[open; here there be catch-all!]

[cmdreffingshepard]

Characters: Commander Shepard, Arthur, Booker and YOU! Yes, YOU!
Date: Throughout November.
Location: Various locations.
Situation: Various. This is a catch-all log for all three of these characters. I'll post at least one open starter for each (plus some pre-determined closed threads). If there's something specific you'd like to set up, feel free to PM any of my character journals or pp me on plurk @ frodabaggins!
Warnings/Rating: Pre-emptive warning for some discussion of violence-related trauma in Booker and Elizabeth's thread. Will update this as necessary.

Comments

OPEN; team meeting;

[cmdreffingshepard]

[NOTE: info on the defense/medical teams can be found here. Feel free to assume your character heard about them via word-of-mouth, or the radio!]

Shepard prefers to be more or less hands-off with the teams she's started, especially the medical group. She's no doctor, after all; the more qualified people should be the ones making decisions. Mostly, at this point, she's just doing the organizational stuff, advertising things and keeping track of who is working on what at any given time. Studying the turtle, to make sure it doesn't get sick again, is a top priority. Also on the agenda, is getting a record of the medical conditions, allergies and the like of everyone on the turtle, so that all clinics are prepared to treat everyone, no matter what world they come from. And then there's emergency preparedness, making sure the medical facilities are able and ready to set up triage in case of something going terribly wrong.

She's more pro-active with the defense team, of course, given that it's much more her area of expertise, but she still would rather have input from everyone on the best ways to proceed with emergency preparedness for the whole turtle. Really, it's only a matter of time before something else happens, whether that be a gang war, or a visit from Malicant, or something else that no one could foresee. Shepard is determined to make sure everyone is as ready as they can be when it does happen.

and by team meeting I mean getting shit-faced

[asouthron]

Sometimes feeling morally responsible really gets in the way of a man's pride. With a general meeting scheduled at the Brazen Turtle for both defense and medical, McCoy is rather obligated to show up despite being unable to add anything productive to the meeting. Yeah, he can technically use hand gestures and write everything down, but he has no patience for that. And who would have the patience to try and understand what he's attempting to discuss?

No, it's better to simply stay on the sidelines for this one. And drink. That is quite high on his list of priorities right now.

Entering the bar, McCoy heads straight for the counter. There's a bartender familiar with his penchant for anything akin to bourbon, so she pours him three fingers with little inference needed. Thank God for small favors. He does his best to describe the Commander to the woman and, eventually, he is led to a private room in the back. There are few people who shown up so far, which suits McCoy well enough. The fewer who learn about his affliction, the better.

And as much as he would like to keep Shepard in the dark, it's not something that can be avoided any longer. He greets her with a wave before extending his hand at the empty chair beside her as if asking for permission.

yes good

[cmdreffingshepard]

For Shepard, honestly, one of the highlights of these meetings is seeing McCoy - in all his grouchy glory, even. Shepard is used to grouchy doctors and scientists. There's Miranda, of course, and that's an exciting new development all on its own. She's happy Miranda and McCoy are having the chance to meet, even if they don't necessarily appreciate it just yet.

When McCoy shows up, then, she gives him a smile and waves him over, not suspecting anything is amiss - he seemed fine on the network, though it was just text he was using.

"Hey, how're you holding up?" she asks, with her usual friendly concern. Clearly, those who were - phased, or whatever they're calling it - they went through something potentially traumatic.

OPEN; egg sitting;

[aloadeddie]

When he's not spending time with the egg, Arthur is inclined to be grouchy and complain about it. He didn't ask for this assignment, it just happened, and it cuts big chunks of his schedule out. Frankly, it's bad for business.

But when he's actually near the egg - as he is, for about eight hours a day these days - well, it's a slightly different story. He wants to be grouchy about it, but the feeling he gets being near it? It's downright calming. Good for taking notes, at least. And sometimes he talks to it, maybe. Maybe.

"You know, by the time you hatch - assuming you ever hatch - you'll be the most well-versed turtle in dream share in the universe. Or at least in limbo," he says aloud.

Re: OPEN; egg sitting;

[gathersnomoss]

Zelgadis had been absent for egg-sitting recently. Being incorporeal and being unable to navigate due to losing his vision meant that even if he'd tried to hang around the egg and hope that a baby turtle might be able to pick up that he was nearby and pass it on to the other two 'parents', he couldn't find the damn house.

Now -- with a stick and a lot of stopping for directions since he'd lost all the cues he'd picked up -- he eventually (and quite late from his normal egg-watching time) found his way to the right place.

"I'm here."

[aloadeddie]

Arthur looked up from the egg he was addressing, his brow creasing slightly - he wanted to be annoyed by the lateness, but even if it wasn't obvious that Zelgadis had a good excuse, his proximity to the egg would've leeched it all out anyway.

"What happened to you?" he asked, voice milder than it probably would've been under normal circumstances.

OPEN; business at the brazen turtle;

[aloadeddie]

Since its opening, Arthur has found the Brazen Turtle to be one of the better places to conduct business in the city. Especially with his Foreign contacts. And now that he's diving much more overtly into dream share and dreaming experiments, he finds the bar one of the best places to meet up with contacts.

He regularly rents one of the private meeting rooms, for appointments and the like. The bar itself is public, so no one is likely to pay attention to people coming and going, but the private rooms are quiet and secluded enough for him to do all kinds of business, legitimate and... less so. Making drug deals can sometimes be tricky, after all, even when said drug is as relatively benign as somnacin.

[baniichan]

Barnaby was no stranger to private meetings in bars, although the Brazen Turtle was considerably less shady than the places he'd frequented during his teens and early twenties. In a seedier joint, someone with his kind of face got harassed by the bar's patrons more often than not. On top of that, once he skyrocketed to fame, meeting contacts without a lot of unwanted attention became even more difficult.

That was why it was almost surreal how easy it was to meet Arthur this afternoon. If Barnaby hadn't started working here himself, he might have even been a bit wary. As things stood, though, he was very familiar with the building's layout, and his prior discussion with Arthur over the network put him more at ease about the man's intentions.

The fact his fame hadn't carried over to Keeliai made setting things up a lot simpler, too.

When Barnaby reached the private room, he discreetly peered inside to make sure Arthur wasn't currently meeting with someone else. When he saw that no one was there, he stepped inside.

"Hello," he politely greeted. "We messaged each other yesterday. Is now a good time for you?"

Barnaby had never been one for small talk.

[aloadeddie]

If Arthur was anything, he was discreet - even if Barnaby was a famous face on the turtle, it wouldn't be the first time he'd worked with a notable (or against one, for that matter). Rich people tended to be the bulk of his clientele back home, and Arthur made it a point to know how to make just about anyone feel at ease.

The Brazen Turtle, in a lot of ways, was perfect for that. Not a dive, but not so drippingly rich that average Joes couldn't go.

He gave Barnaby a faint smile and waved him in. "Now's perfect," he said, actually relieved that the other man was so to-the-point. Arthur would much rather talk shop than talk about the weather, chilly as it was getting. "What can I do for you?"

OPEN; shopping;

[washitaway]

Booker's never had much in the way of material possessions, nor has he ever really cared to. A roof over his head, clothes on his back, food in his belly, money for alcohol and cigarettes if he can get them - that's about all he's ever asked for in life.

Well, that, and not wanting to be in debt.

So having money to spend is somewhat of a new sensation for him. Even newer? Having someone he wants to spend it on. Nonetheless, here he is, and Elizabeth is on the turtle, and he wants to get her a gift. Which is why he finds himself in a bookshop, because books are things he knows she likes.

Of course, hardly any of the books are in English. He doesn't think she'll find that much of a bother, given her knowledge of other languages and wanting to learn everything, but he wants to make sure whatever he gets her is good - so he's standing there, looking vaguely confused, scratching absently at the bandaged wound on his right hand.

OPEN; drinking at the brazen turtle;

[washitaway]

It's really no surprise that Booker found his way to the nearest bar the first chance he got when he arrived on the turtle. Now, after only a couple of weeks, he's practically a regular at the Brazen Turtle, holding forth in the bar area, buying cheap bourbon nearly every night - unless Elizabeth catches him and demands they do something else, that is.

Even with the girl around, though, it's unlikely Booker will give up his relationship with the bottle - they've been good friends for so long, that won't change anytime soon.

i don't have any clue when to date after this but IT'S HAPPENING

[dashesanddots]

After all the Luteces put you through Booker, you deserve something at least from the middle shelf, not cheap bottom shelf bourbon.

Robert's no regular but in the time that he's been here, it's been an occasional stop, especially after what happened with Rosalind. She would be more the type to buy a bottle and keep it at home, drinking it somewhere quiet where she doesn't have to hear the sounds of drunken babble over her thoughts. Robert, on the other hand, takes a drink in hand to let his mind slip away the reigns of trying to think so hard about everything. You run through x amount of calculations and then you just want x and y to get a divorce. You are the attorney that goes out late to a bar and drinks because you're tired of discussing who gets what in the end of each equation. The chatter of others over the film overlaying the mind lends to a zen that isn't quite achieved by turning to a clean page, because you still have all the imprints of the old writing on the clean page anyway.

And between Rosalind still being a pill, and two familiar faces arriving, he figures a night of zen is well needed. Honestly he wouldn't put in so much thought or care to where or who he sat next to, but he thinks you know what, and sits at the stool next to Booker. He orders two drinks, not the most expensive available, but not the cheapest either, and slides it in front of him.

"Infuriating as the whole process was, I never did thank you for your work."

it's happening right now!

[washitaway]

Booker is not expecting company. He is not expecting anyone in this bar to seek him out for his winning company. Elizabeth is the only person who might seek him out just because she likes him, and he would be very concerned if she was here all by herself to begin with.

And while he knows the Luteces are here? He doesn't expect either of them to seek him out, of all people. While they never actively hindered him back in Columbia, they sure didn't seem to care for him too much.

So now Robert is here? Apparently still on the outs with Rosalind (otherwise Booker assumes she'd be here too)? Buying him a drink?

Thanking him?

Now Booker knows he's fallen into a kooky parallel dimension.

"Uh," he says intelligently as the drink slides over to him. "You're... welcome?" Wait, why would Robert thank him? That doesn't make any sense...

CLOSED to Elizabeth;

[washitaway]

It's a strange sort of feeling, being at least partially responsible for someone other than himself. Strange, and simultaneously strangely familiar, though Booker can't place why.

It's one thing to protect the girl with people trying to kill him - Booker knows violence, and he's good at it, violence is what he does. It's everything else that he's more unsure about - the normal, everyday things you do with a friend or loved one that are more than a little alien to Booker.

He's not exactly a sound sleeper, so it wouldn't be very accurate to say that the screaming wakes him. He wasn't really asleep to begin with - maybe half-asleep. The sofa is comfortable enough, Booker just tends not to like the things his mind comes up with when he's asleep, so he puts it off. But that screaming gets him off the couch and bolting for the room Elizabeth is in, pistol in hand.

"Elizabeth?"

trigger warning for dream imagery and medical stuff?

[beunbroken]

Above her, the ceiling of her tower was still painted with fluffy clouds that she could now say with certainty looked like cotton candy, the blue sky behind it matched the color of Lady Comstock's bonnet. She'd looked at the ceiling for hours before, but now she could put more thoughts and feelings to it. The ceiling was innocuous enough, if not a fine display of art. She was just thinking about it when she noticed the cold metal across her wrists. Blue eyes wide, she looked down to see them strapped to a dark red chair by thick silver bands. The same bands that were being clamped across her ankles by a woman in a surgical mask.

"What-" she'd tried to speak, before a hand placed itself over her mouth to quiet her, another woman raising a finger to her lips.

"Hush, Elizabeth. There's no need to make any noise. We're doctors. We're here to take care of you. Isn't that right, Daisy?" The first woman lowered her mask to reveal her dark skin and dreadlocks. Daisy Fitzroy.

Elizabeth tried to scream, but the second woman took advantage of her open mouth and stuffed a wad of fabric with a sticky, metallic taste in her mouth. Blood. The woman smiled sweetly, and stroked her hair, muttering something how proud she was of her little lamb while Daisy handed her a large syringe, while Daisy kept a large pair of scissors for herself.

"It'll only hurt a bit. We're just going to shear you," Daisy said, "can you bleat for me, little lamb?" The sky above had become dark with clouds, blanketing the whole of the ceiling. Small gold stars had been replaced with violent silver streaks of lightening. A dark shadow grew, slowly sprouting wings as Daisy raised the scissors and plunged them into her neck.

Elizabeth woke screaming, her eyes wide open. Still paralyzed from the dream, she remained lying prone on the bed, sheets twisted around her legs, her nightgown stuck to her chest with sweat. Hardly aware of Booker in the doorway, she closed her eyes again, breathing heavy, broken only by sobs as she pleaded with the phantoms from her dreams. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

[washitaway]

It was easy enough to figure out what was going on - alone, in bed, disoriented. Booker's immediate fear was allayed, but that didn't mean his concern for Elizabeth was any less. He set his gun aside and went to her, gripping her shoulders firmly.

"Hey, it's okay. Look at me, it was just a dream."

