astrogator: (pic#15819322)
Lieutenant Ari Tayrey ([personal profile] astrogator) wrote in [community profile] come_sailaway2022-11-23 06:04 pm

To infinity...and beyond? (Semi-open)

Who: Ari Tayrey + willing CR + anyone else who wants in
What: Mini-plot: an expedition to determine what kind of infinite this store really is
When: 25-29??? November
Where: The Infinite Tommy Bahama
Warnings: None yet
Notes: First prompt is a text message sent to Ari's friendly-ish CR - replies are welcome even from people who don't want to take part! Other prompts are open but please note that participating characters will potentially be in the store for up to 4/5 days. Party post rules are fine, start your own toplevels and tag people other than Ari if you like. ((I checked with our lovely mod about what would happen if they tried this!))



1. Texting

I have a plan. I want to see just how infinite this Tommy Bahama is. Multi-day expedition for data collection? It could be informative. Maybe fun, too. Interested in coming along?

- Tayrey

2. Preparing

Even people who don't know Ari well may notice that something is up. It's not often that people walk into Tommy Bahama wearing backpacks full of supplies. There's some last-minute preparation going on here, as well as a last-minute opportunity to join the expedition. Expect Ari to want to check and make sure everyone has all the essentials with them. She's used to preparing for trips to uninhabited and potentially hostile planets, and it shows. Don't mind the fussing. She wouldn't do it if she didn't care.

3. Exploring

Despite all the promises, the expedition is - well, boring might be an accurate description, unless you're really invested in the outcome. There's a lot of walking past the same racks of clothes, over and over and over. Infinite length doesn't mean infinite variety.

Ari's fascinated, and she'll be chattering about loop programming to anyone who will listen, and attempting to measure the distance between one rack of garishly-patterned bikinis and the next iteration of that very same rack. She'll encourage tests, too - what happens if you completely destroy one of the displays? Is the destruction repeated? (Spoiler alert: no, it's not that kind of loop, but let's try it a few times anyway and make sure?)

Maybe you give up and head back after a few hours. Maybe you have a run-in with the Bahamanal. Maybe you join in with Ari's ridiculous spacer song singalong - she is in a good mood. It's Tommy Bahama, anything could happen.

4. Relaxing

Ari pushes the pace on the first day, because it comes naturally to do so, and possibly, subconsciously, to weed out anyone who isn't serious about this and is going to cause them problems once they're a long way in. Eventually, though, it's time to stop for the night. There's not a campfire, but it's a fine social occasion just the same. Ari's brought some Serena Eterna branded playing cards, and she's up for a little gambling. Maybe you have some other entertainment ideas. Don't stay up too long, though - see if you can't make a nice nest of clothes to bed down in. There's plenty of walking to do tomorrow.

5. Emerging

Plenty of data has been collected about the repeating displays, but there's no end in sight to this store. Is it really infinite? If there's a way to answer that question, this expedition won't do it. It's over two days in when the group realises that they're over halfway through the supplies they brought. Time to turn around, whether that leaves you disappointed or delighted.

Unfortunately, there are no tricks of perception or proportion here. It'll take just as long to walk out as it did to walk in. Look on the bright side, at least you're carrying less weight? Finally, on the fifth day, the intrepid explorers who stayed the distance catch sight of the store entrance up ahead. Who saw it first?

6. Wildcard

Anything else you want to do! (Just let me know if I need to add warnings to the header :) )
crushed_pearls: (Default)

And the prize winner is YOU

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-11-24 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"Joined and excelled!" Erin takes a measured swig of her canteen. "At long last the abbot tells our man that he is ready, and takes him to a locked door behind which is the source of the sound. Our man is given the key, but when he opens the door there is another behind it! A door carved from a single ruby, glittering and bright. Very funny, our man says, and he's given another key. Behind the ruby door is one of steel, and he unlocks this too, only to find a door made all of fire. He takes the key and unlocks it..."

((OOC: We now enter me adding timestamps to this joke in future tags))
konpeito_aji: (huh?)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2022-11-24 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"How did he unlock a door made of fire, wouldn't the lock melt?"
crushed_pearls: (Default)

Still Basically The Same Time

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-11-24 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"It depends on the version of the story you hear," Erin says thoughtfully. "My people tell it as a door of literal fire, unlocked by a key of ice, but I've heard it as a burning door unlocked by a steel key - like the previous door - or that our man's enlightenment protected him from the flames and the door of fire is part of the test to see if he's truly worthy."

