<Snipped quote by Legend>

NAOMI: In my opinion, the last good mimosa in this universe was served in a Cuban cantina in Tampa in 2048. After that, the oranges were kind of dick-all; they got all tough and mealy when the climate heated up. Now it's too cold to grow 'em anywhere, so they make it all synth. That's all any food is nowadays, y'know? It's hydroponic or shipped in from the colony farms if you're lucky; most people just get all these chemicals, and they mix them up and sorta just convince them that they're supposed to be food.

*Without warning, the vessel detaches from the boarding gantry with a hiss. Naomi's ears pop as the cabin pressurizes. She reaches into a compartment under the seat and retrieves a set of earmuffs, donning them.*

NAOMI: Put these on. It gets really loud on the way up.

*The two of us equip the earmuffs, and I speak up to test their properties*
I don't imagine you can hear me?

<Snipped quote by souleaterfan320>

*Red magical scripts materialize behind me and the world between us flips like a trapdoor, leaving us standing back-to-back*
Then for my first move, I revoke your right to physically encounter the other player on your own turn.
*Dissolves into mist as the atmosphere around you grows denser and heavier, like moving through tar, and I appear in the normal dimension outside of the runic imprisonment*

*the moment you reappear outside of the barrier, an instance of me reveals itself from the void of space, striking you in the back with a reality warping blast*

<Snipped quote by Legend Begins>

*the moment you reappear outside of the barrier, an instance of me reveals itself from the void of space, striking you in the back with a reality warping blast*

*A new set of runes prints in front of me and I pivot into your strike, receiving the blow on my forearm*
There remains a contract open for execution.
*The runes begin to creep up your arm and the other end inches toward the previous inscription defining the rules of the zone*

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

*The two of us equip the earmuffs, and I speak up to test their properties*
I don't imagine you can hear me?

*Naomi points to her earmuffs and shakes her head.*

*The vessel taxis up to the runway, which stretches on for what has to be at least a few miles. There's a dull, low whine of engines as the aircraft accelerates, then, with a jolt, lifts off the ground. It ascends at a nearly 45-degree angle for a few minutes, and then, without warning, the engines cut to a piercing roar, even through the earmuffs. In an instant, everyone is pressed back hard into their seats as the aircraft breaks the sound barrier, climbing higher, higher, until all outside sound fades away and the engines cut off. Suddenly, the pull of gravity can no longer be felt.*

*Naomi removes her earmuffs and presses a button overhead.*

NAOMI: Check this out.

*The hull panel beside the group turns transparent, showing the dark, gray and brown surface of a poisoned Earth fading slowly into the distance behind them. The lights of huge cities can be seen glimmering through the smoke clouds, and the seas are black as ash.*

*The flight attendant bot reappears.*

ROBOT: Hello! Welcome aboard Cooperative Starlines Flight 1010, and thank you for choosing our first-class accommodations suite! Could I interest you in a snack, or would you like to browse our drinks menu?

*Screens descend on robotic arms to come to rest before each person, displaying food and drinks menus, music, movies, all those premium airline accommodations.*

<Snipped quote by Legend>

*Naomi points to her earmuffs and shakes her head.*

*The vessel taxis up to the runway, which stretches on for what has to be at least a few miles. There's a dull, low whine of engines as the aircraft accelerates, then, with a jolt, lifts off the ground. It ascends at a nearly 45-degree angle for a few minutes, and then, without warning, the engines cut to a piercing roar, even through the earmuffs. In an instant, everyone is pressed back hard into their seats as the aircraft breaks the sound barrier, climbing higher, higher, until all outside sound fades away and the engines cut off. Suddenly, the pull of gravity can no longer be felt.*

*Naomi removes her earmuffs and presses a button overhead.*

NAOMI: Check this out.

*The hull panel beside the group turns transparent, showing the dark, gray and brown surface of a poisoned Earth fading slowly into the distance behind them. The lights of huge cities can be seen glimmering through the smoke clouds, and the seas are black as ash.*

*The flight attendant bot reappears.*

ROBOT: Hello! Welcome aboard Cooperative Starlines Flight 1010, and thank you for choosing our first-class accommodations suite! Could I interest you in a snack, or would you like to browse our drinks menu?

*Screens descend on robotic arms to come to rest before each person, displaying food and drinks menus, music, movies, all those premium airline accommodations.*

*Shakes off the sudden acceleration and weightlessness*
I never get tired of views like this.
*Scans the menu briefly and glances at Naomi*
Anything you recommend over the other?

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

*Shakes off the sudden acceleration and weightlessness*
I never get tired of views like this.
*Scans the menu briefly and glances at Naomi*
Anything you recommend over the other?

