spoofer: (bicycle)
Xistentia: Mod ([personal profile] spoofer) wrote in [community profile] xistentia2018-02-08 12:31 pm

Prison World #3: Panultima (tw violence, torture, coercion)

Characters: Ensemble Cast, maybe even you!
Summary: The third prison world in Xistentia is a terrifying subdimension where sentient people exploit each other in order to run technology that will fend off D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. The 'ruling' class, Primus, are bound to a system of coupling (see: fake dating!), legacy and nepotism, whereas the Servus are put through an elaborate media circus (see: Hunger Games). You're here to study this world. And perhaps even to free those captured.
Date(s): February 8-20
Warnings/Notes: Violence, torture, coercion

Panultima
You cursed your gods and died

The Primus Life

If you thought Earth was a tough neighborhood, welcome to Panultima. Here, life is sweet. At least, as long as you're one of the Primus class.

It's a sprawling city of wicked spires and elaborate canals, covered in a luminous, translucent shield. Rather than a circular planet resting in orbit, instead, it's a flat plane of matter suspended in space, the foundations of the buildings rooted in only a hundred feet of stone and unknown technology. But the vast majority of citizens care little for that. After all, the city has every amenity and experience one might desire.

Restaurants line the streets. Theater is at an apex in development, with a particular focus on integration of moral philosophical themes. Gondolas run the canals, whereas a railway races over the winding laser-track in the air. Fashion is diverse, colorful, characterized by wild shapes, patterns, and accessories. Food imported from worlds both thriving and dying across the multiverse. At the numerous colleges and institutes, premier technology and opera are under constant invention and reinvention.
COUPLE STUFF

Primus culture emphasizes couples. Trios. Larger groups of lovers than that, even. After all, with romantic love and loyalty to care for, and survival hanging on it... who has the time or energy to care about justice for all?

Not these guys!

In this world, the mission and pleasure roll together well. The implant picks up information, so your main job is to explore. Perhaps you and your partner might enjoy yourself a glow-in-the-dark cocktail in a smoky bar where a two-headed singer is providing the music, a tour of the massive shield generators in the sparkling complex. Or pick fruit from one of the hundreds of bonding trees in the city's central park— so named, because it requires successful completion of questions to "the newlywed game" for each before one of the luscious, sweet fruits is released from a vine.
THE SERVUS LIFE

But for the little guy, life is considerably shittier. Welcome to the arena, the fully manipulable bubble reality set up to torture the slave class. The emotions of pain, fear, anguish, and wild, adrenal victory.

Most days, it looks like a forest— incidentally, very much like Xistentia. There are dozens of hybrid creatures in it, most of which are edible, others toxic, several very dangerous. However, the ground below can change at any moment, turning into mud or belching acid baths. Or you might find yourself abruptly attacked by a bear with biological armor growing from its huge shoulders. The control room, operated by Primus, is concealed from view. Its role is to keep the environment challenging for those competing, shifting the settings of the place to advantage some and cripple others.

But the arena's programming isn't the only threat.

Instead, you have a motley host of macabre killers, other Servus locked up in here just like you. Some have survived in here for years, earning favor from audiences thanks to the amount of pure horror they squeezed out of their victims. Some of the better-known brands are the Bantam Butcher, a fallen angel whose first kills were those who took his wings, and now thrives on torture. The trapmaster seems to have control over environmental factors that rivals the control room. And the baker trio will eat the flesh from your bones if they catch you.

For infiltrators, the challenge is worse. Not only might you need to kill, survive, and explore the arena with your implant— but if you want to save the very same people who are out to murder you, how are you going to do that?
Breakout!

Several days into the mission, and that's when it happens-- the control room shuts down, under attack. And suddenly, there's pandemonium. Within the arena, some of the servus know immediately what this means— and they're willing to make a break for it, cutting each other down, crippling each other if it means that the Primus might have slower-moving people to contend with and allow them to escape. Others seem to have long since given up, failing to respond as the trees suddenly go dark and motionless, the birdsong dying into silence. After all, where is there to go? It's either D.E.S.T.I.N.Y., or to join the system that hates them, isn't it?

