EVENT ★ ROLLING 'ROUND THE BEND

[futurologists]

ASTERION PRISON The white light is blinding. The weightlessness continues. The air thins into nothingness, though those who breathe won't feel the pain of suffocation -- in fact, they won't feel the need to breathe at all. The sensation continues for what may seem like a second or an eternity; it's impossible to tell. And then the floor hits you. Or rather, you hit the floor. It's cold and metal and as your vision returns, you'll find you're not alone in this small room, though you're definitely not with anyone you know: standing in front of you is a brawny alien in a black uniform, its many purple eyes staring at you. The alien is flanked by a pair of robots, who take advantage of your dazed state and grasp you in their metal arms to drag you from the room into what appears to be a gigantic prison. As the robots drag you past cells -- some containing other aliens, some containing humanoids, and some containing your teammates -- you'll catch a glimpse of the outside through a window. You're in outer space. If questioned, the guard will only tell you that you've been accused of conspiracy to commit grand theft, and your trial will begin soon. But in the meantime, you'd better get cozy. YOUR NEW HOME Asterion Prison is a dreadnought class spaceship with several different cell blocks making up a majority of its innards, with the rest of the space designated for day-to-day running of the ship and living quarters for the guards. Audentes is housed in Block 26, which has six tiers of cells situated in a circle around the main recreational area, out of which juts the Block 26 guard tower. Each inmate, including Audentes recruits, has a glowing blue symbol emblazoned on their forehead. Though it's not immediately clear what the symbols mean, inmates who have been around longer will explain: it's a record of how many lives you've taken, a way for the guards to know who's the most dangerous. The symbol glows through any kind of attempt at covering it -- whether by makeup, clothing, hair, or something else -- so it's best to learn to deal with it quickly. Speaking of clothing, whatever recruits were wearing upon their abduction has been replaced by a uniform orange jumpsuit. Similarly, any weapons are no longer present, though those with a special connection to their weapons will feel that they are being held elsewhere on the ship. Luckily, the guards appear to have overlooked jewelcomms, so Audentes will be able to communicate with each other via magitek (text only is suggested, of course, unless you want to get caught!), though contact with Oska or any other outside ALASTAIR recruit seems to be blocked. LOCKDOWN As long as inmates keep to themselves and don't bother the guards, things run pretty smoothly. Two meals a day, five hours of sleep, and all the weights you need to get yourself swole. But on the sixth day in Asterion Prison, all hell breaks loose. No one knows who started it, but there's suddenly a loud roar from the milling crowd in the recreational area. Most inmates scatter, but some rush in -- to see what's going on or to get a piece of the action themselves, who knows -- and then everything becomes an all-out brawl. Super strong aliens with various powers fight each other loudly and violently while others cower and run for cover. The old alien ducks behind his chess board just in time to avoid a barbell sailing overhead; a six-armed being shoots lava out of its mouth, which does nothing to the metallic floor but severely burns a group of humanoid toads wielding shivs. The fight goes on for a few long minutes before correctional officers and their robot guards pour in to try and get things under control. Those who are still around once the officers come in are in threat of being dragged off to solitary, even if they had nothing to do with the brawl, so make yourself scarce unless the idea of sitting in the dark for another six days seems appealing. OOC NOTES Welcome to space prison! We hope you'll enjoy your stay. There is a plotting write-up here with extra information about the prison ship, and please note that participation in the symbol directory is mandatory. If you have any questions about the prison that aren't answered here, please direct them to the Leramzen dossier. Questions about the game in general should be directed to the FAQ and you may submit mission ideas or player plots at any time.

Comments

[deemed]

[He snorts, amused.] In my universe there are laws against cruel and unusual punishment of that kind.

[He dips his spoon into the food, eyes it balefully, and takes a mouthful.]

[scarletcast]

But not here.

[ She toys with the food on her own plate, finally looking truly at the symbol he wears. ]

How many times have you been in a place like this?

[deemed]

[He considers the question, still looking at his food and not realising she's studying his forehead.] I have sat in the belly of a demogorge, a creature that devoured stars and galaxies, I have been thrown into Hel and Muspelheimr... I have even languished in the dungeons of my own home. Never have I been in a prison like this one before.

[He shrugs, looking up at last.] Yet never one like this.

[scarletcast]

[ It doesn't escape her that these are places one is kept only temporarily. It speaks of his nature — though she didn't need reminding. ]

Did they take your power?

[deemed]

Here? No. But I cannot damage the prison itself. [His voice is dark as he admits this. He doesn't like punching something and not have it break.]

[scarletcast]

Neither can I.

[ And she too, isn't used to having nothing break. ]

And yet, to sit and wait is its own torture.

[deemed]

[He takes another spoonful of the gruel rather than answer. His temper is slowly fraying away as he rots in the jail. It's been only a few days but already he is counting the hours that pass.]

No doubt someone will come up with a plan to get us out within a day or so. [His tone doesn't match his hopeful words.]

[scarletcast]

No doubt, [ she echoes, with as much confidence. She doubts it'll be that soon, but people will want to escape for the sake of not being bored or trapped. ] What will you do until then?

[deemed]

[His shoulders rise and fall as he takes a deep sigh.] Wait. There is nothing else to be done.

My skills are not those which will facilitate our freedom. [He can fight when the time comes, but he recognises that it'll take sneaky, technical minds to get them out of this.]

[scarletcast]

Nor are mine.

[ Almost wry. She never thought of herself as a bruiser, or a powerhouse, but here they are. ]

That reminds me. Loki should be up to something.

[deemed]

[He chuckles-] Loki is always up to something.

The question is whether he schemes to our advantage.

[scarletcast]

I should hope so. I do not think prison agrees with him.

[deemed]

No. It is hard to find yourself so confined when one is used to more.

[He gives her a strange look then. Odinson knows Loki copes poorly in such places because they are brothers, and because he knows what signs to look for. It is telling that she would realise that too.]

You see well, Wanda Maximoff.

[scarletcast]

[ She shrugs, lightly. She doesn't feel she has any special responsibility for either of them — she's found she cares about them on their own merits. ]

Neither of you are meant to be caged.

[deemed]

He deals with it better. [Don't tell Loki he said that. It sounds like a compliment.]

You're faring well, so far?

[scarletcast]

[ His secret is safe with her. ]

As well as I can be.

[ If her only problem, prison aside, is that she can't be patient, she can live with it. ]