let's call it a grand opening •

[spaceling]

WHO • everyone
WHERE • deck 2: corridors & mess hall
WHEN • day 1
WHAT • characters arrive
WARNINGS • please warn in the subject headings



[ you wake up on an abandoned spaceship in an unfamiliar quadrant of space, unhurt, but nauseated and dizzy, wearing whatever you were wearing before, with no possessions but what you were carrying with them.

the corridors are dark and grimy, dimly lit by lights that flicker now and then. it's cold enough to see your breath fog up before your face, but artificial gravity and life support seem to be working just fine.

welcome to your new home. ]

Comments

[causae]

[ cassian has been aware of the man following him for a while now. he isn't hiding, but he hasn't approached him or spoken, either, and cassian had been content enough to remain quiet while he works until he's grown more certain of his finding. (content is entirely the wrong word for anything he is feeling currently.)

there are no records whatsoever on the ship's computer, at least none that he can access. he has tried every trick that he knows, and while it certainly isn't impossible that someone better versed in computers will find something, cassian can't. ]

Yes. [ he replies, frowning just a little because that is an odd statement to make. of course they're computers. or rather: ] One computer, many terminals.

[darkart]

[ Warily, Severus approaches the terminal - and this man, who is a muggle. Probably. His manner of dress isn't quite like the muggles he's familiar with, even if he can mostly (?) place his accent.

One computer, many terminals. Alright, he can parse that well enough. Phone lines and power grids and so on; he's tangentially aware that muggle technology has advanced beyond what he's immediately familiar with, but he's never had any reason to keep up with it. He eyes the computer port, not sure what to make of it. He knows what computers are and has a general awareness of advanced tech at least existing - they put muggles on the moon - but he's never seen one in person. ]

Do you know what this facility is?

[ He's sure he looks like an idiot, but Severus doesn't have any compunction about looking wildly uneducated about something if he actually is wildly uneducated about it. That's how you learn. ]

[causae]

[ cassian wouldn't know what a muggle is, but for all that he is pretending to be someone he's not, he isn't trying to pass as someone he couldn't be, claiming abilities he doesn't have. jeron aach is not a rebel, but his skill set isn't entirely unlike cassian's own, or at least encompassed by it.

the man in front of him must have a very different skill set, not to know computer terminals or that they're on a ship — unless it's cassian's own frame of reference providing context that isn't there for their location, but he doubts it. too much of it fits too well, even if there's a lot he doesn't know. ]

Not a facility. A ship.

[darkart]

[ A

ship.

Severus has to consider that for a moment, a slight frown knitting his eyebrows. They aren't in any body of water - the sensation of pressure, gravity, movement (or lack of) isn't right. There aren't any windows, which could suggest one of those muggle submarines, but that's not right either, he's sure. Which leaves sci fi fairy stories, and things like NASA and oh, hell.

With slightly strained dignity: ]

Do you know what this ship is?

[causae]

No.

[ for cassian, being in space is a natural thing, but some of the strain in severus' voice is nevertheless reflected also in his own, but for different reasons. he doesn't like not knowing, the lack of control that comes from it. he doesn't know the make of this ship, who flies it, if anyone at all, who made it, where they are or what the destination is. that bothers him, and not only because he doesn't know how to return to base and pass on the information he's gathered. ]

I'm trying to find out. [ with a nod to the computer panel that isn't revealing much of anything to him. ]

[darkart]

Correct me if I'm wrong-- [ genuine, not the usual flippant ha ha I'm so right way people use that phrase, ] I'm going to assume you woke up here in the same manner I did, with no recollection of being brought here.

[ He looks at the other man. Yes? On the same page? Alright. ]

Where I'm from we do not have technology of this level, and it's the first I've seen of it or anything like it. [ Just getting that out there. ] Is there some way to communicate?