Are you inside the arena, or out? Are you there to help the fleeing Servus, or are you merely ready to scramble on home yourself and save your own skin?
Footnotes
  1. Please ensure that threads are marked with appropriate content warnings!
  2. The plotting post for this event can be found here, and the original announcement with some other details is here.
perfectible: (smile ⇾ veronica ⇾ tease)

[personal profile] perfectible 2018-02-16 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
[ the fab four will always stick together. they don't need a diner table between them to cement that bond. it's more than just a hometown thing too. at least for betty it is. and can't pretend that isn't strange to be married to veronica, her best friend, especially when they're both head over heels for the boys in this situation.

yes, betty relays the message to veronica. which is why they're walking hand in hand towards the cafe's entrance, playing the part of a blissfully wed couple]
This is one of the weirder things we've done.
shadowblends: (❧ dubious)

[personal profile] shadowblends 2018-02-16 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
Is that so?

[he leads them up to the counter, orders something sweet and blended, then turns back to loki.] You'll have to tell me about it, but first: what are you interested in trying?
ronnied: (o12)

[personal profile] ronnied 2018-02-16 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
[ Veronica seems pretty comfortable with all of this, all things considered. it is weird, for sure, but amusing, in a way. and she's pretty sure she would have been overwhelmed by the idea of being fake-married to Archie, so soon after she finally came to terms with her feelings and how she wasn't going to hide from them anymore. it would've been too soon. but Betty? yeah, she'd wifey Betty. it's kind of fun.

the rest of the situation? less fun. when she heard about the lifestyle the people in this city lived, she thought she'd have it down pat. and she does, in some respects. she knows how to walk, how to talk. she knows when to feign interest or disinterest. but it's darker here than it ever was in NYC. there's crime in her home city, of course there is, but this place.. it thrives on violence. not amongst themselves of course, but the other side. those less fortunate. thinking about it makes her sick.

so she's not.

she's thinking about walking close to Betty while they make their way to the diner, holding her hand tight.
]

And I have a feeling it's only going to get weirder the longer we're here. [ she stops to pull open the door to the little cafe once they get there, holding it open for Betty so she can step through ] We just need a game plan, that's all. The four of us. We'll think of something.
dothelokimotion: (You aren't a real man)

[personal profile] dothelokimotion 2018-02-16 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
[ Loki blinks, looking over the menu in confusion, his brow creasing. ]

I don't understand the sizes.
overarches: (pic#11813466)

[personal profile] overarches 2018-02-16 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ out of the four of them, archie’s the worst one to pull off something covert. he’s a terrible liar. this entire world makes him sick, from the way they throw money around like it’s meaningless to how they treat the people that don’t have it. it’s so much worse than northside vs. southside drama but it isn’t as if he’s never seen very visible lines drawn in the dirt before. he's doing his best not to look like he wants to tear the head off of every person that makes a comment he disagrees with. it's something?

he’d been out exploring when he received jughead’s message, seeing everything he could possibly see, and no, his brain doesn’t make the jump from best friend to husband when he reads it. it’s odd enough that he’s pretending to be married to a guy, but jughead? like, at least if kevin were here and they were married, it’d make some sense because kevin likes dudes!

( and you know, kevin has never propositioned him for a weird threesome relationship, so there’s, uh, that. )

all things being equal, he's not going to let an Awkward Moment keep him from what needs to be done. archie comes jogging up just as the girls reach the entrance to the cafe to catch the door before it closes behind them.
] Hey. What did I miss?

[ he's half-listening. they're welcome to answer him, or continue their own conversation, since he's already scoping the place out to locate jughead. ]
novelizes: (pic#11757897)

[personal profile] novelizes 2018-02-16 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
[ still sitting in the booth by himself, he notes the girls coming in, overhearing what they said as archie follows them. as soon as the redhead does, however, jughead makes sure he's looking at his laptop, not wanting to give anything away. it might look like he's glaring at it, and in a way, he is. the last thing he's ever wanted is to make one of his good friends feel as though they're forced into anything they might not want, and he's pretty sure archie doesn't want to be married to him. looking down at the simple gold band on his finger, he scowls. if anyone should be married to him, it should be betty. betty is the one he loves, after all. and as much as he cares about archie, he's never imagined himself married to him, much less anything else.

