"Going where I list, my own master total and absolute" (Part 2 - Diplomacy, Tourism, and Processing)

[cityship]

The trip down was uneventful. The view was gorgeous when the viewing window shields were raised again when they were through the atmosphere, especially as they passed down to Megalopolis, the simply-named giant city that was this world's capital. To the Earthlings there, the continents of this world would look vastly familiar, but that didn't mean anything, did it?

Eventually the sparkling city spires of the mega-city, interspersed with flying traffic, rose up to meet them, and Obs Deck, attached by its massive shielded umbilical cord, deposited them at the Council's private spaceport. It retreated back up to Stacy after they'd disembarked.

This world was a gorgeous world, that much they could likely tell while standing there on the landing pad, looking at the rounded curves of the beautifully designed spaceport. Buildings rose up above them in shades of white, paneled with multi-colored glass, in creative architectural designs. The air traffic weaved neatly in endless lines between buildings, and the overcast sky was in shades of orange and pink, with occasional slips of a bright blue peeking through.

The Council of Five was waiting for them in person, clearly glad to see them all, dressed in resplendent clothing.

"Welcome to the Megalopolis, our capital city, and welcome to Galilee. We are the Council of Five, and we're honored by your presence."

[ooc: The first subthread is now open. They have split into groups! All subthreads are now open! Please do not set up new subthreads. The plot-runners will set them up as needed as we go.]

Comments

[not-edd.livejournal.com]

Sorry about this, Howard, but Zedd's gonna invade your personal space for a moment. Laying a clawed hand on his shoulder, he leaned in and whispered.

"I doubt he'll let us go so easily. Like it or not, we're in for this ride." he said.

Admittedly, he wish he had his staff with him. He never did find his snake after Philip and Andy spirited him away. Oh, well, he'll just make another here.

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

"Books...right." Ruffnut had...to this day read exactly three books.

By which she often meant, "Looked at the pictures"

But she was game. These people wanted help, she wanted to prove herself and that meant being helpful. "Sounds like a plan to me."

[brustriese.livejournal.com]

"So, you're taking us out to motivate us to protect your planet," Signum says. The idea of a VR narrative wasn't too far from Midchildan technology either, and didn't sound much different at all from the Sensoriums. "I can't really argue with that reasoning..."

She relaxes, ready to go now, even if it did still sound like too good of a deal, and favors their host with a slight ironic smirk. "I will say, though...being inside a book is rather overrated. Lead the way, if that's your wish."

[cityship]

Orin smiled. "Good, very good. And Howard, it is not invasive at all. Certainly much less than the scanning you agreed to." He gestured to the transporters, with a slight bow. "After you."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard jerks away from Zedd's hand. "Don't touch me, man," he hisses in a whisper than hopefully won't get picked up by Orin. As uncomfortable as the unexpected restraint made him, he doesn't want to telegraph the group's discord to the Galileeans.

He looks distinctly unhappy at being forced into this entire thing, and he tilts his head at Ruffnut. "Nah, Valkyrie here can go first. She looks eager about it."

He's half-considering running screaming to another group, except Zouichi's group is already gone, and Rory's isn't in sight. Not to mention if they physically forced him, the only thing he'd gain would be the knowledge that his broken clock of a paranoid streak was right at that twice a day. Not even close to worth it, no matter how much he's getting the creeps.

[not-edd.livejournal.com]

If Zedd could smirk, he would do so. Big time. Making people uneasy is his thing!

He let the others do their thing, though. No need to ruin things just yet. There'd be time to do that should the need arise!

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

"Heh, Valkyrie." She chuckled at the idea that she was someone so strong.

Then again she was alot stronger then she used to be.

[brustriese.livejournal.com]

Signum attempts to give the nervous man that Zedd's harassing a reassuring look, taking her own assurance of the weight of her untransformed Device against her collar bone. The scanners, being medical in nature, hadn't even bothered to note the magical weapon, at least not to her knowledge. Not that she was planning on attacking anyone in the entertainment district, but it's not like she'd have gone anywhere without Laevatein, either.

Zedd and the young pigtailed girl didn't seem to need reassurance, however, and Signum steps forward and toward the teleporter along with the rest of the group.

