driftfleet | Jester Social Link 001

Entry tags:

Jester Social Link 001

Who: Tohru Adachi and YOU!
Broadcast: Video (to all)
Action: The Marsiva
When: Right now!

[The first thing that could be heard as the network feed clicked on was someone yawning rather audibly. This was followed quickly by the sight of a suited individual sitting up and stretching out his arms.]

Man, I haven't slept for that long in a while. Usually the guard-

[Adachi quickly cut himself off as he realized that he clearly was not where he had been when he fell asleep. Instead of the four plaster walls that he'd grown accustomed to, he now seemed to be in a large, spacious room filled with all sorts of amenities. He couldn't help but draw the comparison to Junes. But then... how the hell could he be back in Inaba?]

[His detective instincts started to kick in, despite their lack of recent use. First thing: assess yourself.]

[Adachi looked down and was surprised to see his old detective duds. The dark gray suit, white button shirt, and red tie all looked as good as new. Odd, considering how often he had worn this particular outfit.]

[Second, assess the environment.]

[Well, this was already partly done. He clearly was in a completely new environment. Could it be... the other world? That didn't seem plausible. He certainly didn't remember going near any TV, nor did he remember anyone coming along who could have possibly thrown him into one. Noticing a nearby monitor, Adachi got up out of the bunk and approached it. He placed his hand on the peculiarly cool screen and felt resistance. He clearly wasn't going inside this one. And that's when he turned and saw the large viewing bay window.]

What the heck?! It can't be!

[He appeared to be in outer space. Yet, somehow... this realization didn't unsettle him as much as he thought it would. In fact, once the initial shock had worn off, he almost seemed comfortable with this fact. But how? He returned to his initial bunk and went back to step one: assess yourself.]

Okay, it doesn't feel like I've been drugged. Though, if I'm really in the real world, then I shouldn't be able to...

[Sure enough, as Adachi concentrated and tried to summon him, he realized he couldn't.]

So I'm clearly in reality right now.

[He rubbed the back of his neck as he came to terms with just how surreal this was all seeming. And that's when he felt the soft bump, located behind his left ear.]

Eh? What is-

[Yet again, however, he seemed to already know what this bump meant. It was as if he'd always had this information stowed away, but he was only now rediscovering it.]

An "augment," huh?

[That's when he noticed the communicator located next to him. Picking it up, he inspected the device front to back. Just like before, he already seemed to know what it was and how to use it.]

Well then...

[Step three: Assess the situation. Adachi directed his attention to the screen in front of him.]

Um... hello? Anyone receiving on this thing?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's what people told me too. [her shoulders sink a bit, as if she's disappointed. She doesn't share what in particular she's worried about, but she's started out of her thoughts by his fishing attempt]

Ringo Oginome. [whoops. I would say she's not normally this rude but....] What's your name?

[Adachi sees the slumped shoulders. Clearly things are as weird as they seem. Still, nice to know he's not the only one who apparently is trying to figure this whole thing out.]

I'm Tohru Adachi. I'm a detective with the Inaba Police Department. [Not even the slightest pause or hint that this was no longer the case. Yet, why not keep going with the lie? No reason in telling any of these people everything about his life.]

It's nice to meet you Ringo-chan. So how long have you been "here" exactly? [Adachi motions around him, trying to indicate the current ship they were on.]

A detective? That sounds like it'll be useful. [ah... she pauses] I mean, you know, if anything dangerous happens.

[another sigh] And I don't know if anything will happen. I've only been here a few days, so everything is still pretty new to me.

Oh, well. Of course! [Then using his best adult-sounding, authority voice.] Not to worry miss! Should any danger come along, just leave it to me.

[Danger, huh? Adachi wasn't sure just how much use he could be at the moment. He didn't seem to be armed; he couldn't summon him. Still, the girl is clearly anxious. Best to try and reassure her at the moment.]

It's nice to know though that I'm not the only "new" person here. Any idea what's supposed to happen next?

It's not just us. There are more people on this ship.

[and despite sort of knowing the answer, she shakes her head]

All I have to work with is what I've been told. People claim that in a week we'll all be split up and put on smaller ships.

Oh, well, in that case, I'm sure everything will be all right. Strength in numbers you know?

Smaller ships? So it's not just this ship that we're on now? What's stopping us from using those smaller ships to just... leave?

Edited 2015-02-08 14:36 (UTC)

I don't know why they haven't tried it.

[but she pauses. if she had to guess...]

I guess the main problem is that we'd be stuck in the middle of space with no idea how to find our home planet.

