Drift Stories/Hands Off the Merchandise - Revision history

Bentley at 17:26, 1 January 2026

2026-01-01T17:26:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:26, 1 January 2026
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	Ilyar took the headset from Quartz and keyed up the transmitter. “''Grand Repose'', this is Heavy Freighter…” He glanced around in a panic, his eyes alighting on the crumpled bag stuffed under Bentley’s seat. “… ''Cool Ranch''. Apologies, our transponder has been malfunctioning lately. We are carrying a volatile load bound for Passenger-382-C. Advise maintaining distance, our Drift wake is potentially dangerous to small craft.”		Ilyar took the headset from Quartz and keyed up the transmitter. “''Grand Repose'', this is Heavy Freighter…” He glanced around in a panic, his eyes alighting on the crumpled bag stuffed under Bentley’s seat. “… ''Cool Ranch''. Apologies, our transponder has been malfunctioning lately. We are carrying a volatile load bound for Passenger-382-C. Advise maintaining distance, our Drift wake is potentially dangerous to small craft.”

	The reply came quickly. “''Cool Ranch?'' Logistics ~~Corp~~ sure have run out of ideas. What is this ‘volatile load’? We have orders to inspect cargo in transit through this sector.”		The reply came quickly. “''Cool Ranch?'' Logistics Corps sure have run out of ideas. What is this ‘volatile load’? We have orders to inspect cargo in transit through this sector.”

	Ilyar glanced down at Quartz, who quickly mouthed a suitable answer. He smiled, keying up again. “We are carrying fifty tonnes of Drift isolate. Our hold is locked down but I ''strongly'' advise against any attempts to scan it.” Bentley was watching from across the bridge, eyes wide with delight. Drift isolate, pure concentrated narrative energy, was just about the most unstable substance in regular traffic; the cutter’s crew knew as well as they did that one scan could blow the entire sector out of existence.		Ilyar glanced down at Quartz, who quickly mouthed a suitable answer. He smiled, keying up again. “We are carrying fifty tonnes of Drift isolate. Our hold is locked down but I ''strongly'' advise against any attempts to scan it.” Bentley was watching from across the bridge, eyes wide with delight. Drift isolate, pure concentrated narrative energy, was just about the most unstable substance in regular traffic; the cutter’s crew knew as well as they did that one scan could blow the entire sector out of existence.

Bentley at 17:22, 1 January 2026

2026-01-01T17:22:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:22, 1 January 2026
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	Ilyar drained the last of his brandy, flicked a few shiny silver marks into the empty glass, and stood. “Well then, we shouldn’t keep her waiting. Sol, fetch Quartz and meet us back at the ship; we ought to make a good impression.”		Ilyar drained the last of his brandy, flicked a few shiny silver marks into the empty glass, and stood. “Well then, we shouldn’t keep her waiting. Sol, fetch Quartz and meet us back at the ship; we ought to make a good impression.”

	~~<br/>~~
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
	~~<br/>~~

	“You look fine, OK?”		“You look fine, OK?”
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	Quartz grinned at Bentley. “What’s the difference, anyway? Pirates probably get paid better.”		Quartz grinned at Bentley. “What’s the difference, anyway? Pirates probably get paid better.”

	~~<br/>~~
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
	~~<br/>~~

	The glass-walled elevator car made its way slowly up the side of the High Spire, the luxurious crown perched atop the ''Cloud Archipelago''’s expanse. Inside, the four members of the ''Stationary Traveller''’s crew stood waiting. Though they tried not to show it, the tension was palpable.		The glass-walled elevator car made its way slowly up the side of the High Spire, the luxurious crown perched atop the ''Cloud Archipelago''’s expanse. Inside, the four members of the ''Stationary Traveller''’s crew stood waiting. Though they tried not to show it, the tension was palpable.
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	Kyrie sat back down with her glass and raised it, a broad smile across her face. “To a job well done.” Ilyar, Bentley, Solivane and Quartz clinked their glasses against hers. “And to new friends,” Bentley added, sipping their glass and breaking into a coughing fit from its sheer potency. “Quite right,” Kyrie laughed.		Kyrie sat back down with her glass and raised it, a broad smile across her face. “To a job well done.” Ilyar, Bentley, Solivane and Quartz clinked their glasses against hers. “And to new friends,” Bentley added, sipping their glass and breaking into a coughing fit from its sheer potency. “Quite right,” Kyrie laughed.