[ Severus has read a few books about the moon landing, but it's been some time, and he knows just by glancing around that it's not the same. Ugh. ]

[causae]

[ the man asks, and for a moment cassian's face remains impassive. he doesn't want to give anything away, but at the same time, he'll have to tell this man something. his assumption is correct, and after a moment, cassian nods. they're on the same page, yes. ]

I grew up on spaceships. [ he offers, shoulders lifting in a shrug. ] Not exactly like this one. [ it's true enough for cassian andor, but it's entirely true for jeron aach who is a smuggler now and wasn't born on any planet at all but on a ship between the stars.

at the last question, he turns back to the computer panel. ] There's an internal network. No way to send a message to anyone outside of the ship that I can see.

[darkart]

[ It'll be interesting if they ever figure out more about each other, these two; Severus is an intelligence agent himself, but the notion of pretending to be someone else would be unbelievably foolish. The fact that he is himself is what lets the racket work.

Hm. Not great, about being unable to contact anyone on the outside with the available muggle tech. Severus has already tried to send a patronus, but it could tell the spell faded into nothingness. Magic surely works in a vacuum, there isn't nothing, but if there's no way for it to get where it's being sent, then... welp. ]

And I take it spontaneous abductions through apparent teleportation are abnormal where you're from.

[causae]

[ cassian has pretended to be many other people, some good and some not at all. he's done things under names not his own that might make it difficult to sleep at night to someone less used to it, less devoted to a cause and certain of its worth. (he's done things that made it difficult to sleep at night even for him.)

some of it, he's done in his own name, but not nearly most of it. they're both intelligence agents, but in very different situations. ]

That's right.

[ though his working theory is that somehow, the empire has done this. it isn't their usual mo, but that doesn't mean they can't have done it.

that, or it is some kind of hallucination. ]

[darkart]

[ Severus lets out a breath and rubs the bridge of his nose. This is all stupid. ]

If it was related to my society in any way it wouldn't use any of this-- [ he gestures absently at the terminal ] --machinery. There are a few other people milling around, but no one looks as though they know where they are.

[ For a moment he considers apparating, but thinks ... that's probably very foolish. Even under normal circumstances there's always a risk of splinching oneself. Sigh. ]

[causae]

[ cassian doesn't know where he is, either, but he has more of an idea of what it is like to be in space than he thinks this man has. still: assumptions do not become an intelligence officer. ]

Have you been in space before?

[darkart]

No.

[ :| ]

Maybe a handful of humans have, from our planet to the nearest moon, and that's all. [ Which is sort of annoying. When Severus was a child watching the first manned moon landing on his father's television set, his mind had been alight at all the thoughts of what was really out there, because magic is so much more advanced and capable than machinery-- only to discover that wizarding society does nothing more than hide.

Anyway, he raises a hand and produces a ball of light that illuminates the area, making it easier for them to see where they are. A beat and it creates a warming effect, too, fighting the persistent chill in the air. ]

I'm a sorcerer, my society doesn't engage with their.. 'technology.'

[ Too bad all the Aurors who want Severus dead don't have jurisdiction to book him for violating the Statute of Secrecy in unknown outer space. ]

[causae]

[ cassian's expression doesn't change much throughout severus' explanation, but he does react in small ways: the slight raise of an eyebrow when severus tells him that only a handful of humans have reached a moon, nothing more than that, a slight widening of his eyes when the ball of light appears.

when it starts producing warmth, he shifts his weight, leaning a little closer. it's a largely involuntary reaction; he tries not to let himself linger on the cold but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel it. the warmth is welcome. ]

A sorcerer? I'm not familiar with anything like that.

[ could a jedi do this? nothing cassian knows suggests that they could. ]

[darkart]

[ His eyebrow quirks at the other man's reaction, subdued as it is. Oh, right, it's not exactly hot in here, is it. Severus is dressed for it somewhat unintentionally - winter in northern Scotland is unforgiving, in a word, and the dungeon he lives in is persistently ten degrees cooler than the rest of the castle no matter the season.

