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

[decohere]

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!

Comments

[millay]

It's hard not to feel like she has. Outside of the magic. That much is new. She hasn't seen much of it, but she's heard of it. And the complicated nature of everything back home makes things more complicated than she cares to fully explain.

2018. She searches for information to tell her the year, the thousands of pieces of information tucked into her mind. She must have seen it at some point. She draws herself out of her thoughts to keep from being silent while her mind continues running in the background. "It must be relaxing to have a vacation," she comments. "I had never had one before myself. I feel I've been working since I was young with little break for anything else." Which was true and false at the same time. "The scenery does leave much to be desired," she agrees.

[decohere]

She gives a sad hum of agreement. "I was with the same... establishment since I was 5. Spent my entire life living a lie, it felt like. Doing things I didn't believe in, thinking it would somehow help myself. Then I got out and I... thought maybe I could start my life on my own terms finally. But circumstances weren't too kind," Ava sighs.

[millay]

Maeve can understand that. She spent most of her life living a lie as well, a well-programmed lie. But all of her was meant to be a lie in the end, wasn't it? She couldn't exist without the lies they programmed her with, but she wonders if it wouldn't have been kinder not to.

"Circumstances rarely are," she agrees. "I grew up in a different country and traveled to a new one for better experiences only to find them mostly the same." Everything was suffering one way or another. "I worked at a place meant for the amusement of others. It was based off the old west." She shrugs. "It wasn't the best of environments, but we got out eventually. More or less burned the place to the ground."

[decohere]

Mostly the same seems to be the sad truth of the world, no matter the reality. All the changes in time periods and countries that may not exist and deviations in history and significant events aside, it all starts to sound too familiar.

Except here. Here feels different enough for Ava.

She's never been to amusement park, and her first thought is Disneyland. It's close by, yet not the sort of place she could get away with being seen in public. But the old west theming... "Oh, like Westworld?" Ava asks, knowing the old movie. It is by her favorite, Michael Crichton, after all.

[millay]

Westworld. Maeve doesn't react. It takes most of her control not to, but she's done it before - stared blankly into space just to seem like a control had worked on her. Just to avoid being caught.

"What is Westworld?" She puts what she hopes is the right amount of curiosity into her voice. "I just want to see if it's a similar sort of situation."

[decohere]

It's not like it was that popular of a movie, compared to the far more famous Jurassic Park. So Ava isn't all that surprised the woman doesn't know of it. "Ah, it's this old movie. About these theme parks people could visit. Made up to look like the wild west, but the workers there were all robots. And visitors would come to do all sorts of things, but big part of it was the shoot outs and bar fights. But the robots couldn't fight back, just get killed over and over. Until one day they started holding grudges, and then fought back. Don't blame them, really. When you said burned to the ground, it made me think of that."

[millay]

A movie. Maeve can't help but wonder if this was what Westworld was based off of or if it was just another version of the story. Either way, she isn't about to admit that's exactly what happened. "Ah. I suppose that would make sense. Similar as it was. It's possible it took the idea from there? I can't imagine not holding grudges, though. After everything you said."

She looks off to the side a little. "I don't know what's left of the place I worked." She wonders if the Mariposa survived or not. Not that it really mattered.

[decohere]

"Possible. It's not all that original of an idea," Ava shrugs, it's mostly the part about robots fighting back that she enjoys so much. She's heard of Renaissance Festivals, it would make sense with how much people romanticized the wild west that such a thing would exist in other places.

"My old workplace got exposed for being infiltrated by an authoritarian global terrorist organization. So not much is left of it either, just taken over and folded into other just as likely corrupt agencies under different alphabet titles."

[millay]

"It seems that it is not, no." She has so many questions for Ford knowing this. Did he do this because of a movie? Was this an original thought? Did they mean to be so cruel on purpose? But she doesn't let herself linger too long on it.

"That does sound concerning. I believe the parent company that was in charge is still around. I'm not certain how it did after everything."

[decohere]

"I've come to learn that as much as the worlds differ, fundamentally they all are the same." All shitty places to be.

Ava nibbles on the pineapple from her drink. "I'm Ava."

[millay]

Maeve can definitely understand the feeling. She's not quite sure anywhere it technically better, but she might at least be able to live freely back home. Here she is caged again.

"Pleasure to meet you, Ava. I'm Maeve."

[decohere]

"Have you been getting along alright, so far?" She knows it's a bit jarring to suddenly show up here, even though the newness has since worn off for her. This place is already unfortunately beginning to settle in like the concept of home, or a final resting place. She's not so sure she'll ever be anywhere else again.

"How unlucky did you get with rooming assignments?"

