come_sailaway | And everything I stir into my tea, comes back to conquer me

Entry tags:

And everything I stir into my tea, comes back to conquer me

Who: Ava and whoever

When: Early June

Where: Various

Summary: More Cute! More Fun! Pre-camping ponderings. Possibly some thievery!

Warnings: Currently none

i. NOT TOO BAD - (closed to Ed)
Ava narrows her eyes suspiciously as she reads over the changed details of the new yet shamelessly the same sign up sheet. Is it really that simple? Or is it just a false sense of security to lure more people in, fall for the same trick twice. It's got to be different, right? Somebody's been texting that annoying call for unity letter around, and she doubts they'd be given much a chance to attempt pulling it off.

She traces her finger over where she'd written her name before, now covered in a scribble, and ponders whether she ought to put her name back on the list.

"What do you think?" she asks, aware of the presence of somebody nearby, turning her glance and, oh, it's Blackbeard. She smiles.

ii. DOOM SCROLLING - (ota)
Since the new sign up sheet went out, Ava periodically checks back to see who else has added their name, how many more are willing to chance the excursion. If it's anyone she knows, what their plans might be to prepare.

"Are you worried?" she asks, either to somebody that's just signed up, or somebody that's instead turned away.

iii. INTO THE WOODS?
Back in the library, Ava is flipping through books that might take place in a forest, involves camping. Mostly she's going by covers, as much as she knows the old saying not to judge a book by one. A lot of them seem to be horror stories, but there's plenty of fairy tales that take place in the woods as well.

This really isn't getting her anywhere at all, and she gives a frustrated sigh at her growing pile, resigning herself to the fact they'll be eaten by bears or sacrificed in some weird ritual and there's nothing she can really do to prepare. The book in her hands gives her a confused pause though.

"You ever go on vacation?" she asks whoever else in the library.

iv. FINDERS KEEPERS? - (ota)
Other passengers seem to keep getting all sorts of neat stuff, and Ava has no idea why all she's gotten so far is some giant Hello Kitty. Is she doing something wrong? Is she supposed to want things a bit harder? Does whoever summon those gifts simply not like her? ~~Is her player just too lazy?~~

Whatever, Ava knows one whole way to get what she wants. Stealing. She'll lurk about in common areas and the hallways, invisible, watching to see if anyone's got anything neat worth taking. Better not turn your attention, or she's going for it.

Alternatively, she might find another reason to spy on your character. Are they looking suspicious? Up to anything odd? Having a hushed conversation? (Feel free to even link to another thread that she's welcome to come spy on!)

v. KNOCK KNOCK - (open to cr or their roommates?)
It's the middle of the night, which is when Ava tends to be most active, most bored, and most likely to seek out somebody to talk to. She knocks quietly at a cabin door, dressed in pajamas and fuzzy slippers and holding a mug of tea.

vi. STEWING - (ota)
There's an uncomfortable awareness that the population of the ship is growing. Which has made the use of the hot tub a bit more competitive, and other areas of the ship far more busy as well. There's less and less place to simply be alone and undisturbed. But she catches the hot tub empty at some point and slips in, a piña colada in one hand and one of those Baby-Sitters Club books in another. Yes, the pages are a bit damp. No, she doesn't care.

If anyone choosing to join her is somebody she knows, Ava will give a small "hey" in welcome. If it's somebody she doesn't, she'll simply glare over the top of the book.

vii. WILDCARD - (ota) HIT ME UP!

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"They don't make the same sounds though. Or have the same recoil." He likes regular guns too, but the tinkling of shell casings as he fires 100 bullets in 10 seconds is one of life's little pleasures.

"The one about working together? An obvious ploy by someone who wants to be the first to strike."

He has a very high opinion of the motivations of his fellow shipmates.

"How about the next time you get a shiny new weapon, I'll let you test it out on me first?" Ava offers, because honestly better let him get it out of his system.

"And I think it's far more... than winning any single game they're after. I'd guess it's somebody looking to play the longer game. Calls for unity, leaving it anonymous to give the impression they aren't looking for power, set themselves up to be trusted. Somebody that fancies themselves a leader, get everyone else into the habit of falling in line, and then... sacrificing us all when the time comes."

He gives her such a look, wondering if she's serious or not. But also he really wants to shoot things, and she can dodge or ignore all the bullets, it's a perfect match. "So long as Skulduggery doesn't find out. I can see him hauling both of us to the brig and making us sit there for the evening to 'think about what we've done.' But definitely, next time I get a weapon you will be the first to know."

