[open] it's okay to be afraid

[cheerleader]

Who: Chrissy Cunningham and (mostly) open!
What: Arrival exploration + nightmares & insomnia
When: Last week of July
Where: Around
Warnings: None yet, but will update as needed.
Notes: If you'd like to keep cr from the TDM going, I'm good with that! Don't be afraid to pop up a wildcard starter of your own if nothing I've got up works for you. Chrissy will be eager to explore literally anywhere and everywhere. Also, I default to brackets but if prose is your thing I'll follow your lead!



Atrium
[It feels like even here, she's not completely safe from seeing or hearing things. It's impossible for Vecna to find her here. She really wants to believe that. And even if he did, her use for him is done. History can't really repeat itself, can it? Not in this case. But every so often she'll hear the ticking of a clock, one that gets her to break into a cold sweat. And sometimes she thinks she sees things that she knows shouldn't be there. Today it happens in the atrium, and she's left staring up at the lights over head with something close to panic written on her face. There's nothing actually happening, but her mind registers the lights as possibly flickering a little. And she studies them as closely as she can from her place down at the bottom of the stairs, and looks increasingly worried as the seconds tick by.

But she doesn't run away. Doesn't even blink. In fact, it looks very much like she's possibly caught in some kind of trance. She might need a little help breaking out of it, maybe?]

Deck
[Potentially the best part about being trapped on a cruise ship is the fact that she's never been on a boat before. And there's something about being out in the ocean air at the side of the deck that puts a smile on her face. She leans against the railing, just enjoying a simple moment of relaxation. With the sun shining down on her, everything back in Hawkins feels like just a dream. And it seems like maybe she's not the only person who needs the fresh air. There's someone else out here, and she turns to glance at them with a smile.]

You don't mind a little company, do you?

Playback
[After hearing it's a place where teenagers go to hang out, Chrissy tries to make an appearance at Playback almost every day. It's not really her thing, but she's desperate to try and meet people and make friends. Which is why sometimes she'll sit at one of the tables and just look around at everything happening around her. She's hoping that she'll eventually catch someone's eye and get them to come over for a conversation. But she's not really to just leap out there and engage like she normally might if this were Hawkins.

There, she knew how things worked. She understood her place for the most part. But everything's different now, and Chrissy's not really sure what kind of person she's becoming. All she knows is that the thought of being alone sounds absolutely terrifying.

Which is why she eventually slides out of her seat and makes her way over to someone that looks to be around the same age as she is. She doesn't say anything at first, opting instead to shove her hands up into the sleeves on her sweater and just stand there. But eventually she speaks up with a very creepy conversation starter.]

Do you ever get the feeling that we're being watched?

Pool
[Okay, so that infinite Tommy Bahama store is...interesting. Chrissy can't just run around in her cheerleading uniform all the time. As tempting as it is to cling hold of that part of her life, it feels a little like it's over now. Besides, she can't wear the same thing every single day. That's disgusting. So she figures a little shopping is in order. And that's exactly how she winds up spending about six hours lost inside a never ending Tommy Bahamas.

She winds up coming out of the deal with a bag full of clothes. It's not her usual style, but she wears just about anything with relative confidence. And there's no better place to show off a new little sundress and bikini than out by the pool. But given how weird this place has been since she woke up here, she's a little hesitant to just jump in. She stands at the poolside, arms wrapped around herself as she warily looks down into the water. ]

It's not like water can be haunted or anything, can it?

Infirmary
[When she hears there's an infirmary on board, Chrissy figures it's probably about time for her to pay it a visit. She's hopeful someone there might be able to help with her nightmares and inability to sleep. Only she doesn't see anyone that's actually able to help once she pops in. She absolutely avoids anything that looks like a medical device, and instead starts to browse among the large assortment of medicine that's available.

She's just about to reach for a bottle of pills when she hears footsteps. Jumping in surprise, she manages to knock the bottle off of the shelf instead of grabbing hold of it. Oh, she's quick to pick it up and put it back, blushing deeply as she spins about to face the other person.]

Do you know if there's an actual doctor that works here?

