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

[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.

[kingshaming]

[Xander has been quiet and still since they arrived, ever since he saw the woman he loved and the man he killed, in fact.]

Do what you must. I'll be ready for any chaos, but acting isn't in my skill set at all.

[scourgingstars]

Don't look so uptight. Thought we were here to have fun. [There was the affected tone again, shorter words and a casual demeanor. Ardyn shrugged indifferently, moving closer under the pretense of using one of Xander's shoulders as an armrest for the 6'6" behemoth in human form he currently looked like. When he dropped his voice to an undertone, it was right back to sounding formal and eloquent.]

...I want to avoid the necessity if at all possible, but if things should become such an unthinkable mess that you require what I'm holding, call its name and I'll handle the rest. Defending the others and getting back to the ship takes priority over fighting.

[cyan_maid]

[So Ardyn

If you're that close to Xander you might be able to tell that the small teenage goth!Jane holding onto his arm hasn't said a word yet, but her eyes are riveted on the stage, and she's shaking. Hoo boy. Care to extend some of those lying lessons later?]

[scourgingstars]

[Whenever he either pulled away or was pushed off of Xander, Ardyn dropped a reassuring hand briefly on Jane's shoulder; we're here, keep yourself together.]

[cyan_maid]

[The touch stills her for just a moment, just a pause - and then she takes a slow, deep breath in. Deep breath out. Gives a slight nod.

She's gonna try.]

[shikosuki]

Umm... maybe... "if you could change one thing that happened to your character what would it be?" Or... hmmm...

[misanthropicprinciple]

"What's the future you would have wished for your Airlocked character?"

[scourgingstars]

...That's a good approach, I think. Makes me feel damned miserable, so that's a sign if we're looking for a reaction.

[ha ha we're all dying inside and we're screwed]

[serrata]

Then I guess that's what we're going for.

[ A fun, fun Q&A session. Lovely. ]

Whenever you're ready.

[scourgingstars]

...Keep an eye out for anything unusual. Above all else, stay calm no matter what happens.

[three, two, one, let's jam]

[airlockedmods]

We still have time for a few more questions! [The moderator, a short alien covered in black fur with some distinctly cat-like features, scans the crowd for raises appendages and points at Ardyn.] How about you, the tall guy in the back?

[scourgingstars]

Nadir Vaullerey--nice to meet you.

[Ardyn wasn't kidding; he was an excellent actor when the situation called for it. He answered with a charming half-smile half-smirk that definitely looked natural enough for the face he was wearing. Gods knew he'd seen enough of the Shield to mimic him.]

Just caught myself kinda wondering- [and wanting to punch the indifferent attitude out of Gladio's mouth-] -about if something could've been changed in the script or planning along the line. What's the future you would have wished for your Airlocked characters?

[Infernian's skeletal damned throne, please let this work.]

[airlockedmods]

[Lightning is the first to lean into her microphone.]

Not dying in space would be a good start. [The crowd and other actors laugh and Lightning cracks a small smile.] But in all honesty more time with Xander would have been nice.

[Next is FN-2187, who is still chuckling.]

I'm with her, survivor pool would've been nice. But you know, we're all having a blast with the bonus content so it kind of makes up for it for me.

[Next is Max, who just gives an exaggerated shrug.]

[Bolton is the last to speak up.]

I dunno, I ended up just really getting into the idea of getting to go to Jamie's Portland. But hey, I get to hang out with Max again, talk about a pleasant surprise!

[scourgingstars]

[...Vague nonsense. Exactly what he expected, but not what he hoped for.]

Thanks.

[A quick aside glance to Junpei and the others--this is bad. No reaction, nothing at all. Either their memories were a complete mess, or there was something even worse going on.]

[cyan_maid]

[...

Xander is going to lose circulation in his arm soon if he doesn't dislodge from Jane, but having them anchor each other was most likely the only way neither of them are losing their shit.]

[kingshaming]

[Legit, his teeth are gritting so hard it'll be a miracle if they don't crack]

[cyan_maid]

["We both should have taken some of Jamie's medicine" is legit a thought she would be having if everything else wasn't bugging her out.]

[serrata]

[ Yuuri's quiet for a moment. She can practically feel the waves of upset and concern coming off their senpai and suddenly she realizes just how much goddamn danger they're all in. And for nothing. Just a bunch of actors in hardlights.

Then after a shaky, silent moment, Yuuri does what she does best. She fakes a smile. ]

Well, you guys got your question. [ Her voice is level, even perky. Exactly the sort of voice you'd expect from a girl just having fun at a nice convention with her friends. ] You still wanna stick around for autographs, or...?

[ "Or is this a lost cause and do we need to disengage and start making an escape?" ]

[scourgingstars]

[Was it that simple? Of course, the easiest explanation was the most obvious way for the network to go; just actors in hardlights.]

[...But what if it wasn't? They knew the network could simply craft perfectly identical bodies and store whatever remained of even the dead within them; Ardyn himself was proof of that. It would be more effort, but...]

[His left hand gripped his right arm in what might have looked like a nervous gesture, if one didn't know that was right about where his PIP would have been.]

...I think we can stay a little longer. I don't have anything better to do.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Come onnnn, 'Tori. We didn't get through that line not to get autographs.

[Junpei may not be a great actor, but he can at least channel all that dread and disappointment into being a whiny asshole.

But his arm is tense in Yuuri's grasp. And he hasn't taken his eyes off Finn, who never, in the meager three weeks Junpei knew him, was that easy and blithe about anything, who'd never say "it kind of makes up for it for me" about that kind of betrayal.

They'll have to get up close for any chance of seeing if it's really hardlight. But even if it isn't...

'Ardyn. Do you think, if someone doesn't remember something... that it's like it happened to a different person?']

[cyan_maid]

R...Right. Yeah.

[Another deep breath in and out, and - play it off. Just play it off, Jane. Slip back into the voice of that aloof teen who now definitely just has starstruck stagefright. Totally.]

I...gotta get my brother that autograph. I'm not turnin' tail now.