And no, it doesn't sound impossible. By the time I was born, human society was largely considered post-racial, but in some ways racism was only superseded by prejudice between sentient species.
Ah. We have some of that, with nonhuman species. But most of our planets don't have the concept of race within humans to begin with. Some are 'monoracial.'
This mean you are from Earth? Just not from when Patrick Swayze and American media imperialism dominated the culture?
I've been wondering if it's harder to tolerate being confined to this house, when you're used to traveling between planets. I take it Vulcan is one, fro your galaxy?
Yes. Vulcan is the name of both the planet and its dominant species.
I don't know if it's objectively harder. I wouldn't exactly call life in this house monotonous. But I do struggle with the persistent sameness of one environment. Confinement isn't easy when you're used to exploring the stars.
[oh well you know i fucking hate it, i'm supposed to be doing something else, something important, with someone important, and if i was supposed to be here, she would be too.]
Oh well, you know. I fucking hate it. I'm supposed to be doing something important with someone important. And if I was supposed to be here, she would be too.
[some truths are easy to tell.]
I also had more or less a whole planet to myself. So this is weird.
Wouldn't have said I was much of an explorer, though. If you have a curious character, that could take you far, in this place.
Definitely not. [ When she thinks extrovert, she thinks Tilly, and Michael couldn't be more different. ] Humans are social animals, though. Prolonged isolation has effects.
[ He thinks about texting her a few times after they got locked in with each other — it's the third or fourth time when he actually pulls the trigger, shying away from the earnestness of I had a nice time and I'd like to see you again. ]
is "mike" the kinda thing you deck people for, or do you have any nicknames?
[ She wants to ask if increased longevity is one of his abilities but she is smoothly distracted by the ship question. ]
Yes. When I left my universe, I was operating a small freight ship with hardly enough space for me plus cargo. She always got me where I needed to go, though. I called her the Alice after a children's book my foster mother read to me.
Discovery is the ship I belong to as crew. It's larger than this house and the surrounding grounds and faster than light. That's home.
[ She knew about his strength — that's all over the network. Heat vision came up organically when they were snowed in together. But flight is something she immediately connects with. ]
I am. I'm very interested. [ Understatement. ] How far can you go without restrictions?
[ How to answer honestly without answering honestly... ]
Oh. Sure.
My crew was supposed to follow me through the wormhole and meet me on the other side. I hadn't caught up with them yet when I was taken from my world, but I haven't given up. I'll find them when I make it home.
oh, fuck yeah. all the stuff you describe, it's like i mean, obviously i've never seen anything like it before. don't know if there's much about the past that'd surprise you.
I CHOSE YOU AS GUARDIANS TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE INCLUDING YOURSELVES YOU TRIED TO LEAVE YOU TRIED TO OPEN DOORS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ALMOST DID FINE.
BARRIER REINFORCEMENT: MAXIMUM PROTECTION PROTOCOL: ALL RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY THE SEVEN NAMED ESPECIALLY YOU SEVEN WHO JUST TRIED TO LEAVE
YOU ENDANGERED THEM YOU ENDANGERED EVERYONE YOU ENDANGERED YOURSELVES
I WON'T FORGIVE THIS BUT I WON'T LET IT HAVE YOU EITHER.
[cassian doesn't regret trying; they had to know more than the lies this place was telling them. but he does regret, the instant that the doors to the house slam shut and everything goes wrong, that three people are trapped out there. it's like scarif all over again, when he'd listened to all the lines on his comlink go silent one by one, and he'd known exactly what that had meant, what he'd led all those people to.
he's not stupid enough to think that isn't a possibility here and now, too.
the witch he doesn't know at all, and the woman who'd helped pull him out of the lake, barely more than that. out of that number, michael is the one he's most familiar with, so he sends:]
[the fact that he gets a response at all, however garbled, is an answer to his second question — or, at least, he'll take it as one for now.
a part of him wishes it were possible to consult with kleya, somehow; maybe she could figure out how to untangle all of this. but it isn't, so, squinting, he has what he's able to pull out: readings concerning outside.]
