the little spark that became a fire storm

the little spark who became a firestorm

a study in: forbidden love, heartbreak, life at the end of the world, the hollywood hills, being in love with your best friend, enemies to lovers, promises never kept, our little corner or the world, best friends since birth, things that go bump in the night, murder and mayhem, kings and queens, cryptids, unimaginable horrors, age is but a number, creatures of the night, howling at the moon, celestial wonders, alien lifeforms, natural disasters, and so much more.

private 1x1 rp blog interaction with @caribbeanblve ONLY.

main muses hiatus muses period muses

most active muse:

rhett lawson

sienna roman

billie evans

"Rhett, please. It's not that simple." Ruby tried again but to no avail. The captain wasn't having it. He's currently locked in to Strata Nova's trajectory. Focusing a bit too hard on it all. She sighed, sitting roughly back against her chair. Running a hand through her hair, a habit she picked up from watching Billie to blend in more is self soothing technique. She can feel something in her programming rebelling against what she is currently feeling. Hurt and anger and mixed with a pain she has no name for.

"I see you Nova One." Rhett replied, small versions of what each team member is seeing coming up on his screen. Great. More ways to be inundated with what is happening between Jade and Dr. Claiborne. At least on the ship he can hide in his quarters or aon the bridge and never see it. Now he's being forced to. He's never wanted to be home more in his life than he does right now.

Thirty minutes and too much silence between her and Rhett later, Ruby's console beeped three times in rapid succession. Her eyebrows furrowed until she saw what the cause for alarm was. No. No that was impossible.

'Rhett." She can't believe what she's seeing. It can't be right. In fact, Ruby is so flustered by that reading that she reran it immediately. But it spit out the same number. 35 kilometer. It was just at 46 not a half our ago. It had been gaining on them yes but at a speed of about half a kilometer an hour until right before take off. It just jumped 10 kilometers in a scarily short amount of time.

"Rhett." She tried again, more stern this time, but the captain is still preoccupied. Half listening to the ground teams chatter, half watching their vitals, and the other half coming to terms that when they get back to Earth he may as well just retire. Let Billie run off with Cameron and let Ruby join Weyland as well. At least from the looks of it Ruby will have Jade there. It comforts him if only a little.

"Captain Lawson!" Ruby's hand slammed down on the console, her voice loud and it scared the hell out of Rhett. "What! What Ruby? What is it, I told you, it's fine, you can do-"

"35 kilometers." She stared him down angrily at first, for not listening to her but then it's there. Fear. And Rhett blinked at her. No, that can't be right, the storm had just been way further than that away. It couldn't have moved that quickly. "What? You just said-"

"I know what I just said but this is what I'm saying now. I just triple checked the scan. 35 kilometers."

Ruby gestured towards the console for him to look for himself and he did just that. Stood up and leaned over the radar. "What is safe evacuation distance for us?"

"10. And even that is pushing it with Nova's size. She can't get to speed like yours can." Shit. Their time was running out quicker than anticipated.

"Strata Nova to Nova One. I need a mission status pronto. We have an issue up here." Turning his mic back on Rhett broadcasted that message to the ground team. "The storm is gaining. Newest readings show it has gained speed. It is now 35 kilometers out. Safe evac distance for the craft is 10." Trying to keep his voice even keeled is proving harder than it has been for him. They need to start wrapping it up and fast.

"You may start experiencing a weather shift down there." Ruby quickly added. "Heavy winds, lightening even. Proceed with extreme caution."

"What's going on up there?" Billie's voice came buzzing through then. "Bills, I need all power diverted to every engine. As much as each can take. I need this tin can to be able to punch it as best as she can very quickly." Rhett instructed her and Billie swallowed hard. She's been lost in her work to distract her from that nasty landing and now her anxiety was spiking once more. "Yes, sir. I'll page when she'd ready." All business, shoving all of her emotions down to focus on what needs to happen. "Collins!" She shouted and began tossing orders around.