Cabin 120 : Closed to Eddie Munson
[It's probably pretty late when she makes her way down to Eddie's cabin. The hallway is empty anyway, and there doesn't seem to be many signs of life coming from the muffled sounds in the rooms as she passes them by. She's been here a handful of days now, and has barely slept at all. Every time she manages to feel comfortable enough to try sleeping, the nightmares kick in. And then the insomnia seems hellbent on sticking around in order to protect herself from the things she sees in her dreams. It's a brutal cycle that ends with dark circles under her eyes and a paleness to her skin that makes her look awful.

When she finally reaches his door she lightly knocks, suddenly afraid of being a bother. Her hand tucks into her sweater and she tries knocking again, even softer this time as she hopes the fabric helps muffle the sound. Chrissy has no idea who Eddie is rooming with. She doesn't even know if he's awake. But she's so high strung right now that she knows she can't be alone. She needs help. And she gets that she has to reach out a little better this time around to get some.]

Comments

playback + wildcard; keep TDM CR obvs

[opheliac]

(jinx enters the playback as she does every day -- sometimes to play the games and sometimes not. when she's not, she just does a quick look around through each arcade machine to make sure her name is still on the top score on the ones she tackled. and today is that particular day for her. so she enters in with wearing nothing too special; shorts and tank top. but what she hadn't expected was to see a familiar girl sitting at the table all by her lonesome.)

Oh, hey Skirts. Didn't think I'd run into you here.

(that part is a bit true. people usually make their decision about her after the first conversation on whether or not they bother with her company. and as far as she can tell, many seem to not enjoy her too much. which she is fine with....mostly. it would be nice to be liked by all. for people to like jinx even if she can be pretty out there. but there will be people that won't like her because she's different, just like her own flesh and blood.

pushing along, she makes her way to chrissy and plops herself across from her -- pulling her feet up on the table. unlike everyone else here, she is bare footed. why? well this boat is their home now, isn't it? so why keep wearing shoes or boots? seems dumb.)

[cheerleader]

[She's incredibly happy to see Jinx here. Not that she's been popping in and hoping that she'd catch her new friend around. Nope. But she still grins ear to ear as Jinx approaches, though her nose is quick to wrinkle up as she laughs upon seeing those bare feet.]

Ah! [A gasp forms at the tail end of the laughter, her hands briefly grabbing hold of the edge of the table.]

Did you lose your shoes?

[It's a teasing question, not meant to be an insult or a lecture at all. Honestly, if there was someone going around stealing shoes on this boat? She'd definitely believe it.]

[opheliac]

Nope! They're back at my cabin. Juuuust didn't feel like wearing 'em. — 'Sides there is where kinda live now so why not?

(jinx tilts her head over to her with a grin on her face herself.)

Soooooo, met any of our colorful locals, yet? Someone I need to roughin' up?

(seeing chrissy doesn't appear to be in bruises and what not shows no one has messed with her. BUT one can never be too sure. if she is going to be in her crew, jinx needs to make sure all of her possible enemies are immediately dealt with.)

deck

[sabigoe]

[ The sound of small feet can be heard tottering across the wooden floor behind Chrissy. And when she turns, she'll find a young girl, not much older than seven, doing little hops across the deck. It looks like she's playing some sort of game that involves trying to avoid the lines on the floor, as if she might slip through a dangerous crack... Just using a bit of her imagination, on days like this when she plays alone.

Hearing an unfamiliar voice, Fio looks up while standing on one foot. Unable to keep her balance for too long, she ultimately plants her other foot down. ]

...Hello! [ A bright smile, then a pause before she continues. She's never seen this girl before... more new passengers? ] You're pretty! [ Just blurting this out like this isn't a weird thing to say when you first meet someone! ] I don't mind company at all!

[cheerleader]

[Oh, it's a little girl. Chrissy's used to dealing with her younger brother, and babysits from time to time. So seeing a kid here isn't something she minds. It's probably not great for her to be in a place that's potentially dangerous, but right now, all she focuses on is the fact that it looks like the girl's playing some kind of game.

Of course, that's up until she's called pretty. And Chrissy laughs as she turns around to approach, smiling slightly as she does.]

My name is Chrissy.

[The kid is precious, and looks to be as sweet as can be. It would be wrong of her to just turn back and look out over the railing now.]

Were you playing a game? I can try to play too.

