come_sailaway | BATTLE ROYALE EVENT: SHIP

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BATTLE ROYALE EVENT: SHIP

[fortunately, not signing up for the shore excursion doesn't mean the passengers still on board don't get to have a little fun. on the contrary: they'll get to have some of the most fun of all!

about an hour after the tender leaves, at about 9AM, every screen on the ship, from the cabin TVs to the one above the pool, begins playing a live feed of the events on the island, starting with Friday's introduction video and transitioning to the passengers leaving the bunker. from then on, the camera (?) seems to always know where the action is, bringing close-up views of each fight, each death. when little action occurs, highlight reels play. there is no audio, however, outside of the droning, inane muzak of the stream and the kitschy sound effects of the reels; time to brush up on your lip-reading if you want the hot goss on scene!

in the atrium, near Friday's desk, is a large piece of construction paper, titled "PLACE YOUR BETS," showing a table with the names (some true, some not) of each competitor, with a space to write down your name next to who you think will win. the captain has already made his choice! what are you betting? don't worry about it.

the screens will play the game 24 hours a day. destroying the screens wholly will buy you only momentary respite. so, sit back, and enjoy.]

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In fact, he's so unsuccessful, he stumbles into someone hard.

To be clear, it's not the stumbling that's hard, it's the figure he's managed to amble into, tall and broad and very solidly built (mostly metal, under the surface). As Lucius encounters Murderbot, it shoves him away reflexively, with an inarticulate growl. "Don't touch me."

To be fair, waking up when one ought to be dead tends to make it very grumpy. Last time, within ten minutes of coming to consciousness, it had grabbed a man by the throat and pinned him to the wall. This time, the awakening was slower and arguably more pleasant, but it's still kinda touchy about the everything.

Lucius is fully expecting to walk into things. His plan is ridiculous and stupid and, as the adage goes, play stupid games and win stupid prizes. He's resigned to the shin bashing and tripping but he isn't expecting the things he walks headlong into to shove him back. He bashes his face full on against something hard and then gets knocked back a few steps.

He feels a little accomplished about keeping his feet as he stumbles, but it's a near thing and requires him windmilling his arms. He knocks over a sale sign for one of the shops and the loud clatter is a pleasant change of pace. There's a wah-wah trombone noise that comes from all the screens at that very moment.

"Hey--" he snaps and, well, honestly he can't be mad but he can be indignant. He can be indignant with the best of them. He rights himself and takes a step forward to yell at the prick--er--the tall, incredibly sculpted, dark-eyed, nice skinned, brick wall of a man in front of him.

What.

Shit--uh--

"My mistake," Lucius demurs in singsong, all anger gone straight out of him. (Actually, straight might not be the right word for any part of this situation.) He laughs lightly and stands up a little taller.

"Clumsy me, sorry," he adds with a cute shrug.

“Not just clumsy, but intoxicated. Do you need assistance to get somewhere safe while your body purges the alcohol from its system?” Because as grumpy as it is, it is still a security construct, and drunken disorderly humans are something that ought to be secured.

The flirting seems to go completely over its head, an accomplishment given its height of 6’5”.

That is a lot of words, all of them very long and very serious, and Lucius hears about a third of them. He's just watching this gentleman talk and listening to the gravely drone of his voice--while he stares up at him. Oh dear--this is really not the time--but--

"Are you..." Lucius starts and gives him a pursed sort of questioning look. "Offering to walk me to my room? Because that's...uh...very sweet if you are."

“Mostly to make sure you make it there alive, without falling into the pool and drowning or something.” It’s not cracking a smile, and in fact seems to be avoiding eye contact, instead watching the top of Lucius’s head.

“It’s an act of duty, not sweetness. I am not sweet.”

"Oh, yeah, of course," he agrees readily and nods. You'll no arguments from Lucius, no sir. "Not sweet at all, who said sweet? Dutiful, that's clearly what you're...all about."

He is a weak idiot and this person just has...naval officer written all over them. But they're in hell so what's he going to do? Hang him? No--stop--save it-- Lucius is, for the first time in several days, glad that he is stone cold sober. If he were drunk this would have gone very differently--and probably not in his favor.

"And I am--I really don't want to fall in a pool and die--so that's, yes, absolutely. If you're offering I would adore an escort. So I don't. Die. From drowning."

Humans are incomprehensible blithering messes at the best of times, but this one seems to not be experiencing the best of times.

“Alright then, which cabin are you in?” It gestures for Lucius to start walking, heading in the direction of the elevators at a steady pace. Not quite a military march, but there sure is a stiffness to how it moves.

Lucius keeps pace but he does not move with a military gait, stiff or otherwise. They head for the elevators and, at once, Lucius wishes he didn't know how to read. That would have made this take much longer. Tragically, he is literate and actually knows the answer. He tries not to pout.

"One-seventeen," he says and has to jog every few steps to keep up.

That’s actually right next door to where Murderbot lives (though it rarely sleeps in its room, quite honestly), so it can even take him in the most direct route. Though it slows its pace a little so less jogging is needed. It’s efficient, not outright cruel.

“Who’s your roommate?”

Lucius appreciates as he slows, giving him and fond coquettish look as he does. Not sweet, indeed. He doesnt remark on it, though, because his brows both go up as the fellow questions him about his roommate.

What a delightfully pointed topic.

"Tall skeleton fellow, has a jaunty hat and nice suit," Lucius describes and pantomimes Skulduggery's outfit with some very swishy hand movements. They're less elegant than they perhaps should be on account of his recently missing index finger and the extensive bandages thereon. Damn. "He's not usually there. Doesn't sleep...so it'll just be me."

