one | broadcast; video

[selfism]

Who: Kai Hiwatari
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: April 29

It’s funny, [ begins a cool, dry voice that indicates it is anything but, ] I seem to know a substantial amount more on piloting a spacecraft than I did before falling asleep.

[ A young man is seated with his back pressed against the viewing glass of Marsiva’s observational deck. Behind him, the yawning chasm of space stretches on for an eternity, all winking stars and silent cosmos. He hardly appears to be interested in the spectacular scene, instead opting to focus his attention on an object in his lap. The communicator broadcasting the video is set on the floor, propped up at an angle by something out of sight. Kai acknowledges his audience with a cursory flicker of his eyes, expression unfathomable, then continues to pick apart a circle of wood. ]

I arrived without most of my belongings. I’d like to know what’s happened to them, and how I can get them back. They’re…necessary.

[ Important, he doesn’t say, though his jaw tightens minutely. Fingers peel off a strip of wood a little too viciously, belying an otherwise impressive composure. The loss of Dranzer (again, always again, she is always beyond his reach) has shaken him deeply, and it had taken him an hour to settle down enough to contact the network. ]

I’m also interested in hearing about our purpose here. The first time I was taken from my world, it was to feed hungry spirits. The second time, to play as a pawn in the political games of the fae. What now? If it involves aliens, I’m done.

[ He's only partially joking. ]

Comments

video.

[kindlymeant]

[ even before she sees him, the sound of that low, nonchalant tone has her heart surging in her chest. even before she sees him, she knows.

Kai. he's here and for a single, precious moment, she thinks that he will be here for her, that she has been gifted with his presence. fear is quick to make itself known to her, however, never far from slithering and settling within. Anduin had not remembered a thing, a shred of any of it. Kai continues to speak of his effects and Alayne is only half listening, mind racing. thinking of another blank face, devoid of any familiarity, thinking of Kai considering nothing to do with her - gods be good, don't let it be so.

except, then she hears the word fae, said with that edge of disdain, and she has never been so happy to hear tell of them. momentarily, her face breaks into a smile - and then, once again, she remembers herself. stops, willfully, lowering the device and breathing out shakily.

even if he remembers fae, and spirits, she cannot guarantee that he will remember her. the timing might not match up. the memory may simply be taken from him. and if she speaks to him like she knows him, it will only make him suspicious, wary, guarded. but please, not with me.

collecting herself and setting her shoulders, she raises the communicator. ]

I fear you may be done then - my lord. [ the pause is designed to be telling, because a Kai that knows, that remembers, would surely realize she would not falter on basic formality.

her smile is small, tremulous, hopeful ] Though, I pray not.

video.

[selfism]

[ When the incoming transmission plays on his communicator, he stills. Thrice has he been seized, appropriated by a higher power he could not hope to challenge. Thrice has he been displaced, torn from whatever makeshift vestige of a life he had been building. Thrice, and he has come to accept certain expectations about such circumstances: he will never know home again and he will only ever be plagued by shadows. Were the higher powers merciful, perhaps they would deign to send him a friend—instead, he has been followed by the likes of fleshchildren, of a disappointing and negligent regard from Yosuke, of Saki Konishi and Kotomi. Maybe he doesn’t deserve mercy. Maybe he doesn’t deserve a friend. Kai closes his eyes, exhales slowly. ]

Your prayers haven’t gone unanswered, [ he replies, and there is an audible shift in tone now, a quiet warmth suffusing every word. ] And neither have mine.

[ Alayne Stone is not a friend; there is nothing he could compare her to, nothing he could describe her as. She simply is, and remains. Kai can think of no one he would rather greet him, can think of little else other than how grateful he is in that moment. The loneliness that had gripped him upon waking in this new world now abates, replaced degree by degree by an overwhelming sense of contentedness. He opens his eyes and the smile that twists his lips is almost too honest, a kind of painful vulnerability that is ill suited on someone like Kai. But he doesn’t try to school his features. He doesn’t try to deny himself this happiness. After all, he understands how fleeting such things can be. ]

Alayne.

video.

