❪ introlog: #6 ❫ city of secrets

[natha]

You've spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Now, the time to put all your survival training into practice has arrived: El Nysa needs you, and you're here to help the planet thrive. Are you ready? THE DESCENT     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar, where a large-scale teleporter awaits. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait; everyone will be sent down to the planet together. Before they depart, all refugees will be given a cold weather survival kit with warm clothing, rations, and bedding. The arrays build into a brilliant wash of light, creating a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa, teleporting the refugees to the planet on an aurora. Once on the planet's surface, refugees receive one last message from Darma. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet we must ask you to brave further peril. Within Nadril are the secrets to how poor Ysverai's revival was hidden from our sight and how this disaster has come to our star. Find the first refugee from beyond this planet, a man named Magda. He will not speak to us, for much has come between us, but to you… If you prove yourselves, he may be willing to answer your questions. We beseech you, for there is a veil over Nadril that hides all within from us. There may yet be more untold dangers waiting to befall this planet. For the good of all who make this world home, we ask you to lend us your aid. There is yet one more favor we would ask of you. In warding off the Storm's encroachment, the physical aspect of ourselves that you call Thesa Station was damaged. We must remain to continue repairs to El Nysa and to deal with Ysverai, but there should be suitable technology within Nadril that could be used for spare parts. If you have the chance to find it and can return it to us, it would hasten— Darma's message crackles with static, another image overlaying hers — her broadcast is cut off and replaced with another. A more sullen and alien voice takes Darma’s place, overlapping on itself in an ominous reveal. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet you’ve only just arrived here. To say I’m not disappointed in your… generation would be to lie, and I am nothing if not an honest creature. But I suppose these have been unusual circumstances. You must ask yourself this — are you only here as Darma's lapdogs? I can assure you, it's not worth being on the Natha's leash. With time, that will be something you'll have to learn for yourself. If you're so determined to come find Nadril, then follow the path north, and you'll find the border. What awaits you is revelation, if you're up to the challenge. A FROZEN LAND     The refugees land on a literally frozen world, both in temperature and time. Curls of icy wind hold swirls of snow aloft and an uncanny silence is broken only by the crunch of hoarfrost underfoot. Only Darma's protection allows the refugees to move through this frozen world — and movement is very necessary. Bitter cold sneaks through even the thickest clothing and without warning, a snowstorm rises: unnaturally quickly, a wall of white howls directly in the refugee's path. Bizarrely, the way back is perfectly calm; it's obvious that this storm is no product of nature. Magda's challenge becomes clear: the only way to Nadril lies through this storm. Visibility within the storm is near zero, the whiteout hiding any landmarks from view and making navigation near impossible. The only guidance refugees have is a sporadic path of faint, greenish lights, easily lost in the raging storm. Refugees need all the survival skills they practiced on Thesa Station to survive, for getting lost alone is a death sentence. Luckily, those separated from the group can happen upon guiding lights Magda has planted throughout the tundra. These blue-white sparks cause frostbite if handled recklessly, but they also serve as directional anchors, turning into ghostly flames that lead lost souls back to the path to Nadril. The trek through the storm will be no mean feat and will last for the better part of three days. By the time the refugees reach Nadril's gate, most will find themselves exhausted and running on fumes. As the snowstorm dies away and a gap in the glittering forcefield around the city opens to usher the refugees inside, it's clear that Nadril is a different beast. A WARM(?) WELCOME     I. Despite the unforgiving journey, entering Nadril is painless. Once inside, characters will be greeted by their predecessors: the original refugees who made this advanced city. They'll immediately be offered medical attention, as well as warm cider and blankets. But it's obvious that the Nadril citizens prefer higher tech to fend off the weather: they also offer wristlets and ear cuffs that that double as mittens and earmuffs by creating warm bubbles of air. The earrings also feature a few quality of life programs, such as timed alarms and thought-to-speech messaging. However, both programs are in beta stages so it's not unusual for a stray thought to accidentally slip through or an alarm to accidentally ring at an inopportune time. II. Refugees are offered free lodging in a large, crystalline building crafted from ice. Despite the coarse building material, the ice is unmelting and surprisingly well-insulated, and the beds are as warm and cozy. The rooms are, however, small. The