how you end up on the front page of the tabloids.]

[Still, she's giving them a lot to work with anyway. The formality of the occasion has drawn out her dressy side, and you'll see her walking around the research station in a slinky princess gown, complete with jewelry and hair that looks like she brought her own personal stylist with her. The hair is particularly cute — it's a long, regal braid, with a simple silver heart clipped where it meets the back of her head. The earrings look like they match, but the necklace is gold, with a pendant shaped more like an egg.]

[There seems to be a few more flashes of the paparazzi's cameras around her. Pay it no mind!]

[So, despite it being such a gorgeous day outside, she's going to be spending it mostly indoors. That's... that's fine. No, really. Truthfully, she's interested in what's actually being researched here. But, since most of the research station appears to be closed to snooping (and she's not about to sneak off anywhere in this outfit), she eventually finds her way to the tourist center, and some of the books about that fantasy movie that was filmed in the country.]

[Specifically, you might find her buried in one book all about the elves.]

[No wonder the fans have been calling her a Space Elf! It's not just the ears. The fashion and culture of these fantasy elves looks remarkably similar to Alteans, save for a distinct absence of technology.]


MEMORIAL

[Allura has another dress for the ceremony. It's pink.]

[For a ceremony in memory of the fallen.]

[... ... ...]

[Just.. just ask her about it, if that bothers you?]

Travel

[governorkang]

[The cubicles are much more spacious than a typical airplane seat, but still not quite big enough for a draconian to be comfortable, so he's traveling in human form, sitting nearby. For most of the trip, he's been occupying his time with a couple of books, especially after seeing what movies were available. He is starting to get bored himself, though, and maybe a conversation will liven things up for a bit.]

You're used to faster travel?

kairi | new & registered

[heartslight]

travel;

[ So Kairi is not used to flying, at all. She's seen what ... inter-world travel is like in the Gummi ship through Sora's heart, but never physically experienced it herself. So the feeling of flying above the clouds, having mildly weird movement when walking, and turbulence are a new experience for her.

She spends the first portion of her trip just looking out the window near her, amazed at how a world can look so far below the clouds. It's really beautiful, in all honesty. And incredible how big this world is. You don't need anything like this to move from one end of her world to another. Just a small row boat to help between islands.

But eventually, her curiosity for the plane itself comes up, and suddenly she's wandering about the plane (kind of awkwardly — walking on a plane is difficult and requires a lot of putting your hands on other people's seats sometimes), and eventually showing up at the dining area, where she opts to have some snacks.

However, once she's got a small glass of orange juice in her hand, some turbulence hits. It's already hard enough to keep herself upright when she can feel the plane moving under her feet, but when it's shaking? And she has a drink in her hand? That's kind of not great.

... And moments later, there she goes, stumbling right into someone else, spilling her drink all over the both of them, and possibly knocking them to the ground if they're not stable enough themselves. Oops. ]

Whoa—!!

island;

[ After doing a bit of looking around in the Research Station, Kairi opts to head outside. While the place was amazing, the stuffy atmosphere isn't quite her thing, and all the pictures being taken are a little overwhelming. She needs some air. And considering there's a beach nearby, she knows the perfect place to get that air. Her living area back in America doesn't have one, so this is a nice change of pace for her — to be somewhere familiar.

Kairi can eventually be found peering into the water at any small fish that might swim near the shore fearlessly, or collecting the types of shells that exist here. The latter is the one that ends up taking most of her time.

So there she sits, near the shoreline, a group of various shapes and sizes of shells near her, as she picks one up to look at it closely, and suddenly some tiny legs are peeking out, followed by some tiny eyes. ]

Huh? [ She instinctively looks a bit closer, and watches as its little face(?) retreats back inside, and then comes out a little more when it realizes she's not moving in to eat it or something. ] Oh! Sorry, I didn't know you were using this as a home. [ Laughing softly. ] Don't worry, I won't take it from you.

[ ....... She made a new friend. ]

wildcard

[ Feel free to come at me with something else or PM me at dyingmoon if you want to talk! ]

island

[monster_san]

[Fuu is also seeking a respite from the media, and the novelty of beachwalking in January is appealing enough to choose that as her escape. She feels bad for the new imPorts, honestly, finding themselves under a sudden magnifying lens...

...and speaking of observing, here's someone doing the same for the ocean life. Fuu watches for a moment (watching a watcher?) as the other girl inspects the shells until finding one that moves away.]

