Lieutenant Ari Tayrey (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
astrogator) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
come_sailaway2022-11-23 06:04 pm
astrogator) wrote in 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 :) )
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 :) )
Relaxing
[And far better that the suggestion comes from one of the others than her. Ari's been telling people what to do a lot today, she doesn't want to push anyone too far. Crichton has impressed her from the beginning, when he'd helped to check that everyone had packed properly. He was competent, reliable, and that song about the bottles of beer had made her laugh far too much.
She'd joined in until the very end.]
I'll take a middle watch. [They were the worst; nobody liked broken sleep, but Ari held herself responsible for this expedition, so of course she had to volunteer.]
no subject
[He's familiar with how terrible the middle watch is too. He's much happier with his own assigned first watch.]
I have to say, you're running a pretty tight operation here. I'm guessing you've done a lot of these?
no subject
[She smiles.] I've done a few. Planetary expeditions, some of them uncharted. My very first was to this... ice planet. [Ari laughs at the memory.] I was so pleased about it, didn't realise it was a case of giving it to the new lieutenant because nobody else wanted to go. Anyway - it was a success! Nobody got lost, or frostbitten, or attacked by creatures. So hopefully we'll do at least as well today. I'm trying not to be too military about it, but ensure everyone's safe and we get all the data we need.
[It's true - although if she'd had a team of spacers there would be just as much singing and amusements at camp. Probably worse teasing.]
no subject
[ This: said with a wry smile. Arthur's in a good mood, especially after Crichton's ridiculous song, which he was humming within two rounds and singing along to like he'd known it all his life after four.
He finds a seat by them with his hands, and exhales loudly as he plops down in it. His joints are killing him and they'll be worse in the morning, but that, as they say, is a problem for tomorrow-Arthur. ]
no subject
[He plops down just shy of being in Arthur's lap and nudges the man playfully in the ribs.]
Hey, hey, don't say that, Arthur, you'll jinx it.
You know, I've only been to one ice planet, that wasn't a great time--but man, do I have some stories about some of the other ones.
no subject
Yes, I figured that out a little late, but I'm never one to turn down a challenge! Show people that you're competent, and they'll treat you accordingly.
[Turning back to Arthur.]
Have you done much exploring yourself, then? [It's lightly asked. She doesn't know much of his background, but she's curious.]
I'd love to hear the stories. [From either of them. Both of them.]
no subject
His folded cane hangs by its strap from one wrist; he swings it back and forth as he answers dryly. ]
Only out of necessity. You'd be amazed at how many secret caves and abandoned crypts can fit into one small corner of Massachusetts.
no subject
[He bumps Arthur back just as casually, so used to the routine between them it barely takes any thought. Yes, how could anyone have guessed??]
Huh. Let me try and think of a story that doesn't end... badly.
[Give him a minute. There has to be one...]
Uh...
[No, really, there has to be one...??]
Well, I could tell you about... no, hm...
[What if he just tells the interesting parts and leaves off the bad? He could try that.]
Did I ever tell you my ship got pregnant?
no subject
She nods at Arthur's explanation, and resolves to ask him about the secret caves later.
Then, for a moment, she's worried she might have brought up bad memories - but wait - a pregnant ship? Ari can't help but laugh.]
Did someone build a small-scale model of the ship and hide it inside, like a baby?
no subject
Equally amused and curious: ]
Yes, I-I think I should like to know how that works as well.
no subject
no subject
Except this isn't a regular ship. She's an alien, apparently. Ari raises a hand, palm out.]
Hold there. Before we even get to babies, if she's part of an alien species, how is she a ship? Are you all living in a dome on her back while she pulls you though space, or... [Ari's imagination is failing her. All she has are tall tales of monstrous space creatures - which weren't real, and even if they had been, nobody would try to live on them like spacefaring parasites.]
no subject
Moya and Pilot together are... they are part of the family. And they are not slaves. We aren't like the Peacekeepers that were using them both before. When we are planning to do something dangerously reckless, they get a vote. Moya protects us and we protect her. She was my home, and she was also my friend.