"You're not back yet," Billie's voice is small. Almost indiscernible between static garbles. Her hand slammed against the metal wall next to where she stood, an act of frustration that startled the jumpsuit who had been with her. Collins. She stormed off, the man following closely behind to to start prepping the hanger for when Nova One returned.

Rhett exhaled sharply as Jade's voice reached him. At last letting himself relax in the slightest as he practically collapsed back into his chair. Even Ruby looked relieved. They all are. Alive. Banged up probably but alive. Good, now they just need to hurry up and get whatever the fuck samples they need and get back up here.

At Dr. Claiborne's command, both Rhett and Ruby went back to their pressing tasks. Monitoring the storm and maintaining orbit around LV-462. Rhett going as far as muting his own microphone on his comm piece and signaling for Ruby to do the same. When she looked to him though, Rhett caught sight of a flash of metal along her collar. Instantly he recognized the Weyland-Yutani insignia. "Where did you get that?" He asked her, confusion furrowing his brow.

"Oh... um." Ruby reached up, touching the pin and is hit right in the guy with a form of regret. "It's nothing, Rhett. Dr. Claiborne was just thanking me for keeping an eye-" Rhett held up a hand to stop her. His eyes focused straight ahead, out that glass window towards LV-462. It was dead silent on that bridge for a moment. The air thick with something not unlike tension, but more so like heartbreak.

"If you wanna follow that guy when we get back who am I to stop you." Rhett said calmly. "Only want what will be best for you Ruby and if that's leaving the freelancer life I won't stop you." He just wished it would be anywhere but Weyland-Yutani.

Ruby swallowed. If having a lump in her throat was possible she would have it. She's hurt his feelings. That much is abundantly clear. This right here is the Rhett she knows, the Rhett that took her in years ago and brought her under his wing. Gave her a job, something to help her live a semi-normal existence. And she just hurt him. "Rhett that's-" But beeping cut her off. Her scanner. "46 kilometers away." She reported solemnly. They were slowly running out of time.

"Nova One do you copy?" Rhett asked after hearing Cameron warning everyone to hold on before static hissed into everyone's ear piece. They all flinched, pulling the piece from their ear before replacing it. Fucking static. Not unusual doing this moment for that ship but something wasn't right.

"Nova One, come in!" Rhett demanded it down the comms line, but there was no immediate response. Just sound. Loud reverberating sound of a ship going through atmospheric reentry and that fucking god awful static hiss. "Ruby, talk to me." His tone is stern but it's one she is used to in a moment like this. It's warranted. They had barely started and already there was an issue. Jade. He didn't even wish her good lick this morning. He hadn't said a damn word to her since yesterday and-

"It's not the storm Rhett it's just... it's just the planet's atmosphere. It's hostile." She said as she hastily hit buttons, having Nova One transfer any data it's receiving to her. She's never seen anything like it. A constant haze of wind darkness. "They're at the mercy of the planet herself." Which wasn't good. At all. They were truly blind.

"Cameron?" Rhett hears Billie calling for the engineer now and he swallows, hating the panic he can hear in voice because it mimics what is coursing through him in that moment. He can see every single person's heart rate that is on that ship. Scared. They are all terrified. Jesus Christ this was a fucking mistake. What was Claiborne thinking making them come out here? He had to know something about this place.

And everyone on the Strata Nova? They are powerless up here. If Nova One crashes then that's it. There is no recovery. It's the end of this mission. And there's not a damn thing any one of them can do except listen.

"Give them a second, Billie, I'm sure they're okay." He tried to soothe her as best he can but he can't hid the doubt in his voice. "Chambers, Cameron come in." She tried again, and this is the longest five minutes of her life. Of all of their lives until finally Cameron's voice cut through the static. They made it. They're alive. Fucking hell they are alive.