I think I know how Mr. Hermit Crab feels. [She smiles.]

Huntress | New and Registered

[bat_daughter]

Memorial

[Some part of Helena wondered what she was doing here, ready to swear loyalty to people who knew far too much about her (and everyone else) and had far too much power and control as it was. Many of her teammates had chosen to retire rather than submit to control of others or compromise their identities during the 1950's, only coming out of it when the political winds changed.

But the situations were not truly comparable. And she needed to know more. Needed to be able to find answers. And for now, this was the best way.

She stood, studying the memorial, her heart breaking for these children, for all of them.

She pulled her scalloped cape more tightly around her.]



((I'm also up for any other starters, or for more specifics, so either PM me or hit me up as Zylly103#7961 on discord))

[iminthebook]

Harry had been wandering, lost in his own thoughts, losses, and wonder at this new place. His world had no superheroes, though it had supernatural beings aplenty. And here, they seemed everywhere. What use did this world have for a wizard, then?

He wasn't sure, but he was curious and looking around. The memorial reminded him all too well of his daughter, somewhere back in his world, who was, thankfully, being taken care of by the Carpenters. Would she be okay? Would any of them?

He stumbled over a rock near another Import, going to one knee for a moment with a wince of pain, and muttered an oath as he rubbed it. Well, that would leave a mark.

"Nice one, Harry, show the new world how smooth you are right off." he rose with another wince and glanced around, then flushed as he saw the nearby woman. And nodded, with a hopefully less embarrassed grin.

Harry Dresden { New and registered }

[iminthebook]

Travel

Harry spends the travel time looking out the window in the dining area, and concentrating on holding his wizard field in along his skin, to keep it from interfering with anything. Why he had decided to go on this trip he wasn't sure, but he was here, now, and he might as well see it through.

He sipped water, as he smiled to himself, sunglasses on, and glanced at those around him. It was a definite mix of people, of all kinds and all varieties. he was curious to see what might happen, really, in this little swearing in. And he had to see the sight before he could do it, before he could take an oath.

Oaths were important, and it mattered where, and when, and to whom you made them. So what would happen on this... Death Island? Harry shook his head. He supposed they would all soon find out.

Island
On the island, Harry rubbernecked with the best of them, letting his senses spread out as much as he dared in this unknown space. He was still feeling new and unused to this new world, having not been here that long, but he was glad he got to at least see more things. Back home, he would never get to a place like this, unless business and the Ways took him to such a place.

And here, he was cut off from the Ways, and the Nevernever. Both seemed unreachable. So he would have to work on other means of hopping around. Another reason to see this place. When everyone was occupied with other things, he took small samples of everything; sand, plants, and even water, storing them in small sample containers he had acquired. He would use them later, in his work.

He made with smiles and nods to all the politicians, scientists, and celebrities, and avoiding shaking hands, or looking too close, with any of them. He was willing to talk,m and with his glasses, look at them, but even he had some standards. And he knew from long experience what he would see with his senses from all too many of them, so he shuttered them at this point.

Ducking his head to avoid media, he wandered around, checking out everything, glad he had been practicing keeping his hex field close to himself and low field. There was a lot of high tech here that would not do well to be exposed to that. He did manage to loom and watch holographic displays that others triggered, however, and dared to scarf down food from several different trays. You never knew when you would get free food again.

The off-limits areas tempted him, but for once, he decided not to go too far off task. He actually, gasp, practiced self-control. Mostly.
He spent some time exchanging stories with some New Zealand natives on their mythology and beliefs and ideas of old stores, trading some of his own from the United States in fairway. He found the time winding past as he spoke to them, almost more than to his fellow Imports.

Harry avoided the newsies like the plague, and when he was pushed too insistently, they had a remarkable number of malfunctions in his presence. For which he claimed no credit whatsoever. Nope.

Memorial

Watching the memorial, Harry felt emotions old and new surging in him. No world was free of loss, apparently, and he remembered his sorrow at losing his dad, and Susan, and Elaine, and others. he remembered it all.

He sighed as he looked at the memorial, and wondered if the worlds, any of them, would ever learn. He renewed his own vow to do his damnedest to protect those he could, and defend those who could not defend themselves. if he could, when he could. All silently, all to himself, he remembered.

He watched a few movies, with others, before retreating to the bigger and shaking his head. That was grim, and he had been to far too many memorials in his time.

