one ○ video / action

[mylegacy]

Who: Caesar Zeppeli and your face
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: Friday and Saturday before the shuffle!

[All things told, Caesar does not spend a lot of time on introspection when he arrives on the Marsiva. He takes a few moments to look at the stars - astonishingly bright and close, almost frighteningly so, when you're used to cities, or being too busy to look up and see the space that God made - and then looks away. For fear of being overwhelmed, maybe, or because he has other things to do.]

[Though he can't begin to imagine what they are. What do you do after you've died?]

[When he figures out how to access the network, he doesn't hesitate at all. Hesitating means thinking, and if he thinks too much about this his voice will come out weak, lost, confused. He is a Zeppeli; that would be unforgivable.]

[So it comes out strong, full, his syllables well-rounded and imbued with good humor.]

Buongiorno, all, I - seem to have taken a wrong turn somewhere around Mars. I don't suppose anyone has a map?

[He chuckles briefly, then sombers. There's information in his head that he doesn't know the source of, but he can guess.]

There are many people trapped here. I know that much already. I know what is happening. What I don't understand is why.

[Or what is to be done about it. (Although where would he go, if he wasn't here?)]

Comments

[ino]

No, not really. But I'm sure they'll find ways to make things entertaining, whether you like it or not. They're annoying like that.

[mylegacy]

"They." Atroma? [He's picked up a couple of things, anyway.]

They manipulate - people? The environment? Or our destination?

[ino]

All of the above, pretty much. Atroma is responsible for us being here to begin with, for our jobs we're given and the knowledge we've gotten since arriving ... and, of course, where we end up going, for the most part.

[mylegacy]

. . . There are no reality shows, where I come from. But all of this is to set a stage - to stir conflict. Is that right?

[ino]

That's right. It doesn't necessarily have to be ... negative conflict, I guess -- people like to watch a heartfelt reunion and couples getting together and stuff like that, too. But it's meant to cause drama, to keep people interested in watching us.

[mylegacy]

Hm. [This is uncomfortable information. He's pretty sure he's already been entertaining, what with the heartfelt reunion and the subsequent huge fight. So he frowns a little but then tries to smooth his expression over into a smile, with mixed success.]

I'll just have to strive to be much more boring than usual, then.

[ino]

Well ... good luck, I guess.

[ She seems kind of doubtful, as if she doesn't think it's likely Atroma will let that happen. She's had too much experience being tossed around like a plaything to be very optimistic about that. But, she realizes that it's a lot to take in and it's probably weighing on him at least a little, so she'll put on a reassuring smile and add: ]

I know it's super creepy and weird that all of this is happening, but -- hopefully you won't have too terrible of a time while you're here.

[mylegacy]

[Truthfully he thinks it's incredibly unlikely himself. This place is too well-planned for him to be able to get out of it that easily. Besides, any close association with Jonathan means being in the middle of chaos, which is probably entertaining to . . . whatever strange aliens are watching.]

[So weird.]

[At least one of the people on the ships is trying to be kind. His smile ticks up into something more genuine as he cocks his head.]

I'm having a better day than I had yesterday, actually. Who knows, things may keep improving. If you've managed with a smile on your face, then so can I, mm?

[ino]

[ She laughs a little. ]

Yeah, well ... my life is kinda weird as it is, so. [ A bit of an understatement, but. She shrugs ] I'm Ino, by the way.

[mylegacy]

I think I could probably say the same.

[He fights mostly-nude vampires with bubbles for a living, so.]

Caesar Zeppeli. It's a pleasure, broadly speaking.

[ino]

You, too, Caesar.

I'm the captain of the SS Three Twins, and I've been here for awhile, so if you have any other questions, I'd be happy to try and help you out.

[mylegacy]

When do we get off this ship? The Marsiva.

[He doesn't like the Marsiva much. It's big and echoey and kind of weird. He's used to being surrounded by people.]

[ino]

The Shuffle should be in the next few days. After that you'll get assigned a ship with a crew on it. If you don't like it there or you don't like the crew you can file for a transfer.

[mylegacy]

Really? I'd think fighting in-crew would sell.

[Dry as dust.]

[ino]

[ She laughs ]

I thought you were striving to be boring?

[mylegacy]

I decided I wasn't going to be very good at it. I don't have any natural talent at boring.

[ino]

Well, then. Fight with your crewmates to your heart's content, I guess. So long as you can band together and cooperate for an emergency~!

[mylegacy]

I'll do my best to be exactly that heartwarming.

[ino]

That's what gets you the big money.

--Oh, right. You do get paid for this whole thing, and the money can go to upgrading your ship and stuff like that.

[mylegacy]

[He makes a sound of surprise.]

Considerate kidnappers. What's the pay rate? A dollar for every laugh?

[ino]

Not sure exactly. But the more crazy shit that happens to you, the bigger the paycheck is.

[mylegacy]

Mamma mia.

How well do you get paid? [What kind of crazy bullshit do you get up to, Ino, tell him.]

[ino]

Oh, that depends on the week, really. Being in a relationship probably helps -- not that that was on purpose, or anything.

[ She laughs and looks a little sheepish ... ]

But you never really know what you're gonna run into, or who might show up. People from any time or place can show up here, which means people sometimes get to see someone from their future, or someone who died a long time ago.

[mylegacy]

[He chuckles a little himself and . . . makes a mental note. Probably a no-go there. Probably.]

It's never on purpose, is it? Not really.

Is there anyone from your home here, Ino?

[ino]

Ehehe ... no, I guess not, huh?

No, not me. But I've had a lot of friends who've been able to see people like that. Reunions are usually pretty good for the ratings.