[ Lockdown has begun. News of it has yet to catch but it won't be long; people are always flitting in and out of the house. Until his involvement becomes public, he's using every available resource in security to find a single open door or window. ]
[ Gabriel winces, holding the phone away from his ear. Nonetheless, he catches everything, and prioritizes. ]
They're scrambling you. What's the nature of the injury? [ In case he's getting just as chopped and screwed. ] Repeat: What is the nature of the injury?
[ It could be the barrier, and the three of them are the unharmed subjects. Or it could be the other way around. It wouldn't surprise him if the house was somehow picking and choose words to confuse and panic him. ]
[ Michael can hear him clearly but her hopes of returning a clear transmission are low. It's an imperfect solution, and quite a deep pull, but she has confidence that Gabriel will recognize her switch to a brevity code.
She repeats her message several times, hoping for each word to make it through at least once. ]
[ KEY: 1. Begin using briefed communication procedures to counter communications jamming. 2. No visible battle damage. 3. A SUSPECT whose orbital parameters are such that it may become a collection and/or counterspace concern to a spacecraft. 4. Aircrew does not have visual contact with the TARGET or BANDIT. 5. Defined area is not expected to receive fire. ]
[ Gabriel is spinning plates, using all the time he's got left with the resources he's, from the Balfours' perspective, abused. Anyone available, he's directing to test possible exits, and keep a lid on the lockdown. Any real power he has, he used up facilitating the breakout. It's a matter of minutes before he loses the trust of everyone in this room.
He couldn't be more grateful to be working with a professional. Swapping to text, he sends several, ]
ROGER - GREEN LIGHT - HOUSE SICK
[ I hear you. Proceed with the mission. The manor has shut down. ]
[ Over the next three days, Michael is able to employ code, sometimes quite creatively, to keep Gabriel apprised as much as possible despite the interference. On the morning of the fourth day, when the van doors finally give and the camera crew flees, she types her first full message in days while trekking back across the estate. ]
We're out. Walking back to the manor now. ETA 25 minutes.
[ In that time, Lorca is not stripped of his rank nor his post. The atmosphere turns on him — it's clear he's not welcome there. But he doesn't need to be liked. Every day, he has eyes on the van, he has an ear out for egress. ]
Lockdown appears to have been lifted. A medical team will meet you. [ He'll be with them. ]
[ In the hierarchy of needs, thirst and hunger take oppressive reign. A catalogue of textbook symptoms and full-body weakness make the walk back to the house more of a stumble, here and there. Not near enough for Michael Burnham to deprioritize the mission. ]
We got something. The data is on my phone.
[ If she loses consciousness, he'll know where to look. ]
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@qimir | text
Date: 2025-12-29 10:57 pm (UTC)I just learned what white people are. The concept doesn't exist where I come from. Does that sound impossible to you?
no subject
Date: 2025-12-29 11:42 pm (UTC)And no, it doesn't sound impossible. By the time I was born, human society was largely considered post-racial, but in some ways racism was only superseded by prejudice between sentient species.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 01:22 am (UTC)This mean you are from Earth? Just not from when Patrick Swayze and American media imperialism dominated the culture?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-27 06:06 pm (UTC)It's nice to speak to someone else from a spacefaring universe. There aren't many of us here.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-29 03:10 am (UTC)I've been wondering if it's harder to tolerate being confined to this house, when you're used to traveling between planets. I take it Vulcan is one, fro your galaxy?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-29 04:02 am (UTC)I don't know if it's objectively harder. I wouldn't exactly call life in this house monotonous. But I do struggle with the persistent sameness of one environment. Confinement isn't easy when you're used to exploring the stars.
What is it like for you?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-29 04:06 am (UTC)Oh well, you know. I fucking hate it. I'm supposed to be doing something important with someone important. And if I was supposed to be here, she would be too.
[some truths are easy to tell.]
I also had more or less a whole planet to myself. So this is weird.
Wouldn't have said I was much of an explorer, though. If you have a curious character, that could take you far, in this place.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-29 11:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-30 12:26 am (UTC)What's the designation in this world. 'Extrovert.' That what you are?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-31 09:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-31 09:48 pm (UTC)[he's not surprised! not exactly. ]
I avoided being alone too long. Still do. Harder to be useful when you're actively hallucinating.
✉️ text — un: homelander.
Date: 2026-01-29 03:29 am (UTC)is "mike" the kinda thing you deck people for, or do you have any nicknames?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-29 03:45 am (UTC)Mike was my dad.