Return

It was a somber Harry who took the return flight, hoping it would be a quiet one, hoping he could get some rest without seeing old ghosts, and faces, of the past, before getting home to his brand new home. In a whole new city, no less. He had no idea what to think of it, having only arrived recently, but at least he would be able to rest tomorrow, before starting a job hunt. He was pretty sure he could not do the job they assigned him. Nope.

At least he had a place to himself, and he relished this fact. he was not used to living with people anymore. He was pretty sure he would be terrible at it. he shook his head as the flight went on through the night.

Or Wild card!

@ return

[divaricate]

Well, that was depressing. Wanda sits in her seat with her legs tucked slightly under her and to the side, and is staring into her coffee, watching the spoon stir the cream; she's using her powers to do so, because why not? Red wisps spiral around the handle of the spoon. It's almost as if she doesn't really notice or care that a small section of her dyed reddish-blonde hair has made it's way into the cup.

Tucked near her side, she also has some distractions for later. She brought some work with her (legal nonsense), and a really cheap and shitty looking book that will serve as mindless entertainment to make fun of.

That is, you know, until she's distracted by her work papers falling off and scattering on the floor.

josh foley | elixir | new & unsettled

[goldtoxicity]

TRAVEL.

Who loves Adam Sandler this much? [ mutters a vaguely sentient pile of blankets stooped over in a chair. If he'd known this would be the in-flight entertainment he wouldn't have gone.

Curiosity always wins out over apathy, and he's never been in vacation. No unless you count waking up in Croatia with no way home. This seems slightly less... like that. And it's worth trying to figure out what the hell is going on in the world, right? Right.

He wiggles down into a more comfortable position, opting to brave the Wasp Movie. A gold hand sneaking out of the blankets to nab a handful of popcorn - he's not awake enough to leave the blankets, but he's awake enough to stuff his face and enjoy whatever the hell this is. ]

I cannot bee-lieve this is a real movie. [ please come make fun of this movie with him, he's lonely. ]

ISLAND. a.

[ It's when he actually touches down that he realizes that this might have been a bad idea. He expected something - quiet? Somber? It's a war memorial or something, right? Maybe a few reporters. Maybe a stilted conversation. Not... Not this.

There are a lot of people. Josh stuffs his hands in his pockets and sucks in a breath through his teeth, yanking his hood over his head and sticking to the backs of crowds. He dodges every reporter with a little smile and charm, but people keep looking at him. He's used to that - he's not used to them whispering and nudging each other, or people loudly speculating about his abilities. It's unsettling. He doesn't like the attention - maybe if he was sixteen again and starved for it, he'd be amused. Dressed to the nines and desperate for stardom.

But the blue hoodie isn't, like, nice looking and he keeps it pulled over his face. And he doesn't want eyes or attention on him. ]

Hey. [ He'll slide in beside someone every now and again, someone he can hide behind or is more interesting looking than him, or like, actually prettier than him. Someone who he hopes will get more attention. ] You mind? I'm not feeling the camera.

ISLAND. b.

[ He'll get some food. Mingle a little - occasionally talking with his mouth full as someone approaches with an introduction, juggling the food in his hands to extend a hand to shake. But eventually he's splitting off from the crowd because someone or another isn't well, and he offers them a healing in the form of a handshake and an awkward introduction.

And then he's back, awkwardly ruffling his hair and reaching for something else to eat, trying to appear less distracted. ]

Sorry, uh, what were you saying? [ It's worth noting he probably wasn't talking to you - or if you were saying something, he wasn't paying attention. ]

MEMORIAL.

[ Now this is where he knows he's made a mistake.

He feels sick. Genuinely sick to his stomach. A scientist with hatred for imPorts isn't one to one with an insane zealot with a hatred for mutants, but it's close enough that he spends most of the speeches with a hand covering the lower half of his face to try to hide his reactions. Biological weapons. Mass destruction. Kids dying because they have superpowers and they think they're the only ones who can help.

He lays down a rose. He doesn't give his name or his loyalty to the government. And then he beats a hasty retreat from everyone, settling down in the most private area he can find to allow himself a moment. ]

RETURN.

[ He doesn't say much. Just keeps his eyes out the window, expression distant and far away. The Wasp Movie is playing again but his attention. ]

travel

[iliveidie]

[Kasia is somewhere close enough to overhear Josh and decides to move a little closer, leaning into his area.] Who exactly is this Adam Sandler?

