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 :) )
I love her so much XDDD
An evil grin to Klaus. "I'll be garlic bread, but you're always stuck being ice cream. Too fast and I get brainfreeze."
Bangs no fun allowed sign into the ground
"Jesus-- fucking christ, Nobunaga, what possesses you to think that's an appropriate question?"
His tone is sharp, but his cheeks are warm with embarrassment.
you are all terrible and i love you
Sorry, not sorry Klaus. You get what you get for sharing that with the entire store. Also, Arthur teaching Crichton manners? That will be the day.
"Between you all and that werecougar, I think I've had enough commentary about eating my ass for one lifetime, thanks."
MAKING IT WORSE FOREVER
"Ehhhh did Siffleur give you recipes too? He just ate mine raw."
...............
Okay, even Nobunaga blushes at that. "That's not as bad as I just made it sound, I swear."
[fires broadside]
"We are not anywhere near close enough for you to make comments like that, and you are going to stop fucking making them to me before it turns into a problem." There isn't a single hint in his slightly raised voice, or in the tense lines of his face, that he's less than serious about this. "If this is how you discuss your friends, I'm not fucking surprised that you're so stunned when you manage to make one."
What, you didn't think the offhand 'he called me his friend!' comment could be ammunition? In the absence of anything stronger, it is now.
you sank my battleship
Arthur, however, doesn't seem to be having that problem. And, oh boy, Crichton knows that tone. Danger. Danger Will Robinson. He hastily puts a hand on Arthur's shoulder, hoping the usual calming method will still work when he's this heated.
"You know, I think we've done enough sharing for one evening. Why don't we all start getting ready for bed, huh?"
rip
Keeping this to like a second in time so Erin has a chance to jump back in
He knows from the footsteps that someone has left, but can only guess that it was Nobunaga until Klaus says he'll follow him, and gives his whole speech. And Arthur's feelings on the whole thing are...
Complicated.
Sick satisfaction at scoring a hit, queasy guilt at hitting so much harder than expected, defensiveness, regret, embarrassment, anger. He bites back anything else he might say -- maybe Crichton's hand is helping after all -- but he looks, though still heated, a lot less sure of himself. There's a momentary 'oh, shit' visible on his face before it's lost again in the tension there.
gonna slide in here late and with no starbucks
Arthur, however, is still tense and twitching beneath his hand. And they are still very much out in the open here. So, maybe he should follow through on that plan to head off to bed.
"Hey," he says quietly into Arthur's ear, "Let's go for a walk, okay?"
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It's impossible to tell how soon they're out of earshot of the camp, but Arthur can't stay silent for long. "Who the fuck does he think he is?" he demands under his breath. "Have I -- 'tried you', jesus fucking christ."
It was partly defensiveness on Crichton's behalf, and it was partly insecurity, because Nobunaga scored his own unintended bullseye; it was also the deeply unsafe feeling of being addressed as a couple, in mixed company, by people he hadn't even told; and it was the plain discomfort at being dragged into that conversation, and smarting joints, and stress about whether he'll sleep badly in front of other people, and wanting a fucking drink to deal with that, and no, he's not over it yet. Fuck off.
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For now, Arthur needs him. That comes first.
"Nobunaga's a close friend, and I love him for all his faults, but he goes too far sometimes. He says he doesn't know better and maybe he doesn't but I'm... working on it with him."
He pulls Arthur in a little closer, presses his forehead to the other's to try and soothe some of that rage down. "It's going to be okay. No one here is getting out the pitchforks just because we're together. I don't like having it called-out like that either but... word was going to get out eventually. Not that the specifics is anyone's business but ours." Okay, so he might be a little mad about that, too.
"I'll make it clear to him that kind of talk is off-limits."
SUPEREFFECTIVE
And everything goes ice. He'd gotten icier when Crichton died than anytime since after Mt. Hiei and before being rescued at Honno-ji. And just like that, he's frosty again like Mount Nurikura.
He gets up, formally bows (oblivious he might as well be invisible), and walks away.
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Why?
What if he fucks up? Won't he?
He doesn't want to.
Just takes Klaus' hand, and then tugs him in for a hug.
"I don't think he knows." A lot of things. How Nobunaga literally didn't have friends before Crichton. "I went too far. He's... gay marriage was illegal in America right? Why? But I forgot. That it could have scared him. I pushed him too much. But I don't know what to do about it. It's just another thing I've fucked up, again."
