001 - Action/Video

[shoujoreject]

Who: Qing and anyone
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva's hospitality deck
When: Now

[It's amazing, how immediately things can change. How much can be lost in the span of a few eyeblinks, a whole walk home, a night of normalcy swirled in the realms of "probably" and "who knows". It permits the growth of terror in an individual, waking up in an unfamiliar place that feels like a hospital - simple metal walls, painfully clean, full of just the barest attempts to make it feel livable. It doesn't take long, fueled by that very same terror, to want out.

His only help is the familiarity of the qipao - not that he would have fallen asleep in the dress, he's sure - and the pair of hairties resting next to his communicator. Did someone drug him? There's no chance to be sure, though... they would have to, wouldn't they? Between the communicator mysteriously at his side and the faint feeling of something tugging at the back of his neck - the not-so-faint rigidity of something there when he reaches back to investigate - it seems clear. What isn't, of course, is why.

Why is something he won't find the answer to in a strangely-comfortable bed inside a metal box. So he does what he must - gathering what shreds of courage he can and sitting up - only to find the sight of a place that provides no comfort in spite of its attempts at amenities. When he speaks, the tone is soft and high, almost unequivocally feminine.]

... What is this... place...

[The question is asked to the open air and his arms wrap around his chest for a little warmth. His eyes widen when his gaze settles on the windows - the view of the open space beyond them - and he can't seem to look away for the longest time. This isn't possible. It can't be possible. The shock is clear on features far too smooth, too young for his age, wide violet eyes trembling a little in the very, very visible struggle to compartmentalise terror. Red hair hangs down to nearly his waist, furthering the illusion of femininity and adolescence.

Getting up almost too quickly, the wrinkles of his dress smooth and fatigued legs creak under him, but he ignores all that to move, to find someone to talk to - some answer to what the hell is going on. Anything to dim the fear that's still burning in the pit of his stomach.]

Comments

[ino]

[ Ino's just heading down a hall, back to her room to get something, when she spies him walking. He looks very obviously new here, and kind of, well, terrified, so she'll approach with caution ]

Ah -- hey ... Are you lost?

[shoujoreject]

[There's a moment there where his whole body freezes up, expression briefly akin to a doe in the headlights. Then it melts into an uneasy smile, one that might be convincing if not for the look on his face prior.]

Ah, um... I... I think so. ... Well, I definitely don't know where I am...

['Lost', he thinks, might not be quite the right term.]

[ino]

... Soooo, not lost. You just got here.

Uh -- we're in space, if that part wasn't obvious yet. This is a spaceship called the Marsiva.

[shoujoreject]

[Well that is... an answer. Qing wonders if he should take it at face value at first, but... what reason does she have to lie, exactly?]

... The Marsiva. [Er...] Why are we... you said 'just got here'. Does this happen often, then...?

[ino]

Yeah, people get brought here from all over. --Do you know what a TV is? That'll make this explanation a lot less confusing.

[shoujoreject]

Is it that common for people not to? [He asks it before he can stop himself, then shakes his head. Doesn't matter.] I know what they are, yes.

[ino]

Well -- yeah.

[ She'll get to that ... ]

So, they brought people here to be on this reality TV show. You're being filmed while you're here, and people watch it for entertainment. The more interesting you are, the more you get paid.

action

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru is curled up on one of the couches in the living area, a cup of tea in hand. A book and her communicator is on the end table next to her.]

Are you alright? [you get a curious look for a moment, though it's quickly smoothed over by a small smile]

[shoujoreject]

[It's better than being here alone, although feeling like the only one freaking out isn't exactly optimal.

The smile earns one in return, similarly small and lightly embarrassed.]

I seem to be fine. I'm just... not sure where I am.

[incousinswithyou]

You're in space, aboard the Marsiva. [a glance over at the windows should be proof enough.]

And we've all had our first days here. [don't worry about the freaking out part]

[shoujoreject]

[How... matter-of-fact. That gets his attention easily, and his smile doesn't quite waver but it loses a little of its brightness for a moment. She's joking. She has to be. Right?]

This is... if this is a space ship, why is it... picking people up?[His hand goes briefly to that implant. It means little still, just... something there that shouldn't be.]

I don't remember signing up for anything like this...

[incousinswithyou]

[she notes that motion. Well, at least you've noticed the implant.]

None of us signed up for this, but they seem to think we'd make good participants in a television show, so here we are.

[her tone might be getting a bit sardonic]

[shoujoreject]

[So here we are. God, it's so... impossible, so hard to swallow. But even if they're not in space, even if this is some elaborate ruse... if it's a television show, then he can't even deny that makes sense.]

I... I see. [He takes a small breath, largely ignoring the turn of her tone for now.] And... how long are we expected to remain here?