[sabigoe]

[ And Fio isn't only saying it to be nice. It's a genuine compliment, as she's reminded of some of the older girls from the upper class. Most nobility would never pay her any mind, but she would sometimes admire them from afar for their beautiful looks. Much like the princesses she would find in picture books. Chrissy would look just like a princess in the right dress, she thinks. ]

I'm Fio. Nice to meet you, Chrissy! Um...

[ She stammers a bit, nearly forgetting she was playing a game mere seconds ago. Looking down, she shifts her feet until they're near perfect standing within the lines of the floor panels. ]

Have you played something like this before? You gotta be careful not to step on the cracks or you'll fall in...

[ Except not really. It's just pretend. ]

Atrium

[ring_for_giles]

[A changeling of the Autumn Court can sense fear with ease. It comes as a taste, a smell, someone else's chill down your own spine, but the waves of pure unadulterated fear that slough off Chrissy and pool around her like the heavy fog of dry ice melting are so strong that Giles wouldn't be surprised if everyone on the ship could feel it.

He approaches her slowly, the way you would when trying not to startle a wild animal, careful to make sure she sees him. Or at least has ample opportunity to. For all of a moment his eyes flash, becoming too big, too round, too feline to comfortably inhabit a human face, but it's gone as quickly as it comes. This is just an ordinary man. Albeit one that looks like he's just stepped out of a movie set in the 1920s. ]

What are you afraid of?

[ There'll be time for introductions and social niceties later, for now the most important thing is to quell that seeping dread. Before it can attract something more dangerous than he. ]

[cheerleader]

[Her fear doesn't subside just because she's been pulled out of her own mind. It still creeps up and coils around her, tighter and tighter until it feels like her heart might pound its way out of her chest. And this very ordinary man with eyes that she isn't sure she's actually seen correctly is a welcome sight, just because it means she doesn't have to be standing here alone.]

I —

[Hesitating to say something means there's a moment where she looks guilty. Not for pausing in her answer, but for having to give him an explanation at all. Ever so slowly, her gaze lifts back upward. Everything looks normal to her now. Or as normal as something in a place like this can seem, anyway.]

I was seeing and hearing things back home. Before I woke up here.

[He'll have to forgive her for the brief answer, because it's all she can give to him right now. But he's been kind enough to stop and help her, to talk to her so she pulls out of it. The least she can do is try to explain herself a little better.]

I thought that maybe they had followed me here.

[ring_for_giles]

[ It's not quite the solid answer Giles had hoped for, but it's enough to work with. He sees the threads of the Wyrd wind themselves around her words and tugs at them with his mind, shapes them into something round and almost tangible.

There's a chill wind in the air, a gentle crackle of dry leaves moving, and those too green eyes are back; slit pupils constricted almost paper thin. He opens his mouth just a little, enough that long sharp fangs can be seen before it closes again as he swallows... Something.

As soon as he's finished the effect fades. His eyes and teeth return to normal, the wind disappears, and with it goes Chrissy's fear as well. Dissolving away to nothing as if it hadn't been there at all ]

That sounds awful, are you alright?

cabin fever

[munstar]

[The past few days have been uneventful, almost to the point of being aggressively boring. Eddie is still trying to wrap his head around this place. He's pretty sure it's not just a hallucination at this point, which means... he's really trapped on a possibly haunted cruise ship with no way to get home. Learning he'd be bunking with someone else was amusing at first, until he realized that the aforementioned roommate spent most of his time elsewhere.

It's pretty late when he hears someone knocking. Eddie blinks and rolls over to look at the door in the dim light. The room is dark save for one lamp working overtime in the corner. Maybe it's a little dumb, but he's been finding it easier to sleep with some kind of light. Now, though, he's waiting, holding his breath to see if the knock was a fluke or not. The possibility of someone just getting the wrong cabin is there, he supposes.

There's another, quieter, knock, and Eddie slides out of bed with a groan. He hadn't actually been sleeping, so it's hard to feel bad about having another failed attempt interrupted. It takes him about a minute to shuffle across the room and pull the door open, surprise furrowing his brows at the sight of her.]

Hey.

[cheerleader]

Eddie.

[His name comes out a breathy sigh, sounding completely relieved to see him there. A large part of her has been worried that he'd just fade away and she'd be left here alone. He's still here though, and she doesn't mind letting him see that's a good thing.]