sleeping quarters house two people, and are some cross between an igloo and a capsule hotel. Though built for efficiency over comfort, all rooms are also outfitted with the latest Nadril AI, RoboAlfred, or Ralf for short. This helpful program is installed in practically all the furnishings: the closet tells guests to bundle up, the bathroom sink reminds them to brush their teeth, and the mirror offers helpful fashion tips. Ralf's personality matrix still needs polish, though: it may very well insult your clothes and passively-aggressively question your lifestyle choices for the entire stay. III. Though not as advanced as Thesa Station, the colony has technology far beyond the rest of the continent, such as rudimentary AIs and mechanical transportation. Nadril's skyline is a point of pride — refugees can take a (literal) lightrail that gives an aerial view of the colony, which is hewn almost entirely from ice and rock. Despite its tech, Nadril is much more sparsely populated than Olympia and Wyver, and its residents stay near a central hub: a Natha refugee drop ship, Central, which has crashed and long embedded itself into the earth. Central is similar to an older, smaller, grounded model of Thesa Station, in functional order with round-the-clock solar power. Within Central are lounges similar to ones on the Station, though many of the damaged areas have been converted. They include repair stations, different wings dedicated to science, botany, astrology, and mechanics, and a research and history facility, which has a smattering of technology from planets beyond El Nysa — including your own. The staff here don't mind if anything is sampled and studied, but objects cannot be taken from the labs. IV. On the outskirts of the central hub, many will find several curious looking bots with insect-like wings perched about high traffic walkways. Simply passing the bots will cause a dizzying flash before a series of photos print out. Upon closer inspection, people will find that these images reflect stills taken from their home worlds as they remember it. Unfortunately, these photos only last a couple of hours at best. At that time, they will revert back to regular pictures of the refugees. People will be encouraged to share these images of their worlds. The residents of Nadril comprehend the value of remembering one's origins, and will be pleased to see that people still hold memories of old homes close to them. RECREATION IN NADRIL     I. Small, mechanical creatures scampering through the city are a common sight. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that they come from a shop called Paws About Town. They’re very useful, as companions, gophers, and couriers (though the more mischievous will note that they’re just small enough to keep tabs on people without being noticed). Premade robotic pets are available on display inside the shop. They come in all shapes, but small sizes; one may be able to find robots that even look like miniature creatures from their homeworld. These are a part of a new, highly customizable line with programmable personalities. Customers have the chance to take pets for a one-day trial run. Those who don’t know how to program may want to enlist more knowledgeable aid, but the pets come with instructional pamphlets for basic personality traits such as obedience, helpfulness, playfulness, and bloodthirst. For returns, the switch to wipe the robot's personality to a blank slate is on the back of its neck, right between a switch to invert all traits, and a switch to have them learn by observing. Try not to press the wrong switch — you might wind up with a pet with a mind of its own! II. A. The Frosty Tap Cantina is a thriving hub of activity, but one of the major draws is the self-service bar: molecular mixology is wildly popular here. Playing with drink compositions can be a game in and of itself, and newcomers to the cantina will find that the bartender — a cheerful woman with lilac skin and three eyes — is always happy to give them a few tips on how to use the wide array of tools within reach of the barstools. All manner of drinks are possible — from glowing, layered cocktails, to clear drinks with colored, spherical bubbles and vividly-colored shots that give off their own smoke. There's a nightly contest in the cantina for the most creative drink created by a team — this may be as good a time as any to partner up with someone and see what can you come up with. Winner gets all their drinks for the night free! And, hey, even if you don't win, you get to drink whatever you make. The well-lubricated patrons of the bar are eager to challenge anyone nearby to a different sort of drinking game… Just how well can you hold your liquor? B. Holo-screens in the cantina are nearly always broadcasting some match or another of a game that looks very much like hockey, albeit played with sticks that light up and a puck that changes shape from time to time. Colonists here merely refer to the game as "the sport," and one of their favored pastimes is betting. However, they don't use currency — they wager dares. Nadril colonists are a tough, weathered lot, and they prefer to speak with actions over silver. Colonists will urge the refugees to take part as well. Common dares range from the ridiculous (lead a sing-a-long, attempt to make someone with a poker face smile) to the suggestive (kiss the person