[cityship]

Orin was about to step onto the transporters when he realized Howard had not followed the others. He turned back. "What's wrong? You want to miss out on an immensely pleasurable experience? I told you before, it's not invasive at all." He snapped. He appeared to be taking personal offense. "Do you understand just what I'm offering you?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Okay, anger. Anger is good. Howard's used to people being angry at him.

"Yeah, and do you understand just what 'no' means? I don't want to, and you don't want my first impression of this place to be sitting through something I'm scared of and don't want to do, alright? No. I'll do dinner but I'm not going to your movie, no matter how nice it is."

You'd think Stacy would realize he's awful for diplomatic missions at some point.

[not-edd.livejournal.com]

Zedd turned back to see Howard and Orin's argument. And here he thought he was going to be the one causing trouble. The fact that the Emperor of Evil is busy laughing his head off wasn't helping matters much.

"Oh, you humans crack me up! You sit here and say I'm evil and going to be trouble, when it's the brat who doesn't want to watch a movie that's doing it! This is rich!" Zedd said.

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

Ruffnut ground her teeth, this was getting bad fast! But what could she do?

Well, she could punch Zedd in the arm, "Cram it!" They were supposed to be on the same team right?

Then to their host, "Don't mind him just a little joke...right dude? You're not gonna mess this up for everyone with your silly jokes riiiight?" The words came out in a jumbled mess and her eyes blazed with a I will hurt you if you screw this up for us. Look.

Ruffnut was very intent on this mission not going off the rails.

[brustriese.livejournal.com]

Signum lets the younger girl deal with Zedd, knowing she could only make things worse. Instead, she turns to Howard and Orin.

"I think everyone calming down would be best," she says, in her best semi-adoptive-mother voice. "Mr. Bassem, if you don't want to continue the mission, we won't force you. Coucilor, we're all very interested in your culture and wish to get to know it, but if my shipmate is uncomfortable with what you're offering - and I feel it's a reasonable caution - then simple hospitality indicates that you should let him stay here and wait for the next part of the mission."

[cityship]

Orin took a step forward to Howard. It was a tense moment. Orin glared at the teen and the tone of the evening seemed to be ruined, not to mention how intimidating a large man like Orin could be, especially with the hard, grim features of his face. But then Orin waved a hand and turned back to walk onto the transporter.

"Fine. It is your loss. You may wait for us outside the feelies. But you will have to come with us now. The restaurant at which we will be dining is nearby the feelies."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Despite his fearful and self-preserving nature, Howard's gotten a bit better at not looking as intimidated as he feels. He gives a level gaze back to the taller, larger man, as if communicating come on, I dare you to lay a hand on me and confirm my suspicions in front of all these people.

And when Orin turns away and walks back to the transporter, he gives a curt nod and follows, not all that reassured to have gotten his way.

[not-edd.livejournal.com]

Zedd shot a glare at Ruffnut, annoyed at what she had done. He'd get her back soon, he'd make sure of it.

However, he opted to follow the others, instead, onto the teleporter and see where they were going.

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

Ruffnut felt Zedd's glare and assumed she'd get in trouble later. Big deal. They'd be lucky if that was the only problem they'd had.

She hung back to walk with Signum."Thanks."

[brustriese.livejournal.com]

"A warrior knows when to fight, and when to keep her sword close," Signum suggests. Like most Belkan sayings that sound deep, that one's actually the punchline to a rather dirty joke, but it fit the situation, and no one awake on Stacy would call her on it.

"Getting into a real fight over something that can be resolved with a compromise is detrimental to the mission," she adds, explaining her priorities to Ruffnut. "Plus, why waste energy when we might need to fight seriously later. There's probably a reason there's so many warriors in the group, and three of us right here." She already knew Zedd was a fighter, and Ruffnut's demeanor positively shouted it, current relatively calm attitude aside.

[cityship]

"Off we go." Orin said cheerfully. And before you could say "beam me up, Scotty," the transport began. It was almost exactly like in Star Trek except with vertical lines.

The next moment they appeared in what appeared in the middle of the city, the streets were bustling with activity.

