sing a song for the cosmos

Hello! I am Animika, the Head Bard on Captain Pilot's ship, The Next Horizon. I am also the assistant of the armory and I take orders from director Kate (@kateofthearmory) and my logs are under the tag animika's logs {this is the rp blog for animika123 ; part of the @apilotandhercrew} tags i'm tagging are on animika-theheadbard.tumblr.com/tags

[iztarshi]

Inspired by various tumblr posts.

Humans quickly get a reputation among the interplanetry alliance and the reputation is this: when going somewhere dangerous, take a human.

Humans are tough. Humans can last days without food. Humans heal so fast they pierce holes in themselves or inject ink for fun. Humans will walk for days on broken bones in order to make it to safety. Humans will literally cut off bits of themselves if trapped by a disaster.

You would be amazed what humans will do to survive. Or to ensure the survival of others they feel responsible for.

That’s the other thing. Humans pack-bond, and they spill their pack-bonding instincts everywhere. Sure it’s weird when they talk sympathetically to broken spaceships or try to pet every lifeform that scans as non-toxic. It’s even a little weird that just existing in the same place as them for long enough seems to make them care about you. But if you’re hurt, if you’re trapped, if you need someone to fetch help?

You really want a human.

[animikachu]

Okay I’m in a Hamilton craze and I’ve been singing this song for the past 3 hours and I wanted to share how much I FRIKIN love this song and this play Lin-Manuel Miranda is a genius okay

@pyuly look at how much this play has consumed me

music credits to Musicalityification on YouTube!!

[animika-theheadbard]

((ooc: but uh, check out my main blog. I do this sort of thing time to time. If u wanna listen to some songs I sang/made lyrics for, it’s all under the tag #animika sings on my main blog okay bye just letting u knooooooooooo))

[apilotandhercrew]

Animika appears at the Cap's door wearing a wing suit, carrying 3 plates full of food for herself to eat and a smoothie. "There you go Cap! I got you that smoothie!" Her smile turns into one of anxiousness. "Please hide me. I drew "Scrabs + Books" surrounded by a heart on Scrabble's forehead and drew orange blush marks on their cheeks." She laughs hysterically. "It was a great way to get my left brain stimulated but I believe my actions are going to have major consequences."

eh whatever thats hilarious haha. come on in friend

[scrabblezardeschlarion]

Surely you would not impugn my honor by suggesting that I am the sort to engage in base acts of revenge? It wounds me that you think so little of me. I shall be minding my own business in the music room behind the stage, with no ill will towards anyone.

[animika-theheadbard]

Animika comms @scrabblezardeschlarion from the captains quarters. "awww boooooo ur no fun Scrabs"

[apilotandhercrew]

*privately comms the Cap* Hey, Cap! *Animika sounds a little nervous but chipper* Okay, lets say that someone were to draw on someone else's face while they were sleeping and they knew that that someone who's face has been drawn on will come for the someone who drew on their face, with great retaliation. Would you let the someone who drew on the other someone's face hide in your quarters?

The captain listens to the message, pausing for a moment before snickering.

“Perhaps,” she replies, “if the theoretical someone can bring the captain a smoothie. If they could manage that the captain might call it even”

[apilotandhercrew]

Hey, Cap? How are far are we from the next destination? And what exactly will we be doing there? Are we just resupplying the ship?

sorry i havent been updating you like i should. we’re still two days out, and hopefully we’ll be picking up work. there are a few contacts there i can check in with but a majority of them are paranoid folks who only do their business in person because they dont want the ‘man’ listening in. it will mostly be handled by jero and myself as it is a touchy process getting work. might have a few trained hands. not to say its dangerous exactly, the planet as a whole is a good trading opprotunity. just the job bits. ill update as we get closer

[apilotandhercrew]

Head Bard's Journal - Entry 7

5-17-16

A lot has happened since my last log, as always.

We celebrated our last night on Cass with a very jovial gathering at the tavern, the Thankless Albatross. And because Scrabble paid in advance, I got to eat as much as I wanted! Kate counted how many plates, drinks, and whatnot were ordered. I forgot exactly the number, but I know I made an order and ate more than three fourths of everything. 

