Cruise Beautiful Lake Agloza (IC - SIGN UP FIRST)

by **Greater Orcadia** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 9:11 am

As the sound of Highland Cathedral wafted across the surface of the lake thanks to some Orcadian piper sat on a balcony somewhere, Penny and Evan looked at eachother

"Evan, we have adjoining cabins..>" she says with a mischievous look in her eye
"yeah we do, what are you thinking"

"wander if the ship's shop sells a water pistol?" replied Penny, "or perhaps a super soaker"

"you're not, Penn, for the love of god no" laughed Evan before glancing across to the notice going up and abruptly changing tone "Penn looks like the captain's table list has gone up"

Penny glances over to it before turning back to Evan "lets go and have a look", and so she wander's over with Evan following, though he peeled off to the bar to get a bottle of sparkling wine and a pair of glasses, turns to Penny and holds up the bottle, Penny nods approvingly (someone will get a soaking tonight!!) She then starts to read the names and the Gudfrey name leapt out at her though none of the others did, and so as Evan returns to Penny, she looks at Evan,
"Gudder's is at the table tonight" she says "and how fizzy is that sparkly

"very fizzy, be like fire hydrant when it goes off" replies Evan
"perfect, keep it aimed on the balcony when we do it we don't want to make the carpets sticky but Ryan is getting hot working those bagpipes, he needs cooling down" jokes Penny, she looks at her watch "we have a couple of hours, time to go and put the plan into action" and so off they walk to spice up someone's cruise

by **Greater Orcadia** » Sun Sep 10, 2023 10:43 am

Eventually Ryan the piper, knowing that the band is likely to be striking up a number soon moves on to the final piece for the night. To those living in Virginia, or perhaps fans of John Denver may well recognize the tune as take me home, country roads is now his focus, played soft and mellow (for a bagpipes).

In Penny's cabin Penny and Evan undress from their casuals and put on some more fitting attire. one simply does not wear jeans and a Tshirt at the captain's table, Evan is wearing a dark grey suit that could easily be permitted as attire for a black tie event, with Penny wearing a blue cocktail dress, letting the world see the rose tattoo on her right hand side, as well as her twin cybernetic legs and her cyber arm, and once dressed they begin to make their way down to the dining area where the captain will be hosting them, however on their way down they pass the shop and so start to browse for the water pistol they so desire to give Ryan a good soaking.

by **Glisandia** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 3:54 am

While the stewards and many of the staff prepared for the night's dinner service, a handful of the staff were still double checking that all the RHIBs were in good shape and ready for tomorrow. They also checked over the rest of the equipment, safety devices like life vests, and such. The rest of the Activities staff would assist in the morning to do one last check over.

They would have much more to do than just check over equipment when morning arrived. The passengers who had signed up for the activity would be put through a brief safety class on how to remain on the RHIBs, and what to do if they found themselves out of them, in the water. Then staff would ensure one by one each participant understood how their safety devices worked.

Virbana Island was one of the safest spots of land of the whole Lake Agloza region when it came to human interaction and clashing politics, but ironically, it was one of the most dangerous when it came down to wildlife and the elements. Still, it was worth the journey for thousands every year.

First Officer Astridsdottir had things well in hand on the bridge. All the technical issues they'd had earlier were but a memory, no small thanks to Chief Engineer Hoyt. The events of the previous evening were still unsettling for a lot of the crew, but they had decided to just try to get past it and ignore it.

Captain Stan Redmondsson stood looking at himself in the mirror in his cabin. His dress white uniform was in order, all thanks to the steward staff. He had shaved with no cuts this time. The only thing he could do nothing about were the large pouches under his eyes. He shrugged, then headed out to the special dinner he must host every night.

Chef Bonnefoy, the Phibetan master, and his galley team, had meticulously crafted the menu once again for the Special Captain's Table dinner. It was sent out to the special guests two hours ahead of time. Slipped under their doors in subtle fashion:

by **Greater Orcadia** » Fri Oct 13, 2023 1:56 am

Captain's table

Just prior to taking his seat, Evan checked his tie, making one final adjustment to it before following Penny to the table, the lights reflecting off the cyber-prosthetics that make up both of Penny's legs and one of her arms, the dress also shows off the tribal rose tattoo that goes up the side of her body, as well as let's the angel wing tattoo on her back also be seen. For this event, Penny has also removed the chain off her nose ring but left the bull ring in its place.

