driftfleet | time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted.

Who: Azula + y'all
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: HS MARSIVA BABY
When: Idk, now.

[Oh, she's furious at first. Waking alone in a strange place, with no one to answer for her predicament? Azula is not happy about that. But she refuses to lose her cool under pressure. She won't waste time throwing a temper tantrum. Instead she gets to work. When she can't find anyone, she looks for exits. When she can't find any exits, she finally resigns herself to examining the-- the "communications log", her augment helpfully supplies.

Hm. That's new. She absorbs that information and continues. Figuring out how to use the system is somewhat of a learning curve at first, but the augment helps her along until she has the gist of it. She snorts in derision as she reads and watches one log after another, published by individuals clearly once in the same predicament as herself. Every post the same as the last. "Where am I? How did I get here? How do I get home?" How ridiculous, she thinks. If only they had bothered to take a few extra minutes to figure out how to access the network records, all their questions would have been answered, and they would have been saved the indignity of looking like a fool. Well, no-one will catch her looking like that, that's for sure.

The more she reads, the less she likes. Her scowl deepens the longer she spends. After a while, few unpleasant facts make themselves readily apparent:

1) This is not home. Few here will recognise or respect her authority as crown princess of the Fire Nation.
2) Her ability to threaten or intimidate people into doing what she says while she's being held captive on a completely separate vessel to everybody else is virtually nil. First rule of thumb: don't give threats unless you can actually follow through on them. Otherwise you only look stupid.
3) She currently has no money with which to bribe people with, either.
4) Her brother is here, has been here for a while by the look of things. She doesn't understand how that's possible, but there's no point in debating the facts. He's also had time to make allies.
5) She, on the other hand, has none.

All in all, it's an extremely unfavorable position to be in. All her favourite tools have been summarily taken from her. Arms crossed, one finger tapping on her arm, she tries to think of the best way to spin this horrible situation to her advantage-- at least until she can leverage herself some bargaining chips, or isn't on the Marsiva. She reads further back on the network some more, until one particular post gives her an idea. A brother, separated from his siblings. The sympathy pouring in for miles. It's a masterful stroke, really. ... Well, that settles it. Mind made up, she uncrosses her arms and turns on the video feed, prepared with her most innocent smile.]

Good evening, citizens of this... ah, fleet. I am Princess Azula, of the Fire Nation. Your newest arrival, of course. Not to worry, I've already availed myself of the answers to the standard newcomer questions.

I'm addressing you today because I believe some of you may already be acquainted with my dear brother, Prince Zuko. I do hope he's all right-- ever since we were young, you see, he's had this knack for getting himself into trouble. If it's not too much to ask, I'd be extremely grateful to anyone who can put me in touch with him. Or at the very least, let me know how he's doing. From what I understand, apparently he's switched his message apparatus off to take a long nap. I wouldn't want to interrupt.

In any case, I look forward to ... co-habitating with all of you. [No, she absolutely does not.] I suppose if you wish to introduce yourself, you may do that too.

[If it's a competition the Atroma want, she doesn't intend to lose. But she can't do anything from her current position without backup and information. As irritating as it is to have to fake interest and politeness, this will help her get the lay of the land much more efficiently than causing a scene right off the bat. There will be time enough for that later.

Plus, it will absolutely infuriate Zuko, and that's always hilarious.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

They're your friends, for whatever reason -- walk with me if you want, I need to figure out how to get off of this thing and onto another ship.

[ and rei moves toward a hallway. she doesn't seem to be very afraid of azula or what she can do, so that seems to be something. and she's not aggressive. ]

I knew Mai better than I did Ty Lee, where I was before.

... I see. And what about us? Were we... friends?

[It's possible, she supposes, from the casual manner and attitude this woman seems to have towards her. Still, Azula doesn't budge, mostly out of stubbornness more than anything else.]

... You're wasting your time, you know. I already looked into that. [Obviously.]

No, we hated each other.

