001

[flickerflash]

Who: Katie and anyone!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: 1st December

[Oh. Well, this is new.

The bunks are comfy enough, and it's not exactly the first time Katie has found herself in an unfamiliar place. (Is it Thursday?) But it is the first time she's woken up in one for a long time, and so she squints at the door for a long moment trying to remember what she was last doing.

Then she peels off the bunk, blanket and all, and shuffles her way out to explore. She's not particularly worried, and most confusion goes right out the window when she see the giant windows that let her see out into space because seriously. She rockets over, face smooshed against the glass. That's probably where anyone on the Marsiva can find her for a long time, because space. Spaaace. This is the best accidental visit ever.

Much later, she'll actually think to check the comms, and only when she goes looking for the one she's meant to have. She turns up on the feed still with the sheet half draped over her curls and her nose still a little red from her mushed space-watching, and addresses the network cheerfully in a British accent.]

I think I took a left turn. Are we really in space? That's not just a clever painting or something, is it? Does that mean there are spacesuits? Can I go out in it? Is anyone here that I know? And what buttons do I push to leave again? Not that I didn't turn up here on purpose, because I've always wanted to see space and I really can't jump that far. Oh, but I should probably make sure, so if you could help I'd be much obliged.

...oh, I need a sword, too. Mine ran away.

[Hello, I am nine and full of questions and lies. But genuinely, she is curious. Something is afoot.

(But space.)]

Comments

[dualcross]

[Mihawk's head nearly snaps up from his quiet dozing when his communicator (which he keeps near him, just in case) goes off and the voice is one he knows all too well. Eyes open and a little wide, he reaches over and snatches up the device, looking into it closely - it can't possibly be...how small could those chances be--?

But the face that greets him is as familiar as the voice, and Mihawk can't help but sigh deeply. Unbelievable...the little monster really managed to show up here with him after all. The corners of his lips tug up faintly before he flicks on the video and decides to greet her. In his usual way, of course.]

My, how troublesome, these wayward blades...perhaps it fled with mine.

[flickerflash]

[Ah! Katie perks up, pulling the sheet down off her head entirely. SHE HASN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHOLE--

... four hours or so. Probably.]

Yours must be a terrible influence. Mine's too young to wander off on its own, after all. [But she frowns, because Mihawk missing his sword sounds like there might be homicide in the works.] Any idea where they've gone?

[dualcross]

[It's been longer for him, let the salty, old pirate have his moment being happy to see you again. IT IS A RARE AND ELUSIVE EMOTION.

Replaced immediately but a heavy sigh. He really hates not having his sword, and having it taken from him is even worse. Mihawk feels almost insulted and guilty about it. He should have held onto Yoru - his most prized possession - better than that.]

Do remember you speak of a pirate's blade, a 'bad influence' is inevitable. [But let's get to your question.] The ones that have taken us have also saw fit to disarm us.

[goldenglasses]

We're really in space, kiddo. [He can't help but to smile and laugh at her excited nature instead of being scared.] Although I'm afraid you have to win a game in order to go home and not press a button.

[flickerflash]

So I suppose it's not a game that has any buttons in it, then. Pity. I'm terrible at games, too.

How do you get your hair like that?

[It looks like a broom. :|]

[goldenglasses]

With a lot of gel and practice styling in front of a mirror!

Action

[stagstorm]

There's no use in that, girl. You'll no sooner make it through that glass than a castle through a needle.

[Robert had only just returned to the viewing area after restlessly pacing through the Marsiva, bereft of purpose. This girl seemed to be the latest passenger, but he took her face smooshing to be a genuine effort to actually try to break through the glass - an effort Robert had undertaken only a few days ago.]

Action

[flickerflash]

[CHALLENGE ACCEPT-- no wait, that's a perfectly good waste of a castle. And a needle, for that matter. She peels away from the glass to peer at him curiously.]

I bet I could get out if I wanted. [But even nine-year-olds know about the vacuum of space, so she really doesn't want to. Oh, but you're an actual live person and she hasn't seen anyone else.]