( earlier proposition aside, that had been him being pragmatic, but now that veronica's here, he doesn't have to worry about archie hooking up with a stranger. )

eventually, though, he does look up, even if the scowl on his lips has yet to fade. this whole place irritates him, from the excessive wealth and waste to the way people are thrown in the arena to fight for some sickos who want to get their kicks. it's why he's been working on a tell-all about the world, hoping he can get it out so people can fight it like he is. but more importantly... he needs help, and he's glad to see his three other friends willing to fight like he is. ]


Veronica was just extolling the virtues of our foursome. Come on over, guys. We've got a lot to discuss.
perfectible: (sad ⇾ ashamed ⇾ glance)

[personal profile] perfectible 2018-02-16 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
[ betty didn't really think she'd be married at sixteen either, let alone to her best friend. not that v wouldn't make a stellar wife but this whole situation was stranger than strange. and we haven't even really covered the whole twisted hunger games-esque world they'd been thrown into. to say betty was disgusted would be a vast understatement.

when she spots jughead, despite his scowl and wry words, she can't help but smile at him, glad to see him, wishing she were married to him instead despite v being a great 'wifey'.

she almost moves to sit next to jughead, hesitating before she does because of what may be expected. but hey, couples sit across from each other, right? ]


Okay.
Edited 2018-02-16 04:06 (UTC)
ronnied: (e27)

[personal profile] ronnied 2018-02-16 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ it's hard, it is. veronica's pretty comfortable "faking it", but then archie's there, so close, and she's not used to not greeting him with, at minimum, a kiss. they just got back together and now they're here. it's fine. they're going to be making a difference here, hopefully. doing something good for the world. hopefully. so she stops herself from doing anything that'll get them in trouble ( for now ), instead just following betty to sit down next to her at the table. which still puts her across from archie, so at least there's that.

then again, people seem to be grouped up in more than just couplings. maybe foursome was a perfectly good word to use just there to describe them, where all can hear it. god, this place is weird.
]

Already writing, I see. I'm sensing a research assignment in the near future. Or at the very least, some light sneaking around. [ she's being quiet, at least. maybe nerves get her a little chatty, maybe she's just feeling bold. she's good at hiding whatever the real reason is. ]
Edited (icons are hard) 2018-02-16 05:17 (UTC)
deathkid: (pic#11809897)

wildcard

[personal profile] deathkid 2018-02-16 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
[ when nico had signed up to help infiltrate this strange new world, he hadn't known exactly what he was getting into. arena battles, fighting for one's life... while that wasn't altogether strange for nico, there were aspects of the whole show that put him off to ever wanting to visit this world again. now he's stuck in a suit that glitters way too much, though the black on black suits him well, contrasting with his pale skin. but his brows are furrowed because he's going to be presented, bought and sold like cattle and were it not for his part in the infiltration to get people out, he'd fight against the entirety of the whole thing. unleash hades on those in charge and do whatever he could to save his fellow servus.

not that he can do that right now anyway. he's being escorted into an opulent room with a variety of well dressed men. an auction. but it seems he's being presented to one man in specific. even before he gets close he can tell the man is not human. there's no aura coming off him like a human would have and nico is reminded quickly of rafa or kavinsky.

glaring up at the man, he waits until he's introduced ( simply as "nico" and he scowls that his titles aren't also given, but he has a role to play ), then preforms a quick but rather stiff bow. one he clearly does not want to give. ]
sadico: (*charm)

[personal profile] sadico 2018-02-16 07:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ignacio was a vampire who appreciated good servants. The way to acquire them in the most efficient manner was during an auction, something which Xistentia didn't have but this world thankfully did. For most of the time he appeared bored with the selection, the choices being overwhelmingly human which he had no interest in.

And then his green eyes settled upon black, his momentarily widening as he inhaled with interest. This one was not human, not entirely anyway. His blood leaned towards the divine aspects, yet not in a heavenly direction. No, it was something darker, something which reeked of death and his interest was thoroughly piqued.

Without moving his eyes from the young man he spoke, his Spanish accent smooth and thick. ]


Yes, this is the one. [ To which the Servus handlers stepped away in acknowledgement of his claim. ] Nico, is it? I am Ignacio. [ The long fingers of his strong, cold, hand cupped Nico's chin to keep his lovely face high, the connection of their eyes was his path to Nico's mind, where he began to weave his magic. Ignacio would say that he was a very attractive man, but this would make him far more irresistible- to the point where this sweet creature would be putty in his hands, unable to resist. ]

You are happy to obey me, yes? I will be very kind to you, and you are very grateful.
Edited (icon and typos) 2018-02-16 07:27 (UTC)
disbands: (easycompany-barclay-31)

[personal profile] disbands 2018-02-16 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm still not entirely clear on how that etymology started, [Barclay says, leading the way despite his doubts! By now, she knows him well enough to know what he's doing. He's nervous, so he's kind of rambling. Throw him into the battlefield with pistols and sabers, and he'll figure it out. He'll save himself, and other people besides.

But this, this is her domain.]