Ah! Heh heh, good point. [So it seemed like if Adachi was going to get back home, he was going to have to go back the way he came: at the whim of someone or something called "Atroma."]

Well, I guess we're just going to have to stay put then, for now at least. Maybe more details will be made clear to us if we play along with whoever is in charge.

[hm, she frowns at the idea of staying put. But until she has a better idea, she won't say anything.]

It's the best we can do for now. If this really is some TV show, guess they're expecting a real show. [ugh, she sounds disgusted]

Yeah, I'm still getting used to the idea myself... [Which was partially true. He couldn't help but see the similarities between this situation, and what happened in Inaba due to the appearance of the Midnight Channel. Yet, this was different. No persona, no "power." Maybe it was all justly deserved? Maybe this was his punishment... to be trapped in some foreign world, having himself televised. But if that was the case, then who were these other people? Why were they brought here too?]

So... have you met many others already? Anyone share anything particularly helpful about what we're supposed to be doing exactly?

No, in fact everyone that I've met has been deliberately unhelpful. [haha, okay that's an overstatement, but whatever she's been in a bad mood]

All they talk about is just waiting around. We get filmed in secret, we get paid, and we wait to find a way out. Doesn't seem like we're supposed to do anything in particular.

What?! People are just waiting around? Why? Don't tell me they actually like being trapped here!

[Seriously though, what the hell? No one is trying to get out of here? That doesn't make any sense. Adachi couldn't be the only one who wanted to get back home. Not that this situation was actually any worse than what he left. In fact, all things considered, this was a far better alternative. However... he had made a promise... and the last thing he wanted was for everything that had happened to be wasted due to his sudden disappearance.]

Someone probably has some plan or other, but if they do no one's talked about it publicly.

[she looks a little irritated by the idea, but there's an undercurrent of understanding that stops her from being too... vocal about her displeasure]

If this place is really what they claim it is, I bet they haven't had many opportunities.

Huh? What do you mean? Did someone tell you something about this place that makes escape impossible?

No, but I was in a place like this before coming here.

[ah, she pauses] Not like this exactly, but similar. A ton of people from different backgrounds and worlds were all brought to the same place, and we tries for months... [she remembers adding to that rock pile every day. Another rock, another day failed] but it wasn't that easy. We were trapped, and they did a good job of making sure we couldn't escape on our own.

I don't know what we're up against here, but if it's anything like the place that I was at before, leaving won't be easy.

[Adachi began to look at Ringo in a new light. There was something about her, and her story that made something clear: she wasn't just another "victim." In fact, Adachi would guess that she was more of a "survivor."]

So... you're saying that there are other places like this one? Places where people seem to be pulled from their homes at random, and they're just thrown together for some reason? Are they like... other reality shows or something?

I guess the good news is that, if you think about it, the fact that you are here now means that you were able to escape, right? So maybe since you've done it once, it'll be easier to do it the second time?

[she shrugs] I'm no expert, but this is the third place that I know of. Who knows... there could be more.

[she frowns at the statement. He's not... he's not wrong but it reminds her of her failings and her true goals]

It's not that easy. There are... If I was going to escape anywhere, I want to escape home, not somewhere else.

[Adachi had to admit that this girl was different than most. He could tell by the way she spoke and by her overall demeanor. She'd been through some serious shit. The good news was that she seemed like-minded enough about getting the hell out of here. Probably someone worth keeping an eye on and staying in contact with.]

Hey, I'm sure there must be some way out of this mess. Maybe if we can get enough people to all put their heads together, I mean... who knows what we might be able to come up with?

[and she's equally impressed with the way that he seems to be able to think on his feet, and is catching up quickly with this conversation despite the fact that he just woke up in a weird space ship with no context. And his optimism is encouraging, so she nods]

Yeah. I guess the first steps it to get talking and get to know the people here... see what they know already.

[Well, well, it seems like Ringo-chan will be just as useful of a contact as Adachi predicted.]

I agree. Let's see what we can find out from the other people who've been here longer. We can keep in contact about what we find out. If no plans seem to be in the works, then maybe we can at least persuade people to start thinking about it, you know?

Yep. [it's a solid enough plan, although talking about it makes her want to go out there and do stuff, instead of just standing around talking about it. So she shift her weight from one foot to the other and nods]

Alright then. I'll go out and get started. [she waves her hand slightly, but without a smile to go with it, the motion just seems stiff] I'll see you around, Adachi-san.

[Adachi returns the wave, and gives his best reassuring grin--false as it may be.]

Sure. Talk to you later Ringo-chan.

[He'll then go back to scouring over the network with the communicator.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Jester Social Link 001

action

Re: action

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject