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

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.

[partofaplan]

Of course, the second the song ends, Quill's eyes open... and there's instantly a weapon in his hand as he stares about, wide-eyed.

"What the F--" He mumbles, staring around.

[spideys]

"Hey - hey, you might wanna put that down."

Spider-Man holds his hands up in front of him.

"I come in peace."

[partofaplan]

And Quill whirls up, aiming directly at Spider-Man.

He blinks, staring openly at the dude, because... woah.

"Who're you s'posed to be, dude? Spider-Boy?"

[spideys]

"Man," Spider-Man corrects, doing his best not to bristle. "It's Spider-Man."

Yeah, okay, he's like one year shy of being an official adult, but that doesn't change the name he'd given himself.

[partofaplan]

"Fine, fine. Boy, man, whatever." He's waving a hand dismissively, still keeping the Quadblaster level on him.

"You gonna tell me where I am, or am I gonna have to go exterminating?"

[spideys]

"Ha ha."

Like that's a joke he hasn't heard before. Spidey hops off the bench and straightens, still as harmless as he can make himself.

"Look," he says, "there's no need for the hostility. I'm seriously not gonna hurt you. It's - it's not really what I do.

"So how about you put the blaster down and we talk like two normal people? I can tell you all about how you, me and a whole lotta people ended up on this ship."

[partofaplan]

"Here's another idea." Quill says, taking a step forward, expression serious. "I keep the blaster in my hand, and you tell me what I need to know."

[spideys]

Spidey rolls his eyes. It's a pity Quill can't see it.

There's a sigh. What is it with people and guns always having to make things so difficult? It's like having a weapon tends to go to their heads or something.

"Y'know, this probably could have been avoided."

There's a hissing sound and a length of biocable is released from Spider-Man's wrist, aimed at Quill's blaster.

yesplz

[unkindness]

And there is a woman staring at the man dancing in the Arboretum.

Voyager's aeroponics bay is nowhere this extensive, and it's not a place Seven frequents besides. And she certainly wouldn't be dancing there. Not that she didn't know how, because the Doctor had insisted she learn--he'd called it a vital social skill. Not that she'd believed him.

This didn't look anything like the dancing he'd shown her, which had been highly structured and therefore relatively simple to duplicate. There was a discernible rhythm to it, but not one she could follow. Unpredictable. And the music was different from anything she'd heard before as well.

She would approach, but she's unfamiliar with the weapons on him, and therefore of the mind that discretion is for the best.

[partofaplan]

And, just as the song comes to an end, he turns to face Seven and opens his eyes...

...And instantly draws a Quadblaster, the weapon humming as it powers up, pulling the headphones down at the same time, his eyes wide.

Because what. The. Fuck, dude.

"Okay, where am I?" He asks, levelling the weapon onto the woman in front of him. "How did I get here, and you best be tellin' me how to get back, hot stuff, or I ain't gonna be happy."

[unkindness]

"I would advise you to lower your weapon before Security deems you a threat," Seven says coolly. She doesn't necessarily want to be shot, but she can count on the protection of Starfleet. As such there's not so much of a hint of fear or anger in her voice. More than that, she sounds...annoyed.

"Internal sensors will have recorded your weapon arming itself. You have approximately 30 seconds before a security team arrives." Or at least he would if they were on Voyager, she couldn't speak for the efficiency of this crew.

[partofaplan]

Quill meets her eyes, assessing, and taking his time about it. He's contemplating the truth behind her words. I mean, she didn't have a reason to lie to him, but folks lie for all sorts of stuff...

It hits twenty-five seconds when Peter lowers his weapon, the audiable hum of the device powering down.

"Alright. You win."

[unkindness]

Seven doesn't lie. She doesn't have the experience for it--and even if she did, she doesn't see any reason to in most situations. She tends towards brutal honesty if anything.

And since he acquiesced to her request--she sees no reason not to answer his questions.

"You are aboard a Federation starship. I have not yet determined its designation, as it is not one I am familiar with."

She tilts her head, assessing.

"As I am also unsure as to how we have arrived here, I cannot tell you how to return. There is not enough information for any hypothesis to be made."

[partofaplan]

She's augmented, that much is clear, by the slightly robotic tone and the cordical implant over her eye. Robotic enhancement isn't exactly uncommon from his universe.

He eyes her, licking his lips. People like this didn't usually lie, so...

"Alright then. Guess I'll have to take you at your word." And the Quadblaster is actually getting holstered.

"Peter Quill, people call me Star-Lord."

[unkindness]

It is in this universe. Seven is grateful for the...casual reaction. He'd evaluated and dismissed her implants in a moment, when she was sure if the Starfleet crew recognized their origin, they would be uncomfortable around her. Most people were.

Star-Lord, though. She can't tell if he's being serious.

"I am Seven of Nine. You may refer to me as simply Seven."

[partofaplan]

"Nice, uh... designation." Because, hey, that's what it sounds like.

He's just going to take a few steps away from and past Seven, looking around, a bit awed. "So, uh... Which Federation are we talkin' about here?"

[unkindness]

If Seven wasn't sure already that Peter Quill wasn't from around here, so to speak, she certainly is now. No reaction to Borg implants and designation--because he's right, that is the origin of her name--is one thing. Being, presumably, Human and not knowing of the Federation, though, is another matter entirely.

She turns to follow his trajectory, hands clasped behind her back.

"The United Federation of Planets. Founded by the alliance of Earth, Vulcan, Andor, and Tellar in the 22nd century."

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

[surroundedbyimbeciles]

It isn't as miraculous as it seems that the green-skinned woman standing nearby with her arms crossed easily across her chest can keep a straight face.

She's had...a lot of practice.










"Quill."

[partofaplan]

Nope.

He's completely lost in the music. Sorry, Gamora, but until the song ends, you'll have to put up with Pete dancing away and pretending to sing into a microphone.

He'd say he was sorry, but he'd be lying.

[surroundedbyimbeciles]

A finger taps on her arm.

(It happens to be the same beat he's moving to.)


When another twenty seconds go by without him opening his eyes, she drops her arms, strides over, and removes the offending headphones in a swift, efficient motion. A tinny backbeat threads its way out of them, but she steadily refuses to sway to it.

"Quill. Cease this...useless shuffle and open your eyes."

Comics or MCU?

[partofaplan]

"Ow! Hey-!"

He pauses, blinking.

"Gamora?" And then he takes stock of where he is. "Where...?"

Re: Either!

[surroundedbyimbeciles]

She drops the headphone and lets them dangle around his neck. "That is what we should attempt to find out."

Hand on her hip, she studies the room. "It appears to be some sort of...greenhouse. How we arrived is a mystery to me."

She slants a look that's half-suspicious, half-exasperated at him. "Have we angered anyone important lately?"

There aren't any armed guards descending upon them. That's an improvement, at least.

I;m fine with whichever you want!

[partofaplan]

"Uh..." Peter takes the headphones off, scrubbing the back of his neck as he thinks about that.

"No? I don't think so."