	~~<br/>~~
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
	~~<br/>~~

	Solivane walked through the main corridor of the ''Stationary Traveller'', thinking it was unusually quiet for a departure morning. A deck below, the hold buzzed with the chatter and rattle of dockers loading crates of provisions and Quartz complaining about the scrapes they left on the floor. Up here, however, the air was too still.		Solivane walked through the main corridor of the ''Stationary Traveller'', thinking it was unusually quiet for a departure morning. A deck below, the hold buzzed with the chatter and rattle of dockers loading crates of provisions and Quartz complaining about the scrapes they left on the floor. Up here, however, the air was too still.
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	“Eh, some old tradition,” replied Bentley with a shrug.		“Eh, some old tradition,” replied Bentley with a shrug.

	~~<br/>~~
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
	~~<br/>~~

	Bentley lay awake, staring at the ceiling. It was sometime in the dead of night and the lights were off, letting the gentle glow of the Drift illuminate the walls of the captain’s quarters. They carefully untangled themselves from Ilyar’s arms and slipped out, throwing on a dressing down on the way.		Bentley lay awake, staring at the ceiling. It was sometime in the dead of night and the lights were off, letting the gentle glow of the Drift illuminate the walls of the captain’s quarters. They carefully untangled themselves from Ilyar’s arms and slipped out, throwing on a dressing down on the way.
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	With nothing more to say, Bentley walked towards the door. They glanced back at the cargo once more. “It’s trouble, I know it. More than it’s worth.”		With nothing more to say, Bentley walked towards the door. They glanced back at the cargo once more. “It’s trouble, I know it. More than it’s worth.”

	~~<br/>~~
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
	~~<br/>~~

	Morning came as morning could only come on a seamship, with the lights coming up on a timer and the Drift remaining as dark and empty as ever. Bentley was at the drive console, sipping a cup of coffee in a vain attempt to gain back some of the sleep they missed the previous night. Quartz sat as ever on the far end of the bridge, pointedly ignoring everything around them, and for once Bentley was glad for it. Solivane, at the navigator’s desk, was busying themselves with course corrections and valiantly pretending nothing had happened. Into the midst of this tension strode Ilyar, fresh-faced and stretching his back. He stood by the front windows admiring the Drift for a moment, then turned to address the room.		Morning came as morning could only come on a seamship, with the lights coming up on a timer and the Drift remaining as dark and empty as ever. Bentley was at the drive console, sipping a cup of coffee in a vain attempt to gain back some of the sleep they missed the previous night. Quartz sat as ever on the far end of the bridge, pointedly ignoring everything around them, and for once Bentley was glad for it. Solivane, at the navigator’s desk, was busying themselves with course corrections and valiantly pretending nothing had happened. Into the midst of this tension strode Ilyar, fresh-faced and stretching his back. He stood by the front windows admiring the Drift for a moment, then turned to address the room.

Bentley at 17:21, 1 January 2026

2026-01-01T17:21:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:21, 1 January 2026
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	“Time is fictional in the Drift,” he shouted back, his voice already disappearing down the corridor.		“Time is fictional in the Drift,” he shouted back, his voice already disappearing down the corridor.

			{{Sep}}

			Quartz had barely settled back into her seat on the bridge when an alert sounded from her console.

			“Contact!” She yelled over the din, “Guild ship on long-range scan, looks like a small one but she’s got weapons signatures. Five hundred K and closing.”

			Ilyar ran over to see for himself. “They’re still beyond visual range; Quartz, you know how the signature projector works?”

