driftfleet | say cheese

[after another odd delay between Atroma broadcasts, the jingle rings in loud and clear... though, strangely, silence immediately returns afterward. for nearly a solid minute, there is nothing but open, quiet air.

and when Diamond's voice chimes in, it isn't nearly as cheerful as it usually is. it's questionable whether or not her solemnity is genuine at all, but the tone is at least there.]

...My dear, dear passengers. We have given you some silence and distance, stepped back and watched with held breath to see how you would meet the recent challenge... and you have done beautifully.

Our hearts ached with your sadness; our fists clenched with your rage. Your demonstrations have been nothing short of moving. So, please... imagine the applause as we rise to our feet and celebrate you.

[and she takes a breath, leaves a pause for all the imagining that the passengers must be doing right now.]

Now, where are you headed? What lies just around the corner? I hope you all hold onto those lessons of friendship and teamwork, and are settled into your station. There is much more work to be done.

[there's a rapping sound--tense fingers drumming on a table near the microphone, maybe.]

There has been a little bit of rearranging, of course. Moving a few things out to make room. I'm sure you all appreciate the breathing space.

And, in the commotion, we have three captains stepping up to command two ships. Congratulations to Captain Hamada, Captain Russo, and Captain Todd. You are taking the helm at an exciting time.

Stay alert, passengers. And remember that we are all here with you. The worlds are watching.

[and, as usual, the sound cuts out but the channel remains open, for a time.]

ooc: → here

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You sound really creepy. [Yep, that's all she has to say.]

This isn't a game. This isn't some- some professional performance we are putting on! You are playing with peoples' lives for television ratings. How can the audience not see how disgusting it is?

Edited 2015-07-07 13:37 (UTC)

If they couldn't see it to start, they never will. Slavers don't see those they take as people. They can't. We're nothing but toys to them. Property.

[She really hates slavers.]

Of course... puppets for them to manipulate any way they please. [He sighs.] I never was good at being a puppet.

Me either.

They'll make a mistake eventually, Simon. People like that always do.

I hope we have the means to take advantage of it when they do. Maybe then we can be free of this place.

We will be. I believe this with all my heart.

[She will find a way to free everyone. She has to.]

I do, too. We've certainly got enough talented people here, after all.

They're probably high-status layabouts with no sense of empathy.

[She's just imagining a zillion people just like the two heirs who kicked off the big war that took up her childhood.]

Edited 2015-07-07 21:09 (UTC)

I would not be surprised. People who have nothing better to do, so they build a show around other peoples' sufffering instead.

I'm trying to figure out if chunking a bunch of ships through wild space to see what happens is better or worse than them going out and doing things personally. What do you think?

The former- of course, I am not entirely sure the audience does not have some sort of hand in our misery. Even if they only submit ideas to expand the story, as it were.

Yeah, I bet they can send in a poll about where they want us to go next. You can still cause trouble from your own sofa.

Or they can write to Atroma. "Oh, I had this great idea- what about a ship full of sentient bugs with a brain fungus"!

...You know what, do you think they know that we're going to run into things like that on the course we're set on?

[because that has some pretty chilling implications.]

The thought has crossed my mind- and others'. That the obstacles we run into are all part of the show, planned and executed by Atroma to amp up the drama.

[ oh good, someone said it first. Simon Tam, you just earned yourself a bajillion kudos ]

Exactly! Who the hell do you think you are, turning something like this into entertainment?! Those were actual, thinking people there, like you and me; they deserve way more than being just some dumb challenge!

[ he simmers down, collapsing back into his chair with a huff. sounds like he's talking to Simon now instead of Diamond. ] It was better when she was quiet.

I agree- with all of that. At least when our hosts are silent, they aren't reminding us in a pleasant voice every week that we're merely pawns to move as they choose. And that they are likely creating or looking for our next obstacle even as we speak.

[Insert about thirty seconds of hysterical laughter at the words "Captain Russo".]

Who even let that happen?

[well, she's either laughing at the announcement concerning the new ranking officers, or she's laughing at the rest and has a very warped sense of humor. so, he's taking a little guess, here...]

Having a chuckle over the newest promotions?

It's hilarious. I thought they'd just make Jason captain, or something. Leave me to the first-mating.

Is that how it works...

[he's wondered about that for a while. thank you for being the guinea pig.]

Apparently. I don't think there's a manual, or anything.

say cheese

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