InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "This is going to cost you $100"

captain_mal (captain_mal) wrote in mirage_rpg,
@ 2008-09-09 21:44:00

Entry tags:

arrival, complete, day 14, malcolm reynolds, yvaine

Day 14
Who: Mal and OTA
Where: Approaching the resort
When: Late afternoon/ into evening
What: Arrival
Rating? TBD
Status? Incomplete

"What the...." Malcolm sat up and looked around groggy and lazy eyed. " Zoe?" He looked around trying to figure out just where he was and how he got there. After a pause and no answer from his first mate he stood and rubbed his face in his hands and looked about again as if his situation would have changed, but things remained the same.. no crew, no friends... no ship. "Where the rutten hell is my goram ship!" he exclaimed. As the seconds passed away Mal was finding himself more and more agitated and worried. He tried to rethink what had transpired through the last few days that might have led him here, but all he could come up with was that he had finished a shipping job with the crew and was enroute to their next setup. He had climbed down into his bunk for a few hours of sleep, and now... here he was.

He looked around again, but still nothing discernible could be seen. It was all just, empty land with no landmarks or any notable terrain. Heat mirage shimmered on the horizon but even it screamed of nothingness. Mal stroked his chin in thought, weighing his situation. No ship, no crew, no supplies, he reached down and felt at his side.... no weapon. His holster was empty. Now he was really unnerved... to have no weapon meant it was taken from him. So who took it... same person that dumped him here no doubt. What had they done with his crew and his ship. He snarled at the thought and whipped around again, hoping to see something, anything but it remained the same dismal lack all around him. At least he wasn't locked up or being tortured again.... yet at least.

He was dumped here for a reason, and having been left with nothing but his clothes Mal could only assume it wasn't to flourish. As he stood there and evaluated his situation the shimmering horizon parted before him and slowly revealed a..... a resort? He looked about again and back to the image but it remained. He immediately checked himself... no lump on the head; sweating, so he wasn't dehydrated yet, didn't feel drugged, pulse and breathe seemed normal enough so he wouldn't guess to be so bad off as to hallucinate yet. But watching a resort materialize before him where there had been an empty expanse previously seemed to suggest otherwise. A confused grunt was all he could manage. Seemed a most inviting place, then again they always did right? Games that your mind, or others played on you. Never heard about people be lured into a trap with sparkling images of a prison. Still, what had he to lose? Where he stood there was nothing, nor was there in any other direction. Part of him screamed to go the exact other direction... but who said that was the right choice either. What if he really needed to be heading off some other random direction? No, there was one choice shown to him for some reason... and he was damn sure going to find out why that was and where his ship and crew were.

So he started hiking towards the image of paradise. He looked up to the sky and groaned. The sun was starting to drop and he had a long ways to go. At least it would start cooling off... but Mal worried about just how cool it would drop. He picked up his pace since the falling sun didn't slacken it's downward arc, as it set the heat mirage faded and confirmed that Mal had chosen well. He could see nothing save the resort in any direction. "What the hell is going on here?" He muttered to himself.

(Post a new comment)

fallen_star
2008-09-11 09:55 pm UTC (link)

Yvaine had explored a good deal of the outdoors on the previous evening, reveling in her newfound mobility, and it had left her tired. She hadn’t exercised for five days prior to last night because her leg had ailed her, but she sure managed to get a lot last night. The star woman had slept the entire day away soundly.

The sun had set, and her eyes fluttered open sleepily. The haze of her slumber slowly drifted from her mind, and Yvaine found herself stretching languidly. Her sleep had been extremely satisfying and mercifully dreamless. A small yawn stretched her mouth a little. It was rare that she slept past sunset, but this exception was all right. It wasn’t as if she had a duty of shining brightly to which to attend.

Sitting up, crisp blue eyes searched around her starry room for a moment. She wanted to go exploring. The sensation of her feet pressing into the ground as she walked along it was so fascinating. The feel of her muscles tiring was uncomfortable, but she was so delighted with these new feelings that she couldn’t bring herself to stop. Yvaine was having her own adventure in this place.

It was only a pity that she’d only met two people. Ayla and Tonks were two interesting and completely different women. They both had their own quirks and stories. All humans were like that, and the star woman wished to discover those of everyone. She wanted to unearth all their secrets- not for gossiping but for her own personal curiosity. She wanted to know what made them tick. Yvaine wasn’t one to be rude about it, though, so she would do these things gradually.

After remaining exactly where she sat for a few more moments, the evening star finally hoisted herself to her feet and left the comfort of a false, starry night sky to step into the hall. Going from sky to ground so quickly could have disoriented many a person, but Yvaine was all right with the switch. It had become normal in the short amount of time she’d been on Mirage. She proceeded down the hall, descended the stairs, and left the building.

