01

[violentroots]

Who: Prince Lotor
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Absolutely
When: Saturday, 18 August

[Broadcast - Video ]

[ He's aware of something wrong even before his eyes open.

Lotor's long form barely fits on the bed provided, so much so that when he wakes up with a snap, he bends the arched metal at the end of the frame with his boots. The room smells different, the air tinted with a strange sour quality that spoke neither of the familiar filters on Galra ships nor the more exquisite processes that the Castle of Lions boasted; and as his eyes adjust to the bright lights the architecture speaks of nothing he's seen before.

Strange.

He stands slowly, looking around the entirely empty wing. Good fortune or not, he seems to be the only person here - where ever here is. The last thing he remembers is returning to the Castle, Allura's hand in his, and then nothing.

Ah, there is a camera. He's being observed.

There is no point in secrecy now is there? Either someone was monitoring him or not, and he straightens his back as he addresses the camera.]

I give you credit, I have not been taking off guard like this in quite some time. Identify yourself.

[Action - S.S. Starstruck]

[ He had hardly been on the hospitality deck for a few hours before he finds himself appearing on the bridge of the S.S. Starstruck, face crinkled up in an unpleasant expression as a flurry of badly made confetti tangles in his hair and falls to his shoulders. In his hands rests a plate, and he looks down at it with a frown punctuated with a fang pressed into his bottom lip.

Ah, but he is not alone.

Across from him is one of his supposed 'new crewmates', and those eyebrows arch now, and he offers the plate out, the tone of his voice sardonic. ]

I do not imagine that you ordered this, did you?

[Private communication - Video: Allura]

[The shuttle seemed the most promising place to pick through the databanks the vessel held.

It was small; all exits and entrances visible, and it gave him the privacy of not having any of his new crew mates hovering over his shoulder. Lotor rests his chin in one hand, tapping his lips with a claw as his eyes scan through the crew logs of the fleet.

Ah, most of the paladins were here as well, crowded on one ship. And then Allura's name comes up, and he allows himself a small smile as he opens his communicator. Regaining contact with his allies was paramount... but this was personal. ]

I hate to sound pleased to find you here as well, but I will not deny that it's a relief to see a familiar face, princess. 

Comments

Video

[luckyescape]

There's a recording thing if you haven't waited long enough. It kinda explains things.

[Kinda but not really.]

Video

[violentroots]

[ His flight-suit buzzes beneath his armor, and he barely restrains from jumping from the sensation. In the pocket there lays a device, and when he opens it - there - a person appears.

A communicator.

What kind of prison allowed it's captives to maintain communication?

He is cautious in replying, his voice a controlled kind of relaxed. ]

I'm not certain of what you speak. Are you in charge here?

[nosferatanking]

[That's certainly a harsh greeting. Morgan's a little taken aback, to be honest. Usually, people aren't very happy when they get here, but they're not usually so...serious.]

Whoa! I don't think you're going to get very far with that. That camera doesn't go to the Atroma, it just goes to the rest of us.

[He pauses. Where are his manners.]

I'm Morgan, by the way. I've been here for about three months.

[violentroots]

The Atroma...I assume are my captors?

[ By time he replies, Lotor has relaxed ever so slightly, and has begun to dig into his communicator to pick out any information that could be beneficial to him.

Three months. These logs date back deca-phoebs...]

My apologies. Our captors.

[shroudedsecrets]

[Well. Between the Paladins popping in and out as they might, and even the Princess's arrival even more recently, that had been more than enough reason for Haggar to continue quietly monitoring broadcasts as under the radar as she could manage, as increasingly disturbing these feeds were...

Until now, anyway.

Because the Atroma are like that, as an image of her observing him suddenly clicks onto his communicator screen.]

[violentroots]

[ WELL. If he wasn’t on guard before he certainly is now.

Lotor stiffens, gold eyes going wide. Everything about him is on edge for a moment, before he curles his lips into a snarl, his voice a growl that bubbles up deep from his chest. ]

Haggar.

I should have anticipated you being involved in this witch.