			“I got a crash course before we left, I can work out the rest,” Quartz replied with a grin, her fingers flying across the controls. “We want something they won’t question too much… Right, got it!”

			With a flourish she flipped up a molly-guard and toggled a switch; the ship shuddered slightly, the scanner displays reset, and a new larger blip replaced their previous indicator.

			“As far as they know right now, we are a Guild heavy freighter. We’ll just have to hope they don’t want a closer look.”

			Ilyar nodded, looking up at the empty expanse of Drift before them. “Sol, set a course to avoid visual range.” He glanced over at Bentley, who was hurriedly stashing away the snacks they had been eating and wiping their hands clean. “Sync in and take us around them, Engine; no tricks, you’re flying one of the least manoeuvrable vessels in the Drift now.”

			Bentley laid their hands on the pads, and the ship began to yaw slowly to starboard. “Ah, she doesn’t like greasy hands. Sorry, old girl.”

			The radio set began to crackle, and Quartz piped it out through the bridge PA. A faint, stern-sounding voice came over the noise. “Unidentified vessel, this is Guild Cutter ''Grand Repose''. We read your signature but your transponder signal is unclear. Do you have a malfunction on board?”

			“Shit, the transponder!” Quartz flew to work on the controls. “I’ve got her squawking a Guild reply code now, captain. Care to reply?”

			“We cannot outrun a cutter,” Solivane added, studying the charts. “They must not come into visual range.”

			Ilyar took the headset from Quartz and keyed up the transmitter. “''Grand Repose'', this is Heavy Freighter…” He glanced around in a panic, his eyes alighting on the crumpled bag stuffed under Bentley’s seat. “… ''Cool Ranch''. Apologies, our transponder has been malfunctioning lately. We are carrying a volatile load bound for Passenger-382-C. Advise maintaining distance, our Drift wake is potentially dangerous to small craft.”

			The reply came quickly. “''Cool Ranch?'' Logistics Corp sure have run out of ideas. What is this ‘volatile load’? We have orders to inspect cargo in transit through this sector.”

			Ilyar glanced down at Quartz, who quickly mouthed a suitable answer. He smiled, keying up again. “We are carrying fifty tonnes of Drift isolate. Our hold is locked down but I ''strongly'' advise against any attempts to scan it.” Bentley was watching from across the bridge, eyes wide with delight. Drift isolate, pure concentrated narrative energy, was just about the most unstable substance in regular traffic; the cutter’s crew knew as well as they did that one scan could blow the entire sector out of existence.

			There was a long, tense pause before the next reply came, a much less confident voice this time. “… ''Cool Ranch'', proceed on your route. We will maintain distance.” Another pause. “… Good luck.”

			Ilyar signed off the radio, and Quartz looked up at him with unconcealed amusement. “They’re pulling back, captain, almost out of scanner range.”

			“They’re all off changing their trousers!” Bentley cackled.

			Ilyar strode back to the front windows, cupping his hands behind his back. “Full ahead on course, Engine. Keep the projector running until we approach Passenger.”

			Bentley set the autohelm for full ahead, disengaged from the console, and retrieved their snacks from under their seat. “An inspired choice of name, captain, if I do say so myself,” they mumbled between mouthfuls. Looking across the bridge, they caught Quartz’s eye. A smile spread across their face. “Good job, kid. Well done.” Quartz just smiled back and gave a mock salute.

Bentley at 17:42, 29 December 2025

2025-12-29T17:42:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:42, 29 December 2025
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	Nodding, Kyrie stood up and walked over to the window. “My people have been observing you during your stay here on the ''Cloud Archipelago''. You seem a capable crew for a small… errand I require.” With a wave of her hand, the space inside the circle of pouffes burst into a cloud of glittering green particles, which coalesced into a holographic map of the charted Drift. Two points floated up from the mass of detail; one the Cloud Archipelago, the other a seam far away near the edge.		Nodding, Kyrie stood up and walked over to the window. “My people have been observing you during your stay here on the ''Cloud Archipelago''. You seem a capable crew for a small… errand I require.” With a wave of her hand, the space inside the circle of pouffes burst into a cloud of glittering green particles, which coalesced into a holographic map of the charted Drift. Two points floated up from the mass of detail; one the Cloud Archipelago, the other a seam far away near the edge.

