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[ He hums thoughtfully. ] That seems like a good idea.
[ Glancing around, he finds the elevator and steers them toward it, keeping his grip on Maya's hand firm, hoping to channel some of his calm to her. He knows this isn't easy for her, and even just a few minutes in, it's already starting to look rough.
He smiles politely at everyone they pass, and he doesn't have to feign surprise when one of the people with slightly empty eyes murmurs "Elders be with you" by way of greeting. Peter nods and returns it in kind, keeping his voice light.
They're somewhere on the eleventh floor. Their quarters are small but clean, with a small kitchenette and a bathroom; the living area doubles as the bedroom, containing a desk, a bed, and a couch. In truth, it looks more like a cheap hotel room than an apartment, furnished plainly but comfortably. ]
It's better than our old place, isn't it? [ Peter doesn't drop the act, keeping up the dreamy quality of his voice. ]
Oh, but we should look for problems, right? So we can let the administrators know if something's broken? [ "We should look for bugs." ]
[ Glancing around, he finds the elevator and steers them toward it, keeping his grip on Maya's hand firm, hoping to channel some of his calm to her. He knows this isn't easy for her, and even just a few minutes in, it's already starting to look rough.
He smiles politely at everyone they pass, and he doesn't have to feign surprise when one of the people with slightly empty eyes murmurs "Elders be with you" by way of greeting. Peter nods and returns it in kind, keeping his voice light.
They're somewhere on the eleventh floor. Their quarters are small but clean, with a small kitchenette and a bathroom; the living area doubles as the bedroom, containing a desk, a bed, and a couch. In truth, it looks more like a cheap hotel room than an apartment, furnished plainly but comfortably. ]
It's better than our old place, isn't it? [ Peter doesn't drop the act, keeping up the dreamy quality of his voice. ]
Oh, but we should look for problems, right? So we can let the administrators know if something's broken? [ "We should look for bugs." ]
[ He calls after her, ]
Holler if you need help. And if you decide to cut off your other arm, please do not do it on my ship.
Holler if you need help. And if you decide to cut off your other arm, please do not do it on my ship.
[ Every time someone says "Elders be with you", she has a very strong urge to set something on fire. More and more she's convinced that these people have been brainwashed or hypnotized or something, and it doesn't sit right with her at all.
She relaxes a little when they get to their room, away from the vacant stares of the people in the courtyard, but she gets why Peter is staying in character- they talked about this. These people know their cult is under suspicion already, and even if they didn't, what kind of cult doesn't want to keep a close eye on each and every one of their members?
So she nods, hefting her suitcase onto the end of the bed. ]
I'm not really sure what you're expecting to find, but if you really want to...
She relaxes a little when they get to their room, away from the vacant stares of the people in the courtyard, but she gets why Peter is staying in character- they talked about this. These people know their cult is under suspicion already, and even if they didn't, what kind of cult doesn't want to keep a close eye on each and every one of their members?
So she nods, hefting her suitcase onto the end of the bed. ]
I'm not really sure what you're expecting to find, but if you really want to...
Better safe than sorry. Wouldn't want to get a shock from a broken outlet, like last time. [ He offers a sheepish grin, then moves around the little apartment, testing switches and faucets as one usually would in a new home, but keeping an eye out for anything suspicious, as well.
He pokes his head out of the bathroom and shakes his head, puzzled. He thought he would've spotted something, surely, would've had to figure out a way to disable a camera or a microphone without it being suspicious. Still, he keeps up with the charade. ]
You see anything that needs to be taken care of over there, honey?
He pokes his head out of the bathroom and shakes his head, puzzled. He thought he would've spotted something, surely, would've had to figure out a way to disable a camera or a microphone without it being suspicious. Still, he keeps up with the charade. ]
You see anything that needs to be taken care of over there, honey?
[ She's been poking around a little, too, and it bothers her that she hasn't found anything weird. ]
Not really, but I guess I don't know what I should be looking for.
Not really, but I guess I don't know what I should be looking for.
Just anything that seems out of the ordinary. Lemme see.
[ Peter makes his way over, hands in his pockets, and checks over the area. He's crouched in a corner, fingers feeling along the baseboard, when he finally sits back on his heels and glances back at her. He keeps his voice low, just in case. ]
Think we're good in here.
[ Peter makes his way over, hands in his pockets, and checks over the area. He's crouched in a corner, fingers feeling along the baseboard, when he finally sits back on his heels and glances back at her. He keeps his voice low, just in case. ]
Think we're good in here.
Oh?
[ because if that's the case, she drops the act almost immediately, and just sort of... sags a little. She's exhausted already. ]
Thank God.
[ because if that's the case, she drops the act almost immediately, and just sort of... sags a little. She's exhausted already. ]
Thank God.
[ He stands, brushing himself off and taking one last glance around. Satisfied, he sits at the edge of the bed beside her luggage, taking her hand. ]
You alright? Not too late to bail.
You alright? Not too late to bail.
