driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Nightingale and you
Broadcast: Video, fleetwide
Action: On the Bishop
When: Now

[The video feed starts, showing Nightingale sitting at a table, shuffling a few papers around awkwardly until she's sure the video is on.]

Something I've noticed for a while now is that there's a lot of new people showing up near-constantly, and they all seem to have the same questions. And since they're stuck on the Marsiva for a week, they don't really have people to give them that information, past asking the network, which doesn't always work so well. Especially while people are on a planet, or busy trying to repair their ships, or things like that. And even if everyone is around to give answers, answering the same thing over and over again gets really tiring after a while.

So, I've been working on a sort of an introduction guide, for the new people. [She indicates the papers on the table.] The problem is, I haven't been here that long myself, comparatively to some. I don't know a lot, and there's a lot that people need to know. Apparently that fleet of ships that messed us up a little while ago actually attacked us once before? And I think that's something pretty important to know, in case they come back again, so we can be more prepared for fighting them off. Or anything else important that's happened.

I'm looking for people who have been here for a while and are willing to help with that project, providing information to help write this guide. So... Please let me know if you can help.

[There's a small pause, then she adds:]

Also, has anyone seen Riley Matthews lately? She also goes by Lark. I haven't been able to get a hold of her in a while, and I'm starting to get worried.

[And with that, she turns off the feed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That sucks.

[He means it too. As weird as this place gets, at least he's not playing games to fix his soul.] So what you're saying is, Riley's probably going back there to get the rest of her memories back? That... could be pretty bad, but this place also isn't so great.

... No one's died here yet. It's better than the castle.

Oh.

[Yeah, he's got nothing. He feels like he should ask something else, but just hearing that people die in other places is enough to snap him out of his disbelief.]

... Sorry. It's not a good place. Lark had never died while I'd been there, but...

The possibility exists. And that's more than a little much for me.

[It terrifies him, if he's gonna be honest.]

She's my... [He bites on his lip.] She's too young to know what that's like.

The possibility is there. Especially on our team. Takshaka isn't... the best, when it comes to staying alive.

I'm sorry to hear that. Do I... do I wanna know how many teammates you've lost?

... Thirteen. Fifteen, if you count the two before my arrival.

But not in the way you're thinking. It's not like being killed is the end, there. We're all already dead, remember?

[Headtilt.] So what, when you "die" there, you come back to life? How does that work out?

[He needs more details, Nightingale - otherwise he's gonna think it's a weird video game.]

We get brought back. The Echoes who killed us bring us back to life... If we haven't pissed them off too badly. Then you have to... do quests to bring them back. If they aren't saving the bodies to use for something else.

I died twice there. Was nearly dead a few more times. It's not pleasant.

[The weird video game is her actual world, but don't call it that in front of her.]

[He shudders.] I can imagine. As bad as this place is, at least I don't feel like pawns in someone's weird chess game of the afterlife.

Is there any way out? Besides, you know, joining reality TV?

... Winning.

You win and you win and you win until your mirror's complete. Once your soul is complete again, your world comes back. And you return there.

So... if Riley wins, we're gonna be okay.

[He smiles, though it's thin.] Not the best game I've ever heard of, but hey. I figure she'll pull through.

... I'd been there half a year and it wasn't enough yet. It's a question of if her heart can survive long enough with all that happens there to get home.

We're just speculating at this point, though.

As much as I miss Riley [which is a lot, which is weird because he hadn't even met her before coming to the Fleet], we need to focus on us too. Have you gotten any memories back since coming here?

I haven't. No Echoes to run games, and my mirror isn't here, either.

Weird. You'd think they'd let you bring it along, if you're gonna be starring on reality TV.

[It's said sympathetically, or at least as sympathetically as Shawn can sound at the moment.] Sorry you were stuck there too.

It's a good thing. The Atroma already have a device in my brain, I don't want to give them access to my soul, too.

... It might have all turned out for the best. Don't worry about it.

[He shoots her a Look, like a "You tell me my world went KABOOM! and you tell me not to worry about it??" look.]

If you say so.

My shift's gonna start soon, so I might as well start heading back to the bar. [beat] If you want a drink, it'll be on the house.

[Well, hey, don't worry about it because there's literally nothing you can do about it.]

I don't drink anymore, but I appreciate the offer. Thanks.

No problem, but - there's more than alcohol there. You sure you're not up for a soda or anything?

[She sort of stops dead at that. On one hand, she was raised to never accept offers like that, because making other people do things for you is selfish and wrong, even if they offer. On the other hand... She could really, really use a drink right now.]

... Do you have tea?

I think so.

[He's not much of a tea drinker, but he's seen the tea leaves in the back. Almost no one asks for them.] Come on, I'll make you a cup.

Thanks. I'm a little desperate right now.

[she falls in line behind him and starts walking.]