[kindlymeant]

[ his words had been reassuring, but Alayne's fears lingered as they always do, as they've been trained to do, like vines crawling up a castle wall. now, however, they finally disappear, chased from her by the unmistakeable warmth in his tone, a rare brightness that makes her want to reach for him.

she smiles, and this too is a rare thing, a mirror of his own in scope and range and raw, genuine emotion. in the wake of being forgotten, Kai's reaction means all the more to her. ]

Kai. [ soft, simple, all that feels necessary. even being able to say his name seems a gift to her. perhaps she should be grateful, after all. a laugh escapes her in a breath, utterly relieved, and then her head tilts and her shoulders slope, easy and comfortable. ]

Has it been very long?

video.

[selfism]

No. No more than two days since I saw you last.

[ The rowan crown, which she would surely recognize, is dismissively put aside so that he may pick up the communicator. Though the network is better than nothing, he would prefer to converse with her in person. Unfortunately, he’s not sure that is possible here. ]

What about you? [ A pause, before he asks what’s really on his mind. ] You haven’t been here long, have you? On your own?

[ Kai is not prone to unnecessary movements, but he shifts his weight uncomfortably now. The very idea that Alayne could have been here for months, if not longer, without anyone from Demeleier…he understands, viscerally, what that is like. He doesn’t wish such an experience on her. ]

video.

[kindlymeant]

[ his concern is so sweet it makes her ache. she knows him well enough that it should not be unexpected, and yet kindnesses still fall to her like treasures, rare and wonderful. eager to reassure him, she shakes her head. ]

No. I only just arrived - not yet a week ago. [ she allows herself some relief that he had not been taken from Demeleier to nothing, as he'd so viciously feared, but the thought passes with its darkness in tow. doing nothing to check her raised spirits feels like a risk, but for now, she allows herself to be gladdened by the sight of him. ]

You seem more familiar with it than I, though. Have you seen such things before?

action; overhearing your broadcast from the marsiva

[stayinthecar]

Your belongings were taken? I could help you look for them.

[ A tall fellow who looks about 20ish approaches Kai, tapping his chin. ] I would also be interested in our purpose here. Whoever brought us seems capable of implanting substantial data upgrades, as I never looked up schematics for vehicles capable of space travel. I know a great deal more relevant engineering now. Has anyone responded to your call?

action; prior to network responses

[selfism]

[ At the young man’s approach, Kai wordlessly glances up from the rowan crown. He doesn’t respond immediately; mouth flat, he regards the stranger warily for several moments. Eventually, he puts aside the crown and climbs to his feet. ]

Not yet, no. And my things aren’t here—I already searched the area when I woke.

[ There’s a flash of annoyance that darkens his eyes, but it has nothing to do with the other man and everything to do with himself. ]

…Thanks anyway.

[stayinthecar]

You're welcome.

[ He seems completely nonplussed by Kai's annoyance, though it's impossible to tell whether he understands it's not directed at him or he's just not picking up on it. ]

I'm sorry I can't help you. But you said this has happened to you before, being taken from your world by "spirits" and "fae"? What are those?

[selfism]

Don’t worry about it.

[ And he means it. The good will of strangers is still something Kai regards with a small degree of suspicion, but he believes this man is being earnest. ]

Spirits, like the kind you’d see in a horror movie. Ghosts, if you prefer. The fae were like fairies, or creatures from old folklore and mythology.

[ Kai knows that not everyone he meets will necessarily understand these vague cultural references, so he frowns faintly at Zeta, assessing. ]

Get it?

[stayinthecar]

[ He knows the reference, but it's not real to him. So this is super interesting!!! ]

Oh, I see. Were those concepts real to you before you arrived in those worlds? Where I'm come, folklore and mythology are fiction.

video;

[survives]

[Leanne leans closer to the communicator, brow furrowed.]

This isn't the first time this happens to you? Seriously? Spirits and... And fae politics?

video;

[selfism]

Seriously.