Private;

[princessences]

[ Now that her Paladins had returned--their disappearance unfortunately so short after her own arrival--Allura feels that she can concentrate on familiarizing herself further with her own ship and the fleet. She should have been paying closer attention to the broadcast, but when she sees a glowing light and the telltale chime of a message when she's in her own quarters at her desk, she turns on the feed.

And straightens immediately in her seat. ]

Prince Lotor??

[ Oh, a small wince. Emperor, she reminds herself. ]

I can assure you that the feeling is mutual, though I had no idea that you were here. When did you arrive?

Private;

[violentroots]

Not long ago. It was quite a shock.

[ Ah. He had missed that voice, even if it hadn’t been quite that long. To have vanished from her side though left him eager to return to it. Besotted fool. ]

It has been less than 10 Vargas. I imagine it’s been longer for you by the look of things.

audio

[pidge_out]

[It's a while before Pidge can bring herself to respond to this video feed. Ultimately she decides that it'd be best not to let him see her face in case her expression ends up giving something away, and she even tries to add a little distortion to her voice through the mic to hide any vocal fluctuation. Not that it will matter, ultimately. Lotor is bound to find out who's here and what's going on soon enough.

Still. His presence here means nothing good for her team. Pidge can't have that.]

Stay away from us.

audio

[violentroots]

[ His voice though has the easy carriage of someone speaking to a friend. He’s seen the ferocity that the green Paladin carried before, but how could he even imagine why that would be directed towards him.]

Paladin Pidge. Is there a reason I should keep my distance?

video

[the_tailor]

[Oh no.

Ohhhhhhhh no. Dealing with recent events back home is proving trying enough for Lance as it is. But this? This is like rubbing a wound against the walls of a salt mine. His feelings are far too raw to deal with this in a diplomatic manner right now.]

You.

video (As if you were ever able to deal with anything in a diplomatic manner Lance)

[violentroots]

[ Ah, it's the pilot of the Red Lion. While these conditions would lead to less than happy prisoners, he is certain, this is the second one that is reacting to him personally in a unfriendly manner.

Had it just been Lance, he would have thought nothing of it, but with the Green Paladin as well...

Lotor frowns ever so slightly. ]

Paladin Lance. I see our captors have quite a collection from our ranks.

[ video ]

[tempredmental]

[Okay... the others had already jumped down Lotor's throat, so there was actually no point in doing that again, but he was going to get to the bottom of this for the sake of the team. They needed to figure this out before things got out of hand.]

What was the last thing that happened with you before you arrived here?

[ video ]

[violentroots]

[ Ah. The lost paladin.

Lotor has heard of him, but not really interacted with the other half-Galra. There's a pleasant tilt to his lips... He's always had a soft spot for his fellow half-breeds. ]

Paladin Keith I take it. It is my pleasure to finally meet you properly, if you could call it that.

[ There's a small pause, and he considers how to phrase his last memory. The young man did not need to know about what had transpired between him and the princess moments before. ]

Princess Allura and I were returning to the bridge after leaving the hangar. I'm perturbed to think how easily our captors managed to bring us both in while perfectly conscious and aware of our surroundings.

[Audio]

[tough_love]

They are alarmingly good at that. Less so about acknowledging their captives. Or responding to any questions we have for them. They are not any better with threats.

[Audio]

[violentroots]

Do they make any movement towards communication with their charges, or are they simply silent on all regards?

[Audio]

[padadin]

[...quiznak. First Haggar, now him? Right after Allura, too, what a sick irony. Who is next? Sendak? Wait, no, scratch that, he doesn't want to think about that. Ugh. Shiro checks the replies first, trying to have a feeling of the situation, to guess what Lotor does and doesn't know and what is the last thing he remem--

Welp. Never mind, his whole team pulled a Keith this time. Cat is out of the bag. Still, just in case, Shiro goes for audio instead of video. He doesn't want to give Lotor more information than necessary, even if the prince will discover the changes on Shiro soon anyway.]

There's a document in the communicator that you can use as an introduction. It was written by fellow crew members. But don't expect Atroma to "identify themselves".

