❧ 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

[grandstanding]

I know you did. [He's being an asshole deliberately now, safely out of her reach. Yes, this is a serious situation. But he's still somewhat glad of the chance to see Clover again.]

[noprophecies]

You are lucky I am trapped here, Erik. [she makes a face, but there's no bite to the words. She's missed him]

[grandstanding]

Mmm. I know.

[Levity aside, he returns to seriousness.] Were you brought from there? Or did you go home?

[noprophecies]

I was home for a few months. Long enough to remember why I did not want to go back in the first place.

[grandstanding]

I'm glad you got out of there. [Everyone should be able to leave and never look back. He does nod, agreeing with the sentiment.] This place isn't much like that one, other than the ephemeral beings in charge and an inability to get home.

[noprophecies]

And no games. [she had heard that already and that was honestly one of the most important parts to her] And - no teams either?

[grandstanding]

[He shakes his head emphatically.] None of that. You'll be assigned to a ship, which has a crew, but you're under no obligation to stay on it if you don't want. Miles moved onto my ship almost immediately.

[noprophecies]

[she looks a little relieved]

That's good . . . [a huff] As though it would stop me, obligation or not. It never did in the other place.

[when wasn't she at Epona or Ometotcthli, after all]

[grandstanding]

We're both on the Heron. There are seventeen ships in total.

[noprophecies]

That is a lot . . . but I will remember yours. At least so that I can - visit? That is allowed, yes?

[grandstanding]

Of course it is. Although I should mention that we aren't staying on it at present. We're staying on the planet itself.

[noprophecies]

You can do that as well? My, that's rather appealing.

[because she hates this ship already]

[grandstanding]

It is this time.

[He angles his communicator to show the area behind himself better. Erik appears to be up in the forest somewhere, among the trees. A boardwalk stretches off behind him, winding through the trunks and branches.]

[noprophecies]

What do you—

[she cuts off with a quiet noise, staring for a moment at what he's showing her.

Why is she stuck on a metal hellhole right now]

—Erik, are you in a tree?

[grandstanding]

I'm on a platform that's up on a tree, yes.

[noprophecies]

I think I hate this ship even more, now.

[grandstanding]

[He snorts.]

You're not alone there. Hold on for a few days, and you'll be free to come out here.

[noprophecies]

[she can't help but make a face]

Yes, yes, I will do my best to be patient.

Aside from the nonsense here, though - how have you been, Erik?

[grandstanding]

Well - all right, I suppose. I'm frustrated about being here, but it's gotten better since Charles and Hank arrived. [That first month alone had proven very difficult, in retrospect.] I wish we'd been able to stay home for once. As these things go, it's not the worst place I've been imprisoned.

[noprophecies]

If you were not frustrated, I'd worry there were something wrong. Hank is the tall boy I threatened before you left, yes? [what are names] Wait, were you here before them?

[grandstanding]

Most likely. And yes, for about a month. They didn't realise I was missing, so I think time isn't passing.

[noprophecies]

[she . . . actually looks a little relieved]

Time has stopped at home, then? Well, that's good news.

[grandstanding]

At least in our case. I would think it's the same everywhere... but it's hard to be certain.

[noprophecies]

I certainly hope it is the same for my world. Especially given what has happened in the last few months.

[grandstanding]

[Ah. So things aren't in such good shape for her. He mulls that over for a moment, before he replies.]

If you want to talk it over once we can meet in person, I'll listen.