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[ Peter winces at the painting in question. Yeah, that's definitely creepy as hell, made all the more creepy by the fact that immediately next to it is another painting depicting what looks to be a big, bountiful beast. ]
In fairness to me, I don't see their names written anywhere around here.
[ So, you know, "Finders, keepers. Losers, weepers." So say the ancient tenets of schoolyard ownership. ]
What do you think? Too spooky to set up camp for the night?
In fairness to me, I don't see their names written anywhere around here.
[ So, you know, "Finders, keepers. Losers, weepers." So say the ancient tenets of schoolyard ownership. ]
What do you think? Too spooky to set up camp for the night?
[ He's about to respond to her comment with a disbelieving, "In what universe?" but he's similarly interrupted by that voice. Peter jumps, startled, and looks around the cabin, trying to locate the source, but—
He meets Gamora's gaze, still puzzled, and the angry flashing of the screen draws both of their attention.
Welp. Here's Peter's oh shit oh fuck face, because he registers the warning even before Gamora's shouting his name. He yanks on the ship's yoke, hauling it into a quick loop. The meteor sails past beneath them, just as they reach the crest of the loop, and when the ship rights itself, Peter splutters. ]
Where the hell did—
[ He barely has time to complain, because the warnings flash on the screen again, far more urgent than before, and the radar goes fucking nuts. ]
Hang on!
[ Because here it comes: Peter's ace flying. And now that he doesn't have Rocket trying to commandeer his ship, they might actually get through this. ]
He meets Gamora's gaze, still puzzled, and the angry flashing of the screen draws both of their attention.
Welp. Here's Peter's oh shit oh fuck face, because he registers the warning even before Gamora's shouting his name. He yanks on the ship's yoke, hauling it into a quick loop. The meteor sails past beneath them, just as they reach the crest of the loop, and when the ship rights itself, Peter splutters. ]
Where the hell did—
[ He barely has time to complain, because the warnings flash on the screen again, far more urgent than before, and the radar goes fucking nuts. ]
Hang on!
[ Because here it comes: Peter's ace flying. And now that he doesn't have Rocket trying to commandeer his ship, they might actually get through this. ]
[ You know, this was a perfectly pleasant flight. Potentially even the most pleasant thing they'd done together since waking on the station, and that's saying something.
Of course now they have to deal with flying space rocks.
Gamora grabs onto the arms of her seat as the ship veers sharply out of the way, gritting her teeth as she forces herself to focus on the displays.
Lights are flashing, alarms buzzing, and just as the ship darts around another meteor, one comes spinning towards them with even more excessive speed. ]
On our left!
[ Her tone is brusque, snapped out and business-like – if only because she's too focused to realize that it might sound like a snarl. ]
Of course now they have to deal with flying space rocks.
Gamora grabs onto the arms of her seat as the ship veers sharply out of the way, gritting her teeth as she forces herself to focus on the displays.
Lights are flashing, alarms buzzing, and just as the ship darts around another meteor, one comes spinning towards them with even more excessive speed. ]
On our left!
[ Her tone is brusque, snapped out and business-like – if only because she's too focused to realize that it might sound like a snarl. ]
I enjoy reading. Learning about the past and where we come from has always been a particular favorite of mine.
Wyver... I remember hearing that name. One of the primary kingdoms on the island, yes? Have you been yourself?
Wyver... I remember hearing that name. One of the primary kingdoms on the island, yes? Have you been yourself?
[ It's just as well that Peter's used to that particular tone to take any offense to it. It helps even more that he's focused on dodging the meteors. The ship's controls may be unfamiliar, but this instinct isn't, and Peter's spent a lot of time learning controls on the fly, considering how often he was behind the yoke of stolen or borrowed ships.
Peter spares only a glance out of the view screen at Gamora's warning, and he pitches the ship downward, the inertial dampers doing little to safeguard him from that wild feeling of his stomach trying to rise up into his chest. Another meteor to the right, and Peter sends the ship into an aileron roll, dodging to the left. He levels out the ship, once the meteor sails past. ]
Where the hell are they coming from?
[ Sharply, now that he has that bit of breathing space to speak. ]
Peter spares only a glance out of the view screen at Gamora's warning, and he pitches the ship downward, the inertial dampers doing little to safeguard him from that wild feeling of his stomach trying to rise up into his chest. Another meteor to the right, and Peter sends the ship into an aileron roll, dodging to the left. He levels out the ship, once the meteor sails past. ]
Where the hell are they coming from?
