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

[shoujoreject]

Ah... I can understand that, too. [Really fucking well, judging by the quietly sad expression on his face.

There's a moment of quiet before he glances up again, rubbing the back of his head.]

Um... if you're looking for something to do... I was going to be looking into more than the basic first aid training I have, since that seems to be what I'm... here for... [What an awkward laugh he has all of a sudden.] I could use some help, sometime when you aren't busy.

[forsometimenow]

[Jennifer definitely brightens at the idea.]

I'd be happy to. I've been teaching first aid lessons to some of the others in the Fleet, actually. Not every ship has a medbay, and in case we're ever dealing with a large number of injured people, the logistics of taking people to the ships that do could be a nightmare. So the more I can do to help everyone take care of their own, the better.

[shoujoreject]

[He nods, smile returning (and more naturally to boot) as she speaks.]

Especially if there's a lot of urgency when it comes to the severity of the injuries... does it happen terribly often, people getting injured?

[... That's probably not something he should ask.]

[forsometimenow]

Only a small handful of times since I've been brought here, but it does happen. We've been attacked by other ships before, and another time, we came upon a derelict ship that was occupied by a species of bug-like creatures called the Nunnilis. They're normally peaceful, but unfortunately this group suffered from a neural- a brain infection that made them aggressive, and they managed to injure some people.

[shoujoreject]

Ah... then at least it really is more just being prepared. [He seems a little relieved, like he was more worried than he let on.] It seems like people generally work together pretty well here... I hope I can match up. [His laugh is light and gentle, at least. He's not being too hard on himself... probably.]

[forsometimenow]

I'm sure you will- when you get assigned to a ship, your augment will give you a role. Some people are pilots, some are security, some are communications... we all work together, and we all have jobs to do and roles to play. And when we land on planets, you can find work or fun as you choose.

[shoujoreject]

I see. That makes it a little easier, I guess. [He huffs a laugh, shaking his head.

There's a brief pause as they continue walking, where he realises he's starting to recognise things as they pass. Well, that's good to know.]

I wonder if I could find work waiting tables somewhere, short as I imagine we're there... [That's absently stated, a little thoughtful.] Thank you again for showing me around. I feel a lot more comfortable here now.

[forsometimenow]

No problem. And I'm not sure you'll find any tables to wait here, but I know one of the augments is cook. Atroma tends to provide things that match our skills. [Most of the time anyway.]

[shoujoreject]

Well, it would be something that would make sense, in any case. At least they tend not to give us too much trouble in our daily lives. [Most of the time indeed.]

[forsometimenow]

Yeah... they do direct things to some extent, but most of the time we're left to our own devices as the cameras roll. I guess everything is more interesting that way, and it's not like most of us are actors who could follow a script anyway.