Last night however, was a bit of a rollercoaster for my emotions. Kate and I, as close as we are, got into a small disagreement. It led to me leaving the room frustrated, and Kate getting glomped by Maddy and Flo, which she disliked a lot. I apparently embarrassed Kate when she tried to give me a nickname. I mean who wouldn’t laugh if someone tried to nickname you “Pit!” I makes sense yes, because my appetite is honestly just like a bottomless pit, but it was funny!

So Kate got upset, and then Scrabble folded a small paper hat on her head as a joke, which I laughed at the action, of course, but it only made Kate retreat farther into her arms. She tried to look up to see what I was laughing at, but I swiped the paper hat from her head and hid it behind my back. After a few more talks, she still was feeling embarrassed, so I tried to make it better by putting my own paper hat on my head and hers so we would match! But it didn’t work. She then started talking about dying of embarrassment and then she started willing off her possessions to the people there and it just made me frustrated thinking that we would let her die that easily!

So I left the room to go some lute music at the top of the highest mast on the ship. I played an old Andromedian lullaby as I cooled down a bit. And because it was a peaceful night, I climbed into the lookouts’ crow’s nest (make note to apologize later) and took a little nap. 

I woke up to the sound of a gravity engine, and Kate was there right in front of me wearing a wing suit. She almost scared me over the railing! But after we talked for a while, we did make up. We both apologized for not understanding each other.

I don’t like fighting with people I care about, so I’m glad Kate and I made up in the end. 

I hope nothing bad happens that make me have to fight anyone in the crew. Emotionally or physically.

Until the next log,

-Animika

[apilotandhercrew]

Good Day Captain and Crew. So. I have an octopus mom now? Honestly not quite sure how that happened, I guess things went out a bit before I was rescued. From what I’m told, I got trapped in a cave about 20 miles east from the ship by a monsterously large “cactopus”, as I’ve so eloquently called it in my oxygen deprived stupor, who we originally thought was a hostile mother intent on destoying me to protect her young. Turns out she was a much less than hostile mother figure who was intent on proctecting me and that ALL of the cactopuses (cactopi?) are loving, social creatures. This one has taken it upon itself to take care of me. And by taking care of me of course I mean that, like most animals when it comes to this ship, she followed us back from the cave. Though I really should start at the beginning. After I got swept away from my team in a current I worked on exploring my way back to them and stopped in a few caves. My last coherent memory is going into the cave where the cactopus mother was, I assume that she realized I was weak and wanted to make sure I got home safely, but at this point I called to the ship in fear of a monster. A team was brought about to rescue me and they traveled to the cave, trying to use lights and the echoed sounds of the mother to lure her out so I could safely leave. But she wasn’t having it. By this time I was delerious enough to suggest the impossible, making the noises of the young and acting as if I was a child. I took the chance of swimming out to meet her and was greatly rewarded with the presence of the very intelligent octomom. We played like mother and child for a few minutes while she took care of me, cuddling. At this point though I was nearly gone and she must have known it, so when I passed out, from complications of my long underwater dive or the venom of her quills, I’m unsure which, she quickly passed me over to the rescue team and Doctor World, waiting anxiously for me to become stable. And when I did, she followed us to the ship. I hear she’s able to communicate quite well and had much fun playing with Kate and Mika while I was out cold, we should see if the cactopi can be taught sign language, though then again, I shouldn’t become to attached. We learned from this adventure that the quills contain a venom that does not harm the body in any way, but does work as a sleep inducing drug, which leads me to wonder if Doc could use it for medical purposes. I do have to take this time to apologize to both my crew members and my captain for not finishing my job and putting myself in danger, if it weren’t for the encounter with octomom I would probably not be here to write this. I must also apologize to Pilot for bringing yet another animal near the ship. On the flipside, thank you to the crew who brought me home, Mika, Kate, Scrabble and Rowan, and thank you to Dr. World for bringing me back from the brink, I owe you each my life. For now I’m stuck in bed, but I hope to be cleared soon, if not for ocean travel then ship travel. Though I can’t wait to get back to work under the water, I do have much to keep me occupied here, I’m sure octomom would love a visit.

-Kay Makenzie.

[apilotandhercrew]

Head Bard's Journal - Entry 6

*From the log’s interface comes a command*

ENTER PASSWORD TO LISTEN

INPUT: M****** A****** C*****

*A robotic voice is heard*

ACCESS GRANTED

5-11-16

*There is some rustling*

Okay, this is the second audio log and sixth entry of Head Bard, Animika! I’m pretty bored, I was just hanging up here on one of the masts of the ships playing my pipes and I thought, how about I record a log! And so here it is.

*There is a pause*

So uh, I guess I’ll just start from the beginning. 

I had just realized that the ship had a stage. Yeah, I know, it’s right there, how did I not notice it?? Well, Rowan then brought up that there was a backstage to the stage filled with instruments. And of course, since I am the Head Bard of the ship, I freaked out…in excitement! I was running over everything, trying to play everything and try everything. I was a squealing and vibrating mess. 

In my overexcitement, I crashed into a drum set and bumped my left brain in the process. *scoffs* Silly me… I can’t believe how stupid… 

*There is a sigh*

Anyways… It was all a blur from then on. It seemed like I went through brain relapse, as people from my planet call what happens when your left brain is damaged. Let me explain…

On my home planet, Andromeda, the people have 2 separate brains. They kind of work like how humans have 2 sides of their brain that handle different things. For Andromedians, the left brain works for thinking and processing, as well as personality. The right brain is for motor functions and specific skills unique to an Andromedian. Since my left brain was damaged in the crash, as my crew mates tell me, I was shouting out random things about my past. I was easily distracted, and my speech filter was definitely gone, which led to some things about my past being said out loud. 

When I had came to, I was in the medbay with a worried Kate checking over me, Dr. World staring at my eyes, Flo in the corner of the room, and Scrabble holding the comm which Rowan was listening on. 

I was confused as to what was going on, but when Kate and the Doc had explained that I had mentioned “torture instruments,” “parents teaching me how to play mind games,” “sending and dealing info,” and what revealed it: my father calling me Mikaila. 

They all were putting it together and so I just confessed. 

And only that select group know now. They all comforted me, and it was nice, and I don’t think the Andromedian government is still looking for me so… as long as we stick out of my quadrant, I think the crew will be fine.

But enough about that. Yesterday, Rowan found something. Something in the midst of all the illegal things we’ve been finding on the ship lately. It was called the Icarys Project. She had found 2 pairs of mechanical wings!

*There is a pause as she relishes the thought* 

And we got to fly them!!! The safety features on them are top notch. They even have an oxygen tank in the helmets, so you could go scuba diving! Which was what I did, and apparently I ended up doing it all night. 

When I popped up, it was morning. Could you believe that? 

So after I had flew back to the ship and changed, I decided to settle up here for a few hours, just playing my pipes.

*There is a long sigh and a little bit of muttering can be heard* I know they were okay with it, but how could you give yourself away like that? Maybe I could explain it to the Cap? She would understand, I think. But her and the crew could seriously get arrested harboring a fugitive. Ugh. 

*The voice goes back to cheery* Okay, I hope that wasn’t recorded haha. So, uh, Animika signing out now. 

*muttering* I better put a password on this entry too, just in case

*The audio shuts off.*

[apilotandhercrew]

Captain’s Log: A Small Problem

Star Date Reset 11

*on the audio the gentle hum of a land speeders engine is audible, as well as the distant resonating calls of herd animals calling to their mates*

You know, I like planets. They’re interesting and varied. Space can throw all kinds of crap at you but Planets have a very unique charm. Cass is so much more… alive than I figured it would be. We’re making good progress, should only be a few more days before we can call this done. The oceans are massive and the animal life in there is insane to look at, especially the land creatures that hunt in the sea and then come back up to rest or breed. There are so many that are of gigantic sizes but are totally docile, the water on the planet more than enough to support even the biggest grazers. The predators dont seem terribly interested in us, preferring to stick to what they know, and even if things are skiddish i’d characterize the life here as ‘kind’. I’ve taken to naming some of the babies in the herd I’ve been leading. It’s been a journey getting these guys to the next landmass but they don’t mind me much, a few even seem to like me. I have a little guy I’ve named Nate and it’s sister (brother?) I’ve named Crunch. They like to hang out on the speeder with me instead of walking and while their parents didn’t like it much at first they have gotten used to it. It confuses the crap out of them if I leave it, I think they believe the speeder to be part of me as a single living thing since it’s how they were introduced to me, so when I separate from it they get agitated. I’ve been sticking to it to avoid this.

