driftfleet | one . video

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one . video

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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...

[Shirley's still in a little bit of shock with the new environment and the confetti and whatnot, so she's just going to look around without saying a word before speaking up.]

I think we were all taken against our will. I can't think of anybody who would volunteer for something like this.

I can think of a couple.

[ One of whom actually did volunteer the last time something like this came up. Then again, so did Chris... ]

That can't really be entertaining. I mean, come on. That makes us prisoners here.

Some people don't care about that. Whoever's done this must be one of those people.

[This makes what, the sixth time she's been taken by someone? First time it's been off the planet, but she's no more impressed with the situation.]

Yeah, but apparently we've got a viewership too. Which... is going to take some getting used to.

Do you think we're really being watched right now?

[That is what she heard, but without the watchers around it's a strange idea to wrap her mind around - even if that is supposedly the point of all this.]

Uh, yeah. Yeah, I do. Say "hi" to Candid Camera.

[ He's far too familiar with hidden cameras and how they tend to be set up from every imaginable angle for things like this. ]

Candid Camera? What's that?

[Sorry Chris, you're saddled with a couple of fantasy RPG characters. Have fun with that!]

[ why is this his life ]

It's... a prank. Like this, but where everyone plays jokes on you to laugh at instead.

[ At least Chris is used to his dad being just as clueless about pop culture. Count yourself lucky, you poor fantasy souls. ]

Oh, I see.

[That actually makes sense, given some of the people Shirley hangs out with.]

So we're the ones being laughed at, and we can't see who's watching.

[Pleasant, that. This is all tamer than the situations she's found herself in before, but still none of this is really sitting with her...and at least before, she was on her own planet.

Shirley's starting to look a little more unsure now.]

On the other hand, we can't see them. We'll probably never meet them. Who cares?

[ That's what he's telling himself, anyway. Then again, Chris has kind of lived his life like this for a very, very long time. Being part-demon while also the son of a Charmed One means everyone thinks they have the right to scrutinize him. ]

Well...

[That's true enough. Unless--]

You don't think anyone at our homes could see us now, do you?

[Then again she's sure never heard of it, so she shakes her head in response to that thought.]

No, that's impossible.

[ He considers that. Shrugs. ]

No, probably not. If they could, we wouldn't be here much longer, trust me.

You know somebody who could find us here that way?

If they saw we were all trapped here? Yeah, I do. Which is probably why they're not going to see it.

Oh...

[That really shouldn't be as disappointing as it feels.]

I'd like to at least let them know I'm all right. Everyone's going to worry.

No kidding. [ His dad is probably raring up to kill him for what they were just arguing about and then disappearing. ] But apparently that's not part of the package.

[A sigh. Shirley doesn't miss this feeling of powerlessness, and nobody's in a position to rescue her this time. But surely she can do something now? With time and information, perhaps.]

I wonder where we are compared to our homes. It's probably not close, but it would still be nice to know.

That... isn't something I'd thought about. [ He gets a faraway look on his face, then closes his eyes and concentrates. He licks his lips, dips his head, then growls to himself and shakes it. He's always been able to locate his parents' magical signature no matter where he is, whether on earth or in the Underworld. This... they're not even showing up. ]

We must be really far.

What did you try just now?

[Shirley's not exactly an expert on whatever Chris can do, but it doesn't take a genius to see some kind of power at work there.]

Something that didn't work.

[ He doesn't talk about magic with people who don't know about magic. ]

Doesn't matter. Facts do. Like the fact that we're way further out than I would have though.

I was afraid of that.

[She was sort of also expecting it, but that doesn't make her any happier to hear it confirmed.]

So it will be a long way home, even when someone does have a way there.

Not necessarily. Whatever they did to bring us here has to be reversible. But if we go it our own way, yeah. Probably.

So, uh... I guess we're stuck together for now.

Yes...

[When he puts it that way, she feels even more aware that she's been surrounded by complete strangers. Shirley's cheeks redden a bit as that dawns on her before she shakes it off - she's been trying to take care of herself precisely because of situations like this, hasn't she?

...Well, not exactly, since she anticipated being on her own planet at least. Still, the thought helps and she tries to smile instead.]

I don't believe I've introduced myself. I'm Shirley.

[ He offers her a weak smile. Chris is more than used to being on his own and doing his own thing, so this isn't too different. It's just... being forced to be around other people he doesn't know at the same time. ]

No, yeah. My bad. I'm Chris. If we're going to be here, we might as well figure out what they want from us. Apparently they think I should be some kind of medic.

They said the same thing to me. But...

[Does she still have her eres, worlds away from home? Shirley glances down at her hands and tries a Cure spell. When her fingernails glow, she cuts it short.]

It still works.

[If she sounds shocked, it's because she is.]

Action!

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