"Looks like Cameron got my intel on the storm. He'll pilot them to where they need to be." Ruby's gone rigid. Clinical. That much Rhett can tell but he doesn't poke her. No use right now. He's too busy make sure he's hitting all his correct buttons, holding Nova steady as the drop ship engages. She's probably just stressed like he is.

He's able to crack a smile at hearing Cameron's joke. "Still gotta go there and back before I'm impressed Ryan." He shot back, but there's humor there. Despite that shitty breakfast, their talk smoothed things over and there was an odd camaraderie there. Not only that but it's good to hear Billie's voice. He hasn't seen her since that breakfast, and he's still yet to truly apologize to her for his shit behavior.

A collective deep breath was released as the drop ship disengaged from the Strata Nova. Shuddering the mining vessel just enough to have the remaining crew reach for something to steady themselves. On the bridge, Rhett and Ruby can see the craft from that big picture window they have. Down below, all Billie can see is the readings she's pulling through on the computer of the ships systems. Monitoring everything because there's precious cargo on that ship. For nearly everyone left up here.

As that message came through from Emeric, Ruby smiled to herself as she swiped it away. His voice is in both of their ears then, but Dr. Claiborne isn't speaking to them, he's speaking to Jade and Ruby looked over to Rhett just in time to see him flinch. To watch him make a fist but then release it.

Some of that earlier annoyance leaves her, and for a split second Ruby at last feels a little upset with Emeric. He did this on purpose. Making Rhett be able to hear everything transpiring between him and Jade. That seemed cruel, and it would also mean that the doctor knew how Rhett felt. Then again it was kind of obvious with the way the captain had been acting.

"No change on the storm." Ruby tried to pull his focus to something else. Trying to keep an eye on him as well meant that she had to keep him level-headed and cool. "Readings remain steady. Shift 14 degrees northeast to keep out of range of the planet's gravitational pull." Her directions were to both Billie and Rhett. Rhett so he can drive, Billie so she can monitor engine flow. Rhett did as instructed, but his eyes remained fixed through the glass, watching that ship get smaller and smaller the closer to got towards LV-462.

Any other time Rhett would have exploded, knowing full well he's being goaded into a different response. But he swallowed his pride here. He had to. His focus needed to be on being a good captain and keeping this old girl floating safely. "Yeah, she does love her plants." When Emeric is finally off the bridge Rhett's shoulder's unclench and he exhaled through his nose, prompting Ruby to look his way.

"Proud of you, for keeping your cool." She praised. And it's there, the old Ruby, the one that first boarded this ship ten months ago. Rhett can't even see the difference in her right now because he's so lost in his own head. In his own problems. He grabbed his comms headset and slid it into place into his ear. "Catch more flies with honey." He mused, and it caused her smile to falter. He hadn't actually meant to be kind. Why did that bother her so deeply?

"Reading you loud a clear, Jade." Acknowledging her voice in his ear when it came through. It eased even more of that tension but not for long. He refused to call her that title. How could he when her name was more beautiful than that. He noted now, that the microphone symbol next to her name was green and no longer grayed out. Once she was in her suit it would begin monitoring her vitals. "Captain Lawson and Ruby Lane checking in." He said and gave his partner a small smile. She returned it, but it was tight. Not as bright as it used to be before this whole trip started.

"Heliophysicist Ruby Lane reporting. Storm is still shadowing us. I will alert you to any atmospheric changes once you're on the ground and I can get some readings." Keeping Jade in the loop like she's been told to do. To keep her safe. "Weather wise you are clear for take off."

All Rhett can do is nod. Good, at least the guy thinks they can get in and out in time for them to avoid any sort of collision with this thing. He's been through his share of space storms and this was certainly one he didn't want to get to know too closely. The protective streak that Emeric hates so much nearly came out again when the doctor move close to Ruby, hovering over her like that but he remained still, eyes on his console. Sipping his coffee. Anything to refrain from any form of back talk or aggressive behavior.