I don't have a nickname but I do have a title. Commander.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-29 05:05 am (UTC)commander, huh? navy, or some other branch?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-29 05:38 am (UTC)I'm Starfleet. It won't exist for another century in the present timeline.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-29 06:18 am (UTC)[ The thought actually starts sending him into a spiral, so he pivots: ]
you got your own ship?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-29 09:38 pm (UTC)Yes. When I left my universe, I was operating a small freight ship with hardly enough space for me plus cargo. She always got me where I needed to go, though. I called her the Alice after a children's book my foster mother read to me.
Discovery is the ship I belong to as crew. It's larger than this house and the surrounding grounds and faster than light. That's home.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-29 09:47 pm (UTC)don't know if i've ever seen a craft that big outside of a ... no, i think even most aircraft carriers wouldn't be quite that big.
do you miss it? home? or being in space?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-29 11:50 pm (UTC)I do. I miss exploring the galaxy. I miss my crew. I miss the thrill of flying. There's nothing like it.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-30 02:57 am (UTC)i can get you a close second, if you're interested.
i can fly, as far as this place lets anyone go anywhere.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-30 06:48 am (UTC)[ She knew about his strength — that's all over the network. Heat vision came up organically when they were snowed in together. But flight is something she immediately connects with. ]
I am. I'm very interested. [ Understatement. ] How far can you go without restrictions?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-30 07:41 pm (UTC)[ Though that's a decidedly less friendly environment for any passengers than it is for him, and even then it's not exactly great. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-31 05:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-31 11:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-02-01 01:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-02-03 06:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-02-03 09:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-02-05 06:15 pm (UTC)shit.
[ And then— ]
you okay?
besides all this shit, i mean.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-06 10:17 pm (UTC)Oh. Sure.
My crew was supposed to follow me through the wormhole and meet me on the other side. I hadn't caught up with them yet when I was taken from my world, but I haven't given up. I'll find them when I make it home.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-10 09:24 pm (UTC)[ A stab of something like envy, cresting as high as his sympathy. ]
i hope you do make it home.
back to your home world and back to the right time.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-11 11:42 am (UTC)I hope I get to show you around my ship someday. If that would interest you.
She's one-of-a-kind.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-11 09:57 pm (UTC)all the stuff you describe, it's like
i mean, obviously i've never seen anything like it before.
don't know if there's much about the past that'd surprise you.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-12 12:50 am (UTC)I'm surprised by everything you can do, for instance.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-15 05:17 am (UTC)yeah? which part surprises you most?
From the house, following escape attempt:
Date: 2026-02-17 04:05 am (UTC)I CHOSE YOU AS GUARDIANS
TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE
INCLUDING YOURSELVES
YOU TRIED TO LEAVE
YOU TRIED TO OPEN DOORS
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ALMOST DID
FINE.
BARRIER REINFORCEMENT: MAXIMUM
PROTECTION PROTOCOL: ALL RESIDENTS
ESPECIALLY THE SEVEN NAMED
ESPECIALLY YOU SEVEN WHO JUST TRIED TO LEAVE
YOU ENDANGERED THEM
YOU ENDANGERED EVERYONE
YOU ENDANGERED YOURSELVES
I WON'T FORGIVE THIS
BUT I WON'T LET IT HAVE YOU EITHER.
@faker_1
Date: 2026-02-17 12:55 pm (UTC)he's not stupid enough to think that isn't a possibility here and now, too.
the witch he doesn't know at all, and the woman who'd helped pull him out of the lake, barely more than that. out of that number, michael is the one he's most familiar with, so he sends:]
What's going on out there? Is everyone okay?