in the cantina you find most attractive, strip off a piece of clothing), to the outright reckless (venture out into the snow for a certain amount of time, and no one will judge if you find some company to keep warm). The colonists are unfazed by even the most insane or tawdry of dares — but you'll certainly be called a killjoy for refusing too often! Why not grab a friend and give it a whirl, or challenge a rival to a dare yourself? THE MISSION     I. On the outskirts of Nadril is the communications tower of the old refugees. This is where Magda resides, monitoring Nadril's technological protections, the extent of the Natha’s influence, and running his own personal projects for El Nysa’s technological advancement. It is isolated, filled with research labs and relics of the past refugees who have come to El Nysa — a living mausoleum of worlds swallowed up by the Storm whose peoples have refused to forget where they came from. Crew photos line the walls of the tower: pictures of alien families and friends, the refugees who came to Nadril before you. Each group of photos gradually becomes smaller in number, and the most recent of the pictures are from half a century ago. Magda's picture can be found among the first group of refugees, an unusually small cluster of photos dating back centuries in El Nysa's past. I have been on this planet for nearly two centuries. Life has come, evolved, and collided in an ever expanding culture. But Darma fears interference, and made this place a prison, with she our warden, stifling the growth of the creatures native to this world rather than encouraging them to flourish. She sent you here for answers in her stead because she knows I'll spurn her, and after seeing what that fool Raysc has wrought, I'll give you them — not for Darma's sake, but because I trust after all the Natha have done to you, you'll understand my decision. Mistakes were made, and I won't hide them. You've made it here so there's some mettle to you, and unlike the Orbiters, I'm not interested in hiding the secrets of the dangers we face. I gave Raysc what he needed to keep his actions hidden from Darma's eyes — what he needed to advance the primitive magics the Natha had doomed him to. It was old Natha tech, Darma's very own used against her. Hilarious, isn't it? Raysc learned of Nadril, and like you, braved the snow to find his way here. He proved his worth and his determination, and he spoke of a brighter future, El Nysa coming into its own, its people realizing their true potential, unhindered by the shackles that had been put upon them. I believed him. He had vision — or so I thought. In truth, he was a fool. A madman. He wasted the opportunity I gave him on his petty vengeance. But not everyone on this planet is such an idiot. Surely you lot aren't. The Natha are hiding things from us — about the Storm, about everything. And here in Nadril, we're going to find all those secrets. What's it going to be? Will you help us, or are you going to stay obedient dogs on Darma's leash? Magda isn't too talkative yet; after all, the new flock of refugees may just be here as eyes and ears for the Orbiters. But what he has said leaves you with plenty to talk about, and if you can earn his trust by helping out around Nadril, he doubtless has a great deal more to reveal. II. Central isn't the only Natha ship that made its way to El Nysa — another, crashed just outside Nadril's borders, is little more than a junk heap. It's here that you'll find the spare parts Darma asked you to retrieve for Thesa Station. What remains of the ship's hull serves as a windbreak, and snow has built up against it, turning the piles of old Natha tech inside into something of a snowy morass. Holes in the deck offer would-be scavengers passage to the ship's innards, barely illuminated with flickering lights — the tech is old, but hardy enough to withstand a crash landing, the severe weather, and the passage of centuries. Deep in the wreck are the remains of living quarters, research labs, VR arenas, mecha bays, cafeterias, and a host of other rooms, many of which may seem familiar from Thesa Station, albeit with a decidedly older feel to what remains of the smooth curves and sleek surfaces of the Natha architecture. Most of the ship's systems are damaged and the technology is nonfunctional, but that just means there's plenty of spare parts to be found. The wreck isn't in the best shape, its structural integrity damaged, and the drifting snow threatens to block off exit routes. Be careful while exploring and be sure to bring a partner. As it turns out, Darma isn't the only one interested in the wreck — Magda is also eager to get his hands on Natha technology. In his own way of taking some responsibility for Raysc, he's asking scavengers to bring him parts, muttering about seeing what he can do about Ysverai's curse. Bring him anything that looks useful, and he may have a chance to succeed, though whether he'll be more effective than the Natha Orbiters is up for debate... FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 NADRIL REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE BY AUGUST 5TH, 11:59 PM EST. As always, feel free to create your own prompts and explore the Nadril location page! There are a variety of activities made available, including fishing and cave exploration! Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[panzersoldat]