'Bish?' That's the equivalent of 'bitch,' is it not? [he mumbles, moving in behind the crowd of gaudily dressed Primus. His own blue velvet suit is almost drab compared to some of what the others are wearing.] How would one 'start a bitch?' [His head tips back slightly. He stares up at the big, glassy electrical towers overhead. The tour guide begins to explain the tech used to siphon energy off emotional reactions. Somehow, it seems very different to the green verdance of Xistentia.]
hermajestyssword: (hm?)

[personal profile] hermajestyssword 2018-02-16 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[Which leaves Ion in a position somewhere between the two extremes his 'husbands' represent. He's always known that when he married, love would be a secondary consideration, so finding himself bonded to two near strangers doesn't especially bother him. That there are two, and two other men at that... that's a bit more surprising.

Even then, he doesn't object - such things are unusual, but not unheard of, even among the nobility. And he could have done far worse - at least he knows these two, at least a little. At least he doesn't have to pretend to be anything other than what he is.

Or rather, doesn't have to pretend much. Because he doesn't know either of them well enough to trust - especially Lord Ignacio, whose graciousness and charm remind him all too much of the late Duke of Tigris and who has the power to ruin him, in this world.

So Ion draws on the lessons of two of the greatest liars he's ever known -his grandmother and Abel Nightroad- as he holds out his hand to receive the dice.]
I suppose I will - after all, we're meant to blending in, are we not?
Edited 2018-02-16 21:31 (UTC)
sadico: (loom)

[personal profile] sadico 2018-02-16 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes. It is important to know each other, to bond in ways beyond merely physical.

[ Ignacio responded smoothly, apparently not at all put off by Mika's attitude. He acquired the dice from the box and sent them gently into Ion's hand, his fingers lingering for longer than required before they drew away.

Everything about Ignacio was subtle, yet calculated. His body language and words seemed natural and open, even when he was lying. ]


While the fruit of the bonding tree does not interest me, you both interest me. Very much.
deathkid: (pic#12055350)

[personal profile] deathkid 2018-02-17 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ nico is not happy to obey. he's even less happy to be here. but play along, he tells himself. it's all part of the plan.

and then something warm encompasses him. seems to seep into his blood and warm his very bones. it's an experience he hasn't ever had before and he looks up at ignacio with those sharp green eyes and shudders. it's got to be some sort of spell and the part of nico that can still think feels violated. no one should be able to twist his desires like that and yet this man does so without thinking, without effort. slumping a little, he stumbles towards ignacio, trying to shake the fog from his head. ]


What are you- Ugh. [ he gives another shake of his head. ] I'll- I'll obey if you take this spell off me.
infatyuated: (【m】 063)

[personal profile] infatyuated 2018-02-17 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ sighing in mild irritation, mika clamps his mouth shut. play along, he tells himself. that's the mission. and he's good at fulfilling missions. it's why his sire, krul tepes, the queen of japan had chosen him so many times for secret plans and plots. not that she's behind this now. other powers are at play and though mika is loathe to obey any of them, he has the future to consider. and finding a way back to yuu.

which means he has to put up with other vampires. ion, at least, hasn't seemed so bad. polite, occasionally helpful, if a bit withdrawn. ignacio is a different matter entirely. arrogant, powerful, and old, he's likely much stronger than mika knows he is. he doesn't want to risk injury when he can easily deal with the situation by keeping quiet and observing. he might not like it, but he's been through worse. ]


Because we're different types of vampires than you?

[ blandly stated as he watches ion take his turn. ]
shadowblends: (❧ smug)

[personal profile] shadowblends 2018-02-17 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
[kurt snorts, left hand raising to cup around his face, a pathetic attempt at stifling the noise.]

Nobody does, [he notes.] Just tell them small, medium, or large— they'll understand.
sadico: (*affection)

[personal profile] sadico 2018-02-17 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
[ This one was just full of surprises.

Ignacio's eyebrows rose, impressed as Nico resisted his charm. He released the magic then gently caressed his cheek with the back of his fingers. ]


Forgive me. I saw potential within you, but I underestimated how much. Come, sit beside me.

[ With his free hand he waved off the guards, who left and closed the doors of Ignacio's private room behind them. It was dimly lit, difficult to discern surroundings for those who couldn't see in shadow. For those who could, such as Ignacio, it was luxurious sitting room. A place where those who attended the auction could sit and chat in plush furniture beside a warm fireplace, which was currently off and Ignacio was currently alone. But no longer, he had Nico now. ]

Your accent is faint, but I hear it nonetheless. Do you speak Italian?

