THE GOTTALA JELEBELLIOS

[capemods]

WHO: ImPorts.
WHERE: Gottala Jelebellios of TíraFórsae.
WHEN: April 21st 2013 noon to April 25th 11:59 PM.
WARNINGS: Possible violence, gore. Possible sexual situations.
SUMMARY: Off-world adventure on EARTH KLADSUO834LKSFDLKJ8718=LAJD
FORMAT: Whatever.



[Now THIS is the Big Clam of all Gottalas! This is the city-ship that any mothership would be most proud of, this is the peak of the elite fleet. Housing 90,000 classy individuals, Jelebellios is the size of what natives might remember to be land-locked nations.

Everything in Jelebellios is glamorous, everything is about living high and infamously. This is the Gottala that those who MAKE it can upgrade to -- for those of a more middling class, it's an ideal vacation spot. Something to wistfully sigh over, perhaps.

The food is the best here, they have RUNNING FRESH WATER in every room, they have forums with fountains (that often spew champagne) and opera houses with mobile skylight viewing. Jelebellios, in the more prestigious avenues, is literally paved with gold.

But the superficial is invoked into art form here -- and more than that, entertainment is a way of life. Quite literally, the only living on Jelebellios. While mundane trading for FOOD or WATER or BORING CHUNKS OF GOLD might satisfy the plebs that other Gottalas have, if you're a citizen (or guest!) of JELEBELLIOS there's only one tender.

And it's tender as the night.

Because tender refers to physical affection. So if you want food or water or dazzling clothing or anything, you better look your cutest and pucker up.]

Comments

[enigmaestro]

"Felicia!" Eddie came up from behind, having caught sight of Felicia's windcaught hair a street away. "Felicia, look at me!"

Eddie was, thankfully, drier at this point. He stopped short of her, issuing out tight breaths.

"Who gave you that?" He inquired, pointing at the white coat with a touch of disdain.

[enigmaestro]

"Ah, yes, I'd wager it is exactly something like that." Eddie hasted to smooth down his clothes, hoping the champagne hadn't stained the garments with too much gusto. He looked over his company, as if measuring the other man.

Eddie was, after all, a fellow who favored resourcefulness, and company was now one of the best resources around.

"That would be ideal," he said, inclining his head. "Last time we rather lucked out, given the shocking improbability that a non-human parallel universe would invoke English. I'd heard of the phenomenon completing within the bounds of the same universe, but..." He shrugged, allowing the pedantic phrase die in his mouth. Now was hardly the time.

"At least we can breathe the air," he said. Dryly.

apparently that first sentence of mine was WRITTEN IN INVISIBLE WORDS

[enigmaestro]

Eddie splashed around in his champagne pool a moment more, just to irritate the other man -- a vain attempt, in all likelihood, as Biff didn't seem like the type to suffer irritability often.

"Well," he said, the emphasis almost patronizing. "Let's hope the rest of us experience a quick return."

Obviously Eddie was a popular deputy mayor, what with all his implicit desires to see certain constituents stranded in other other universes.

"The decor is a bit much, don't you think?" He gave some of the soaring gilded arches a critical squint.

[enigmaestro]

"Isn't it usually the penguin that devours the fish?" Eddie tilted back his head, his eyes creating a coy and skeptical glance. He had witnessed that Tirisean individual feed his good friend Ozzie, as Eddie was especially observant when bathed in champagne. One had to be.

"Goodness, Oswald, you're making friends already."

Very pointed, very crisp syllables invoked. Eddie wasn't a man too eager for smalltalk, as it was in the moment, but he found common ground in trading subtle barbs. And who better to indulge than one of the few Gothamites who ever attempted to properly understand the Riddler? Nevertheless, Eddie's attention was soon back on himself, as peeled off his jacket to string it dry.

[enigmaestro]

"Why, Eridan Ampora." In peculiar contrast to Eridan's experience, Eddie had frequently found himself amidst imPorts. That security had, in some sense, gilt the veneer of his confidence -- after all, he wasn't alone in a sea of humanlike aliens. He didn't have to suffer that in the way that Eridan did every day.

