Cheerio!

[thespaceopera]

[you're starting to recognize that familiar jingle, aren't you? the folksy tune comes drifting through your ship's speakers, followed by a much different voice than usual!]

G'morning, folks! I'm legendary interplanetary commentator Beau, filling in today for our lovely Diamond... Who has been feeling a little under the weather. Hope you feel better soon, darlin'.

Speaking of weather, here's the week's forecast!

Looks like we'll be having a heavy shower of transfers in the next forty seconds or so, largely over to the Wonderduck and Blue Fish, but with lighter showers moving in over First Breath and Huntress in the following twenty. I hope you folks have unpacked your ponchos!

[there's a hearty round of canned laughter from an unseen audience...]

Aaaand I am sorry to say, it looks like there's also been a bit of a cold front of disappearances--four of our band have left us, this week. While I can personally assure you it has not been due to death or other health complications, I can't completely rule out any connection with that cold that's been going around...

[a strange pause--before a little chime goes off in the background!]

This just in, we also have two brand new captains to lead our fine ships--everyone please give a warm round of applause to Captain Sok-ka of the SS Blue Fish, and Captain Fey of the SS Huntress!

[applause! tinny, pre-recorded applause!]

Fantastic. Be sure to tune in next week for more updates, and remember... the worlds are watching!


ooc: as usual, the network is open... but you won't get a response from Beau. the ooc post is here.

Comments

[wilder]

[Zelos hadn't been on the bridge, even if it was one of his favorite places to linger. Instead while the shuffle had been going on, he had been making himself a cup of tea in a vain attempt to help himself with this damn cold. And so, he'll be walking back to the bridge with a cup of tea in hand, intent on spending a quiet morning looking into local star charts.]

[But instead? He stops when he notices confetti lying all over the bridge. And then, he realizes there's someone in his spot - someone who he really was not expecting to see this morning]

- Lloyd?

[There's so many things he feels at once. He's completely thrown off and he has no idea what to do. Therefore, he can only say the first thing that pops into his mind]

What are you- How-

Why are you sitting pantsless in my chair?!

[idealistic]

Mmn?

[ he spins around in the chair, eyes wide and a spoon lodged into his mouth. Zelos is here? when did that happen? he didn't remember him being on the Tourist, nor did he remember this being his chair.

still, unlike Zelos, Lloyd is perfectly calm and is taking it all in stride-- it isn't the first time Zelos has seen him in his underwear, after all. he points a spoon over at the display set up for his arrival, mumbling something that could have been a sentence if it weren't for the fact that his mouth is full.

dude they have pudding. ]

[wilder]

[he makes a face]

Don't talk with your mouth full. Why are you-

[This wasn't fair! Lloyd wasn't supposed to be here! Lloyd was supposed to be on some other ship, where he could have the proper space to work out just what he was supposed to do (or rather, avoid the situation under that guise). Him being here was simply-]

- Is that actual food?

[LIKE, REAL FOOD AND NOT THIS PROTEIN SHIT? Because man after god knows how long without a decent meal, food's enough to throw him from his most stubborn of stints.]

[idealistic]

Mm-hmm!

[ Lloyd's not exactly sure what he's talking about when he meant actual food, but pudding's definitely actual food. it doesn't help that he was already spoiled with a chef back on the Tourist, but whatever.

he swallows, shooting Zelos a grin. ]

It's pudding! Help yourself, man; there's plenty for everyone! [ even though he ate a good amount already. ]

[wilder]

[He stares back. At Lloyd. At the Pudding. On one hand, he feels like maybe it'd be better to get the hell out of here. Hide out in the cargo bay or something for maybe the next ever.]

[On the other hand....that was real food right there, right for the taking. Who knows when an opportunity like that would strike again. He's been here nearly a month and a half, and it's been nothing but proteins. And if he left now, there was a pretty good chance Lloyd or the rest of the crew might eat it all.]

[...Dammit. You're a fiendish bastard Lloyd Irving]

Ha...maybe just a little...

[Never mind how fast he swiped a cup and spoon there. He thinks about telling Lloyd to get off his spot- but nah, that might take too much time and Lloyd was sitting in it in his boxers. So he'll plop himself down into the Communications chair to start eating]

[idealistic]

[ yay! Zelos is sticking around! not that he was trying to make him stick around, even if he was acting funny lately, but still. he turns back to his cup, helping himself to another spoonful as Zelos grabs his own. it's actually kind of funny that he's seeing Zelos now-- he never saw him before, and he was on the Tourist for a good couple--

...wait a minute. ]

You know, I never knew that you were also on the Tourist. [ no he wasn't lloyd ]

How come you didn't say anything?

[wilder]

[He had been enjoying a delicious spoon full of chocolately real food goodness, when Lloyd talked. And...asked a very weird question.]

[Uhhh.]

[He thinks about leaving the spoon in his mouth (his table manners may have slightly degraded since his time away from Meltokio ok)- but he guesses he did just scold Lloyd for talking with his mouth full, so he'll remove it. ]

...I wasn't on the Tourist. This is the Wonderduck.

[idealistic]

[ ...

maybe he didn't hear that right. ]

...The Wonder-what?

[wilder]

[...]

The Wonderfuck?

[idealistic]

[ ???????? ? ? ??? ]

Wh-what the hell kind of name is that?!

