welcome to the mansion

[airlockedmods]

[The Champions wake up not in a bed, but alone on a plush, velvet seat. Some may recognize the backseat of a limousine, while some may not, but the windows are tinted black inside and out, and there's no chauffeur. All are wearing expensive formalwear, no matter what they thought they were wearing before.

The door opens by an unseen hand and reveals a gravel drive with a red carpet and a lavish fountain. Others are already there, and more limousines continue to pull up afterward. The front doors are locked, and overhead curls a large protective glass dome, keeping the cold void of space at bay, but hey, there's also an unparalleled view of the stars.]

Hey there, Champions, welcome to the IGS Fantasy Sweet. I'm PAL, your onboard maintenance system for this location. Your Overseer will arrive shortly. Please be patient.

Comments

[brokencode]

[Okay. Cool. She isn't the only one having a hard time. After steeling both herself and her weakened muscles, Angel shuffled over to the man, just in time to hear his question.]

I am... afraid not. [It was really weird, speaking to someone face to face, rather than over the ECHOnet. Maybe she was staring too much. Was she grinning? Why were her cheeks hot.]

[Dear god, Angel, you're a disaster.]

They said someone would be along soon, though, right?

[plugout]

[ Wow, she's kinda cute-- focus, dummy, we aren't here for that. ]

I guess so, yeah. [ He looks mildly annoyed, and then grumbles, ] They took my clothes.

[ Ah, priorities. ]

But you look-- really nice.

[ ????? ]

[brokencode]

Maybe they are inside? [There was no way they could wear formal clothes for... however long they intended to keep them there. And if they could pluck 20 strangers from their business, they could probably grab their clothes, too.]

[Angel visibly flinched at the compliment, however, taken aback by his words. No one had seen her in years, after all. And it wasn't her father's business to offer up such words.]

Thank you? I... wish I could tell you where I got it.

[plugout]

Yeah, maybe. But how'd they get there when we're out here and just... you know, showed up here minutes ago?

[ It's very interesting!! And also annoying, ugh. But he notices the flinch, and he looks incredibly concerned. There's a pause, and he doesn't say anything for a moment. Then, ]

Hey, are you... okay?

[brokencode]

Fast travel? [Angel pressed a finger to her lips.] Of course, I was asleep for some amount of time before I stumbled out of my own limousine. They could have had plenty of time to move my things, at least.

[If she had any, of course.]

[She was quick to shake her head at Rhys' next question, hand once against her face now waving him off. How strange it was, for people to see her movements and physical tells.]

I am fine. I apologize for concerning you, Mister...

[plugout]

Yeah, maybe, like they have on Pandora.

[ ... Huh. Maybe she's...? ]

I'm pretty sure I was asleep too. I don't know how I ended up in one place and then another without realizing it, otherwise.

[ He pauses a second. ]

Rhys. Just-- just Rhys.

[brokencode]

Pandora? [The siren blinked a few times, before pushing the thought away. it had to be different -- there was no way this slip of a man would ever have anything to do with the savage planet.]

Rather troublesome, then, them pulling us away from our respective locations while we were sleeping.

[Angel suppressed a shudder at the thought, then stuck out a hand.]

Angel.

[plugout]

Yeah. Planet where I come from, but I've-- I've never been there.

[ He rubs the back of his head. ]

Yeah... kind of a dick move, right? Heh heh.

[ But, regardless, Rhys smiles a little. ]

Nice to meet you, Angel.

[brokencode]

[Hm.]

You know, it's funny. There is a Pandora where I come from as well.

[Angel made a face, landing somewhere somewhere between being appalled and amused at this Rhys' word choice.]

Yes it is a bit of a d -- [She cleared her throat.] unpleasant move.

[He has a pleasant enough smile, one that she couldn't help but return]

You, too, Rhys.

[plugout]

Yeah? That's weird. I mean, I really hope it's not like the Pandora where I come from. It's like-- Banditville, with all these lunatics who scream their heads off about explosions and meat bicycles...

[ ... Anyway. It strikes him as weird that she caught herself before repeating him, but. Eh. ]

Whoever brought us here is either really whacked in the head, or they're really bored. Or... both.

[brokencode]

[Okay. A planet name was one thing, but those similarities were just a bit too hard to ignore.]

Did they wear masks and run around shirtless, as well?

[Everything else could be ignored at this point.]

[plugout]

Yeah, uh-- Psychos, they're called.

I-I mean, never been to Pandora, but I've heard stories.

[brokencode]

The stories are true. [Though the subject matter was far from amusing, there was still a twinkle in Angel's eyes. And maybe, just maybe, there was a hint of relief there. At least she wasn't so alone.]

I work on Pandora. Or... around it, rather. I perform regular surveillance on the planet, to be specific.

[plugout]

Whoa-- seriously?

[ There's relief there, too, mirrored in his eyes. He lets out a breath. ]

Hey, at least someone believes my crazy stories, heh. But surveillance? That sounds pre-tty important. I just work for Hyperion.

[brokencode]

You know, you can work for Hyperion and still do important work. Who do you think gets the information I produce?

[Well... not necessarily Hyperion as a whole, but it still benefited. After she and Jack did, at least.]

[plugout]

So basically, we both kinda work for Hyperion. [ Wow. ] Heh, didn't think I'd be here with a coworker... whoooo I have never met before today.

[brokencode]

It's... more contract work than anything. I report to someone who works for Hyperion proper. But still it is... close enough, right?

[Hyperion couldn't know that Jack was working with a siren, after all. One person could tell another, and eventually the higher-ups would find her and take her away from her father. She didn't know much about the outside world, and what she had been told certainly contradicted what she had seen in the past hour. But she had no reason to distrust her father when he said that people like Harold Tassiter would rip her away from him.]

[She would lie then, at least until she knew she could fully trust the man beside her.]

That is probably why you have not met me before, though.

[plugout]

Yeah, close enough.

[ Contract work... well, he's not surprised. The whole thing with Elpis had been kind of like that, right? He thinks. ]

Anyway... honestly, I'm kinda relieved someone else knows about all the crazy stuff that happens back home.

Even though I'm really determined to, you know, not be here for very long.

[brokencode]

[But, Rhys. What Elpis job?]

I... wouldn't want to be here long, either. I was in the middle of some rather important work. Incredibly time-sensitive work, I might add. [That wasn't too telling, right?] At least in the meantime, I know I am in good company?

[plugout]

[ The Elpis job! The one that resulted in good ol' Dad losing his shit completely. That Elpis job. ]

Yeah, I get what you mean. There was this... thing, with a promotion, and wiping the smug look off a rival's face... Important stuff.

[ Okay Rhys. ]

Heh. Yep, that's me. Best company, am I right? And you're a pretty cool person already, gotta admit.

[brokencode]

[You know, she's probably trying to forget that. Or. You know. Succeeding!]

I hope you can get back and get your promotion soon then, Rhys. What department is it that you work in?

[Rhys is clearly very nice and deserves nothing but good things.]

That is... very kind of you to say. [People here are so nice, and nothing like what her father described.]

[plugout]

Heh, thanks. Me too. [ He worked hard for that. And definitely didn't do anything shady. ] Securities Propaganda. Middle manager.

[ He pauses. ]

You sound kinda surprised about that. You... don't get a lot of compliments?

[brokencode]

How interesting. Do you like it? I suppose not all of it, if you are actively seeking a promotion.

[Her shrug was quick and her gaze avoidant. How did one own up to that sort of truth when it was tied so intimately with the things she wasn't allowed to talk about.]

I am not in the public eye very often. My work requires a considerable amount of discretion, you see.