The air felt a little cooler this evening than the last if she wasn’t mistaken. It felt nice. Yvaine’s hair and skin glowed pleasantly, and to a distant onlooker she might appear to be a tiny point of light just as she had looked from the ground when she resided in the sky among her sisters and mother.

She was on her way to the main building to go exploring when a flicker of movement occurred in her peripheral vision. Curiously, her head turned toward the source. Her vision was magnificent at night. It had better be, considering her nocturnal habits. It appeared to be a man in the distance, and though it didn’t appear that he was overly tired, there was still something in his movements that told of some minor aching at least, as far as she could tell from this distance. Yvaine’s thirst for knowledge took over her body and prompted her away from the main building and toward the man.

The evening star had never actually met a man in her lifetime. She had seen plenty in her observations while she lived in the sky, but even after she’d fallen men weren’t exactly flocking around her. Though Yvaine wasn’t one hundred percent certain, she thought the golems might be male, but one never could tell if the Planet even deemed them fit to be anatomically correct at all.

After a brisk paced walk- nearly turning into a jolly skip but not quite- she finally met the man part way. “Hello.” She said with a smile. It didn’t falter even when she saw the disheveled hair and clothing of the man, nor did it leave when she noticed the sand flecking his skin like dirt. In fact, it may have even broadened. The star woman would bet that he definitely had a story to tell. “Did you walk all the way from the desert?”

Yvaine had walked far enough that she’d made it to the edge of the desert the night before, but she hadn’t ventured out into it. That was for another, cooler evening when her limbs were better fit to carry her weight so far. He didn’t look joyful at the fact that he’d had an adventure, so she was willing to gamble that this man had not walked all the way out into the desert then come back. He must be a new arrival, the poor man. She wondered what sort of life he’d had before the Planet kidnapped him.

(Reply to this)

captain_mal
2008-09-11 10:27 pm UTC (link)

As Mal neared the mansion something came out of it... a glow of some sorts. A lamp, a light, a sentry, or perhaps some irritating robotic...thing. This was sure to be the part where his abductor had a good laugh and put him in shackles. No matter, Mal was never one to run from a fight. Ok, fine he was... it had been said more than once that the man ran when he should fight, and fought when he should run. Accused of being unpredictable, but he was too tired to do any running or fighting at the moment.

As he drew closer, the light seemed to have taken notice and started towards him. What has it exactly? He couldn't tell... staring at it only resulted in seeing halo's and spots. He rubbed his eyes as the distance dropped. The light was... was a woman? No, he was not seeing a glowing woman. That conclusion he had reached earlier about not being drugged was about to be revisited. From the sweetest, most polite voice he heard a simple welcoming. Well of course, if a woman is glowing why wouldn't she be talking? And everyone knows glowing women are nice... A question followed before he had even processed all that he was seeing. "Not rightly sure where I've been walkin' from. But safe to say it was a might warm and sandy."

He was still confused by the fact she was glowing. He didn't feel dead, and was fairly sure she wasn't an angel. Not that the woman wasn't pretty enough, but that whole lack of wings. "Ma'am... not to be rude. But where am I?... and, are you glowing?" He looked around again and it truly appeared he was at the edge of a lush resort. Weird mirages, glowing women, and lust resorts in the middle of a wasteland; yup, definitely drugged. Or maybe still asleep. Or asleep cause he was drugged. 'And where is my ship?' a voice screamed inside of him. But things were civil enough at the moment and ramping into hostility seldom got a person anywhere but knocked into the dirt.

(Reply to this)

fallen_star
2008-09-11 10:49 pm UTC (link)

As Yvaine approached, she noticed that the man seemed confused as he looked at her. Her own eyes traveled over her person, but she couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary- as far as she knew. Had no one ever seen a genuine star up close? It was so strange. She’d been around stars her entire life, thirty million years, give or take, and she saw nothing strange about witnessing star women, nor did she find anything strange about seeing non-star people. Then again, she’d been observing them for millions of years.

A grin passed over her lips as he spoke. Despite his weariness, he was humorous. “Sounds like the desert, then.” He still had that confused look over his face, like he wasn’t sure about anything his eyes were witnessing. Then he voiced his questions and Yvained laughed softly. “You are a new arrival! I thought so.” Her voice turned from one of jubilation to a more sympathetic, somber tone. “This might sound a bit difficult to comprehend, but you’ve been sort of kidnapped by a planet, and those buildings over there are called Mirage. They’re real, though, just in case you thought they weren’t, being in the desert and all.” Then she added, “Why shouldn’t I glow? That’s what stars do.” She said this last bit as if it were not so strange at all, for, in her mind, it wasn’t.

“I suppose you should see the plaque. It explains where you are better than I can.” Maybe that was why newcomers were supposed to read it the same day they arrived. It was probably best that she hadn’t read it until her leg was healed by Tonks’ magick. It gave her time to learn for herself about what this place was, so she wasn’t really affected badly by the news on the tablet. “Come with me.” Yvaine ordered, but it was the kind of order he could choose to obey or not. The glittering woman wasn’t really the enforcing type of star.