[His pun seems to go over her head or she simply doesn't find it humorous.

Brandon Heat | Registered | OTA

[codeofiron]

[cw: reference to violence to eyes, potentially to death.]

1- the station

[For anyone who hasn't seen Brandon since last month, the difference in his appearance is striking. The left side of his face is now dominated by a scar, a burst centered around his left eye socket and trailing down his cheek. The left lens of his glasses is solid black, obscuring the glass eye that's now behind it. It's a lot more dramatic than he's ever looked before.

In other ways, though, he's stuck to what's normal. His black hair is slicked back, though more of it than usual has managed to escape. And he's still wearing his usual black suit, though he does end up taking off his tie and tucking it in a pocket. It's not that different from how the city he's from is in summer, but it's warm enough.

He passes the tourism displays by, but does take the time for one of the holographic tours of the Center. They certainly emphasize the mission to neutralize biological and chemical weapons. Brandon looks somewhat skeptical.

Afterwards, he picks up some iced tea and heads to the edges of the gathering, giving a nod to anyone he knows. He turns down any of the servers offering wine. He saw what happend at the last swear-in. If something happens, he wants a completely clear head.]


2- the press

[Brandon is used to being the person behind the person who speaks, not someone given a spotlight himself. He's usually been able to get away with that here nearly as well as he is back home - he is, after all, pretty unremarkable compared to imPorts like Baelish.

He's not getting away with it today. A small group of reporters have cornered him with questions ranging from do you think imPorts have done more damage to Maurtia Falls than good? to (repeatedly) what happened to your eye?]

No comment. [At this point, he's almost loud.]


3- the memorial

[Hope that we can rebuild and move forward. That's the ideal, isn't it? Fix what you can.

He hangs back for a while after the speeches, letting others pay their respects before he picks up one of the white flowers and places it carefully by the wall. He doesn't touch any of the names, but takes a moment to note each of them again as he passes. They all died trying to protect.]

Boba Fett | Unsettled | OTA

[myownprice]

i. airbus
[Boba doesn’t know much about the history of this island they’re traveling too. He’d simply heard that it’s a place where several imPorts had died—and then not come back. That alone is enough to make the place interesting to him and actually seeing the place for himself seems to be the best way to learn more.

So he’d boarded the “airbus,” expecting a short flight. After all, the place they’re going is on the same planet, so it shouldn’t take more than an hour, right? But then one hour stretches into two and then two into four and Boba realizes that he may have miscalculated just how archaic this method of travel is. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if there weren’t dozens of other imPorts all shoved into the same cabin, many of them currently up and about and carrying on their own conversations. The whole situation is much too like the Candaserri for Boba’s liking.

Eventually, he decides to take matters into his own hands. Soon, his seat can be distinguished by what appears to be two airline blankets tied together and draped over either side of the cubicle, forming a canopy that separates him from the rest of the cabin.

It’s not exactly his own private room, but it’s the best he can do under the circumstances.

ii. onward research station
When they’re finally dropped off at the site of the Swear-in, the last thing Boba expects is for anything about the place to be familiar. Practically nothing has been since he arrived on this planet. Why would this island be any different? But when the doors to the Onward Research Center slide open, the facility that greets them looks more like something from his galaxy than anything he’s encountered on Earth so far—so much so that for a moment, Boba can only stand and stare. It’s not just that it looks like his galaxy; with its gleaming white hallways and immaculately sterile surfaces, the place looks like it could’ve been ripped directly from his home planet of Kamino.

He walks slowly down the entrance corridor, feeling more than a little unsettled. Of course it’s not really Kamino, but the reminder of a simpler time is still disorienting to say the least. And it’s not the only reminder there is. Boba can hear snippets of conversations from the scientists and reporters also passing through the hall, but it’s not their words that surprise him. It’s their voices. Many of them are speaking with an unmistakable Concord Dawn accent—the same he has and the same his father had had. The accent had been rare enough in his galaxy. He has no idea what it’s doing on Earth, in a facility that looks like Kamino of all places.

Perhaps to some, the illusion of familiarity would be comforting, but as Boba follows the other imPorts deeper into the building, he only feels more and more disconcerted. This place looks and sounds familiar but not familiar enough to be right, like seeing someone you recognize with their features just slightly off.