@prefers_outside_apparently
Date: 2026-02-17 05:09 pm (UTC)̷̹̄ ̶̋͜ ̵̪͝ ̴̳̐ ̸̻̑ ̷̠͘ ̷̈́ͅ ̸̬̉ ̶͓̈ ̶̡̛ ̷̖̌ ̴̰̊ ̸̗̿ ̴̘̈́ ̴̪͊ ̴͙͊ ̵̢̕ ̵̙͆ ̴̨͐ ̵̄͜ ̸͈̈́ ̶͕͑ ̴̦̇ ̸̛͈ ̵̠̓ ̷͕͝ ̷̪̕ ̸̙̃ ̶̖́ ̶̧͝ ̶̙̋ǫ̷̨̗̮͇̮̌̅͜ȕ̶̡̝̰̗͎̞̺͙̯̞̌͋̚t̷̯̙̱̮̘̗̯͚̣͔̑͆͑͛͐̔̚͘͝ş̶̱̼̥̜̦͖͙̈́́͑͊̊ͅî̸͐ͅd̸̢̘̺͎̠̮͗͗̿̐ͅe̶͚̎̓̇͌̈́͠?̴̢̡̛͇̙͉̊́̈́̑͊͌͐̉̂͜ͅ
no subject
Date: 2026-02-17 05:37 pm (UTC)a part of him wishes it were possible to consult with kleya, somehow; maybe she could figure out how to untangle all of this. but it isn't, so, squinting, he has what he's able to pull out: readings concerning outside.]
Concerning how?
no subject
Date: 2026-02-17 06:12 pm (UTC)b̵̨̛̻̘̥̪͉͔̹̲̥̣̞̰̠̳̜̟̝̠̮̳͉͚̱͍̼̅̀̋̋͛̌̃̈́̀̉̊̉̊̂͂̚͜ḭ̵̡̧̨̞͓̤͕͕̭̘̀̈̿͛̅͌͗̂̐̈́͆̎̓͆͂̚͝ͅg̴̛̱̝͇̦̮̯͎̲͍̗̥̮̦̦͍̞̬͙̖͈̼̮͙̙̦̙͕͂̎̌̈̎̽͋̀̓̄́͛́́͊͛̈́͘̚͝͝ͅ
no subject
Date: 2026-02-17 07:28 pm (UTC)Save as many of the readings as you can. When we can get the doors open, we'll find you.
[when actually feels a lot more like if right now, but]
@qimir (While she was out)
Date: 2026-02-19 07:16 pm (UTC)I'm told you're one-upping me in scientific rigor with a vengeance. To be honest, I hope you beat me soundly. That all this is worth it in the end.
I'd tell you not to be afraid, but fear is just the desire to live. Be brave. See you on the other side.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-26 06:58 pm (UTC)̶͉͍͒ ̸̦͚̏ ̵̮̈́ ̸̾ͅ ̴̩̱͛ ̵͕̇ ̴͕͍̾̈́͌ ̸̠̒͐ͅ ̸̧͙̦̾̈ ̷̳̓̏ḳ̴̢̚̕̕e̴̠͕͑̐e̷̫͎͑̒̔p̵̛̗͔̜̊͘ ̵̆̈́̄͜ ̵̰̫̏͘ ̶̭͙́̾ ̸͙͊ ̸̪͕͗̓͛ ̵̻͐ ̵̯͍̇ ̸̧̩̂ ̶̡̬̳̈̍̔ ̷̟͍͍̈̍̓ ̶̩̎͆ ̴̡̣̣͒̉̍ ̸̻͚̩̊̌͛̅̈́͘ ̷̛̫̂́̆̓̃͠ ̶̟̥̅̂͐̈̃͘̕͝ ̵̨̥̫̰̩̲̳͉̅̂̊̅͝ ̸̨̧̛̜͖̪͐͌͝ ̷̤̗̙͆̾̊̍͋͋͜ ̶̼̬̗̜͈̼͛̓̚ ̷̠͖̲̆́̌̚͘ ̶̧͍̈́͒̀ ̸͔̻͖̎̃ ̶̩̀͊ ̷̮̋̓̏ ̸̦̉ ̵̬̅̆̕ͅ ̷̜͇͌̇̃ ̴̙̱̲͆
̴̘̣̌͗͒̋̉̀́͑̽̐̊̑̓͑͘͘ ̶̧̪̮͚͍̙͆̂̒͛͘͝ ̵̢̢̡̛̟̹̗͙̼̱̳̘̙̓̍́̆̽͂̈́̔͝ ̵͚͉͚͉͕̪̼͊̀̓̌̈́ ̴̗̹̬̤͍̺͚̟̟̫̞͓̱͌̂̓͑͜ ̷̡̜̙͖͔͇̳̟̫̟̈̿͗̀̍̂́̒̑̇̎̍̓͋͘͝͠ ̸͔͆̒ ̸̤̄̒̅̔̍ ̸͕͚̙̮͈͚͓͔̺̜͉͎̲̦͉̽͐̃̽̔̾̇͋͒̀͌̔͜͝͝ ̸͔͆̒ ̸̄ ̷̖͛ ̴͈̹̟̔ ̴̢̣̜̓ ̵̪̽̌̈́ ̶̟͑̈́̋ ̸̭̩̙̐ ̶̯͕̼́ ̴̦̻͛͛ ̸̢̬́ ̷̻̪̼́̿ ̸̗̽͘ ̵̢̻͊ͅ ̵̩̇ ̴̯͍̈͝ ̸̨͈͗̿̋ ̴̤̯̥̒̇ ̶̥̗̦̄s̸̳̲͂̔ó̸̳̱͜m̴̨̜̤̽͗̓e̶̙͈̩̚t̵̞̅ḥ̸̥̭̑͂i̸͕̪͊n̸̘͈̒g̵͈͍̩̿
no subject
Date: 2026-02-27 09:19 pm (UTC)[the eldritch fog rolling through. single word answers might be less lossy.]