Evan pulls out the seat then pulls his own seat out the looks at the wine list, catching an eye of Penny who is eyeing up the glasswear
"No babe, not the captain's glass" he jokes. Prompting Penny to pretend to sulk before laughing.
"Vodka orange half please Evan" she says to Evan, before looking around for Jolene Gudfrey. From port ember

by **Cortexis** » Sun Oct 15, 2023 12:23 pm

Galvan checked his watch. It was high time they set out for the dinner. Dinner at the captain's table, such honour. Both Galvan and Artifia were looking forward to it ever since they recieved the invitation earlier this day. They were also glad it got colder in the evening. Unlike their visit to Vjoll, now it was cold enough to wear layers.
As Galvan adjusted his large black bowtie, going well with the gray suit he was wearing, Artifia put on a long high-necked dress and a bolero jacket, all in steel blue. It was an outfit that would hide all the numerous scars on her body. Back home in Krch, she would proudly show them off (excepts maybe the ones in certain private areas), but here the attention they would attract would not be the positive kind like in Cortexis.
"Marks of improvement or not, you look marvelous, darling.
"thank you."
That beaming smile was a rare occurence, but when it showed up on her face, it was well worth the wait.
Holding hands, they left their cabin and soon arrived at the captain's table. There were some people already seated. The one that really caught their interest was a woman with mechanical limbs.
Galvan pulled out Artifia's chair, then his own and they both took their seats.
After that, he checked the wine list, thinking it's a general drinks list. Realising his error, he turned the list aside so Artifia could also see, while whispering to her.
"So, what will it be?", he whispered.
She read it, maintaining a perfectly neutral expression.
"probably water.", she whispered back.
Galvan nodded. He'll probably have the same.

by **Greater Orcadia** » Tue Nov 07, 2023 1:17 pm

Sitting at the table, Penny with Evan sat across and so facing Penny took time to take in the new arrivals, Penny with her highland accent, Evan with his Californian accent both turned to the newcomers to the table
"Good afternoon" remarked Penny as Galvan and Artifia took their seats, "May we introduce ourselves, I'm Penny..."
and Evan followed up "...and I'm Evan, pleased to meet you"

Penny had clocked the two new arrivals also eyeing up the cybernetics, which move swiftly and almost silently however though they look good they won't replace the full functionality of her lost natural limbs however they do give her the ability to live a near - normal life so long as she remembers to keep the batteries charged up.

by **Mubata** » Thu Jan 04, 2024 6:36 am

Omari Sibatasenga was the Chief Steward employed by Sunrise on board the Upplausn. He was also very far from home. Glisandia and Lake Agloza were about as far as one could get from Mubata, and still stay on the same continent. His dark skin among very pale Northern Tavlyrian people was a reminder of that every day. Although some of the current passengers on board the ship were definitely people of color, that was not the normal for the area.

He had taken a brief moment before dinner service to have a smoke in an area that was employees only, aways down the deck from the dining room and galley.
It was a habit he had re-started recently, and regretted it almost daily. He checked the news from home on his phone and it wasn't good. Tenipako, his previous home city, was again erupting in violence as the gangs went through another cycle of trying to trade territory and seize business from each other. As always, civilians were in the collateral crossfire.

In his home tribal area, it was somewhat the same, but with the added bit of tensions on the border with Qasifya in that area, and throwing Qasifyan Arab tribes into the mix. The Nduloka, his people, in order to stay a viable mini-nation of power, had moved into the smuggling trade, which was proliferate on the border there. They vied with multiple gangs from the Zama, the most populous of the Mubatan tribes. In Tenipako, he had lost friends to smuggling and drug gang violence. In the Nduloka tribal area, he had lost cousins and uncles. On top of all that, the corrupt Fazembe regime was never lenient to anyone who was not ethnically Tizi, their origin tribe. Part of him ached for home, and the other part was glad the worst parts of Mubata were no longer in his face every day.