"I can see that." Reinhardt is more than happy to give her attention. He goes at her ears and then under her chin. She's softer than he would think a lion might be. But he likes her. He laughs a little at the story though.

"Did she now? Well, that just means she's the one for you." He is more than happy to press forward. "Can you ride her yet? I'm sure it'd be easier for you both if you moved as one. And warmer too."

[meinwaifu]

[Just gonna make a face at the implication that he can't take those two, wow!!]

[But then the conversation shifts, and his expression twists into something more serious. It's not something he's ever talked abut in length, mostly because of the fact that he's pretty sure the Natha are always listening. But in a place like this, where their influence can't reach, maybe he can be more honest.]

...I haven't trusted the Natha since the very beginning.

Although I believe their actions do come from a place of caring and compassion, they do not seem to be the sort of beings capable of truly understanding such concepts on the level mortals would expect. To that end, they're an existence far closer to that of demons such as myself. Thinking of it in that way is the only way I can possible justify their actions and inactions.

But of course, that's also a factor in why I can't understand how anyone could possibly trust them. Especially with everything they've done to break that trust this past year.

[expiable]

[ Natasha trusts Peggy insomuch as she expects a certain measure of moral fibre from her, due to her associations with Steve and SHIELD. They have more in common than most among the refugees. It takes a certain type of person to become an Agent for any country, after all.

Working with her now is an unmissable opportunity. ]

I used to get custom work all the time. [ Before HYDRA burst from inside SHIELD. ] Techies like someone who doesn't break their toys.

[ A little smile. Sure, she's crashed a few vehicles in her time, but the good stuff — she keeps that in pristine condition. ]

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda just shrugs and shakes her head.]

No, but I have an idea to find out. We need to get close enough to one of the natives for that to bother them.

[meinwaifu]

I wouldn't have to baby you if you didn't make a habit of putting your health at risk so often -- honestly, I'm starting to think you're doing it on purpose!

[First the alcoholism, now playing out in the snow with a cold?? Chuuya plz.]

[But you know what this means right?]

[This means he's just gonna walk over and casually scoop Chuuya up in his arms... and by in his arms, I mean throw him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.]

Now then-- it looks like it's time to put the baby down for a nap.

[thetaintedsorrow]

It’s not like I knew I was getting sick!!

[Chuuya very rarely catches colds, but going from Olympia’s more even climate to Nadril’s extreme cold probably invited all kinds of bugs into his system, and he gives another pitiful sneeze-

Right before Mephisto picks him up and tosses him over his shoulder a particularly rowdy sack of potatoes.]

Oi!! This isn’t necessary!!

[SQUIRMS AND YELLS???]

Where are we even going?? Oi!! Put me down!! I can walk!!

[daemonized]

[Ardyn shifts his weight, running a hand through perpetually mussed hair. The grin does not leave his face, and is unlikely to do so.]

You would be surprised how many, in the past, have neglected to ask me a similar question. They are often too busy glowering at me to think to use even the smallest mote of reasoning. Can you imagine that?

[Wow why would anyone have an issue with him at all]

Ten years. I wonder if that means anything at all to you.

[As in, he had spoken with Noctis -- had Lunafreya done the same? To know that the boy is now ten years older, that the world is ten years more stagnant and ailing under the darkness? Well, was, at any rate.]

I.... don't know how I lost this notif. i'm so sorry

[daemonized]

[Imagine that, indeed. Amicability all around! To be fair, he hasn't given reason for her in particular to go on the defensive. They've had nothing but wonderful chats when they run into each other.]

A place you've visited before? I've heard mention of it once or twice in passing, I think.

[lancings]

[ Surprisingly, she does understand much to the extent of someone who may as well have lived in the Dark Ages could. It makes sense that they would find other means to lift a door too heavy for human hands, yet she's still trying to wrap her mind how it works absent any magic. Her fingers move over the different hinges before she presses the button yet again, opening and closing the hatch like a child who's just found a new toy to play with. ]

It's truly a marvel. I never thought I'd witness such a thing. There's a lot here that surpasses even the limits of our own imaginations. Do you think those who gave us this mission can make use of this contraption?