Sorry. [Apologies feel like second nature to her now. She's so used to apologizing for taking up space that it feels like she owes him one for coming by to see him.] But I haven't been able to sleep for days. And I'm supposed to be staying in a cabin with a guy I don't even know. And I keep having these nightmares and —

[She's unloading all of this in the hallway as he looks down at her with surprise. It's not fair for her to do it. It's ridiculous to think he'd want to hear any of this. She bites at her lip and looks down, shrugging. There's absolutely no way she knows how to finish that thought. She's absolutely miserable, but doesn't want to weigh him down by saying so out loud.]

Atrium

[prince_of_beasts]

[The atrium's a weird place for Dimitri. Out of anywhere on the ship, it most resembles the halls he's familiar with, though to his eye the style's more reminiscent of southern Adrestia than his own home. He avoids the place without even realizing he's doing it, but it's central enough that he can't do so completely.

Today, as he's passing by, he spots someone standing in the center of the empty floor, at the base of the stairs. He pauses, and then pauses a moment longer when he realizes they're not moving. And stays paused, as the figure continues to stand there, frozen, and not in a manner that suggests they're waiting for someone.

Cautiously, Dimitri advances into the room, circling around to stand in front of the stranger while giving them plenty of space. It's no one he recognizes, though he's still enough of a newcomer that that doesn't guarantee anything. They don't seem to notice him, staring transfixed at the ceiling; nothing seems out of the ordinary when Dimitri glances up, but he, ah, knows a little bit about seeing things no one else can.

He clears his throat, hands raised to show his open palms.]

Pardon me. Are you alright?

[cheerleader]

[For a moment, it almost seems like nothing he's doing or saying registers with her. Then something seems to snap, her focus coming crashing back to reality all at once. And oh, she's surprised to see him standing there. She jumps in surprise, stumbling back a little like she's recoiling away from him. It's not that she means to do it, or that she's actually afraid of him. But having moments where it's hard to tell what's real and what's not leaves her feeling on edge.]

I'm sorry.

[She quickly apologizes, always feeling the need to excuse taking up space. Particularly space where other people frequently use. She knows she's just been standing out here in the way.]

I didn't mean to worry you or anything. I'll be okay.

[It's the first lie she's told in years.]

Playback

[neverleave]

[The boy she approaches is in 10th grade - well, was, before everything went to hell and he died. Natsuno knows he has company, but doesn't bother to say anything or even take his eyes off his game of Skyroads.

When she speaks up, though, the answer is immediate and probably just as creepy.]

If you mean being watched in general, then sure. [He gives Chrissy a sideway glance. A newcomer, maybe?] The captain can see what we're doing. But I don't think he's paying specific attention to us right now.

[cheerleader]

[He looks a little younger than her, but someone close in age is definitely welcome. And given the weird question she's just asked, the fact he says anything at all is pretty nice. The glance she gets makes her look apologetic, though her face contorts into something more unsure at his answer.]

Oh! Not like that. [Though that is a little creepy.] But I guess it's good to know that he's...able to see what we're doing.

[It's hard to decide if that makes her feel safe or on edge.]

You must not be new here.

[She notes, seeing that he seems like he's in his element here, playing his game.]

Pool

[myagic]

[Rita, dressed in what's become her typical eye-searingly bright Tommy Bahama outfit, is sitting in a deck chair beneath the shade of an umbrella and doesn't pay Chrissy all that much attention as the other teen hesitates before the water.

Until that question, anyway. She nearly drops her book, immediately snapping back maybe just a little more vehemently than one would normally do towards a stranger.]

Of course not! Water can't be haunted; don't be stupid!

[The words all come out in a rush, even as she tries not to think of mysterious waves made by unseen swimmers...]

[cheerleader]

[Being called stupid isn't exactly new. She's pretty sure she's been called it a time or two before, not that she keeps track of things like that. But hearing a stranger call her stupid makes her jump in surprise, which in turn nearly makes her stumble her way right into the water. As someone that's typically far more coordinated than that, it's deeply embarrassing.]

How can you be sure though? I mean, can't anything be haunted if the ghosts try hard enough?

