#at least it cooperates during emergencies o7

[braisedhoney]

there are strange aberrations aboard the HIVE, lively as it can be.

(a HIVE short experiment… fic? drabble? does it count as either if it’s not technically fandom based?)

Spaceships feel claustrophobic and vast at the same time. It comes with being modern marvels, impossibly large machines that traverse the stars as easily as airplanes did the sky. It's admittedly a relative feeling even on ordinary vessels.

The HIVE is far from ordinary.

Rooms upon rooms, hallways that twist and turn oddly and doors that should lead places that don't. All of that's well and good enough, but all it takes is one good glance out at the starry depths of the outside to feel miniscule — to realize that space is it's namesake. It's a slippery slope, and usually at least a little existential.

The HIVE lively despite that, though. Shockingly warm in color for a spacefaring vessel, themed like the name was crafted before the construct. Hexagonal wall decor and metal welded to match, all in hues that contrasted the grey uniforms of the crew. The halls are scarcely ever fully empty, especially on the path to communal areas like the kitchens or open living spaces, and theres always at least a few people trudging along to medbay with sheepish smiles and singed collars.

The designated sleeping quarters — the proper ones with each crewmates number stamped on a metal plaque, CR[and so on], not the honeycomb themed nap spaces, nor the various chambers designated for cryosleep — are afforded keycards and locked doors, but some leave theirs open for visitors to come and go. Things become even more chaotic when the ship is scheduled to dock, what with almost everyone excited to disembark and peruse the wares of the local markets before they set off again. Yes, the ship is lively.

But sometimes it feels like it's more than that.

When the lights dim to replicate proper sleeping conditions, sometimes it can be all too easy to push oneself up from bed, bleary-eyed and yawning. To wander out in search of the restroom, or a late snack while in the company of the silent stars. To step, then pause, then recoil as a boot meets something other than the expected metal floor. To hold up a hand and watch in horror as an ink-like substance drips into it, so dark it leaves no room for shadows to be cast within it.

(To look up, and feel your heart stop as pinpricks of blindingly white light pin you where you stand. Watching. Watched.)

It's something to laugh about later. Something to commiserate about — another prank, the others say with sympathy, another failed attempt to say hello — something to dismiss. Terrifying at first, but ultimately harmless. It’s a fact of life aboard the ship; report it to the captain if you like, they add, and they'll take care of it.

It's easiest to open the comms if you need them, if they aren't just walking around—the door to the captain's quarters is locked even during the day, you see, so the comms are the best bet. (Nobody other than the captain even has access to that room anyway.)

Yes, there are strange aberrations aboard the HIVE, lively as it can be. Odd characters out of uniform and out of place, they stand out like sore thumbs. But the captain claps them on the shoulders and seems, if anything, overjoyed to cause them trouble, often chasing them about with tablet and pen in hand. Shouting about being a proud father to someone they could not look less similar to if they tried one minute, laying in a dramatic pose claiming death the next. Always unconcerned with the circumstances of their arrival, treating each one like a strange friend. No matter how much some of them protest the familiar treatment.

With time, the changing doorways and strange new arrivals that disregard the need to board or disembark normally all become routine. A revolving door of new and old faces amidst the sea of warm metallic colors and grey uniforms.

Perhaps the next station they visit will have another market. The stars make for a beautiful view between pit-stops, as long as you don't stare for too long.

If too much time passes, the doors do grow bored of waiting.

#ney's idle chatter (random textposts) #tales aboard the hive #wow this is. different #uh #not sure if i'll keep this up or not #just a little experiment for funsies #because so much hive stuff has been happening lately #for the record the strange characters out of uniform are just all the fandom guys we chuck aboard #and the creepy dripping eye dude is just the doc hanging out on the ceiling LMAO #and narry’s the one who gets pissy about being treated casually. he’s fine he’s just in denial #i love our weird eldritch spaceship tbh #at least it cooperates during emergencies o7