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[The first clue Vash had was waking up and finding out he had been made Captain. That seemed odd. He hadn't been captain for more than a couple days before Ino put in the request when this cycle first began. It was confirmed when he checked Ino's room and she was not just in deep sleep but gone completely.

He finds the letter left for him and smiles. He really isn't sure what happens when people leave. Most seem to think they go home. He likes that idea and hopes it's true. Alright, his first responsibility as captain. Let people know.

Being captain sucks.

He'll find the crew of the Three Twins personally and speak to them one on one if they haven't already found out themselves. Then he should next tell... oh man. This was not going to be easy.]

Private to Hiro

Hiro. Are you there? It's Vash. I need to speak to you.

[Because he at least deserves to be told in person one on one. In fact everyone who who had a gift left behind will get a private message from Vash.]

Private to those getting gifts

Hello, this is Vash of the SS Three Twins. I need to speak with you please. [If Vash knows you it will likely be a little less formal.]

Open to all

[Vash wishes he knew all of Ino's friends. So he could let them all know one on one. With no one else he could think of and the ones with gifts having been notified Vash let's everyone else know.]

Hello Fleet. I'm sorry to say that Ino has been returned home. [It's nicer to say than vanished. True or not.] So I have been made captain of the SS Three Twins. She was a great Captain and I know she will be missed. I'm sorry everyone.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thanks. I can come over now, so just uh - hang tight. I'll be there.

[He's never actually seen Ino's room, so it doesn't mean as much to him as it might to someone else. All the same, he appreciates the gesture. Thanks, bro.]

Alright, I'll be here. [Vash will wait for the shuttle's hail to dock and greet Stefan when he arrives.] Hey, thanks for coming by. You alright?

[For probably the first time since they've met, Stefan doesn't hesitate to rush over and hug Vash. (Savor it, bro. This might not happen again.)]

As fine as I can be. [He pulls back, giving his friend a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes.] Ino felt like... like part of this place, you know?

[Vash is a bit surprised, but quickly recovers and embraces the hug. He's never shied away from people showing their hearts on their sleeves so that hug is fine with him.

Vash returns the smile when Stefan pulls back.] She's been here since the start of this cycle. It's going to be hard to picture this place without her, I understand completely.

Yeah. I've been wondering about this cycle for a while now - it's been what, two years? Almost three?

[He shrugs, turning towards the hallway that would lead them to Ino's room.]

I've never heard of anything like it. I don't watch much TV, but it doesn't feel right.

Edited 2016-10-01 19:37 (UTC)

Actually, we're coming up on the second anniversary here pretty soon. Just a couple more weeks. And my planet didn't have television at all so I admit, I didn't really have much to judge this show on.

Good to know that not all shows kidnap their actors.

Of course not. Back on Earth, we have things like non-disclosure agreements and legal contracts to make sure everyone does this of their own free will.

Atroma, I guess, somehow managed to bypass all of that.

Well, it's not like it's an Earth show I suppose. Still, it's pretty rude to not even ask. And it's pretty surprising that all the places they've picked people from none of us have heard of this show before.

Right? Makes me wonder where they're even broadcasting our show.

[Since this is Vash, Stefan doesn't feel too bad admitting:] Ino and I were models on a couple of planets, and no one there recognized us. They should've. But they didn't.

Really? You think with how big this show is suppose to be we would have run into a fan already. Just of the show if not ourselves. Yet, I haven't talked to anyone on any planet who has.

I mean, they could do that on purpose. Afraid people might help us off the show? I don't know. You can't even stay on a planet. You get teleported back to your ship so I don't see why they'd be afraid of that.

We can't even get the augments off - people've tried - so it seems like a moot point.

[Instinctively, he reaches around for the back of his neck, just so he can feel for that small piece of metal.]

I'd get it if there were any danger of us leaving, or any danger of us breaking free, but we're all in the same boat. [beat] Literally speaking.

Well, it could be the augments that teleport the people who try to stay behind on planets back.

Not to mention they help us take care of these ships. Still, would have nice to be asked.

That's the rub: I'm sure plenty of people would've willingly signed up for this.

Back home, reality shows were a dime a dozen and they were never lacking for competitors or potential "stars." [He even does the air-quotes, because frankly, reality TV's a joke.]

I don't know about being television stars, but I'm pretty sure just about anyone on my planet would have jumped at traveling the stars if asked.

Well, yeah. Space travel's outside the realm of possibility for most people.

[He pauses, as if just realizing something.] I guess we should be grateful for that much.

Certainly out of the question where I'm from. [At least it was now.]

As rude and annoying as it is to have been plucked from my home without permission, I have to admit, with some of the things I've gotten to see and experience. Not to mention the people I've met. I can't really regret this.

[Worry that someone is ending all life as he knows it back home? Yes. But he also can't do anything to stop that so he'll pretend like it doesn't bother him for now.]

[When Vash puts it that way, yeah, Stefan can't exactly regret the friends he's made. Ino's the whole reason he's on the Three Twins, after all.]

You know what? Me either. I can't say I wanted to be here, but uh, I've learned so much over the past year and I've had some pretty amazing friends by my side. [He nudges Vash a little, because hey, it includes him too.] You're gonna be a good captain.

You talk like you know nothing, but if you were? I wouldn't be here right now.

[Vash grins at the nudge. Appreciating that he's being counting among those Stefan considers a friend. He also returns the nudge as he also considers Stefan a friend as he did Ino.]

Heh, yeah? You sure? I mean, I've never really been in a position of leadership before. Luckily I'm on a great ship with a good crew that gets along well with each other. So I doubt I'll actually need to do very much.

Very sure. I thought the same thing when Alex went home, but my crew had my back. Your crew will too.

You're not exactly hopeless. [The highest of compliments, lbr, coming from Stefan. He pauses as they finally reach Ino's room.] So um, what exactly did she leave me?

"Not exactly hopeless." I should really get that on a plaque. [Vash enters Ino's room and shifts a few gifts for others around before he picks up an envelope with Stefan's name on it.] Here. This is for you.

[Stefan lets out a soft laugh as he lingers at the threshold. This is Ino's room, and - and if she were still here, he wouldn't pass that lingering border. He takes a breath, holding out his hand.

He doesn't feel anything.

His heart sinks because that was the final confirmation that she had truly gone. No barriers, no protective threshold, and no obstacles to prevent him from waltzing in.

Stefan's expression turns melancholy as he accepts the envelope.] Thanks. Should I uh - I should open it, right?

You should when you're ready to. [If Vash noticed any hesitation at entering the room he's put it up to feeling awkward about being in someone else room even if they were gone.

He knows it took him a bit of time to enter.] I didn't look at what was inside in case it was personal.

Thanks. I'm honestly not sure what she could've left.

[His relationship with Ino, in a nutshell, boiled down to "she terrified the crap out of him." He's amazed she even left something for him, given their... mixed interactions.

But his curiosity gets the better of him, so he opens it and - and they're recipes. Stefan's laugh is a warm and genuine one as he holds it out for Vash to see.]

You know what this means, right?

[It takes a couple moments of looking over the recipes before Vash understands what he's looking at. He smiles a bit hopefully at Stefan.]

A dinner party?

Close! [Stefan returns the smile as he gently places the recipes back inside.] I was actually thinking about taste-testing. Can't serve people something I've never cooked before.