❪ 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

[illuminating]

[Her ears start to fall back, only half way, in some display of shame.]

It's intrusive, isn't it? I didn't think. [It's honest apology, without the word sorry: admitting her mistake entirely.] I was happy I could think the word 'hello' and your name, and you'd hear me perfectly. I am still astonished by it. That someone like me could be understood this easily. I hope it won't end up disastrous.

This place suits you well. [Is that a note of her own felt laughter under her words?] You're always scowling, [and this, strictly fond. She wouldn't change him.]

1/2

[defenses]

[ admittedly, vane didn't mean to rouse him. still, the fact that he was answering was a testament to the fact that he hadn't actually been sleeping at least, right? maybe that was vane's usual sense of optimism kicking in, but regardless he gives a small and sheepish chuckle, as if to diffuse the situation. ] My bad, my bad.

Really thought I saw you getting up from the other side, so I thought it'd be rude not to say something. [ but actually now that he gets a good look at him, it becomes infinitely more evident to him that ... he's not an unfamiliar face. rather, he's definitely someone he's seen before. but, he can't exactly put his finger on it.

he makes a long drawn out noise as he mulls this over. ]

[defenses]

Ah!! It's you!! You know the Captain too, right?!

[ it's sudden and stark contrast to his previous whispering. he had been making a conscious effort to be quiet, but well. so much for that. ]

c.

[defenses]

[ being directionally challenged, it didn't take a lot for vane to end up somewhere off his original path. or for him to overlook small things like seeing the same landmarks over and over, or in this case a sudden steep drop. his toes barely hit over the edge, before he he pulls back a little. almost comically, he peers into the space in the old mecha bay by his feet, his back hunched.

honestly, technology like this was all pretty weird and new to him, and so while it's not a steep drop, he appreciates the warning. the landing did seem kind of messy too. as far as he can see there seems to be a lot down there. hence, he cups a hand by his mouth as he yells in— ] Thanks for the tip!

[ still, he easily jumps down it, before turning towards the other source of light. ] How was that? Did I stick the landing? [ it's mostly a joke as he reaches over and ... pats the other individual on the back. maybe with a bit too much zeal and powerl. ]

i.

[defenses]

[ as bleak as it is, how critical the robot is ... reminds him a little of someone else he knows. not that he's mentally attributing any names to it or anything. still, he gives a quiet, almost defeated laugh at it. after all, just like [redacted] the mirror ai probably didn't mean anything by it, right? ... right?

placing that aside, he's just finished trying to flatten down some of his hair (per the ai's request), and even now he's still picking at it, as he nearly bumps into the woman who seems to be defending herself, somehow? was she worried about something? at first he tilts his head: ] Huh? [ but well, no matter what reason she's asking, what she's wearing looked fine to him? ]

Yeah, you look warm to me? [ but, he seems to think about it for a few seconds before— ]

Ah! I know what you're missing!

[hedonistic]

[Well, that didn't go as planned. Which puts him at an impasse, really; he doesn't have Akane's soft eyes or gentle voice, doesn't have that quality about him where he can tell a perfect stranger how much cares about their safety and earnestly mean it. He's too selfish for that, those buds of compassion that grow in his heart covered all over in sharp spines to protect what's underneath.

Honestly, he has half a mind to just pull the man's arm over his shoulder and drag him along by force, but--well. That would certainly go over poorly, and he definitely doesn't need to be fighting a grown man while also fighting this snowstorm.

After a moment, he huffs, crossing his arms.]

Yeah, well. Maybe the group doesn't wanna worry about your frozen carcass getting mauled by a fuckin...bear, or whatever.

[warmare]

[Hayame was about settled in for the night, having found a somewhat clear space behind a large boulder that served to cut the icy wind chill and the amount of blowing snow. Much like her equine cousins, she easily takes to sleep while standing, adopting the distinctive stance, knees locking, head nodding forward, arms crossed and likewise locked, bare fingers stuffed into the fawn's pelt she wears about her waist. She may be strong in the cold, able to survive snowy conditions for days in her natural state when a man without clothing would die within hours, but she's not immune. The skin of her bare arms is beginning to chap, a front hoof sports a crack that while yet mild, she was somewhat concerned might widen.

But currently, she's more concerned with the approach of the man with the handkerchiefs.

An eye cracks open at the first noise, too alert and on edge to truly sleep deeply, but for the moment... she makes no move to attack or leave.]

