driftfleet | text; get this child out of his comfort zone

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text; get this child out of his comfort zone

Who: Kazuto Kirigaya and [insert your name here]
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: Today / Sept 4

[Waking up in unfamiliar surroundings is not new for Kazuto, but in the past it's been quite a different experience. It's not an MMO this time, which is what catches him off guard the most. He can tell immediately, even with a simple glance around- the world is too real, too detailed. (Just in case, he tests a few menu-summoning gestures, but no dice.)

Waking up in a hospital-eque area makes him think that something went wrong with his last MMO dive, but that isn't right. He clearly remembers being safe and healthy the night before- they'd checked him out at the hospital before he'd gone to Sinon's. So... what? A kidnapping? Some kind of experiment? Something about this place doesn't feel right, and there's information slowly filtering into his head that doesn't make much sense.

And then he goes and looks out a window. Yikes.

He spends some time wandering, quietly observing, though there isn't really anyone to observe- computers, broadcasts, machines, yes, but people? The place is pretty deserted. It's eerie and uncomfortable, and he gets totally lost before long. Finally, though, he puts to use the knowledge of the broadcast system that is inexplicably in his head now, typing out a message.]

Is anyone out there available to answer some questions? I don't understand what's happened to me.

[Yep, that sure is a message. Which... is probably gibberish to anyone who doesn't read Japanese. Someone should probably let him know about the auto-translate not working on text.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Similarly to Marhi, the power of the Echo grants her fluency in a language she doesn't understand. She doesn't even question it anymore- From kobolds to Ascians to dragons, she's become used to just understanding everything said. Though given her speech patterns, even through the Echo, her words likely sound a little archaic.]

You have been abducted across worlds for the entertainment of a being or beings called 'Atroma'. The knowledge is granted to you by your implant already, should you think on it.

[Ah. Is that what that headache is from.

Wait, seriously? Isn't that a plot of some weird sci-fi movie?]

I kind of assumed that was from a crazy dream I'd been having.

I can assure you that this is real. You have been brought here for the purpose of 'reality television', that we may be the entertainment of myriad watchers. We are kept as caged animals, disarmed and our captors never showing themselves to us.

[...Ugh. That part is definitely familiar. He's almost a year out of SAO and it's still a concept he can understand all too well. Some sadistic person taking pleasure in watching trapped rats suffer in a game of their creation...

Just when I thought I was free.]

How to we get out?

[At the very least, people who create places like this want to give their rats hope, right?]

Sometimes, those who are here simply vanish. We know not their fates. Perhaps lasting until the end should be enough to return home. However, I personally intend to find them and force them.

[He does like the sound of that. Waiting around has never been something he's good at.]

If you find a way to do that, I'd like to help.

[Unfortunately, in space, there's not much to do but wait around.]

Await the chance. I expect, should the chance be available, we will require the assistance of all willing. Any willing blade would be a great asset to us.

[He's not sure if that's literal or symbolic, so- better clarify.]

Can you get swords here? Or any weapons, I guess.

Aboard these ships, no. Even worse, Hauteclaire was taken from me. Yet given a forge and material, I could forge my own. It would not be equal to the artisan's works I have wielded before, but it would be sufficient.

[Whoa, a blacksmith? Now he's wondering what kind of metals might be available in this place. Could one of his swords be replicated somehow...?

A better question would be, could I even lift it without my SAO strength stat.]

I'm not much use without a sword.

I was permitted to keep my armor and Prytwen, my shield. The Atroma have provided 'guns' for use, as well, but I like them not. There is no honor in such a weapon.

[...Guns...]

I can't say whether or not guns are honourable, but I know I'm terrible with them. That won't help much.

[Maybe if he had time to train, but he seriously doubts guns are any easier in real life, without the system-assist.]

The matter of honor aside, it also seems foolish to use weapons gifted us by our captors.

[He hadn't considered that, but- that's true, actually. One never knows what could backfire. He's had that happen before, and it's not fun.]

Good point. I guess finding materials and equipment to make weapons is a priority.

Yes. Would that I had Hauteclaire, Excalibur, even Curtana back, I would be assured. Nevertheless, if I am to forge one myself, I may make more for others.

[That's quite the weapon resume she's got there.]

You've got a sword called Excalibur?

[She's a max-level MMO character. Her weapon resume is crazy.]

The Excalibur, recreated through Gerolt's skill. I used it as long as I was able, but it was not as effective against later foes, so I had to seek yet stronger blades. Yet rather than the name of my sword, I would sooner hear your name.

[Oh the conversations they could have.

Excalibur is supposed to be the strongest sword ever, both in legend and in video games, so it's surprising to hear that it wasn't good enough in this instance. Interesting, very interesting.

He's still torn on the name issue, but he figures using his avatar handle until he gets a feel for the place is the best bet.]

Sorry. Call me Kirito.

[My other character runs on video game logic, too, so that's a thing.]

Miah Lanbatal. It is a pleasure, Sir Kirito.

[S-sir... definitely too formal for him.]

I don't actually have any titles or anything. Just Kirito is fine. Nice to meet you, though.

Indeed. Though I do not yet know your face.

Oh sorry, hold on

[Just gotta- fiddle with the controls a bit. It's unfamiliar but intuitive enough that he gets it within a few moments. Maybe that's the augment thing again.]

Better?

[The person he was expecting on the other end of the text was probably not a teenage girl. It was definitely probably not someone with cat ears and a tail flicking around in curiosity. And there's no way any reasonable person could have anticipated her clothing, which is weird enough to require a picture to be believed.]

Yes. It is difficult to say we have met when we have never seen one another.

[Actually, while her clothes are unusual for every day wear, they're also familiar. They remind him of what he'd found Asuna wearing when he'd met with her in Alfheim Online, just a handful of months ago. What he's more interested in are the ears and tail.]

Oh, wow... is that a Cait Sith avatar?

[Is this somehow a digital world after all?]

... Cait Sith? The children's doll? Your words make no sense.

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