Summer 10 - newcomer mingle

[kollomods]

[ It's late morning when the ferry comes around, landing on the jetty and letting off a small but valued group of new arrivals. Olivia is out there, greeting and handing out information packets.

Later in the afternoon, there's a small welcome party set up at the community center. The tables are laden with cinnamon buns, elderflower lemonade, fresh strawberries and an assortment of small cookies and other treats. There's also thirium lovingly set up to the side of the buffet, for the android population. Ingvar shows up a little later with his accordion, setting the mood with some traditional folk songs like he's wont to do. ]

Comments

[summonceles]

[a. docks]
[Clear sky, blue sea...there are no floating islands or volcanoes in Sweden (r...right???), but in looks, it's not unlike Cephiro. Umi spent part of the boat ride lost in that thought. It's nice -- the boat ride, and being away from things, too. She already misses Hikaru and Fuu, but...maybe this will help.

Once the boat docks, she starts thumbing through the information packet. It's all fairly standard "welcome" information, except--]

Milking cows isn't too weird, but-- Water lilies? Who the heck needs to warn about water lilies??

[THAT'S KIND OF WEIRD, OKAY.]

[b. lingonberry cabin]
[It doesn't take long to find her cabin, but she wasn't totally expecting to see signs that people were already living there. Maybe she should have been -- after all, it seems like people have been here for a few days. But it's sure gonna make it awkward to grab a room, huh?

Well, uh. No better way to start than to just peek in all the rooms, right? umi, no, what are you DOING]

Hello?

[c. mingle]
[She's not generally big on sweets, but she has a plate of small ones. They're mostly unfamiliar flavors, and curiosity has ahold of her. If they're tasty, maybe she can try to replicate them. You'll find her trying each of them out, with expressions ranging from surprised, to perplexed, to distinctly unimpressed.]

[d. late afternoon, outside lingonberry]
[It's definitely a pressure that's off her shoulders, but it's not perfect. And being away from Hikaru and Fuu...also not ideal. She's glad to be here, of course, but she's also feeling a little restless. So, for now, she's outside of her cabin, with the fencing foil she almost didn't bring, practicing some of her favorite stances.

A pause. It probably doesn't make sense to practice the ones she's best at, does it?

Well, anyway, here's where she is. Occasionally, she performs a move that doesn't look anything at all like fencing -- it looks more like the kind of fighting you'd do with an actual sword. She doesn't look bad, though. In fact, it looks like this is something she's got some experience with.]

a.

[dumbstruck]

[ With the exception of some of his own personal drama this vacation so far has been a pretty relaxing vacation. The problem is that Hyunseok is a guy who is used to constant stimulus, and will blow all of his money drinks at clubs and bars or video games. Things are a little more lowkey here, but the arrival of newcomers is always kind of interesting, right?

Interesting enough to have him wandering down to the dock at least, and overhear the girl with the blue hair musing about water lilies. ]

Hey, you never know what might come up, right?

[summonceles]

[Absorbed in her thoughts of what could possibly require such a warning, and not really expecting any input, Umi jumps a bit at the sound of Hyunseok's voice. The moment doesn't last long, of course -- she regains her composure, and offers him an incredulous look.]

I know it's not usually plants, at least. They can't exactly walk up behind and surprise you, right?

[Suddenly she doesn't look as incredulous.]

I mean-- unless I've entered another weirdo world.

b

[bluerocks]

[ You better be ready for more water lily weirdness, because that sure is a weird blue guy kneeling in the corner of the room you just burst in on, in the middle of lifting the edge of a water lily from a mixing bowl of pond water so he can inspect it.

Zelgadis looks up at the intruder with a frown. ]

Who are you?

[summonceles]

[This is about to get real embarrassing, because the fact that one of the apparent weirdo plants is there and the fact that Zel is also, I dunno, blue, are melding together in her mind to form a bit of a logistical leap. She wags a finger at the flower.

(Oh, and also because she just barged into someone's room, apparently.)]

A-- are you...with them?!

b

[unwieldy]

[ All the things Haein could potentially be doing in the privacy of his own room...!

Like changing his shirt, for example. Which he is actually doing right now. He'd already established being left alone with his other cabin mates, so he's not exactly expecting anyone to come peeking into his room.

Jokes on him, apparently. He freezes for a moment when his door opens, all wide-eyed staring with his newly changed into shirt still not entirely on him, before he quickly makes for the door to shove it closed and yell through it for her to hear from the other side. ]

What the hell are you doing!?

[ Some kind of pervert has moved into their cabin. ]

[summonceles]

[Okay so Umi wasn't expecting much when she stepped off the boat, but some peace and quiet? Yeah, that was the plan. Not Magical-Chairs-Find-The-Room-That's-Not-Occupied. And she definitely wasn't expecting some half-dressed dude when she first opened this particular door, so full of hope, as if she'd finally be able to put this dang bag away.]

H...HAH?!

