TEST DRIVE MEME #4 - The Arboretum/Ten Forward

[ten_fwd_mods]

Option 01: Aboard the Enterprise, The Arboretum: In exploring the Enterprise, you end up on Deck 17, section 21 alpha: the arboretum. Instantly upon entering you can tell this room is different from all the others. For one thing, you're now standing on grass. It's no illusion, no simulation; it's real grass, leading up to a small pond in the center of the room. All around you grows a variety of plant life, trees and bushes and hanging plants, flowers and herbs and even what one might consider weeds. The arboretum is, for all intents and purposes, a botanic garden, used both recreationally for passengers to relax and enjoy, and scientifically for research and study. After all, the scope of alien plant life is impressive, from the Cyprion cacti down to the Earth variety roses.

The room is well lit and large, with benches to rest on and small walking paths. Children are grouped off in one corner working on botany projects, while some passengers are seen kneeling in the dirt carefully tending to their garden patches. There are even windows along one wall, allowing for a view of space while the room itself gives the illusion of daylight. It's the perfect spot to relax, read a book, or grab a spare spade and dig in the dirt. Or perhaps you've been looking for the right moment to say hello to the passenger standing off by the venus flytraps.





Option 02: Aboard the Enterprise, Ten Forward: Or maybe not. You've just arrived, and you have no idea what just happened. One minute you were somewhere else, and now you're in what looks like a spacious, well-appointed bar. The hum of the crowd is inviting, and the drinks look invigorating. There are people eating and drinking, some in uniform, others not. Some are clearly aliens.

Try to find out why you're here, or catch a drink at the bar; there's always something happening here.

Comments

Alec Hardison| 01

[age_of_the_geek]

Alec Hardison, Worlds Greatest Hacker and member of the best damn team of thieves in the world, was simply walking back to his computer. That's what was all. he had one of his favorite drinks in his hand and he was taking a nice big sip when he-

Walked into a wall that wasn't there.

"What in the hell?" It hadn't even been a second in his eye. But instead of his nice comfy apartment, he was somewhere green and white and just weird looking. He didn't recognize this room at all.

"What the...Babe? Babe you there?"

Well, crap. He was now being stared at. Bunch a people he didn't know staring his direction like he knew where their stolen stuff was.

"Uhh...hi?"

[sf_girl_friday]

Janice had been warned that some people might suddenly appear on the ship, but she hadn't really expected it to happen before her eyes. For a moment, she simply stared, then she gave herself a mental shake, reassuring everyone around her that everything was fine before moving toward the man.

"Hello." As she spoke, she gave him a reassuring smile while trying to gauge if he had been hurt when he'd run into the wall. "Are you all right?"

Option 1

[dreamsintodust]

There's wonder all around, from the odd plants to the alien people, but there's a blond man paying attention to absolutely none of it, his focus is so centered on the stars sliding by outside the window.

Alfons has seen a lot of insane things over the last few days. Heard even more from Edward, in the months before that. Converting matter from one form into another, creatures that could change their shape, hell--he'd even seen a dragon.

He never thought he'd live to see the stars.

The glass is cool when he puts his hand up to it--he wonders how thick it is, to keep the pressure of the atmosphere inside where it belonged. He can see unfiltered starlight between his fingers, and with the dilation of their light he wonders just how fast they're going.

He's so lost in reverie that if anyone approaches him--well, he certainly isn't going to notice.

HI I LOVE YOU A LOT WE NEED TO BE FRIENDS

[am_sass_ador]

This was a nice, quiet, pleasant place to take a walk, and after the adventure she'd had on that planet, this was a nice change of pace. Well, this guy was interesting. Nothing about how he was dressed implied anything about him being connected to Starfleet in any way. And that awestruck look on his face pretty much guaranteed he was one of their visitors. Though he seemed to be taking it better than some.

"Hello," she said, a light smirk on her face. She gave him a light nudge in the shoulder with hers to draw his attention. "I've seen a lot of you visitors spending a lot of time staring out the windows. I guess I've taken this for granted."

Edea Kramer | Final Fantasy VIII | 01

[successively]

Ending up in another universe entirely, and so suddenly — it's a little too much for even Edea to take, right now. Perhaps she had hoped that her life might be quiet for a while, after Ultimecia was defeated and things slowly began to go back to normal, or what passed for normal. She and Cid would settle down, rebuild the orphanage, and have a very quiet retreat from... well, from everything, at least for a while. Perhaps her children might visit, once every so often, but she did not expect anyone else would care to. Not after Ultimecia had used her body and her face and her voice to set the world at war.

Instead, though, she's here, on this ship, in space. Spaceflight certainly isn't out of the ordinary, where she comes from, but to have advanced so far as to be able to travel to other planets, to the ends of the galaxy and back — it's fascinating, or it will be, when she has the presence of mind to think about it. Right now, she wants to be somewhere quiet and calming where she can gather her thoughts and not have to worry about anything else.