I'm not just going to leave you here with these... wackos.
[ She plops next to him, leaning against his shoulder. ] I'll be all right. Some of this just... it hits close to home, you know?
[ She plops next to him, leaning against his shoulder. ] I'll be all right. Some of this just... it hits close to home, you know?
[ He wraps his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close. ]
Yeah, I get it. [ He presses a kiss to the top of her head. ] We just need to see what's going on, and we'll be out of here in a flash. Let the Nova Corps take care of it this time.
Yeah, I get it. [ He presses a kiss to the top of her head. ] We just need to see what's going on, and we'll be out of here in a flash. Let the Nova Corps take care of it this time.
Don't jinx it.
[ she likes to hope it would be that easy, but considering their luck? It most certainly wont be.
And if they find out that this Tukkir guy was brainwashing people? She might be tempted to kill him herself. ]
[ she likes to hope it would be that easy, but considering their luck? It most certainly wont be.
And if they find out that this Tukkir guy was brainwashing people? She might be tempted to kill him herself. ]
[ He laughs a little. ] Sorry.
[ He's quiet for a second, then he ventures, ] You're doin' great so far. And have I mentioned? You roleplaying? So hot.
[ He's quiet for a second, then he ventures, ] You're doin' great so far. And have I mentioned? You roleplaying? So hot.
[ She doesn't even blush at that- look how far she's come- but she does smile at him, leaning over to rest her head against his ]
I couldn't do this without you.
I couldn't do this without you.
Pretty sure I'm supposed to be saying that to you.
[ He takes a breath, letting it out slowly. ] We'll head out whenever you're ready.
[ He takes a breath, letting it out slowly. ] We'll head out whenever you're ready.
[ she nods, head still against his shoulder. Her gaze slides to the suitcase sitting on the other side of him ]
Should we "unpack" a little first, or would that be too risky?
Should we "unpack" a little first, or would that be too risky?
[ He chews on the inside of his lip, considering. Then he nods. ]
Might be a good idea. The orientation or whatever might be a good time to slip into one of the restricted areas. We'll want our gear for that.
Might be a good idea. The orientation or whatever might be a good time to slip into one of the restricted areas. We'll want our gear for that.
[ She nods once, and opts to give him a brief kiss on the cheek before standing and moving to her suitcase. Its contents is altogether average- average clothes, basic toiletries. She shoves everything aside and her hand goes instantly for a seam in the lining. She has to dig her nails in, but with a little pulling, it comes free, revealing the digistruct device beneath.
It's a comforting weight in her hands, and she takes a moment to scroll through its contents. There's her little Maggie, of course. She never goes anywhere without it. Her HellFire, the result of some splurging on her part after a well-paying job. And her newest toy, a gift from Gaige after the Mechromancer had oh-so-kindly installed a library on the Milano, a Chère-amie, with glowing blue accents. Gaige always did favor shock weapons.
She's got a few other things in there, just in case. Tina's Teapot, Lilith's shield, an old Hyperion shotgun she could never quite bring herself to get rid of, a Jakobs sniper from Sir Hammerlock.
It's a veritable small arsenal, and she hooks it to the back of her pants, in a place well-hidden by her overly large sweater. ]
Ready when you are.
It's a comforting weight in her hands, and she takes a moment to scroll through its contents. There's her little Maggie, of course. She never goes anywhere without it. Her HellFire, the result of some splurging on her part after a well-paying job. And her newest toy, a gift from Gaige after the Mechromancer had oh-so-kindly installed a library on the Milano, a Chère-amie, with glowing blue accents. Gaige always did favor shock weapons.
She's got a few other things in there, just in case. Tina's Teapot, Lilith's shield, an old Hyperion shotgun she could never quite bring herself to get rid of, a Jakobs sniper from Sir Hammerlock.
It's a veritable small arsenal, and she hooks it to the back of her pants, in a place well-hidden by her overly large sweater. ]
Ready when you are.
[ Peter rips into his own luggage, pulling out the digistruct and hefting it in his hands. It's light, and as cool as he thinks the tech is, it's still no replacement for the reassuring weight of his blasters at his hips. The digistruct also holds his jet-boot attachments and the trigger for his helmet, as well as various gadgets he thought he might need, but he'd much rather be holding any of them than have them secreted away in some device.
Nonetheless, he follows suit, tucking the device behind him and carefully covering it with his shirt and jacket (a plain brown one, not his signature red leather coat). He moves the contents of his suitcase around to cover the rip in the lining, just in case.
He pauses at the door to take a breath, but by the time he's opening it and stepping out, he has that sort of far-off expression on his face again. He turns back, holding out his hand to her. ]
Hope I didn't make us late.
Nonetheless, he follows suit, tucking the device behind him and carefully covering it with his shirt and jacket (a plain brown one, not his signature red leather coat). He moves the contents of his suitcase around to cover the rip in the lining, just in case.
He pauses at the door to take a breath, but by the time he's opening it and stepping out, he has that sort of far-off expression on his face again. He turns back, holding out his hand to her. ]
Hope I didn't make us late.
