/insert rose petals here

[incousinswithyou]

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. ]

Comments

[incousinswithyou]

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

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

[experiencepoints]

[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.

[actsmagnificent]

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

[experiencepoints]

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

[incousinswithyou]

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

How long did you say you were here?

[experiencepoints]

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.

[actsmagnificent]

[ 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. ]

[experiencepoints]

[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.

[incousinswithyou]

[oh my. How forward.

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

[experiencepoints]

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

[actsmagnificent]

[ 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. ]

[incousinswithyou]

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

Somebody is rather determined.

[it takes one to know one, Michiru]

[actsmagnificent]

Are you doubting me?

[ The very concept seems ludicrous! ]

[experiencepoints]

[Oh, for fuck's sake. This has backfired in her face so spectacularly.]

And one theory going around is that the Atroma are using the implants to use our eyes as the cameras, so good luck.

[And now she prays these two weirdos aren't into blindfolds or anything.]

[incousinswithyou]

That seems redundant, given all the available cameras. [and unreliable]

And [sidelong glance] apparently, I shouldn't doubt somebody's resolve.

[actsmagnificent]

We'll be keeping in touch.

[ Now where's the off switch for this particular camera? Nightingale has been extremely helpful, but Haruka and Michiru do seem to need some time to process all this new information.

Alone. ]

[experiencepoints]

Great. See you around.

[Why do these kinds of people keep happening to her. How many shameless PDA couples can there even be in the multiverse.]