The Sojourn - RP

"The Universe was cruel when she gave life to the Tantalus Cluster. She cast our worlds to the void, far beyond the edge of the nearest galaxy, islanded in a sea of black, and for millennia we have looked upward, seen infinity stretched out before us, and known that it was forever out of reach.

For over three centuries, we have rapidly colonised and settled the worlds of Tantalus, often with little regard for the limited resources of our tiny star cluster.

Too many years had passed when we finally realized the trap we had built for ourselves, and when we did, it was already far too late. The far-flung colonies of the Frontier Union had become completely reliant on the prosperous core worlds of the Centrum Assembly to escape starvation, and as both factions struggled to distribute our ever-dwindling resources, war became inevitable.

Through ten years of violence, humanity accelerated its fate. And once the war was over, we had fallen too far to recover.

Across the many worlds of Tantalus, the human race waited for the inevitable. But something changed. A year after the war’s end, a great cloud appeared in the night sky of every world in the cluster. My father, Doctor Sadavar Edric, was the first to study it. He found that it was a vast nebula, over three thousand light years away, hanging between Tantalus and the galactic rim.

We were never certain what lay within. But we were certain of the fate that awaited us if we ignored it.

It is the 45th of the Summer Solstice, 304 Post-Unification, and humanity stands on the razor’s edge. The nebula is now within our reach, and the coming months will shape the future of billions, but the choices that will guide us to salvation or to annihilation, will lie in the hands of very few..."

===

CLAIMED CANON CHARACTERS:
Cassandra Farren, Mathias Croft, and Tamara Melari: @Skye
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS:
Eris Morgan: @Skye
Aylin Lastra: @Checkmate

( HERE WE GOOO )

Somewhere on Valeria Sibus, Inside of one of the many Casino’s was a Rialtas woman with fiery orange red hair. She had some of it spill off to the right side of her face whereas the left looked…uneven…shaved but not completely as a few tufts underneath her left ear were seen. She had one golden earring on her left earlobe as well.

The pirate wore a maroon trench coat that draped around her feet as she pulled down a lever on one of the slot machines. As she waited for the slots to align she had taken another puff and elegantly grabbed her cigaret with two fingers only to exhale, as she did a white puff of smoke expelled from her sultry red lipstick covered lips.

Tattoos snaked up her right and left cheek and covered some of her chest that was shown by the white tank top she wore underneath her coat. Her gray eyes calmly watched the slots as the white light reflected in her irises. Her name, was Alyn Lastra, owner of The MorningGlory. A Florencia Outrider Ship and It was her pride and joy. Making damn sure to take care of it.


She sultrily leaned against the slot machine with her left arm as the cigarette rested in her right hand while she lazily bobbed the cigarette up and down between them.

Alyn waited calmly with an expectant yet lazy look on her sharp features, but once the machine slots didn’t line up, her gaze hardened and she swiftly hit the gambling machine with a good bit of force.

“ Damnit!” Aylin cursed, her voice was rich and smooth and deep with a thick Italian accent. But it was clear she was on the feminine side. She sighed heavily with great irritation as she returned to leaning on the gambling machine. Her eyes full of frustration that her luck wasnt in her favor.

Oh well, maybe in another Summer Soltice. she thought with contempt.

Aylins eyes eventually began to wander out of boredom as she scanned the the other party goers.

( WOOOO
I HAVE A PLAYLIST OF THE OST FOR MOOD MUSIC NYEHE- )

Cass wasn't one for casinos. Too much noise, too many people. Not to mention all the colours. It made her nauseous. But Croft and Meds just had to visit, didn't they?

But Cass owed it to them. They'd earned it.

Who was she to tell them otherwise? Wouldn't be fair if she refused.

She stood a few paces away from the bar, in a quieter alcove but still within viewing distance of her crew.

( E noice! )

Aylin caught the dark grayish black hair of Cassandra Farren, she took notice of how the other woman was there near the bar. She couldn’t see too much of her but she caught a bit of interest.

She hummed a little and took another puff of her cigarette only to lazily expel the white puffy clouds once more. She proceeded to just people watch over in that general area with mild interest.

( i shall remind you that cass is a disaster lesbian, do with that information what you will >:3
also not me casually borrowing a name from a certain someone else because it sounds "Teldrani enough" )

A commotion rose from the bar as a flock of Mericians-- or so it seemed, judging by their accents-- moved over to a nearby table. In the midst of the crowd was a well-built Maialan-- who'd clearly had more than enough to drink.

"Twenty clarion on Meds!" an onlooker cried.

"Fifty on Shimamoto!" called another.

A rather tall, pale Merician with a dark brown beard, wearing a ball cap and flightsuit, yelled over the crowd. "Thank you kindly mate; and that's no further bets, no further bets! Everyone step back from the table please!"

Cass seemed to shrink further into the shadows, overwhelmed by the noise.

