Jester Social Link 001

[cabbagedetective]

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?

Comments

[catamite]

[the kid shrugs.]

I don't know if there is any, at least on the ships. You'll probably get in trouble on the planets and stuff, but... it's just us on the ships, I think.

[cabbagedetective]

I see.

[Adachi will make a mental note of that. He's going to have to learn the "rules" of this new "game." All things considered, this whole reality space TV crap is a way better way alternative than what he had left behind.]

So we're able to go visit these other planets? What's to stop us from just staying put then?

[catamite]

I don't know...

[he shrugs again, and his smile is much weaker this time.]

I almost stayed behind once. But didn't.

...The planets haven't been that great, so maybe nobody likes them enough to stay.

[cabbagedetective]

Really? So none of the planets that you've been able to visit have been more appealing than staying a part of this reality show, space fleet business?

[That's interesting. Could it be that he's not so trapped? Then again... if this fleet travels all over and doesn't stay put for very long, then why not stay aboard? If they're constantly moving around, then who's to say they won't pass by Earth at some point. Play along with this whole reality TV show business, and he could possibly get enough ratings to go back; however, that possibility sounded like an empty promise at best. He did promise those punks back home that he'd abide by the "rules of the real world," but it looks like things are rather out of his hands at the moment. Best to just go with it for now. Although, he definitely needs to find out what's going on back home some how... would this kid know? It seemed unlikely.]

Say, you wouldn't happen to know if there's a way to contact our "home" planets would you? You know to check in on friends or family?

[catamite]

[he shakes his head]

We only ever talk to the hosts, I think. I haven't heard anything from anyone else.

[and he raises and drops his shoulders in a sort of helpless shrug.]

And I think maybe we keep flying because we're hoping maybe the next place will be better.

[cabbagedetective]

So there's no way of knowing where we're going... And no way to communicate with those in charge or those back home...

[Adachi shares his thoughts out loud, guessing that if he was getting it wrong then the kid(?) Nel would correct him. Though come to think of it...]

Uh, Nel-kun... not to be rude, but um... where are you from exactly?

[catamite]

Oh, like... originally?

[yeah, good luck with guessing ages. elves are weird. he's on the small side and kind of babyfaced, but he seems like he's probably in his late adolescence/early adulthood. somewhere between seventeen and nineteen maybe, if he'd been human.]

A place called Nor. ...What about you?

[cabbagedetective]

I'm from a small town called Inaba, out in the boonies of Japan.

[Nor huh? Clearly this "kid" was not from Earth. Or at least... the Earth that Adachi knew. Then again, it was pretty presumptuous of him to think that everyone in the Fleet was an Earthling. After all, he was in space.]

Nor... so does that make you an alien Nel-kun?

[catamite]

Oh! I know somebody from Japan.

[the second question is distracting though, and he... blinks a bit.]

...What do you mean, 'an alien?'

[cabbagedetective]

Really? [Adachi has a guess who it might be, though it certainly can't hurt to find out if there are more people possibly from back home.] May I ask who? It could be someone I know.

[Adachi realizes he may have accidently offended the kid. Whoops, well, guess it can't be helped. It's not exactly the easiest lines of inquiry.]

Well, I mean... you don't exactly look like anyone I've ever met from back home... [Might as well address the elephant in the room.] with your ears...

[catamite]

Her name is Rin.

[which, without the mood boost, he might have avoided saying entirely. as it is, he still moves quickly past the subject so he hopefully doesn't have to talk about it.]

Oh... my ears? [he reaches up to fidget with an earring, self-consciously.] I'm elven.

[cabbagedetective]

Rin? [Now that was a name Adachi hadn't heard yet. At the very least, maybe talking with her could yield some new information, and she might be more willing to talk to him if they're both from Japan. He'll keep an eye out for her.] I actually don't know anyone named Rin. Maybe you can introduce us sometime Nel-kun!

Eleven? I can't say I've ever... [Then it clicks.] Wait! You're an elf! Like from out of a storybook! [Whoops. Blurted that out. Adachi was just so surprised. He had been expecting aliens, but not elves! What exactly kind of place is this that it's able to bring so many different, bizarre people together from various places and realities?]

[catamite]

Yeah maybe...

[but Rin is gone and it still hurt some deep place in his chest, so he skirts by once again. he doesn't want to linger. just keep on smiling.]

And, I guess there's a lot of stories about us, yeah...

[kind of a little laugh. certainly not catching on to exactly what Adachi means by that.]

But you've never met an elf in person before?

[cabbagedetective]

[Something about the way he said "maybe..." didn't feel right. Clearly something had happened between him and this Rin woman. Well, best not to push it at the moment. If he did, he'd likely lose any further leads from this kid, er- elf...]

Well, no! I mean, how could I hav- [Adachi stopped himself. He could see the path this conversation was heading down, and he knew there was nothing to gain from following it. As weird as it was to be conversing with a character out of a child's storybook, he had to remember that what he went through with the whole Midnight Channel incident could just as equally be considered impossible.]

That is, um, there aren't really any elves where I'm from... [What followed was probably one of the most sincerest awkward chuckles Adachi ever gave.]

[catamite]

[a sharper person might have picked at how strangely Adachi is talking about elves in general and what he knows about them.

...Nel, on the other hand, glosses right over it.]

That's still so weird to me. I guess a lot of people here come from places that don't have elves? But there's a ton of them in my city.

[cabbagedetective]

[Adachi lets out a small sigh of relief. He had been worried that the conversation was going to suddenly get rather complicated, but it looks like this kid either doesn't care or is already pretty easy going.]

Heh, I can imagine a lot of people are seeing things here that they never had back home. It really just makes this whole reality show business all the stranger. I mean, why choose any of us? It just seems so random.

[catamite]

[it's a little bit of both, really.]

Yeah, right? ...I feel like, maybe if I just knew why they were picking us, I could figure out what they wanted, and how to get them to let us go, you know?

[cabbagedetective]

[Boy did he know... in fact, this elf-kid-whatever had pretty much hit the topic of Adachi's current thoughts right on the head.]

You'd think they'd at least give some kind of clue. Unless, that's what the whole "ratings" system is meant to signify?

[catamite]

Yeah, that's all they ever tell us. 'Ratings, ratings, ratings.'

And you know how audiences are, so... [a sad little shrug.]

Keep them entertained, I guess.

[cabbagedetective]

[Yeah, about that...]

Have you noticed what it is that seems to get the most ratings? I mean, has there been a consistent pattern, or does it seem like it changes on a weekly basis?

[catamite]

Uhhh...

[Adachi may be talking to the person who is singularly the worst at keeping track of their own money and being aware of other important little details like that.

so, there is a long, awkward pause.]

...I don't know.

[cabbagedetective]

[Well, that went absolutely no where. It doesn't seem like he's hiding the information. He must legitimately have never paid attention to how the ratings system worked. Man, what a pain... guess this means more leg work for Adachi.]

Ah well, guess I'll just have to ask someone else about it then.

[catamite]

[yeah, Nel is well aware of how little help he can be.]

...Sorry.

[cabbagedetective]

[Oh no, sad teenager (or teenaged looking individual). Adachi does not do well with those.]

Ah, don't worry about it Nel-kun. You've been helpful enough with everything else.

[There. A compliment. Now stop looking so sad.]

[catamite]

[he does his best! brightening up a little, though still apologetic.]

...This place is weird. I guess I'm still getting used to it.