I

[notzubats]

Who: Sora (AU)
Broadcast: Video!
Action: Marsiva
When: Today!

[The background area of the video feed looks very much like the empty hospitality deck Marsiva. And not unusual for newcomers, the network doesn't seemed to be noticed right away. Instead the boy on the other side looks more startled at his new surroundings. Because you know, it's not every day you wake up in SPACE]

Hello?!

[Yep. A completely empty ship. This is definitely creepy. He takes a few steps away from the camera, looking around and calling out]

Simba...! [a pause] Oh c'mon, this is no time to be messing around!

[And of course, there's no response. When he speaks again, he sounds more uncertain] ...Simba? ...Anybody?

[Then when there is still no response and he starts to become very sure he's alone, he rubs his arms and keeps eyeing the place warily as he mutters:] Great. Now what do I do?

Comments

video; 4/4 done

[notzubats]

What-?!

How is this-?!

[He's in space. He's somehow in space. He was in Union, and now he's in space. Not even on his planet anymore. In. Space.]

WHAT?! [Behind him as he yells, a couple of the light fixtures inexplicably burst into shattered pieces. Whoops]

video;

[huaaaaagh]

[Poor guy. It would be funny if it wasn't sort of expected by now.]

Yeah, I hear you. Welcome to the fleet.

video;

[notzubats]

[Sora meanwhile is in the middle of a freak out. This is bad. This is so bad. He doesn't even think about watching his words during his panic]

I can't be in a fleet! I gotta get home! [Finding home from Union was going to be hard enough- but now this?!] Surely there's gotta be a mistake!

video;

[huaaaaagh]

Try to calm down. I know it's crazy, but freaking out won't do anything.

[He's probably the worst person for this, sorry Sora.]

It's not a mistake, though. We were definitely brought here on purpose.

video;

[notzubats]

Calm down?! How am I supposed to calm down after this?! [Annd there goes another light fixture. Good thing this guy's not on your ship huh.]

[Sora seems oblivious to the light fixture, and instead starts pacing around as he's trying to work his frazzled mind through this. Be patient, he runs on Windows.]

And what purpose is that?!

video;

[huaaaaagh]

I- ...okay, maybe you should leave the room first? It sounds dangerous over there.

[And it's getting darker. What the heck is going on?]

video;

[notzubats]

Dangerous-!?

[Brb looking around for monsters]

But...it's just me in here.

video;

[huaaaaagh]

You and all the exploding electronics, apparently?

[Dude. Dude.]

video;

[notzubats]

Exploding-?

[And now he notices the blown out light fixtures. Which, um-]

...Crap.

video;

[huaaaaagh]

Yeah, see?

[Why does he not seem very surprised by this.]

Are you okay?

video;

[notzubats]

[Gah...this is a mess. Sora immediately goes into his routine apologies]

I'm really sorry! I'll clean it up, swear!

video;

[huaaaaagh]

Er... you don't have to. But like I said, it doesn't sound very safe.

video;

[notzubats]

[He rubs the back of his neck. Did this guy not get it...?] Yeah, I know it's not.

But leaving the room won't really...stop it, you know?

video;

[huaaaaagh]

It--

[????]

...Wait, are you doing that?

video;

[notzubats]

[insistently] Not on purpose!

It just sorta...happens.

video;

[huaaaaagh]

Um.

[Is this another wizard thing? God, he knows so many wizards.]

O... kay then. Maybe just keep your distance from the lights, I guess.

Anyway- ever heard of "reality TV"?

video;

[notzubats]

Yeah, I'll just perfect my nightvision and I'll be set.

[What do you know. He can sass]

And I don't think so. What is it?

video;

[huaaaaagh]

[Kirito's just gonna let that one slide, because 1- he cannot begrudge the guy his sass, and 2- he really could have night vision, who even knows.]

It's... basically an entertainment show. Like a play, but one that people can see using devices like the comm we're talking through right now. That's what this whole thing is- we're the unwilling stars.

video;

[notzubats]

[He mulls that over...]

So what you're saying is...we've been taken for somebody's entertainment?!

video;

[huaaaaagh]

That's the short version, yeah.

[He doesn't even have enough info for the long version. He should track someone down for Nightingale's guide or something.]

video;

[notzubats]

Oh man...!

[This is unbelievable]

I know the Matron warned about getting snatched if you're alone, but I never thought it'd be this extreme...!

[What did he actually think it'd be like? Who knows, he never really fretted about it as he'd run off alone. But still, he's sure he would've never guessed this!!]

video;

[huaaaaagh]

What, this kind of thing happens where you're from, too?

[Not like he knows who Matron is, but lots of other people have come from different worlds yet the same experiences.

Hell, even SAO can be described as such a world.]

video;

[notzubats]

You mean kidnapping people into space for entertainment?

I didn't think so, but looks like!

video;

[huaaaaagh]

It might not be the same people, or group, or whatever- the ones who pulled us here specifically are known as Atroma.

[Unless they've got their hands in all kinds of places. Entirely possible, considering what they're capable of thus far.]

video;

[notzubats]

[Truthfully the warnings weren't anything more than what you typical give kids. Hey don't run off by yourself, you could get snatched. You know typical city stuff]

Atroma? Never heard of 'em.