Catchall log for mid-Merriment, OTA!

[subcircuits]

Who: Devero and YOU
Where: All over the train
When: Merriment 17 through 21
What: Devero potters around the train, catching up on things and pretending he's not still really, really worn out from the mission.
Warnings: Recreational drug use in the luggage car prompt.


In the days following the platform, Devero is relieved to find that he's recovered enough energy to be able to stay awake for most of a day, and even to concentrate on projects again! The lassitude is hanging on to him longer than most, so he's still not quite is robust self, but he's present and working again. Between Merriment 17 and 21, he can be encountered all over the train.

Where does your character find him?


In the lab car?
Wait, since when is Devero glowing purple and semi-transparent? Come into the lab car on the right day at the right time and you'll find this specter moving about. Perhaps he's fiddling with a door latch, or you find him in one of the labs, picking things up and putting them back down again. There is absolutely neutral, lifeless expression on his face if you happen to catch sight of it, and-- Wait, is that some kind of glowing core in the middle of the shape?


In the training car?
Devero knows how to shoot a gun. Really. He swears. But if you happen in on him practicing his marksmanship with a sleek, futuristic rifle in his hands, it sure doesn't seem like it. He's visibly frustrated as he misses another shot, dropping the gun down from his shoulder and turning his back on his target. (Claudette tilts her head and chirrups. Does this mean the game is over?)

"Rust and ruin," he swears, shoving his wrap-around tactical Interface up on his forehead. "I'm never going to get the hang of this thing. I'm sorry, Entrapta."


In the library car:
Several weeks ago, Devero had snatched down the slip of paper that he'd tacked up in the standard car, the one advertising lessons in GSL-- Global Sign Language. The day of the platform, he'd tacked it back up again. Find him at the advertised time in the library, staring into the screen of his usual Interface. While he waits to see if anyone's going to show up, he's talking to himself.

You know, with his hands. How else? This is meant to be a sign-language lesson, after all!


In the music car:
As crowded as the train's been getting, the second floor of the music carriage is still a good place to slip away to if you're looking for (relative) privacy. Today, however, Devero's beaten you to it. If you don't notice right away that he's in here, though, that's understandable-- there's no music, no sound save for the whisper of his feet on the stage, the rustle of his clothes, and the occasional audible breath.

Despite the apparent silence, Devero is dancing. He's practicing alone an energetic routine for two, but there's no mistaking the precision and grace in his movements as he performs them, even without the partner.

Do you stay and watch, or leave him to dance in solitude?


In the luggage car?
If you've been on the train for longer than a few weeks, you may already be acquainted with this particular odor: it's savory, herby, as if someone's over-toasted spices in a pan prior to cooking with them. Were it a strong odor, it'd probably be sour and unpleasant; as mild as it is, it's mostly unobjectionable.

The source of it can be easily traced to the obviously hand-rolled cigarette smoldering between Devero's lips. That's right, it's future-weed hours here in the luggage car, folks. And if you look at him twice, you'll find him holding his joint out in your direction. "Want a hit?" he asks amiably.


Somewhere else?
Devero can feasibly be found all over the train: prepping vegetables or washing dishes in the kitchen; soaking or doing yoga in the spa car; working out in either of the gyms; sleeping through a movie in the cinema; or even just traveling up and down the train. Yeah, they have transgates now, but walking (or hoverskating) the length of the train is an easy way to keep his condition up while he's still recovering from the last mission. He's not nearly as exhausted as he was before, which means it's working. Really. He swears! He didn't fall asleep here, he was just resting his eyes!

Feel free to find him wherever you want, if one of the prompts above doesn't tickle your fancy.

Comments

Music Car

[katzenpfote]

Caleb prefers silence. It lets him work on his notes, but sometimes the number of people seeking silence in the library car becomes overwhelming, and he slips off to a quieter location. The top level of the music car is one such place.

... Except someone had a similar idea to day, it seems. He pauses and considers leaving, before sighing and setting his bag down. He steps forward and into Devero's space slightly, matching his steps as best he can.

[subcircuits]

Devero's eyes light up when someone joins him. Though his feet don't pause, his hands pluck his Interface off his ear and convert it rapidly to handheld mode. He switches to external audio; now the boppy beat plays aloud, though rendered tinny and unimpressive by the tiny speaker. Between one step and the next he bends to the floor and sends it skidding away almost to the edge of the stage, so it's out of the way but still audible.