	“I have a freight consignment that urgently needs to move from here—“ She pointed at the tiny ''Cloud Archipelago'', “—to there,” Her hand moved across the map to the seam, “Passenger-382-C. It is a ~~more pleasant reality than its designation suggests~~. ~~Stable. Beautiful sunsets~~.”		“I have a freight consignment that urgently needs to move from here—“ She pointed at the tiny ''Cloud Archipelago'', “—to there,” Her hand moved across the map to the seam, “Passenger-382-C. It is a mining colony we operate jointly with the Guild. Not without tension, of course, but it is stable.”

	Ilyar nodded, staring into the shimmering map. “What is the cargo?”		Ilyar nodded, staring into the shimmering map. “What is the cargo?”

Bentley at 17:38, 29 December 2025

2025-12-29T17:38:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:38, 29 December 2025
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	Solivane strode towards them, the coati's immaculate white robes drifting gracefully behind them, and dropped an envelope on the bar in front of Ilyar. “This was delivered to the ship. The messenger was most insistent that you read it immediately.”		Solivane strode towards them, the coati's immaculate white robes drifting gracefully behind them, and dropped an envelope on the bar in front of Ilyar. “This was delivered to the ship. The messenger was most insistent that you read it immediately.”

	Ilyar opened the envelope and extracted a carefully folded origami hare. Before he could unfold it, it fluttered gracefully onto the bar and began hopping around with a trail of green sparkles. Bentley stared at it with unconcealed glee. After a few hops and a rather impressive somersault, the hare flattened itself out into a small square letter with an ornate gilded edge and glistening green script. Ilyar picked it up and began to read.~~<blockquote>''Captain Ilyar of the Stationary Traveller,''~~		Ilyar opened the envelope and extracted a carefully folded origami hare. Before he could unfold it, it fluttered gracefully onto the bar and began hopping around with a trail of green sparkles. Bentley stared at it with unconcealed glee. After a few hops and a rather impressive somersault, the hare flattened itself out into a small square letter with an ornate gilded edge and glistening green script. Ilyar picked it up and began to read.

	''Your presence is most humbly requested this evening in the High Spire Hall. I have a matter of the utmost importance to discuss. Come with discretion, and bring your officers.''</blockquote>The letter was signed with the seal of the ''Cloud Archipelago'', and a large handwritten signature: ''Kyrie''.		<blockquote>''Captain Ilyar of the Stationary Traveller,''<br/>

			''Your presence is most humbly requested this evening in the High Spire Hall. I have a matter of the utmost importance to discuss. Come with discretion, and bring your officers.''</blockquote>

			The letter was signed with the seal of the ''Cloud Archipelago'', and a large handwritten signature: ''Kyrie''.

	“Officers? There’s only us!” laughed Bentley. “Who is this Kyrie? Beautiful penwork, whoever they are.”		“Officers? There’s only us!” laughed Bentley. “Who is this Kyrie? Beautiful penwork, whoever they are.”

Bentley at 17:37, 29 December 2025

2025-12-29T17:37:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:37, 29 December 2025
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	<br/>		<br/>
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
			<br/>

	“You look fine, OK?”		“You look fine, OK?”

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	Quartz grinned at Bentley. “What’s the difference, anyway? Pirates probably get paid better.”		Quartz grinned at Bentley. “What’s the difference, anyway? Pirates probably get paid better.”