He got back to the galley and exchanged coats on his hook, as he didn't smoke with his steward jacket on. He had learned that early on after getting a stern talking to from Captain Redmondsson himself. As he never smoked inside cabins, it didn't have much chance to cling to his pants, so he never was so meticulous as that. He made the rounds checking on his people that they had their table areas all prepared, and a few minutes later, service started.

He was, as always, on the Captain's Table. He started out taking drink orders. The Cortexians just wanted water. That was fine. He understood. Not everyone imbibed alcohol, even on holiday. He got paid the same no matter what they all ate or drank, so it made no difference to him. He put an extra pitcher of the clear elemental liquid near their spot at the table, just in case they got extra thirsty. Sea voyages affected some people that way. Then he moved on to the next guests at the Captain's Table.

by **Greater Orcadia** » Sat Jan 06, 2024 10:59 am

With the steward coming around, Penny turned to face him, holding the wine list with her cyber-arm,
"aye the wee steward has come fo' the waine list, well I'll hae a wee glass of the ships house waine..." she turned to Evan and lifts her eyebrow as if to ask his choice.

"Same please penn" he replies, prompting Penny to add the second glass to the order.

Penny looks at the stweard and reads his face.
"Yae seem troubled, are yae Okay?" she asks

by **Cortexis** » Mon Jan 08, 2024 11:53 am

Seeing the couple was now engaged in discussion between themselves, Galvan waited for a long enough gap to join in. The notion of being so casual to the point of using someone's first name as literally the first thing he'll say to them seemed a bit strange to him, but no surname was given and thus it was justified at least.

"Evan, Penny... please excuse my severely delayed response, but I have been reading up on the offered drinks and hate to leave a train of thought suddenly severed, and I suddenly interrupting other people's conversation is not my favourite activity either. Thus, allow me to rectify this with an introduction. The name's Galvan Vektorin, this is my lovely wife Artifia."

Artifia gives the couple a small wave as Galvan orders two glasses of water, one flat and one carbonated, from a passing steward.

"Anyway, the pleasure is all ours. Where are you from, if I may ask?" He continues.

by **Greater Orcadia** » Sat Jan 20, 2024 10:18 am

Cortexis wrote:Seeing the couple was now engaged in discussion between themselves, Galvan waited for a long enough gap to join in. The notion of being so casual to the point of using someone's first name as literally the first thing he'll say to them seemed a bit strange to him, but no surname was given and thus it was justified at least.

"Evan, Penny... please excuse my severely delayed response, but I have been reading up on the offered drinks and hate to leave a train of thought suddenly severed, and I suddenly interrupting other people's conversation is not my favourite activity either. Thus, allow me to rectify this with an introduction. The name's Galvan Vektorin, this is my lovely wife Artifia."

Artifia gives the couple a small wave as Galvan orders two glasses of water, one flat and one carbonated, from a passing steward.

"Anyway, the pleasure is all ours. Where are you from, if I may ask?" He continues.

Penny, looking at Galvan with a smile replied, "Pleased to meet you. Evan is from California, I'm from Orcadia though soon we're moving to Iceland to start work there...."
As she moved her hands subconsiously, the neural detect system in her cyber arm sent signals to the relevant parts causing the arm to move as naturally as it could with a slight whirr from the servos, though the chrome glistened in the lights coming down from the ceiling.
"...and you?" she asked

Penny's accent is naturally quite notable and she has to work to hide it, however she is proud of her Orcadian roots so will rarely hide it though Evan, being with Penny now for some time has however started to loose his Californian twang as it fades towards an Orcadian accent, making it quite hard to sometimes work out where he is actually from as his accent is not quite Night City California or Aberdeen Orcadia, it is somewhere in the middle.

by **Cortexis** » Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:18 am

Being pretty much an utter opposite of a globetrotter, Galvan has limited knowledge of any of the places mentioned, but they do ring a bell.
"Ahh, California. I have heard many things regarding that state... seems to have plenty of well-developed population centres and an overal friendly population... Artifia and I have considered a vacation there once, seeing it's prominence in popular culture... but in the end we decided the climate was too hot for us. Still, for someone used to heat, it must be a rather pleasant place to live.