Flatly, ] As I said, we don't engage. Most don't know we exist.

[ Something that backfires constantly, but his days of political commentary are behind him. ]

Are you cold?

[causae]

[ cassian has cold weather gear that would make the temperatures aboard this ship perfectly bearable — but he's not wearing it right now and he hasn't found anything comparable so far on his exploration, so he's still in a simple shirt and light jacket. ]

Yes. [ he admits after the briefest hesitation. it might be seen as a weakness, but not admitting it when he's already leaned in only seems foolish. ]

[darkart]

[ There's a moment where he considers the merits of helping or not helping a muggle in any way, how much it grates on him, but a.) it's entirely possible this particular muggle is from a planet or society wholly removed from the context of his prejudices and b.) he knows how to use the bloody computers.

So. Severus makes a small movement with his left hand, and silently casts a warming charm on him. ]

It'll only last a few hours, [ he says, a verbal shrug in his tone. ] But I don't think any of us should be in a hurry to light fires.

[ Severus may not know the first thing about space travel, but he can put together the danger of literally burning oxygen in a contained space. And despite its usefulness for this small thing, he can tell that magic isn't going to be a cure-all for this predicament. ]

[causae]

[ it makes cassian uncomfortable to know that there is something he doesn't know anything about, that he can neither explain nor control. that he is effectively at the mercy of this man he's only just met, when it comes to magic. and yet, he's suddenly warm and the mental discomfort is not outweighed but at least balanced by physical comfort.

for a moment, his jaw works, then he gives severus a nod. ] Thank you.

So far, I haven't been able to access any climate controls.

[darkart]

[ He watches the muggle closely, and catches the tension in his face. Typical. Muggles can't just accept things, can they. Magic has to be anger-inducing in its strangeness or a fascinating joke.

Whatever. (Severus is such a butthead.) ]

I assumed so.

[causae]

[ such a butthead, and letting his own prejudices cloud his judgement of cassian, whose anger isn't addressed at the magic but the lack of control he has. besides, he said thanks. what more do you want, severus, pls. ]

No other controls, either.

[ which is another thing that bothers him: they're still moving, hurtling through space, but he doesn't know their course, if they even have one. ]

[darkart]

[ He wants to not be here and also to go back to a world where magical people aren't living in proverbial caves in the dark while muggles are Ruining Everything.

>:( ]

.. I suppose we could try and kill the method of propulsion if we became concerned whatever path we're on is dangerous, but we may well be on an automatic course, could we not?

[causae]

It's a measure of last resort.

[ but cassian is nodding. ] We could be. And killing the engines could mean losing energy that powered whatever brought us here and might get us back.

[ if indeed it's a "whatever". ]

[darkart]

Not a viable option, then, [ is an agreement. Bloody hell.

After a moment, ]

I'm no help with any of this, but I can go see if I find anything familiar or anyone who has a better idea.

[ Cassian hitting his head against a wall trying to get the computer to cooperate has more potential to be successful than doing it with an ignorant audience. ]

Professor Severus Snape, by the way.

[causae]

That would be good.

[ division of labour. it's not a bad idea, even though cassian doesn't really trust anyone's information here, so he already knows he'll end up double-checking everything anyone tells him. still: it may be advisable to form alliances. he doesn't know what's to come. ]

Jeron Aach. What are you the professor of?

[darkart]

[ He nods. Aach, alright. ]

Potion-making. [ A beat. ] ... If you've heard of alchemy or metallurgy, those are branches of it.

[ Severus hasn't had enough contact with muggles in recent years to think to liken it to chemistry, but even then, the end results are so incredibly disparate. ]

[causae]

[ it's a perfectly reasonable name to have in his world and an alias that has served cassian well over the years. ]

What kind of potions?

[ "magic ones", he assumes, but what is the extent of that? ] What do they do? [ this isn't an interrogation, so he softens his features a little, shoulders lifting in a shrug. ] If you don't mind telling me.