EVENT: MINING COLONY V'VORTE

[crux_mods]

Who: Councilor Labismat, Science Captain Urist McEngineer, OPEN
Where: V’Vorte
When: June 4th-8th
Warnings: N/A

The Fleet stations itself near V’Varga, the more populated planet of the V’V system, but the majority of the ships are ferrying people down to V’Vorte. Mainly desert, the only things of interest on it seem to be the Mining Plains, which stretch for hundreds of miles; the Blue Circus, which lights up the nights with laser shows and fireworks; and the small town that supports the first two and serves as a small island of normality among the eccentric carnies and boisterous miners. There are rides to and from the Teuberg twice a day, in case you would rather not stay overnight, which are overseen by Science Captain McEngineer, who gives an energetic explanation of the types of metal needed when asked. Back on the Teuberg, Councilor Labismat can be found greeting the ships coming back in, checking on any progress being made.

The V’V natives are mostly humanoid in appearance, with reddened skin tones and large eyes that help them see in the dimmer light of their sun. Most of them, especially the miners, are quite friendly and seem unfazed by the variety of species the Fleet has brought to their doorstep. The only Transports who might get a second glance are the robotic ones, as the mining mechs vaguely resemble them.

Comments

[cyphered]

aye aye captain

[alittlesweptup]

his naem is Toothy by the by

[Though that is the last text he sends. Upon arrival, Chloe and Nate will find Charlie cheerfully propped up against the fence of the petting zoo - not actually as close to losing an arm up a shorse's mouth as it might have appeared in the photos. He is, however, happily rubbing the nose of one of the ludicrous animals and chatting away at it along the lines of 'who's a good boy? you are!']

[totallytrustworthy]

[Oh god he's cooing. That's obscene, Charlie.]

We're never going to convince you to leave him behind, are we? [Her hood's only half up over the short, cropped hair at her forehead this time: if Lazarevic goes to petting zoos regularly she deserves to get caught for it. Might volunteer for it, even. Sight worth seeing before getting knocked off.]

[cyphered]

Afraid of the competition?

[Nate hasn't bothered with the hood, though the glasses sit low on the bridge of his nose as he (quite suddenly) rounds the corner to appear behind Chloe.]

Surprised you didn't go with 'Jaws', mate.

[alittlesweptup]

First of all, no. Secondly-- does this look like a Jaws to you? Adorable little bugger can't be responsible for killing Robert Shaw, now can you?

[He gives the shorse a cheerful little bump of the knuckles at the top of his nose which prompts the animal to toss its bulk head up as far as it can make it go (which: not very). It stamps a hoof expectantly. Clearly Charlie had a handful of shorse food at once point, but that's no longer the case.]

Thirdly I didn't name him. That's his proper name according to the bloke working the gate.

[What can he say, he's become very well versed in shorses in the last twenty minutes.]

[totallytrustworthy]

I don't believe it. [Not just the 'shorse' deal. Not just the fact that Charlie's nearly pissing himself with delight.] You're actually going to run away and join the bloody circus.

[Beaten out by a shorse.]

[cyphered]

[He claps one hand on Chloe's shoulder, punching Charlie in the arm with his other hand.]

Gonna need a stage name if you're gonna live the carny life.

[Nate throws a glance down at Chloe and starts to push at her shoulder.]

Go on -- go introduce yourself to your new coworker, sunshine.

[alittlesweptup]

[He takes the punch gamely enough-- you know, by slapping Nate's hand away and knocking him in the shoulder right back.]

Careful, mate. I've a friend with teeth now.

[totallytrustworthy]

Oi, cock off. [It's a bit too abrupt when she pushes back against his palm: that's a shark, Nate. A shark. A shark with legs meaning it's a shark that can run faster and then probably swim faster than anyone.

Don't you dare shove her near that thing.]

[cyphered]

[Nate chuckles, baring a toothy grin that could devour cities when he braces himself both against Charlie's punch and Chloe's resistance. He addresses Charlie first.]

You already got one of those, mate.

[To emphasize his point, he turns to move behind Chloe and puts his other hand on her shoulder, effectively making his point while simultaneously heckling her onto getting closer to the shorse.]

[alittlesweptup]

[Charlie grins, flash of teeth, and he leans forward to catch at Chloe's sleeve, her wrist, making some effort to wind her in. You're pinned, darling. Might as well give it up.]

Perfectly safe, I swear. Kids pet them.

