Ask Some Questions, Get Some Answers (?)

[airlockedmods]

[The Stardust Nebula is a large cloud, sprawling pink and purple across the dark void of space as you approach. There are no planets here, not even a planetoid, but that hardly means it’s devoid of life. Kip will easily be able to navigate to the place in question, a small collection of interconnected spaceports orbiting near the edge of one of the nebula’s hazy, rose-tinted tendrils. Floating signs hooked to these advertise “AIRLOCKED! Q&A”, with arrows leading towards what appears to be a convention center. A dome encloses the area, much like the one around the Fantasy Sweet, but there does not appear to be any kind of security restrictions on the port; it will open as soon as any ship pulls up to it.

Inside, there aren’t too many inconspicuous places to park your weird flotilla of offensively-shaped ships. You may just have to settle for the back of the docks, behind a large news van or something like that, and consider not sticking around the entire time. Getting inside was a quick process, so you shouldn’t have any trouble doing it again, especially with a military navigator staying with the ship. A line has already formed in front of the entrance, at least partially due to the scanners flanking the door. A large weirdly baby-faced alien in some type of uniform is standing there, apparently manning the machine, checking peoples’ belongings, and generally directing them. There’s an unfamiliar symbol on their uniform, clearly not the InterGal 7 logo. Despite being alone, they seem to be handling the line fairly efficiently - even if they occasionally appear to intentionally loom over some of the smaller aliens attempting to enter. There are a few cosplayers among the crowd, of course, but this time the majority are in plainclothes.

Some people are skipping this line and walking around to the back of the building. They’re all wearing or carrying badges, which do have the InterGal 7 logo on them.

For the moment, no one seems to have taken notice of your arrival.]

Comments

Q&A PANEL / AUTOGRAPHS

[airlockedmods]

[Welcome to the Airlocked Q&A panel!

The actors are sitting at a long table up on the stage at the moment: Max, Bolton, Lightning, and FN-2187, from left to right. It seems that they have already been answering some questions, but there’s still some seats in the back of the audience. The house lights are on, so they can see who's asking, but there's also quite a lot of people here, including some security up by the stage.

The autograph portion of today will probably start soonish, but if you hurry you might be able to hop onto the end of the questions line.]

[misanthropicprinciple]

[As soon as they're all through security, Junpei's looking to reattach his hand to Yuuri's, looking sheepish and apologetic but mostly beaming with relief.]

There's still some seats left. Come on.

[What sorts of questions are our panelists currently being asked?]

[serrata]

[ Yuuri's been practically vibrating out of her skin this whole time and it's only knowing that they're all heading in the same direction that's been keeping her from just striding off to go and make sure a certain someone isn't in a whole heap of trouble. She's so keyed up that she actually jumps when he reappears and -- you know what, forget his hand, Yuuri's attaching herself to his arm. He's not going anywhere. ]

You scared me half to death...! [ hissed in an undertone and with an expression that looks caught between frustration and delirious relief. ] And after all that it didn't even matter...!

[scourgingstars]

Arguing later, if you would.

[Ardyn dropped the attempt at Gladio's speech patterns like a hot Leiden potato, casually leaning in just enough for an undertone himself.]

What's our next move? I've no idea what we could even ask that wouldn't show our hands in some measure, if we go that route.

[misanthropicprinciple]

It's hard to know what to ask, too, when we don't know what they've answered already...

[He holds Yuuri close to himself even as he shifts to business mode, guiding the group towards some seats.]

I'd ask how much they knew beforehand--I mean, they're all "dead" characters, right? So... hell, man, I don't even know if they're going to answer in character or as actors or--

[Oh, never mind. Max is answering that.]

Hell... okay, actors it is. Shit...

[scourgingstars]

Fuck.

[Thanks, Nishitani.]

We did halfway expect that, but what now?

[serrata]

We don't even have any way of knowing if they're the real thing. They could just as easily be someone using a hardlight, but...

[ Why take that risk?

She gives Junpei's arm a little squeeze. ]

What about Finn-kun? Does anything about him seem off to you?

[ They were roommates after all. She assumes Junpei knows better than any of them still here just what might be 'off' for Finn. ]

[misanthropicprinciple]

I can't tell from back here.

[He watches Finn for a moment, looking more pained than he'd expected. A friend, returned from the dead.

I'm used to this, he tells himself, and it doesn't help.]

...But I don't think the Finn I know would have let himself be called by his stupid serial code. Not when he cared so much about the names he's been given.

[After a pause he glances at the others.]

If we ask about their relationships with other actors, or if they're looking forward to--to like a reunion in future seasons--do you think that'll give us more information? [About who they are--about what IG7's got planned.] I'm worried we'll only have one, maybe two shots at a question.