[ He asked in the language itself. ]
dothelokimotion: (He had lived for the future)

[personal profile] dothelokimotion 2018-02-17 08:50 am (UTC)(link)
[ His frown deepens but he turns to the board once more before selecting a frappe in medium. His eyebrows go up as he finally sees the size of it. ]

It is larger than I expected.
deathkid: (pic#11809396)

[personal profile] deathkid 2018-02-17 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ lifting a brow, nico hesitates for a moment. the spell is gone and so is the fuzzy feeling in his brain, but he's still wary of the stranger. this... ignacio. he takes a moment to look around him, noting the opulence that pisses him off about the primus culture, but soon his attention is back on ignacio. he takes the seat gestured towards and looks at ignacio more closely.

he's immediately reminded of percy when he looks into those green eyes. and that hurts because green eyes and dark hair are his weakness. the man is very attractive and nico has to look down at his hand where his ring would be in order to remind himself that he's given up on percy and is engaged to will.

but then the man is speaking in italian and his attention returns to him. so he's fluent in nico's native language and possibly others. pursing his lips a second, he debates answering. but reminding himself that he has to play along gets him to open his mouth. ]


Yes, I do. I am Italian. I also speak Greek and Latin.
drehnifusbahi: (*concerned look*)

[personal profile] drehnifusbahi 2018-02-17 06:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[He'd been for them both infiltrating as Primus - starting out in the most advantageous position could only help their mission. And, of course, there was less risk of grievous bodily harm - or worse. Fighting for his life was nothing new to Vanyel, but the knowledge that he'd be expected to kill and torture for sport, that the blood-hungry crowds might even demand he turn on Rose...

He could never bring himself to harm her, even to uphold a cover, and he knows it.

But he'd failed to convince her to join him as a Primus, so he does what he can from his lofty (lonely) perch. It's fashionable, among the Primus, to pick one of the servus and sponsor them - for a little while. So he picks the Black Rose, paying for her weapons, supplies, medicine... and it still doesn't feel like enough.

So watches the fateful fight as he's watched all her others: almost unblinking, his heart in his throat. It's hard to tell exactly what happens, even in replay, but the result is clear. Rose is hurt, and badly, and Vanyel... well, he's already proven himself incapable of staying away when she's so much as upset, hasn't he?

Being Primus is enough to get him his way, in this world, and he takes ruthless advantage of that to get into what passes for a hospital for the servus. When he reaches her side, it's all he can do not to demand F.A.T.E.S. eject them both right then and there.]


Hey yourself. [He replies in kind, though it falls rather flat on his end, settling in beside her and immediately putting his Healing Hands spell to use for its intended purpose. When she apologizes, though, he just shakes his head.] You've nothing to apologize for. [He would never begrudge her doing whatever she had to, if it kept her alive.]
overarches: someone to you - banners (i don't want to die or fade away)

[personal profile] overarches 2018-02-17 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[ with the girls seated, archie doesn't have to face the crossroads of which spot to snag. not that he's facing the same level of dilemma; he's been next to and across from all of them before at pop's. why should it be any different? ( because of the band on his ring finger? ) he doesn't turn beet reed while he's sliding in, arm over the back of the booth behind jughead, but he does glance around to see if anyone else is watching ( and if they caught foursome. ) uncomfortable isn't the right word for what he's feeling because when he's in a booth with the three of them, there isn't anywhere else he wants to be. they're together and admittedly, it could be a lot worse.

it's just that he doesn't know what to do with this new development, or not to do. particularly with veronica right in front of him. he slides his foot forward casually, not full-on footsie under the table, though he is trying to get her attention. of course he wants to be with her, next to her, but this isn't forever. his eyes drift to betty, too, to smile at her. nothing weird or heavy, just a typical checking in kind of look.

he's also pretty sure that with jughead already hard at work, there's going to be plenty to do to keep each of them from thinking about anything too much.
] Yeah, what's the deal, Jug?

[ when they're in the heat of it, archie's ready to jump in hands-on and take over, if necessary. his plans are solid when it comes to protecting people he cares about in the moment. when it comes to game plans that take actual fleshing out, he relies on betty and jughead. ]
hasitsthorns: (Bᴜᴛ I ᴡɪʟʟ ʜᴏʟᴅ ᴏɴ ʜᴏᴘᴇ)

b;

[personal profile] hasitsthorns 2018-02-18 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
[ These Prison Worlds sure like pitting them against each other, don't they? Rose isn't surprised, actually, when they cross paths. After being on opposite sides in that alternate New York, it comes to feel like it was almost an inevitability that they'd meet here too in a similar fashion.