Eventually, he breaks away from the main group and slinks off to find his own way. The main tour circuit is too loud, anyway. And right now, Boba would prefer to think through this muddle on his own—unaware that any other imPorts had had the same idea.]

i

[merging]

[Ezra's bored. He's already watched all of the Adam Sandler movies somehow and he's starting to get the urge to kick the back of the seat in front of him. Which he knows he probably shouldn't do, but eh. Usually on a long trip, he'd have the Ghost crew to hang out with, but considering how things with him and Kanan are right now... That's not happening. Sabine's probably the person he misses the most at the moment, so obviously he's gotta bug another Mandalorian.

When he first noticed the blanket fort, he didn't think much of it. Someone's trying to get some peace and quiet and they figured out a cool way of doing it. Except now that he's out of movies...

Still seated in his own cubicle, Ezra lifts a hand and begins to move the blankets with the Force. The first few times are just slight, small movements. The sorta thing you might feel as if you imagined. Then it's more like the wind is blowing them. And finally, it looks like someone is outside Boba's cubicle, trying to pull them down.]

captain rex | ota

[ct_7567]

o1. the airship.

[ Rex is abundantly used to uncomfortable, inconvenient traveling situations, which makes this journey a particularly non-descript one for him. But after a time, he realizes how archaic it really is, how slowly they're moving, and has a moment of homesickness if not only for the fact that they're actually able to get anywhere with some measure of efficiency.

He watches five minutes of the Wasp movie and turns it off in disgust. ] I don't know why people keep telling me to watch these things. They're all bad.

o2. the facility.

[ Somehow, this place is more familiar than any other that Rex has been on his planet. It's neither comforting nor discomfiting. He strolls the halls, hands tucked neatly behind his back, looking back and forth between the familiar white walls and the sleek, sanitized floors. ] That's odd, [ you may hear him murmuring. ] They've even got our accents.

[ Ah, the plights of your accent being Space New Zealand.

Or, of course, you may catch him with a reporter, staring woodenly at them. ] You! You're an imPort, yes?

Yes.

Are you happy to be here?

It's fine.

Do you have any comments on the lost heroes?

No.

Why did you come?

No comment.

[ Boy, this one's a tough nut to crack. ]

o3. the memorial.

[ Perhaps he's grown callous over the years, but the memorial isn't what he was expected. Anyone's loss is worth commemorating. He can understand that. But all of this for seven people? Their cause was doubtlessly noble and just, but in the wake of so much that ravages every world, it seems somehow unfair that these seven have been chosen to be remembered. You may find him standing quietly in front of the memorial, solemn but not remorseful, politely refusing to leave flowers. It's not his way and it's not his place. ]

travel;

[kanyounot]

[ Kanan, who obviously cannot see the movies, but can hear them just fine, has to smile a little at Rex's words. ]

The humor is always toughest to manage. Comedy is pretty culturally specific.

jaime reyes / blue beetle | ota

[khajidont]

o1. the airship.

Okay. These choices freaking suck.

[ The Wasp movie? Adam Sandler? Really? Jaime shakes his head, then looks down at his hand in his lap, realizing one of the great boons of having his ID outed: he can use his powers whenever he wants, for whatever purpose he wants. As he looks down at his right hand, his fingertips becomes coated in a black, viscous liquid that quickly hardens into a shell, the flat planes on the very tips just very faintly glowing. He looks at his neighbour. ]

If you had your choice, what would you rather watch?

o2. the press.

[ And here it is: the reason why he didn't want to come here in the first place. When he was plain old Jaime Reyes, people seldom took interest in him, even as an imPort. He was always one of the duller ones. Now? People want to hear what he has to say. He's in the midst of being swarmed by reporters and battered with questions (of which he's answered none; he always gets stage fright in times like this) when he gives up, flicking his hand. There's a cry of dismay, then of anger. ]

Sorry. But all your stuff will turn back on in literally two minutes, I promise. Just... no more questions, please.

[ Oh boy. He probably didn't do himself any favours there. ]

o3. the memorial.

[ And here it is: the reason that he came in the first place. It had felt too jarringly familiar not to come and pay his respects. You may find him standing by the memorial, quietly going through all of the stories, something unreadable in his expression. ]

I guess it's the same no matter where you go, huh...? [ Eventually he sighs, shaking his head. ] I wonder how Journey felt about the whole thing.