[Luckily the door slams in her face before said guy can see the flabbergasted shock plastered all over her now-red face...but she also has her pride, so she somehow manages to sound like this is Definitely Not Her Fault.]

How the heck do you expect me to figure out which room is mine when all the doors are CLOSED and UNMARKED, huh?!

B

[distantfuture]

[Hope had been a little too engrossed in his book so he didn't hear anything until the door to his room creaked open. He started a little, sitting up straighter on his bed, and while he expected one of the two men he instead got a young woman with long blue hair.

She reminded him a bit of Yeul with that hair, but he merely gave her a small smile, closing his book.]

Can I help you?

[She was a stranger who walked right into their cabin, yes, but he was pretty sure a burgler wouldn't announce their presence like that.]

[summonceles]

[Third time's a charm, is what Umi was hoping for, and this time she even knocked. It just. Was a very small knock? Anyway, in general, Umi is slightly exhausted from those previous two interactions, so when she doesn't hear a response, she hopes, begs the universe, to give her a win.

Instead it gives her Hope.]

Ehh?

[Somehow the fact that he's so calm makes her more embarrassed.]

Okay, so...this one's definitely not my room.

[Umi, that's not an answer!!]

[enflame]

a; docks
( Throughout the boat ride, all Emil could do was zone out and stare into the quickly arriving coastline. Nothing about this place is specifically familiar, but at the same time -- upon arriving and actually paying attention to his surroundings -- this is...home. Or something that's trying very hard to look like home.

There was a reassurance that time had stopped back home, but his mind is still swimming. It's hard to breathe easy when he knows that whenever he chooses, he can quickly turn back around to a sudden death scenario. Actually, that isn't even metaphorical. All that he can feel in his lungs at the moment is panic. )

I -- I...? ( Wow, two minutes off the boat and he's already about to lose his shit, this is a new record. He thought that stalling time would calm his nerves, not put them on edge. Emil moves between clutching his chest and anxiously running a hand through his hair. ) I'm going crazy.

b; blueberry cabin
( After getting over himself, Emil takes the advice of the welcoming packet and makes the walk over to the cabins, albeit a bit sheepishly after that...display.

He knocks on the door as if it isn't a communal living area, waits a few moments for someone to answer and then remembers himself: you're staying here now, you walnut. Ahem. He'll see himself inside, thank you very much.

Ah, there's someone easily accessible once he comes inside -- and that's you! )

Uhm...hi? ( This place is certainly a bit strange, and it's hard to get a feel for who all is here. ) Can you show me to a room...a free room?

c; mingle party
( The edge has certainly left his nerves -- or at least as much as they possibly can be given his current mental circumstances. In fact, those edges certainly begin to soften when he sees that there is food. Real food. Real food that almost certainly doesn't have a candle floating or squirrel fur in it.

Time to dig the fuck in, bruh. )

Is that fruit? Real fruit? ( Sorry to suddenly ask you a weird ass question, stranger, but this is like...kind of blowing his mind. ) Don't get me wrong, I've seen real fruit before, but it's been so long. And there's so much of it!

c

[unwieldy]

[ He'd missed the arrival of newcomers at the docks this morning thanks to oversleeping, so he figures a good way of scoping out what he hadn't had a chance to then can be done now at the mingle party. Haein usually sticks to the corners or walls, but who can deny free food...

Especially when there's something that looks an awful lot not like food but instead like some kind of blue liquid that catches his attention. He's examining it when the stranger beside him speaks up, and Haein turns to him with an unfriendly stare. ]

It's real fruit. [ Sounds just as unfriendly as he looks. ] The lemonade and cookies are real too if you wanted to freak out about those too.

[enflame]

( Wow, nice to meet you too, asshole...no it's okay, he forgot himself. Being alone for a month or so in the wilderness will do some shit to you. )

Yes, of course. I was being facetious... ( And he's also planning on loading up on those two things. Lemonade, though, is something that's extremely rare where he comes from, which may be why he makes his next statement in an attempt to save himself. )

The lemonade ( said while gesturing to that blue gunk ) is obviously real and looks quite excuisite.

c

[bluerocks]

[ It's not that Zelgadis was here for the welcoming party, but more that there wasn't anywhere else to get food. That, and Ingvar's evening folk song sessions weren't the worst way to pass the time.

He pauses in the middle of scooping said real fruit onto his plate (balanced on top of a mug of coffee), eyeing this guy a little incredulously. ]

It seems to be real so far. And if not, we don't really have any other options, other than starving. [ Wow, what a life of the party, Zel. ]

[enflame]

( There's coffee too...real coffee. Woah, this little vacation is very worthy. )

I'm pretty sure that I've consumed worse as of late. I don't want to starve, though... ( Although, if it's not real, what in the world is it? He gingerly picks up a cookie and tries it with a bit of trepidation.

Wow, it's not stale and has flavour. This is what happiness feels like. ) It's real...definitely real!

c

[withsoul]

Yes, it's real. I've analyzed it to make sure it's real and safe - just so you could have an unbiased party's opinion - and I can confirm it's all genuine.

