driftfleet | Act 1

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Act 1 | text

Who: Monty Navarro
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: SS Heron
When: September 16th

[Monty isn't a complete stranger to being one place and then suddenly being another. This typically has some element of delusion or other magic involved, though. Suddenly finding himself aboard a random ship in the fleet is disconcerting. But Renart's given him a basic rundown of what's going on, and he's glanced through this latest communications network. There's far too much to take in. But there is one matter he's been wondering about.]

To All Souls Present,

My name is Lord Montague D'Ysquith Navarro, most recently of the Fortress Between. I should extend my apologies if this is a query that has been answered before, but is there, perhaps, a list of persons who once were held within the confines of this fleet who have since departed? And is it known where these disappeared persons might go?

Regards,
Navarro

ACTION - SS Heron

[Monty's not entirely sure how much he should go just wandering about a strange ship when he's just arrived, really. He probably ought to introduce himself to the captain, find out if there's some place for him to actually sleep, where the food Renart mentioned might be... But, well, a man does get distracted. Specifically, he's been distracted by the Med/Science Lab. Everything in it should, by rights, be absolutely foreign, but his hands seem to know what they're doing when he picks up devices, and he knows what the different medicines he finds are and what they do.

It's unnerving, disturbing, whatever had he done to be so deserving of such an augment? And how in god's name is this possible? He's really trying to take it in stride, but he's back to being a no one, stranded away from all the people he's known for more than a year, except Renart, whom he hasn't even found, yet.

Anyone stepping into the medical lab will find a young gentleman dressed to the nines in a suit from a bygone era, moving around and trying desperately to keep himself distracted from... everything by mucking about with the equipment.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[At least people making fun of his writing isn't new. Monty huffs only a bit to himself.]

Dear Ms. Pryde,

I've been reliably informed there are ship manifests that I might review for the present roster of persons present. I should like to know if anyone else I might know was present. I was a record-keeper previously. One should endeavor to be complete in their efforts, should they not?

Kindest sympathies for hailing from a world where such writing would be considered strange,
Navarro

Edited 2016-09-17 23:11 (UTC)

Dear Navarro III of the clan Navarro,

You make a good point but names aren't the same as really knowing someone. You should at least find out our favorite colors before moving on to ghosts of the past.

Many thanks for your sympathies. I plan to keep them in my hope chest for further review.

Proudly yours,
Kitty Pryde

Dear Ms. Pryde of the Prowd Pride,

My ghosts are held close and dear to me for being so near. But you speak wisdom, my Lady. Might I inquire as to your favorite color and, perhaps, your favorite flower? I should guess a rose were I to be glib, of course. Beauty with much to say and sharp wit with which to prick.

Humbly Yours,
Navarro

[She switches mediums, looking amused on the screen. She's twenty but she reads a older. You'll have that when you grow up fast in a hard world and spend all your time with people many years older.]

Blue. I don't have a favorite flower, but I'll take yours under recommendation.

[It takes Monty a moment to sort out how to change the mode on this. He's not used to actually seeing people talking on the network save for the odd occasion he'd been looking over Renart's shoulder while she was on her mobile phone. He's in his early 20s, as well, but dressed like a man from his time, that is to say: ancient. It's a very nice, tailored suit, though.

And when he switches it over, he'll offer Kitty a broad smile before believing up a blue rose that he twirls between his fingers while holding up on screen. It's nice to know he's still retained something of that ability from Between. Although the requirements for using it... Well, Renart, is here.]

For when we meet, then, Ms. Kitty Pryde. Unless you find another bloom you favor more, before then. Anything would, I imagine, complement you.

[Okay, making blue roses appear out of nowhere is attention getting. She has seen plenty of impressive things from mutant powers to alien abilities to places that make the impossible possible whether it's this fleet or the prison she was in previously. Her expression doesn't change much except for the flash of curiosity.]

Okay, charmer, how'd you come up with the flower?

[Monty considers playing mysterious, and just shrugs slightly.]

I wanted it for you, and so it was.

You willed it into existence? That is quite the power. [It's not the first time she's seen it, but it's one of the stronger powers depending on the limitations at least.]

[Well, if you're going to take all the romance and mystery out of it by not being awed.]

Something like that. I made myself believe it was there. The last place I was granted those of us without extraordinary powers in our native realities certain other abilities to compensate.

Edited 2016-09-18 03:55 (UTC)

[There was romance and mystery? She had no idea!]

Interesting. A place like this then? Multidimensional trap with mysterious, powerful overlords? [Been there.]