[ The sole veteran, leading the lambs into the slaughter. It's telling, perhaps, that that's who he relates to more even though he's still closer in age to the younger people on the list. ]

1

[monster_san]

[Fuu is finding herself similarly unenthused at their highly limited viewing choices. If someone had sat down to figure out which entertainer that she, Hououji Fuu, would least enjoy, they couldn't have done better than Mr. Sandler.

She's surprised to see Jaime start to armor up, though--wait--that's part of it too? Just messing with devices?]

Really? [She presses her fingers to her lips, feigning shock.] The choices are bad, but bad enough to have Khaji-san intervene?

Kanan | Registered

[kanyounot]

[ i. In transit ]

[ Kanan is, as usual, apparently unfazed by the long trip. After all, he spent a lot of long, boring periods of time traveling through hyperspace on the Ghost over the years. It's just a thing you have to do sometimes.

He pretty much ignores the in-flight entertainment (there are only certain genres of film that he can reliably follow without his eyesight, anyway), and mostly just... meditates. He might even appear to be asleep, though he doesn't really sleep much at all. ]

You're not disturbing me, you know.

[ Did he catch you staring at him? Wondering if he's alive or dead? Have a burning question? ]

[ ii. the island ]

[ Kanan mostly sticks to the food, but he's also checking out some of the research. Thank goodness for the holographic guides - a shocking number of places still rely on written words that don't do him any good.

And of course, the press is here. They like to pepper ImPorts with questions, but Kanan handles it with relative grace. ]

I'm here because I think it's important to remember the suffering that hatred causes. If we try to overcome our differences and live peacefully with each other, we can make this world better for everyone living here, native and ImPort alike.

[ iii. wildcard ]

[ Hit me with whatever, or poke me at frodabaggins or Froda#4691 @ discord if you want a specific starter! ]

The Island

[dreamprotector]

[Given that he's a child from a small Island World that barely has enough news to warrant a weekly newsletter Riku finds the press and their eagerness, well… a little disturbing, to be honest. Thankfully the guy right before him seems to have a pretty good handle on them, so he stays back and waits out until they are finished with the other and ducks away before they can think to question him.

Once they are gone, he can't help but ask:]

…Is it always like this?

[The swear-ins, he means.]

Riku | New + Registered

[dreamprotector]

[ A – Airbus Blast Off! ]

[For all that Riku has a little experience with traveling by Gummi Ship, the few times he had to do that kind of trip, he'd been glad by the time he got to stretch his feet again. This Airbus is much larger than the Gummi Ship he had taken to pick up Kairi – a good thing, considering how many people are being transported, but given they time they are traveling – Riku gets a little restless after a while.

Come hour three, he walks over to the dinning area to stretch his legs, sighing.]

Never thought I'd miss Dark Corridors.

[Say what you want about what it means to be capable of making them, they are pretty convenient in the end.

Later, he attempts to distract himself from the length of the journey by watching the wasp movie… though the plot leaves him frowning a lot. It's not the talking wasp that bothers him… but, the rebellion against humankind that the protagonist wasp leads… about halfway through the movie he can't help but ask:]

…Why?

[He is aware that it's just a story, that it's supposed to be entertaining… but Riku honestly can't see it.]


[ B – Daydream Upon Sacrifice Island ]

[Riku feels himself relax a lot when they set down and he exits to the Island. This right now? This is the kind of climate that he's grown up in and it probably shows a little. He's comfortable with the heat and the sight of the forest, smiling a little even.

Honestly, if the locals hadn't warned him off exploring, he would be wandering those woods right now – and it's more respect that keeps him from doing so anyway, than the fear of getting lost.

The media takes him entirely off guard though; they are pushy and keep talking over another in their haste to get any kind of comment. To which Riku only has to say…]

I don't even know what you want me to comment on.

[He's aware that something of note must have happened here – they likely don't call it a memorial for nothing, but the details are something he is unaware of… though clearly something he needs to investigate, given how much attention this incident seems to have drawn.

Later, when he's gotten out of that cluster of media people and made it into the research station, he is more focused – intent on learning what has happened here… what makes this particular island so important. He listens to the guide explanations, arms crossing as he frowns.]

…What is biological weapons study?

[Nothing good – he is sure, but the details worry him… if it's anything like what Ansem the Wise and Xehanort used to study… well, the results of that had thrown the balance of the Worlds into chaos. Whatever this is in detail… Riku has a bad feeling about it.]