Speaking of scared though... Nobunaga is terrified. What if he fucks up with Klaus? Or already did with Crichton? He should push them away? But on the ship, how could he? And he doesn't want to.
He's just going to sit on the floor in a ball now.
"I used to trust Nobuyuki. He was the last one I ever thought I'd trust. Do I trust Teyrey?" He's trying very hard not to have a panic attack right now. "We couldn't have been friends, right?" Or else he wouldn't have gone to war against him?
"I can't remember if Oichi ever said she loved me. I hope not. Or that's worse." Okay, a slight panic attack. He's okay. Not really. Breathing. Even if he can't stop the racing thoughts.
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It's hard not to let that feeling grow even more so when he keeps talking about everything he's fucked up. Shit. Just two traumatized idiots trying to make it work, right?
Sitting on the ground with him, he reaches over to pull him into his lap for a change. A difference of roles, but sometimes that's what needs to be done and Klaus doesn't mind. "Hey," they say again rubbing a hand over their back. All of this is...well, Klaus can definitely still spot a panic attack from a far distance. "Focus on me, babe. Okay? On me. Breathe in and out."
They frown slightly. "I love you. You made a mistake. We all did, but you're not a bad friend, okay? None of what he said is true." A sigh. "It's going to be okay. You'll find a way to fix it."
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He just tugs some clothes down and starts making a clothes fort to protect them like a clothing igloo.
"I don't know what I did to Nobuyuki. Maybe he just..." starting to hyperventilate again. "I wasn't even as mean to him as I am Mitsuhide. But I don't know." A hiccup. "Maybe it was birth order, but why? Is it the castes? But it's not here." Another hiccup. Focus on breathing.
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"I don't think it was you. You've had to do some pretty hard things, learn to cut people out because there was no other way to survive. And I don't know how anyone does that. It can't be easy." A beat. "But I know how you make me feel...and I know...you didn't mean it. Just...sometimes there's things people are dealing with that we don't know about and we sometimes stumble right into it...and when we do, we have to realize that the conversational safeword is implied even if it's not said, yeah?"
They're just gonna cuddle him closer. "You make me feel like I'm enough, though. No one's ever made me feel like that. Like just being me is enough. Like it's a good thing. And I love you for that. I love your ambitions and your dreams. Just two traumatized idiots, remember? Sometimes we fuck up, but he fucked up, too. So you're not the only one. He shouldn't have said that to you. But we're learning together, okay?"
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[Shift change, coming to wake Nobunaga + others welcome to chime in]
When the time comes to change over, he gently whispers to Nobunaga, hoping not to wake the rest of the bunch. "Hey, It's Crichton. It's time for you watch."
He hesitates, then asks, "Are you... doing okay?"
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"Yeah," smiling, "I'm being too dramatic."
A slight frown as he thinks it over more, as they move closer to camp. "The night you died, I thought I should look after Arthur as well. He took it very poorly." His brow furrows.
Very seriously: "In Japan I have to treat everyone more familiarly than vice versa, or else they wouldn't be allowed to act as they truly want. Further... It sets example. Tells others of their status, how to act as well. I was reminded all at once, I'm not in Japan." He looks off into the distance, thinking. "Even the missionaries I had to treat as if -- my closest confidants, or I'd have none. But I didn't consider how it might be distressing for Arthur. I will likely to go too far again, so please give me a code word, so that as I get close, you can remind me I'm treading on dangerous territory, please." A wry grin! "It was Arthur who told me Americans can be prudish, I thought it was about the gay marriage thing Klaus mentioned, but I forgot he could be worried about it too." A head tilt. "A strange thing. I still not do understand how America came to be likes this, but --" A headshake. "Though I cannot promise success, I will at least try to be more delicate in considering my friends and friends-of-friends sensitivities."
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"You know, I'm really grateful that you wanted to look out for him. But Arthur is... sensitive about that stuff. He doesn't like being treated like a burden or like his being blind makes him less capable. He really needs to trust a person before he'll let them help like that." The struggle, that very first day, just to get Arthur to let him treat those wounds he arrived with was monumental. And this is another reason why, as much as he can, he tries not to fuss too much over the man. He tries his best to spare Arthur's pride whenever possible. "He takes things the wrong way sometimes. But, you know, we all do."
