WEEK 1

[bathymetric]

Happy New Year! ... You're still here. Looks like The Captain wasn't lying when he said the murdering is now up to you. That, or you can all live here on your own. Regardless, it's time to settle in. The days start passing much less eventfully after that first one, and, well... on it goes, huh?

There might not be a whole cruise ship to explore just yet, but there are a variety of amenities available to all of you! Who ever heard of a boring cruise ship, anyway? As the week goes on, you might even start to see some of those strange coins appear for you!

Better buckle down and get to know your fellow passengers, though, if you want to stand a chance of weathering this storm.



MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY
FRIDAY | SATURDAY

[ ooc: Welcome to peace week! Feel free to mingle (and investigate, if you like) to your hearts' content! Please ensure all investigation toplevels are marked accordingly, and otherwise enjoy! If you wish to talk to The Captain or Davy Jones, look here for the former and here for the latter! ]

Comments

library.....shuffles in several days late with starbucks

[scouserer]

[Constantine had come into the library to inspect one of the books on ocean geography, not really paying attention to Plumeria--at least, not until she speaks out loud. It takes quite a bit of effort for him not to immediately laugh when she mentions 'unconditional love'.]

Getting there's not the issue. It's maintaining it that destroys the illusion. Someone always ends up taking more than they give, or they get bored, or...something else gets in the way. I've seen it happen time and time again.

[Unfortunately, Constantine isn't exactly the best person to talk with about that little four-letter word. His tone is crass--forcefully so, even. He snatches up a book from one of her piles and inspects the cover. Based on the summary on the back, this one has a Romeo and Juliet-esque plot, except it's between two gangs on the streets of New York City.]

It's a nice idea, but it almost never has a happy ending. Not outside of any books, that is.

[Wow. Just immediately being a downer, huh.]

you're good!! clinks starbucks cups with

[paucipan]

[...You know, there are multiple reactions that Plumeria could have to this. For one, she's absolutely slamming that book shut like it's caught her hands on fire, embarrassed at being called out in the first place, thanks--but--]

You know, I wasn't actually asking, human.

[Huffs!! Plumeria doesn't just dismiss him, though, because...well, she does chuckle a bit.]

...But it sounds like you've had plenty of bitter experience with love. I can't say I blame you for having such a sour outlook...such things are usually a fantasy cooked up by a human mind who hasn't experienced their first heartbreak yet. So saddening. I don't expect it'll end well for this couple in the book, either...

[she lies, trying to be cool and act like she wasn't lowkey rooting for the couple--]

So, how do you bet that this story ends, then? Just for curiosity's sake, of course.

[You know what, she's gonna at least have some fun with this!!]

[scouserer]

Didn't ask for your opinion on my love life, thanks.

[His tone is somewhat defensive, despite the fact that he clearly invited that by opening his stupid mouth in the first place. Constantine rolls his eyes a little at the 'human' comment, but otherwise doesn't seem offended.]

Well, let's think--these two fall in love, get over all manner of hurdles to be together, some silly or romantic things happen, they kiss and then there's happily ever after. And then in the ever after portion, the sex becomes stale, the jokes become jabs, and the prince of mystery becomes the same as your average Joe down the block.

[He spreads his arms out, as if waiting for applause that will never come.]

And your opinion, my dear lady?

[paucipan]

[Plumeria can't help but snort at all of that, undignified as hell. Oh, this one's definitely a charmer, now isn't he. But there is almost the ghost of a smirk that Plumeria hides almost daintily behind her hand at that.]

Wow. I suppose I should give you some credit for how realistic such an ending would be, but I could hardly imagine the negative reaction that the author would get. You'd likely see people burning these books in droves.

[And for what it's worth, she sounds amused as hell by the assertion. Of course, her face briefly goes a little sour at the pet name--]

First of all, none of that 'dear lady' nonsense. Save it for someone who could actually use it. [jesus plum] But I was thinking it might be more of a tragedy. One of them gets caught up in a fight that they can't possibly win and dies in the arms of their beloved, who claims that they'll never fall in love again...only to wind up repeating the cycle with yet another individual after crying for a few chapters. Humans are nothing if not fickle creatures, after all.

[scouserer]

Just plain Plumeria, then.

[If he remembers correctly from the profiles, at least. Constantine smirks.]

People don't want to read about realism--it reminds them too much about their own sordid lives. What does sell is ultra-tragic or sickeningly sweet stories. Regardless of readers' reactions, it'll get the press out about your book.