That done, he turns his full attention to Caleb, sliding himself deliberately into the other man's space and offering his hands.

[katzenpfote]

... The strange device gets a stare from him but he doesn't skip a beat, just continues along with the other dancer. He takes the offered hand easily and puts an arm around his dance partner's waist. He wasn't the one who started the dance, so he'll follow this time.

He doesn't say anything just yet, but there's a somewhat nostalgic look on his face, the movements pulling him back through memories of dance halls and too much alcohol and the questionable decisions thereafter. It's a nice set of memories, and his lips quirk upward in the hint of a smile.

Library

[consider8]

Eight had considered joining Devero during one of his sign-language classes, but was always found that things were too busy. The truth was, there really wasn't much of a reason to learn it. However, when General Amaya came, she remembered that there were some in the voidverse that would not be able to communicate audibly. What had became something that was nice to have suddenly became much more important.

So it was that (while admittedly much later than she had originally intended), Devero would find an octoling student entering into the library at the appointed time. "Are you still doing lessons?"

[subcircuits]

He sits upright, possibly a little startled, then smiles. "Eight! Hey!" He focuses on her even as his saves and closes his project with quick motions of his hands. "Absolutely!"

[consider8]

"I would like to learn." She folds her hands behind her, practically apologetic that she hasn't come to him sooner. "Before learning would be a convenience and a curiosity... but now we have Amaya here to make it more crucial."

Sure, she could just rely on the subtitles, but a part of her really didn't want to be reliant on them. Like somehow the conversation would be more about the words and less about the person. More efficient, certainly, but less personal in a way that made Eight uncomfortable.

AND Luggage Car because I am a rebel

[consider8]

It was a matter of time before Eight found the source. Oh yes, she had smelled the smell of smoked herbs for a while, but had the darnedest time finding the source. That is until today. Now, Octarians were not unfamiliar with such things: there was often a lot of time in the Octarian domes and sometimes a person needs to unwind. But like most things, that sort of stuff was very much frowned upon.

However, Eight had been a bit more open about such things, and would admit curiosity to know more about what Devero was partaking. "What is it?" She asked, one foot planted in curiosity and the other firmly rooted in caution.

[subcircuits]

This is a Devero Eight probably hasn't encountered before. He's reclined lazily against the wall, his smoke hanging from relaxed fingers, and there's something a touch distant in his eyes. He smiles genially at herb. "'S called herb. It's a narcotic--" Wait a second.

Blinking rapidly, he sits up and retracts his hand. "And you're a kid."

[consider8]

"I am a former soldier of the Octarian Military." Who was quite young, but old enough to be really put off by people pointing out how young she appeared. But if the thing is going to be prohibited, then its time to swing it back on him. "Surely if that substance is not good for me, then it is not good for you as well?"

Merriment 16, late-ish

[its_dad_sanzo]

Wherever Devero happens to be around dinner time, suddenly there is also a Lady Wiggles. On a counter, on the stage, on the weld table (good thing she's magic), wherever.

No cat, and then suddenly cat.

And she has a note in her mouth.

[subcircuits]

Devero doesn't think he's ever going to get used to this, shying away from the cat with an, "Ah!" He presses a hand over his heart and exhales, and then says, "Hello, Wiggles."

Only then does he notice the note. "That for me?" he asks.

Music Car - And a tag with no dialog

[yondu]

Yondu spends a lot of time in the music car, usually trying to find music for Peter. In the off chance (the very unlikely chance) that he'll ever see Quill again. Though the music up his alley has been getting more and more sparse in his search.

He's in here often, so if Devero is he's probably used to Yondu just going to his station by the ICP screens, meaning to grab earbuds to listen to something. He heads that direction as usual, getting ready to do another search through odd musical choices.

But he finally notes that Devero's just dancing, lingering near the stairs. He sort of remembers Sanzo's story about how they met. Seems sweet, honestly. He'll probably never come across any version of that kinda thing, but he sort of half-ass has memories of things like it. Borrowed ones. He'll hold onto those. He doesn't say anything to interrupt, rather than look strange and intrusive he turns his back to go on his way and give the man his privacy (or at least that's his intention).