[ He doesn't recognize her, but that doesn't mean she's unknown to him; in the past few years, he's picked up miscellaneous knowledge on other worlds and their inhabitants. Maybe he's met an acquaintance of hers before. Maybe not. ]

What can I say? I'm a popular guy.

video;

[survives]

[Now that startles a laugh out of her. She shakes her head, leaning back again.]

Someone's really gotta like you if they're taking you to so many places! [Or really dislike him. But there's no point in mentioning that, is there?]

So if it was the spirits and the fae... [And seriously? The fae? Like goblins or something?] The aliens probably do wanna see you next!

[She's joking. Really.]

video;

[selfism]

It honestly wouldn’t even surprise me at this point.

[ Withholding a long-suffering sigh, he pins her with a look. ]

Have you encountered aliens here?

[ Aliens that are not of the troll-variety, like from Calliope’s world. He wonders how she would adapt to a place like this. ]

video;

[survives]

[She shrugs, only meeting the look with raised eyebrows and not-quite-a-frown.]

Not really. But. [And here she smiles.] This guy told me he's gone to other worlds and met aliens!

[So, clearly, she's totally gotta make sure to meet aliens now.]

Video

[hearsthesea]

This has happened to you three times?

[It wouldn't be the first time Shirley's heard about people who've gone through this story before, but it still sounds pretty horrible. Abduction on its own is bad enough; abduction from your whole world, three times, sounds like a nightmare. But clearly this guy isn't here for sympathy.]

...We're expected to be amusement, for an audience we've never seen. Your things have probably been taken by the same people who took us. I don't know what happens to what they choose to take, but I've lost something of mine as well. So did someone else who used to be on my crew.

video

[selfism]

[ Kai doesn’t bother to reconfirm his situation; he suspects it was just a rhetorical question of surprise. The information she provides, though… His brow furrows, giving him a stormy look, and he has to glance away for a moment to rein in his frustration. It’s not her fault, after all. Right now, he’s less concerned about their disembodied audience than he is about Dranzer and Byakko. ]

And how long have you been here?

[ How long has she been without her missing belongings? ]

video

[hearsthesea]

It's been four months now. I don't think anybody but those in charge of the entire operation knows how much longer we have to go.

[Which...isn't really good for someone who's missing "necessary" items, assuming they have a chance at retrieving them when it's all over. Then again, it's not like there's anything good to offer on the subject of abduction aside from "the people aren't bad and you probably won't die."]

video

[selfism]

[ Four months without mention from the higher powers where her belongings are or when she will regain them. Kai falls silent for a period, staring at something in the distance, lost in thought. Byakko, at least, may have been left behind in Demeleier. He knows that Souji will take care of her in his absence. But Dranzer... ]

I see. Not exactly encouraging. You got any highlights of the past four months you're okay sharing with me?

video

[hearsthesea]

It's no problem. The most important thing would be an attack by unknown ships earlier this month. Nobody was killed, but many people and their ships suffered some kind of damage. We also encountered a forest of illusions once, in the first star system I was present to visit. It wasn't dangerous, but it was...unnerving.

[She looks as unhappy about that as she did about the attacks. Yeah, the illusions weren't as dire but they were not at all fun either.]

Video

[alwayscomeback]

I don't know if it'll ever happen again, but one time we each got something back. There was a creepy tunnel, a lot of weird, creepy spirit-y stuff, but it did happen. My guess is they got all our stuff and will give it back to us whenever they think it'll be entertaining enough.

video

[selfism]

It’s better than nothing, I guess.

[ In spite of the lukewarm response, he’s privately delighted by Sokka’s answer. If there’s a chance he can earn back Dranzer…then there’s hope. And as damning as hope can be, he is comforted by this knowledge. ]

Where was the tunnel? It’s not on this ship, is it?

video

[alwayscomeback]

No, it was on one of the planets we visited, it's way, way back now in another starsystem.

video

[selfism]

Naturally.

[ Well, that's that, then. ]

You've been here long?

video

[alwayscomeback]

Seven months.