"Follow me." Orin said.

It was a short walk to what seemed to be the equivalent of a bustling movie theater. There were titles flashing on a marquee. Things like "Yellow Candle," "Captain Universe," "Knives 7," and "Pirates of the Galaxy: Mermaid's Revenge."

"Mr. Howard, you can wait out here. I shall leave one of my guards with you. As for the rest of you, what would you prefer? Romance, Adventure, Horror, or perhaps something tamer?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

God, the idea of doing a horror-themed or romance-themed feelie has got to be one of the most unappealing ideas Howard's heard since Anwei suggested creating an edible prosthetic arm. Even adventure-themed is probably filled with its own share of incredibly visceral cat-scares, Disney Deaths and leaps of faith, if action movie cliches hold true across the multiverse. And given that his last mission for Stacy involved death rays, they do.

He would be breathing a sigh of relief if not for the guard with him. He's fairly sure the guard's meant to restrain him, not to protect him. You wouldn't take your ambassadors to a dangerous part of town for a movie.

Howard finds a nearby bench and sits down, observing the scenery in between glaring daggers at the guard. He doesn't ask his name. He pulls some of the mince hard candy out of the tin on his pocket and pops it in his mouth.

[cityship]

Harriet had been following the off-world party since they landed. Moses had wanted more information, and honestly, the thought of going off world was a rather fascinating one. She’d love to have a chance to talk to one of them. Just to ask them what it was like, to be heroes. To be brave and strong and travel the stars.

She knew Moses had the other groups being followed, but this was her group. She had to keep an eye on them and tell Moses what she saw. She was fairly certain that one group must have been their own personal clones, as one of the Councilors had taken them away to be marked. It was interesting, to see a group of clones who had no markings. Were they treated differently? Could they be? Could the world Moses saw exist somewhere else?

She paused, hovering quietly a few feet away as one of the off-worlder’s seemed to start an argument with the Councilor escorting them, lip caught between her teeth. It was never a good idea, in her mind, to give the realies reason for anger, but this off-worlder didn’t seem to care. He didn’t seem to be back down, either, and she would have the moment the Councilor yelled at her.

Well, she wouldn’t have given the councilor reasons to yell in the first place, realies were quick to anger, and kicking a fake was about as dangerous as kicking a stone. So long as it wasn’t someone else’s stone, no one would complain.

She continued to follow until Councilor Orin and the others had vanished into the Feelies, padding up to Howard with wide and curious eyes, he didn’t look much older than her own physical age, he should be easy to speak to. Moses would be proud of her, taking initiative and approaching one of the off-worlders once they were alone. She hoped, anyway. “Do you not want to go? Only, everyone on the planet wants to go to the Feelies, I’d like to. But they’re not meant for us. Is something wrong?”

ooc: Everyone else, continue on. Enjoy your regularly scheduled entertainments. This little mini-adventure is for Howard.

[language]

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard notices the girl approaching before she speaks to him, but futilely hopes she's walking past him or going to talk to the guard rather than talk to him.

"Yeah, I totally want to get mindfucked by some bully's movies. That's exactly what I came to this planet for," he mutters around a mouthful of the hard candy. He's never felt any compunction swearing around younger children, but if he ever had the FAYZ would have stripped it from him.

He glances over at the little girl, more curious as to why she's bothering him than anything. Maybe it's the color of her skin, but something in her words really stands out to him. "Wait, what do you mean 'not meant for you'?"

Feelies People

[cityship]

[ooc: Continue to tag here, barring Howard]

Re: Feelies People

[not-edd.livejournal.com]

Zedd looked at the various titles and felt like cringing. Movies with heroes in them. Heroes that'll win in the end. Great. Instead of showing that displeasure though...

"I'll let my comrades decide this." he said. "They probably have better taste than I do."

Since, sadly, there's no movie out there where the bad guys win.

Re: Feelies People

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

"It all sounds cool." Ruffnut grinned, "which one is the horror dealie thing?" as much as she loved a good action story she couldn't resist the chance to face off against the kind of stories that Vikings passed around the campfire. Seems shed already forgotten about Howard.