[Like people who hate-read books, sometimes! That's still a sale you've got under your belt.]

Now, that's a proper tragedy. Some may say humans are bound to repeat the same mistakes over and over again--undone by their own hands, as it were.

[paucipan]

[...Man, she hates to say that Constantine isn't wrong, because that's agreeing with a human and agreeing with a human is a sin that she can never forgive??? Ever??? But man, mood, dude.]

That's just humans for you, you know. Utterly basic creatures bound to their own sordid desires. They can't even handle their own reality, so they fall into the realm of fantasy in order to stave off their unhappiness.

[If Plumeria had a cup of tea, she'd be sipping it much like a certain green frog right about now.

Of course, Plumeria puffs up with a tiny bit of pride at the last comment, smirking a little more openly.]

Exactly. They'll never learn...but now you've made me curious about how they end this book off. Let's just skip through the drivel and see what sort of ending there is...

[And imagine there's a dramatic drumroll as Plumeria flips through to the end of the book, skimming over the epilogue, and--!

...

Well, Plumeria's face contorts into something sour.]

Well, that's an utterly cliché way to end it off. [Like. She almost sounds impressed. If Constantine wants to read it she's got it open but just assume it is the most dry and clinical funeral scene in the world. It's terrible.] The man died to protect the woman, and they simply ended it off after the funeral. Not even a little bit of introspection! Really, it's as if they didn't even try.

[scouserer]

[Good thing Constantine is fated to have two (2) tea drops in the next week so they can sip tea over this shit together. If Plumeria likes green tea.....

Anyways, Constantine leans forward as Plumeria skims through the book, craning his neck to study her reaction. And he's all the more delighted when she reveals the grand finale.]

Hmph. Of course they'd use her dying to invoke some sort of character development for him--but the fact they don't even follow up seems like a slap in the face. That's what happens when you rush a manuscript.

[He makes a little tsk-ing noise, shaking his head.]

You gotta at least give humans credit where credit's due--the ones that do have imagination stand out and end up actually making some progress, as insignificant as it may seem. Hell, look at Shakespeare.

[paucipan]

[...Honestly, she's never had it but she'd legit love it, might have to take him up on that offer--

But god, Plumeria can't believe she's thinking it but she's in agreement. What is this bullshit???]

They really must have been in a rush, then, because wow. That was impressively bad.

[...Of course, Constantine has brought up something and Plumeria has not heard of it, so--]

Who exactly is Shakespeare, though? What did he manage to write that's so interesting?

[scouserer]

[Congrats, Plumeria, you're being suckered into agreeing with a mortal. Constantine has that effect on people, sometimes.]

Famous human writer, born in the 16th century. Wrote an impressive amount of plays--if we believe that he's just one person, of course.

[Since, y'know, there's all sorts of conspiracy theories about William Shakespeare not even existing...! Or being multiple people.]

You've got your historical plays, your comedies, your tragedies.... [He grimaces.] Frankly, I couldn't care less about some rotting old git's writing, 'specially when school teachers beat me over the head with his verses, but there's probably something worth saying in how writers keep reusing his material to spin new tales.

[Maybe they should see if there's any in the library? Maybe Plumeria would be interested.]

[paucipan]

[...Oh, this already sounds like so much. Plumeria seems more than interested, though--]

Really now? Interesting...either one person or perhaps a collective of people under a... [What did the humans call it again--] pen name, if I recall the term correctly? Either way, to be able to write such a range...well, if he's certainly inspired this much, it might be worth seeing just what they get their inspiration from.

[Plumeria closes the book she currently has, placing it atop the pile of shitty books she's read. There is. There's so much shit.]

Shall we see if we might be able to find anything?

[...so is now a bad time to admit i'm unfamiliar with a lot of his work, feel free to inflict whatever you want since the mods said it'd be okay--]

[scouserer]

[Constantine nods, moving towards the bookshelves to scan the volumes. He runs a finger over the spines before eventually selecting a weathered book and holding it up for Plumeria.]

Here's a comedy. Much Ado About Nothing. This is one of the few I really bothered to pay attention to. S'about two people who constantly argue, and their friends conspire to make 'em fall in love.

[He tosses it in Plumeria's direction.]

S'got bits of references to countries and shit, but beyond that, it's easy enough to follow. Most of his comedies end in marriage.

[Because haha, true love is a joke!!!!]