[ WHAT THE FUCK WWHO THE HELL WOULD NAME THEIR SHIP WONDERFUCK??? ]

[wilder]

[he gives a small shrug as he takes another spoonful of pudding, savoring it.]

I dunno. I didn't name it.

[idealistic]

I-I know you didn't but--

[ to be completely honest, he wouldn't put it past Zelos to have named it that. ]

It's still stupid! Why would anyone want to give their ship a name like that?! [ HE IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT BOATS AND SHIPS AND THEIR NAMES OKAY ]

[wilder]

[He raises an amused eyebrow]

Wow, you're getting awfully worked up about this. What's the big deal? It's just a name.

[idealistic]

It's a dumb name!

[ DON'T CHALLENGE HIM ON THIS WILDER

but instead if continuing with this argument, he'll help himself to another spoonful of pudding before realizing something.

he shoots Zelos a curious look ]

...Y'know, you never did answer my question from before.

[wilder]

[He snorts, taking another spoonful of pudding. It's in his mouth when Lloyd speaks- and it will even stay in his mouth while he speaks because his manners have gotten that damn bad thanks to being around you and other bumpkins in Exsilium. Terrible.]

Huh? What question?

[idealistic]

You never told me why you didn't say anything when I first got here.

[ yeah he still remembers that. he's not accusing him of anything though, he's honestly curious! ]

[wilder]

[...Crap. Maybe he should have taken the pudding and made a run for it.]

[But, it's too late for that now. So he'll remove that spoon out of his mouth and put it in the cup so he has his hand free to rub at his neck. Jeez, what to say]

Well, it's...sorta a funny story.

[In ways that aren't at all funny! Jeez...]

You see, I'm not exactly...the guy you think I am.

[idealistic]

[ okay, he was pretty intent on hearing this "funny story", but... the moment that last statement is out, Lloyd can't help but give him a funny look in response. ]

...Zelos, what are you talking about?

[ nooooo he's pretty sure that Zelos is Zelos. ]

[wilder]

Well, see....that's just it. For starters, my name's actually Kaneis?

[Okay, so it was Zelos too. BUT LETS NOT COMPLICATE THINGS EVEN MORE JUST YET. Its bad enough he has next to no idea how to explain this, and that he's preeeeetty sure most of what he has to say will go over Lloyd Irving's head]

[That thought alone gives him a weary sigh. Crap.]

I...don't suppose I'm gonna be lucky and it'll turn out you've heard of alternate dimensions before, right?

[He'll never be that lucky]

[idealistic]

...

[ ...

what

no seriously, what. he's pretty sure that this is Zelos, like 99.94739583829% sure-- he even responded to him whenever he called him "Zelos". how is his name "can o' ice" or whatever and what is he talking about alternate dimens--

wait a minute he's actually heard of the alternate dimension thing before. ]

You mean like how Sylvarant and Tethe'alla were?

[wilder]

[Well hey, that's...not quite helpful, but it's something! He's a bit surprised you retained that much info Lloyd. Because you know, Kaneis or Zelos, this guy is still a jackass]

Uh...sorta. Those were dimensions artificially made by Yggdrassil by separating one world into two, yeah. But, there's more dimensions out there than that. Naturally occurring ones. Like... [Crap, getting too theoretical better think how to put it into Lloyd terms]

Like, for example- imagine how your life would've been different if you had never met Colette- [Did this one meet Colette? He must've if he knew Zelos right?] It would've been pretty different, right?

Well, somewhere out there- there might be a dimension, another version of Sylvarant with another version of you- where that's actually true. Where you actually never met Colette.

Following me so far? [Please spirits and/or goddess, say yes]

[idealistic]

[ HEY HE CAN SOMETIMES REMEMBER THINGS!!!

anyway, he does listen intently, though Zelos's (can o' ice's?) explanation, and it does seem like he's following along! ...sort of. okay, so this talk about alternate dimensions and stuff is still as confusing as it was back when Sheena explained it, but he had a pretty good idea on how it works!

...at least, until he mentions a possibility with Colette. ]

...But Colette's my friend. We've known each other since we were kids; how could I have not met her?

[ yeah you lost him ]

[wilder]

[.............ugh. He knew it couldn't be that easy]

I don't know- maybe you never lived in Iselia! Or maybe Genis had a terrible fear of girls so you guys couldn't get near her without him screaming! Who knows! It's just an example!

Point is- there's other versions of your world where things happened differently.

[idealistic]

Ohhhh-kaaaay...

[ this makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Lloyd never living in Iselia? then how would have Dirk adopted him? Genis being afraid of girls? now that's just dumb: Raine's a girl!

in a way, though, it does make sense. decisions influence action: who knows what would have happened if something went one way and not the other. it's something that Lloyd dwells on sometimes (Iselia and the berserk Kharlan Tree in particular come to mind), but he also knows that what's done is done all that can be done is to move forward. ]

I don't think I get it, but... alright. So what are you getting at?

[wilder]

[Yeah, he's not surprised Lloyd doesn't get it since he has that same expression he'd wore during the times Zelos had to tutor him at math. He has to resist the urge to rub his forehead]

I'm saying, you and I are from different dimensions. Stuff happened differently for me than it did for you. Which means...I'm not that guy you knew back in your dimension- your home.

[a beat]

Please tell me that makes sense, 'cause I can't think of any other way to say it without drawing diagrams and I don't have any paper.