With that said, though, she led him to the courtyard where the plaque hung mounted on the wall.

(Reply to this)

captain_mal
2008-09-13 10:53 am UTC (link)

"New arrival?" he repeated. His mind racing through scenarios, so there were others on the planet and arrived with enough frequency that it wasn't uncommon. But how did they get here and where were his crew and friends? He was too far in thought to catch most of Yvaine's next comment, but the word 'kidnapped' jumped out at him for sure. "Kidnapped? To what purpose? And where are my compaions?" Anger and confusion were started to swell within him, then the woman's cryptic comment caught him off guard and diffused the building reaction. A star? Well of course everyone was a star in their own mind. "I think pretty highly of myself as well, but that don't make me glow"

Before he could get full into the rant bouncing in his head she said something about a plaque and started walking off. Mal looked around again, weighing his options. He could make a run for it, but to where? He had no point of reference and so far other than being told he had been kidnapped no harm seemed immanent. And just why the hell was this woman glowing? He couldn't even figure out where exactly the glow was coming from on her, light just seemed to radiate from her. Damn his curiosity! He took a step to follow her and wavered, he was exhausted and dehydrated and was starting to feel it. But Mal was also one of the most stubborn of men in the 'verse and refused to show weakness especially to a kidnapping planet.

(Reply to this)

fallen_star
2008-09-13 05:59 pm UTC (link)

“Mmhmm.” Yvaine replied. “You’re not the only person who’s been kidnapped.” Then he started in with questions she honestly couldn’t answer. “I don’t know. I’ve only been here for six nights, and I’ve only met two people. Well, three if I count you, but I don’t even know who you are.”

Her brow rose at his comment. It confused her greatly. What could he have meant by that? The evening star did catch the fact that he still hadn’t comprehended what she was, so she decided to divulge. “Of course you don’t glow. Humans can’t do it. Look at the sky. Do you see the billions of twinkling lights flecking it? Those are stars, and, like those, I am a star, too.” It seemed rare that anyone would be thick headed enough not to know what a star was, but it was best to explain it as simplistically as possible. Of course, those stars were different from herself. They shimmered differently. They weren’t like her sisters. Stating such would likely serve only to confuse this man, so she decided to leave that out of her explanation.

If Yvaine had been human, she might have thought he would be better off getting a bite to eat and drinking some water before seeing the plaque. However, she was a star, and her kind didn’t require food. The plaque was where she thought he might need to go first to have some of his questions answered.

The star woman entered the courtyard first and motioned to the plaque. She was sure to give him room while he read the tablet mounted upon the wall. Even from a distance she could read those now familiar words.

"Welcome to Mirage.
This is your new home.
Your every need will be fulfilled.
You will have a place to live.
You will have food and clothing.
You will have entertainment.
You will have company.
You will not be able to leave.
You will not kill. Ever.
If you have questions, ask my assistants.
Love,
The Planet"

Yvaine watched his profile as he read the words, assessing his reaction.

(Reply to this)

captain_mal
2008-09-16 08:55 pm UTC (link)

Mal smirked and bit his lip trying to keep a civil tongue. He really was not a fan of being held against his will, though it had happened more than once. "Ok, so a 'planet' is kidnapping and bringing people here. Yourself included... which brings the question, why do you seem so ok with be plucked from your home and confined here?"

Mal blinked in confusion as Yvaine explained herself. Did this woman really just tell him that she was a star and keep a straight face? Was she seriously off her rocker? Well, that would be in keeping with recent experiences. "Right, well sorry lady but I've spent most my life flying through space up with those twinkling stars. And you seem a might more flesh and a bit less giant ball of burning gas than the stars I've seen."

He read over the plaque when she pointed it out. New home... provided for.... blah blah.... can't leave. Right, so not exactly the kidnappings he was used to. Somewhat more pleasantries and somewhat less tortures so far. Ah well, the plaque offered absolutely nothing of use. "So... where are these assistants that are supposed to answer questions? Cause the novelty of all this is REALLY starting to wear off!" He looked around and growled but softened as he saw the shimmering woman. "Sorry, but I'm really not a fan of being kidnapped."

(Reply to this)

fallen_star
2008-09-16 09:59 pm UTC (link)

This man’s question brought a twisting sensation in her belly that was quite unpleasant. Despite outward appearances, she wasn’t okay with any of this. “Before I was taken here, I was knocked from the sky. I knew as soon as I hit the earth below that I would never again return. There was no possible way for that to ever occur. The last star to fall did so four hundred years ago. We don’t know what happened to her. We searched for her for a long time, and never saw her. At least here I don’t have to worry about being killed.”

