driftfleet | +2 nerdchildren

Who: Sorey & Mikleo / OPEN
Broadcast: Fleet-wide
Action: Marsiva
When: Now!!

[ACTION]

[It's probably not normal for a lack of something to be the first thing one notices upon waking up, but Mikleo opens his eyes to the realization that there's a serious lack of... weight on his chest, one he'd become resigned to feeling ever since leaving Elysia. Malevolence was everywhere in the world, and only his contract with Sorey and Lailah had kept him from growing sick because of it, or worse.

Here, though, he feels not even an ounce of it. Which immediately brings to mind the question- where...?

Once he's up and on his feet and staring out the nearest window - witnessing the state of the sky, what in the world - it takes him a while to shake off the shock. He feels like his head's been invaded- thoughts, understanding forced into it, making his head hurt. This is space. He doesn't know why he knows this, but he does. Space, a fleet of ships traveling the universe like a fleet of whales in the ocean, prisoners for entertainment...

What does it even mean?

Sorey. I need to find him. Forcing himself away from the glass, he wanders the hallways, drawn to his Shepherd like a lost sheep. He has to be here. This feeling is unmistakable.]

[BROADCAST: VIDEO]

-ink this is how it works? Where’s the part I talk into? Try the top corner, it's flashing. Do you know why? -well because it’s communicating, isn’t it? Don't look at me. Oh! No no, it’s working now. ...yup. Okay! Geez…

Wow, this is so cool! Can everybody really hear me? -oh man, we can make recordings with this! You know, instead of having to lug around parchment all the time? We absolutely have to bring this back home.

Like people need more reasons to fear the Shepherd.

-ah, right! Introductions! I’m Sorey. I’m supposed to be an Engineer? I’m not totally clear on everything involved in that, so please be patient with me! Um, and since it sounds like we’re all in the same boat- I mean, this might’ve been asked before but does anybody know who we can talk to if we really, really need to get back? It’s kind of an emergency. This seems like a kidnapping but we’re not in a cell or anything, so it’s not as bad as it could’ve been, I suppose.

But definitely! Any clarification on how to get back would be really, really helpful.

You should probably stop talking like you're with someone, Sorey. People will think you're more weird than you already are.

Sorry, you’re right. It’s just really hard to pretend you’re not here when you look right at me like that...

[ACTION PART 2]

[Sorey and Mikleo can be found exploring the Marsiva. To those who can see Mikleo (have a look at his permission post please!), they'll both be there, talking animatedly. To those who can't, feel free to call Sorey out on, you know, talking animatedly to himself.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There's a boy with glowing eyes squinting at the communicator... He's interested, if his pointy ears standing straight are anything to go by.]

Your friend must be a very powerful mage to stay invisible this long. As much as I favor that approach myself, there is little benefit to hiding on the smaller ships, as you are expected to live there.

As for going home: we are given empty promises by Atroma-- our gracious kidnappers-- but as of yet, attempts at escape have borne no fruit. I've tried all the teleportation and portal magics at my disposal as well as simply piloting a shuttle to the limit. Nothing has worked.

[whoa] ...ah, he uh, he doesn't do it on purpose or anything. It's- are your eyes glowing? How're you doing that? Is it a mage thing? [you said some important things but like your eyes are glowing and it looks neato]

[Whoa, they are definitely glowing. That's new, though it also makes Mikleo naturally cautious.]

Sorey, I've only ever seen hellions do that.

That is because I am a blood elf.

[He doesn't know what a hellion is, but Mikleo's tone is enough to make Belth puff up a little.]

Hellion? Excuse you! I make all my trouble within the full extent of the law, thank you very much!

Ah no, it's not what you think!

...okay, so actually it's worse than what you think, but he didn't- [think you could hear him] mean that in a [defamatory] personal? Way?

It's hard to explain. We're not calling you anything.

I've never heard of a blood elf before, but I'm not sure I like how it sounds.

[JUDGIN' YOU BUDDY, BETTER EXPLAIN YOURSELF. He can just imagine Lailah's quirky dialogue about a Blood Elf hellion's special attacks.]

[Sorey is trying so hard and Belth just keeps making faces.]

All elves have glowing eyes. It's because our bodies are nourished by mana.

[There is more to it than that, that much is obvious, but he's clearly becoming agitated.]

That makes sense. [No??? it doesn't] See, Mikleo? Besides, if he was a hellion who could still talk he'd probably be projecting a domain we could feel.

I don't think domains can transfer across machinery.

[But okay, he'll at least relent until he meets the guy and determine whether or not he feels any malevolence.]

[He's not excited about being talked about like he isn't there, but whatever.]

Humans are so strange.

Are we? I guess, in comparison...

Speak for yourself. I'm not a human.

[HOW INSULTING. Like, some humans are fine, but. No thanks.]

Are you? It's not as if I can tell, since you are invisible.

[He folds his arms.]

Any other questions, or can I get back to reading?

Sorry! I have one more question. You said the people who brought us here are called the Atroma? Have you spoken to them before?

[Sorry Sorey did you want to stay on topic]

It's not like I have a choice!

Sure you don't. [He doesn't believe you, Mikleo... sorry kid.]

I've spoken to the 'hosts', who are only representatives of Atroma and not Atroma themselves. Sometimes they narrate the shuffle-- that is, the event that teleports you onto the smaller ships. I've found them altogether slippery in terms of conversation and difficult to stand.

[Diamond made him blush so hard he hung up.]

Oh...so the only way to talk to them is if they try to contact us first? That would definitely make things a lot harder.

Do we know if they're on any of the other ships?

Basically, yes. I've tried screaming into space. It gets you nowhere.

[He stifles a yawn.]

The other ships are full of people who've been kidnapped. The slightly larger one, that is the Iskaulit. It is empty so we've taken the liberty of using it for extra space. There is a library and a garden, among other things.

The hosts are far enough away that they have to deal with communications interference at times. I've no doubt if they were within easy reach, they would be dead many times over.

Right...

You've been really helpful, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. I can't think of anything else- Mikleo? You have anything?

I doubt it would matter, since I'm invisible.

[He has nothing to say to this jerk, sorry.]

[He snorts.]

At least you're not mute.

+2 nerdchildren

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