driftfleet | /insert rose petals here

Who: Haruka, Michiru, and you!!
Broadcast: Two fleet-wide videos
Action: On the Marsiva
When: Now

01.

...in the reaches of space? How ironic.

[ This network station appears to have switched on of its own accord. That or the two people standing next to it wanted to only broadcast part of their conversation. And just their torsos. And hands. The taller person is making a fist. ]

That’s not the word I would use to describe it. [ The shorter one places a hand over that fist. ] They can look after each other.

...I suppose. [ Their fingers intertwine. The taller person’s thumb strokes the side of their companion’s hand. They chuckle. ] Space won’t be so cold. If you’re there.

[ That’s a quiet laugh, and the other one is leaning in and up.

...Better interrupt this sappiness before somebody gets diabetes and/or they magically pretend it didn’t happen on tape. ]

02.

[ Later this same day, from this same broadcast station, another message comes through. This time, there’s a pair of faces on display: a blond “man” and a green-haired lady. Both are way more attractive than they have any right to be. Especially when smiling. ]

Hello. I’m Kaioh Michiru. [ This is not the face of a person who was caught being all PDA on camera. ] If anybody can tell us what this place is, we would be most appreciative.

Tenoh Haruka. [ The blond sticks a hand into “his” pocket. ] Don’t take all day now. We’re busy.

[ And that’s a wink. Nothing to see here. Nothing amiss. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[oh my. That smile of hers though...]

You're having trouble staying entertained?

[though to be honest, she was expecting more villains and grandiose plans, rather than boredom.]

Well... Yeah? It's kind of dull around here. This moon we're stuck at isn't much better than empty space, either, honestly.

What other kinds of places have you visited?

[ She doubts she'll recognize any of the planets, but it's still good to know what they've gotten themselves into. ]

Whole planet was basically beaches and water. It was inhabited by humans, and a race of giant insects. Besides the fungus infection driving all the bug-people crazy and violent, it was pretty dull. The Atroma wanted everyone to wear swimsuits, in case you thought this place might have some little bit of class.

[beaches are great. Putting beaches, fungus infection, and violent crazy bug-people together doesn't make a very pretty image though.]

It's a rather good excuse to make that sort of decree, I'll admit.

[okay, so there's violence AND fanservice.]

... And, when we left that planet, the remaining swimsuits exploded.

[ ...

This operation is even more inscrutable than Haruka'd thought. But the other captives seem extremely solicitous. ]

...You're...well-equipped to write that guide.

Not really. A lot of people have been here a lot longer. I just have a low tolerance for this place's fucking with us. This is my second interdimensional shithole, after all.

Speaking of that guide, one second.

[She's going to take a minute to fiddle with her communicator, sending over a document in purple font.]

[Michiru takes a moment to read it through, before sharing a glance with Haruka. What are their captors even trying to accomplish here?]

Did you say this was your second time experiencing something like this?

That's right. A lot of us here are the same, two or more worlds removed from home.

Believe it or not, this time is way nicer.

[ Haruka returns that glance. This is baffling. As is how helpful their fellow captives are, but that might just be her. ] Nice of you, too. Paying it forward.

[ That....makes sense, she supposes. If one were the helpful sort, and felt they had to do something to deal with being at the whims of fates larger than themselves. ]

I'm just tired of answering the same questions over and over every time some new person shows up. And it gives me something to do while I'm bored. And there's less chance of information being lost this way once the older people leave again.

[Being the sailor senshi, they should probably at least be familiar with the idea of a tsundere.]

[Michiru chuckles quietly. There are a lot of reasons there, huh?]

Either way, thank you for taking the time to speak to us.

[Look, being able to have plausible deniability about being a good person is important. Not that she even knows why any more. Stupid tsundere habits.]

No problem, don't worry about it.

I'm Nightingale, by the way.

[ Nightingale. Got it. Haruka nods, having already introduced herself. ] We owe you one, little bird.

I'll call it even if you don't call me that.

[that gets a laugh from Michiru. So much for changing things up.]

How long did you say you were here?

Oh... One second. It's been a few months, but my home used a different calendar from this place.

I think I arrived in... "June"? [She takes a moment to count on her fingers.] The 27th, if I'm converting this right. And before this, about half a year at the castle, but a lot of peope here have been here or other places way longer.

[ There's a conspiracy. How could Haruka have missed it this far? What an oversight.

But she's here now. ] We'll be sure to settle in.

[ Another one of those looks at Michiru. ]

[Under normal circumstances, Nightingale is really easily flustered and terribly easy to read. But that's a recent thing, and years of constantly lying have left her with a very good poker face, which she's wearing to comment:]

And remember, we're potentially being watched and having our actions broadcast to the universe at large, and we have no idea where we're being watched from. So keep that in mind when you two start getting hot and heavy, hm? According to the Atroma, kids watch this.

[oh my. How forward.

And Haruka's getting an innocent smile for her trouble.] Did you hear that? Think of the children.

[Just once, Nightingale wishes that would work. But for now she won't say anything to interrupt the flirting.]

[ Flustering at this point would be the equivalent of admitting they'd accidentally sent out a broadcast earlier. So Haruka's suave demeanor doesn't slip. ] I think we can find places even they can't see.

[ Forget the kids, Nightingale might as well not be there now. ]

Edited 2015-10-11 22:53 (UTC)

[that smile suddenly isn't quite as innocent as before]

Somebody is rather determined.

[it takes one to know one, Michiru]

Are you doubting me?

[ The very concept seems ludicrous! ]

(no subject)

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