❧ 001 video;

[noprophecies]

Who: you!
Broadcast: video
Action: Marsiva
When: right now tbh

[when the screen turns on, there's nothing but blackness for a few minutes, followed by a string of very angry-sounding curses. There's the sound of fumbling before a woman's face comes into frame, and she squints at the camera before her eyebrows turn down in a scowl.

Someone is not happy]

If this is supposed to be some sort of joke, then I am not laughing. Though I find it rather cute that you seem to have made your walls fire-proof.

We shall see what else your bloody ship can stand up to. Return my damn weapons.

[that's it, that's all she has to say. With a huff, she fumbles and manages to end the feed]

Comments

[axiomed]

Most likely. It took me some time to get used to them. But you had better take good care of it.

[noprophecies]

My, and here I was going to try to set it on fire later . . .

I will take care of it. How else will I talk to people if I am to be stuck here for the time being?

[axiomed]

Please don't do that.

There might be a few others on the Marsiva. We get an influx of people now and then.

[noprophecies]

I won't, dear. It was a joke.

[she wrinkles her nose a little] How exciting. Complete strangers.

[axiomed]

Technically, we all start out that way.

[noprophecies]

Yes, I suppose, but I have never been good at people.

[axiomed]

I'm sure, as long as you don't set them on fire, you'll be fine.

[noprophecies]

I will have you know I've not done that in a long time.

[a pause, and a grin] Without very good reason, I should say.

[axiomed]

I feel the last part demands a few more queries.

[ But he won't ask. He doesn't need to. ]

[noprophecies]

One must protect oneself, that's all.

[which is a hell of an understatement]

[axiomed]

It's not that kind of place, Clover.

[noprophecies]

Then what sort of place is it?

[axiomed]

It's . . . There are no games. No one is against each other.

[noprophecies]

[well - no games is certainly a relief. But she frowns] Then what is our purpose for being taken here?

[axiomed]

Entertainment. Apparently we're being filmed and watched by an audience.

[noprophecies]

I do not know what it means to be filmed. But an audience, as in - as though they are watching a play?

—there are people watching us?

[axiomed]

[ He nods. ]

So I hear. Though I don't know if it's true or not.

[noprophecies]

Bloody voyeurs. Why am I not surprised there is no sense of privacy?

[axiomed]

A small price to pay, I think, for not dying every other week.

[noprophecies]

. . . yes, that is true. [she's still going to huff about it, though]

[axiomed]

[ That's legit. But Charles is just glad about the not dying part. His team never had a good track record there. ]

[noprophecies]

[oh, she remembers]

How long have you been here, dear? Were you able to go home first, I hope?

[axiomed]

I was, for a little while. Erik was there as well. But he found himself here and I followed a month later.

[noprophecies]

. . . you two have a very bad habit of getting kidnapped, don't you.

[axiomed]

[ Yeah. He can't really comment on that. ]