It only takes a moment's glance to tell that they're both different types of beasts in this environment.

For as unassuming as the woman often tries to be, she's every bit the demon that she claims to be here. She stands tall and taut, posture defensive and alert. There's no warm smile for her old friend; her eyes are colder than even he's likely ever seen. It's the same defense mechanism as decades ago in a dusty, confining fighting ring. Show no vulnerability. No signs of weakness are allowed. The moment her guard slips might be the moment she's as good as dead. While Rafa is someone familiar, someone she doesn't actually want to hurt- She also can't take the chance that he might not feel the same way here. Rose hopes he doesn't want to truly fight but she also wants to live more.
]

Well, [ she starts, far more casually than she has any right to, ] should we get this show started?
hasitsthorns: (Tʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ғɪɴᴅ ᴍᴇ)

[personal profile] hasitsthorns 2018-02-18 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
[ Cover more ground, Rose had said. She'd stood her ground, stubborn as he knew and loved even if her bullheadedness had cost her. It usually did. Maybe someday she won't plant her feet so firmly in the ground and decide that she's right but... That isn't today. Instead, she's laying in a hospital bed thinking 'Maybe he was right.'

But despite this, she's not sure it would have sat right with her. Rose worries sometimes that in the ways she tries to wrestle back control in so many facts of her life after not having it for long that she's no better than the people that held her captive all those years ago. The Primus lifestyle - so lavish and careless - would have felt just like the people who held power over her head decades past.

She thinks Servus suits her better. Even now, laying in this infirmary and having almost died, she thinks that's all she deserves. That's all she'll ever deserve.
]

We're gonna' have to agree to disagree on that, [ because it's just like back then. Survivor's guilt. What made her life worth more than theirs? What about their loved ones, families? ] But I'm still glad you're here.

[ That much is sincere. Despite herself, she's relieved to some degree by Vanyel. The familiar warmth of his healing magic is just the balm she needs right now; the warmth of just his presence is something she's grateful for even if she feels wholly undeserving of that too. ]
upside: (pic#11724076)

[personal profile] upside 2018-02-18 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
( it's not a situation shepard is particularly happy with, but she's capable of maintaining her cool in stressful times - she's worked an undercover mission or a dozen, she knows how it all works. antsy without a gun in her hand, but she knows she's got her biotics, and she can snap a few necks with her hands, and she's got a piece still strapped to her inner thigh, just in case. you can't ever say the commander goes into a mission unprepared. well - maybe you can. she didn't take dancing lessons in preparation, but she has a feeling she'd be even worse at this if she had. the irony of being the best sharpshooter in known space and simultaneously the worst dancer the human race has ever seen is not lost on her. usually she's a good sport about it. usually -

she isn't trying to impress, and she dances alone.

tony is being a very good sport. it's obvious that he's danced a tango or two in his life, and certainly knows the right ways to move his feet, where to put his hands, how to hold himself. shepard does her best to follow suit, but. tony's feet are probably going to be bruised regardless - maybe his shins, too. she apologizes after every collision even still, eyes stuck downwards while she tries to focus on not doing it again.

dipping. her fingers dig in to tony's shoulders a little, before her feet stop, arms sliding tightly around his neck.
)

Do not dip me.
novelizes: (pic#11975964)

[personal profile] novelizes 2018-02-19 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
[ jughead doesn't look up when archie slides an arm around him. it's all part of the game, he tells himself and doesn't focus on how awkward things might be with this new arrangement. but what he does do is tap a few more notes into his laptop and finishes the thought he had before chancing a glance at betty. is she okay with this, he wonders. she seems content enough, but he figures that's because betty is so much more adaptable than him. that said, he can't help but wonder how much of the part she's playing and how much he should play too. something to ask veronica, no doubt. after all, she's familiar with this level of opulence while he most certainly is not.

finally turning to archie, he presses his lips together and raises a brow. where to begin? he's already made inroads to crashing the system, but he feels like it isn't enough. maybe with his friends here, he'll get further along, but it almost seems like an insurmountable task.

closing hs laptop, he leans forward. keeping his voice low is important because there's no knowing who might be listening. ]


As you may have noticed, I've already been at work. The problem is breaking into the system that keeps the servus in the arena. I've discretely asked around and there are plans in the works, but I still feel like we need to do something. Then there's the issue of keeping up the charade. I don't know about you guys, but being married so young is a bit weird.
Edited 2018-02-19 03:46 (UTC)

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