We’re reaching the bridge which scouts have told me is still there, so once these guys are over I should be able to double back and assess the land for good now. What with the herd shitting on it for who knows how long the soil is pretty ready to go, so I think I’ll mark this land as prime farm land, and the other more hilly landmass I passed and affectionately named ‘gravel land’ for the colony itself. The water crew has made progress with the currents so we should be about done with our detailed layout within the next two days.

*a sloping call that ends in a high pitched hiccup like sound is heard from nearby, followed by a dull clambering of hooves on metal and panting.*

Oh hey Crunch did you want in on this? I’m doing a thing right now buddy.

*The captain huffs out a lung full of air as if something has climbed onto her chest and she laughs*

Okay okay jeez ’m doing a- alright you want to end it? Your mom/dad/uncle thing is getting mad with you up here lets wrap this up.

Can you say Captain out?

*there is a pause and then another trumpeting hiccup*

*a laugh*

Close enough! 

[apilotandhercrew]

Armory Director-log 13

5-10-16

Okay. Best. Day. Ever!

It started with me exploring the vents for any misplaced guns from the former crew. Scrabble had found books up there, so I decided to play it safe and check for any guns. I found several pistols and two rifles. I emerged from the vents to find Scrabble, Florida and Rowan. They were curious about the guns and I told them what happened. I left to put the guns away for later and when I came back Rowan and Scrabble were checking places for smuggled stuff.

I wasn’t there for the conversation that lead up to that but I do know that we have some illegal, expense, and expensive illegal stuff on our boat. One of the expensive things was something called the Icarys Project, which is basically a wing suit.

Long story short, I got to fly. Me and Flo, Dr. World and Animika. It was amazing. The headgear and goggles are connected to the suit so that all you have to do to fly is thinking what you want to do. There’s also safety features added in so that no one injures themselves. It was amazing. I’m thinking that I may want to train in those suits and get better at using them. Then I can learn to fight with them.

When I turned in for the day, Rowan was busy making more.

Oh, and we found a machine that can make a black hole. It can only be used once so Rowan wants to make a micro black hole that is unstable and will disappear in less than a second.

Until next time

Kate

[apilotandhercrew]

Medical Bay Log: Entry 5

(5-9-16)

Plenty has happened since my last log. We have landed on Cass, which is a watery planet with islands floating on the surface. Our job is to map the water currents. The Captain is going with the ground team. She saw me for a cold before hand, but she should be alright. I managed to compile a report of the three greatest dangers on Cass for the ground team.

Since then I have taken to speaking with Scrabblezard, Animika, Kate, and several others. Our talks have gone well, and I have learned much about them. I have revealed some of my own past as well. 

Speaking of revealing pasts, Animika sustained a concussion to her left brain. Apparently her species has two, serving the same purpose as the hemispheres of a human brain. This caused her to be looser with information than usual, but it is not my place to say.

I suppose I can tell a bit of my past though.

I was part of a government project to make ‘advanced’ humans. My DNA was altered slightly, and I have been gifted with slightly greater physical and mental capabilities than usual in a human. I was raised with my nine 'cousins’ (we are not genetically related, but have chosen to call each other thus) in a secure lab in an unknown location. 

Soon some human higher ups heard about the project and had it cancelled for moral reasons. Humans apparently do not appreciate genetic tampering. When the project was shut down I joined the Navy and was assigned to scouting ship Lunar Moth. I served there under Captain Rose from then until a year ago. 

Scrabblezard also gave us a baking lesson. We made lemon pound cake. It was surprisingly good.

