driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Erik Lehnsherr & anyone
Broadcast: Fleetwide video, unintentional
Action: The Marsiva
When: 26th Feb

[When the feed begins, Erik is already awake. Awake, but not yet moving from the bed. He's holding himself in the kind of intense stillness that preludes a burst of activity. And it comes shortly after, as he rolls swiftly to his feet and surveys the deck. This isn't the mansion, that much is clear. Nor is it part of any realm he's been in that he can tell. His brow furrows as he glares daggers into a featureless wall. While there is nothing of particular interest about it - it's just a wall - he seems to be observing something he finds off-putting about it.

He shakes his head abruptly, a quick jerk of the chin.] No. [With nothing further to say than that, he turns and stalks out of frame, with only a cursory glance at the communicator left behind.

Ten minutes pass, the feed holding on a truly exciting shot of that empty bed and floor.

But soon enough he re-enters the frame, wearing an expression somewhere between frustrated and resigned. This time, he does notice the communicator. After a considering pause, he walks over, reaching out ... and turns it with a finger, pointing the camera at the wall. His voice rings out clearly a moment later.]

If someone is watching, I'd appreciate an explanation. I haven't got much patience for these kinds of games anymore.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Stars among the stars. That's terrible, even by his standards. He says the next part blandly, though underneath that he's assessing exactly what it could mean.]

Are we expected to perform, then?

Not really, no. I mean, you're given more money if you're-- you know-- interesting, if you cause drama or do something that others would enjoy watching, but-- I mean, no one's ever gotten annoyed with me for not performing.

[Hold up. Now he looks incredulous.]

They give you money for this?

Oh, yes. All of us, in varying degrees. Which is fortunate, because, as I said, we visit multiple planets, and it's nice to be able to actually buy things.

[He can't help the dryness in his tone.]

How convenient for us.

Isn't it just?

[He matches that dryness, his expression rather wearied. What is his life, that this is the kind of explanation he has to offer?]

Which brings me to the second part of my explanation: namely, the people here. They-- we-- aren't precisely human. At least, not all of us. Some are.

[What an odd statement. Not that he minds the core of it. Just the opposite. It's the phrasing of it that strikes him as unconventional.]

Given I'm not human, am I meant to find this disturbing?

[He brightens slightly.]

No. But some people might. And it's good to know, isn't it, right off the bat. What are you, if you don't mind my asking?

Mutant. And I'm well aware of how some take it.

[Badly, of course.]

Actually-- people take it quite well here. I'm not human either, and they're nothing but accepting, for the most part.

[Another quirk of different realities, it seems. He nods, lost in thought.]

What are you, then?

A werewolf. And wizard. Two for one, frankly. What does being a mutant entail, precisely?

Both at once? [He's heard of both werewolves and wizards, but not in the one package.]

It entails being the next step in evolution. We each have our own particular talents.

What are yours?

[It's just honest curiosity, nothing more.]

Why do you want to know?

I'm curious. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, I just-- thought it might be interesting to know.

Let's save that for another time, shall we.

[The idea that untold numbers of people are watching him and what he says will take some getting used to.]

What's your name?

All right.

[He says that amiably enough. God knows he himself wasn't so forthcoming with his lycanthropy on his first day.]

Remus Lupin, on the Paisley.

That's another ship, is it?

[A brief pause.]

Blade.

[The name-- code name?-- makes him blink, but only for a moment.]

That's my ship, yes-- you're welcome to come over for tea or conversation any time you'd like.

I imagine I'll need to become familiar with my own ship first. But I may take you up on that, sometime.

[When he feels less like he's entirely without control over the situation.]