( Nehehe oki )
( and iiii had a feeling lol. )

Aylin immediately seemed to perk up at the commotion with great interest hearing the bar fight. A glimmer of amusement was seen in her eyes as she heard a Mercian man speak. He sounded rather cocky. She then strode her way over to the bar fight with great interest.

She saw the other woman, who she assumed was Meds. Her eyes roamed over the Woman a little bit and decided to have her back.

“ 68 Clarion for Meds!.” Aylin shouted, her voice firm and focused as she sauntered over. She eyed the man with a judging glance First only to scoff slightly.

Men Aylin sighed heavily mentally. She then leant against the bar as well near the Farren woman but not too close. She looked over at Cass again and flashed her a friendly glance before looking back at the bar fight.

( EHEH
also "ugh, men"
Croft: oi... ;v; )

The Merician didn't notice the glare. He was too invested in their little game to care.

"Readyyyy," he called out, as the competitors took their places. Meds slammed her elbow on the table and glared at her opponent, a rather grizzled, Teldrani man with dark hair and only one arm.

After a tense countdown, the two began the arm wrestling match. Neither one of them faltered just yet.

===

Cass caught the look and immediately turned to look the other way, eyes darting to the floor. Not even a smile.

She crossed her arms and leaned on the wall, trying to avoid talking to the woman.

She was pretty, sure, but Cass didn't have the energy nor the courage to strike up a conversation with her.

( The boi ack-)

Aylin watched the arm wrestling match with interest, she had high hopes for the well muscled woman if she were honest. She caught Med’s tattoos as well and her eyes sparked with intrigue. The tattoos were rather unique if she were honest.

She took a lazy smoke once more and tilted her head back as she held in the nicotine filled gas only to puff it right back out in a steady stream. She spotted the black haired woman duck her head away only to give a smug smile.

She had to admit, that was adorable.

Aylin eventually stood up and sauntered her way over to the Captain only to calmly lean back against the counter beside her. She switched her cigarette to the left hand and wrapped her right arm around her own waist.

“ Money’s on Meds, you?” Aylin asked as she looked onward at the arm wrestling match.

(ik ack
smol post oof, am getting sleeby)

Cass winced at the bitter smell of the cigarette smoke, but didn't look over at her.

"I'm not one to gamble," she admitted, voice soft. "Doesn't appeal to me."

If she had to however, she'd bet on Meds every time. The latter had quite the reputation.

The small crowd cheered and hollered as the match continued.

( dw is all good. )

Aylin listened to Cass and raised her eyebrow in amusement.

“ Really? Why’s that?” She asked, genuinely curious. “ Hell if you don’t like gambling why you even here at all?” She asked, besides Cass did look the quiet type herself, not one for the nightlife. So this—-interested her.

( e thank )

"I'm the designated driver for my friends," Cass admitted, staring at the wall on the other side of the casino.

She didn't want to give away any more secrets, especially being a famed privateer and all. Didn't want to risk some sort of confrontation. She was good with a gun, sure-- but she preferred having a ship attached to it.

Aylin listened to the Captain only for a spark of amusement to be seen in her eyes.

“ Well, there’s no shame in that. There’s always a need for safety so, more power to ya. “ she reassured softly, she could tell that Cass wasn’t the party type, honestly she looked a bit overworked. She scanned the woman again and gently nudged her.

“ Hey come on, can’t I buy ya just one drink? You look like you could let loose a tad bit. “ she said as she tried to persuade the Captain. Her eyes then looked back at the arm wrestling fight.

Cass's heart fluttered at the contact, and she tensed. She couldn't tell the difference between attraction and anxiety.

"Oh, I'm... I'm flattered, but... I-I need to be sober for their sakes," she admitted, flashing her a nervous smile. "I appreciate the offer, but... you shouldn't waste your rations on my account."

A loud thud followed by loud roar went up from table.

"Aaaaand Meds takes it!" the tall Merician yelled.

( The bebeee omg-)

Aylin listened to Cass a little bit only to sigh softly in slight dissapointment. But she understood.

“ Oh alright, you prove a good point, I won’t peer pressure you. You got a good head on ya. “ she sighed, but she gave a slight smile.

She then angled her eyes towards the loud thud, seeing as the tattooed woman had won. She grinned.

“ And for the rations, I think I just won 68 more on my end. “ Aylin said in a smug and confident manner. She loved to gamble, she lost to the gambling machine but she won on the Arm Wrestling match. She let out a cheering whistle for Med’s side of the team.

( e yis she bebe- ;v; )

"I-I know, but the um... the famine, it--" Cass coughed awkwardly, voice trailing off.

Meds threw both her arms in the air, squeezing out of the crowd before anyone could stop her. She stumbled a little but held her balance despite the fact she was... quite inebriated.

"Good on ya, good on ya," the Merician cheered. A friend of hers, perhaps. "Any challengers? Is there anyone truly bonkers enough to take her on?"