[scourgingstars]

They're just as likely to brush that off with something vague. Spoilers, you know.

[#politics]

[misanthropicprinciple]

Maybe if we ask... what's one thing they would have changed for their character? And if it sounds like maybe they're just having to pretend to be actors, like if it really affects them... I mean, Falcon's no actor.

[shikosuki]

That could work. Questions like that get asked all the time too so it won't be suspicious.

[serrata]

... I like that. We have no way of knowing what sort of information they're being fed but you can't exactly feed someone feelings can you?

[ Even in this hypothetical world where Airlocked is just a fun, gory TV show that's probably kind of intense to act in, she can't imagine it's the worst possible thing this sort of entertainment culture could cook up. No actor is going to be shaken or shellshocked coming out of their hot mess of a season. ]

[misanthropicprinciple]

Should it be Dad? Or one of us who're still, you know. Wearing our own faces. It'd be a risk, but if Falcon recognizes us, it might tell us more.

[scourgingstars]

Drawing more attention to the rest of your disguises might pose a risk even if he does recognize you--especially if he does, perhaps. And quite frankly I'm a bit better at acting than the rest of you.

I can handle it, if you want me to.

[misanthropicprinciple]

[Junpei thinks about it, then nods.]

This is probably being recorded. You've got my vote, at least.

[serrata]

[ She dips her head in a little nod. ]

I don't want to give anyone any reason to look too closely at me -- and besides, I'm not really supposed to care about Airlocked!, am I?

[ She cracks a little smile. She's sure "Kotori Ichimichi" is very fondly exasperated by all her nerdy friends right now. ]

[scourgingstars]

I'm hardly subtle, but no one's going to be actively looking for Gladiolus Amicitia's face.

[That much was said even more under his breath, like Ardyn was trying to convince himself. This wasn't quite the preferred illusion, but he was stuck with it.]

As long as there's no objections I'll do it. We don't have much time, so how do you want this phrased? I'm quite competent with wording, but one misstep and we may lose our chance.

[theundertaken]

- my birthday, the special effects team surprised me with a cake, but it was almost too disgusting-looking to eat? Almost.

[It sounds like Max is talking about the on-set atmosphere. Which is apparently great!]

[cyan_maid]

[...Jane wants to throw up.

She thought it would be okay. Getting through the scanners, the line, finding a place in the back to settle in, an arm linked with Xander's...she could be a perky little goth girl with her weird genetic donor, totally. Yes. Of course.

And then she sees them all there. Smiling. Sitting there like nothing is wrong, fielding questions without noticeable hesitance, and a man she has never met in person but has seen and watched and wished better for is talking like he hasn't had his psyche broken and she is not okay.

A quiet squeak of breath rushes out from her, and she holds Xander a little tighter.]

[misanthropicprinciple]

[Yeah, okay. Junpei can't ignore this poor girl. He leans forward so she can see him and pushes his costume glasses up into his hair.]

There's something you came here to find out. Right? Hold on until then.

[cyan_maid]

I...

[Everything she told herself she'd stick to is out of her head. The ease of a slurrish, rounded-out accent, the name Anna Sassacre, the message request. The only thing she's able to keep from doing is rubbing her eyes and fucking up her makeup to kingdom come. Her voice is very low, very soft.]

He's...he's not...acting right...

[serrata]

[ She's not sat close enough to do more then lean forward a little and speak up -- her voice is soft, concerned and her brow is furrowed. It's hard to tell if she's more worried by Jane or what she's saying. ]

Do you think he's just an actor, then? Or...?

[ If anyone could tell who was the real thing... it'd be Jane, she thinks. ]

[cyan_maid]

[Only Jamie would be able to tell for certain, but Jane's watched enough of the deadland shenanigans to know that the real Max would not be this genuinely relaxed.]

I-I don't know, I...he's too far to tell...but I know he should rightly be an absolute mess, even when he's trying to be okay. I've...watched enough to know that...

[misanthropicprinciple]

...Then that's part of our answer, anyway.

[It was a trap all along and they knew it, and still, they're here.

He looks around, checking both for exits and staff--either security or IG7.]

What about the others? I'm only familiar with--with Season 3.

[He emphasizes the last bit. Come on, "Anna." Focus. We can fall apart later.]

[cyan_maid]

[Just because he's not acting right doesn't mean it's not the real Max. Literally anything in space is possible..]

T-They're...too far for me to tell. I can't - if one of them doesn't speak up, we won't have any idea...

[The Anna you have dialed is inaccessible, please leave a message at the sound of the internally screaming Jane]