The star woman’s brows creased, and her lips parted in great offense to his words. “Do I look like a ball of gas to you? I am a star!” She snapped, throwing her hand up so he could watch her glow become brighter, but then she paused, and her glow dimmed as a look of puzzlement passing over her features. “Wait… You can fly through space? I’ve never known a mortal to do that. Do you have a broom? I have never met anyone other than my sisters and my mother would had ever traveled among us.” The only human she had ever seen fly through the air at all had been Tonks, and Yvaine had been on the very same broom stick that the witch had used. How curious if this man were to prove to be a wizard.

Yvaine stepped back quickly from the man, his displeasure quite obvious. Her hand flew to her chest in shock. He had seemed so kind earlier. His apology calmed her a bit. At least he made an effort to be nicer. He was simply upset about this whole ordeal. “Um… You’re really not going to like this, but the assistants… I think they’re the golems, but they don’t speak.” She said this nervously, worried he might fly into a rage. He did look quite unhappy despite his efforts to hide his anger. Her voice softened into a consoling tone. “I don’t think anyone here is happy about it, but we’re all trying our best to make do.

The evening star suddenly recalled that humans needed food. She’d seen some perish in deserts, and she had heard it was because of heat and lack of food and water. “Are you thirsty or hungry, perhaps?” She never felt hunger or thirst for human sustenance was not necessary for a star. “It might help you feel better to eat something?” She really couldn’t be certain what would help a mortal feel better, but she was willing to try to help him.

(Reply to this)

captain_mal
2008-09-20 10:03 am UTC (link)

What the hell was this woman talking about? Mal has been in a crash landing or two, but falling from the heavens? And her strong response to the ball'o gas comment. Then suddenly she started to glow more intensely but for she gave him a funny look and stated a question. He blinked in pure confusion... her craziness must be contagious. "A broom? Ya, in the cleaning closet. I bet we can find more than one around this place as well... what's that got to do with flying?" Wait... surely she wasn't talking about fairy tales and witches.

Oh god, he rubbed his grimey face in his hands and groaned. Bad dream Mal... bad dream. Come on, snap out of it and wake up in your bunk! But he opened his eyes and no... still here with the crazy star lady looking at him and still glowing softly. What if this was real, what if she was some sort of star and the planet had kidnapped lots of people cause it was bored and what if... what the hell! NO! Scifi and magic aren't real, stars aren't pretty glowy girls, and planets don't abduct people!

"Oh, but of course they can't talk. That would be useful" he didn't know what a golem was, but wasn't a fan of them so far. His fingers twitched a tad and Mal found himself hovering his hand over an empty holster. Then the woman mentioned food and water and Mal realized just how cramped his guts were with want for both. The distraction from his irritation was welcomed and his face went somewhat blank. "Um... sure, ok." He blinked, still dazed by all of this but he did need to at least get some water in him. Surely it was just dehrydration making him all delusional and stuff.

(Reply to this)

fallen_star
2008-09-20 01:48 pm UTC (link)

Why was he looking at her like that? Yvaine almost thought he looked at her as if she were deranged or stupid. Neither were particularly appreciated. She was making perfect sense, after all. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips when he asked her what a broom had to do with flying. “Well, up until yesterday, I hadn’t the slightest idea what a broom had to do with flying. However, I met a witch, and she flew upon a broom with me on the back. We went all the way up into the sky, but we were blocked from going further. It was a shame really, but the experience of flying itself was quite amazing. I don’t know if there’s a difference in flying on a broom or flying with… whatever it is you used.”

For split second, he looked as if he were finally understanding and finally believing, but soon enough that skeptical look wound its way back over his visage. He still couldn’t believe a star stood right in front of him, and Yvaine figured he didn’t believe anything else that was happening. Oh well. He would get it soon enough. It would only take time.

“I’m not exactly happy about that, either. I would love to find answers to my questions, but they are not to be had at this point in time. Perhaps meeting others will shed some light on things. So far, I have only met a cave woman, a witch, and you. Perhaps there are some who truly know what is going on here, other than what the golems know but don’t say.”

Another small smile twitched over her lips when he agreed to try some of the food and water. “Come with me, then.” She proceeded to leave the courtyard, winding through the halls of the main building until she reached the restaurant. The star woman had made sure he was no less than a couple paces behind her at all times, though she chose to walk beside him most often. If he was as hungry and parched as he looked, he would want more than a snack. Then again, she really wouldn’t know. When they arrived in the restaurant, she sat upon a chair at a table, motioning for him to do the same. A wooden golem approached the table almost immediately, looking to the man patiently as it awaited his order. It would not look to Yvaine, for it knew- as the Planet knew- she would order nothing. “You can order whatever you like here. I’m under the impression that they have food from any world here for you to eat, and they bring it in a timely manner.”

(Reply to this)