As for Orcadia, you must excuse me my ignorance but I find my knowledge of that country harshly lacking... although I suppose it will be possible to broaden my horizons during the following conversation, won't it?

Anyway, me and my dear Artifia are from Cortexis. Perhaps you have heard of the country, perhaps not, the country rarely gets involved in international happenings so it's understandable."

While Galvan is speaking, Artifia switches between looking at the couple and sneaking quick glances at Penny's arm, smiling subtly.

by **Greater Orcadia** » Sun Jan 28, 2024 5:35 am

Evan chimed in....
"California has its issues, its not the population as a whole but those in positions of political and corporate power, especially in Night City. There have been disappearances, lets say. BUT that's another story. Northern California is nicer, its less populated, especially in the Cascades area near the Oregon border, so Galvan what is it you do for a living?" he asks

Penny picked up on the Orcadia comment,
"You should visit, its a great place, but im lacking knowledge on Cortexis, perhaps you can tell me about the place?"
Penny notices Artifia looking at her arm, as such she stretches her cyber arm so she can have a closer look. "it Daenna bite" she jokes

by **Mubata** » Sun Jan 28, 2024 9:01 am

Omari continued to service the Captain's Table. He had an assistant, so it made things smoother to get everyone their beverage orders, and start to get appetizers out to the table.

One of the Orcadian guests, he believed her name was Penny Snyder, asked:
"Yae seem troubled, are yae Okay?"

It was annoying mostly because he prided himself on keeping an unreadable, but pleasant face when interacting with the passengers. He must have slipped at some point. Also, if there was an issue, he was not going to cross that line and confide in a passenger, if anyone. He would confide in a fellow crew member, and possibly a superior if he didn't think it would have repercussions.

He put on his best, warm smile.
"No, of course not. I am fine. Are you not enjoying your time at the Table? Was there anything the matter with your drink or your accommodations?"

by **San Rosito** » Sun Jan 28, 2024 9:14 am

Unlike Omari, Pedro Fortunado was not as adept at hiding his emotion on his face. He had arrived, one of the later attendees to the Captain's Table, and other than Activities Director Trygve Karlsson, and the Captain himself, he was one of the few crew at the Table. At least his worrisome face could be confused for social anxiousness.

He got a glare from Captain Redmondsson for his late arrival. Karlsson, the other Glisandian, was much too animated in talking with some of the guests to notice. Trygve was engaging who Pedro believed to be a Port Emberian woman, and from rumors, a quite successful entrepreneur in the world. Godfrey? Gudfrey? It was something like that. Other crew officers did not have the highest opinion of Karlsson, exactly for this type of kiss-up behavior, but they did agree he was a much better fit for the job than Walsman, the previous Activities Director, who had the personality of a deck plank.

Pedro smiled and passively listened to the conversations happening. He tried to get his mind off the communication issues and the fact that the Yellowsians, or some segment of their government or military, were likely interfering with a pleasure, luxury cruise for no good reason.

Had relations really stagnated that much for Northern Tavlyrians since the War? Part of why he'd taken this job in this cold part of the world was because he'd been assured that all that business was long since settled. Hopefully, the matter was over now and the YSR government had their rogues under control. Unless the jamming op had been fully sanctioned...

by **Greater Orcadia** » Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:40 pm

Penny nodded at the reassurance, she knows that mental health issues are something that should not be hidden away, all thanks to a course she did a few weeks before coming to the cruise, oh the joys of work training courses
"aye everything is fine, we have calm waters now, and I'm glad we're all out of the YSR. That place, the amount of hoops I had to go through to get a visa to visit" As she spoke, she read Omari's eyes, which are with everyone, the gateway to their soul.

