driftfleet | It's all over but the crying

Who: Psycho Mantis and you.

Broadcast: Yes

Action: SS Bishop

When: Today

(Video – Fleetwide)

My god, it’s full of stars.

[He wandered around the ship in a bit of a daze. First came the larger ship, then the small celebration welcoming him to the second, and he is just as confused as he was when he first woke up. It’s been a long couple of days for him and he finds his way to the bridge of the ship. Stars. So many stars, He slumps in one of the many chairs nearest the window looking out onto space. There’s a cup of tea in his hand and his head turns between the feed he managed to open and the view.]

It’s a dream, isn’t it? It has to be. I remember what happened.

[He’s still dressed in his leathers, not quite trusting himself to wear the ship standards just yet. It’s so clinical. So real… He curls up more in the chair, lifting his mask a little out of the way to have a sip.]

This ship is called Bishop. Like the clergymen and the chess piece. If…anyone is out there, where is here?

(Action – Bishop)

[Still on the bridge of the ship, Mantis decides to make use of the music system to play something classical in the hopes of soothing some of his confusion. The tea doesn’t hurt either, and he sighs heavily as he tries to count the stars he can see. His malaise is such that someone could reasonably sneak up on him if they were so inclined. He is making good company with the chair he singled out.]

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[His head turns to kind of look over one shoulder as the footsteps get closer. Big. Heavy. He's surprised by the youth evident in her voice, but doesn't turn around.]

It was not my choice to be brought here.

[He can hear the youth in her voice along with the assumed authority, but it's her appearance that makes him drop his cup of tea right to the floor. His mouth moves as his brain tries to make sense of what he's seeing. There's little to be found. It's telling him red skin, multiple arms and eyes, and at least twice as tall as he is.

He pinches the skin at his wrist, both disappointed and terrified by the pain he feels. After a few awkward seconds of struggling to find the words, he finally relaxes from the tense state his body has entered. If she meant to hurt him, she would have.]

Are you...part of the crew? [His voice is stuck at a bit of an awed whisper.]

Edited 2017-08-01 07:12 (UTC)

[Okay there is definitely a smug little smirk going on now. Much as she has actually tried to get used to working with people- instead of, well, terrorizing them- there's still plenty of satisfaction to be found in these sorts of reactions. Even if it was more out of surprise than fear, hey, she'd take it.]

I am its captain. I am Princess Looma of House Red Wind. And none of us chose to be brought here.

[She hoped not anyway. Whoever willingly signed on for this was the sort of depraved individual who'd benefit the galaxy most by being sent out an airlock.]

[Oh great, she's a princess on top of everything else. Mantis does not doubt a word she says, but he still isn't sure what to think of Looma. She can certainly loom over him, but thus far, carries herself not unlike the many people he's served while in the military.]

Psycho Mantis. Personnel support, I think. [He touches the lump under his skin, just behind the ear.] There's something telling me that. Can you tell me anything about this ship or how I came to be on it?

[He glances down at the cup lying abandoned on the floor. It wobbles a little before lifting itself up and back into his hand. At least that still works...]

We have not had one before. Your presence may have changed something.

[Something to look into later, at least.]

I can tell you very little, as our hosts remain secretive. The ship is armed, but could hardly be considered a warship. Its facilities will also change based on who is present. Security personnel seems to grant us an armory, and the hidden compartments from tactical support vanished when I changed roles.

[She has no idea how, though. And there's a big four-armed shrug at trying to explain the how.]

As for how you arrived- I do not know for certain. Our hosts cause new arrivals to appear on a ship when the mood strikes them. How they do so is unknown.

Personnel... That type tends to get an office of some kind. [He laughs briefly.] Oh no. Maybe I've been conscripted as a therapist. That is a horrible idea.

[He perks up at the use of the word "host", relaxing enough to set his feet back on the floor. Looma has clearly been at this longer than he has, and her description of how the ship changed over time has him honestly very curious.]

I might actually have an office. If I do, I should find it. They obviously have a particular standard regarding what role on a ship requires what kind of space. But you call these unseen people "hosts". I would have gone with "captor" myself, or something more militaristic.

[An office? That would be worth investigating. Not that she had any intention of ever utilizing his services, but a captain ought to know her vessel like the back of her hand. So she'll leave the crew roster alone for the time being and get back up on her feet.]

If your arrival has altered the layout of the ship, we had best find this office of yours. Even if I have no desire of seeking your services.

[Her anger problem is fine, try fixing it at your own peril, Mantis. Still, she'll motion for him to follow after her as she heads for the door.]

I refer to them as hosts because it is the most appropriate term. Regrettably. This is their idea of entertainment, and we are the stars of this absurd show. But we are prisoners here, despite any claim they make otherwise.

[He takes the cup with him, figuring that he'd get a chance to leave it in the dining area for cleaning later. It feels strange to follow after Looma. She's so...tall, so visibly strong, so particular about making sure she knows the ship even without needing part of it.]

There are worse things than being made to listen to the woes of others.

[Like being entertainment for someone else, for example. He sighs.]

Actors on a reality show. The concept isn't new, but I have never seen it played out quite like this.

Several come to mind. Like being forced to participate in the last show.

[At least with this stupid show, there wasn't the risk of being trapped in the Null Void. Probably. It was just terrible food and annoying hosts, in addition to the kidnapping thing.

She'll duck her way through the doorway once she knows he'll be following after, paying more attention to the hall in front of them than Mantis. She'd be the one between the two of them to recognize something out of place, after all. But that doesn't mean she's ignoring him. In fact, there was something she was rather curious about.]

How is it you are capable of moving objects without touching them? You are the first I've encountered to possess such a skill.

[Well, sort of. But She didn't see any glowing pinkish-purple light, so this was clearly something different from Gwen's ability.]

Last show? As in seasons or themes?

[He doesn't like the sound of it regardless of the meaning behind her words. He peers out from either side of her at the ship, now more comfortable with the idea of exploring. If something goes wrong, he has a hell of a shield to cover his escape.

He smiles a little behind the mask to be asked about his powers. This was more his speed and level of familiarity. No matter where he goes, the little things catch the attention of others.]

Telekinesis. Near as I have ever figured out, I was simply born with the ability. At home, I became the greatest practitioner of my skills. [A pause.] I ended up working for the military for most of my life. That is where I earned my codename.

It's all over but the crying

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