One of the people in the yellow and black uniforms directs her to the arboretum, and immediately once she crosses through the door she notices the change in the atmosphere. Compared to the bland neutrality of the ship's corridors or the bustle and chatter of the lounge area where she'd initially arrived, there's a sense of peace about this place that puts her instantly at ease. A little of the tension relaxes from the set of her shoulders, and she takes her time walking across the grassy lawn, curiously inspecting the various plant specimens without touching anything. Some are utterly alien to her, but a few she recognizes easily. There's a rosebush there, with a profusion of huge, peach-colored blooms; she ducks her head to breathe in the flowers' fragrance, long black hair falling forward over one shoulder.

Have a little shit with magic; sorry?

[geneticallyscrewed]

Henry was not happy to be on this ship. And even less happy to have a controlling influence on the man who might be his grandfather. He'd raged, tried every magic available to him and even sulked like the pre-teen he was. But nothing made any difference to his situation.

So he began to explore. Finding the arboretum, he walked in with his hands in pockets, not really interested in what was available and not caring if he hurt any of the plants.

He couldn't carry out his plan here and that meant he was bored. And a bored Henry is someone everyone should fear. Because his fun was rarely fun for anyone else.

AOS-verse AU Julian Bashir | Option 2

[darlingmonster]

Julian doesn't do well with unexpected surprises. Not with the last few he'd had--being brought out of stasis by humans, baseline humans, wearing unmarked uniforms. Being told that he was some two centuries in the future, that humans had spread to the stars, where his people had gone to escape them.

Also being told that his friends and family were gone, inaccessible to him. Dead. Not that he necessarily believed that any longer, since they'd lied to him about Kati. But he knew nothing else, the vast, dark-hulled ship they were on had been dead silent for weeks, ever since Julian cut communications to stop anyone calling for help and hadn't bothered to get them working again now that there was no one left to call for help.

And now he was surrounded by Starfleet uniforms--an unfamiliar style, but the colors were recognizable enough, and the emblems on the chests close enough for him to extrapolate. Which meant, as far as he was concerned, that he was among enemies. He was tense like a coiled snake, ready to strike and sink his fangs into anyone who appeared to threaten him.

[ooc: This Julian is a time-displaced, AOS AU. He's one of Khan's 72 Augments, and has had awful adventures of his own with Section 31. If you can call them adventures. Anyone in a Starfleet uniform should be wary of approaching him.]

[geneticallyscrewed]

Henry's not impressed with being on the Enterprise either. He had his own plans in Storybrooke and somehow they managed to bring him here without the dagger. Thankfully he had both hearts though. He wasn't stupid enough to show off his power though. He still had the sweet child exterior that he could use to his advantage and he would. When he needed to those, he could and would raise hell.

Maybe he could find some allies here?

Noting the expression on the other man's face, he thought he could find one there. Sadly, he was an adult and he was going to take a lot of convincing. But if he didn't try, he'd never know. So he advanced and spoke, keeping his voice low and conspirational.

"Hello there. Lost? Out of time, are we?"

Bigby Wolf / Fables / 02 [warning for strong language]

[sheriff_bigby]

Short fingernails scratched uncomfortable at the back of his neck, just under his scruffy brown hair. Bigby needed a cigarette, the smells in here were too many and too confusing, but somehow he had ended up with not a one in any of his pockets. He'd already checked. Where he was, was the even bigger mystery but the lack of cigarettes was irritating him beyond his stupefying confusion.

It looked like some kind of themed bar, complete with star-scape moving out the window and overly done mood lighting. Bigby took a few tentative steps forward and his hands went up to adjust the knot of his tie as he looked around at all the weirdos (and hey, coming from a Fable? that was saying something) in their costumes, face paint, and accessories.

When a few people started looking his way he immediately felt uncomfortable. That didn't mean he was about to back down although the thought of simply leaving was appealing. "What the fuck," he muttered under his breath. Bigby hadn't spent much time around Mundanes but maybe this was their idea of a good time, though that still didn't explain how the hell he ended up here.

With the full intention of investigating this place and possibly finding a clue why and how he was here, he slowly walked forward towards the bar - he might as well have a drink while he was here.

[didnotwant]

There is a short looking red haired woman sitting at the bar. There is a drink within easy reach that she has been sipping off of during her little stay in Ten Forward today. She has been ignoring as best she can ow other people smell.

She does hear Bigby however so she pauses glancing up from the note book she had casually been writing in.

"Ya know," she drawls turning slightly in her seat. "That's pretty much exactly what I said pard... ya new here?"

She takes one really good look at him and blinks. There is something about him that the young werewolf just can't really place. Just that something is pinging against her senses a bit but she can't be bothered to worry about that.

Peter Quill | Marvel Cinematic Universe | Option 1 [Spoilers avoided but possible]

[partofaplan]

There's a man dancing in the Arboretum.