[ Sharply, now that he has that bit of breathing space to speak. ]
[ The corner of his mouth quirks up a little. ]
It definitely shows.
[ As for her next question, he hesitates, uncertain of how to explain this. Then, slowly, ]
... Technically, yes. I've been there. But—
[ He pauses, huffing out a frustrated sort of breath. ]
I guess I was awake a while ago. But then I went back into one of those pods. [ And he gestures skyward, as if to gesture toward the stasis units on Thesa Station. ] And I don't remember a single thing about being here.
It definitely shows.
[ As for her next question, he hesitates, uncertain of how to explain this. Then, slowly, ]
... Technically, yes. I've been there. But—
[ He pauses, huffing out a frustrated sort of breath. ]
I guess I was awake a while ago. But then I went back into one of those pods. [ And he gestures skyward, as if to gesture toward the stasis units on Thesa Station. ] And I don't remember a single thing about being here.
| | [That gets her attention. She turns to him, her expression a mix of sympathy and curiosity.] ...I see. That's very... interesting. Perhaps going back into the pods affects one's memory somehow? I can't imagine why they'd do it intentionally-- what purpose it would serve. [She taps the bottom of her chin.] At any rate, I imagine that must be fairly frustrating for you. |
“Frustrating.” [ And he huffs out a quiet, humorless laugh. ] Yeah. Sort of.
[ Mostly, it pisses him off. But then again, what doesn’t, these days? If it manages to get under his skin (and the chances of that are extremely high, given his mood lately), then he tends to overreact, get angry. He’s doing a little better, now that he has a task in front of him, but that fact that he has no recollection of this place, despite a handful of people insisting he had been around, is daunting.
He doesn’t want anyone messing with his head. Not again, anyway. ]
I hear you get yanked back into a pod if you get sick or something. “The Storm acts unpredictably,” or whatever, so you might get hauled back in if it messes with you.
[ Mostly, it pisses him off. But then again, what doesn’t, these days? If it manages to get under his skin (and the chances of that are extremely high, given his mood lately), then he tends to overreact, get angry. He’s doing a little better, now that he has a task in front of him, but that fact that he has no recollection of this place, despite a handful of people insisting he had been around, is daunting.
He doesn’t want anyone messing with his head. Not again, anyway. ]
I hear you get yanked back into a pod if you get sick or something. “The Storm acts unpredictably,” or whatever, so you might get hauled back in if it messes with you.
( from here )
Ugh.
[ And in spite of the annoyance in his voice, it’s drowned out by that same feeling of amusement – that particular delight of talking shit behind someone’s back. Then again, if Drax were here, the two of them would still gladly do this in front of his face, so apparently not much has changed. ]
Bastard nearly wrecked my ship.
[ And only Peter is allowed to do that, thank you very much.
The ship’s flight seems to smooth out, the interior lights and the lights on the control panels finally steadying. Peter’s attention flicks over to the screen, and the warning lights have seem to have shifted to a pleasant, happy green, signaling that they’re finally harmonizing, whatever the hell that means. ]
Ugh.
[ And in spite of the annoyance in his voice, it’s drowned out by that same feeling of amusement – that particular delight of talking shit behind someone’s back. Then again, if Drax were here, the two of them would still gladly do this in front of his face, so apparently not much has changed. ]
Bastard nearly wrecked my ship.
[ And only Peter is allowed to do that, thank you very much.
The ship’s flight seems to smooth out, the interior lights and the lights on the control panels finally steadying. Peter’s attention flicks over to the screen, and the warning lights have seem to have shifted to a pleasant, happy green, signaling that they’re finally harmonizing, whatever the hell that means. ]
[ In Prompto's (expert) opinion, anywhere that is not a house with a warm bed is too spooky/dangerous/uncomfortable/cold/etc to camp for the night, but then again, he has slept in worse places than this. Not that that's particularly comforting when they're in a skull cave surrounded by unsettling paintings, but it puts things in perspective. ]
Ehh, I've seen worse! [ ...And there other options aren't great. ] Besides, where else are we gonna sleep? The boat?
[ That's even LESS appealing. ]
Ehh, I've seen worse! [ ...And there other options aren't great. ] Besides, where else are we gonna sleep? The boat?
[ That's even LESS appealing. ]
[ At any other time, Gamora might be able to appreciate Peter's flying abilities.
Now, however, she's more preoccupied with the meteors that came out of nowhere. ]
I have just as much information as you do.
[ Which is... a little snappier than it needs to be.