And that brings him to the meat of what Nobunaga is saying. He was still in the mindset of being at home. And Crichton is still in that mindset too sometimes, and so it Arthur. They are all coming from different angles, different cultures that don't mesh well. He's seen it plenty of times with his crew on Moya.
"Nobunaga, I'll give you a code word. Let's say... 'Fubar' is the code word. But I'd like to ask a favor from you, too. I know it's hard for you, that you're still adjusting to how things work here and how they're different from Japan. I get that. That's why I'm not as mad about those comments you made. But, like you said, some people can have subjects that make them uncomfortable. I appreciate that you're going to try to be better about it, but what I want to ask is for you to..." How does he put this? "Can you try to back off the moment people tell you to? Even if you fail to be delicate, you can still do that. You can still stop when someone says to drop it. Does that sound fair? Even people who are really close to each other do that sometimes. Some things we just aren't...ready to talk about."
Speaking of things they weren't ready to talk about... their sexuality definitely counts. "Case-in-point, Arthur and me are still working out how much of our relationship we really want to have public. It's hard for us because... where we are from that kind of publicity could have sent him to jail, it could have cost me my job. Both of us would have lost the respect of our communities, we would have been outcast. That's not something we can shake off easily either. Just like you have a hard time remembering we aren't in Japan, we have a hard remembering things aren't the same as home, too. But we are trying, and learning. If we can learn, so can you. We just need to give each other time."
1/3
"Arthur's blind?"
What the fuck?
Nobunaga almost asks Crichton if he is sure of that, but it was probably obvious to everyone but Nobunaga, and not something they would miss.
2/3
"Fubar." A nod.
He almost has a panic attack at Crichton asking for a favor. This is going to be as bad as the Klaus discussion about Nobunaga being secretly good all over again, isn't it? He really isn't. He really hates how badly Ari and Klaus just give him all this implicit trust, and he's going to get them killed, constantly hurt them, constantly use them as a weapon, or worse.
When the request is made though, Nobuanga instantly lets out the breath he didn't even know he was holding with relief.
"Of course I will. That is the point of giving such a thing. So do not use it lightly."
3/3
Nobunaga has so many feelings.
"I need Klaus for this." A blink and he holds up both hands. "I have heard every word, Crichton, my friend." Hahaha FIGHT HIM ARTHUR?
"And I do not wish to --" he closes his eyes, thinking through everything, the puzzle pieces, and trying to hold them more delicately while still needing to touch them, to feel them, inside his head. From what Klaus told him once about gay marriage being illegal and Dave and Dave's Uncle forcing Dave to punch Klaus, and what Stede didn't know about the history, how and when did America become like that? - At least he knew the why to be religion but... That makes it harder for Nobunaga specifically.
He remembers too, what he was guided about VERY early on about gender identity and the other issues. SOME OF WHICH he understood better than the gay marriage thing, since even that is still a problem in his time, and part of what even Nobunaga couldn't fight.
The castes and the rest.
"You know how strongly I feel about castes. But I am not able to fight your inner demons by fighting with your outward shells, I know this, and I will not try. I do not wish to frustrate either of you." A nod.
How could Crichton be so bold at saying he loved Nobunaga, and still so reluctant for other things? This is something he needs Klaus on, the cultural perspective, because Klaus knew.
"I understand why you would both not be willing to -- just because we are here, does not mean you are suddenly without the conditioning that made you who you are now," another nod. "And I know it takes more than just time and being removed from those circumstances in order to gain enough distance not to take them as ongoing current factors."
Where he needed Klaus though...
Oh.
He would say - to know how to fight the system that put those in place -- even in a way that only applies here. But he knows Klaus would get very very sad, and say Nobunaga shouldn't fight.
His head hurts.
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good to call it here?
Yes :)
just a reaction comment because she's a light sleeper
Wait, hadn't she gone to sleep next to but very deliberately not too close to these two? How had she gotten so entangled? Reaching out for them in her sleep? And there's Crichton, right there, what's he going to think of her? It'd be a scandal on a Tradeline expedition. (That's an exaggeration. It might get Ari teased mercilessly for a while though.)
It's all absolutely, perfectly innocent, but Ari's just going to pretend to be asleep so that she doesn't have to think about it too much right now.]
reaction to the reaction uno reverse