He's wearing a leather jacket, headphones on, the cable leading into a device clipped onto his belt. There's devices strapped to his boots, weapons in their holsters at his sides...

...And his eyes are closed. It's possible that Q just zapped him in here for the fun of it.

As you get closer, you may hear the sound of music coming from the man's headphones.

/haven't seen the film yet but spoilers are fine idc also ilu

[spideys]

And not far from the dancing man is another man of the Spider-sort, in red and blue spandex, perched on one of the nearby benches.

Watching.

And trying not to laugh.

And wishing he had his smartphone.

Neal Cassidy | Once Upon a Time | option 1

[kepthimhuman]

You can run from your past as much as you like, but eventually it will catch up with you.

If he were to be honest with himself, he'd been expecting something to happen ever since he got the postcard from August, the postcard with a single word: 'Broken.' That doesn't mean he was ready for it when it happened.

First there was the ring of the buzzer and the words "UPS delivery." The first thought through his mind was I'm not expecting a package from UPS, then came the realization This has something to do with my father. Then he grabbed his keys and was down the fire escape.

The next thing he knew he was being pursued. By a woman, was all he could tell. Probably the one who had rung the buzzer.

He runs. Runs like prey being hunted by predator, like his life depends on it. Maybe it does; his father is a dangerous man whose actions have consequences just like anyone else's.

He won't put himself in a position to be the reason his father does anything. Not anymore.

Just as he's tiring, running out of breath to keep going, he turns a corner and...comes to an abrupt stop. There's green everywhere, and some of it doesn't look like anything he's seen on Earth. And out those windows there, is that...space?

He's not in New York anymore.

[magicsprice]

Gold had come to the Arboretum for a break from his rooms, that was more like being outdoors and didn't involve fussing with the holodeck to get the setting. However, the book he'd been holding nearly fell from his hand as he spotted a rather too familiar figure standing not too far before him.

Caution however kept him from immediately calling the other man's name. The boy had proven to him the hard way that just because they looked like someone you knew, they might not actually be the person you thought they were. Still, that didn't stop him from approaching the other man. Unlike most of the other people on the ship, Gold still affected to wear his three-piece suits and tie.

When he finally spoke it was with a quiet cautious tone, as if he wasn't entirely certain he was correct in the name spoken.

"Bae?"

Door number 1 please! -- Hi I fell in love hard after 4 eps don't judge me

[princess_flintlock]

Ahim has chosen a lovely patch of grass on which to take her tea. Where that ornate white cast iron table and chairs came from is anyone's guess. But it's a fine accompaniment to the beautiful silver tea set she is pouring a cup from. She's humming a light tune as she does so.

She would ever so much like some company.

[pyritous]

The holodeck is one thing, but it's been days since Fletcher has seen the actual outdoors, and he is starting to feel cramped. The arboretum is like a dream come true on a ship like this.

That table looks out of place, though. He approaches it curiously.

Yeoman Janice Rand (AOS) - Option 02

[sf_girl_friday]

Ten Forward probably isn't the best place to study but Janice will go stir crazy if she kept to her desk or her quarters. There is so much to catch up on. History, literature... the possible differences between her reality and the one she now found herself in.

Sitting with a drink nearby, nearly forgotten and her PADD might not be the best way to spend an evening, but it has its own merits. Especially when she can look up occasionally and watch the beings around her instead of staring at the walls of her room.

[sheriff_bigby]

He hadn't gotten used to the idea yet of where he was, what this place was, and the ramifications on everything back home of his being here. Hell, Bigby hadn't even gotten used to the idea of synthetic alcohol. But old habits died hard and he was an old dog, and everyone knew what they said about old dogs and new tricks.

Bigby was at Ten Forward again, glass of synthetic alcohol in hand. He had been staring out of the window at space for awhile but when he turned around he saw a new face and it was a pretty one at that. While he wasn't the most sociable of creatures something about her was familiar to him and he found his feet moving quietly in that direction.

"This seat taken?" he asked once he was close enough.

02 - Wakana Sonozaki - I can't app her but I can no longer resist shenanigans

[natural_claydoll]

Just when she thought that she'd made a good choice. She'd made something actually good come from all the pain the Family Chosen by the Earth had caused, it had gone wrong. She never had a guarantee it would work, and she was only going on what the Library had told her.

She looked down at herself. She was no longer in that hospital gown, but something more like she would usually wear. And this would be a kind of place she wouldn't mind having a party with people from the radio station at. Distress showed plain on her face.

Wakana balled her hands into fists at her sides. Hold it together, Wakana. She turned in face and saw the windows. Her eyes got big and her hands came up to her mouth. "It can't be..." She wasn't on the Earth at all? What had she done?

drop shotaro pls (no)

[decideformyself]

Philip was on his way over to a table, taking a sip of a beverage he'd ordered, when he saw the woman standing at the windows.