Erin claps her hands together. "But! Things only get stranger for our man here, for behind the door of fire was a door of rippling water. He's deep into the passageway now, and a line of monks has formed behind the abbot to pass the keys back and forth. He unlocks the door of water and behind it is a door of living wood, heavy with succulent apples. He unlocks the living door, and behind it is a door of fulgarite. Behind the lightning-glass door is a door of twisting wind..."
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-11-24 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Uhh...hold on, let me back up in my head here and see how much context this takes to make sense."

There are not literal, physical rewinding sounds, but spiritually there very much are. Erin taps her chin while they walk, trying to figure out how best to put this.

"..."Good enough for government work" is a saying from my nation that started ages ago, when the standards for government employees were revised in a really public move by our rulers at the time. Unified standards would later turn out to be a really, really good idea, but the transition outta like, just having whoever was in charge of the job supposedly pick you on merit, which they fucking did not, was roundly mocked. People would start saying something was 'good enough for government work' to mean it's the bare minimum of what will be accepted, and despite knowing all this the phrase is stuck. In my fucking mouth. And now it's in your head."
konpeito_aji: (stubborn fool (of Owari))

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2022-11-24 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"So how many keys are there? Damn monks."
konpeito_aji: (Ayyyy lmao)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2022-11-24 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Nobunaga laughs, because of course he does. And as any one of his friends could now tell Erin, he's going to start parroting this phrase like a five year old learning dirty swears. That's the kind of weirdo he is. "Okay! Good enough for government work, got it." Bare minimum. Made sense. "Have you told Teyrey that one? Or used it around her, I mean. Sounds like something the Tradeliners would agree with."
konpeito_aji: (well rested)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2022-11-24 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, of course. It's all the Captain's library anyway. Public library, not private. I had one like that. Mitsunari Ishida was, or is, in charge of it. He gets lost in reading so easily that Hideyoshi has to remind him to eat. Half of the reason he decided to be a mother hen, I suspect.
not_the_last: (Default)

[personal profile] not_the_last 2022-11-25 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
Cassandra has been listening quietly the entire time, and it's only here that she begins to have to suppress laughter.

The prolonging of the sequence is becoming increasingly obvious, and she can't wait to see what the punchline is going to be.
busball: (84)

OTA - Preparing

[personal profile] busball 2022-11-25 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
While you nerds are worried about water (rightfully so), Klaus definitely made a point to pack alcohol in the bag he found at the Tommy Bahama. He's brought clothes to change into and (if Nobunaga told him to be sensible) also water and some food, but there's at least three bottle of alcohol in this baby and Klaus is certain this isn't enough.

"Do you think I should get another bag? We might need more..."
busball: (20)

[personal profile] busball 2022-11-25 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
Klaus settles in a reasonable one person-sized space away. "Braille cards would definitely be useful, but I don't know if they exist on the ship. I'll ask Friday maybe."

He glances up at everyone else. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm fine with an assigned dealer." A beat. "Does sharing my alcohol count as payment," they ask as they look over at Erin. "I didn't bring any cups, though, so you'd have to also be fine with that." A beat. "Or I can just whisper conspiratorially with you over what cards I have and we can win this together."
busball: (71)

Exploring

[personal profile] busball 2022-11-25 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
Klaus is definitely far too aware of that whip, but he's doing his best at behaving.

Do not say anything about save a horse, ride a cowboy.

"Horses would probably be useful, but in here??? Definitely not at all useful. Probably very awkward." He laughs before still humming Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy. But it's fine, cause he's not singing the lyrics, right? This is totally the finest thing they have ever done in their entire life.
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-11-25 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
"We can't just be teaming up," Erin chastises, playfully. "And I don't drink when I'm working, but I appreciate the offer. Unfortunately for both of us sharp metal and alcohol don't mix in a way that's good for anyone's health."

Thoughtfully: "...I might end up the only one not hurt and the explanations for that shit would just be never-ending. Would you happen to be the Klaus that the Demon King has been so enthusiastic about?"
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-11-25 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
With Extreme Delicacy: "The Lieutenant and I have had a somewhat prickly relationship to date and I'm not sure entirely how to improve it. I have. Objections to the form of governance she considers normal, and she's understandably proud of her home. I'm decently certain I've given offense multiple times."
busball: (85)

[personal profile] busball 2022-11-25 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, that's disappointing, honestly." But he's smiling still. "I guess that's fair." A beat. "Is there sharp metal involved in this situation?" Is this another knife thing? Blackbeard was definitely drinking and offering knife lessons. "I guess I'll keep the alcohol for myself, then. In case of danger."