NAOMI: Daiquiris are still pretty good; they're basically straight sugar. Can't really mess that up no matter what you do.

<Snipped quote by Legend>

NAOMI: Daiquiris are still pretty good; they're basically straight sugar. Can't really mess that up no matter what you do.

*Half smiles*
You had me at sugar. I'll take two.

<Snipped quote by Legend>

NAOMI: Daiquiris are still pretty good; they're basically straight sugar. Can't really mess that up no matter what you do.

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

*Half smiles*
You had me at sugar. I'll take two.

I would be remiss to turn down hospitality. I'll have one of the same.

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

*Half smiles*
You had me at sugar. I'll take two.

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

<Snipped quote by Legend>

I would be remiss to turn down hospitality. I'll have one of the same.

NAOMI: Get me a tequila, strong as it gets.

*The robotic flight attendant disappears down the aisle, then reappears a few minutes later with a few sealed zero-G-proof pouches containing the cocktails. Naomi sips at hers, then turns to look at the two.*

NAOMI: We're doing really good work here. I hope you know that. What we're doing is going to change the world.

<Snipped quote by Legend>

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

NAOMI: Get me a tequila, strong as it gets.

*The robotic flight attendant disappears down the aisle, then reappears a few minutes later with a few sealed zero-G-proof pouches containing the cocktails. Naomi sips at hers, then turns to look at the two.*

NAOMI: We're doing really good work here. I hope you know that. What we're doing is going to change the world.

Mm...
*Crosses my leg over my knee*
Naomi, what does a perfect world look like to you? Don't constrain yourself to realism.

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

Mm...
*Crosses my leg over my knee*
Naomi, what does a perfect world look like to you? Don't constrain yourself to realism.

*Naomi sucks in through her teeth and gains a vacant sort of look.*

NAOMI: When I was little, I didn't... exactly have a family. So I lived in an orphanage for a while; I wasn't really a model kid, so I never got adopted. And, the guy who ran it...

*She pauses for a long, long time, unconsciously crossing her legs defensively.*

NAOMI: He was a pretty bad guy. And he never really got punished for it, y'know? I trust Mr. Lucy's judgement on this, but, if it were up to me, I'd make a world where people like that can never hurt anyone again. It'd be safer that way. People like being safe.

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

*Naomi sucks in through her teeth and gains a vacant sort of look.*

NAOMI: When I was little, I didn't... exactly have a family. So I lived in an orphanage for a while; I wasn't really a model kid, so I never got adopted. And, the guy who ran it...

*She pauses for a long, long time, unconsciously crossing her legs defensively.*

NAOMI: He was a pretty bad guy. And he never really got punished for it, y'know? I trust Mr. Lucy's judgement on this, but, if it were up to me, I'd make a world where people like that can never hurt anyone again. It'd be safer that way. People like being safe.

*Nods*
Safety, something at the very core of all our desires. Does Mr. Lucy not think the same way?

<Snipped quote by TruckKun>

*Shakes my head*
No home. —s fine. You?
*Seems to struggle to get any words out at all*

Not really used to run an orphanage but the older kids are looking after it now

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

*Nods*
Safety, something at the very core of all our desires. Does Mr. Lucy not think the same way?

NAOMI: He... he likes freedom more. Says it's more valuable. I don't know about that. He's a good man, but he strikes me as a person who's never really been hurt, doesn't really understand it.

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

NAOMI: He... he likes freedom more. Says it's more valuable. I don't know about that. He's a good man, but he strikes me as a person who's never really been hurt, doesn't really understand it.

And you still follow him.
*Holds my hands together with a curious glance*
Why is that?

<Snipped quote by Host>

Not really used to run an orphanage but the older kids are looking after it now

Why... here?
*Motions to the distorted bubble of chaos around us*

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

And you still follow him.
*Holds my hands together with a curious glance*
Why is that?

*Naomi shrugs.*

NAOMI: He's a good man. They're rarer than you think. I... I need to help him.

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

*Naomi shrugs.*

NAOMI: He's a good man. They're rarer than you think. I... I need to help him.

Would I be correct in thinking that he helped you sometime in your past?

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

Would I be correct in thinking that he helped you sometime in your past?

NAOMI: He got me out of some bad stuff, what with the, uh...

*She looks around.*

NAOMI: Maybe this isn't the best place to talk about it.

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

NAOMI: He got me out of some bad stuff, what with the, uh...

*She looks around.*

NAOMI: Maybe this isn't the best place to talk about it.

Ah, I understand. Too emotional for public discussion.
*Winks knowingly with a glance around the cabin*