A bit of whimsy

[soul_sister]

Date & Time: October 5th, Evening
Location: The cafeteria
Characters: OPEN TO ALL
Summary: MOONWALKING!!/The gravity breaks for an hour
Warnings: NONE

[Perhaps the refrigerator cycled at the exact same moment that someone started reheating some of that sorry excuse we have for moon food. Maybe at that exact moment, the power grid strained from bringing another section of the base into life supporting function. Maybe at that exact moment ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAPPENED AT ONCE.


Whatever actually happened, the lights flicker and go dark, leaving only the hallway illumination, and your stomach twists as gravity loses a bit of a grip on you.

You're not FLOATING, but neither are you quite as heavy as you used to be.]

What on Earth?

Comments

[velveteened]

( WELLP.

it's — a curious sensation, a little nauseating which is a little inconvenient when one's come to make some tea, and the surprise makes him freeze as he feels himself lift somewhat in the dark.

this

this is going to make pouring tea a little complicated, isn't it. )

[soul_sister]

[For her part, Rosette had found the phenomena of jumping to be the most wonderful thing possible. She drifts to the ground, skirts (Properly held, of course) sinking around her in slow motion.

She stops to think a moment, and points to some poor, random bystander - Oz - and demands.]

Quick! Do a flip!

[oncearanger]

[Well, there goes Billy's drink. It arcs up, gathering in a somewhat spherical shape, before slowly trickling down. Weird.

The drink's former owner is teetering precariously on the bench before he thinks to cling to it, temporarily planting his head on the table.

That doesn't stop him from weakly adding his two cents, though.]

Technically, I'd say we're on the moon.

[soul_sister]

[She can't help but wince at that. That could NOT have been even remotely pleasant.]

I knew that. But what's going on?

[There's a certain horror and wonder that one only encounters having lived before a space program or any measurable idea of what was REALLY outside of the atmosphere.

It turns to alarm as stomping a foot causes a little, drifting hop on her part.]

.... huuuh....

[oncearanger]

I believe it's a malfunction in the artificial gravity.

[It's just spilled water and not vomit, thankfully. At least he can hold the temporary nausea down.

He's not exactly taking to this like a fish to water, it's been a while, but he's experienced enough in low gravity to soon curl up, bounce off, and gently drift to a stop nearby.

You're all right. Just give yourself time to adjust, then practice moving.

[soul_sister]

I'm not sure if I should be impressed or horrified...





[Judging by a little hops here and there, the former is winning out quickly. Though it comes to a stop watching his small jump with wide eyes.]

I will, but... That looks unreal.

[oncearanger]

I've lived in conditions like this before. It never really stops feeling unnatural when I've lived most of my life on the earth.

But there are some interesting possibilities.

[After a moment of grounding, he grins and pushes off as hard as he can. He soars much higher than usual, twists at the top, then gently tumbles down as gracefully as someone can in this environment.]

Like that.

[soul_sister]

[WHY DOES EVERYONE'S REALITY HAVE SPACESHIPS BUT HERS? She really can't help a jealous huff!! However, at the show... She's never been an acrobatic type, not even slightly. Her combat style has always necessitated her two feet on solid ground..

But, who can deny that looks amazing? Her laugh is almost childlike delight, before she settles into a CHALLENGING stance, hands on her hips.]

Think you can hit the ceiling?

[oncearanger]

Easily. But I might cheat slightly.

[Challenge accepted. Billy moonbounces his way toward the edge o the room, crouches, and then flies---again, carefully twisting and kicking away from the wall. With that extra leverage, he hits the ceiling, twisting around to kick off and fly toward the ground.

He lands, laughing with his arms outstretched.]

I can't deny that that's an enjoyable use of the situation.

[soul_sister]

[That gets outright applause.]

Not bad!

Why even bother with gravity in the first place?

[She, herself, eyes one of the tables, CONSIDERING. Surely with how slow it is, falling can't HURT here.]

[oncearanger]

It's useful for keeping us safe.

And for allowing us to drink without risk of odd spillages.

[Billy sees that gleam in her eyes and grins.]

Go ahead, try it! You'll land safely, no problem. Low gravity means you won't hit the ground hard.

1/2

[soul_sister]

But juggling water... That's gotta be worth the cleanup.

And excuse me, I need to be amazing for a moment.

[She grins back at the encouragement... Climbing up onto the table was a bit of a trial all of itself. Even small movements had a bit more lift than she expected and falling is STILL an instinct. Still, when she's satisfied with the solid table under her feet, she takes a deep breath and JUMPS, kicking off with a certain strength and fearlessness. She twists into a summersault mid air...]

[selfless]

[Oh my oh my oh my..... As the lights flicker out, there's a pause... and then a soft pink glow appears. Yep, one of the girls in the cafeteria seems to have grown a pair of sparkling pink wings, and is using them to-- fly right into a wall.

Yep, the physics of flying work differently when there is no gravity, and Colette didn't predict that] Ow...

[aaaand because the pink light is focused around her, Colette can't really see anyone else in the cafeteria. But she's pretty sure there were people in here, maybe they'd have an idea for how she can use her wings] Hello?

[soul_sister]

[Except, it's really hard to STOP spinning, even when you uncurl. Instead of the graceful touchdown Billy had demonstrated, this was more of a ... landing gently on her face.]

[oncearanger]

Whoa.

[Billy bounces over, gently offering his hand. He's wavering a little.]

Are you all right?

[soul_sister]

[ANOTHER ANGEL? Or maybe a saint either way, Rosette stops and st-

Make that cringes as Colette kind of fwumps into the wall.

Rosette picks her way carefully around the tables to the young girl glowing at the far end of the room.]

Are you okay?

[selfless]

Yes! I'm sorry... [oof, COME ON COLETTE, she squints into the darkness and starts to see the form of Rosette as she moves]

D-Do you know what happened?

[soul_sister]

I think the only thing I broke was my pride...

[acemedium]

... Woah.

[Maya's a little disoriented but not as put off by this change as she should be. She does a hop in the air. How cool.]

Quick, do a barrel roll! [DEJA VU...]

[soul_sister]

Someone said the artificial gravity's gone off...

... Can you do that normally or is that something to do with all of this too?

[soul_sister]

[There's only one thing to do when one doesn't actually know how to do what was commanded. She points at Maya instead.]

YOU FIRST!

[oncearanger]

I've done a lot of that over the years. It recovers.

[He twists and clumsily flops over the table, but the effect is ruined by the low gravity causing him to bounce up.]

See?

[selfless]

I can always do this! But, um... I've never tried to fly like this it's really strange!

Let's see, is there any way I can turn it back on? I-I don't know very much about technology, but I could follow instructions?

[owlbrain]

[there goes his protein bar..... the darkness is enough to disorient anyone who didn't expect this, but it helps when you have stellar night-owl vision. Not that it's obvious, because of his glasses and the way he squawks in an undignified way....]

Did the gravity get turned off...!?

[soul_sister]

[She can't help but grin and she pushes herself up. It's a wobbly thing, but she uses the float time to get her legs under her and her skirts smoothed.]

It's a convincing argument, mister.