	<br />		<br/>
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
			<br/>

	The glass-walled elevator car made its way slowly up the side of the High Spire, the luxurious crown perched atop the ''Cloud Archipelago''’s expanse. Inside, the four members of the ''Stationary Traveller''’s crew stood waiting. Though they tried not to show it, the tension was palpable.		The glass-walled elevator car made its way slowly up the side of the High Spire, the luxurious crown perched atop the ''Cloud Archipelago''’s expanse. Inside, the four members of the ''Stationary Traveller''’s crew stood waiting. Though they tried not to show it, the tension was palpable.

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	<br/>		<br/>
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
			<br/>

	Solivane walked through the main corridor of the ''Stationary Traveller'', thinking it was unusually quiet for a departure morning. A deck below, the hold buzzed with the chatter and rattle of dockers loading crates of provisions and Quartz complaining about the scrapes they left on the floor. Up here, however, the air was too still.		Solivane walked through the main corridor of the ''Stationary Traveller'', thinking it was unusually quiet for a departure morning. A deck below, the hold buzzed with the chatter and rattle of dockers loading crates of provisions and Quartz complaining about the scrapes they left on the floor. Up here, however, the air was too still.

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	<br/>		<br/>
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
			<br/>

	Bentley lay awake, staring at the ceiling. It was sometime in the dead of night and the lights were off, letting the gentle glow of the Drift illuminate the walls of the captain’s quarters. They carefully untangled themselves from Ilyar’s arms and slipped out, throwing on a dressing down on the way.		Bentley lay awake, staring at the ceiling. It was sometime in the dead of night and the lights were off, letting the gentle glow of the Drift illuminate the walls of the captain’s quarters. They carefully untangled themselves from Ilyar’s arms and slipped out, throwing on a dressing down on the way.

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	<br/>		<br/>
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
			<br/>

	Morning came as morning could only come on a seamship, with the lights coming up on a timer and the Drift remaining as dark and empty as ever. Bentley was at the drive console, sipping a cup of coffee in a vain attempt to gain back some of the sleep they missed the previous night. Quartz sat as ever on the far end of the bridge, pointedly ignoring everything around them, and for once Bentley was glad for it. Solivane, at the navigator’s desk, was busying themselves with course corrections and valiantly pretending nothing had happened. Into the midst of this tension strode Ilyar, fresh-faced and stretching his back. He stood by the front windows admiring the Drift for a moment, then turned to address the room.		Morning came as morning could only come on a seamship, with the lights coming up on a timer and the Drift remaining as dark and empty as ever. Bentley was at the drive console, sipping a cup of coffee in a vain attempt to gain back some of the sleep they missed the previous night. Quartz sat as ever on the far end of the bridge, pointedly ignoring everything around them, and for once Bentley was glad for it. Solivane, at the navigator’s desk, was busying themselves with course corrections and valiantly pretending nothing had happened. Into the midst of this tension strode Ilyar, fresh-faced and stretching his back. He stood by the front windows admiring the Drift for a moment, then turned to address the room.

Bentley at 17:36, 29 December 2025

2025-12-29T17:36:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:36, 29 December 2025
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	Quartz grinned at Bentley. “What’s the difference, anyway? Pirates probably get paid better.”		Quartz grinned at Bentley. “What’s the difference, anyway? Pirates probably get paid better.”

	{{Sep}}~~<br />~~		<br />
			{{Sep}}
	The glass-walled elevator car made its way slowly up the side of the High Spire, the luxurious crown perched atop the ''Cloud Archipelago''’s expanse. Inside, the four members of the ''Stationary Traveller''’s crew stood waiting. Though they tried not to show it, the tension was palpable.		The glass-walled elevator car made its way slowly up the side of the High Spire, the luxurious crown perched atop the ''Cloud Archipelago''’s expanse. Inside, the four members of the ''Stationary Traveller''’s crew stood waiting. Though they tried not to show it, the tension was palpable.

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	<br/>		<br/>
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
	~~<br/>~~

	Solivane walked through the main corridor of the ''Stationary Traveller'', thinking it was unusually quiet for a departure morning. A deck below, the hold buzzed with the chatter and rattle of dockers loading crates of provisions and Quartz complaining about the scrapes they left on the floor. Up here, however, the air was too still.		Solivane walked through the main corridor of the ''Stationary Traveller'', thinking it was unusually quiet for a departure morning. A deck below, the hold buzzed with the chatter and rattle of dockers loading crates of provisions and Quartz complaining about the scrapes they left on the floor. Up here, however, the air was too still.

