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

[misanthropicprinciple]

[Well, where Yuuri is, Junpei's never far. He glances at her, then reaches back to hold her hand. If she'd like.

Thank god this is part of their disguise. Imagine if they'd possibly gone any other route.]

He's a little more endearing, huh? I think it's the size difference.

[serrata]

[ They're in IG7's laps, waltzing into a trap and there's a goddamn crowd. Yuuri catches onto his hand and laces her fingers through his so she can cling on just tight enough to feel a little safer. ]

Those eyes get worse and worse the bigger the rest of the face gets too...

[ It's probably a good job Kip is back on the ship because wow rude, Yuuri. ]

I don't like the look of that scanner, either.

[stitch_in_time]

Trust me, they're worse when they look human. The flatulence, if nothing else.

And I should be able to disable the scanner, if we need to.

[serrata]

That won't cause too much of a commotion, will it?

[ But then she looks thoughtful. ]

Then again, if that causes enough of a fuss, maybe it'll be the kind of distraction we need...

[misanthropicprinciple]

...Yeah...

[That looks like one big fat NO, honestly, given that all of them are still saddled with their PIPs. But trying something as risky as jumping an employee sounds bad, too. This whole thing is bad. They are the Bad Idea Bears, it's them.

After a pause, Junpei raises his hand and tries to catch the attention of the nearest IG7 employee or guard.]

Uh, excuse me. [He waves a gloved hand at the scanners.] That thing. Is that gonna hurt my camera?

[airlockedmods]

[The baby-faced security alien at the front of the line glances up.]

No, it's a scanner.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Look, you never know! I knew a guy, he went through a scanner once and it fucked up his pacemaker. This is my camera, dude. Some things aren't replaceable.

[airlockedmods]

Whatever.

[You can't tell, but it kinda sounds like he rolled his eyes.]

[misanthropicprinciple]

What's it even for? Weapons? At a meet and greet? Seriously?

[airlockedmods]

[The Raxicori-whatever the Doctor said turns towards Junpei, taking a few steps away from his post.]

Is that a joke to you?

[misanthropicprinciple]

What... no, uh.

[Fuck, he didn't want this much attention. He's not that great an actor. Junpei Konno raises one hand nervously and shifts slightly in front of his girlfriend.]

Really? It's that bad?

[serrata]

[ Even if he can't see her, he can probably feel Yuuri starting to bristle like a cat deciding if it should lash out and scratch or turn and run. ]

Well, it's-- it's a popular show, isn't it? You get all sorts of weirdos... they have to be careful!

[airlockedmods]

[The alien's eyes seem to dart to Yuuri briefly, but apparently the presence of a small teenage girl does not change his attitude.]

Right. We take our jobs seriously. [He steps forward again, and wow he is really really tall huh?] If you don't, maybe you can go through some special security measures.

[misanthropicprinciple]

N...no thanks. I'm good. ...Sorry.

[He lowers his head, and his hand is tight on Yuuri's. God damn, he was just trying to figure out if the scanner was going to be a problem before one of them set it off.]

...It won't mess with, like... adaptive technology, or anything? I've got... I've got a condition. It's why I asked.

[theoverwatchers]

[Before things can escalate further two taloned and almost reptilian-looking fingers come down to rest on the security alien's shoulder.]

S'there a problem here? [Junpei and Yuuri won't be able to see this new alien stranger right away but the voice has a distinct texture to it along with a bit of an accent.]

[shikosuki]

[ ohhhhhhhhhhh no

oh no oh no oh no they're not even in yet, fuck

Choromatsu steps up because sorry Junpei but he doesn't trust you to defuse this on your own anymore ]

Um-- I beg your pardon, we don't mean to cause any trouble. This is just my friend's first time at one of these events so he's not used to them! He was just worried about the scanners messing with his condition, but when he's nervous he gets... difficult [ sideways glance at Junpei ] to deal with.

W-We're really sorry!

[misanthropicprinciple]

[Junpei mumbles something into his free hand, but endeavors to look as contrite as possible. He also looks like he might noogie Choromatsu mercilessly later for this, but that's in character, too.]

[shikosuki]

[ try it and get punched in the gut ( v ^ v) ]

[theoverwatchers]

[The other alien steps out from behind the guard and ho boy, him tall. Not quite as tall as the Raxicoriblahblahblah and certainly skinnier but almost taller than Ardyn and something about his posture gives off a strong air of authority.

With one hand still on the guard's shoulder he gestures to Choromatsu with his free one.]

You three, stay here. [His grip on the guard's shoulder tightens.] You, come with me.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Uh... right.

[Oh fuck oh fuck

But this... could be good? It kind of looks like Artichokeface is mad at Babyman, and anyone who can talk to Babyman like he's about to be put in time out is a Good Egg (maybe he came out of an egg??? ALIENS.) in Junpei's book.

He looks at Yuuri and Choromatsu and shrugs a little. At least... this is more promising? Maybe?

He's gomen.]

[serrata]

[ She lets out a long, shaky sigh. ]

I... I guess we can't really do anything except wait.

[ Her heart's thudding so fast it hurts and leans against him a little weakly. ]

Please tell me that's as close to getting into trouble as you're going to get today.

[scourgingstars]

[WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU KIDS DOING]

[misanthropicprinciple]

Eheh...

[Junpei Tenmyouji doesn't make promises he doesn't think he can keep.]

[theoverwatchers]

[You know the sound that dog claws make trotting across a hard surface?

Click click click click.

That sure is a... tiny silver poodle with a little vest on bearing the same logo as Artichoke Face and Baby Man.]

Did I hear you say you have a condition?

[...A talking. Poodle. With a thick French(-ish) accent.]

[scourgingstars]

[...what the actual fuck is going on here.]