Their respective arrivals suited their usual protocol, however unfortunate the entire endeavor might have been.

"I must say, I'm surprised to see you so distressed." He had learned the currency, too: Eddie had abandoned his champagne stained wardrobe sharply pressed dark green trousers and a streamlined doublet-like thing. He had worked quite well to achieve such ends.

"One might think you'd thrive in this environment, given the -- ah -- spectacle it offers."

[aggressiveapathy]

Babe, I want you to make me a promise.

[Her expression goes suddenly serious- in the way that it does when she's being knowingly over-dramatic to get a reaction- as she passed back the glass.]

If I ever, even once, start talking in rhyme? I need you to kill me.

[swordedpast]

Do you forget every young woman you offer your behind to? I see, you're that kind of guy.

[motherflocker]

"They seem to speak a language I understand quite well, actually," he chortled softly, looking over the jacket with a modicum of disgust. Really, the scent alone, as he approached, was wafting in his direction. He adjusted the glass at his eye, although he was remarkably free of his usual cigarette.

He had a book of matches, but he hadn't had his cigarettes on hand, at the time that he'd woken up here. Taking it in stride was something he could do, however. Although a gloved hand fidgeted at his side. A habitual smoker with no cigarettes would often leave one feeling antsy.

"Nobody's offered you a replacement jacket yet?" he tutted, softly, a click between his teeth. Of course they wouldn't, the creatures didn't seem to have clothes that would fit a man, very well, or at least one that needed a jacket. "At least tell me you have some idea of what's happening? I can't get an answer out of these people to save my life," he may know trade, but that still didn't help a language barrier.

[currentcy]

[ He looks at her, a little confused -- though at this point, he's used to April not always making immediate sense. ]

What if you're singing? Or like, rapping? How am I supposed to know? I'd rather ask first to be on the safe side.

[acrossyourpath]

"Edward. There you are," Felicia said, turning, as if she'd expected to find him. Not that she had, but that was beside the point -- this was a good thing, not bad. She leaned close to kiss him on his cheek, standing on slight tiptoe.

"Oh, this?" She fluffed it coyly. "Do you like it?"

[amoray]

"Distressed?" Eridan made his way towards his company at a pace that defined casual, taking his time to glance at this and that bit of scenery as he passed. "I think I'm doin' pretty good, myself."

And Eddie, he noted, seemed to be doin' pretty good too. He made no effort to mute his once-over when he reached his mentor proper, hand on his hip; he couldn't openly judge, considering his own outfit was blatantly Tirisean in make and model, but he could do so with the fact that he was looking. And as loath as he was to resort to any sort of low language, the difference made by a few vowels in this particular one was... interesting.

"Don't you think so? Aedake a mine."

Heads turned. Eridan could see them in his peripheral, fighting with every last muscle in his face to keep to a polite, blithe smile.

[amoray]

["that jumpsuit is hideous," he thinks first, champagne drooling shamelessly down his face.

his second thought is "oh my god," realizing she's here and alive and still in one piece, and it's that thought that carries him out of the now murky champagne and onto the fountain's lip, bone-deep exhaustion writ in the heavy slump of his limbs, the wry twist of his mouth.]

Too goddamn bad, I already pissed the whole batch up. Metaphorically.

[a beat.]

I think.

You look like fuckin' shit, by the way.

[he means that in an entirely fond way.]

[dragony]

You look worse. [ she bites the inside of her lip to keep the teasing smile from overtaking her face, while relief pounds her heart like a hammer. she'd been divided in her hopes for him, before this moment. when she arrived on daumadaal, she hoped that he was somewhere in this world, with her, hoped they would find one another on this ocean, see one another under this planet's brilliant stars. before she even departed daumadaal, she hoped he was still back on their shared Earth, not wanting him to be subject to anything approaching these miseries. ]

Oh, Eridan...

[ there's a waver in her voice when she says his name, and she's moving forward before she even notices, arms loosened from their cross. it's only how weak and weary her limbs are that keeps her from running to the fountain. even covered in filth and dripping with wine as he is, she's very, very glad to see him. ]

[aggressiveapathy]

Those don't count. I mean, like, going a Dr. Seuss kind of talking. That means I've given up on life.