"Certainly, sir. I'll get it to him right away." Ruby happily agreed. Her speech back to a more human lilt. And she got to doing just that because she didn't see the need in overseeing Rhett's behavior when there... simply wasn't any to correct. At last though, unable to avoid it much longer Rhett's blue eyes turned up towards Emeric. He reached for the data pad without question, swiping into his console and plugging in that communication code.

Access granted.

It flashed on the screen and slowly a list of names began popping up. Emeric, Cameron, Jade, Maya, the names he was aware of as well as a handful of other that he wasn't. Multiple symbols were by each name. A microphone, and a heart. Both were greyed out for now, and would most likely gain color once the team was on the ground. Connections. Voice and heart rate monitor. At least he'll be able to hear them, tell if they are doing okay. It might ease some of the anxiety everyone on board is feeling.

"Emeric," Ruby corrected herself with a smile his way as she watched him eye the radar. The breathing that she did not need to do ceased as he brushed at her panel, nearly flinching because of it. Intimate in a way she's not used to. Nearly forgetting he knows what she is. That he knows right there is access to everything. Every synthetic nerve ending she has begins there. So gentle and kind where Rhett was callus and short. The difference is staggering.

She held as still as stone as he fastened that insignia to her collar, eyes watching his face for any sign of, well anything. Ruby is once again just entranced by him and she cannot understand why. Surely just because he understands her being a synthetic cannot be the only reason. Many would understand, but those she once held dear to her would not and that is what mattered. These small touches, that calming nature of his voice. It's what she has craved for so long but never knew she had.

Another beep from the radar is the only thing that pulls her away from wanting to lean in more. From simply wanting to be in his orbit. She wished in that moment that she could be going down to the planet with that team. Something that wasn't unheard of since she could be monitoring the weather on planet for any sort of anomaly as well.

"48 now. It is rapid but steady. From my scans it looks to have swallowed another supernova over night, and in doing so it gained a traction we could not have-" When she joins them? "Wait, you wish for me to come on at Weyland?" She shouldn't be surprised yet she is. "Emeric that is-" But she doesn't have a chance to finish her thought.

Rhett, for once so far on this whole flight, doesn't make a big deal about seeing Dr. Claiborne on the bridge. He simply nodded at the man a murmured a "Mornin'." To him before he sat down in his chair. Rhett didn't have it in him to be a jerk. In fact some of the thoughts he grappled with last night were that he should keep his thoughts to himself. Not make shit harder on Jade. If that was was who she chose then so be it. "I'm sure Ruby's told you about our shadow." Trying to be civil comes off the way he wants it to.

She isn't startled when Emeric is suddenly there beside her. It was almost like she knew he'd be. Felt his presence before it actually came. And Ruby turned her head towards him. She assumed he was here for an update before departing. "I would, sir yes." A firm believer in what he had just spoken.

All things were beautiful. Even those the world deemed ugly had it's own beauty. Black holes were fast and horrifying. But still a sight to behold when at a safe distance. A sun was a beautiful light, but dangerous even from far away. Humans could be kind and cruel. Ugly and beautiful. Dr. Claiborne was beautiful. She can see why Jade is fond of him. Same way she could see Jade also being fond of Rhett.

"For me?" She questioned it with an almost child like wonder as she took the insignia from him, running her fingers over the metal. "Are you sure? I am not part of Weyland," Ruby looked back up to Emeric, but clutched that pin into her palm. Maybe not officially part of the company but the last 48 or so hours had her feeling like she was. Ever since her little upgrade. It was like she owed her life to them in some way because of that. "Thank you Dr. Claiborne."

A beep on her radar jars her from her gaze at him, moving herself towards the radar scanner. "Sir, that storm is encroaching on us with haste." A shift in her demeanor now, she's more synthetic than human in that moment. She feels safe being that way, even with the threat of Rhett returning at any moment. No. He wasn't a threat. That thought made her pause and blink. She even almost shook her head to rid herself of such a thought. No that wasn't right. Rhett is her friend. He is her... was he?