"All alone," he adds with his best wistful, disappointed sigh. Its actually a pretty good one, very convincing.

“Ah. Skulduggery.” It is familiar with that ossified gentleman already, nodding slightly and completely missing the very obvious hint that Lucius is trying to offer it.

“He’s alright. Mostly. When we’re not debating...philosophy? I think it might be philosophy.” Like the question of is Murderbot a person.

O...kay. So he knows Skulduggery that's...good. Probably?

"You debate philosophy?" Lucius asks, his voice laced with impressed surprise. "Smart and dutiful, the next thing you know, you'll tell me you can read and write."

His bar for intelligence is very low, but he is from 1717.

"Well. Yes, I can." It tilts its head to one side. That was part of its core programming, no matter how shitty its education module is. "You can't?"

Lucius is about to scoff and correct him, because he most certainly can, but he seems rather helpful, right? The fellow is walking him back to his room, after all...and even if he's not terribly perceptive, and he cannot take a hint, he's still quite a lot.

"Not as well as I would like," Lucius lies obliquely and shrugs. "You know how it is? Never time to learn new things--except, I suppose I have all the time in the world, now. Don't I?"

He'd missed the mark with the last invitation which is, frankly, shocking. Apparently he has to be more direct:

"I don't suppose you would want to assist me with that?"

"I would probably not be a good teacher. There's people who are kind and patient who can help you."

It seems apologetic about that, though, sincerely.

Lucius gasps in mock offense on his behalf.

"You've been exceedingly kind and patient with me," he protests. Nevermind that when he met the fellow he'd been shoved, rather rudely, into a sign. "But, if you're sure...."

Lucius is not used to have to flirt quite this hard. Most of the people he hits on catch his drift pretty quickly--he's been sprinting through this one, trying to get this particular seduction sorted by the time they reach his room...but that seems very unlikely to happen. Maybe this is a marathon and not a dash. He can ask Skulduggery about them and see if the skeleton has any tips.

"By the way, I didn't catch your name...? I'm Lucius."

It lets out a soft snort when Lucius says it's been kind and patient. It's...who even knows. It doesn't exactly have a very positive self-image.

"You can call me SecUnit, or you can call me Rin. I don't care which. I answer to both." Neither is a name. Not the same way Lucius is.

Secunit Rin? Rin Secunit? Lucis tries for a moment to figure out which one of those is a first name, or a last name, or a military rank. Or where any combination of those might be from. Eventually, given his complete lack of reference, he assumes it must be...what Portugese? He has no idea what any Portugese names sound like so, maybe? Who knows. That seems as likely as anything in hell.

Rin seems less likely to be a rank or a last name, also it's easier to say, and Lucius does prefer things to be easy.

"Rin it is," Lucius replies with a smile and then an annoyed scowl as they arrive at the elevators. They have been walking quickly, it wasn't going to take all day. And now he gets to stand in a small box and listen to even more banal music. Fantastic.

"Do you always escort drunks back to their rooms, or am I just special?"

"Not always. Sometimes, though. When I think they might be dangerous to themselves or others." There might, might be the barest touch of humor there. It's hard to tell. Murderbot's very opaque, in its own way. "You were blundering around with your eyes closed."

Lucius wants to be pissy about that assessment but, honestly, it's pretty fair. He's gone a little mad, listening to all the music and sound effects and, perhaps, walking around with his eyes closed had not been his best plan. He hums and shrugs in allowance.

"I've never been accused of being a danger to others, but I suppose you've got me on the first one," he says in his normal voice. It's the first time he hasn't been deliberately cute since he was going to spin around and shout at the person who shoved him. It's a bit of a dramatic shift.

He's given up the ghost, for now, because the elevator is slowing and they'll be back at his room in moment. He's made no headway here but that doesn't mean he's about to give up entirely. It just means he can dial his flirting back from maximum intensity.

“You’re lucky. It isn’t a good thing, being dangerous to those around you. Trust me.” It...almost sounds like it’s speaking from experience? But also, it doesn’t understand that shift in tone. “Anyway. Are you going to be alright?”

"Hard to say," Lucius tells him with a long-suffering sort of look. He can still hear the murder monitors. But, that is clearly not what Rin means.

"But if you're asking whether I'll die from here to the door? I think I'll be fine."

His smile is still pretty flirty as he turns it back on Rin.

"You're welcome to come along anyway, but there might be other drunks who need your help." He winks.

"Why do you keep smiling at me like that?" It's not upset, not offput, but its confusion is absolutely sincere here. You would think no one had even tried to flirt with this fella before in all its existence.

Which is kinda the point. There are sexbots (ComfortUnits) where it comes from. Who wastes time talking to, let alone flirting with a murderbot?

Oh no. Lucius gives him a look that is half fond exasperation, half disappointment. Did he find his first straight man on this barge? And the first straight man is a brick house with dark eyes and perfect skin? The afterlife is a bitch.

He hums and gives a cute little shrug.

"No reason--I like you. You know, for being all dutiful." Lucius explains in the most platonic non-homosexual way he can. "It's charming."

He considers.

"Plus, I'm clearly drunk," he lies and holds out his arms as he starts meandering down the hall.

Worse: he's found an aromantic asexual agender.

"Charming? I don't usually get that reaction from anyone. Uh...thanks, I guess." It's genuinely a little touched, though, even though it doesn't know what to make of any of it. It walks behind him, ready to step in if he needs help.

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draughtsman - 2022-05-14 22:27 (UTC) - Expand

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BATTLE ROYALE EVENT: SHIP

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Incomprehensible Blithering Mess is his Pirate Nickname(tm)

Bit long for a nickname...

Yeah he gets that a lot.

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