[ Is that weird? Chloe is smiling and relaxed, like it's not weird at all. She's also holding a cup of thirium-310 in one hand, because she is participting! She is a guest! Not a hostess, for once in her sixteen years since initialization! ]

My name is Chloe. Did you just arrive today?

[enflame]

( It is a little weird to Emil, but it's also somewhat relieving. Something about seeing all this food that's nice is a little too good to be true. Who cares if the verbiage is a bit bizarre? That means he can eat as many real cookies as he wants. )

Oh, yeah I did. Thank you for confirmation...? ( He picks up a strawberry and takes a bite...yup, that's indeed real. ) I'm Emil.

And that is...? ( Pointing at the blue drink in her hand. He's never seen fruit juice look so...cobalt. )

a

[summonceles]

[It's quiet, and while Umi was expecting that, it's so, so different from her life at home. Crowded city, chatty parents, loud thoughts... the sudden absence of all of it is a little jarring. It's like starting off on another adventure, almost.

Almost.

She glances around as they all step off the boat -- it's a small group of them, sure, but maybe there'll be other people around, too.

Emil's panic might be mostly internal, but it's not silent. Hearing it, Umi can't help but stick her nose in his business.]

Hey, are-- are you okay?

[enflame]

( It takes more than a moment for Emil to come out of his panicked state. His mind was truly going a mile a minute, thinking about eight hundred things he suddenly regretted.

When it finally registers that someone is speaking to him, it's all it takes for him to not suddenly panic more that someone is seeing him in this state. Oh no, oh no; what do you say to make it seem like you have everything together? )

I don't think I should be here...? ( That's...definitely not it!! It's also said like a question and there's no eye contact made. On paper there aren't any repercussions for being here, but in his mind it feels like it's the most weighty choice he's ever made, and now he's acting like a lunatic because of it.

Wonderful!! )

b

[sparkandburn]

[ Technically he's moved out of Blueberry, but even though he packed lightly before arriving here he still managed to leave a couple of things behind. Granted, he could've just left it for the next guy to get his room but then he'd know that there's a full bottle of good whiskey tucked under the mattress and no one should have to live with such knowledge.

He's halfway down the stairs when Emil comes in through the door, bottle in hand. ]

You got two to choose from, mate. I'd go with the one on the right, if I were you. [ The one that wasn't his. ]

[enflame]

( It's a good thing to be precautious -- Emil isn't a huge drinker, but it may be tempting to try and crack that bottle open one night.

Despite this potential willingness, the bottle in hand makes his eyebrow raise. Who is this person who is carrying alcohol and does he or does he not have to live with them? )

The one on the right. ( Repeated mostly for his own confirmation. ) Is that one better somehow...?

( Since there has to be a reason that's being suggested to him. )

Open

[forever_jack]

Moose Cabin – late morning

Apparently there are new people arriving today, so he's got a pot of coffee on ready this time. By the time people start wandering by looking for their cabins, he's out on the porch cradling a mug, smiling and waving to those who come by, wondering which of them is his new housemate.

Community Centre – late afternoon/evening

Jack's never one to miss a party, even a low key one, and he's here, scoffing cinnamon buns and mingling with the newcomers. Later, he'll be hanging around near Ingvar, enjoying the music and occasionally joining in with a few harmonies. He's heard some of these songs several times now!

community center

[sparkandburn]

Even this new and improved, prison-broken Spike isn't the greatest with all this meeting and greeting. Normally he wouldn't have made an appearance at this little get-together, but he has an ulterior motive — to get Jack ridiculously, shamelessly drunk so they can have that heart-to-heart that's so clearly looming at the horizon.

He steps up next to Jack, seemingly out of nowhere as is his wont, with a telltale clink announcing his presence - there's presents in the bag currently slung over his shoulder.

"Jack."

[forever_jack]

Spike is not really someone he expected to see here, at least not without Ianto in tow, but it's certainly not a bad surprise, especially since the clinking coming from Spike's bag suggests he's brought something rather more interesting to drink than elderflower lemonade.

"Spike," he says equably, inclining his head in greeting. "Decided to give the welcome party a try?"

At least he's not tensing up or trying to get away or anything, which is probably a good start for Spike's plan!

moose haus

[traumatizing]

Jack's in luck-- along comes a sullen-looking guy with a whole host of piercings, a guitar slung across his back, and a wheely case dragging behind him. Wearing skinny jeans that are torn to hell, a pair of scuffed Doc Martens, and a hoodie that absolutely swamps him. It's probably easy to get a feel for the kind of guy coming up the path.

He's tilting his head up and squinting at the signs, expression softening some when he catches Jack's face under the sign and he offers a hesitant wave.

[forever_jack]

Well, a goth rock star will certainly be an interesting addition to the already contrasting cabin-mates of an immortal fifty-first century captain, a scarred, shy Japanese schoolgirl and an alien princess!

Jack straightens when the newcomer waves, and gives him a friendly smile. "Hi! Looking for Moose Cabin?"