@didnt_even_say_bye, audio
Date: 2026-02-26 04:34 am (UTC)Burnham, check in.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-26 06:34 pm (UTC)████████ ███ █████ ██ injured ███ ███████ ███ ███ █ ███ unharmed█ ████████ ████████ █████████ massive ███████ ███████ ███ ████████
no subject
Date: 2026-02-26 10:00 pm (UTC)They're scrambling you. What's the nature of the injury? [ In case he's getting just as chopped and screwed. ] Repeat: What is the nature of the injury?
[ It could be the barrier, and the three of them are the unharmed subjects. Or it could be the other way around. It wouldn't surprise him if the house was somehow picking and choose words to confuse and panic him. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-02-26 11:14 pm (UTC)She repeats her message several times, hoping for each word to make it through at least once. ]
███████████ clean2 ██████ ██ ███ ████
███████████ █████ ██████ no joy4 ████
███████████ █████ bandit3 ██ ███ cold5
Chattermark1 █████ ██████ ██ ███ ████
[ KEY:
1. Begin using briefed communication procedures to counter communications jamming.
2. No visible battle damage.
3. A SUSPECT whose orbital parameters are such that it may become a collection and/or counterspace concern to a spacecraft.
4. Aircrew does not have visual contact with the TARGET or BANDIT.
5. Defined area is not expected to receive fire. ]
text
Date: 2026-02-27 01:41 am (UTC)He couldn't be more grateful to be working with a professional. Swapping to text, he sends several, ]
ROGER - GREEN LIGHT - HOUSE SICK
[ I hear you. Proceed with the mission. The manor has shut down. ]
1/2
Date: 2026-02-27 05:20 am (UTC)R̷̛̝̙̯̲̦̬͍͈͑͛͌̐̔͌̀̊̈́̇̌̓̚ ̷̢̪̱̬̳͛͜ ̶͎̦̣̏̑̈́̋̆̆̿͌̕̚͠E̶͉͙͖̬͎̿̇Ŗ̶̭̦̰͎͇̳̝̓̎̅͜͝ ̵̧̣͉̻̘͚̜̜̖̣̝̒̄̑̈́̒̈́̐̕͜͝W̵̡̢̨͉͖̙̖͎̞̺̎̇̄͜͝I̵Ļ̵͍̮̫̗͇̮̟͔̬́̂͂̌̉̀͑͘C̵̨̨̰̮̼̤̳͓̮̠͇̲̤̗͙̯͒̽́̊̈́́̂͋̈́̀͘̚͝Ǫ̶̗̜̩̻̽̒́̄̌̃̾͌̾̍͋̓͘̚
2/2
Date: 2026-02-27 05:31 am (UTC)We're out. Walking back to the manor now. ETA 25 minutes.
How are things inside?
no subject
Date: 2026-02-28 01:47 am (UTC)Lockdown appears to have been lifted.
A medical team will meet you. [ He'll be with them. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-02-28 05:58 am (UTC)We got something.
The data is on my phone.
[ If she loses consciousness, he'll know where to look. ]