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	<br/>		<br/>
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
	~~<br/>~~

	Bentley lay awake, staring at the ceiling. It was sometime in the dead of night and the lights were off, letting the gentle glow of the Drift illuminate the walls of the captain’s quarters. They carefully untangled themselves from Ilyar’s arms and slipped out, throwing on a dressing down on the way.		Bentley lay awake, staring at the ceiling. It was sometime in the dead of night and the lights were off, letting the gentle glow of the Drift illuminate the walls of the captain’s quarters. They carefully untangled themselves from Ilyar’s arms and slipped out, throwing on a dressing down on the way.

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	“Rail-pistol?” Bentley asked, confused. “Those are a mark a dozen—“		“Rail-pistol?” Bentley asked, confused. “Those are a mark a dozen—“

	~~“Rel~~-pistol,” Quartz corrected with a laugh. “Relativistic pistol. It has a tiny piece of contained Drift inside, uses that to fire at three-quarters the speed of light.” She lifted the pistol and aimed it at some pieces of scrap crate-wood sitting by the wall further down the hold. “Watch.”		“''Rel-pistol'',” Quartz corrected with a laugh. “Relativistic pistol. It has a tiny piece of contained Drift inside, uses that to fire at three-quarters the speed of light.” She lifted the pistol and aimed it at some pieces of scrap crate-wood sitting by the wall further down the hold. “Watch.”

	She squeezed the trigger, and instantly a beam of purple light shot from the barrel directly into the wood scraps with a loud crack that reverberated around the hold. Where it hit there was now a smouldering ring of purple-glowing wood pinned to the hold wall; the rest of the scrap was a fine dusting of ash scattered on the floor. Bentley walked over cautiously and inspected the remains; inside the glowing ring was a perfectly formed bullet, undamaged, suspended in the air. After a moment, the glow faded and the bullet clinked to the floor.		She squeezed the trigger, and instantly a beam of purple light shot from the barrel directly into the wood scraps with a loud crack that reverberated around the hold. Where it hit there was now a smouldering ring of purple-glowing wood pinned to the hold wall; the rest of the scrap was a fine dusting of ash scattered on the floor. Bentley walked over cautiously and inspected the remains; inside the glowing ring was a perfectly formed bullet, undamaged, suspended in the air. After a moment, the glow faded and the bullet clinked to the floor.
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	Quartz looked directly into their eyes, her bright blue irises shining in the dim light of the hold. “He approved it. Last resort. Just in case. Besides, Bentley, you’ve had to fend for yourself before. Haven’t you caused just as much harm?”		Quartz looked directly into their eyes, her bright blue irises shining in the dim light of the hold. “He approved it. Last resort. Just in case. Besides, Bentley, you’ve had to fend for yourself before. Haven’t you caused just as much harm?”

	Bentley recoiled from the weight of the question, staring Quartz down. A faint flicker of amber fury ignited in their eyes. “Seam-walkers don’t blow holes in people! We don’t kill!” They took a step forward, pointing an accusatory finger at Quartz. “We defend ourselves with elegance. We rewrite weapons to be harmless, we convince the multiverse to work in our favour. If it comes to it, we rip open a seam and drop you into another reality. We don’t harm!”		Bentley recoiled from the weight of the question, staring Quartz down. A faint flicker of amber fury ignited in their eyes. “Seam-walkers don’t blow holes in people! We don’t kill!” They took a step forward, pointing an accusatory finger at Quartz. “We defend ourselves with elegance. We rewrite weapons to be harmless, we convince the multiverse to work in our favour. If it comes to it, we rip open a seam and drop you into another reality. We don’t ''harm!''”

