Video | un: apollo2

[solarcharged]

[ Six days since the music started. Six days since the station began the slow descent in to whatever sleep deprived madness it is currently in. Apollo doesn't technically need to sleep but even he is feeling the effects of 144 hours of non-stop power/shower tunes, judging by how he looks on the video feed. Tense. Worn. Considerably more haggard than his usual sunny self. It's not a good look. ].

Six days. Six days. [ He repeats himself through gritted teeth; there's almost an edge of pleading in there (won't somebody give them a break?). Nearly an entire week with no break from the relentless noise and it's making everyone on the station fall apart more than usual. ]

Has anyone figured out where it's actually coming from yet? Consider this an open call for ideas on what to do to stop it. Before we kill each other.

[ Although truthfully Apollo wouldn't mind a bit of casual violence right now given the familiar intro of the latest song that plays in the background... ]

Comments

[mirrortide]

Do I?

[SHE DOES. and her awful smile gives that away.]

[solarcharged]

Yes. You do.

[ Don't give him that shit, Lapis! ]

You could help, you know. Instead of sitting outside and being smug about it.

[mirrortide]

Nah. No one else has been able to figure it out yet, and it's not like I know how to work human equipment, so, you know. I'll probably just get in everyone's way. Best of luck, though.

[solarcharged]

[ stop it, he'll start feeling sorry for you!! ]

If you want to help then you can. Somebody will find something you can do.

[ a pause ]

Are you still outside?

[mirrortide]

Yeah right, with everyone losing their mind? I don't think so.

And yeah, I am. It's a lot quieter out.

[solarcharged]

All right. Wait there. I'm coming outside.

[mirrortide]

I don't know exactly how much I trust you.

[Especially with how upset he's been with her thus far.]

[solarcharged]

Don't go getting scared on me now...

[ Which is neither confirmation nor denial on how much she should trust him. Oh well. Two minutes later and Apollo lets himself out of an airlock on deck 3, arcing slowly up and around the rings in a lazy, golden loop about the station in search for wherever Lapis is sitting. ]

[mirrortide]

[The problem is, while it's definitely quieter out in space? Lapis' communicator is definitely still blasting out the best hits of the 90's.

The current tune?

STOP RIGHT NOW, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I NEED SOMEBODY WITH A HUMAN TOUCH.

And Lapis? kicking her blue foot along with the tune while she's laid back on top of the station.]

[solarcharged]

[ It's sad that Apollo can't hear that song, because he would have loved it. But still, Apollo spots her from a distance (it's easier than he realised to spot a bright blue gem-person) and he arcs upwards towards Lapis in a golden burst of light.

And when he gets within distance he nudges (not kicks, definitely doesn't kick) her with a booted toe, as if to say wake the fuck up. It's not like he can just say 'hi'. ]

[mirrortide]

[It's a very good tune.

And Lapis jolts when she's nudged, and she scurries upwards into the vacuum of space with an instant flare of waterywings from her back, like an unreasonably skittish animal.

She gives him an Unsure look.

Spice girls continues on in the background.]

[solarcharged]

[ He throws his hands up in a gesture of peace - or at least, a gesture of I'm-not-going-to-kill-you - as Lapis takes to space. There are many people on the station who have annoyed the hell out of him recently but it's not like he's going to hurt any of them. Except Kovacs, maybe, and that was mainly for the good of the station's own sanity.

Apollo edges closer, a little side on, as if approaching a wild animal. And then, when he gets within touching distance...

He darts out with a hand, quickly tapping her on her shoulder, before speeding away from her in a flare of solar energy.

A very clear 'tag'. You're it, Lapis. Let's see how fast you are. ]

300 thousand times the speed of light,

[mirrortide]

[Lapis watches him very warily, jumping when she's touched, but when he speeds off, she just kind of watches him with a look.

Apparently, all he has to do is blink, before Lapis is suddenly beside him and keeping pace easily enough.]

What the heck was that for?

rest in fuckin pieces apollo

[solarcharged]

[ This - this isn't how tag is supposed to go. Especially not with Apollo, who is pretty damn sure that he's meant to be the faster one in this equation. He squints at Lapis, annoyed at the fact that she's keeping up the pace so easily, before veering off at a sharp turn, hurtling off in a completely different direction. ]

[mirrortide]

[For a moment? Lapis stops, just kind of flying in spot in confusion because??

Like, she has no idea what he's doing.

But also she's quick to flap after him again and catch up in literal no time, keeping pace yet again.]

What are you doing?

[solarcharged]

[ Nobody is meant to be able to catch up with Apollo. Even here, with his powers dwindling despite the constant presence of the alien star so near by, he's still so very confident that he should easily be the fastest and the strongest around. Because isn't that how it's meant to go?

Except... here Lapis is again, flapping easily at his elbow. Which means she's ridiculously fast. Maybe even faster than Apollo. He slowly eases up on the pace, now a good few thousand miles from the station, and pulls up his comms device to tap a quick message out on his wrist before twisting it around to show her: ]

How are you this fast??

Race me back to the station

[mirrortide]

[She gives the words a quick shrug, before nodding.]

Lapis Lazuli's just are, I guess? And sure. But I hope that's not as fast as you can go if you want to win.

[solarcharged]

[ Affronted (and already far too competitive for his own good) he gives Lapis a challenging look. Because those are fighting words.

He tries this time, he really does. He summons every inch of solar energy in his body, he calls on every single spark within every fibre of his being, and uses it all to hurtle back towards the station in an explosion of golden sunlight.

(Wreck him, Lapis. Just wreck him.) ]

[mirrortide]

[Apollo shoots off in a glorious beam of golden energy.

And then a shitty blue comet streaks past him, until it stops right outside the airlock door, arms crossed and amused in the worst way.

YOUR MOVE, APOLLO.]

[solarcharged]

[ He doesn't notice Lapis as she overtakes him, so intently and so furiously is Apollo focused on getting to the station. And he knows he's quick, despite how horribly weak the station makes him feel. So when he realises that she's there - and looking amused which is just terrible - Apollo practically crashes in to the side of the ship in horror.

The look of horror and confusion (and envy, let's be real) that Apollo gives her is plain. It speaks volumes. What the actual fuck, Lapis? HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS? ]

[mirrortide]

I already told you organics aren't cut out for spacefaring. [Lapis says, with a shitty little 'tsk'ing sound.]