[subcircuits]

If it had been anyone but Yondu, Devero probably would have just kept to his practice once he noticed he was being watched. As it is, only a moment or so after Yondu turns away, he'll hear thumping footsteps behind him, and Dev's out of breath voice: "Hey! Yondu-- wait!"

Luggage car

[theotherphil]

Phil doesn't know the smell, which to him is an obvious signal that whatever this substance is, it's unavailable in rural Pennsylvania. Which... well, that's not saying much. Phil has exhausted his drug options in Punxsutawney, but there's only so much you can do with 24 hours and a townfull of clean family fun.

"Yes," he says with visible relief, hold his hand out for the joint. "Obviously. No one told me there'd be pot here."

[subcircuits]

Devero hands it over, though his brow creases as he does. "Pot?" he repeats. "No, this is herb, and it's my personal stash." He scoffs. "Train doesn't even have the decency to offer anything other than tobacco to smoke."

Training car

[worthallthis]

Soldat has been kind of wincing along in the background, trying not to say anything. But target shooting is kind of their thing. Like knives and making a really nice stew.

"Is that not. A gun you're used to?" they guess tentatively when Devero starts actually speaking aloud.

[subcircuits]

Devero looks up sharply, so focused on his practicing that he hadn't realized he wasn't alone. Even worse, it's Soldat, who's way, way more experienced with firearms than Devero is.

He jerks his Interface back down, mostly so it can obscure the embarrassed color rising in his cheek. "It's not," he admits with a grimace. "I was trained with a pistol, I've never used anything other than that."

luggage

[longforgottenpromise]

He recognises the smell. He has a keen nose, even in his human form and this is something he has smelled before. Back on the void nexus where they had sent messages from. On the mushrooms.

Devero. Devero had been smoking something that smelled like this. Taiki had been returning a couple of bags to the luggage carriage and he looked around smiling softly as he saw the man.

"No thank you." He tilted his head. "Are you alright?"

[subcircuits]

Devero's returning smile is soft and warm-- and then a little sheepish. Yeah, he remembers the last time Taiki saw him with herb.

"Uh, yeah," he says. "This isn't-- this is just--" Dev. Articulate. "I'm just taking a break. Trying to relax a little. This isn't like... last time."

You know, ehen he'd been chain-smoking herb cigarettes in an attempt to avoid confronting the trauma of having his mind controlled for the first time on Erda.

sign language lessons!

[moontwin]

Selene has been to the library enough to have already seen the sign, but it's not until (re)meeting Amaya that she decides to take it upon herself to learn that particular mode of communication. If anything it's a productive distraction, and who knows what other use she might find for it in the future?

She inclines her head in a small bow in greeting. "Hello. My name is Selene." Queen of Mauretania, daughter of the late Pharaoh Cleopatra of Egypt, she finds herself thinking, but she catches herself before the words make it out of her mouth. She is none of those things now, not here. "I am here for the language class."

[subcircuits]

"Welcome!" Devero says with a warm smile, signing the same as he does. "My name's Devero, he/him for pronouns if you please." He's managed to curb the habit of trying to send his public ID over the net, but introducing himself with his pronouns? Nope, that one's sticking.

"Go ahead and take a seat. I don't think I've seen you around the train much-- new at the last platform?"

Training Car

[nutkrusher]

Cassie approaches very carefully from behind.

"Nothing for it but more practice," she says.

[subcircuits]

Devero groans, long enough and loud enough that it's hopefully clear he's playing it up a little. He engages the safety and then slings the rifle over his shoulder as he turns to face Cassie.

"You sure? Maybe we can find an Elixir of Aimwell mixed in with the potions somewhere?"

[The Library]

[cycledsingularity]

[Mono approaches rather shyly, a tiny thing, no bigger than some of the books around this place. Audible language is something that has thankfully been coming easier and easier the longer he spends in the company of others, but there's something about this other method Mono feels the need to understand more about too.]

"I. I heard you talk. With your hands?"

[Indeed it looks as though Devero is already having a conversation with themselves. Mono hopes he isn't interrupting.]

[subcircuits]

[Oh. Oh, so... so very small. Devero's hands still and drop to his lap and then he gets out of his chair to kneel on the floor, almost instinctively trying to get down closer to Mono's level.]

I do, like this. [He signs the statement as he says it, his hands moving with unmistakable intention.]