Booker wasn't exactly vying for caregiver of the year, here, but his heart was in the right place. It was damn distressing, seeing her like that.

following the voicemails

[beunbroken]

Elizabeth hadn't been sure what to think when she'd arrived back to her apartment to find a series of distressing voicemails left for her from none other than Booker Dewitt herself. She'd listened to them over and over, making herself a large pot of tea. He was drunk, that much was clear to her. But... Half of what he was talking about, more even, was nothing that made any sense to her.

And why was he sorry? He didn't have anything to be sorry about. She'd made her choice. Her choice to let him live, in exchange for her captivity. Booker had nothing to be sorry about.

But something was nagging at the back of her mind. So, instead of crawling into her bed like she usually would, Elizabeth stayed up, sitting on the couch, drinking tea. She couldn't sleep. Not until she got some answers. And more importantly: made sure that Booker was alright.

[washitaway]

After those ridiculous messages he left - and Booker knew how terrible they sounded as soon as he left them - he'd gone out, for a walk. The air was colder now, it was a decent enough way to sober up, a brisk, 15-minute walk, in lieu of a bucket of water maybe.

He figured, by the time he got back, she'd either still be out, or she'd be in bed. He figured wrong.

Stepping inside, he could smell tea brewing, and he scrubbed a hand over his face with a sigh. Well, great. Might as well face the music - whether she'd be angry, or concerned, or... what, he was about to find out.

"Elizabeth?"

[beunbroken]

When the door opened, she stood up from the couch, moving towards the front door, so by the time he said her name, she was only a few steps away from being visible.

"Booker," she replied calmly. Or, as calmly as she could, given the way she gripped her tea mug. "Are you- are you okay?"

Amelia; tea date

[cmdreffingshepard]

[Shepard shows up about ten minutes early to the small, kedan-run tea shop. She's not sure if the tea will necessarily be to Amelia's taste, but she likes it well enough.

She's really curious about Amelia - she's never seen someone who looks so much like a species from Earth but, well. Sentient. Sure, salarians might look a little like some kinds of amphibians, but they aren't literally frog people.

Hopefully, Amelia won't be offended if she asks a bunch of questions. She likes hearing about other people's worlds - especially spacefaring worlds.]

Re: Amelia; tea date

[loquaciouslyfeline]

[Amelia is of a similar mindset, arriving only a few minutes after Shepard. The kedan had been very helpful in directing her, a stark contrast to their previous reluctance.

She, too, is interested in learning more about Shepard's universe. Particularly the Earth Systems Alliance; by now she's come to the conclusion that, like humans, Earth is a common factor in many of the universes.

Upon spotting Shepard, Amelia immediately joins her.]

Commander.

[cmdreffingshepard]

Captain. [Shepard gives her a smile as she sits down.] I hope you're settling in okay? This place can take some getting used to, but most people are nice enough.

Arthur; dream share shenanigans

[baniichan]

The morning after their conversation at the Brazen Turtle, Barnaby arrived at ME-2B at the appointed time.

As he'd suspected, Kotetsu had wanted to accompany him after all. Although Barnaby didn't take his support for granted, he did have to spend some time getting Kotetsu to promise he wouldn't touch any of the equipment or trouble Arthur with too much small talk. Those few minutes had been about as agonizing as pulling teeth. Once it was done, though, Barnaby knew he could at least trust Kotetsu to avoid putting him and Arthur in unnecessary danger by keeping his hands to himself.

With Kotetsu by his side, Barnaby rang the bell and patiently waited for Arthur to answer.

[aloadeddie]

Arthur didn't really need to do all that much to prepare - just get the PASIV out and ready. Everything else was pretty much already set to his specifications. That was one of the bonuses of having your work space in your living space: complete control over it pretty much all the time.

And Arthur was definitely a bit of a control freak.

He answered the door immediately, waving the two of them into the sitting area where the PASIV was waiting, already open.

"I hope you're okay with needles," he opened with, already taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves. There was one thing Arthur and Cobb definitely agreed on - the best way to learn dream share was through immersion.

[baniichan]

Apparently, Kotetsu was trying hard to keep his end of the deal, because he managed to avoid introducing himself when it became clear that Arthur wanted to get down to business. Instead, his partner gave Barnaby and Arthur an awkwardly supportive wave before finding himself a seat.

"Needles won't be a problem," Barnaby assured him. Following Arthur's lead, he shrugged off his own jacket and pushed his sleeves up enough to expose both of his pale arms.