[She's not offended at being called stupid, and doesn't seem to think much on anything that's been said so far. Really, it's just like any other casual conversation she might have with someone she's never met before.]

playback

[cacophonish]

[ Okay, so at 21, Jeff's a couple years removed from 'teenager,' but he's got a baby face and a youthful energy, so he's not totally out of place here. Besides, this game of Rampage isn't gonna beat itself.

...yeah, so Jeff never realized that Rampage isn't actually beatable. Anyway, he's punching his way through Newark as Ralph the Wolf when Chrissy asks that question. He hums in thought, then gives a casual shrug. ]

Oh yeah, all the time. [ He pauses, looking at her thoughtfully, before he remembers to keep on smashing buttons. Eyes on the screen, Jeff. ] Less here than back home, though, so I guess it's not so bad...

[cheerleader]

[Given the overall simplicity of arcade games in the 1980s, Chrissy is suitably impressed with just watching him play this Rampage game. It's not really her thing, but she finds it fascinating anyway.]

It feels like the walls here have eyes sometimes.

[She points out with a slight shiver, but doesn't press the issue more than that. He's just said something that she's far too curious about.]

Why do you think you felt that way back home?

Pool

[theweakhavepurpose]

[Nearby in a lounger is someone else who's tentatively embracing the cruise vacation lifestyle. Pratt has a comically huge margarita glass filled with shaved ice in florescent colors, reminiscent of someone who maybe poured every flavor of Mountain Dew on ice. He's got a button up shirt from the Tommy Bahama with an oversized foliage print, and lightweight linen pants, but behind his head is a tattered army jacket bunched up like a pillow, and nearby are his police issue boots.]

Haunted? Uh.. [He actually hadn't considered that. Cool, something else to worry about.] I don't think so. I mean I haven't gone in there, but I've seen other people swim and they didn't get drowned by poltergeists.

[He sits forward to peer at the water suspiciously, just in case.]

[cheerleader]

[Chrissy turns her head to glance at him as he speaks, and smiles at the sight of his drink of choice. Her eyes look to the army jacket and boots next, and she finds the combination of things to be fascinating. His answer is pretty interesting too, and she laughs as she shrugs her shoulders.]

I'm not sure all ghosts want to be violent.

[She's not positive she's not a ghost, and she doesn't want to drown anyone. But it's not like she can say that out loud.]

Maybe some of them just want to go for a swim too, you know? And we just keep getting in the way.

[That's supposed to be a joke, evidenced by the smile on her face and the laugh that follows.]

Infirmary

[serialskiller]

There are a couple of doctors on the ship. Dr. Watson's been training me as a medical assistant.

[The stranger who's walked in is 6'5", built like military propaganda. It's wearing a hooded sweatshirt with some sort of insignia on the front that includes the word Perihelion, cargo pants with very full pockets and work boots, and there's some sort of flying drone drifting about it like an overenthusiastic moon. It's watching Chrissy's hands, not her face (the drone is capturing her face for it, actually), as it steps properly into the room to pick up the bottle.]

What are you looking for, and should I message him?

[cheerleader]

[He's tall. So, so tall. And at 5'3", she's definitely not. The height difference combined with the little flying thing he's accompanied by make her shy back, hesitant at first. He doesn't seem to want to harm her. And he's mentioned being trained as a medical assistant. She doesn't relax completely, but she at least seems more willing to talk.

Her eyes don't leave the drone, though. There's nothing like that where she's from.]

I'm having trouble sleeping. A lot of trouble actually. But I don't think you need to bother anyone with something like that.

pool!

[woocas]

[Lucas has some new threads too; ditching his work jacket and jeans for a plain hot pink t-shirt, flipflops, and the most obnoxious pair of flamingo swim trunks known to mankind. Maybe soaking up some sun would help clear the cobwebs from his mind...

His gloomy mood evaporates seeing someone familiar and he trots up to the pools edge beside her.]

Hey there, ho---uh! [The question does throw him for a loop.] I don't think so?

[cheerleader]

[She has to admit that his outfit is a little bright and distracting. But it's cute, and she smiles and laughs as he approaches her. Now that she has company, she doesn't hesitate to sit at the edge of the pool and dip her feet inside.]

Well, if anyone could see if it was haunted. It would be you, right?

[That's kind of his thing, after all. Her smile becomes more playful after she says it, as she laughs and reaches up for his hand. With a gentle tug, she pulls him down to sit with her.]