I have received a tentacle from an Idostine Medusoza, so I should have an antivenom prepared soon. 

-Dr. World

[thelastpilot]

Finally finished it! Here is the finished picture of the Next Horizon. :)

Pilot: um this is rad This is RAD THIS IS RAD AS FUCK

[animika-theheadbard]

((BRRRUUUUHHHHHHHHH THIS IS AMAZING))

[apilotandhercrew]

Armory Director-log 12

Small crackle, then…

Presently I am alone in the armory. I haven’t had the time to make a log for awhile and this seems the ample time to do it. I usually don’t like to make logs when other people are around but there are some exceptions.

No one has brought in any broken weapons recently and the ones stocked in the armory are all fine tuned and polished. It’s been boring during the day so I go on walks around the ship and in the city. I haven’t bought anything from the market yet, but I’ve been eyeing some charms.

During the evenings I hang out in the mess hall. A small group of other crew mates frequent there as well at that time and I enjoy their company.

Yesterday I found out that the room behind the stage has a cello and I could barely hold myself back from charging up there and playing it for all I was worth. Then Mika hit her head on accident. We had to take her to the med bay. She started going off on random tangents that would sometimes lead to her last. She’s already told me of that and I knew she wouldn’t want the others to find out. Whenever she would start to go off to her past I’d distract her with a question. It wasn’t enough though. Enough slipped that some where able to connect the dots. Mika came clean to those present. Even so, I don’t feel comfortable sharing her secrets here.

On a side note, I think I’m getting addicted to the smoothies that Adalia makes. They are crazy good.

…

I think I’ll get one now.

Until next time,

Kate

[apilotandhercrew]

Gardener's Log 11

5-8-16

Last night brought back bad memories. Let me explain. Mika hit her head on a pair of drums and got a concussion. We went to the doctor to make she was alright, and Mika revealed more than she’s have liked.im not going to explain her story. Anyone could find these and I trust my memory to make sure I don’t forget. But let me say that it was not necessarily Mika that made me think, but one line, two words: I’m fine. It was a simple phrase that made me think. Made me think of why I HAVE to be emotional. Because me simply being me has caused so many problems in the past. I have to exaggerate the emotions I feel, make my face move into large smiles, and I can never let my dry and sarcastic humour rear its ugly head full force…or I’ll hurt another one of my friends. The honeysuckle bush is about to bloom. I think I’ll give a supply to the doctor and kitchens, as theyll both have use of it -Flo

[apilotandhercrew]

Librarian's log, entry 9

The ninth entry in the log of Scrabblezard Eschlarion, head librarian and archivist of the glorious ship The Next Horizon.

Date: 09/05/2016 Terran Reckoning

I don’t seem to have followed through that well with my intention to be more active in my archival endeavors. I’ve let five days slip past me without so much as putting pen to paper. I suppose there’s nobody to disappoint in this but myself, but that doesn’t mean that I particularly relish failing myself. I set forth with the intention to do something and I did not do it. It’s as simple as that.

In fairness to myself, however, I should point out that until last night, things had been fairly uneventful. We’ve had very little word from the ground and sea crews, save for assurances that they are safe. Certainly no news is good news, but it does mean things have been a little dull for those of us still on the ship. We’ve mainly been loafing about during the day and gathering in the mess hall in the evening for some conversation. There’s worse ways to spend time, but I do grow tired of being planetside. I hope the ground and sea crews finish up soon so we can get back to space.

There is one thing to recommend Cass, however. While Rowan and I were exploring the city before she had to join the sea crew, we managed to find a Saurian bakery. I certainly never expected to find one in such a small port city, but apparently the baker believes that it will soon become a much larger city, and decided to get established early. I’m not sure if I agree with their assessment, but it was certainly a stroke of good fortune for me. I traded them 2 bottles of Drallet’s finest and a wad of units for enough candies and baked goods to fill my stasis cabinet. I’ve been bringing out a new kind of candy every night to share with the others in the mess hall.