[ Though how would she haul it all back to camp? Perhaps, there is some kind of core from which it draws power? If only she knew where to even look. She can only pluck around at the broken pieces and pull at the 'veins,' hoping something more significant will reveal itself. ]

And you called it a 'spaceship,' was it? I never thought ships would fly above water without magic as well. It shouldn't be possible with their weight.

[ Not even if it were tied to a dozen pegasi could a ship be lifted like that. How curious. ]

[gravemistake]

Gabriel knows it's pointless to make offhand comments about how the Orbiters expect them to clean up someone else's mess to Reinhardt--he's not one to stand by while people are in danger or suffering. He watches the shift in his expression closely and it tells him all he needs to know. For as much as Gabriel has less-than-stellar opinions about the Orbiters, arguing about it with Reinhardt will be pointless as long as there are innocents in the equation.

"Might as well enjoy it while you can."

Because Reyes is always waiting for the other shoe to drop. He drains his own glass in a show of good faith, then has them both refilled, and waits a few moments before breaching the next subject of conversation.

"I found Morrison and Amari."

Reyes says that like a statement of fact, knowing that the particular phrasing will invite Reinhardt to comment on the state of their comrades. He's curious about what he thinks of them--how much they've seemingly changed. Maybe he can provide more context.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Claire's not in a hurry to confirm that some of those times were simply to be away from Frank--though that was rare. He was often busy with the university, and when she had Bree, he could... well, spend his time as he chose.]

You always had so many questions. Always different ones, too.

[Her clever girl. Idly, she runs her fingers through her red hair, a thing she's always loved to do.]

mission

[gravemistake]

Gabriel has been digging around in the crashed ship like many of the other refugees--for him, it's a bid both for information and for anything potentially useful. He hasn't decided whether or not it will be worth returning any of it to Magda. From where he's standing, none of this is trustworthy, so for now he's in it for himself.

It's difficult, however, to ignore the voice of someone just a little deeper into the wreck. He's following the noise (intending to assess whether or not it's a threat) when he finds that the source is someone elbow-deep in some of the tech.

Gabriel leans against the door frame, watching for a long moment before he decides to speak up.

"Keep talking to it. Maybe you'll get something."

[garbagepilot]

Not exactly.

[But even if it was a picture of Jakku Rey isn't certain she'd have called that home either, but at least Takodana has the benefit of looking pretty. She doesn't mind handing the picture over, even does it with a small smile.]

It's from a planet called Takodana, my first visit there. I'd never seen that many shades of green before, and-

[But it's about then that she recognizes the ease with which she'd adjusted to the droids shooting out pictures isn't something this woman has felt, so she frowns faintly, not quite concerned, more curious than anything.]

Is there something wrong with yours?

[expiable]

[ They're striking an uneasy balance. Banter but no blows, chatter to pass the time during a long trek and assess where the other stands. ]

They liked it plenty, sure. [ Sure they liked to scare her. Whether she was actually frightened of bedtime stories is another thing entirely. Once, maybe. Before she learned the truth of the world. ]

[ She adjusts her gloves idly. ] Why? You been worrying about your figure on the new alien diet?

[garbagepilot]

[Her lips press into a thin line, very much on her way to being annoyed with this and taking the offer back entirely when the last thing she wants to be doing is standing in the snow defending her abilities when she could be making forward progress, getting closer to getting warm.

But she still has some shred of patience left, so she answers very deliberately, spacing the words out to be sure there's no mistaking what she's saying.]

It's like magic. It won't hurt you, it's just- a bubble, to keep the snow off. I'm not going to just stand here waiting for you, so either come on or figure it out on your own.

[garbagepilot]

I don't think there's anything like BB-8.

[The warmth she says that with is very much like how someone would sound talking about a beloved pet, so really Claire isn't that far off.]

He is a BB unit, though, so you're not that far off. We have a lot of different kinds of droids where I'm from, everything from ones who will translate and act as servants to ones like BB-8 who are meant to help pilots fly their ships.

iii.a.

[sheriffing]

[ if anyone ever thought Emma Swan was too much of a grownup to enjoy a game of dares, they're wrong. she's not ready to subject anyone to her singing, but she isn't afraid to bet against Kagari. it's even better when she wins, Emma grinning as she scans the room to sort out a good challenge for him.

there's a person sulking in the corner who she's had her eye on. and maybe that works for now.] Him. Make him laugh.

[ to be fair, the guy looks like he could use something to laugh at.]

[garbagepilot]

I haven't.

[She says it without looking away from the creatures in question, frowning faintly as she looks down at them. Cat isn't very descriptive, and no matter how much she looks she can't figure out what the point of naming them that is.]

I'm used to things with names like nightwatcher worm or ripper-raptor, things that make sense. Why is it called cat?

[expiable]

[ it's only a look, but something distinct passes between them. a measure of understanding at work in this micro-interaction.

nat stands, taking her drink with her. she goes after the girl, not the boy: a daring rescue from tall, dark and boring. "oh my god, i've been looking for you everywhere. where have you been?" in a tone far more chipper than her usual. the brief chat that follows leads to a bet, naturally. nothing big, just a light tease from natasha. "if they land this one, you oughta see to the other guy — the one you've been mooning over since he walked in here."

and then natasha's back, mouthing go on over her shoulder. by the time she returns to dutch, the girl has downed her drink and gone right of to lover boy. ]

Didn't think she'd go for it that enthusiastically.

[ because, wow, they're going at it now. ]

[garbagepilot]

[As much as she'd like to think otherwise, her face is painfully open when it comes to her feelings. She's quick to cry and easy to anger and she's never had any social training to teach her not to let these things show, and she knows she can be easy to read unless she focuses hard on putting up a front before she lets someone in.

She's already failed to do that, and as Molly talks her expression shows him exactly how right or how wrong he is. Her brow furrows when he says something true she doesn't like to hear, eyebrows raise when he says something she hadn't realized about herself that he's right about.

By the time he gets to the Justice card, she's back to frowning and can't help thinking of Kylo Ren. Her last moments with him had been trying to sever the connection between them, literally closing a door in his face, and she wants to believe that that really had been it. No more second chances, no more openings for him to hurt the people she's come to care for. She doesn't trust him, and if anything this card, Molly's accidental wisdom, tells her to stick to her instincts.

When he finishes, though, it's the Ten of Wands she reaches out to tap her finger on.]

Can you tell me more about this one? About the task I want to complete.

[Because she still has the fate of the Jedi order in her head, a weight on her shoulders she doesn't know what to do with, and even fake advice could be helpful if it gives her a new perspective.]

[inaurare]

I can only help we remain welcome, as long as we need to stay. Situations... soured, in Olympia and Wyver - not right away, but over a period of months...

[a light shake of his head. He knows better than to tar everyone with the same brush, so to speak, but he can't help but remain cautious; braced against future unpleasantness.]

[expiable]

[ she laughs along with him. ]

We've always loved our irony. [ the more dramatic, the better. ]

[ his question about the year doesn't surprise her, after she met with others from her own past and future. a hero from another time, surprised by natasha's implication that they shared an employer, and a girl looking up at her, describing how they met. ]

It's been up and down since then. [ nothing lasts. ] All the way through to 2016, for me.

[flask]

I know what it tastes like! I have a very discerning tongue. If I take it to its alchemical parts and just think about what else might taste like all those parts, then I put the parts into a whole and, uh, bingity boom you've got something that might be fire whiskey.

With vodka in it.

[Surprise, "Nick" can both taste things better than she can see them and is kind of pretty good at alchemy. Or chemistry, if you want to get all technical and futurey about it. Her talents lend themselves well to the nature of this bar.

She has an intelligence of 16, she knows what she's doing.]

[poolhall_killer]

"I've been better," Venom admits, but he doesn't want to saddle Ianto with what the dragon did to his magic. "But it's steadily starting to improve, aside from our unexpected trek through the alien Arctic." He sips his spiked tea, realizing the brandy they used was heavily spiced. Eh, it's warm, so he'll continue to sip it.

"I hope the ghosts left you alone after your departure from the museum." He wouldn't want them to follow the poor guy home, not after those visions.

[expiable]

[ a vague answer, but it works fine enough for natasha (for the moment, at least). pressing for more can come with time. they'll be in here for a while together, anyway.

she laughs. ]

Once the supernova option's on the table, everything else seems a little anticlimactic, huh. [ space, man. ] This your first time off Earth?

[ said with a wry sort of amusement, seeing as it's wild to be talking about planet-hopping, even though Nat has known aliens for years now. ]