"It is 49 kilometers from us. Your mission needs to get underway. And I fear you may encounter bad weather upon leaving the planet. I will only be able to hold Rhett off from moving to safe distance for so long. He cares about the safety of everyone on this ship. As I am sure you do as well." Or so she believes.

"I know, I know." Billie relented, running a hand through her mess of curls. Cameron had to go. He's important. He has to pilot that ship getting them down there and then drive the team around the surface. He has a lot on his shoulders but he's good. More than good. He's great at his profession and he'll be fine but Billie just cant shake this unease. But his words pause that worry, and she looked up at him, her expression softened.

"You are the last thing I expected to come out of this little mission Rhett signed us up for. But I'm glad I found you too." And she meant that. She wouldn't be worrying over him, hell she wouldn't have slept with him if she didn't care. She reached up and placed her hand along his cheek. "I'll be on comms if you need anything." There was only so much she could do from the ship but she could help troubleshoot a problem over the radio.

"Evans!" Another shout of her name but this time it was a jumpsuit shouting for her. She's needed, there is so much crap she has to do. Sometimes it really sucked being fucking important. She pushed up onto her her toes and kissed Cameron quickly. "I've got a bed with your name on it when you get back." More incentive for him to be safe. She winked before stepping around him and leaving him in that hallway. "Collins, Giacobbe! With me!" She shouted, switching into that boss mode to help her try and focus on anything but Cameron disappearing down onto that planet. IN a tank meant for military grade work.

"I'll be right back Rubs. Need some coffee. Page me if shit goes sideways." Rhett said, and patted her shoulder before he headed out of the bridge. Leaving her alone again to monitor the storm and keep them in their safe orbiting distance. For as smart as she was, Ruby wasn't catching on that Rhett was trying to teach her how to be a pilot. He knew she had it in her. Billie never really showed any interest in learning how to fly but Rubyt has. Plus she was normally up here with him anyway. Leaving her alone to manage things was his way of showing how much he trusted her.

"I will," The synth smiled at him, watched him leave before straightening in her chair. She hit a few buttons on the console, letting the Strata Nova drift a little to the right and opened the shutters. Letting that natural space light illuminate the bridge. It also allowed her to get a better view of what was going on out there. Radar was good and all, but sometimes you just need to get eyes on your surroundings.

A short beep caught her attention from said radar. The storm. 49 kilometers away. Plenty of room. Five was the max she would allow it to get before they needed to leave. Nova was too big, and couldn't move as quickly as Rhett's tiny ship back home. "Come on, give me something to go off of." She murmured to herself.

“Rhett, it’s closer.” Are Ruby’s immediate words to the captain as he practically stumbled onto the bridge that next morning. A healthy dose of whiskey helped the man finally get some sleep. Luckily he knew how to handle said liquor and was doing surprisingly well in the hangover department. He’s all business now, leaving his emotions and problems in his room because to day was important. He had to focus on keeping this operation running smoothly. The Strata Nova’s position was everything more than ever today. Ruby had brought them to their spot to orbit safely but now she had a more pressing matter to monitor. Rhett stepped over to her radar scanner, staring down at the screen over her shoulder. "Tell me what I’m looking at,” He said and Ruby bit her lip.

“It’s encroaching. It’s only fifty kilometers out now.” That storm had been keeping a healthy one hundred to two hundred kilometers away from the Strata Nova since Ruby first found it. But it had gained on them significantly during the night. It was worrisome, yes. But they still had enough distance that they could get away if needed. Right now the proper call was whether or not they hold off until tomorrow. Ruby already knew that answer and it was no. Emeric would not like that suggestion she thought.