[Totally serious nod here.]

[enigmaestro]

"You --" Eddie cut his statement abruptly short, his eyes sliding quickly to either side of him. He noticed the people staring, eavesdropping. "You mean aedakei, I'm sure." He was grinning, to hide the sharpness of his eyes.

Eddie had early on encountered the proximity of those words, when he had tried to explain he was a politician of his City Hall. It was a pointless endeavor. He didn't dare dwell on the experience with Eridan, knowing full well how the other would feel vindicated in Eddie's mild humiliation.

"You've managed to adapt," he admitted. It was a calculated compliment; one hardly gushing, but nevertheless apt in its grained admiration. Something that could easily be perceived as honest. He put his hand on Eridan's shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"You're dressed so well, after all."

[enigmaestro]

"I'm suspicious of it," he said. Blatantly. There was hardly any ease behind his words, which fell with jagged consonants. Nevertheless, he pulled her close to him, his arm wrapped around her waist, and accepted the token kiss.

"Let's just say that I'm aware how this boat plies trade," he spoke with an airy tone. It wasn't as if Eddie hadn't benefited from such a realization himself -- as evident of his tight Tirisean green doublet.

[amoray]

"More or less."

Eridan inclined his head downwards, just slightly, letting that and his lowered tone imply modesty; Eddie undoubtedly knew better, could read so in the brightness of his eyes and the slant of his smile, bolstered by the compliment, undaunted by its implications.

"Real friendly sort, ain't they?" the sea dweller quipped, glancing aside at the other patrons (leaning into the hand on his shoulder, subtly), purple tongue briefly tracing across the ragged edge of his teeth. He might've done better had he been able to access his human form, but no dice. Which meant at least one ImPort's powers had been disrupted by the trans-universal relocation, which meant that maybe everyone's powers were. Maybe even Eddie's. A spectacular opportunity to sidestep a falsehooding, if he was so inclined, and yet he wasn't willing to risk being wrong. "Been kickin' about the natiwes so far, yeah. Picked up a little slang. Kinda cute, I s'pose."

Cute, like thermal hulls and load gapers instead of refrigerators and toilets like all the nice civilized trolls.

"You're not lookin' too shabby either, aedakei a mine." A casual nod towards Eddie's outfit, though he couldn't be entirely sure whether or not the man had shown up in that. Couldn't hurt to ask. "Been playin' nice, I take it?"

[enigmaestro]

Eddie pulled back his shoulders, hitching his sight with a withering gaze. Eridan wasn't incorrect, after all, in his queried assumption: Eddie had adapted just as his protege had. It was stark hypocrisy to deny it. With a light shrug, he ran his eyes over Eridan once more, and then turned to speculate at the rubbernecking crowd that haunted their peripheral vision.

"If it's a matter of survival, Eridan, yes I'll play nicely." The deputy mayor swallowed, pocketing his hands. A brief exhibition of anxiety, a show that perhaps a lesser (or more forgiving) man than Eridan wouldn't have observed.

It translated easily: the whole thing made Eddie uncomfortable.

"I've run into other imPorts," he said, his word abrupt. "I take it you haven't? Kicking around with natives and what not."

[enigmaestro]

"You would adapt adequately," he said. It wasn't a criticism, rather, his words glowed with a honeyed warmth. Ozzie wasn't a man conquered, not when some conceptual commerce was invoked. Eddie smirked as he ran a hand through his damp hair, slicking back the stray strands that defied his preferred hairstyle. He combed over himself, nitpicking the detail for Ozzie's good viewing.

"Well?" Eddie shot his friend an inquiring look. "Are you criticizing my method?" Truth was, Eddie was somewhat peevish over the idea of trade here -- he had noticed the tactics. The tender.

"I am still a man of principals, Ozzie. Believe it or not," he said. A slight tilt of his head accentuated his point. "I won't be so easily, well." Eddie gave a cursory glance up and down his friend. The implication was clear: Eddie had yet to fully succumb to this culture's method of trade.

