♢ 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

[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]

[experiencepoints]

[Well, maybe she won't tell Sarah about the crew rosters. It's pretty funny this way.]

Really? Only so-so? It's been pretty entertaining on my end.

[effluent]

Oh? Well I have been told that I'm pretty charming. [such... sass....... no she's not pissy that she was 'entertaining' ugh, way to ruin a fun thing]

I aim to please.

[experiencepoints]

[she seems pretty damn smug about all of this, honestly]

Whoever told you that had a very interesting definition of 'charming'.

[effluent]

Ooh, zing. Nice burn.

[although she's still very "tee hee" about it. Sarcasm city up in here between the both of them]

I'll see you around Nightengale. Brush up on your jabs while I'm gone, I expect only the best.

[experiencepoints]

Eh, that sounds like too much effort.

Oh, but... Before you go, can I give one piece of advice?

[effluent]

Shoot. But I can't promise that I'll follow it.

[experiencepoints]

Oh, that's up to you, but...

If you see a woman with blue skin, feline ears, and a tail? That's my teammate, Magpie. She's... not as reasonable as me. So... I mean, you can do whatever you want, but I'd recommend against your whole trying to be an asshole thing with her. Unless you're into concussions.

[effluent]

I don't know, my death threat just hit is personal record at three today. I could maybe get it higher.

[but she drops the charade quickly and shrugs]

But thanks for the tip, I'll think about it.

[experiencepoints]

Oh, no, she wouldn't kill you. She is way too mean for that.

Yeah, it's up to you. Just figured I should give you some warning.

[effluent]

So why bother? Trying to keep your friend from doing something they'll feel bad about later?

[experiencepoints]

I don't know if she's able to feel bad about things she's done. You seem new to all of this, so I'm actually trying to help you out a bit.

[effluent]

[ugh gross. She scrunches her nose slightly]

You really shouldn't bother. It's a sweet thought, but don't.

[experiencepoints]

Oh? Why not?

[effluent]

[she just shrugs]

First of all, it's a waste of your time, and mine. And second, I think you're interesting-- but nothing makes a relationship more boring than knowing that one person is trying to babysit the other.

[experiencepoints]

Oh? Is that something that happens to you often?