driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Billy Cranston
Broadcast: Network, video
Action: Aboard the Marsiva
When: Mid-day, about now

[Upon waking, Billy immediately reached for the bedside table as a matter of habit. There he encountered his glasses, his wrist communicator, and an unfamiliar computer-like device. Once the glasses were in place, it became apparent that his surroundings were unfamiliar. Worse, the most important of his personal effects, the silver buckle that granted him protection, was conspicuously absent. And wort of all, his personal communicator found no signal. His captors weren't precisely imitating Lord Zedd's style (he'd expect more fog and evil laughter, and possibly bruises), but the need for caution was abundantly clear.

Once he'd thoroughly rumpled the bedside area in a panic, calmed himself with a breathing exercise, and mostly brought himself up to speed on the strange computer sitting beside him, he activated it, putting considerable effort into sounding less frightened than he was.]

If I've been given this device, I have to assume there are many more...esteemed guests of our hosts. How are you enjoying your stay?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, of course. I am a monster, after all.

Wow.

Do you shrink and grow?

[Or that's some mighty powerful magic. He's still not sure how afraid he should be.]

Heavens me, how rude! Exactly how were you raised, to ask a lady about her size?!

[maybe be afraid for your dignity instead of your life?]

[Whoa, okay. Backing up.]

That's not what I meant. I'm sorry.

I was only trying to imagine how you did it. Our warriors tended to become fifty feet tall and walk on the opposition.

Does that actually work? I would think that would simply be making yourself into a bigger target.

It depends on what you're facing. If all your opponents' weapons are so small they'd barely be pinpricks, then it would.

If both sides are the size of skyscrapers...well, the result is toppled skyscrapers.

Hm... Well, true. But honestly, I haven't been that large since I retired from being a goddess, and it's not like anything was a threat to me then.

But I've never heard of a story where turning into a giant turned out well for a villain, so I'd never do something so pointless.

...I'm surprised any goddess would choose to retire.

[Because that's clearly the biggest mystery here.]

Why would you be surprised? It's not exactly a fun job.

It's not?

The power would be counterbalanced by enormous responsibility, I suppose.

Responsibility? No way. I never bothered with anything like that. Humans are the ones who decided to worship us, you know? It's not really our problem.

That's not what I expected, but...yeah, that makes sense.

[Not that he's really heavily focused on religion or mythology, but it makes sense in a way.]

Anyway...thanks for the lesson.

I don't think I really did much of a lesson, but you're welcome, I suppose.

Do I get to hear your name?

Billy Cranston, pleased to make your acquaintance.

[And as awkward as this conversation was...he really means it, on some level.]

"Billy"? Well, you seem a fair bit nicer than the other Billy I know.

[She bows, striking a pose.]

Tamamo-no-Mae, the vulpine bride and beautiful courtesan of the Heian era, resurrected to become a good wife! Pleased to meet you. ♥

[She's being a bit careless with her name, but it's a way to test. If he does know who she is, it's a pretty good way to see if he is actually a hero, or really just a bystander like he claims.]

[Resurrected to become a wife? That doesn't sound very fair, but that's a question for another time. 'Heian' rings a faint bell from history studies, but it's not his field of expertise.]

So you're from Earth too? And...I think that would make our lives about a thousand years apart? Trini's better at history than I am, but...it's great to meet you.

[He bows, much as he had with Lunafreya. That was proper, right?]

That depends on when you're from. It's true I died in the 1100s by the Western calendar, but it was the year 2030 when I came here, you know?

[Her life is weird, to say the least.]

Ah, although, being from Earth is a little... Well, whatever, it's close enough.

Two lives so far apart---that must've been disorienting.

I'm actually from the 1990s of the Western calendar. And...yes, of course you'd most likely be from somewhere a mortal couldn't comprehend, right?

No, no, the Moon Cell was quite competent in its summoning. It was pretty easy to get the gist of everything.

Yes and no. Honestly, depending on how you want to count it, I could be from a few places. Izumo, Takamagahara, my father's right eye... The sun itself.

My comprehension's lacking, but I think I get the general idea. Possibly.

May our paths cross again soon?

You speak rather strangely, don't you?

Most of the time, people don't wish for that, but very well! I'll see you again, I'm sure. I hope you'll be interesting when I next see you!