( open )

[retrorsum]

» WHO? river song + open
» WHEN? september 1
» WHERE? observation deck, bar, medical
» WHAT? arrival + investigation
» WARNINGS? tbd

observation deck

( stars could tell you a great many things. stars gave you locations, they gave you time. stars told a story.

to river these stars were silent. it wasn't just that they were unfamiliar, a part of space or time that she hadn't visited, but that she can't tell anything about them. her sense for that sort of thing wasn't as refined as the doctor's, a man that could sniff the air and tell you everything around you. river could to an extent but here-- it was strange, an almost repulsive feeling. a fixed point in time?

it didn't stop her lingering, fighting against the feeling to try and find out something. there was always some way of finding out where you were )

the bar

( there was one thing that seemed to be certain wherever river went -- bars were a good source of information. people drank, people talked, sometimes they traded information but always there was something to get... or overhear.

she'd taken a seat at the bar, left hand by the drink that she'd gotten, right resting lightly on her legs. she was starting to feel the pain from the break even more now and whilst river was good at putting it off, focusing on something else, it was distracting. working with one hand, trying not to jostle the other was difficult.

but her mask was solid. to anyone that passes she'll ask, with perhaps a hint of flirtation ) So, how long have you been here?

( she'd gotten a lot of good information from clara. now it was time to find out her own )

medical

( she'd been putting it off for as long as she could. the pain was bearable (it wasn't but she was very good at lying to herself) and river felt like she had more important things to do -- like escaping. but it was a hindrance. only having the use of one hand was slowing her investigating down which was not going to help anyone.

she'd seen the location of medical when she'd been looking at the map, begrudgingly making her way there.

the lab looked a little impressive, fairly modern for the century that she'd noted though how long ago that century was river didn't have an answer for. though it would be just her luck that the place would appear to be empty. she didn't know which of the equipment would be useful to her or how to use it, though it didn't stop river from looking around just in case something happened to be labelled )

Comments

[retrorsum]

( planes of reality. she'd already said alternate realities. they were supposed to be impossible but river knew that the doctor had visited one once -- and it had almost torn both worlds apart )

How do you manage it safely?

( maybe she'd trade the information if jasnah was interested. surviving the cold and vacuum wasn't too bad if you had the right equipment )

[veristitalian]

By creating a bond with a creature from that world.

[She synthesizes.]

Although how the spren come to our world, I do not understand entirely. A subject I'd be thrilled to research, when I make it home.

[Exasperated, to the ceiling.]

[retrorsum]

Is that wise?

( using something from another world, however willing they may seem to be always carried risks. she'd heard enough stories not to be weary, seen enough of the effects from other attempts. perhaps this was different but river wouldn't know )

[veristitalian]

I've been bonded to Ivory since I was a child. I trust him implicitly. And if he were here, I'm sure we could take better advantage of his understanding of that kind of travel.

[A long breath out, and she takes a sip of her drink.]

Your world does have space travel, I take it?

[retrorsum]

( though this woman seemed to trust the process river had no reason to, particularly not when she knew nothing about it. it also didn't sound like using it, travelling to another universe would get them home. there was a reason why travelling to alternate universes was impossible )

Many worlds do.

( at least in the century that river had spent the majority of her life. planets had ventured out into space at different times, with humankind doing so eventually )

I've spent much of my life visiting other planets.

( though not really in the conventional way )

[veristitalian]

I'm extremely interested in the variation between worlds.

[She admits, leaning in.]

And why so many of the inhabitants of the station appear visibly human.

[retrorsum]

( her interest earns her a small smile. curiosity was always a good thing, especially when you were in a bad situation and were curious rather than panicked )

That's because they likely are. ( or were one of the species that looked humanoid. or somewhere in between both ) Humans spread out amongst the stars. When I'm from there are settlements on many worlds.

[veristitalian]

I'd be interested in knowing the history of that process.

[There's one pretty stunning implication she needs to ponder immediately.]

Whether we're far down that line, so far that the history has been lost.

[retrorsum]

Now that's a long conversation.

( but it would definitely be a good one. river has a little of her drink before continuing. river has one question that she's curious to ask, whether jasnah is human, though she knows that she wouldn't want to answer that question in return )

1969 was the moment most remember. ( she knows that the date means nothing to jasnah but they can work that out later ) The first landing on the moon.

( and she'd seen it happen )

[veristitalian]

You learned in small steps.

[She realizes, of course. Jasnah hasn't ever thought about this technology as something that was developed in fits and starts. It feels like such an insurmountable hurdle that she hadn't imagined the path to jumping it.]

What were the first ships made of?

[retrorsum]

That didn't come until much later.

( and river doesn't know all of the details. many centuries have passed and those details are of less interest to her )

Though that first method wasn't a ship.

[veristitalian]

What was the first?

[She asks, in that case. She just really wishes she could picture how this all began.]

[retrorsum]

A rocket.

( would that word mean anything to her considering that space travel wasn't a thing for them? perhaps it had a different context )

It was designed for that trip only.

[veristitalian]

['Rocket' isn't a familiar term, but none of this is exactly familiar, so.]

There's no indication that there's a way out of here, but I still can't help but think about all the things I might bring back.

[retrorsum]

Hopefully nothing that's detrimental.

( knowing information, particularly technological before the right time-- civilisations had been hurt by smaller things in the past )

Time is precious.

[veristitalian]

That occurs to me often. I trust the technology in my own hands, but obviously believing it'd remain that way is magical thinking.

Have you seen it happen before?

[retrorsum]

Yes.

( though river is certainly a more extreme case. few could defy a fixed point in time and make all of time unravel )

It can be easier to do than you would believe but sometimes time will fix itself, make things happen as they should.

[veristitalian]

Time.

[She echoes, and yes, it's time to backtrack and address this fully.]

You can change history itself, but somehow it resists you?

[retrorsum]

There are some things in history that cannot be changed -- time wants to happen, my husband would say.

( and she'd certainly learned that )

But for you it would be your future. You'd have to be careful how you wanted it to happen and whether speeding up knowledge could have consequences.

( it would but it depended on what her people were like )

[veristitalian]

['Husband' startles Jasnah. It's the first time she's met someone here separated from a family like that- or the first time she's spoken to someone who admitted it, at least.]

We have strict cultural prescriptions about predicting the future. I'd just like to take some of this technology from it home and see to it that humanity isn't annihilated.

[retrorsum]

And if it has the opposite effect? Whilst your intentions may be noble could you trust that it wouldn't instead annihilate your people sooner?

( perhaps they wouldn't be annihilated, perhaps without this technology they would find a way to save themselves )

[veristitalian]

We're already on the brink of an apocalypse. I'm the queen of a kingdom of refugees. Alethkar is past the point of holding out for a less risky solution.

[retrorsum]

( a queen. this was an unexpected development )

Well, your majesty, it's your risk to take.

( the doctor might have made more of an argument one way or the other, or offered to help, but there were two differences there -- he took more of an interest in people and he also knew better the risks and consequences. river cared enough to push a little but she didn't get so involved )

[veristitalian]

Jasnah.

[She insists, warmly, and offers her hand to shake.]

We're a long way from any kind of political system here.

[retrorsum]

( oh, river wasn't using the title out of any sort of politeness, using it to add to her point. but she smiles, shaking her hand )

It gives you an opportunity to carefully consider your action.