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]

...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.

[serrata]

[ She gives Junpei's arm a little squeeze, rubbing her thumb up and down idly as she does so. She's still wearing that slightly plastic smile and her tone is just a bit too cheery. It's obvious to their little group, even if no one else can tell, that she's trying very hard not to lose her shit. ]

Well, when everything wraps up we'll pop right over and get some. Maybe I'll get one too. I'm sure they'll sell like hotcakes online. Then is there anything else we wanna do after that?

[misanthropicprinciple]

You can't sell your autographs!

[Junpei 10000% intends to sell some autographs. He turns away, huffing, though he doesn't remove his arm from her grip, either.]

Who are you. I don't know you. I've never seen this girl before in my life.

[shikosuki]

Sounds good to me.

[ it's probably a good thing his get up includes a facemask. HE CAN FROWN IN PEACE. ]

...I wanna eat, honestly.

[ he is both acting and also actually hungry ]

[airlockedmods]

[There's no food here, sorry. But the moderator is speaking up again.]

Okay, that's all the time we have for questions! If you want an autograph, please start lining up at the stairs on the left. You'll move up, down the table, and off that way. Please keep it moving, there's a lot of people.

[Meanwhile, the security up on the stage are moving to block off the backstage area, as well as to hover near the table. You know, just in case of trouble. Officers York and Moses are not among this group.]

[shikosuki]

[ Wow InterGal7 couldn't even book a place with a food court, 0/10 ( v ^v) ]

[cyan_maid]

...Guess it's our chance, now.

[Somehow, Jane's face is white as a sheet. Or is that just the contrast from the makeup?]

[misanthropicprinciple]

[God, she doesn't look good at all.]

...If you want someone to get it for you...

[serrata]

I can go.

[ Yuuri says this with a big, bright smile. After all -- Finn is the only person here she knows. She won't be as shaken seeing the others up close and in person. ]

If you need a little break, I mean! You can just tell me what you'd like and I'll make sure I pass the message on.

[cyan_maid]

N-No.

[She's startlingly firm on that.]

No, I need to do this. I've got to.

[misanthropicprinciple]

...

[With her hair tied up under that bandanna, he can't tousle it like Ardyn does to him, but he does offer her a hand as he rises from his seat.]

We'll go with you, Sassy.

[cyan_maid]

[She finds herself pouting, just a little, but takes the hand.]

Dar - damn straight, Sassy. Great-Granddad wouldn't have it any other way.

[There is an inward cringe. The good Colonel must be rolling in his grave.]