driftfleet | 01 ❀

Who: Elize Lutus
Broadcast: Fleetwide Video
Action: Marsiva newcomers only
When: 4/5 - 4/10 (until the next shuffle)

[ The broadcast shows a small, brown blonde-haired girl in a dress of various shades of purple and adorned with ribbons and frills. She looks young, probably only about eleven or twelve.

How she has an understanding to working the communicator console and any other knowledge implanted into her mind is on the bottom of her concerns at the moment. The most important thing right now for her is finding her best friend, Teepo. One moment, she was chasing an Exodus agent and suddenly she found herself waking up in space. ]

Give him back...

[ Elize is tearful and shaken up, clearly distraught. Although she's trying to sound demanding (though it's starting to sound more like begging or desperate pleading from her), she's also dreadfully shy, unable to look directly at the feed for a long period of time.

Her arms feel empty without her stuffed doll in her arms. There's nothing for her to hold on to for security, having her resort to anxiously clasping her hands and looking side to side nervously. Her staff is gone too, which makes her feel even more vulnerable. ]

Please give me back my friend, Teepo. I need him. I can't... I can't...

[ Trailing off, she's unable to finish her sentence as she tries to speak in between sobs and sniffles. Luckily, her crying isn't loud and annoying. Just soft sobs. She could have asked different questions, like why is she here? Where is this place? But no, she needs Teepo.

For anyone else on the Marsiva, she can be found quietly huddled up into a ball off to the side, a corner, or anywhere she thinks she can be away from others. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

My name is Cullen. [It's been some time since he's spoken to a child, let alone a sad one, but he does have younger siblings. He takes on a much softer tone than he would with anyone else.] What's your name?

My name's Elize. [ Without her doll to hold, she sways her arms lightly by her side. Just a little habit she does when she's nervous. At least the people she has met so far have been friendly. ]

It's... nice to meet you, I guess... [ She feels weird saying it, especially since she's unhappy with her current situation. ]

[Manners, even when upset. It's a testament to her upbringing, perhaps.]

It's nice to meet you as well, Elize. Even if the situation isn't a very nice one. Have you found people to help you look for your friend?

[He assumes it might be a toy or another child, but really he just hopes there's someone to keep her company on the Marsiva.]

Colette and I are trying to make a map! [ Sounding hopeful, only for a moment. ] That way we can mark down all the places we've checked.

[ She lowers her gaze again, kicking at the floor. ] Umm... we haven't had much luck yet.

Don't lose hope. People show up here surprisingly often. They'll arrive on the Marsiva, as you did, and then be assigned a ship.

[No sad little girls, please.]

[ Hearing that has her looking up at the broadcast, attentive. Hopeful again! ] So I just have to wait a little longer and Teepo will come?

He might. Until then, you'll have to be strong despite how scary this situation may be. [Sickening, that a child would be brought in for entertainment, separated from her family.] Can you do that, Eliza?

[ These sound like the kind of words of encouragement that Milla would give her. ]

I-I'll... [ Try? ] I'll do my best.

Good girl. [It's all anyone can ask for of anyone here, really.]

If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask.

[ A thoughtful pause before she speaks up again. ]

...Cullen? Were you brought here alone too or were your friends with you?

I was brought alone. People I knew were already here, however, and more have been trickling in. I've been lucky. [He might be the exception, not the rule.]

...Am I unlucky?

No, no. That's not what I meant at all. [Maker, why is he so bad with words.] It's--your friends are safe at home, and you'll be kept safe here, and you'll be reunited again. [Either there or here.] You must be patient.

Until then, why don't we get to know one another? [AKA distraction time.]

[ She nods glumly. She'll try to be patient. Last thing she remembers back home though, there was a bit of trouble.

...A distraction for her is a good idea. ]

Get to know one another? [ Oh, that's what friends do, right? She likes making friends. She doesn't have many of those. ] Because we're friends now?

Er. That's right. [He and his brother used to play a game where they just asked endless questions, taking turns, but that got ridiculous since they knew one another. But it's the same idea.]

How old are you, Elize?

I turned twelve this year. [ Or well, the year it was back home. ]

Do you want to guess how old I am? [Because kids can be funny.]

Umm... [ She puts her hand on her chin, already looking in some seriously deep thought. This is like a quiz. Older than Alvin and younger than Rowen, maybe? ]

Do I get any hints?