we lived in another world

[proxysearch]

CHARACTERS: OPEN TO ALL
LOCATION: Passengers' Quarters, one of the common rooms.
WARNINGS: Possible language? (Anything else will be added later.
SUMMARY: Meet-and-greet for all of the new passengers so they can figure out names and what to do.

Comments

[constructum]

The moment that the meeting was called, Ariadne was well aware, she needed to be there. If not to gain a further understanding on things - to see just who all occupied the ship with her - it only seemed right after all.

The moment she entered the common room (looking as unassuming as she could) her eyes were drifting across all of those that occupied the space. Mentally noting all that she could with just appearance - most of which she clearly wasn't able to explain. Something that was obviously unsettling to her.

But then, in the far corner of the room she spotted him and everything around her seemed to still. This, this was something she could explain - or at least find some form of justification for.

She clearly needed to make contact with him now - at least in some form. And Arthur, well, he obviously was going to have to be made aware of all of this.

A quick check of her nerves then, and Ariadne was making her way along one of the outer walls towards him - her eyes wide and filled with a clear nervousness, not wanting to take her eyes off of him as she slowly started to approach him.

Almost hesitantly - standing just a few feet away from him - she called out, her voice cracking slightly in nerves as she did. "Hello." Waiting for him to take notice to her, not fully sure what she still would do once he spoke.

[flares]

It took Capa a moment to realize that the young woman was speaking to him as opposed to someone else in the nearest vicinity, which surprised him. He wasn't lacking in self-confidence in any way - there were reasons why someone would want to speak to him, of course - but he hadn't made any efforts to put himself out there either, not yet anyway. And in life. Capa learned that usually earned him a seat on the sidelines. A place where he, quite honestly, felt most comfortable. It was easier to watch and observe from that vantage point, and easier to interject only when called upon.

His shoulders straightened albeit it slightly, the curve of his spine still slumped, and he attempted a smile which turned out more like an uncomfortable flinch. His face, in general, held very little expression though his bright blue eyes remained thoughtful, perhaps even vaguely curious. "Hi," he said and left it at that. With a hand, he rubbed at the back of his neck and then decided he should probably say more.

After a beat, he offered his free hand.

"Capa," he added. Then fell quiet again.

[constructum]

There was many things perhaps that Ariadne was preparing herself for when he finally did notice her - his behavior and greeting - it was not one of them. And in all honesty, it caught her off guard slightly; as she just found herself looking up at him all doe-eyed a moment.

Clearly there was something off with him. As it appeared the inception had done far more damage to him then she would have thought.

Her eyes scanning a once over on him, making mental notes about his appearance as she did, before quickly speaking: "How are you?" Perhaps sounding more concerned then anything suddenly as she reached out to shake his hand. "They're treating you okay, right?"

[flares]

For a moment Capa thought that he'd done something wrong, that somehow he'd managed to mess up this fairly simple and straightforward social ritual that was introducing oneself. He had done it correctly, hadn't he? Offer his hand, offer his name, expect the same in kind. The young woman - quite young, but not a child despite her small stature &mash; had provided one but not the other and that lack was what threw him off momentarily as he blinked down into her face.

I'm sorry, you've mistaken me for someone else, he wanted to say, but Capa wasn't sure it was a statement working on faulty assumptions. He swallowed and then shook the hand offered slowly.

"I'm- fine," he said and he was, but something about being asked how he was doing made him sound uncertain of the answer. Only after a moment he said it again, more straight forward, matter of fact. "I'm fine."

Once again, he was going to leave it at that, but only after a moment did he decide to continue. "Captain Ward and Chief Engineer Reznik have been - I wouldn't say forthcoming, but - capable."

Another pause, longer this time, during which Capa glanced over his shoulder as if half-expecting Corazon or Mace to suddenly appear and rescue him from what seemed like it would prove to be a social conversation. "-and you? "

[constructum]

Sensing his unease at it all - something she honestly couldn't blame him, as she honestly would be the same if she were in his shoes - she just offered him a small smile. Perhaps more awkwardly nervous then anything, but it was a smile nonetheless. One she hadn’t really given many as of late, as she only hoped she would be able to convey she meant him no harm.

"That's good." She said, slowly nodding at his status, which left her slightly at ease to know.