[totallytrustworthy]

No, no, no, no-- oh god I hate you both. [She's going to lose a bloody hand. That's it. Career over. It's going to be the one freak accident in the entirety of years and years of shorse farming. People will talk about it for years to come how 'it was so tame and then suddenly went berserk for no reason!' which is how they'll remember her as well. That girl. You know the one that got half-eaten.

Christ. Christ, fucking Christ--

And then between the two of them her hand is on its nose: limp and barely making contact while her face is all scrunched up in fear.

She's going to kill them.]

[alittlesweptup]

There, see? Perfectly agreeable-- isn't that right, ol' Toothy? [Charlie pats the shorse with his free hand as it snuffles and blows at Chloe's palm, likely looking for food. After a beat, it nudges at her fingers.]

Whoa there, mate. Don't come on too strong; birds don't like that sort of thing.

[cyphered]

[He's going to get his ass kicked later and he knows it, so Nate is going to have fun while he can. He nudges her hip with one of his own and winks at Charlie behindher head.]

Now all you have to do to make some money is get your head in his mouth. We'll be outta here in no time.

[totallytrustworthy]

[If there was any more tension in Chloe's muscles she'd likely explode on contact once the thing starts nosing at her hand, teeth white and jagged and....numerous from her low point of view.

Her shoulders twist in Nate's grip, wrist pulling hard in the opposite direction.] Get off or so help me it'll be your bits that go into this thing's mouth next.

[cyphered]

[Nate makes an overdramatic grunting noise when Chloe twists, purposefully clearing his throat with an entirely too self satisfied smirk.]

And break up the lovely couple? Wouldn't dream of it.

[And then, he releases her with a chuckle.]

Oh come on, princess, you're fine.

[alittlesweptup]

[Good ol' Toothy makes a little squealing noise as Chloe jerks away, pulling his massive, ugly had back through the fence line. After a moment he putters away, clearly offended.]

--Oh, and there he goes. [He's released his grip on her wrist, sensible enough.] Is this an Australian bit? Instinctual fear of sharks?

[totallytrustworthy]

It's a human bit, you wanker. [Still, with the perceived threat passed, there's less seriousness in her tone when she says it, straightening out the edges of her jacket.

Not that she doesn't glare at both of them a moment or two later.] Healthy fear of things actually designed to kill you might not be in your books but it's certainly in mine.

For the most part. [Excluding rocket launchers, gunships, soldiers, Harry Flynn's hair.]

[cyphered]

Hilarious coming from you, considering what else is involved with Australia.

[He watches the shorse trot off and instinctively takes a step back from Chloe. Don't want to give her a decent shot at anywhere vital while she's still prickling.]

I think Charlie and I have been doing a better job of avoiding stuff that kills us recently. Don't you?

[alittlesweptup]

Easy, easy. [All mild and gentle like talking to a spooked...shorse...] It's fine. You're fine-- still've got all your fingers and toes, yeah?

[And he wiggles his (fingers, that is) in her direction, catching his own out to tap her shoulder with the back of his knuckles before shooting a look to Nate. Honestly.]

But also don't look now, as I think that might be a tiny alien child petting Toothy.

[totallytrustworthy]

[Charlie's response wins him a free pass from Chloe: the mild tone and affectionate pat enough to burn off the sharp edge of her temper-- in fact it'd have been enough to get the both of them off the hook if not for Nate's additional jab.

Chloe rubs at her fingers, eyes sliding from the alien child to aim a cold look in Nate's direction.] Poor little bastard.

[cyphered]

[Sue him for having a sense of humor at the expense of others. The look from Chloe is definitely a hint though, so he offers something a little more charming and a little less douchebag in return.]

Next time, I'll stick my head in its mouth first for you. Square?

[totallytrustworthy]

[Preceded by one forgiving eyeroll:] Fine.

But in all seriousness you two really ought to ride that thing before the circus packs up and ships out. Scrapbook photos and all that nonsense.

[alittlesweptup]

What, the both of us? Chloe it's a shorse not a bloody pack mule.

[Honestly. He catches his fingers back at her sleeve again, nods to Nate and tips his head farther up the avenue of rickety rides and stands. While they're all here--]

Come on; pretty sure they've a few games we can blow out of the water between the three of us.

[cyphered]

Maybe they have blow-up shorse dolls for you, Charlie.

[Nate winks and nudges Chloe in the shoulder like a small dog seeking forgiveness before turning to Charlie.]

You know, come to think of it, I've never actually been through one of these things before -- not properly, anyway.