01; video

[seanced]

Who: Winnie Davids
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: S.S. Bishop
When: now!

[the face that greets the network looks a little relieved to have figured out the communicator, and her eyes light up, albeit briefly, before she looks around. She mutters as she brushes the confetti out of her hair]

They don't really warn you when you're going to be moved, do they . . .

[she clears her throat and turns her attention back to the screen]

Um, h-hi, I'm Winnie and - okay, being in space is kind of really cool, but - could someone answer a few questions for me? A-And tell me how I can go back home? I really can't stay here, I was kind of - busy.

[what an understatement. She looks around again, then turns the camera to the pudding desserts]

And if anyone wants some of these, I'm on the - Bishop? I don't, uh - I'm not really hungry.

Comments

action;

[arcanepower]

[There is something dark watching her from around a console with glowing green eyes.]

... You can't go home.

[seanced]

[she startles a little and whirls towards the voice, pausing when she sees the glowing eyes]

Why's that?

[arcanepower]

Teleportation magic doesn't work, and furthermore, our ships are tethered to the Marsiva. Sometimes there are planets and waystations to visit, but... we cannot go home.

[seanced]

So we're just . . . stuck here? [she presses her lips together, unsure if she should be upset or angry] Not even magic works?

[she says it in a way that sounds like she's amazed it actually exists, despite absolutely reeking of it]

[arcanepower]

Not even magic.

[He's used to this. It ain't his first intergalactic kidnapping.

Speaking to her has reassured him that he doesn't have anything to fear from her, unlike the last freaky lady, so he straightens.]

What is your augment?

[seanced]

[she is the most non-threatening little thing, it's true]

It's - engineering? B-But I'm not an engineer.

[arcanepower]

[How little are we talkin' cause he's 5'1 and about 90 lbs wet.

At the mention of her being an engineer, his face grows darker, sadder, and there's a flatter edge to his voice.]

The augment tells you how to do your job. As for the enhancements our last engineer made... do not touch them.

[Hiro literally just left and already there's a replacement. He hates this damn place sometimes.]

... Dinner is served at six every day, and Sunday breakfast is at nine. If you have any allergies or special dietary needs, tell me now.

[seanced]

[she's got two inches on you, bro.

She blinks at the change in expression, shoulders slumping a little. Did she say something wrong?]

I - I won't change anything.

[she purses her lips, then shakes her head]

You don't have to worry about me. I - don't eat.

[arcanepower]

[No, he's just cold to new people. He'll get over it eventually, especially because Winnie is a cute girl and he has a Weakness.]

Good.

[With that worry out of his head, he seems to return to his usual self-- only to stare openly.]

What?

[seanced]

[she winces a little, because she hates this part. Explaining the oddities about her, when it comes to normal things like eating or sleeping]

I, um. I don't eat. I mean - I can, but it isn't - um, necessary?

[arcanepower]

[He has ears like a rabbit and glowing green eyes. He's not going to judge.]

You're not human?

[seanced]

[bless your elfiness]

I - used to be. [she winces again, before she decides to just - say it] I'm a spirit.

[arcanepower]

[Well, there it is. He squints at her for a moment as if his mana sight might tell him this, but it doesn't.]

Not a nature spirit... a ghost, yes?

[He's not even screaming.]

[seanced]

[she's so glad he isn't screaming. This is the first time she's flat out told someone]

R-Right, a ghost. Just - a ghost with a body for some reason.

[arcanepower]

[This kind of weirdness is far more familiar territory for Belthazar. He's already starting to ease up a bit.]

Well, if you decide you want to eat something, you are welcome to whatever I make. Just be aware that eating an entire plate of macarons will end in regret.

[He casually tugs his hair out of his collar.]

What was your name?

[seanced]

[she seems like she's waiting for a more of a reaction, but - it never comes, and she's so confused]

Thank you? I, uh, I won't eat that many macarons. I know better.

My name is Winnie - Winnie Davids. What's yours?

[arcanepower]

[Welcome to his life.]

Belthazar. [The most pretentious name for the tiniest little wizard.] I'm the cook. Obviously.

Anyway, there are a few others who are not entirely human-- the talking horse, for example. There is another elf as well. His name is Finrod.

[seanced]

It's nice to meet you, Belthazar.

[she does perk up a little, because he says it so freely, like it's allowed to be common knowledge] There are? And they're . . . um, open about it?

[arcanepower]

N-- nice to meet you, too. [He clears his throat.]

... Well, I'd argue that in the pony's case, he doesn't really have a choice.

[Belthazar.]

[seanced]

. . . I wasn't talking about the pony.

[p l e a s e]

[arcanepower]

[Sarcasm? He speaks sarcasm!]

Finrod has smaller ears than I do, but they are still quite pointy. And the man without a shirt-- he is made of mana, though I do not know if you can tell. He's some kind of elemental spirit.

[seanced]

Oh. [were this any other time, she'd be excited about elves, but that can be for later, when she's less everything about being kidnapped and all]

I-I might be able to tell, I'm . . . I can usually see other spirits.

I'm just not used to people being . . . open about it. I was told it wasn't allowed back home.

[arcanepower]

[So many elves. She should see the Huntress.]

Humans are only one of many sapient races on my world. Are you... from Earth, perhaps?

[seanced]

[she nods quickly]

I'm from Earth, yeah. [and that's a thing she never thought she'd ever say] We have different races, but they're all human. The - things like me, we're supposed to be a secret.

[. . . she has to ask] What kind of races are there in your world? A-Aside from elves and humans.

[arcanepower]

[Ah. He remembers. His months in a post-apocalyptic London taught him that being different was terrifying and wrong and it made him subject to the occasional abuse. While many transports could blend in, he could not. There is no changing the color of his eyes.]

I understand.

[And that's honestly about the nicest he's been all conversation. At least he's beginning to thaw somewhat. See, it never takes long.]

Orcs, trolls, and goblins are anywhere from blue to green, and the tauren look rather bovine in appearance, while the pandaren look like bears. Draenei are a little like blue tauren. Night elves have purplish skin and silver eyes, and blood elves look like... this. [He gestures vaguely at his own face.] There are undead humans, and ogres... And of course, there are gnomes and dwarves, and they look very human as well. Just... shorter.

[He talks altogether way too fast. Sorry Winnie.]