First song

[bythewaves]

Who: Maglor
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: Now until shuffle

Broadcast

He comes awake in a gasp, hands flying immediately to weapons that are not there as he rolls into a wary crouch. The man is slender, almost beautiful, long dark hair and clear grey eyes that seem to glow from within. He is dressed in what are best described as robes - once fine but now faded and worn, if clean due to the efforts of whoever put him there. Almost innocuously compared to the shabby state of him, there is a silver eight pointed star pinned to his clothes that looks impossibly untarnished and is obviously of very high quality.

"Who is there?"

Action

Maglor moves silently through the halls, no sound of his footfalls. He is wary, anxious - this is something totally outside his experience. But then he passes a window looking out and he stops, a cry of wonder breaking from his lips as he falls to his knees. A hand comes up to his mouth, the other gripping the harp that seems to have been the only thing that came with him, as silent tears run down his face.

"A! Elbereth!"

Comments

video

[sonofgold]

"There are lot of people here. Welcome to the Drift Fleet." The boy on the other end had a warm, friendly smile. "I'm sure you've got a lot of questions- I can try to answer them if you want."

video

[bythewaves]

Maglor eyes the video warily but nods.

"Thank you, sir. I... have never heard of this... Drift Fleet. Forgive my wariness, but this is all beyond my knowledge or experience."

video

[sonofgold]

"Honestly, I've been here for a few months now and it's still beyond my comprehension a little," Al chuckled. "But you've been taken by an entity calling itself Atroma- beyond their name, we're not sure who or what Atroma actually is. They very rarely communicate with us, so it's hard to pin them down and try to find out more information."

video

[bythewaves]

Maglor nods.

"And this... thing about a... a teevee show? Are we truly being watched?" What is a tv.

[sonofgold]

"As far as I can tell, yes." Al sighed. "I'm not sure WHERE they're watching us from, but whenever Atroma does speak, they make it plain that they know what's going on in our lives."

[bythewaves]

"That is a truly disturbing thought." Maglor shakes his head. "Not at all comforting, although I suppose so long as we... provide suitable stimulation they will keep us well enough." His lips twist. "Like rats in a cage. And I am guessing there is no way out?"

[sonofgold]

"Rats in a cage, yes... but they do compensate us, at least. With money, or products from the sponsors." He'd let the man discover that the sponsor gifts were typically useless on his own time. "As far as we've been able to discover, they've blocked all avenues of escape. Doesn't mean we'll never find one, but it will be a challenge."

[bythewaves]

"Poor compensation being better than none?" Maglor says wryly. "Well. I suppose we will have to keep looking, in any case. Doubtless they find that entertaining also."

[sonofgold]

"Yeah," Al replied with a sigh. "They do give us food and a place to sleep, but that's about the only positive things I can say about Atroma." He then nodded. "Oh, I'm sure they do- since they know what works and what doesn't. They've been apparently doing their show for a long time."

[bythewaves]

"I wonder how long this... show has been going for? Has there been records left behind, perhaps?"

[sonofgold]

"Not that anybody's been able to find... but given how they have everything down to a system, I'd say they've likely been at it for years. I know people on the current 'cycle', whatever a 'cycle' means, who have been here for more than a year."

[bythewaves]

"So a cycle is at least two years, but probably more." Maglor nods thoughtfully. "And for them to have everything organised just so, as you say, this must be at the least the second or third cycle, and quite likely more. I would guess them to purge records between cycles to prevent each group learning."

[sonofgold]

Al also nodded.

"They don't like to make things easy on us, that's for sure," he replied. "Atroma themselves don't talk to us much, and they're always as vague as they can be on details. Knowledge is power, so they make sure we don't get too much of it."

[bythewaves]

"Smart, for captors." Maglor agrees wryly. "And I am guessing they make things difficult to find, too. Do they give specific instructions, or are those also kept vague?"

[sonofgold]

"Vague, as well- I guess they trust that the augments and the other contestants will tell us what we need to know," Al nodded. "My friend Sokka said they can go months between addressing us, and so far that's been true in the few months I've been here."

[bythewaves]

"Wise - the less they interact with us, the less chance they have of letting anything useful slip. And the less attached, I suppose." He nods slowly in response. "Thank you though - I suppose I will have to try and adjust as best I may."

[sonofgold]

"That's about all you can do," Al replied, smiling. "Either way, you'll be clothed and fed and have a bed to sleep in, and hopefully your shipmates will be nice."

[bythewaves]

"Small hopes, but they keep us going." Maglor agrees. "And folk have been very kind so far, and I hope that continues."

[sonofgold]

"It will," Al reassured him. "We all tend to look out for each other, since we're all trying to make the best of a bad situation. I'm Alphonse, by the way."

[bythewaves]

"Well met, Alphonse." He tips his head in a polite bow. "Maglor, at your service. Thank you for the welcome - you give me hope this stay will at the least be... well. Not terrible." He shrugs wryly.

[sonofgold]

"I'm glad to meet you, Maglor." He laughed. "Well, I'm glad I was able to give you some sort of reassurance. I know arriving here can be confusing and scary."

[bythewaves]

"It has been, but I am grateful for the aid you and others have given." Maglor ducks a little shyly. "And I hope to be able to repay this kindness."

[sonofgold]

"I hope you get the chance, too- equivalent exchange. Do you have anything else you'd like to know?"

[bythewaves]

"At this time, I think I am content - doubtless plenty will show up later! But I do thank you for your aid, Master Alphonse. You have eased my mind greatly."

[sonofgold]

"You're very welcome." And with another smile, Al clicked the feed off.