... what business have you?

[impavid]

"Well, banged up doesn't always mean the damage happened on the way down. Anyway, the power isn't flowing properly -- probably because people keep stealing bits of it and ripping everything up in the process. Give me a minute, I'll get it working."

He lets out a slow breath and pushes to his feet, begins rummaging in his bag for something.

"Interesting fact, the shiny base they call Central? Landed about a hundred and fifty years ago. I'd bet this thing landed first. So the question is, if Bond-Villain Magda claims he's been here two centuries when did the actual cut off happen? It obviously wasn't immediate. They got a good fifty years out of things at least before they cut Darma off."

Maybe longer. So what happened between them? What did Darma do that made Magda decide they were better off without the Natha? For that matter, if this thing crashed so long ago how come Magda hasn't stripped it already of every little part? What's the current need?

[impavid]

Aren't you a regular boy scout.

[ Real pliers! He snags them and ducks back under the panel, squirming to get himself at a better angle so he can try and bend something. He didn't expect to be actually junk diving in a real Natha ship, okay. John was pretty much prepared to be probably fighting Magda. ]

I'm trying to repair it -- I want the logs out of the thing. Hoping it might give us more of a clue on what the messy break up with Darma was about. You know, tearful voicemails asking why Magda never calls. All that stuff.

[ Whatever the logs can tell him, really. ]

pawkun

[defenses]

[ while it's not too loud, it's definitely loud enough.

to begin with, it was kind of hard not to notice her. she stuck out compared to all the foot traffic around her. after all, most people walking through central seemed to have some sort of destination in mind. a destination that ... incidentally wasn't here on the computer, that is. especially not all hunched over and in the corner?

hence, it's no surprise that vane was a little concerned. he was about to ask her if she's alright, his hand out ready to wave in front of her face to get her attention. however, instead he's met with her sudden exclamation.

he nearly jumps back. ] U-uh... what? [ ... ]

Yes? [ did he get this right? ]

[impavid]

John shoots Ianto a weird sideways glance, because he's not... exactly sure what that is meant to mean? Considering he's already had Ianto crash out in a bed beside him, the fact that they have two beds means he doesn't even register it as that small a space. He's used to minimal room sizes anyway.

"I generally try to avoid sharing rooms with people I don't like," he says, and begins rummaging through his bag for the wrist cuff thing. Like hell you're getting him wearing ear cuffs. "Anyway," he continues, "I'm not sure I'm into the fashionable gifts. I figure Magda may well be spying on us, and jewellery is probably a good way to do that."

There's a gentle tone, then a disembodied voice advises: When choosing jewellery to go with your outfit, make sure to only wear one metal tone at a time.

John freezes, then looks up and around slowly.

"Excuse me?"

Did he ask for fashion advice, no he didn't thank you. Also? Really, what was that?

[defenses]

[ hm...

it looks like he didn't exactly do a good job in letting her rest. he appears a little apologetic as he gives her a small smile. ] You can keep resting if you need it. I hope you weren't too surprised by me...?

[ once more, he secures the cup within her fingers, his hand still over hers. something he seems to realize a little too late... while normally he probably would have teased her a little (all in good nature, of course), he seems to let it go in light of how tired she was. ]

[insist]

You're probably going to die like this. You know that, right?

[ He's not the kind to go softening any blows. While Rohan wouldn't give a shit in any other situation, he's not a bad person deep (DEEP) down. He doesn't want to see a girl freeze to death either, so he's slightly concerned. ]

[hedonistic]

[Oh, he knows. Kagari's a lil babby nihilist when it comes to such things as it is. He's just, you know, concerned about how imminent said inevitable death might be, cause he'd rather that doorstep not be approached right now? That'd suck, okay.]

Who carries around a handkerchief?

[In this house we wipe our leaking bodily fluids on our sleeves like men. But no, Kagari's...squinting at All Might a bit, as if looking him over. He might not have a background in criminal profiling like Kogami does, but he is, technically speaking, a detective. And the first thing that becomes immediately apparent is that the older man doesn't seem to be injured anywhere else--which means one of two things, really. One, he injured his actual face somehow, or two, the blood is internal, or in other words, it would be really annoying if it was two because if he's in that kind of shape this old guy shouldn't be out here at all???? Ugh.]

You sure you don't need some kinda medical attention? Cause like, you're new, right? So if you're trying to tough some kinda shit out or whatever, you oughta know the Natha randomly fucked off for some two weeks plus recently, so they might not be around to bring your ass back if you croak.

[that's.....some sort of way to express concern (???) for sure. i'm sorry he's Like This, all might]

[directives]

Can't say I'm too disappointed about that, [ the other captain quips. she's come across her fair share of absurdities in the delta quadrant, but nothing quite like zombies or dragons — or zombie dragons. the mere idea was almost too ridiculous to entertain, but commenting about how such whimsical things were the stuff of stories and were best left on the holodeck takes energy she's trying to conserve right now.

and the conversation continues. she spares a glance at the engineer before answering kirk. ] Indiana.

[directives]

[ organics. that tells her all she needs to know short of prying about why this being doesn't need these items. ]

You're absolutely right, we can. But some of us are less prepared than others. I have training and experience with harsh conditions, and I would hate to take an extra set of supplies from someone who isn't as prepared.

[impavid]

Ah. Right. John cringes a little visibly before reaching to shake her hand.

"It might have survived, you never know. John -- John, Sheppard. We spoke briefly before everything kind of went south."

You know. Before the dragon fire hit. John was definitely up front and getting in on all that, but since Claire hadn't seen him in person before it's hard to say if the paler blotches on the bits of visible skin not bundled up are just a long term pigmentation thing or from the fight. He's definitely not volunteering that right now.

[torchwoodteaboy]

[Ah, alright. This sounds like she is probably one of the newer refugees. Which is something Ianto is still getting used to really, since he was only from the last batch before her himself. Still. He's been through a lot here already, what with joining the Committee and their mission to transport the Heart -- which was raided by Rasyc and ended up culminating in the raising of this ancient dragon. So he feels like maybe he might at least have something to offer.

Hesitating a moment, he steps forward and perches on a seat nearby, offering a moment of quiet company before he replies, in his softly lilting Welsh way:]

Regardless as to whether you're used to this sort of thing or not, I'm pretty sure they're an invasion of privacy no matter which way you look at it.

[directives]

More like I know better than to just drink something that's handed to me by someone I don't know.

[ or are deep in diplomatic discussions with. janeway would never refuse a drink from someone she was trying to bater or negotiate with, but that's not the case here. ]

[insist]

Where I came from, The Holy Grail was known as the cup that Jesus Christ drank from in the Last Supper. In some other lore, it's also been known to hold mystical powers. However, nobody knew its whereabouts, despite many claiming to have found it. It was an object of mystery and fascination for many centuries.

[ That exposition was way too long but this is Rohan, and he loves to hear himself talk. He especially loves talking about mysteries and legends. Anyway, getting to his point ... ] Does this mean your people have found that cup of legends?

[conqueredhearts]

[Stroking his beard while he listens, he takes that into consideration. A cup that this Jesus Christ drank from at his last meal. Interesting. For some it might seem like the exposition is too long but in Iskandar's eyes he's learned a lot!]

Hmmm. I am not sure if this Grail is truly a cup as you describe. But it does hold great power and the one who wins it is granted a wish. That of their truest desire. And so mages summon those like myself to fight for this Grail.

[Things he should not be telling those outside the Grail War? This. Things he's going to be telling people anyway when they ask? This. The life of an open book.]

[stargatemedic]

"Good to meet you."

Shaking the hand that's offered to her, TJ gives a laugh of her own and shakes her head in the hooded coat she's wearing.

"No, no summer holiday," she admits, "but I have to admit that I wasn't expecting a frozen... whatever this is, either. It's hard to keep track of what's going on and who might be walking off the path." It's a gentle acknowledgement that she's watching for such things rather than just taking care of herself.

[stargatemedic]

"A few days ago," TJ admits. "There was a station that we were on first and then that walk... It's different than what I'd been told to expect."

She supposes it's fair, because when in a different place all together - and dragons are involved?? - she can't really expect anyone to have a full grasp of what they're dealing with. "How long have you been here?"

[stargatemedic]

Moving from one constant adventure to another, and having to adjust to the consequences of those adventures, isn't exactly new to TJ, but being stuck in a new place with an entirely new set of people from different other places? That is new. She's heard stories about the Storm and she's still on the fence.

Keeping her voice slightly raised to be heard above the wind, she asks, "And in all that time, you've never heard anything to disprove what you were told when you arrived?"

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Better. Claire smiles thinly, letting him know he made the right decision. See, he's capable of good choices, sometimes.]

Was that so hard?