one . video

[misconceived]

WHO Chris Halliwell
BROADCAST Network unfiltered video.
ACTION The SS Huntress.
WHEN Shortly after the Shuffle.

Again?

[ This is a young man circling around as he's transported to his new ship, the SS Huntress. He's mostly talking to his new crewmates but there's that unknowing broadcast going out, too. ]

Moved around twice in twenty-four hours, and this one is not nearly as nice as the first one. We're supposed to stay here while we play this stupid game? [ Psht. ] Which, by the way, I didn't sign up for. Did anyone? Because I was in the middle of something, you know, important.

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[blindoptimism]

[a slight smile tugs at her mouth, it's nice to see someone taking all this in stride, in his own way... But, wanting to be serious and not trivialize the situation she doesn't smile too much]

I'm afraid you can't return home any time soon, we are all stuck here for the time being.

[misconceived]

[ Dammit, he's going to have to pay closer attention to these network cameras. Chris runs a hand through his hair and shrugs. ]

Yeah, that's what I thought. Isn't there a way to get out? Like, get booted off the island or something.

[blindoptimism]

I don't know if there is a way to intentionally leave. People have "left" but there is no way to know if they were able to return home. [like in her case, it would seem]

[misconceived]

What is that? What do you mean "left"? [ Yes, he heard the airquotes there. ]

[blindoptimism]

They simply disappear from the ship. [she frowns slightly] The woman who makes weekly announcements claims that they never existed in the first place, but we've received no more information than that.

It was assumed that they were sent back to their home world when this occurred.

[misconceived]

Just like that?

[ Great. That could be something magical mixed up in all this. So much fun to be had on messed up reality TV. ]

That's past tense. Was?

[blindoptimism]

[sharp ear. she tilts her head slightly, as if trying to figure out how to describe it]

I... recently disappeared, and just reappeared yesterday. From my perspective, it's as if no time passed at all, but it seems I've been gone for two months.

I don't recall anyone else mentioning something like that happening to them. It doesn't disprove our earlier theory, but it is... troubling.

[misconceived]

[ He thinks about that for a moment. ]

Like... you jumped forward. Or got pushed. Did anything weird happen that day? The one where you disappeared?

[blindoptimism]

No, nothing that I can remember. [but to phrase it that way, she looks curious]

Are you familiar with situations like that?

[misconceived]

[ Whoops. ]

Uh... not like that, no. Just curious. Aren't you?

[blindoptimism]

[ah, she looks a bit disappointed but nods]

Yes, very curious. I hadn't thought of it as a 'jump', but you're right... It was like that.

[misconceived]

[ Sorry, he doesn't really talk about his temporally abnormal state outside of family and family friends. And his mother's speeddates. ]

Yeah, that's what it sounded like. What's the last thing you remember before all that?

[blindoptimism]

[hmm, she taps her chin] I suppose I was starting to feel a little under the weather? But many people were suffering from a cold at the time. I had been working in the morning, but I wasn't hungry so I decided to take a short nap before lunch.

[misconceived]

When you were asleep, then. Anyone else around that time disappear?

[blindoptimism]

It's hard to know for sure. It seems that a few other disappeared, but it doesn't seem that any of them re-appeared I have.

[misconceived]

[ That... just brings up more questions. Like if disappearing is going home, or simply being taken yet another place for an even less sensical reason. ]

So you're the first. Maybe only. Bet you're feeling pretty lucky right now, huh?

[blindoptimism]

[she nods. A touch guilty as well, and also confused and concerned for her friend...]

For now, I'm still hoping that I'm a strange case. Hopefully everyone else who disappeared was sent home where they belong.

[misconceived]

Where they doing well in this... gameshow?

[blindoptimism]

Hm, that I don't know. I didn't know any of them personally, but I can't imagine they would be disliked by the audience.

Although... it's hard to tell exactly what they qualify as good television.

[misconceived]

You've got a point there. [ It's all so... mindless. Especially the demonic sort. Killing witches, stealing powers, becoming "famous" and all that... It's not all that different from human programs. Aside from all the murder. ]

So, that's it? We just... what do they even want us to do here?

[blindoptimism]

It seems they place some value in us working together, or at least that's why I think we're placed on small ships. It forces us to learn a new job, and form a small community. Ideally, everyone can come together and earn a comfortable life on their ship.

[it's a sickeningly optimistic view on the whole thing, but oh well]</small

[misconceived]

Or we just stay too close and rip each other apart after too long in close-quarters. Some people find that entertaining.

[ Sorry, did you say optimism? HAVE SOME SOME PESSIMISM BACK. ]

[blindoptimism]

Maybe. But luckily, in my time here I don't think any ship has had too many problems. [well, except when that one person got shot. But she heard they were friends??? idk, Pathstone is weird]

[misconceived]

[ Gee, that sounds fun. People getting shot! ]

How long were you here, before you... weren't?

[blindoptimism]

Mm, about a six or seven weeks?