“That’s not what I like hearing Ruby.” Rhett grumbled, but nothing is directed at her. She’s just telling him the facts, the truth and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He started to reach for his comms button to ring up a certain doctor but Ruby’s hand stopped him. “No, it’ll be alright. It’s encroaching yes but there’s still a good chance it’s only gaining because it’s fizzling out.” A true statement. Sometimes storms got a bit stronger, blew a bit harder because they were on the last leg of their life. She had to believe that’s what was happening. This mission was important and they couldn’t push it another day.

At the call of her name, Billie’s head shot up, smiling immediately at Cam. She hasn’t seen him since breakfast the night before, having asked for a full day of rest before she takes over on the underbelly during this planet side mission. “Hey handsome.” She greeted, nodding a hello to the woman next to him as well. “Yeah madhouse is putting it lightly.” Taking in the people running around like chickens without heads makes her laugh a little. Taking a data pad from the woman for herself too. She had a lot to check before, during and after this was all said and done.

“Looks like you’ve got the old girl ready and raring to go.” That tank is a sight that’s for damn sure. Up close and personal it looks like it could take hit from just about anything. A strange thing for a simple exploration mission. It’s been felt all throughout that hanger for a little while now that something seemed slightly out of place. But everyone also seemed to know better than to ask questions about it.

“You ready for today?” Putting her attention back on Cam there’s a nervous look in her eye. She still doesn’t like the idea of him going down there. He’s more than capable, Billie knows that much. Knows that his top priority will be getting his friends in and out in one piece but it still makes her uneasy. Planets like this just give her the heebee geebee’s. Billie reached out, taking Cameron but the arm and tugged him towards on of the hallways to be a bit more out of the way. She slid her data-pad under her arm, that nervous energy now coming off of her in a wave. “Look, I don’t… I don’t normally get all jumpy like this but. I don’t like the idea of you going down there.” She swallowed hard, not used to being vulnerable.

The captain didn't look up as Jade left. He didn't have it in him to be anymore upset than he already was. Not only that but she said it herself. She needed to see him. He'll probably be in some deep shit with the guy now. Just add sexual assault to his list of infractions on this fucking trip. Back talking, smoking on the bridge, and a near kiss to the Director of the Science Division of Weyland-Yutani's girlfriend. Yeah, good one Lawson.

"Rhett?" Ruby's voice is gentle as she moved to sit in her seat, immediately pulling up the scans of the ever present storm. "Is that what all this is about? You lashing out at everyone? You're feelings for her?" Concern is there but where it used to be just that, there is a probing nature to her question. Like she needs that information so she can relay it to Emeric. He didn't answer her. Not right away anyway and she sighed softy. "Rhett she has unresolved history with Dr. Claiborne. If anything you should just let her figure it out. If you care about her, don't confuse her more than she most likely already is."

"Yeah, I know Rubs." He had snapped it but there was no bite behind it. He knows she's right. He shouldn't have done any of what had just transpired between him and Jade but he couldn't help it. He'd been so drawn in. And the moment had been perfect. Looking out into the stars with her gave him a renew sense of life. As dramatic as that may sound. Ruby bit her lip, gaze turning again towards that vast expanse before them. "You never open the shield." She mused aloud.

"She wanted to see the stars." But he hit that damn button so hard then it could have broken. The shutters slowly began to close and Rhett's stomach clenched. Let it go Lawson. She has someone. Just let it the fuck go. A sadness took over Ruby. For her friend. HE's her friend and she's trying to remember that. He gave her this job. He speaks so highly of her to anyone who will listen.

But he... would hate her if he really knew what she was and that is slowly taking over her system. He is not her friend. He's her boss. Nothing more. Emeric.. Jade, they are her friends. The doctor thought she was a marvel and she can just feel it that Jade would not care one way or the other that she was a synthetic. "How's um, how's that storm looking?" Rhett finally asked, pushing all other thoughts from his mind once the bridge was once more bathed in the artificial lights of the Strata Nova.