001: Video

[servantnotserving]

Who: Lumiére and YOU
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: SS Marsiva
When: Right noe


[There are some things a person comes to expect in their life. Of course, magical curses that turn you and your colleagues into inanimate objects tends to move those goalposts a little, but you still expect certain things to remain the way they are.

For instance, if you live in an 18th century castle in the middle of France, you honestly don't expect to be suddenly not in that castle. And you absolutely do not expect to be suddenly in space. You sure don't expect to somehow understand, at least vaguely what space is. These are things Lumiére did not expect to happen to him today, and yet here they are, happening.

But then again, the Flooters probably don't expect to see a sentient candelabra shuffling in front of their screens as he presses his little candle hands to the window, staring out in the blank nothingness. Lumiére has no idea how he got here, he has no idea WHY he's here, but there's one thing he knows for absolute certainty-

Cogsworth is going to KILL him. ]

Zut alors! What is this place?

[He really, genuinely doesn't have time for this. Usually he's a big fan of all kinds of tomfoolery, but he's kind of on a really tight schedule right now and it's really, really not one he can shirk. He needs to get out of...whatever this is and get back. Like. Now. He turns, looking around him in the vast room, hoping for a sign of life.]

Hello? Anyone home?

Comments

[servantnotserving]

[Wow. That's schmaltzy as hell. He'll mentally file that away for a song or a cheesy pick up line in the future. Still, he has to laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of it all. That people would assume that he was born this way was the more likely scenario.

Still. It goes to show how generally accepting people are here. That's a nice thing to see.]

No, no. I'm from Earth. France, actually! Hence the accent. I'm supposed to be human.

[passingthrough]

Oh! Well...sorry. There were ponies before and... Nevermind.

We have some witches here. Maybe they can help.

[servantnotserving]

...Ponies.

[No. No. He doesn't want to know. He really doesn't, he decides. Living as a magical household object for a decade is about as much weirdness as he's willing to live with. That's his line. ]

We do? This is brilliant news! I would love very much to get this curse reversed. I will have to speak to these witches. Thank you, mademoiselle!

[passingthrough]

Sure. Try Misty, Nightingale, and Herimone. Maybe one of them can help. And there might be others too. I'm not sure if they all actually use the term witch, so just go with magic users maybe.

Why did the enchantress change you in the first place?

[servantnotserving]

[He nods, committing the names to memory. Good. It's a good start. He;s been getting ever more hopeful that finally, finally the curse might be lifted back home- it has to be, the rose has lost almost all its petals. They don't have the time any more for it not to work.

But this...this was good. A chance to be human again, to perhaps find a way to bring a reversal back with him. That would make being kidnapped into space very much worth it. ]

Thank you, that is very helpful. It is a very...tricky curse, but if there is any hope at all to break it, I will take it.

[And there it is again, the tricky question of why. He and the others talked about it lot, quietly, amongst themselves, when their master had slunk off to the East Wing. Why them? Lumiére had a good few ideas, but he never wants to voice them. Despite everything, he still loves the prince he serves, he was happy in his position. The prince just...lost his way. ]

It was not me she specifically cursed. The curse was for my master, and by extension, his household. He...was not as cordial as he could have been [understatement] and she lay her curse on him...us because of that.

[passingthrough]

[She feels like he's holding back, careful to word things politely more than clearly, but it's also his story to tell and as long as it doesn't come back to, ah, burn the rest of them, she can live with that.] Seems a little over-the-top. Not really a punishment fitting the crime situation.

[servantnotserving]

[Loyalty is a funny thing. Even when the person hasn't really earned it. He couldn't bear to make a villain of the prince. Not even now.]

It really wasn't. She expected him to learn a lesson, but honestly, it just made him ever more isolated.

[How is a person supposed to learn to love if he's kept away from the world? There's only so much he and the other servants could do for him, especially in their current states. Not like they could go wandering into town looking for potential brides for the man.]

But perhaps soon, we may be fortunate. We are close to the answer.

[passingthrough]

Sounds like the perfect time for the Atroma to decide to abduct you then. They love unfinished business. [Even if that isn't the case for her.]

[servantnotserving]

[Sounds about right, really. You wait a decade for a curse to be lifted, and then get taken away a couple of hours before it's due to be lifted. ]

How long to people normally stay here? I really would like to get back as soon as possible. Not that I have anything against meeting new people [it's actually NICE to talk to new people again, he likes people] but it is not something I want to miss.

[passingthrough]

Some people have been here over two years and counting. I'm not sure where the average is falling. Less than that though.

It might not matter for getting back. They can pull us from any time so if they send us back [And she is allowing for a big IF here.] then they can send us back to any time even the one they took us from.

[servantnotserving]

[Two years. He doesn't have two years. He doesn't even have two days. Time is not something he can give up.]

...So time is not continuing, while I'm here enjoying your company mademoiselle?

[If it isn't...that's good. He can work with that. The ticking clock that is that damn rose will be a little less urgent, it that is the case. ]

[passingthrough]

That's one of the popular theories. [Most people would just say yes. It's more comforting, Kitty. Come on.]

[servantnotserving]

[Wow, Kitty, that was like a hug with words. Wow. ]

I can see why it's a popular one. I doubt anyone would want to go missing from their homes. Their loved ones would worry.

[Okay, Cogsworth would probably throw a party, but he rest of them would worry. ]

[passingthrough]

[Her specialty!]

Oh, there are reasons someone might want to go missing from their home. [Like death.] But, you're right. I'm sure that's a concern for many.

[servantnotserving]

Truly? I suppose some places might be worse than others. [He almost say's he's fortunate, but that's not really true. Still, he knows he couldn't wish to not return. He belongs in the castle, cursed or not. ]

But not yourself, mademoiselle?

[passingthrough]

Not so much me. I have better chances here. [What with being alive and all.] I'm also seeing someone here. [So it will never work out between us, candle. Your too much of a hot head.]

[servantnotserving]

[You know, that would normally discourage a normal person, but Lumiére will happily court married women. Still, he'll at least be nice about it, because love is important. For other people.

But he does like Winn so maybe he'll you know, not. Maybe.]

Ohhh, l'amour~ How romantic, to find it amongst the stars.

[passingthrough]

It was a real win, what can I say? [Kitty, you're making puns only you get now.]

[servantnotserving]

[It's a real, deep tragedy he won't get the pun. ]

I bet it is! Are you from the same world?

[passingthrough]

No. Winn's from another Earth, but it isn't mine.

[servantnotserving]

How exciting! Lovers from other worlds. ...Alternate worlds? [He's not sure what turn of phrase he should use here. There's more than one Earth, that's a crazy concept all in of itself. ] That must be quite the experience.

[passingthrough]

Alternate. [She would have accepted "other" though.] And it's great because of Winn. I've definitely had some less wonderful experiences with alternate world dating.

[servantnotserving]

[He chuckles at that. Also files the term 'dating' away. Right. So that's what they call it in the future. Right. Sounds fake, but sure, why not.]

Oh? I imagine courting someone from another place must have some...interesting dilemmas. Do things get lost in translation?

[passingthrough]

Occasionally. He lives on pop culture references—movies, music, shows, games, books, and only some of ours overlap.

[servantnotserving]

I...am not sure what movies is [or 'pop culture', really] but given what the rest of them are, I am assuming entertainment? So you do not enjoy the same things?