[ C – Wildcard ]

[ Riku will be at the memorial, and likely spend the return flight being even slightly more restless – if you want to hit him up during either of that, shoot me a note via PM or plurk (iceyly)! :3 ]

A

[pharmaka]

[ Circe is tense, honestly. The experience of getting to the moon was as simple as Porting for her own swear-in; it didn't require sitting patiently in a metal beast while it flies through the air for hours on end. It's one of the more bizarre, and alarming, of the new technologies she's had to deal with.

Sitting in the dining area trying to distract herself with practicing her handwriting in English is about all she can think of to do. Circe isn't the most social person, but that's by necessity, not inclination; she's relieved to have a better distraction, and sets down her (also bizarre) pen, stretching out her lightly calloused fingers. ]

Whatever those are, they must be preferable to this odd contraption. [ She certainly sounds long-suffering, if not cranky. ]

Darin Altway | Registered

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Island

[Darin had been making an honest attempt at going to swear-ins more, especially since the fiasco on the moon. He figured that it was going to start coming with the territory, and as a member of Aegis, he should probably start getting used to having a public presence. He's cleaned up, but still dressed in his sky blue, sleeveless over shirt and slacks, his usual attire when out on patrol.]

[He wasn't expecting such a huge media turnout. He does his best and fumbles through some questions, especially those that were politically charged. He was here for a reason, and while paying his respects was one of them, there was another more secret one. Regardless, he did his best to pose for photos and indulge the media here and there.]

[One question though, catches him off guard. A young reporter calls him out by name and brings up the fact that he's operating a forge in Nonah where he builds and tests weapons. She asks him how people should be expected to feel safe when he's sitting atop an armory.]

[Darin stops and almost bristles at the question. He turns to the reporter and looks right into the camera trained on him.]

I do what I do to protect both civilians and imPorts alike. I don't favor one or the other because at the end of the day, we're all just people. If people are worried about the things I create, then I can't stop them. They have a right to their opinions about me. All I can hope to do is change those opinions through honorable actions. And that's what I'm gonna try and do. People might not like me...and that's okay. That doesn't mean I won't do everything I can to save everyone I can.

Count on it.

[With a grin, he nods to the camera and walks off towards the research station.]

Memorial
[Believe it or not, Darin is actually wearing a suit. And he hates it. Literally, totally hated it. Every few seconds he's tugging at his collar, and his arms look like they might just outright tear through the seams.]

[Even so, he's staying as far off to the side as he can, enjoying a drink and taking peeks at all of the attendees. He certainly seems antsy, the way he's shifting from foot to foot.]

Distraction - CLOSED to Riptide
[It was time to get things underway. Darin knew that a guy like him would never be able to sneak past security, but he figured that maybe he could help his small team in other ways. Like causing a big enough distraction to lure security away from the research station. Watching the hover carts move about, Darin got an idea.]

[Pretending to act drunk, Darin nabs one of the carts and, as loudly as possible, begins riding it and smashing it into other carts. When a guard comes to escort him away, Darin goes ragdoll, and squirms out of the guard's grasp. A minor scuffle, in which Darin easily evaded three annoyed guards, later and Darin is leading the majority of the security force away from the Research Station. he bobs and weaves through crowds of people, doing his best to keep his face hidden, and makes a beeline for the harbor.]

[Dashing out onto a pier, Darin spies a blue, super fast looking speedboat. That should be good enough! He leaps into the boat and hits the ignition, hoping against hope that it starts. And when it does, Darin claps his hands together eagerly and starts to speed out onto the open water.]

[He'll return the boat later for sure.]

HERE WE GO

[knaval]

[riptide is not aware of what darin has done-- in fact he's just having a little rest at the harbour. he's a little unhappy that what he did turned up nothing, but whatever! he didn't have high hopes to begin with. it was a "what if" situation. he's actually almost fallen asleep when darin jumps onto him and blasts off out of a panicked reaction.

he is very fast. they get about a mile out from the island before his processor catches up with everything and he starts slowing down, turning to go back.]

What the-- [a voice seems to be coming from the navigation system... what little there is of one. he's still in his cybertronian alt-mode.] --YOU?! WHAT THE FRAG ARE YOU DOING ON ME?!

[the boat starts bucking in the water, despite there being minimal waves. riptide is trying to throw him off, still a little panicked.]