As Pedro came to his seat, Penny turned to him a and smiled "Good evening" she said, before turning back to the guests who had also joined the captain, as well as the captain, she wanted to give someone a wish, Ottar the tour guide from the YSR, with the amount of "slimy penguins" that were watching the tour, she does wonder about him and what will become of him, however There was someone on the cruise that Penny wanted to check in with, Jolene Gudfrey before she has to leave the cruise in a few ports time in order to catch a flight to Keflavik - her truck is already there with its trailer, and soon with a house purchased in Grindavik, she will be moving to Basaltic Iceland.

by **Mubata** » Wed Jan 31, 2024 8:11 pm

Omari continued to work the Captain's Table, but was still talking with the Orcadians at the same time. Or one in particular, rather.

The woman named Penny nodded to him.
"Aye! Everything is fine. We have calm waters now, and I'm glad we're all out of the YSR. That place, the amount of hoops I had to go through to get a visa to visit." As she spoke, she seemed to be looking for a reaction in Omari's eyes.

He continued to smile. He spoke Common (English) with a very proper Anglo accent.
"Right. Well, I don't know that I could speak for the politics of the situation, but it was certainly unnerving. All seems to be under control now."
He stared right back at her, into her eyes, while she was trying to probe him through his own eyes. It wasn't proper where he was from, and considered very rude, but he doubted an Orcadian would know of Mubatan customs. Above all, the dictum per Captain Redmondsson, his highest superior on board the boat who happened to be sitting a few chairs down at the table, was to not panic the passengers. Not to lie, but not to burden them unnecessarily with information they didn't need to know.

by **San Rosito** » Wed Jan 31, 2024 8:18 pm

As one of the Orcadian guests greeted him, Communications Officer Pedro Fortunado snapped his head back the other way, drawn away from his lazy attention to Karlsson and his quarry, Ms. Gudfrey.

"Oh...Yes, Good evening. I'm Pedro Fortunado, the Communications Officer for the ship. And who might you be?"
His stark white jacket with epaulettes would probably indicate that he was an officer of the crew, but he should still make an effort to clarify, at least in his mind.

by **Glisandia** » Wed Jan 31, 2024 8:42 pm

Captain Stan Redmondsson had arrived at the table about mid-way to the seating of the guests. He made polite nods and mumbled pleasantries to all the guests that acknowledged his arrival. He was actually rather sober this night, having decided to hold off while he still tried to digest the events of the past day. However, as he sat and watched the passengers at the Table, including Trygve Karlsson talking up a rich Port Emberian socialite, he changed his mind. He needed to fortify himself to get through this.

He waved Omari over after he was done talking to an Orcadian guest.
"Hey, Omari." He lowered his voice several octaves so that only the Chief Steward could hear him. "Omari...listen, I need you to get me a gin and tonic. Scratch that. Just gin. A triple."

Omari squinted as he bowed towards the Captain's face. "Sir, I don't think that's a good idea."

"I'm not on duty. Not manning the bridge."

"Still...You are representing the crew and the company here...Sir. You sort of are on duty"

"Fine. A double then. Please don't make this a thing. I'm asking you nicely, Mr. Sibatasenga."

"Yes, sir. A double gin...and tonic. Coming right up."

Captain Stan sat back. "Great. See you then."
He continued to nod and smile at the invited guests to his table, oblivious to his private conversation with Omari.

[OOC: Extra RP courtesy of Mubata]

by **Cortexis** » Thu Feb 01, 2024 3:26 pm

Greater Orcadia wrote:Evan chimed in....
"California has its issues, its not the population as a whole but those in positions of political and corporate power, especially in Night City. There have been disappearances, lets say. BUT that's another story. Northern California is nicer, its less populated, especially in the Cascades area near the Oregon border, so Galvan what is it you do for a living?" he asks

Penny picked up on the Orcadia comment,
"You should visit, its a great place, but im lacking knowledge on Cortexis, perhaps you can tell me about the place?"
Penny notices Artifia looking at her arm, as such she stretches her cyber arm so she can have a closer look. "it Daenna bite" she jokes

The couple exchanged brief introductions with the newly arriving guests, before Galvan resumed the started conversation with Penny and Evan.
"What I do for a living? Well, I am basically what some call a "professional descendant" - living off the wealth amassed by ancestors... although I certainly try to spend my time better than many of my colleagues..."
He turned to Penny. "You asked about Cortexis... well, we're a rather small, landlocked country that tries not to get too involved in international politics. Not out of isolationism, rather just out of a lack of neccesity. Our culture places high value on the pursuit of knowledge and broadening one's horizons." He chuckles. "Say I, having just demonstrated total ignorance regarding your countries... Well, I suppose I was always more interested in anatomy than political geography."