His iciness came accompanied with an envy for Ozzie's more fluid transition.

"Anyway," he said, reeling in his tone. "We're in a different universe, so, it's much like Metricog I suppose. Except. Very different."

Stellar commentary.

[amoray]

Eridan's first few hours in TíraFórsae had been spent freaking out, pissing off the natives, freaking out some more, wandering around looking for other imPorts, failing, freaking out some more, hoping for Lachesis to zip him back out of this gaudy handkissing hellhole, and failing that, freaking out some more. Eddie was handling the whole thing a lot more smoothly, apparently, but Eridan could recognize the discomfort, could sympathize.

He could. But he wouldn't.

"Not 'til now." The words were smoothly delivered, about as at ease with the whole situation as a brinesucker could get. Eridan followed Eddie's line of sight, apparently oblivious to the man's nerves. "Big ship. Been busy gettin' myself fed and all, so I guess I must of just missed 'em."

A glance to the side, his eyebrow raised.

"Who you run into?"

[amoray]

I missed you, Ru.

[two long days on jelebellios, he'd been wishing to see her. two longer days on daumadaal, selfishly, he'd still been wishing to see her. and now she's here, and safe, and "here" isn't that corpsey hellhole daumadaal, and that's all he needs.

he moves to stand, to meet her, almost loses his balance, and thinks better of it. but settling back on the fountain and waiting anticlimactically doesn't sound entirely appetizing either.

a beat of thought, a wry quirk of smile, and he's tipping back to dump himself in the fountain proper. and if she stops within arm's reach of the fountain, he'll just be reaching out to drag her on in with him. sanitation?? public safety???? non, friend.]

[dragony]

[ red floods her cheeks at the words, and her restrained smile breaks free into a wide, bright grin. she catches take the waver of his posture, but does not take it for what it is, and doesn't take his grin for the warning she should.

carelessness has its price.

he catches her easy, and her balance is conquered easier; with a high squeal of distress she tumbles over the lip of the fountain and into the pool of champagne in a smooth arc, landing with a perfumed splash.

she surfaces, sitting up and laughing, hair soaked and sticking to her face. her immediate reaction is easily predicted: more gentle than she has to, she slaps eridan square in the middle of his chest, probably at least twice. ]

You jerk! You say something like that, but what kind of greeting is this?

[ her following reaction is, likewise, easy to predict: her hands lift to pull the shark mask off his head, champagne still running from the sleeves of her jumpsuit and the gold bangle fastened on her wrist. her movements are much more delicate, when she brushes the damp hair out of his face and wipes the dirty smudges of booze and who knows what else off his cheeks; her expression softens in turn. ]

I really missed you, too.

[enigmaestro]

"Four imPorts." Eddie adopted a sneer, to preempt his next sentence: "But one was Biff, and I'm not entirely sure he matters so much." He cocked his head tot he left, indicating that they ought to start ambling elsewhere. Eddie wasn't keen on the interest they were attracting -- two imPorts, together, strangers in a strange universe. He pondered idly on the implication, as it seemed to suggest that the phenomenon of more-than-one-imPort-together was unusual.

Maybe most have had Eridan's luck.

"I'm not very fond of Biff," he explained unnecessarily. "And no doubt you wouldn't be, either." But in all likelihood Eddie had just insured Eridan's interest. He took another, sharper left. The avenue paved with gold attracted his feet.

"Have you eaten?"

[governorkang]

[He blinks, and leans away from a woman who seems interested in him before looking at Kenzi oddly.]

Where were you the first three days?

[What could be worse than this?]

[wisecracked]

[What could be worse? Oh man, have you not left the ship at all since arriving, Kang?]

Started off on some haunted hellhole with no food to eat except the decaying bodies of the dead. Oh, did I mention there ws cannibals there? Diseased freaky cannibals.

And then I ended up on some other ship where they gave me the ugliest jumpsuit ever to wear. They destroyed my clothes! And I had to go through hours of decontamination in which I'm pretty sure they took some of my skin when they was scrubbing!

This place is like heaven compared to the other two.