(no subject)

[beathach]

Who: two nerds and you
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: now!

[ The audio comes on sharply, but everything is still dark as two people discuss their situation.]

Is that the camera? Can you get it to work?

I - think so? Here, push this --

I am pushing it, Hank. I thought you knew about these from that show you keep watching. Space Trek?

It's Star Trek and that isn't exactly - you know, the same thing as this.

Right. . . . Wait, I think I see something on the side.

[ And the video flickers on, the red light glowing softly. It focuses on two men. One in a wheelchair and the other right next to him, peering curiously at the camera before they step back satisfied. ]

Well, that’s over and done with. Hello to anyone who might be out there. My name is Charles Xavier and this is Hank McCoy. Apparently we’ve been kidnapped again, by an unknown force again for some mysterious reason.

[muttered:] Again. [and louder] So if anyone would be kind enough to explain exactly what's going on, we'd appreciate it. You have our thanks in advance.

But do keep it pertinent.

Comments

[beathach]

[a pause, while Hank mutters "space reality show" under his breath like it's the weirdest thing he's ever heard]

That's a new one.

[forsometimenow]

Yeah. I didn't quite want to believe it when I was first told what was going on.

[beathach]

If I wasn't used to - er, stranger things, I'd be less likely to believe you.

[what an understatement] What exactly is a reality show?

[forsometimenow]

I know that feeling.

Well, in short, Atroma records us going about our lives and shows the footage to the audience. We're not sure how that footage is edited or presented, but that's how reality shows work back home, so I have to assume the same applies here.

[beathach]

. . .

Are they recording us right now?

[forsometimenow]

That's correct.

[beathach]

That's really rude. [if he wasn't trying to keep a lid on things, he'd just turn around and flip off the walls, because it would at least make him feel better]

[forsometimenow]

Yeah. I'd say you get used to it, but... it's something you tend to be aware of. Not that they ever show US the recordings, mind.

[beathach]

So I guess there really isn't anything close to privacy here.

[forsometimenow]

Not so much. Of course, when you're on a crowded planet or waystation, I'm not sure the cameras can be trained on you 100% of the time.

[beathach]

Well . . . that's something, I guess.

[forsometimenow]

And sometimes, a little something's what you need. Especially if you end up stuck here for a while.

[beathach]

I'm not planning to get stuck, but I know that isn't always up to me, either. I'll take what little something I can get.

[forsometimenow]

Yeah... it's not exactly like you can just hop on a shuttle and leave, you know? I've been here for a year myself, so it's always possible you're here for the long haul.

[beathach]

[a year . . . he pinches the bridge of his nose]

I guess appealing to them about being busy back home won't help, will it.

[forsometimenow]

Not so much- though time apparently stops back home, so there is that, at least.

[beathach]

That's . . . something. [at least his world didn't blow up again] I'd be a lot angrier if that wasn't the case.

[forsometimenow]

I know how you feel, believe me- I have things to do back home. And my boyfriend would be tearing the multiverse apart looking for me, which could only end in disaster.

[beathach]

Small mercies, right? [he huffs out an annoyed noise] I don't know if anyone would be tearing apart the multiverse looking for us - at least, not until the bills started piling up.

[forsometimenow]

[Jennifer smirked.]

If nothing else talks, the money does, huh? But everything I've seen other people experience means no time passes back home- people from the same world have come from different points on their timeline, for example, but never knew anybody was gone.

[beathach]

That's . . . extremely convenient. Though I suppose I'm . . . somewhat used to that.

[he was none the wiser to Charles and Erik disappearing from Cuba, after all]

[forsometimenow]

It is, isn't it? I guess it might be one of those deals where it irreparably screws things up for the worse in our home universes if a bunch of us were to suddenly up and disappear. The butterfly effect and all.

[beathach]

[suspiciously calmly] That is very, very likely. It's a significant enough event to change how things were - uh, meant to go, anyway.

[forsometimenow]

I have some firsthand experience with that- one person being there or gone can make all the difference, yes. Some outcomes are the same, but happen in very different circumstances, and some possibilites vanish entirely. So maybe Atroma's at least kind enough to try to prevent that.

[beathach]

[oh my god someone who gets it]

I really hope they are. That would put one big worry out of my head if that was the case.