After the bakery, we went down into some caverns underneath the city. Apparently city is built on two landmasses held together by means of some truly impressive technology. I have to admit, it was staggering to see up close. I’d have liked to have looked at them longer, but it was cold, and I don’t like tunnels much, so we left after that.

The big event, though was last night. After discovering the music room behind the stage in the mess hall, one of the crew members had a bit of a tumble and apparently suffered a concussion. We took her to the med bay, and she began speaking about secrets she had been keeping. At this point, I left for a while, as I wouldn’t want to learn anybody’s secrets in such a way. Secrets are important, and unless someone decides in their proper mind to divulge them, I refuse to hear them. She decided to tell us all after she recovered anyway, but the principle of the thing matters. I know I wouldn’t like anyone to learn of my secrets in such a way, and so I will show others the same respect. Although, of course, I wouldn’t like anyone to learn my secrets at all. I’ve worked very hard to leave that life behind me and keep it behind me.

I ended up volunteering to teach some of the others the basics of baking at night. It wouldn’t be a large group, and I certainly wouldn’t attempt any overly difficult bakes, but it should still be of benefit to the crew. I’ve always been of the opinion that you can never have to many bakers on a ship. Perhaps after the baking lessons, I’ll try teaching them some of the other crafts I’ve picked up over the decades. It could be pleasant.

That’s about I’ll I’ve got for now. As I said, things have been rather quiet lately, so there’s nothing else to report. I do like this recent peace, it’s much nicer than the eventful past I’ve had.

~Scrabblezard Eschlarion, head librarian and archivist

[alone-to-dance-deactivated20240]

Visit Original Link

Push play and just trust me

[leaper182]

This sounds like something that would be playing in a story set in Victorian London slums or something? I DON’T KNOW.

[animikachu]

@apilotandhercrew

[thelastpilot]

i dig this

edit: cant you picture like

imagine with me.

its overcast, kind of grimy and dirty. Im talking bowerstone from Fable 3. There is black polluted river water flowing down the heart of a city, and a large metal and stone bridge crossing over the water, cracked and faulty in disrepair, is clogged with watchmen. Guards, police, all of them holding old guns, in uniform and barricading the bridge. At the far end of teh bridge where they’re all pointing a crew strolls out of city hall. Two gunmen, they look like brothers, one with brown hair one with black. they walk on either side of a woman, about 5′8. she isnt looking at the firing squad pointed at her, doesnt seem bothered as she looks through a short stack of papers. Her hair is short and choppy, sticking up a bit as she strolls through a puddle, the grimy water splashing over the pothole filled cobble street. She clicks her tongue, chuckling to herself as she slowly looks up with piercing green eyes. 

“Oh boys, all this game time and you still dont get the rules?” she shakes her head, smirking at them as she moves the end of her coat to draw a pistol. She raises an eyebrow when they all tense, still smiling as she reads over the papers. She meets the captain’s eyes and shakes her head like shes disappointing.

“Come now Captain,” she laughed, aiming the gun, not at him, but lower. “All this chasing. Never, EVER stack all your cards in the same spot.” a grin “especially not on one over a rather unappealing river.”

she fires, the bullet bursting out in a spray of sparks as it sails through the air, dipping low and hitting one of the main supports of the bridge, and the explosive secured to it.

The gunmen laugh as the cities police force go down in a spray of fire and water, but the leader seems more interested in her papers.

“Call the boys around Mickey,” she says dismissively, smiling up at them. “We’ve got what we want. Let’s not take a swim too if we can avoid it.” 

[animika-theheadbard]

((YAAAAAASSSSSS))

[apilotandhercrew]

Hey Cap! Are you guys doing okay? Has anything exciting happened on the land side of the ground crew? On behalf of the ship crew hanging out in the mess hall, we're a little curious if you don't mind.

Well aside from all the massive herd animals not too much. I’m dealing with the issue of moving a herd of… somethings away from this island. Since there is so much water there is a lot of grass, and a lots of grazers. However that would stand to reason that their are predators too… so that’ll be fun. Not a lot of avian sorts around so at least we can think of the sky as safe ish. So for now ima play cowboy and try and get these things too move. However there are baby things with them so they might not like that.