[Audio] Yay, it's my PAL-adin, Shiro!

[violentroots]

Shiro.

[ That is definitely an authentic smile in his voice. Paladin Shiro has been his one continuous supporter, and there is a trust there that he rarely allows himself. If not any of the other Paladins, Shiro could be trusted to be reasonable. ]

I have heard that our captors are of the silent type. Thank you, I will certainly seek out that information post haste. How long have you been held here?

[ It's becoming more and more obvious that whatever state he was in between leaving their universe and arriving here, he was not conscious of it. The time slippage is becoming more and more obvious. ]

action

[survivalistcookbook]

[The bridge does have the best view of the entire ship. As long as you're not dedicated to being a hermit, it's a nice place to waste some time drifting. Look at the stars. Ponder the vastness of space.

And, every once in awhile, be assaulted with a saccharine jingle and confetti materializing from apparently nowhere.

It's enough of a routine that Eugene just turns from the window, though their new arrival earns a curious blink before the look on his face entirely registers. Then it's just a low snerk of a sound as he steps closer - clunks the step dully, as his left pantleg ends in not a foot but a curve of bare metal - holding out his hands in an offer to take the tray.]

Even if I did, you don't exactly strike me as the delivery boy type. Welcome aboard.

action

[violentroots]

I appreciate your candor.

[ His eyes draw down the human, stopping for a moment on the very primitive looking prosthetic and then back up to meet the other man's eyes. ]

I intend to not overstay my welcome.

[ Lotor happily gives up the dish, turning to look out the viewport in front to squint at the stars. No...he did not recognize a single constellation or star from his 10,000 years of life.

They were truly farther away from the empire than he had ever been. ]

video;

[universal_charm]

_{[ Well, that was an array of reactions, wasn't it? Lance and Keith didn't seem thrilled, Allura did, and Shiro seemed - to be playing to diplomat. A good captain. All right. So. Approach this guy with caution. ]}

If Atroma actually tells you anything, pleasure share. It would be more than anyone else has ever gotten before.

I'm James Tiberius Kirk, for what it's worth. Captain of the Tourist.

video;

[unbearablynaive]

[...Call it academic curiosity at seeing another purple-skinned person around, but the Vision is intrigued. He waits a while before he sends a video message, giving him enough time to hopefully get the basics of the situation first.]

Welcome to the Drift Fleet. I am the Vision, engineer aboard the Twin Roses. I assume you've been told about our hosts; was there anything else I could answer for you?

StarStruck

[kill_switch]

[Walking into the bridge, coffee in one hand, she gives the newcomer a nod.]

Hey. I see you've already gotten the standard welcome. Furiosa, pilot. What's your station?

StarStruck

[violentroots]

[ There seems to be a particular assortment of crewmembers on this ship missing limbs and he flexes his fingers and toes subconsciously as the woman passes him, eyebrow arching ever so slightly.

She asks and he just knows, a prick at the back of his mind that reminds him. ]

Pilot as well. Of what I could hardly envision.

video;

[luxoraculi]

I'm afraid that you are stuck in the same boat as the rest of us.

[ Another new arrival... there's been an increase of new people lately, and Lunafreya isn't so sure if that's a good thing or not. ]

Welcome to the Fleet nonetheless. Ah... you probably have many questions, yes? Or has someone already taken the liberty to answer them for you?

Audio

[tiedonastring]

The fleet appears to be capable of capturing us when we least think it would happen. We are now here for their own amusement.

Audio

[violentroots]

How many have they drawn in at this point? These logs go back quite a ways.

starstruck; i swear i meant to tag this a week ago

[willynilly]

[Ochako's doing her cleaning rounds, following her little space roombas through the ship to make sure they clean everything properly. The announcement of a new passenger is always a sure sign that the bridge is covered in confetti bits, so here she comes to clean that up!

Upon spotting Lotor and his plate of snacks, she responds with a cheery wave.]

Oh, hello! The sweets are meant for you, since you're the newcomer. Welcome aboard!