A small sigh finally escaped her then, as her eyes drifted away from them a moment. Slowly scanning over the room, almost as if she assumed that at any moment the other two in question would suddenly appear. It could happen after all, people's projections and what not just showing up, right? Though who's projections they truly were, Ariadne clearly wasn't so sure about yet. "They do seem capable." She stated quietly then, as her attention moved back to him, again, letting a small smile tug at the corner of her mouth.

Her weight shifting slightly from one leg to another, as the obvious nerves she was trying to suppress were slowly starting to show. As it was clear, she still was not fully sure how she was supposed to go about this social exchange.

There were so many things she wanted to say obviously. But the chance that something could possibly cause everything to collapse all around them was in all honesty, slightly unsettling. "I'm fine." She finally replied then, head bobbing faintly at her words. "Giving the circumstances of course."

A glance around again then, her expression more curiously worried then anything. "Are any of your friends here?" She questioned then, looking back up at him, curious as to just whom else he may have ran into here.

[flares]

There was something about her that reminded Capa of Cassie. Not in any definite concrete way - maybe it was her eyes or the shape of her face or the way she had asked how are you like she was being more than polite. She seemed nervous or at least uncertain about something and Capa wondered whether that was simply the way she was or something symptomatic of his own awkwardness.

Her question wasn't strange, though the terminology was a little problematic. He wasn't sure if he had 'friends' here, though he certainly had crewmates. It may have been a case of splitting hairs but Capa preferred to be specific. Instead of answering, he blinked at her again and said: "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name?"

It wasn't an attempt at being social or proper; more a case of information gathering. Name to face, that sort of thing. He'd ask after her relevant skill sets later.

[constructum]

His question clearly caused a look of slight unease pass her face, not because he was asking of course, but because she was obviously risking things - or so she assumed. Given any normal situation, she would be more then willing to offer it, and would be just as confident as she had been known to be. But this was a different circumstance, and all her normal rules were honestly thrown out the window here.

Her eyes scanning over the room quickly, before looking back up at him and offering him a faint smile. "I'm Ariadne." She replied with a small sigh then, the corner of her mouth twitching with a faint smile. It was a risk saying who she was, and she assumed she would clearly be getting looks from Arthur for it. But if it was going to put this man at ease, she was willing to do as much as she could.

Her brow raised then, looking at him in question then, as she hoped he would at least open up more about who might be here with him then.

[flares]

"Ariadne." Despite the evenness of Capa's expression, something like acknowledgment lights in his eyes. He's an astrophysicist by trade and by choice, but he has had the odd academic experience with the liberal arts. Classics are one particular foray that was dabbled in and abandoned early on as a high schooler, though the memory of it still lingered in his mind. "So, minotaurs and labyrinths." Capa paused then titled his head in question. "Or was it a maze?" It was a distinction most people overlooked, but Capa was nothing if not specific.

Turning his attention back towards the common space, he gestured towards his crewmates, scattered among the clusters of people. Corazon first, then Mace. "Crewmates. Three of four are accounted for. We haven't had any luck locating the fourth, but- Cory and Mace'll be invaluable to have on board."

[constructum]

A faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth then as she let out a small sound of amusement. "Like the labyrinths, yeah." She admitted then, not at all surprised that he would know the difference. Granted, she just assumed anyone with a proper opportunity to learn, would hopefully know the distinction. "She was the one they guided Theseus out of the labyrinth. Tragic story. But wonderful as well."

Her attention then moved over where he gestured, eyes slightly wide as she noted the people he mentioned. Having crewmates, which was something she wasn't sure how to address. But it was clear; she was going to have to follow up on them as well - if not her, Arthur. "Maybe they'll show soon, huh?" She started to say, letting a tinge of hope trickle out in her voice, quickly adding: "What exactly do you all do?"

[flares]

Capa nodded a silent concession but otherwise didn't touch the topic of whether or not Cassie - the fourth surviving crewmate, their pilot - would be joining them. There wasn't enough data, though the likelihood would be that, no, she wouldn't. Not until another jump, perhaps, and another malfunction of the equipment. But that wasn't something Capa actively wanted, no matter how much he'd like to see her. It'd be selfish, and selfishness never helped anyone.

"We're astronauts. We were on our way to the sun of our Solar System with a mission. A global mandate."