He spat his drink out.

He stopped in his tracks and just stared at her. There was no way -- it couldn't be.

Alec Lightwood | The Mortal Instruments | Option 2

[overprotectivehunter]

Alec knows he shouldn't drink. He knows what happens when he gets drunk. Being pensive and moody is not going to help, especially when he doesn't have Magnus or Jace around to remind him that things aren't as bad as they seem.

Especially when Magnus isn't there. That is the real reason things seem so dark.

Sighing, he orders a drink, choosing something that seems safe to consume, watching the other patrons and trying to look non threatening. Which isn't easy for someone over six foot tall, covered in black markings that look like elaborate tattoos, and is studying everyone as if they might attack him if he lets his guard down.

Re: Alec Lightwood | The Mortal Instruments | Option 2

[element_wizard]

This Alec hasn't quite hit six feet tall, he's a few inches shy. He's also fairly non-threatening looking, in a horribly gawky slightly foolish looking manner. Despite the fact that he's carrying a sword. He doesn't have elaborate tattoos, he does have one large on one his face though.

He spots the guy and wanders over.

"Find Waldo yet?"

Atris | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords | 02

[quietfall]

This is not Telos.

Perhaps that should almost be a relief to Atris, who has spent the past several years isolated in her Academy, buried under polar ice and haunted by ghosts (really, just one ghost) who won't leave her be. She is not completely alone — her handmaidens are there, and serve her well, but all the same they do not understand the duty she has taken upon herself. They cannot. She has taught them, all of them, two things alone: fear the Force, and destroy the Sith. Atris must do more than that: she must understand the Sith, and in so doing learn the way to defeat them once and for all.

It's for this reason that she feels not relief at suddenly being away from the Academy's halls and her archive of Sith holocrons, but disappointment, confusion, and anger. She doesn't know who has brought her here (where she is, she doesn't know, only that she can see stars outside the window, feel movement faintly under her feet — this must be a ship), only that they have no right to take her away from what she knows is perhaps the most important duty in the galaxy. She is the last of the Jedi, the last true Jedi, and what good is she if she cannot fight the Sith?

The first person who looks even slightly to be someone of authority is approached politely at first, but Atris's frustration is clear and it only grows worse when she is told that, no, she is not the first person to suddenly arrive here and that, no, she cannot go back to Telos. Eventually she gives up and walks away, abruptly, taking deep breaths to restore her calm. As... unsettling as this situation is, she is a Jedi Master, and losing her temper would be unseemly at the very best. Atris tries reciting the Jedi Code to herself, thinking through the carefully memorized words (there is no emotion, there is peace; there is no ignorance, there is knowledge—) but it does her no good at all.

If she were to be honest with herself, the Code hasn't brought her peace in a very long time.

oh my god an Atris let me love you and uh give you my only KotOR era muse

[visionless]

Lucien could, if he had known of her actions, choices, all involving the Sith, offered her advice, even some semblance of guidance. It wasn't as if he was unfamiliar with those thoughts, his mother's Covenant insisting on the gathering and study of Sith artifacts to better understand the enemy and rid the galaxy of them at whatever the cost and he had been a tool of that for practically his entire life. But it was only in embracing the Force and fate being fate that he got away from the ever darkening thoughts and actions he was forced to take, or rather nudged to take.

But he never thought about Haazen because if he did then that would lead to anger, and where does anger lead in a Jedi? No where particularly good and he wasn't going to allow the Sith a victory after everything he had lost in defeating him. Even if those injuries, in a way, humbled him (though honestly losing his sight was as much an annoyance as it was humbling, but humbling was a more Jedi feeling, right?).

Arriving in a new place, away from those temptations and memories of his (and others) failures, should have been just as liberating to him as being away from the Academy should have been for Atris. But like her, he has a duty to perform back home, to keep the ways going on his moon and in secret, away from others and so that is how a blind man found himself arguing with the nearest person that sounded like they were in charge. Being blind in an unknown environment, especially when he's still adapting to that change, is well, challenging and when he finds out that he asked the wrong person and that no, there's no chance of going back, he finds that familiar frustration bubbling up inside him.

And of course, instead of doing the Jedi thing and trying to let it go, he finds himself drawn to the one familiar presence in the room, a beacon in the Force compared to everyone else on board the ship to perhaps find some kinship in their mutual kidnapping. He can't see, so he can't greet this Jedi (or Jedi like being, but he's banking on Jedi, he so hopes) by name, but he can try and acknowledge them and hope to the Force they don't know what he did. Or if they do then they don't blame him for it, or at least don't pity him (he has pride, even if it's not very Jedi-like to have it).

"With the way they say we're not the only ones, I'm surprised there isn't more of us here." Us being Jedi. His head is tilted towards her in acknowledgment, even if he can't see her, and his wooden staff is to his side, away from her.