It's a date.

"Even cults start with the most noble of intentions. And this doesn't seem to have genuine good will behind it. Though, to be perfectly fair even if it did I would still be dubious. I've been though many wars and many calls for unity and peace always fails because someone will exploit it. It's inevitable. The same will happen here."

"We'll just convince him it's our team building exercise, and that I'm supporting you through your time of need. He'll understand," Ava grins. "Unless you're afraid he'll be jealous." Of Max or of Ava, she has no idea.

"It was definitely written with the style of a corrupt politician preying upon the fear of the masses. I know those sorts. But. Do you want to be the one that openly dissents? Because that will only give them an example to rally behind and strengthen their message. I think maybe we do sit by to see how the next round plays out, see who our little puppeteer may be and not mark ourselves the targets. It limits maneuverability."

"I'm sure he'll appreciate your selfless consideration." And certainly not that they'll spend the whole time laughing maniacally while Max puts holes in all the walls and Ava dodges around. "He's not allowed to be jealous, he's a skeleton who can shoot fireballs at will."

Which is admittedly pretty awesome.

"So you're saying I should not have told Venti that I'm not going to acquiesce to his request?" said jokingly because he basically told him to go fuck himself and he'll murder whoever he pleases whenever he wants. "I'm not going to lie that I'd be proud of myself if the whole ship rallied around behind making sure I specifically don't stab anyone else - considering I'm one of the least threatening people here."

"That's me, selfless and considerate to a fault," she jokes, not realizing she is a bit. Even if she's also convinced she'd betray most anyone under the right circumstances. But... well, she hopes to avoid that for the time being. Only when it's most useful, do you pull that trick. It only works the once, after all.

"Some people get all the cool powers," Ava laments. "Some people in my world have lame ones. Like there's a guy that just plays frisbee really well. And other that shoots arrows. Really well. It'd be embarrassing to be on that end of the spectrum when you have a teammate that can turn into a huge green monster and smash everything."

She smiles though. "Is that as high as your ambitions go, a few notorious stabbings? I thought better of your scheming. Why give into instant gratification when you can get away with so much more?"

He will refrain from commenting on the selfless and considerate thing, because if he does she can easily leverage the same accusation against him. And they have their reputations to consider here. As long as it's never said in out loud words they are still big scary villains.

"My world has one that thinks he's a cowboy. In the year 2076. Hat, bandoliers, spurs, even uses an old six shooter that takes actual bullets. It must cost a fortune to even source gunpowder for that thing. At least he's actually a decent shot, it would be embarassing if he did all that and couldn't hit anything." Though in his world it's more weaponry based than actual 'powers'. People tended to specialize in things rather than have innate abilities.

Well except for the two that are secretly dragons. But that's messy and complicated.

"Everyone starts somewhere. A few notorious stabbings might just be the start of my illustrious crime spree." his tone joking because the crimes he's good at aren't really applicable here. "I have many schemes but this place doesn't have any money to steal and death doesn't matter. So my options are limited. Perhaps I can hit the Captain with some intricate tax fraud."

... Ava has never once considered her reputation, honestly. What do people think of her? Do people think of her? Her whole schtick is trying to exist as little as possible so they don't bother her. But also yes, a very spooky supervillain.

She listens to Max's description of one of the heroes of his world, trying to picture it in her mind. "Oh, when you put it that way, he sounds... kinda hot." Or maybe it's that Max's voice can make most anything sound appealing.

"You know, if you showed up at his door threatening an audit..." Ava snickers.

People think of you Ava. It's hard to not exist at anyone when they're all trapped in a small area.

"He's not bad to look at," grudging agreement because, yeah he's attractive. If annoying to deal with. "He even has the cowboy drawl if that's something you're interested in."

A stare, "Well we may be able to see if the Captain has a sense of humor and laughs at us all the way back to our rooms."

Ew no stop perceiving her.

"Oh, maybe. Does he at least have a horse to complete the act, or...?" she has no idea what sorts of vehicles they might ride. "You know, there's a woman here from my world that was... I think she had a thing with an android." If he's looking.

"Wait, we? I said you. I know nothing about accounting."

"A motorcycle." Which is better than a horse in his opinion. "One he stole from his ex if you're curious what kind of person he is."

Red eyes glance up at her because he's not sure what to make of that. Is she trying to set him up with someone here? That's both a little strange and also kind of sweet. "Is that so? I didn't realize your world even had androids."