Are you the captain of this ship? You don't look like one.

Action

[stagstorm]

I'm no captain, girl. I'm a king, though not of these ships. Give me your name.

[He's a king, so he does not ask for things. Rather he simply expects them.]

[jamminshield]

[Aw, she's adorable and British! Steven clears his throat and prepares to address her.]

If it was a painting, it'd be a really pretty one! [Steven says with a laugh.] It's really really space, for really real. And there's spacesuits, too! Pretty cool, right?

[A pause, and he frets a little.]

But I'm sorry that your sword ran away. If only my lion was here with me, I would lend you my mom's sword!

[flickerflash]

[Oh hey, she's not the only kid out here. NIFTY. She brightens at the news of space and space suits, but--

--hold the phone.]

You have a lion?

[jamminshield]

Yep! He was my mom's, but she kept him a secret for some reason. He's big and pink and he can make portals, and he has an extra dimension inside his mane. [He recalls that all matter-of-factly.]

I just call him Lion. It makes life easier.

video.

[steeledskin]

[ concern for the girl strains her expression -- although she doesn't manage to put it into words, snapping instead: ] Swords can't run.

video WHOOPS /retrieves lost tag

[flickerflash]

[Sansa, you're just no fun. Katie falters a little, pulling back from the screen and squinting at the girl on the other end. And then she shrugs.]

They can if they're magic swords. Don't you have magic swords where you're from?

[steeledskin]

Once upon a time, yes. [ ... ] And we have swords made of Valyrian steel. I imagine that's as close to magic as anything else.

[huaaaaagh]

[Wow, she sure has a lot of questions. And swords are apparently getting popular on the network these days.

Eh, he's not going to complain.]

I haven't seen anybody go out in a space suit, but it would be pretty cool. You can't get very far from the ship, though.

[flickerflash]

[What, really? She makes a face.]

Why not? I could just swim away, couldn't I?

[I watch Star Trek and this is how space works.]

video;;

[reconstitution]

[ What is with the Atroma bringing all these children in? Let's see if he can't answer a few of these questions. ]

We're in space. You can't leave no matter what buttons you push.

..I don't think anyone can jump that far.

[ ...Sword, what? ]

video;;

[flickerflash]

You'd be surprised what people can do when they put their minds to it.

[...okay no, she can't jump very far. But she frowns.] Why can't I leave? I can go wherever I want, can't I?

[video]

[summerschild]

They won't let us go home, we've all tried.

[Hello fellow nine-year-old, have another bitty. He looks a bit solemn, but he peers into the camera with curiosity, particularly when she mentions a sword.]

You know how to swordfight?

[video]

[flickerflash]

[She brightens. That's two other kids her own age, which is amazing for weird places like this. She's just going to ignore the first part in favour of the second, because the first is too serious and she doesn't want to think on it too hard right now. Besides. Swords.]

All little girls do where I come from. Do you?

[nextlineis]

[Well it's about time someone had the right attitude about space! Honestly, Joseph likes the people around here, but they get way too doom and gloom about the situation and don't get excited nearly enough about being in space.]

[Still, aside from that, there is one thing she says that stands out to him.]

You know of many paintings that surround you on all sides?

[flickerflash]

[None at all. So naturally, she lies.]

I've seen a few at home in our museum. They're very strange. Oh, but I thought maybe the people here were just very clever and hung paintings of space outside the windows.

[misterprongs]

[ without missing a beat: ]

Did you? Yes. No. Yes. Sometimes. Perhaps. Don't press buttons, your innards might explode. How far can you jump? And who gave you a sword?

[ pause ]

Space is fairly thrilling.

[flickerflash]

[She's giggling before he even completes that run of answers. GOOD MAN. Oh, but he's also British! Excellent.]

I can't jump very far at all, I'm afraid. But I practice! And there was a man in a dirty trenchcoat giving them out on the street. I thought it was very generous of him.