((ooc: god I'm sorry for the tl;dr, but also I'm playing with Lucien here from post the comics, so his appearance is changed from his icons like so annnd he's blind with scarred up hands!))

Buffy Summers | 02

[slae]

Things haven't been going too well for Buffy this week.

Actually? Scratch that.

Things are never going well for Buffy. Like, ever. Such is the 'gift' of being the slayer. It's always something.

One minute she's in school, about to head home, have a shower and a nap, and then get to her real job -- and the next she's in the middle of a room with a bunch of weirdos and guys in cheap polyester uniforms.

Her hackles rise and she's about to pull out her stake, but no one seems even a little bit interested in turning her into Mashed Buffy, so that's a good sign. A weird sign, but a good sign. (Either way, people not beating her up? She'll take it.)

"Soooo ... this is new. Anyone wanna tell me what's going on here?"

[overprotectivehunter]

Alec isn't exactly happy about being on the ship. He had a very nice life planned out that didn't involve being in outer space. Not that fate or whatever had agreed. He's about to take a drink of something that's supposed to be wine when he, pauses noticing the young woman that reminds him of Izzy when she's expecting a demon is going to try to surprise them.

"I'm not really sure what's going on, but it is safe here." At least so far it's seemed that way.

Lucien Draay | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (comics) 01

[visionless]

((OOC: Lucien is blind and his appearance is totally different in this starter than my icons just as a heads up.))

It's not particularly difficult for Lucien to find the Arboretum, he can sense the plants, the living things that aren't sentient pretty well when he puts his mind to it. He's only gotten stronger since he was blinded, at least in terms of how much he can sense. He's still a ways to go before he's on par with his mother, if he ever will be.

Either way, there's a blind, humbly dressed man standing in a part of it away from people, his walking stick raised up as if ready for a strike. Which it is, as for Lucien he's always found a certain peace in his lightsaber practice and what better way to get some of that done than here, with a wooden stick? At least this way he won't upset anyone with the weapon drawn, and being blind (something he's still keenly aware of) he won't accidentally take someone's limb off if he doesn't notice them in time or they're hidden in the Force somehow. Instead they'll just get a nice smack with his stick.

So yup, he's going through the motions with his stick as his weapon, brown robe off to the side and putting just a little too much concentration into the strikes and not enough in his surroundings.

[didnotwant]

Marion originally had been looking for a place to get some writing done. Sure she may be several hundred years and a dimension or two away from her home but that didn't mean that she was going to let herself get lazy.

She had been just doing a few general outlines on the PADD she brought with her when Lucien's scent tickles her nose. She glances up then just sets aside the PADD so she can watch him. His technique makes her envious. He seems much calmer and more centered than she can ever be.

Marion gets up from her seat stretching like the wolf she is as she moves in his way in an almost boneless manner.

"Huh. You're good," she comments out loud as she winds around him trying to stay out of his way. It's good manners to not get in the way.

Abby Maitland | Primeval | Option 1

[kidnaps_dinosaurs]

This was.....not what she was expecting. One minute Abby was trying to contain a Thylacosmilus who had appeared in the middle of someone's house, the next she was falling through an Anomaly and she was pretty certain this wasn't Pliocene. For one, they didn't have walls. And climate control. The Anomaly the Thylacosmilus came through must have closed, and a different one opened. But where was she now?

Abby looked up at a branch of some kind of flowering tree she didn't recognize to see Rex, chittering away. At least someone was happy to be here.

"Rex you get down from there right now. We're not supposed to be here. We have to get back before it closes--" Abby's blond hair moved from side to side as she looked this way and that. No Anomaly. Well, that was bad.

[asklepian]

Julian hadn't been in an arboretum like this in quite a long time--since he'd been back on Earth, really. Deep Space 9 didn't have anything like this--it had been built solely for one task, refining mined ore. That might not be its purpose now, and thank God for that, but it didn't leave much space for a room full of trees perfect for reading under and air perfumed by flowers.

Julian was taking an afternoon to reread one of his favorite novels, not that he didn't recall what happened, but even he could get something new from a fresh reading.

He glances up into the branches of the tree when he notes movement in his peripheral vision, a small, blue-green scaled creature, making happy sounds of discovery and wonder.

"Hello, there."

Christine Parrish | Babylon 5 (OC) | 02

[ex_trustandobey915]

One moment, Christine is at work — her usual day's work, mediating between her employer, Adrian Lin of ExoCorp, and a potential business partner. Despite her best efforts, the negotiations aren't going well; for one thing, the man Mr. Lin is trying to sign a deal with keeps forgetting there's also a telepath in the room, and she keeps catching him lying — little white lies, or so he thinks, but she has to say something when she notices, and that's only making things worse. Someone who feels the need to make up information just to close a deal, even information they think is inconsequential, is not the sort of person they want to be dealing with.