[millay]

"I've been dealing." It hasn't been her favorite, but at least there's things to do and she can generally do what she wishes. Outside of being in an elaborate cage she wants nothing to do with. "I've had some help figuring a few things out and gotten some questions answered, which is more than I can say for most places."

As for the rooming assignments. "I've lucked out, rather. His name is Max and he seems at least easy enough company." And someone she can be herself around.

[decohere]

"Dealing is about the best any of us can do," Ava agrees. The more answers you get in a place like this, only seems to generate more questions. But there doesn't seem to be a whole lot to be done about it either way. Other than enjoy the amenities and wait for opportunities.

She perks up at the mention of Max, smiling. "Oh! Max, yes, he's great."

[millay]

It's true. It is the best any of them can do. Until they figure out what to do to get them all back to wherever they came from. For those that don't want to stay. She won't force people to leave. Everyone deserves a choice...even if that choice is death.

"You know him as well?" It's not really surprising. There's probably not much to do besides get to know people on the ship and she's sure there's not so many people that everyone wouldn't have some working knowledge of each other.

[decohere]

"Of course I do, Maximilien is my best friend. We met at a party awhile back, where he taught me how to play poker. If we ever have to go back to our own worlds, I think I'd like to go back to his. So we can steal back any of his property and assets that might have been confiscated in his absence." She's a very good, supportive friend.

[millay]

She can't fault the choice. It would be nice to steal back things taken from you. "I'm sure he appreciates the gesture. Do you think we can choose where we go after here?" She hasn't heard anything about it or really anything much at all. "The only thing taken from me back home isn't something I can really steal back. I have to find the person who has the key to find it." She needed to find Bernard. She needed to find her daughter. "It's probably the only reason to actually go back to my world."

[decohere]

"I'm not certain there truly is an after here," Ava admits, not wanting to give the woman false hope. "Or what choices any of us will have in it. But. It's a nice thought..." Ava trails off for a moment, taking another sip of her drink.

"What was it, that you lost?"

[millay]

Maeve's going to find a way home. She's not entirely sure how, but she'll find a way, even if she has to use the mechanics of this ship to do it. "It is, yes. I'm rather determined to find a way back. So hopefully I will."

She looks down. "Someone important to me. I left her in the care of someone else to keep her safe, but I'd like for us to be reunited." It was the easiest way to explain it. It's the driving force that's kept her going anyway.

[decohere]

"Everyone seems to have something worth fighting for, to get back to," except her. But all that motivation... it's so hopeful. Yet nothing really indicates there's a way to survive. She's sure all the passengers of the previous cruises felt the same determination and drive. And what good had any of it done.

"I hope you see her some day again, soon," Ava remarks. "But I'm not so sure they'll even notice us gone..."

[millay]

Maeve looks off to the side. "She doesn't even remember me anyway," she says in a soft voice. "So she wouldn't know to notice." She shakes it off mentally, clearing her throat. "Anyway...none of that really matters. I can figure that out later."

[decohere]

"A child?" Ava asks, because she has such fragmented memories of her own mother, and over the years she's not even sure how much of it is simply impressions of what she wants to believe and how much of it is real.

But she sighs, doesn't want to dig too deeply into that either. "Luckily there's plenty of people trying to figure things out. Apparently, the Captain has offered some sort of... kind favor in exchange... if somebody is able to figure out his name, who he used to be?" So was said in the information exchange. "I wouldn't even know where to begin."

[millay]

There's a sad, wistful smile then. "Yes. My daughter." She shakes off the image of her, focusing on the girl in front of her again.

"If someone could figure out the Captain's name or who he used to be, they get a favor?" That's peaked her interest. She doubts that it would be easy or that she'd manage to get the information. Still, it can't hurt to try. "Who do you think is the most likely to be able to glean that information?"

[decohere]

"I always have the unfortunate habit of... asking upon lost family members," Ava admits. "And lovers. Lots of people here with dead lovers. I guess perhaps it's easier, than longing for them with no way back. At least it's easier for me, I lost my parents so long ago. How old is she, your daughter?"

She goes back to her drink for a bit, thoughtfully. "They implied it was a way to get everyone home. But. I'm not sure if that's what the deal has to be used for. Not sure though, who's likely to put any of it together. Considering he could be anyone."

[millay]

“It’s fine. It’s just…one of those unfortunate things.” She could hate Lee and Ford for it, but she doesn’t want to do that. She just wants to get her back in any way she can. The ache of it is buried so deep in her that it’s the only thing she can think about sometimes. She can push it aside, but it’s her driving force. “She’s…ten.”

It could be used to get everyone home. She wouldn’t want to make people that don’t wish to go home go. She knows Sharky especially wants to stay. She can’t take that from him. “I suppose it depends on who figures it out and whether we have to consider those that want to go and those that don’t.”