[ rei is examining a panel on the wall, frowning to herself. she says it simply, without hesitation. ]

Clashing personalities -- did you find the shuttles? There are supposed to be shuttles somewhere, maybe on the smaller ships.

Shame. Well, the past is the past. Perhaps here we can start over, miss... what was your name again?

As for the shuttles, they're all locked until we're assigned a "crew." Apparently.

Rei.

[ azula is definitely someone Not To Be Trusted, but if she's stuck on the marsiva until further notice...

rei sighs, turning to azula fully, with a frown. ]

You don't remember being brought here, either? Or the -- ... augment.

[Azula's smile drops. Now here is one front on which she is most displeased.]

... No.

Though I can assure you, whenever we find the people responsible, I will ensure that they pay. Personally.

[ well, rei can always count on what she remembers of azula to make people pay. great. cool. AWESOME.

rei removes a hand from her pocket to run her fingers along the base of her skull, brow furrowing -- and while rei doesn't go around threatening to make people pay, she certainly doesn't look happy. ]

... different place, same prison.

[ under her breath, and she drops her hand. ]

I don't even use guns, this augment is stupid -- and I'm guessing it's a bad idea to try and get it taken out.

[ it'll probably rip out your brain stem or something ]

[And now, back to business!]

That's what they say, yes.

Though, if you're offering, I'd be happy to try and take it out for you.

[NO EXPERIENCE LIKE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, amirite.]

I'll break your fingers, Azula, if you touch my head.

[ as cheerful as can be ]

But thanks for the offer, I appreciate it.

[ this is going to be a long fucking ride in space ]

There's no need to be so rude about it. I was simply offering.

And you could try, of course. But you'd fail.

Think that if you want, it makes no difference to me.

[ rei has the opportunity to hide her powers here (for now, anyway), and she intends to keep it that way. for a little bit, anyway. ]

[Ugh. God. Unflappable people are the worst.]

... Indeed.

[ rei isn't necessarily unflappable, but she has a zero tolerance for fire princesses that are not herself today. this day sucks, and she has to prioritize how to get the hell out of here. but if azula has already said she can't get out, then rei may as well trust it. for now, anyway.

sigh. ]

You didn't answer my question about anybody from your world being here.

[ rei could figure out how to look it up but best to figure out now if there are enemies in the Fleet ]

... My brother and some peasants from the Water Tribe, as far as I'm aware. Oh and their little Earth Kingdom friend. Why do you ask?

[ peasants from the water tribe. sokka and katara, maybe? and toph? so a lot of people from her world, then. and her brother... zuko, sasuke's friend.

hm. ]

Gathering information, the same as you.

[ pause ]

I haven't seen anyone from my universe here, yet, so I guess you should consider yourself lucky, right?

Oh, of course.

Beyond imagining.

[ goddd where is castiel or hitsugaya or literally anyone else from adstringendum but azula. still, she seems to be relatively intent on behaving herself, and rei finds being stuck in a prison by herself to be atrociously unnerving. may as well deal with her for now. ]

How soon do you think before they'll let us go home?

[ rei, having been through this before, knows the answer could be never. but. you never know. ]

Apparently, "home" is a prize reserved only for the winner.

[ judging from the look on rei's face, she believes that as much as she believes pigs fly ]

So they say.

[ muttered, looking irritated.

different place, same prison. ]

[... Hm. Interesting.]

... You don't believe it.

Prisons are easier to maintain if the people think there's a chance to escape.

[ in irritation, and rei frowns at her. ]

Is there any proof that we're even on a TV show? Or that anyone is watching? Or is the only word we have from the people who brought us here?

Surely you jest. People are much easier to contain when all their very last hopes and dreams of escape have been utterly crushed into dust beneath your feet.

[She says with a smile :'). But then she thinks about Rei's question.]

The latter, I believe.

That might be how it works in your world, Azula, but you're in for a nasty surprise if you think anyone is going to tolerate that here.

[ no one did in adstringendum. ]

And if that's the only word that we're going on, then I'm going to place a bet on 'they're lying.'

time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted.

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