( open ) when you're stuck in the middle

[ingenii]

Who: Miranda Lawson + OPEN
Where: The Deep Roads
When: May 9th
Rating: PGish
Summary: Miranda, new to Wonderland, ends up lost in the Deep Roads.
The Story:

( One moment you're sat at the next the moment you're plunged into darkness. Considering the recent attack by the Collectors that might not have been entirely unusual, but then there was the smell. And the noise.

Getting up from where Miranda had been oh-so unceremoniously dumped she began to make her way slowly down the darkened expanse, light finally flickering into the tunnel the further that Miranda walked. It was only when she'd gotten closer to the light that Miranda knew - knew for certain, not just a guess - that she was no longer on the Normandy. Somehow she'd been taken to a planet - the Collectors again? - but which one? And where was Shepard?

It wasn't just the tunnels either but the state of it - the thick black substance coating most of the walls. Reaching out Miranda stepped closer, looking to inspect it - was it liquid, solid, webbing? - before moving onto her search. Maybe something in the walls would tell her where she was )

Comments

team powerful women with parent issues

[courtintrigue]

[The small wisp that lights Morrigan's way is likely to give her up sooner than the sound of her footsteps. Both weariness and wariness are in her eyes when she sees the other woman, but if she truly fears anything down here it is not other people. She is well aware of what darkspawn can do with their captives.]

There is little I would touch down here without a true need, but it seems you have avoided darkspawn blood so far.

[The taint is not difficult to recognize.]

Are you well?

best team accept no substitutes

[ingenii]

( Miranda does notice Morrigan before she hears her, the extra wisp of light giving her a better - if brief - look at the black on the wall. Darkspawn blood, apparently - whatever that may be )

Darkspawn blood?

( There's a brief lingering look at the wall before Miranda turns her head to look over the other woman )

What would it do?

( She hadn't been down there long - only arrived in the past hours, and she hadn't yet touched it. She was fine - she looks fine )

[courtintrigue]

Indeed. Darkspawn were not common to this place before a few days ago, but I have a familiarity with them.

[She steps forward a bit more, gesturing but going nowhere near the tainted wall herself.]

Contact is almost guaranteed to corrupt your own blood. You will begin to hear the same ceaseless song that so motivates the darkspawn, driving you mad. Live long enough with this corruption and your sickly veins will stand out, dark beneath your skin. That may be the least of the changes to your body as hair falls out and sores form. You will lose your self-control and death will be a mercy.

[ingenii]

( The warning was enough to get Miranda to take her hand away. Scientific curiosity didn't trump her self preservation )

You've seen this happen before.

( She knew a lot about it. Clearly it wasn't an uncommon occurrence - she was just unlucky to have fallen into it, or this was how it started )

Where are we?

[courtintrigue]

In my world these are tunnels called the Deep Roads.

[At this point she begins to wonder precisely how new to this place the stranger before her truly is. Perhaps she runs the risk of seeming mad herself, but nothing can be done for that. She gestures ahead of them.]

I suggest that we keep moving. This is no place to stay still. [As her spellwisp fades, she conjures a new one with a quick gesture of one hand.] How long since your arrival? I am told they call this place -- what sits above ground, at least -- Wonderland, as ridiculous as that seems. The primary wonder about this place appears to be how many trials you must live through.

[ingenii]

( There's a nod from Miranda at her suggestion - if this place is dangerous who is Miranda to argue about that? It certainly doesn't look like a place to linger )

I awoke not long ago.

( Just before wandering these tunnels to run into this- woman. This woman of power )

How many trials have you lived through?

AY GIRL

[normandysbest]

[Shepard had been doing runs in and out of the Deep Roads- picking people up, clearing out darkspawn, the like. It was so much easier to sweep an entire row of the things with the Mako's rocket launcher, which... was expected, but is still wildly fun. She's got an empty car for now and she's heading back towards the front, when...

Well, this event is the gift that keeps on giving, huh?

She pulls the Mako up, smiling, and swings out the side door.]

Miranda? Please tell me I'm not hallucinating from cave dust.

OH NO i mean

[ingenii]

Shepard?

( After spending all of the recent time working together Miranda would know that voice anywhere, although she'd probably recognise it without that time. Bloody Shepard. Bloody hero )

Apparently they're kidnapping all of us.

( Of course they'd kidnap Shepard. She's the one they want dead the most )

party on the maaakoooo

[normandysbest]

[Shepard jumps down to get a better look- god, it really is her. She's not alone here anymore. Not that she should celebrate other people getting kidnapped to Wonderland, especially considering the plethora of things that have tried to kill her recently. She's only been here about a month, and she's met plenty of great people, but... this really takes the cake, honestly. First the Mako and now Miranda- maybe the universe is finally giving back.]

It's, ah... a little more complicated than just a kidnapping. I've actually been here about a month now. Apparently, this place freezes time when it takes you, so... there's a lot to explain, really.

[ingenii]

It must have frozen if you're supposed to have been gone.

( Because she most definitely wasn't. Although, as they will later find out, Shepard's actually ahead of things. Isn't that fun )

Is there a short version to start on?

[normandysbest]

Well, uh...

[She folds her arms, trying to think of a good way to explain this.]

We're in another world. And not like another planet, like... an entire separate universe. Time's stopped back home when we're here, and there's a ton of different people from a ton of different worlds that may be totally different from ours. Some of them aren't human, but I haven't seen an alien that looks like any aliens we know about.

From what I've heard, this world pulls us here using magic of some kind, and every couple of weeks, it pulls something from someone's memories and makes all of us experience it. This is one of em. [She gestures to the cave around them both.] There's a mansion way above ground where everyone lives, and uh, you should've gotten some sort of communication device when you woke up. There's a network everyone uses to communicate.

[She thinks for a second, trying to consider if she missed anything basic.] There's a pamphlet, I think, for new people. There's bad signal in these tunnels but once we get above ground, you should be able to find it.

[ingenii]

( Fantastic. Why does it have to be you, Shepard. Even if apparently there are other people and aliens not from their worlds, this is because she allied herself with you. Such trouble. Great friend )

What planet is it?

( Even if this is in another world with a planet she likely hasn't heard of it's a starting place. Something solid and concrete that she can start getting everything together on )

And what memory is it?

( Though, lbr, that's probably not the craziest thing Shepard's ever explained to her )

[normandysbest]

[SORRY BB. To her credit this... probably isn't her fault??? Maybe??? Maybe it's kind of her fault. But unfortunately, she has no good answer to either of Miranda's questions, and just shrugs.]

No idea what planet it is. Most people here haven't even discovered space travel back home; most say they're from around the early 2000's. This, ah... thing, [She stops and gestures to the tunnel.] Comes from a real high fantasy kinda deal. You know, dragons and knights and magic? All that fun stuff. Apparently these are dwarven.

[She chuckles to herself; it sounds ridiculous when she tries to explain it.]

Found a Mako in here, though. Apparently people are getting a lot of stuff from their worlds. Want a ride back to the top?

[ingenii]

( As friendly as they've become Miranda will always blame her for something. It's a fond thing now )

It doesn't look like a place to linger.

( It doesn't sound it, either. Dragons, knights and magic? She doesn't know how believable that is, even after resurrecting someone. But those from the past- or maybe they've been sent to the past )

Is there anyone else?

[normandysbest]

It's not. Lots of weird ogre-y monsters down here. Trust me, it's not a great place to b e.

[Shepard starts walking back towards the tank, assuming Miranda is following, and turns with her hand on the door.]

If you mean that we know? Nobody. It was just me for a while now. Been here... about a month or so.