They glance over. "If it was just me, it would be fine cause like...I've died so many times." Klaus laughs softly. "Yes. That's me. Nobunaga does get very excitable. I'm still getting used to the intense positivity."
konpeito_aji: (Entertain me)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2022-11-25 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Horses aren't very fond of ships, it's true," Nobunaga nods.

"What are you humming Lucky Four?"
konpeito_aji: (amused)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2022-11-25 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
Nobunaga did tell him the plan, and he would normally advise against alcohol, but Klaus doesn't need to go through withdrawal hallucinations and temperamental mood changes, nor everyone else through Klaus experiencing it, but the clothes do get an arched eyebrow. "You're carrying clothes into a store of... clothes?" Klaus please.

"I brought extra bags, but be careful about the weight. I know you are stronger than you like to pretend, and I am sadistic enough to make you carry more, not less, if you start whining."
busball: (74)

[personal profile] busball 2022-11-25 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
Klaus looks down, biting his lower lip. "It's just a dumb song. You wouldn't like it." Yes, he would. Nobunaga would love it.

"Okay, you would totally love it, but also we're supposed to be behaving."
busball: (55)

[personal profile] busball 2022-11-25 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
Klaus shrugs. "I mean..hey. Maybe I want something different than Tommy Bahama." They pause. "Okay, I only have one outfit that's not Tommy Bahama." He waves it off. No need to worry about this.

Klaus pouts at that. "You would make me carry more things if I whine?" More pouting at that. "You wouldn't just carry me?" But to be fair, if nothing else, they can just float through the store.
konpeito_aji: (stubborn fool (of Owari))

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2022-11-25 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
Nobunaga closes his eyes and nods. "Most people have." It's a bit to explain. Teyrey could be prickly, though in general Nobunaga considered himself worse. Valdis also irritated her, though Nobunaga wasn't sure the full story, but he's used to Hideyoshi and Mitsuhide not getting along either, especially since Mitsuhide was always deceptively plotting without always making sure Hideyoshi knew what was fully going on. Further exacerbating the tensions between Hideyoshi's worries about being peasant born and Mitsuhide knowing the royal court inside out, even when he worked with the underground of Hell. And Teyrey was a lot like Hideyoshi. She definitely preferred everything clearly outlined, and proper channels of chain of command, black and white morality, and she hated being seen as young or incapable - the space equivalent to Hideyoshi's self-doubt about not being noble born.

"Culture clash is difficult, is it not? She's vegetarian. I suppose the future, or her sector has a lot of luxury not to worry about food." A shrug. "I can't imagine what that is like. Mizusaki also got distressed at the idea of hunting rabbits, I've never heard of such a thing. But then, I see nothing wrong with Siffleur's hunting other ship members out of boredom, even without food being scarce here." Ayyyy. The other reason, he knew, Valdis decided to come along - so Nobunaga wasn't caught up in playing games and upsetting his friends.

He waves a hand. "Just one example. Have you spoken to her since she won the elderberries?" Aka: the slaver outing.
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-11-25 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
"My pleasure to meet you." Erin reaches over to offer a hand to shake; she moves no closer than is absolutely necessary to do so. "I'm Erin, and as for the sharp metal I might gently remind you that this store is haunted by several man-devouring beasts and also Siffleur. The sword arm stays sober."
konpeito_aji: (Bad things lurk in shadows: like me)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2022-11-25 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
Shit. He might just carry Klaus. That's a problem. No! He will be stubborn! A stern armfold!

"You're already whining, Lucky 4. Should I start adding more snacks to your packs? See how much weight your superpower can withstand before it breaks?"
konpeito_aji: (I always win)

1/2

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2022-11-25 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
"Liar," Nobunaga starts to lean in with an evil smirk before Klaus fixes that and --

Yeah, okay!

Fair! Very fair.
Edited 2022-11-25 01:49 (UTC)
konpeito_aji: (always on a sugar high)

2/2

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2022-11-25 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
And then he just laughs, leaning right back on his heels. "Okay, tell me when we stop. Know any songs that won't get us into trouble?"

That might be hard to do.

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