He chuckles, "You're there as backup to be a distraction so I can run away if he tries to kill me immediately."

"Oh," Ava wrinkles her nose. "No, I don't want to get caught up in any of that." Even though she would probably steal a motorcycle from an ex, if she had one to begin with.

She doesn't know, Max! You just seem rather sophisticated and most eligible bachelor material to Ava, and shouldn't be so lonely with all your lack of money and fancy possessions. "Not many, since Ultron was wiped out. Though I'm sure he's still lurking about somewhere, dormant. But there's one. An Avenger, named Vision. He can phase, the only other being I know capable of doing so. But not in the same manner as me." Not that she's ever met him to compare. (Which is probably for the best.)

Ava considers for a moment, because honestly she does want to see this. Especially if it goes terribly. "Yeah, alright."

It is admittedly a really nice motorcycle. He probably would have stolen it too, ex or not.

"Ultron is an android?" He doesn't know who any of these people are. But the 'being wiped out' sure sounds like what humans would do to mechanical beings. Seems to be the same in every world he's encountered. "An inorganic being that can phase through things? How?"

Why doesn't Max get cool super powers? This is so unfair.

"Very good. Give me some time to think up some viable cruise related tax fraud to throw at him" He chuckles a bit, "Do you think pocket dimensions count as international waters?"

"Yes, one that controlled a hivemind of himself. He was trying to build himself a superior body, using vibranium, to construct the Vision. But the Avengers uploaded an AI into it instead. He's capable of controlling the density of his body, harder than a diamond or... light enough to pass through matter." She rolls her eyes. "But Ultron was set on wiping out all life on the planet, so you know how it goes."

That is pretty unfair, Max, maybe you need some fun upgrades.

"Think you're on to something. Clearly he's got some shell company going."

"He sounds more like the AI's I'm used to than this Vision does. They're always trying to create some sort of hivemind drone network and overtake all the remaining Omnics to do so."

It's also a little sad that he does in fact know how it goes, nodding when she says so. He understands completely. It's always the same.

"I wonder if he's claiming we're all employees or dependents."

"I'm honestly not sure where the line is between the two?" Ava admits. "But being part of a hivemind... do you think that's what happens to the people that become ghosts here? Losing all sense of individual purpose or identity. It seems awful." She's come a long way from almost envying it, back when her mood was at its lowest and she lacked any real sense of purpose here.

"Or are we falling under independent contractors so he can avoid paying out benefits?"

There's a pause, the apertures of his eyes adjusting with a soft whirr before he continues. He likes Ava, but there's still things he doesn't like to disclose. "From experience, it's worse if they haven't lost all sense of identity. If they're still fully conscious and sentient and yet can't resist or stop what they're doing. If they're trapped in such a way, it's better if they're not aware of it."

He shakes his head, not wanting to dwell on that.

"Oh that seems even more likely. And we're being paid in room and board and company scrip like a mining facility from the early Americas."

Experience... she wonders if he means personal, if he was once part of a network and managed to get free. But the way he describes it, she definitely understands how much more horrific awareness must be.

But she doesn't want to push it, can tell that he's wanting to move on from that subject.

"Owe my soul to the company store..." Ava quotes from an old song she'd heard, knowing exactly what Max is referring to. "Maybe you should ask him for a promotion and a raise," she laughs.

"A small kickback to not report his illegal practices to the World Trade Organization." a laugh because he's definitely not going to say any of this to the Captain. Max has no power or leverage here.

"If nothing else it might be confusing enough to him to be amusing. That seems to be what he's interested in. It's all some sort of entertainment."

No, but it's still amusing to imagine. "No more empty of a threat than those trying to kill him," Ava muses. "Which wouldn't be favorable, for anyone."

She nods along, no idea what the Captain might find entertaining since he's so elusive, mostly just operating off her own sense of humor. "No point unless there's actually something you want. Information, a favor... special privileges. I already have everything I want. The trick is figuring out how to keep it."

"Other than not being here, there's nothing I desire. It's difficult in a place where the economy runs on invisible spirits and intent to purchase." He's selfish and wants money and possessions and power in order to command respect. It has never occurred to him that maybe people would respect him more if he wasn't a pompous jackass.

"I'll think of something eventually."

"And when you do, I'll help you achieve it, Max," Ava promises.

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And everything I stir into my tea, comes back to conquer me

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