What happens when you stop believing?

[So cruel!]

The end of reality, we were informed. Every reality. [His expression tightens.] I confess, it is somewhat difficult not to believe that this is simply the latest trick we'll endure before being cast back to that. It was not uncommon to be thrust into false realities designed to fool us into thinking we'd won back what was no longer there. This is a very pleasant place by comparison, but it is missing most of the people I cherish.

And if I stop believing quickly enough, it will simply vanish. But you've seen this rose, you know that it's here. Anyone watching might also see it and know it. At least where I was before, collective belief tended to hold things within reality, even when we stopped paying full attention to the items we'd made.

Well, that's less strange than the place where you have to cuddle to end war or save the world or whatever it was. [A couple of people told her about Eudio.]

My last place was all virtual reality. Sometimes I wonder if this place is just a new setting with more of that with all new people. [Which isn't something she really admits much aloud, but it's true. Hard thing, going around, doubting reality. She lost everyone from the prison too. She's made a lot of close friends here too, but there are still people she misses.]

[Monty is just... going to avoid mentioning the requirements for his belief abilities. Yes. There is the slightest dusting of a blush that rises to his cheeks, though. He quickly wills that away as she goes on.]

A 'virtual' reality, miss? [He says the word like he's never heard it in that context before. He hasn't.] It was something close to reality, then, but not quite?

[Oh dear.]

Right. [She should have guessed from the clothes.] It all seemed real, but it was playing out in our minds. Our bodies were being preserved in tanks.

[That is horrifying.]

I see.

[Some of that horror may be evident on his face and in his tone.]

I'm so very sorry to hear that, Ms. Pryde. Was there some indication of this state that makes you believe this isn't the same?

Edited 2016-09-19 00:56 (UTC)

[Oops. Sorry. She didn't mean to break you.]

You can't tell. It just feels like life. [So it could be what's happening, la la la!]

But I was there for almost a year and they played lots of games with us, but nothing as drastic as completely shifting environments and dropping their prison theme and isolating someone from everyone else. So, new place. Probably. [Maybe.]

Edited 2016-09-19 01:15 (UTC)

[Bent, not broken! He is... going to try to shift his expression to something a little more neutral; though, with Kitty's explanation, that becomes difficult. 'Probably' is not all that comforting.]

That sounds truly horrible, miss. I cannot imagine a world filled with voyeurs is very much more comforting, but I do hope it's a little better than that.

I went right from teasing your text to bringing you right up on despair, didn't I? I should watch that. Maybe a platitude would help?

I can assure you, Ms. Pryde, I shall manage. I was under the impression for a year and a half that the past ten years of my life and the people in it were nothing more than a dream, fabricated by bumbling fools with far more power than they ought to have. We lived in terror of fading away to nothing, the world was a barren waste, I saw into the realm of spirits and gazed upon a void where all other realities and their echoes should have been, but were not.

[Laid out like that, it sounds... rather more dramatic than just living it, but there you are.]

But I would thank you for your platitudes, if you have them. A beautiful woman offering them is quite a comfort.

Edited 2016-09-19 15:21 (UTC)

So...space fleet is a definite upgrade then. [Not that they don't also sound odd and less than ideal when summarized but under the circumstances it seems fair to say this will be better.] I mean the food's not great, but it beats fading away.

As for platitudes...The sun will come out tomorrow? Except it really just depends if we fly by one.

(OOC: So tempted to threadjack Sascha's thread omg, what even? lol)

[Monty laughs lightly, briefly.]

Indeed. And if it is not the sun I have to look forward to, then it might be the memory of your smile. Your gentleman is very lucky to have you, Ms. Pryde. And it would seem you have options available to you beyond him.

[He's only teasing. Mostly. Sascha seems a very oblivious man.]

I don't need options beyond him. I'm the lucky one. [Just stating it for the record.] Sascha just bonds to people in unique ways.

[Well, that's very sweet, Kitty, but Monty's polyamorous heart begs to differ.]

Very unique, indeed. Is he... entirely all right? He seems rather touched.

[Which is his polite, upper crust British way of saying the man seems to be an idiot.]

He...he's had it rough. He's a very sweet person with a big heart with an unusual outlook. [He wasn't like that when he had all his memories so she assumes it's some kind of coping mechanism.]

No doubt. [Monty will leave it at that.] In any case, I should like to thank you for what information you've been able to provide, Ms. Pryde. Is there any other advice you might have for a new arrival to your illustrious ranks? A means to enhance ratings, perhaps?

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