... The ship's systems reflect it in the way the craft tries to list slightly to the left. ]
Now, however, she's more preoccupied with the meteors that came out of nowhere. ]
I have just as much information as you do.
[ Which is... a little snappier than it needs to be.
... The ship's systems reflect it in the way the craft tries to list slightly to the left. ]
| | [She's able to parse his meaning well enough from that.] I heard that as well. It seemed... ...to be honest, not very convincing an explanation. I find it even more wanting in terms of making us forget. |
I know. It's okay. [And it really is, as far as she's concerned. It might be difficult to know that he doesn't remember any of that time before, when they started to actually get to know one another but that's okay.
It is.
He's still Peter.]
Sometimes I stay with him. [Which is not saying that she lives with him. But also not saying that she avoids him either.]
It is.
He's still Peter.]
Sometimes I stay with him. [Which is not saying that she lives with him. But also not saying that she avoids him either.]
[ That— draws him up short, and Peter frowns. ]
"Sometimes"? You two aren't staying together?
[ ... not that he can blame her, exactly. Peter knows firsthand how aggravating life with Rocket can be. ]
"Sometimes"? You two aren't staying together?
[ ... not that he can blame her, exactly. Peter knows firsthand how aggravating life with Rocket can be. ]
[ He glances up, and— okay, that totally validates the way he's been feeling too, which is why he says with feeling, ]
Yes. Thank you. I've been calling bullshit on it this whole time, but I just— dunno why they'd pop me back in a pod and wipe my head when I've got friends here who probably knew just as much as I did.
Yes. Thank you. I've been calling bullshit on it this whole time, but I just— dunno why they'd pop me back in a pod and wipe my head when I've got friends here who probably knew just as much as I did.
[Mantis rolls the glass between her fingers, shoulders hunching a bit under what she perceives as a disappointed frown.]
I tried. When we all first arrived, we all lived together. You and me and Rocket. It was just-- There was a lot of-- It was loud and-- [Okay, she's totally failing at everything right now and she finally blurts out a complete sentence in absolute frustration:] I don't know how to live with people!
[She sucks at social things. She knows it. She knows it intimately.
And then she feels the need to defend herself, because don't be disappointed in her, Peter.] I still spent time with you both. I brought you dinner sometimes. And-- and I really did try to help when they wanted you and Rocket arrested for the bombing.
[A slight pause, then ruefully:] I didn't do that very well, though.
I tried. When we all first arrived, we all lived together. You and me and Rocket. It was just-- There was a lot of-- It was loud and-- [Okay, she's totally failing at everything right now and she finally blurts out a complete sentence in absolute frustration:] I don't know how to live with people!
[She sucks at social things. She knows it. She knows it intimately.
And then she feels the need to defend herself, because don't be disappointed in her, Peter.] I still spent time with you both. I brought you dinner sometimes. And-- and I really did try to help when they wanted you and Rocket arrested for the bombing.
[A slight pause, then ruefully:] I didn't do that very well, though.
The charitable answer is that there genuinely is some aspect of the Storm that lingers on us and needs to be fixed, and the process of fixing it affects our memory.
I'm not particularly inclined to believe that charitable answer, but I can't exactly pinpoint an alternative explanation.
I'm not particularly inclined to believe that charitable answer, but I can't exactly pinpoint an alternative explanation.
[ ... Oh.
... Well.
That's very fair. He and Rocket kind of set one another off, have special ways of lighting the fuses on each other's tempers. (Maybe a more insightful person would point out it was because they were so much alike, but Peter insists it's because Rocket is such a prick.)
When she seems to be in a hurry to defend herself, to cut off anything Peter might say, he waits, eyes slightly wide. And when she seems to lose steam, Peter breathes out a laugh. ]
Mantis. It's cool. I get it.
[ He frowns down at his glass again, trying to figure out how to best put this, then, ]
How often were you telling us to keep it down?
[ Because he has to assume she tried and that they just ignored her.
Peter fully admits he has a bad habit of saying "yes" and then forgetting his promises an instant later. ]
... Well.
That's very fair. He and Rocket kind of set one another off, have special ways of lighting the fuses on each other's tempers. (Maybe a more insightful person would point out it was because they were so much alike, but Peter insists it's because Rocket is such a prick.)
When she seems to be in a hurry to defend herself, to cut off anything Peter might say, he waits, eyes slightly wide. And when she seems to lose steam, Peter breathes out a laugh. ]
Mantis. It's cool. I get it.
[ He frowns down at his glass again, trying to figure out how to best put this, then, ]
How often were you telling us to keep it down?
[ Because he has to assume she tried and that they just ignored her.
Peter fully admits he has a bad habit of saying "yes" and then forgetting his promises an instant later. ]
[ Peter snorts out a laugh, using his boot to shove a small pile of bones and tools to one side, as if to clear up some space on the ground. ]
I mean, it's an option. Can't imagine that'd be too comfortable for more than a couple people, but, you know. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
I mean, it's an option. Can't imagine that'd be too comfortable for more than a couple people, but, you know. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
Don't forget, feed the giant dragon before it immolates the entire village.
[Two could play at the sarcasm game, and she liked to think her tongue was sharp enough to keep up with the best of them.
As Peter returned to work, so too did Maya. She paid careful attention to where each rune was placed in relation to the other, but also paid attention to its location in the room. There was a chance that there was a primer to be found somewhere.
Caught up as she was, she didn't process his question for a handful of seconds.]
Maya. Yours?
[Two could play at the sarcasm game, and she liked to think her tongue was sharp enough to keep up with the best of them.
As Peter returned to work, so too did Maya. She paid careful attention to where each rune was placed in relation to the other, but also paid attention to its location in the room. There was a chance that there was a primer to be found somewhere.
Caught up as she was, she didn't process his question for a handful of seconds.]
Maya. Yours?
[He gets it?
Well, if anyone would know how loud and uncomfortable Peter and Rocket can get, it would be Peter and Rocket, she supposes. Eyes a little wide still, she shrugs one shoulder.]
Once or twice. [That might even be an exaggeration.] I mostly just, uhm. Left.
Well, if anyone would know how loud and uncomfortable Peter and Rocket can get, it would be Peter and Rocket, she supposes. Eyes a little wide still, she shrugs one shoulder.]
Once or twice. [That might even be an exaggeration.] I mostly just, uhm. Left.
( from here )
[ Peter wisely decides to express that his own luck is basically the same – it seems far too much like tempting fate to say as much, after all, and a couple of these serpents was already two too many, in his eyes. ]
That was magic, then?
[ Well, okay, it was obviously magic, but Peter has to make allowances. He's seen some tech that might as well have been magic, but it turned out to just be some complicated machinery at work. ]
[ Peter wisely decides to express that his own luck is basically the same – it seems far too much like tempting fate to say as much, after all, and a couple of these serpents was already two too many, in his eyes. ]
That was magic, then?
[ Well, okay, it was obviously magic, but Peter has to make allowances. He's seen some tech that might as well have been magic, but it turned out to just be some complicated machinery at work. ]
[ —which sends them dangerously close to a meteor that flies toward them from the bow, and Peter has to veer the ship to the right to compensate.
—which knocks them into another meteor, and the ship's shielding lets out a high-pitched whine as it absorbs the hit. It knocks them into a quick, wild spin, and Peter grits his teeth as he tries to correct the ship's vector.
Thankfully, he does, though, he's slightly breathless with the effort. Nice to know they have a bit of a buffer in case they get hit again, but Peter would rather avoid a repeat performance. ]
Think happier thoughts, Gamora.
[ and wow, it's shocking that Peter has to be the one to say that. ]
—which knocks them into another meteor, and the ship's shielding lets out a high-pitched whine as it absorbs the hit. It knocks them into a quick, wild spin, and Peter grits his teeth as he tries to correct the ship's vector.
Thankfully, he does, though, he's slightly breathless with the effort. Nice to know they have a bit of a buffer in case they get hit again, but Peter would rather avoid a repeat performance. ]
Think happier thoughts, Gamora.
[ and wow, it's shocking that Peter has to be the one to say that. ]
[ ... This emotion-based steering is really starting to get on Gamora's nerves, especially after they take that none-too-pleasant hit. It could be worse – much worse – but Gamora still winces as they level out, pressing the heel of her hand against her forehead.
She glares at Peter out of the corner of her eye. ]
Like that's helping.
[ Aaaaand the displays start to blink all over again, until Gamora forces herself to take a slower, deeper breath, closing her eyes to focus. ]
She glares at Peter out of the corner of her eye. ]
Like that's helping.
[ Aaaaand the displays start to blink all over again, until Gamora forces herself to take a slower, deeper breath, closing her eyes to focus. ]
[ He presses his lips into a thin line for a second before he takes a sip from his drink. It buys him a little time to figure out how to phrase this without sounding like he's pissed off at her. ]
Did you actually tell us to knock it off, or are you just saying you did because I asked?
Did you actually tell us to knock it off, or are you just saying you did because I asked?
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