Unfortunately, the strain of even minor uses of her abilities, like the veracity test, builds up over time, and even for a P10 this can get exhausting. Eventually, she has to ask for a fifteen minute recess to have a glass of water and clear her head. Mr. Lin, by now used to these kinds of requests, waves her off, and she steps away from the table, grateful that he doesn't make a fuss about it as he sometimes does when he's under pressure.

Between the moment she pushes away from the table and the moment she stands up, she's abruptly somewhere else. This is emphatically not Mars Dome; for one thing, the light through the windows is that of unfiltered space, not the low reddish sunlight that filters through Mars's atmosphere. The walls and floor are done in subtle neutral tones; there are tables and chairs scattered around, and an amiable background chatter fills the room, along with the telltale clinking of flatware and glasses that tells her she's in a restaurant or — or a bar, she realizes, noticing one on the other side of the room.

She pales abruptly, awareness of her circumstances finally settling on her, and takes a step back, two steps — only to back right into someone else. Christine gasps, turning about, and even the bad shock can't fully unseat her ingrained politeness. "Oh — I'm, I'm so sorry. Are you all right?"

She takes a moment, just a breath's worth, to test her blocks and make sure they're firmly in place. It's all she can really manage to do right now, but at least she won't be broadcasting her thoughts and feelings to all and sundry or accidentally picking up more than the usual background "white noise" of other people's.

The faun | Pan's Labyrinth | 01

[windandtreesknow]

In the far corner of the arboretum there's something moving among the trees, hidden in shadows. Leaves rustle without wind and creaking of wood can be heard. It is hard to see the creature at first. His very skin seems to be bark, gnarly and rough, his colors blending in perfectly amongst the tree trunks. Then a round face crowned by the large curved horns of a ram peeks out into the light, large blue eyes blinking curiously.

A moment later the whole creature steps out from the shadows. He's tall though somewhat hunched over, hands clasped loosely under his chin as he peers around. What a curious place! A bit too neat and a bit too light for his liking, perhaps, but interesting none the less. Accompanied by more of those creaking sounds, like old branches swaying in the wind, he moves further out. The expression on his face seem to be equal parts curiosity, delight and mischief as he looks at the many people around.

[just_be_quiet]

Andrew had been busy reading when he felt something tickle his extra sense a little. He peered up from the edge of the PADD in his lap silently glancing around with dark eyes. He still hasn't gotten any color really as he is a pale boy, living on this ship right now certainly doesn't help.

He blinks at the tall figure. The faun's reaction gets a tiny owlish blink from Andrew then a slight smile. Slowly he raises a hand and gives a small wave. He doesn't feel any danger from the creature.

He shifts nudging the dog who was half asleep on him. He wants to go say hello but the furry creature snorts in his sleep and just rolls further onto his young master's lap. Andrew sighs slightly at the dog's actions. Oh well.

"Hello sir," he greets from his seat in the grass.

Option 01: Haruhi | Ouran High School Host Club

[thecommoner]

The door slides open. The same way it has every time school ends.

On one host standing in the doorway between what was sensible, and then a plethora of garden.

It's not even a surprise. The outlandish greenery suddenly everywhere. "Are we really doing this again? Guys?"

[kingu_otousama]

"Welcome."

Everyone reacts to new experiences differently. Some close themselves off to the beauty of the moment, preferring a pessimistic stance of wary suspicion; some cower from the moment, and lose its beauty entirely. And some, the true princes, the true entrepreneurs of passion, open themselves to the experience and make it their own.

It took Tamaki less than five minutes to use the arboretum to his advantage, for despite the locale, the time, or the world, to impart smiles is the worthier pursuit. There may be time for questions later.

When he notices who has come through the doors, he blinks. Lips parted, and eyes wide with recognition, the princely mask is allowed to slip until all that remains is teary-eyed relief. "Haruhiiiiiiiii~!"

He flings himself at her, spinning her around in a circle, tears of delight streaming down his face.

Option 02: Ten Forward| Nate Ford (Leverage)

[lets_go_steal]

Nate's been here a while. Talked to a few people. Meandered.

Not enough to stop narrowing his eyes and double checking nearly everything he's seeing.

As thought there was something to double check it against. As though anything like this ever happened before.





At least the synthehol was free. Even if it was a crap comparison. He'll be over here, drinking his latest glass and eying the place.

NATE! :D

[age_of_the_geek]

Damn weird place with it's weirdly dressed Star Trek rip-off people what the hell is going on he is not happy and-

"Nate? Nate! Is that you? Oh man, if you aren't Nate Ford I'm gonna be in a not-happy place. Nuh-uh."

Here, Nate, have a slightly panicky Hardison.

Tessa Gray | The Infernal Devices (or TMI) | Option 1

[tessa_gray]

The Arboretum was one of the few places on the ship where Tessa felt at home. She was becoming used to the strangeness, adapting far more quickly than she had expected, especially when she had been shocked the first time she had seen a woman wearing trousers.