Artifia, on the other hand, makes full use of Penny's offer to observe her arm more closely, happy to see a fellow augmented person.
"Such craftsmanship. Pardon me if I am improper", she turns to Penny, "but was this replacement voluntary or neccesary?"

by **Greater Orcadia** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 10:19 am

"Sounds interesting" comments Evan as Penny turned to Artifia "so if me and Penny were to visit, where would be the best place to visit?" he asks

"yae no impropper bae asking how it happened, and its a frequent question" she explained "...Just when I was back stateside where I met Evan, there was some things that the city mayor wanted to keep hidden, and well things had to be removed, and so someone tried tae remove things, unfortunately I was in the way. last thing i remember was a white flash, then waking up in hospital minus a few bits and a ringing headache. Turns out someone had tossed a hand grenade and that's what did the damage. I got this arm and both legs. Mayor is in jail now along with a few others, all doing long terms, and its all to do with Kidneygate where rich corporates were having homeless removed off the streets and farmed for organs. He wanted to keep his city safe from the blight of homeless and wanted to ensure that his crowning hospital could get organs for people quicker, so rather than wait for a donor they would send a squad out to get an organ and the city looses a homeless person. The crap hit the fan when they realised what they had done as at the time of the incident my father worked as a member of the diplomatic service in the states..." Penny pauses and takes a sip of her drink "...and so long as the batteries are kept charged I have the ability to walk and such, even drive, problems occur when its really humid as water in the sockets mean the IDNS system doesnt work as well as mk1 fleshy limb because the sweat prevents the signal from getting to the electrodes. There is DNS which has a hot-shoe at the end of the residual limb but that can be troublesome and is more surgically invasive"

by **Glisandia** » Sat Apr 06, 2024 9:29 am

Captain Redmondsson lost the smile to his face as he heard the story about Penny lost her limbs. It wasn't normal dinner table talk, but it couldn't be helped. He took a sip of his drink and thought about attacking his salad.
"That sounds quite traumatic. Sorry you had to go through all that. I've heard of California, in North America, but never that it was so violent."
He put his glass down and picked up his fork.

by **San Rosito** » Sat Apr 06, 2024 9:34 am

Pedro, meanwhile, was enthralled by the story. He managed to close his mouth. "Dios! That is incredible! Why would they do such a thing to anyone, or several someones?"

He had to admit his own nation had a very checkered past when it came to the poor and homeless. Things had not gotten better since he left. The rich got richer, the Council junta fed more into defense for wars that had no need or reason to be fought, and the bulk of his people were getting closer to the brink of starvation. A decent amount of exporting of agricultural and mineral resources kept things from getting too bad. That, and if stories were to be believed, a vibrant illicit drug trade.

by **Greater Orcadia** » Sun Apr 07, 2024 1:34 am

Penny glanced over to ghe captain,
"unfortunately things are not alwats quite what they seem in many countries, as for the trauma, Dont remember much, just a white flash then waking up in the hospital minus my legs and an arm, however what doesnt kill you makes you stronger. Night City is a cess pit of evil and I was unfortunate enough to be there, however they say its cleaning up and much of the corruption is gone, I doubt it and I dont plan on going back there anytime soon, We're moving to Iceland after the cruise to the Selfoss, We were going to move to Grindavik but volcanic activity threatens the place, however seeing a volcano erupt is on my bucket list and there are places that can be done safely and South-West Iceland is one such place, It will also allow me to cross off seeing the Nothern Lights too"

Evan took a sip of his drink and turned to Pedro.
"Sir, people will do anything to cling to power even when its not always theirs to cling to, Penny's incident was one of those incidents"

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