[forsometimenow]

Hey, everything OK?

[Jennifer had gotten to know pretty much every member of the Fleet during their long stay on the Marsiva, so new arrivals tended to stand out- and this poor young person was almost definitely new.]

[shoujoreject]

Ah-- yes! Er...

[By now, he'd gotten his bearings just a little - enough to at least figure out what the locations were and the options they had here. People filtered in and out now and then, and he was... well, not exactly unhappy not to have demanded attention from too many thus far. Those who had, so far, had proven fairly friendly.]

I'm just feeling a little... overwhelmed, I suppose. [Ha-ha. Offering a wry sort of smile, Qing bowed to Jennifer - a brief, automatic thing.] I've heard the same information more than once now, but... it's a little hard to take.

[forsometimenow]

[Jennifer smiled back and nodded.]

Yeah, I totally understand... and this isn't even the usual routine here, so it's even weirder. Have you been able to find your way around yet?

[shoujoreject]

Not really. [Qing sighs lightly.] I'm sure I'll get used to it soon, but the layout is confusing. [Well no, the layout itself is straight-forward. It's the fact that everything looks the goddamn same that's confusing. He pauses again, though.]

... My name is Qing-Yuan.

[forsometimenow]

I'm Jennifer. Nice to meet you.

[She then sighed.]

It's easy to get turned around, huh? It's a little like walking through a neighbourhood where every house is the same. Want me to show you around?

[shoujoreject]

And you. [Despite the circumstances, he's quite glad to see most people are pretty friendly here.]

It is. It's nothing like Chinatown, certainly. [Getting lost there had more to do with the colours and winding backroads, after all.] Ah, if you don't mind, I would appreciate that. It's... always a little easier with someone else. How long have you been here, if I may?

[innercactus]

[ Well that was like a punch to the face. Asteffiel freezes, his own eyes going wide, and so the sylvari goes to find the person.

He doesn't seem to remember that seeing a person made entirely of plants might.. not be reassuring. At all. He's also pale purple, which is also sometimes alarming, but the sound of his feet is probably odd as well. He's at least barked and solid, by the sound as he approaches. Fear grows and he shoves it down as not his. ]

Shhhh. It's okay! Here, look at this! [ In his hands, which appear to have red bark patterns, he holds a potted plant. It looks like it might have sprouted very recently, and he holds it up to eye level. ]

Isn't it cute?

[ Asteffiel this probably doesn't help other people. ]

[shoujoreject]

[Well that's. ... Yeah it's actually not at all reassuring, no. Qing can't help but stare at the Sylvari, wide-eyed and briefly unblinking.

He... he? It? He's purple, and made of... leaves and bark... and on the upside, it's surprising enough that the fear at least comes to a pause. Plus, the way he talks is... well, it's not exactly dangerous-sounding.]

A-ah- I- [For a moment, Qing is well and truly flabbergasted. It isn't something that happens often, and as he turns his gaze from the potted plant and back up to Asteffiel... he can't help but smile just a little.]

... It is. [Maybe it's a little bit strictly polite, the expression on his face incredibly soft and gentle, and... in all honesty, the attempt is appreciated, even if it isn't as reassuring as the other expects. In the wake of it, Qing is just left trying not to stare at him too much.]

[innercactus]

[ The voice is deep enough to be male, at least. Let's go with that.

It probably doesn't help that in close inspection, it's pretty clear his face doesn't have a solid layer of bark over it. The lines and patterns are the result of tendrils, stems, leaves and a few thorns pressing together to make a human-ish face shape. And he does leave off blinking a little unnaturally long, but... at least he remembers to blink? ]

It's a baby orange tree! In a couple of months, it will be big enough I can start talking it into giving blossoms and then little oranges!

[ Because distracting from the strange things totally works. Even if he is the strange thing here, oops. ]

[shoujoreject]

... A few months?

[Wait, but...]

Is that not dangerous for the tree? They usually take years to grow to maturity, don't they?

[Qing, you're talking to a plant-man. Why do you expect earth-logic to matter?]

[innercactus]

[ He smiles. ]

I have some magic with plants! I am not as good as a Firstborn, but I can speed things up if I have fertilizer for them.

[ He has a way around earth logic- ]

... I can't speed up fruit growing though. They taste weird when I do, so I don't.

[shoujoreject]

[He looks quite confused, at that. Fertiliser speeds growth, yes, but... not that much... but then, he was talking about magic, too.

Qing supposes it's not impossible, given he's talking to someone who is, himself, apparently made of plants.]

A Firstborn...? [That's quickly set aside, though.] I wonder why they would taste weird in that case. Not enough nutrients overall, maybe...?

[Wait, that's not important...!]