But it was still unsettling being surrounded by metal and stars with strange technology at her fingertips. That made the garden that much more reassuring, reminding her of a home. Sitting on the grass, a book resting in her lap, she tries to focus on the words, but her attention drifts from the page to watch the others who are enjoying the scenery.

[windandtreesknow]

There's the creaking of wood behind her, and the quiet thump of hooves on the grass coming closer. A moment later a shadow falls over her. There behind her stands a faun, leaning over to peer down at the book in her lap. He looks to be made of wood more than flesh, his very hide resembling rough bark more than skin, adding even further to his inhuman appearance.

Though he's practically looming over her, the expression on his face is simply one of curiosity.

Bruce Wayne | Nolanverse | 02

[more_than_revenge]

Standing in one corner, by the window, watching the bar, is a tall man, his posture carefully calculated not to draw attention. He's not trying to disappear, but nor is he standing out, and for this man, in a crowd, when he's not deliberately hiding, that's unusual.

In Gotham, he can barely step out of doors without having to deal with the constant recognition that his inborn celebrity brings. Here, though, people aren't stopping and staring. People aren't nudging and whispering, and that would be interesting enough on its own, even were it not for the fact of how he got here.

Which is something of which he's not entirely sure, only that he'd suddenly found himself here, in this bar.

For Bruce Wayne, the billionaire star of the Gotham social scene, a bar is an entirely natural habitat. As natural as the smile he gives to anyone who looks his way, as the casual slip of one hand into his suit pocket.

What's not natural for the prince of Gotham is the way his eyes are scanning every person he sees, judging, assessing, coolly calculating as he tries to work out precisely what is going on here.



[Because I was enabled, though I warn you he is rusty as hell. If your character will recognize him, feel free to have them do so, he's used to being recognized. But secret identity is secret so he will pretend like mad he is not Batman if anyone mentions the name.]

[didnotwant]

"Excuse me," a voice calls just to his right. She is young looking and fit too under the slightly bagging clothes. She carries herself to the trained eye like someone who knows how to handle themselves and is confident in her ability to do so.

She isn't looking for a fight. She just wants to go order a drink. She doesn't really recognize Bruce however, she still gives him a barely there smile. There is a faint quirk of her mouth and something friendly about how the corners of her eyes crinkle.

Sure, she can be dangerous but she prefers to be nice.

MInako Aino / 01

[hearted]

When Minako slips past an unlocked door, she can't quite believe the sight in front of her. Real flowers! The plants all look so happy---clearly they're well taken care of. She'd still much rather be 'helping' Makoto water the plants behind her apartment, but it's still an improvement over all these walls and locked doors.

She immediately gathers her skirt and sets off at a run toward the rose bush, kneeling in front of it. She leans close enough to take a sniff. The familiar sweet scent makes her so happy she could curl here forever.

"I guess it's true, huh? You shouldn't judge a rose by its thorns. Or a ship by its...doors."

She laughs to herself, holding her hair back as she leans in for another inhalation. Mmm. So much better than the rest of this place.

Not quite her princess, but 8D

[princess_flintlock]

This girl's excitement over the roses was quite contagious. Ahim laughed lightly, more in commiseration than anything. "They are quite wonderful, aren't they?" This whole space was fantastic. She wished she could bring something green and pretty onto the Galleon but with as much time they spent in space, it would not last long without lots of equipment.

Max | Original Character | Option 02

[throwawayrunaway]

There is what looks like a young man on the floor of Ten Forward. Older than he looks but not by much, obviously malnourished and suffering from a very recent beating. There are bruises on his face that haven't completed healed and he has a small limp when walking. And more than anything, he looks confused.

Limping towards a table, he sits himself down, refusing to believe what his eyes are telling him. Food is appearing out of holes in the wall, there are stars outside the window and this place remind him too much of the castle of his father. He didn't like it but then again, it couldn't be much worse than where he'd been...right?

Re: Max | Original Character | Option 02

[forgottenmotley]

"Food generally reaches you faster if you go and get some. Unless you've some how learned the fine art of teleknesis." A finely ... well... sort of... a gentleman dressed in a bottle green Victorian era coat with bright colored patches on it and a matching top hat stands next to the table looking at him with bright curious - possibly glowing - amber eyes. He's leaning on a well worn walking stick and seems to be friendly.

Or at least, mildly curious.

Summer Landsdown | Power Rangers RPM

[seriesyellow]

1
There was something almost familiar about the arboretum, something about standing on real grass under artificial light that pulls Summer thousands of miles -- and apparently hundreds of years -- back to Corinth. It's not the reason she first found it, that was all curiosity and a driving need for activity, but it is the reason she keeps going back. After all, she's already found the holodeck too, and while the holodeck can be a lot of things, she'll always know that it just isn't as genuine. She's become something of a regular, sitting on the grass and reading quietly, or admiring other people's work in caring for plants she may not even know the names of.