	Quartz stood up and met Bentley’s gaze, every bit as fiery. “What happens to those you ‘drop into another reality’, Bentley? Do you know where they go? Do you know if it’s safe? Do you care?” She grabbed the pistol and held it in the air, making Bentley step back. “This kills, and death is final; you would rather pluck someone out of their world and leave them to suffer, just to satisfy yourself that you didn’t pull the trigger!”		Quartz stood up and met Bentley’s gaze, every bit as fiery. “What happens to those you ‘drop into another reality’, Bentley? Do you know where they go? Do you know if it’s safe? ''Do you care?''” She grabbed the pistol and held it in the air, making Bentley step back. “This kills, and death is final; you would rather pluck someone out of their world and leave them to suffer, just to satisfy yourself that you didn’t pull the trigger!”

	“Cease.”		“Cease.”
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	<br/>		<br/>
	{{Sep}}		{{Sep}}
	~~<br/>~~

	Morning came as morning could only come on a seamship, with the lights coming up on a timer and the Drift remaining as dark and empty as ever. Bentley was at the drive console, sipping a cup of coffee in a vain attempt to gain back some of the sleep they missed the previous night. Quartz sat as ever on the far end of the bridge, pointedly ignoring everything around them, and for once Bentley was glad for it. Solivane, at the navigator’s desk, was busying themselves with course corrections and valiantly pretending nothing had happened. Into the midst of this tension strode Ilyar, fresh-faced and stretching his back. He stood by the front windows admiring the Drift for a moment, then turned to address the room.		Morning came as morning could only come on a seamship, with the lights coming up on a timer and the Drift remaining as dark and empty as ever. Bentley was at the drive console, sipping a cup of coffee in a vain attempt to gain back some of the sleep they missed the previous night. Quartz sat as ever on the far end of the bridge, pointedly ignoring everything around them, and for once Bentley was glad for it. Solivane, at the navigator’s desk, was busying themselves with course corrections and valiantly pretending nothing had happened. Into the midst of this tension strode Ilyar, fresh-faced and stretching his back. He stood by the front windows admiring the Drift for a moment, then turned to address the room.

Bentley at 17:35, 29 December 2025

2025-12-29T17:35:15Z

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 <br/>
 {{Sep}}
-<br/>
+“You look fine, OK?”
 The glass-walled elevator car made its way slowly up the side of the High Spire, the luxurious crown perched atop the ''Cloud Archipelago''’s expanse. Inside, the four members of the ''Stationary Traveller''’s crew stood waiting. Though they tried not to show it, the tension was palpable.

Bentley at 22:42, 26 December 2025

2025-12-26T22:42:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:42, 26 December 2025
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	{{WIP Story}}		{{WIP Story}}

	Ilyar sat on the corner of the bar, nursing a glass of brandy in one hand and cradling his head in the other. On the stool beside him sat Bentley, resting their head gently against ~~his~~ arm.		Ilyar sat on the corner of the bar, nursing a glass of brandy in one hand and cradling his head in the other. On the stool beside him sat Bentley, their boater hat sitting on the bar, resting their head gently against the hare's arm.

	“I’m bored out of my mind here, captain,” Bentley grumbled, kicking their boots against the bar. “When do we get out in the Drift again? The ship’s probably forgotten me by now.”		“I’m bored out of my mind here, captain,” Bentley grumbled, kicking their boots against the bar. “When do we get out in the Drift again? The ship’s probably forgotten me by now.”

	Ilyar shot a glance out across the mostly empty bar. The pink-purple glow of the Drift bled softly in through the windows at the far end. It had been almost a month since they arrived back at the ''Cloud Archipelago'', and despite his best efforts he had yet to find any jobs worth taking. He looked down at the raccoon, who was now spinning on the barstool. “Where are Solivane and Quartz?”		Ilyar scratched his long ears and shot a glance out across the mostly empty bar. The pink-purple glow of the Drift bled softly in through the windows at the far end. It had been almost a month since they arrived back at the ''Cloud Archipelago'', and despite his best efforts he had yet to find any jobs worth taking. He looked down at the light brown raccoon, who was now spinning on the barstool. “Where are Solivane and Quartz?”

