IC INTRO - JAN 2019

[phantasmods]

Sometime after the group all heads back down the mountain, comes another mass text from home base -

Hey guys? We started getting some weird readings overnight... It might be good if you started heading back this way? We're not sure what the Fissure is doing right now. (,,꒪꒫꒪,,)

So back you had better come! Along with that new friend of yours, who surely won't raise questions...

With the time issue being what it is, it's over the course of a day or two that people actually get back to the Station. Thus, there is no single feast set up like usual; instead, there are lots of hot drinks and various pots of soup made up throughout the two days that people trickle back to base. It's warm and filling, can't ask for much more.

The Station you return to hasn't changed that much from the one you left, though all your left behind pets are very glad to see you. It's now January and frost is on the ground, though not snow, at least for now. There is an air of emptiness around the Station that the first group of arrivals - the few of you who remain - will likely find familiar, though the murder sign has been updated while you were away as usual.

The androids, for their part, are very glad to see everyone (or at least, most everyone) returned safe and sound. (Though certain injured parties are destined for the medbay and Strange's fussing before they even get a chance to settle on rooms of their own.) In particular, Muon - now in a bright yellow vest instead of her previous scarf - spends a lot of time hanging out in the glider bay to welcome everyone back, both new faces and old.

TRADING POST - STRANGE - MUON - SIGNAGE CATCHALL - And don't forget to get on the housing post!

Comments

[splendidandhonest]

[...] Sir, are you a vampire? Or a Fangire, perhaps?

[eudaimonikos]

[He laughs. Evilly, but not actually doing a vampire impression, because that's just kinda how his genuine laughs sometimes sound.]

What is a Fangire?

[splendidandhonest]

... It's... well... I suppose it's mostly a vampire. [... This guy is either living in some kind of world apart from his own or messing with him. Guess what Brain's paranoid mind settles upon?] A-anyway... shall I show you to the kitchen?

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael bends a little, gesturing widely with his arm.]

By all means, lead on.

[splendidandhonest]

[... Brain suddenly feels as though he doesn't want to show this man his back. He gulps, and nods, before moving on.] This way...

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael follows with an added spring in his step, ignoring Jane Doe's scolding look.]

[splendidandhonest]

[And lo and behold they reach their destination without anyone being stabbed in the back.] Well then... here we are.

[eudaimonikos]

Oh, fantastic! [He claps his hands together and grins.] Thank you so much for your help. I'm sure we'll all remember it.

[Cat Janet snickers. How does a cat snicker? I mean, she's doing it.]

[splendidandhonest]

... You're. You're welcome. [Gulp.] [He eyed the cat for a moment, before smiling nervously.] Unless there's anything else, I'll take my leave...?

[eudaimonikos]

I'm sure we can manage from here. Until next time.

[Michael's just gonna grin at him until he's gone.

He knows exactly what he's doing, but it's just a bit of harmless fun. He didn't even make any threats!]

[splendidandhonest]

Very good, then. [He nods, and starts to walk off... while nervously watching his back. ... Eventually he's gonna poke his head around a corner, to see what Michael is doing in there.]

[eudaimonikos]

[He's produced like four more animals, including one twenty-foot-long sea serpent, out of absolutely nowhere. Currently he has this one in his arms and is feeding the horrible demon mouth in the back.]

[splendidandhonest]

[HOW DID HE EVEN FIT THAT IN THERE Brain is so surprised, he ends up falling over and making a huge racket.]

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael looks up.]

...oh, no, did you see her feeding with the death mouth? That's bad luck, you know.

[splendidandhonest]

B-Bad luck?! [He pales, despite his entire face being little more than a disguise.] Have I been cursed?!

[eudaimonikos]

Oh, yes, absolutely.

[...

....

.....]

That's so sad. [Quaver the Chatot, who is very well-trained, begins to sing.]

[splendidandhonest]

No! No, I can't be cursed! [Nevermind how unscientific it is, Brain is well and truly spooked.] [He crawls forward on his knees, clasping his hands in front of him to beg.] Please! Tell me what I need to do to get out of this!

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael bursts into peals of demonic laughter. His sparkly hot pink beetle friend strikes a pose, for no obvious reason.]

[splendidandhonest]

... Wh-what's so funny...?

[eudaimonikos]

You!

[His Haunter clacks her enormous ghost tongue disapprovingly and floats closer to peer at Brain.]

Ohhhhh, fine. [He straightens, taking off his glasses to wipe at his eyes.] You're not cursed, I revoke your curse.

[splendidandhonest]

... [Realization comes over Brain's face, and he stands up, frowning as he figures out what just happened.] You've been messing with me... haven't you?

[eudaimonikos]

It was just so easy!

[That's not an apology. Maybe he should apologize? But he didn't really do anything...]

Do you do the whole stalking thing to every new person that comes through here, or can you just see in nine dimensions?

[splendidandhonest]

... Not everyone. But I tend to be suspicious, kraven, and stealthy far too easily.

[eudaimonikos]

[......that admission seems to catch him on the back foot a little.]

At least you're...self-aware?

[splendidandhonest]

[Brain forces himself to smile.] We're all our own worst critics, I've found. I won't bother you or your children anymore, sir.