[ she heaves a sigh to steady herself and slips back into character as she reaches for his hand ]
I know you're worried about the outsets, but did you have to test every one?
I know you're worried about the outsets, but did you have to test every one?
[ Peter flashes her a sheepish grin. ]
Well, you remember the shock I got in our last place? Smelled burning hair for days.
[ He squeezes her hand again, once for reassurance, as he locks the door behind them. He leads them back to the elevator, back down to the courtyard, where a decent number of what Peter assumes to be new arrivals are gathered. He spots some more of the people with vacant expressions, and-- alright, they're starting to get to him. The empty look in their eyes are too unsettling, too familiar, and it reminds him of screaming, Please Maya stop snap out of it it's me it's Peter--
He can't help taking in a sharp little breath, but then he forces himself to calm down and refocus, anchoring himself with the feel of her hand in his.
Finally he can trust his voice again, but his smile is a little unsteady. ] Lots of people here, huh?
Well, you remember the shock I got in our last place? Smelled burning hair for days.
[ He squeezes her hand again, once for reassurance, as he locks the door behind them. He leads them back to the elevator, back down to the courtyard, where a decent number of what Peter assumes to be new arrivals are gathered. He spots some more of the people with vacant expressions, and-- alright, they're starting to get to him. The empty look in their eyes are too unsettling, too familiar, and it reminds him of screaming, Please Maya stop snap out of it it's me it's Peter--
He can't help taking in a sharp little breath, but then he forces himself to calm down and refocus, anchoring himself with the feel of her hand in his.
Finally he can trust his voice again, but his smile is a little unsteady. ] Lots of people here, huh?
[ She hears him inhale, feels him grip her hand, and she knows. She understands. She's reliving it too, in her own way. She's not sure how to feel about the fact that even Peter is faltering a little.
The sooner they take these assholes out, the better.
She turns to him, putting her free hand on his shoulder. ]
Are you okay, dear? I know how you can be with crowds sometimes.
The sooner they take these assholes out, the better.
She turns to him, putting her free hand on his shoulder. ]
Are you okay, dear? I know how you can be with crowds sometimes.
[ He nods, cursing himself a little. He should be the anchor here. It's not fair to Maya if he loses it -- it's not like he had his head messed with.
So he breathes in slowly, takes her hand from his shoulder and kisses her palm before letting it go. ]
I'll be okay, as long as you stick close by. [ His distant little smile is more firm this time -- and he goes for a joke to show he'll be alright. ] Sorry if my hand gets all sweaty.
So he breathes in slowly, takes her hand from his shoulder and kisses her palm before letting it go. ]
I'll be okay, as long as you stick close by. [ His distant little smile is more firm this time -- and he goes for a joke to show he'll be alright. ] Sorry if my hand gets all sweaty.
[ she smiles back. They got this. ] For better or for worse, right? I think I can handle a sweaty hand.
[ He laughs a little as he guides them a little closer to the crowd, and under the guise of idly looking around, he's marking the entryways and exits; he notes at least one set of double doors that seems suspicious, needing a keycard when all the others on this level are plain.
He glances around again, this time at the people waiting for the orientation to begin, and here and there he spots alert faces, rigid postures -- the bearing of someone keeping an eye out for trouble. Guards, then, hidden among the newest arrivals, and apparently not being very subtle about it. ]
I think Tukkir himself is going to give a speech. [ He tilts his head a little towards the set of double doors, a subtle movement that he thinks Maya should catch. "We should move then." When his free hand goes into pocket, he means, "Need to swipe a card." ]
He glances around again, this time at the people waiting for the orientation to begin, and here and there he spots alert faces, rigid postures -- the bearing of someone keeping an eye out for trouble. Guards, then, hidden among the newest arrivals, and apparently not being very subtle about it. ]
I think Tukkir himself is going to give a speech. [ He tilts his head a little towards the set of double doors, a subtle movement that he thinks Maya should catch. "We should move then." When his free hand goes into pocket, he means, "Need to swipe a card." ]
[ The guards are way too easy to spot, but she figures they have no real reason to try to blend in. ]
Is he? How exciting.
[ Good thing they'll be busy making their move, or Maya would phaselock the guy just on principle.
So, get close to a guard, get a key card, and get through the doors without being spotted.
That's quite the list.
One of the guards seems a bit younger than the others, and keeps glancing at his fellows to make sure he's in the right spot, and doing the right thing. Poor guy. ]
I think there's a little more room over there. [ she nods in his direction ] Can we move?
Is he? How exciting.
[ Good thing they'll be busy making their move, or Maya would phaselock the guy just on principle.
So, get close to a guard, get a key card, and get through the doors without being spotted.
That's quite the list.
One of the guards seems a bit younger than the others, and keeps glancing at his fellows to make sure he's in the right spot, and doing the right thing. Poor guy. ]
I think there's a little more room over there. [ she nods in his direction ] Can we move?
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