	“Quartz is down on the promenade, something about a new sidearm? Sol is—“ Bentley stopped spinning facing the door. “—here.”		“Quartz is down on the promenade, something about a new sidearm? Sol is—“ Bentley stopped spinning facing the door. “—here.”

	Solivane strode towards them, immaculate white robes drifting gracefully behind them, and dropped an envelope on the bar in front of Ilyar. “This was delivered to the ship. The messenger was most insistent that you read it immediately.”		Solivane strode towards them, the coati's immaculate white robes drifting gracefully behind them, and dropped an envelope on the bar in front of Ilyar. “This was delivered to the ship. The messenger was most insistent that you read it immediately.”

	Ilyar opened the envelope and extracted a carefully folded origami hare. Before he could unfold it, it fluttered gracefully onto the bar and began hopping around with a trail of green sparkles. Bentley stared at it with unconcealed glee. After a few hops and a rather impressive somersault, the hare flattened itself out into a small square letter with an ornate gilded edge and glistening green script. Ilyar picked it up and began to read.<blockquote>''Captain Ilyar of the Stationary Traveller,''		Ilyar opened the envelope and extracted a carefully folded origami hare. Before he could unfold it, it fluttered gracefully onto the bar and began hopping around with a trail of green sparkles. Bentley stared at it with unconcealed glee. After a few hops and a rather impressive somersault, the hare flattened itself out into a small square letter with an ornate gilded edge and glistening green script. Ilyar picked it up and began to read.<blockquote>''Captain Ilyar of the Stationary Traveller,''
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	The glass-walled elevator car made its way slowly up the side of the High Spire, the luxurious crown perched atop the ''Cloud Archipelago''’s expanse. Inside, the four members of the ''Stationary Traveller''’s crew stood waiting. Though they tried not to show it, the tension was palpable.		The glass-walled elevator car made its way slowly up the side of the High Spire, the luxurious crown perched atop the ''Cloud Archipelago''’s expanse. Inside, the four members of the ''Stationary Traveller''’s crew stood waiting. Though they tried not to show it, the tension was palpable.

	Ilyar, his grey-brown fur brushed smooth and the brass buttons on his coat shining, fixed his gaze on the soft glow of the Drift outside. Bentley stood to his side, running their fingers through the fur on his arms in an attempt to soothe their anxiety. Solivane, meanwhile, was explaining the etiquette of meeting an arms dealer feared across the Multiverse to Quartz, whose golden-brown ears were twitching with excitement.		Ilyar, his grey-brown fur brushed smooth and the brass buttons on his coat shining, fixed his gaze on the soft glow of the Drift outside. Bentley stood to his side, running their fingers through the fur on his arms in an attempt to soothe their anxiety. Solivane, meanwhile, was explaining the etiquette of meeting an arms dealer feared across the Multiverse to Quartz, the lithe fennec fox whose golden-brown ears were twitching with excitement.

	"Let the captain do the talking. Speak only when you are spoken to, and always address her as 'Lady Kyrie'," Solivane explained, adjusting their robes to geometric perfection.		"Let the captain do the talking. Speak only when you are spoken to, and always address her as 'Lady Kyrie'," Solivane explained, adjusting their robes to geometric perfection.

Bentley at 20:49, 24 December 2025

2025-12-24T20:49:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:49, 24 December 2025
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	Ilyar drained the last of his brandy, flicked a few shiny silver marks into the empty glass, and stood. “Well then, we shouldn’t keep her waiting. Sol, fetch Quartz and meet us back at the ship; we ought to make a good impression.”		Ilyar drained the last of his brandy, flicked a few shiny silver marks into the empty glass, and stood. “Well then, we shouldn’t keep her waiting. Sol, fetch Quartz and meet us back at the ship; we ought to make a good impression.”

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