In general, she keeps her back to the windows out into space, however. That's not the case anywhere else, really. Anywhere else, and she'll stare at the stars, try to find the ones she's familiar with. But not in here. The arboretum is the one place where Summer almost feels home, and it's a delicate sort of comfort, the type any little thing will shatter.

Today is one of those days when she just needs a breath of fresh air, and there's no better place for it. So, Summer wanders the arboretum pensively, taking particular interest in the plants. She lingers on the more exotic fare, from Earth or otherwise -- because she can't tell. And it's on one particularly vivid, flowering specimen that she pauses, and wonders aloud, and in the vague direction of the closest person -- fortunately not far off.

"I wish these were labeled sometimes. Excuse me, do you know what kind of plant this is?"

2
The latest of Venjix's creations defeated leaves Summer feeling both exhilarated and a little exhausted all at the same time. On the one hand, fighting off each wave he threw at them was taking an ever increasing toll on the rangers. On the other, the increasing challenge inspired a feeling of accomplishment like nothing else in her life. Leaping from the Bear Crawler to the pavement in the center of the city, Summer demorphs with a smile on her face, only to turn and face the sudden lighting change of an interior space.

Dr. K had said there were sometimes side effects to morphing. Actually, she's said there was sometimes residual energy runoff that was necessary to clear the suit's biofield channels. Somehow, Summer doesn't think that this was a product of morphing. Or, demorphing, as that was what she had been doing just before she'd finds herself here, in a dimly lit, cozy looking restaurant with a very hyper-modern decor and...

Yes, those are nearly floor to ceiling windows displaying too many uninterrupted stars to be nothing more than a view of the night sky.

Snapping her cell shift morpher closed and pocketing it, Summer wanders further into the room. Though not precisely crowded, quite a few patrons are enjoying a meal or a drink, or just one another's company. Nevertheless, Summer is more interested in the stars, almost hypnotized by the sight of them as she approaches the windows.

"Don't think I'm in Corinth anymore," she says almost under her breath, before her eyes at last seems to adjust to the light and she turns back toward the interior of Ten Forward with an unmistakably searching look.

Door 1!

[dreams_dont_die]

It's not Andromeda's hydroponics garden that spans multiple decks, a single giant tree reaching up towards the ceiling and inspiring amazement in anyone who sees it, but the arboretum on the Enterprise is green and welcoming. It might be less spectacular than the combined efforts of Trance, Andromeda, and her previous ESOs, but it still smells like a garden and looks like a garden. It even has grass that crushes under the tread of his boots, leaving a trail of prints behind him until the bent blades slowly right themselves.

It's good for the sake of the crew -- and on the Enterprise, the guests -- of a starship that rarely makes port to have the chance to be surrounded by something vibrant and alive like this.

None of them more than this gardener's son from Tarn-Vedra.

There's a reason the crew of the Andromeda has always tended to gravitate towards the hydroponics garden. And why it was where he set up the basketball court. (Which he does think would be a good addition here, but this is Picard's court and Picard's rules.)

He's strolling past a flowering plant that wouldn't look out of place in Trance's gardens when the girl standing next to it speaks.

He gives her an apologetic smile after studying the thing for a moment. As he'd expected, it's definitely nothing he knows.

"I don't think I'm the right person to help you with that on," he says. "Sorry. If this were my ship I'd probably be able to tell you."

Maybe even if this were his universe. He'd learned a lot about the Imperial Gardens once upon a time, in the time that's now simultaneously his past and future.

Option 2

[unkindness]

Seven disliked the relative chaos that characterized the recreation areas of a starship--there were too many people, likely staring at her, which made her skin itch unpleasantly. (The Doctor had assured her that was a normal reaction in humans, and not indicative of an underlying medical issue. He had thought she was being paranoid. She still thought that was justified--she had been picked apart, and her body was unfamiliar now.) It wasn't the fact that there were many of them--Seven in fact felt just as anxious being alone, and found the voices comforting, even if they weren't united.

Despite being in a crowded room, she didn't feel like anyone was looking at her. That was...acceptable.

She moved to the replicators, despite not requiring sustenance at present. It was easier to watch people with something to occupy her hands, simpler to blend in that way as well. She was feeling particularly conscious of her visible implants after Voyager's encounter with Arturis, and didn't wish to attract significant attention.

[she_listens]

She may not wish to attract attention, but attention is what she's got. The El-Aurian behind the bar never thought she would again see the day when a Borg stood on the Enterprise; at least, she hoped that day would never come.

She does not approach Seven, despite sensing that she is perhaps different than the average Borg, and having been brought here by Q must be as displaced as the next new patron. What she does is nod to the closest security officer, sending him to quietly shadow the Borg.

Guinan trusts her about as far as she can throw her.