♢ 01

[effluent]

Who: Sarah Turner and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: SS Golden
When: 12/06

[as the video flickers on, a blonde teenager stares intently at the camera before she flashes a toothy smile and leans in closer]

Aaaand there we go. Testing, one two-- [she taps the camera twice and grins a little wider as she hears feedback from her own device]

Is it too late for a Wizard of Oz reference? Because we sure are not in Kansas any more. [her left hand reaches up to fiddle with a strand of her wavy blonde hair as she looks up, past the camera]

So tell me if I leave anything out, because here's what I've got figured out so far. We're on Survivor: Space Edition, with just a dab of Star Travel mixed in for flavor. And I'm guessing instead of getting voted off the island, we get jetted off into space? Man, and I thought human reality TV was vicious. Turns out aliens are the real assholes.

[but despite that she laughs a bit at her own joke and turns her full attention back to the screen before she continues]

I guess the meet-and-greet comes next. Hey, I'm Sarah. [she wiggles the fingers of her right hand in a half-hearted wave] Nice to meet you, blah blah blah. While we're on the subject of introductions, I looked through the contestant list, and you guys have some wild names. Special shout out to "Belthazar" and "Adrasteius"... I can't tell if your parents were huge nerds, or if they just hated you.

So! Who all is out there? Don't be shy, I don't bite... much. [aaand yep, she accompanies that with another shit-eating-grin. She'll also be lounging around the Golden's kitchen area... Draped forward on the counter and snacking on her free pudding. Such a class act, this one.]

Comments

[effluent]

[hm, that isn't what she expected]

Huh. Then he really doesn't sound like me at all.

[experiencepoints]

Really? Talking big and and pissing off everyone because of your own issues right out the gates? You can't have many close to you.

[effluent]

Um, rude. You know literally nothing about my life.

[experiencepoints]

Actually, I can hazard a few guesses. People don't act like that without some shit going on.

[effluent]

Uh huh, sure. I don't know what psychoanalysis high horse you're riding on, but I'll save you some time. I'm a bitch, and I know that. So when I want your uninformed opinion, I'll ask. Okay, cutie?

[experiencepoints]

Actually, it's less psychoanalysis, and more a basic Scan spell.

[It's not. Scan doesn't even work that way, but she's willing to bet this girl doesn't know that. Honestly, at this point, she's just trying to get a rise out of her. Talking out of her ass or not, this seems to be working.]

[effluent]

Ah, so you do have some weird magic getup. [spells and all that.. She can tell that this conversation is getting away from her, sooo]

And you're scanning me with it, I'm so touched.

[experiencepoints]

What? No. Are you an idiot? These are my normal clothes. I have actual robes for when I'm doing real magic.

[effluent]

Seriously? So you always walk around in thigh-high boots and a mini skirt? Man, and people back home called me scandalous...

[experiencepoints]

What's scandalous about this? It's not really my style, but it's not that weird.

[Yes it is, but she's not going to let that girl get under her skin.]

[effluent]

Oh yeah, my bad, I forgot how everyone dresses up in a billowing cape for fun.

But at least the color suits you. [even though it's a compliment somehow she makes it sound like an insult...?]

[experiencepoints]

It's my team's color.

But if you're so concerned about scandal, my grandmother wears less than this when she goes fighting. What's the problem?

[effluent]

[hah, that gets a snort-laugh out of her]

Now that's a mental image! [but she ignores the question on the end and asks about the first half]

So what's your team name? Magical Strippers?

[experiencepoints]

[And that gets the amusement to vanish from her face instantly.]

Listen. I know you're trying to get under my skin. I don't really care, it's honestly a little funny, and a little nostalgic after my first impression with a few of the people here. I can take it.

But if you ever speak badly of my team, we are going to have problems. And I'm a mage. I resolve my problems by using ridiculous amounts of fire until it stops being a problem.

Do you understand?

[effluent]

[her smile remains unchanged, but there's a cold edge to her voice as she replies in a valley girl tone]

Woooooow, so touchy. Does everyone here doll out death threats at the drop of a hat?

Fine fine fine, I'd rather keep my face in one piece if it's all the same to you.

[experiencepoints]

No, that's just me. Apparently, I'm from a very strange world, and consequences may not mean the same thing to me as everyone else.

[Or it used to, and it can be to her advantage to play that up.]

But to answer your question, we're called Takshaka.

[effluent]

Still, it says something if people in this place wouldn't bat an eye at someone's fiery death. But maybe I'm just special.

[..... yeah she wants to make that half bad life choice]

That's a name alright. [there's like a tint of sarcasm but without saying anything sarcastic??]

[experiencepoints]

Oh, they would. I'd probably have a few people out for my blood for it, including my friends here.

[It's said completely casually.]

Yeah, I couldn't pronounce it at first either.

[effluent]

[ugh, she looks slightly peeved at that response]

And you'd still attack someone just for making fun of a group of people they don't even know? You might want to look into getting a massage or something.

[experiencepoints]

We didn't choose our team's name. We were assigned it. I like it now, but I can recognize that it's still a weird name, and don't want people insulting it.

On the other hand, I owe my team my life ten times over, and more. Without my team I'd be trapped as a monster for... Probably, forever.

So... Yeah. My team is important to me. And I will not allow anyone to to speak badly of them.

[effluent]

[She listens and for once there's no sassy comment, no pithy reply when she's done. Instead she just looks vaguely annoyed and detached]

Fine, whatever, I'll drop it. It was getting boring anyway.

[she stretches her arms out and then knits her fingers together to prop her chin atop her hands] So what now?

[experiencepoints]

Well, you could tell me your name.

[effluent]

Sarah Turner. And if you want to say you've never met a Sarah before, get in line.

[experiencepoints]

I've met people with weirder names than that at my last interdimensional shithole. But is that your real name?

Nightingale, by the way.

[effluent]

Glad to hear that. [at lease someone has a normal perspective on that issue. But.. She looks thoughtful at the question at the end] And it is my real name, but that's not a bad idea. [what idea? idk she quickly moves on before she gives Nightengale a chance to say anything]

And I would say nice to meet you but... you know. It's only been so so. [little shit eating grin]