theairlock | Ask Some Questions, Get Some Answers (?)

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Ask Some Questions, Get Some Answers (?)

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Motherfucker they haven't even gotten to get something signed yet but

but wait a second

hold on there buster

if all three of them want to leave...like, NOW...]

U-Um...hey, uh...maybe we can...hit the bathroom first? I-I gotta, y'know...girl stuff.

[someone come with her and explain why y'all wanna bail we don't actually have to go to the bathroom]

[ ! ]

Oh, I should go too... if we're going to head out right after we eat, I won't get another chance. Should we all go and find the bathrooms?

[ She's the only other girl here but she figures it'll give the guys a chance to tell Xander what's up if they all break off into the toilets together. ]

[yes please inform her of what is up yuuri girls don't go to the bathroom alone]

We really should stay together, Anna. We'll be done in a second--didn't your brother want that autograph?

[Gladiardyn shrugged, pressing a hand to his shoulder and rolling it like he was trying to stretch it out--as he lowered his hand he made a cutoff motion near his throat. 'Abort mission, duck out, no dice, get what we came for and go'.]

[...Oh. Oh. Oh, shit. That bad?]

Y...yeah, he did...b-but I think...ahah, damn, why'd he ask me? A-All these celebrities've got me...h-he'll understand, right?

[She can't do it. She can't. They're right there and she can't fucking do it, and she's taking any and all excuses to get the hell out of there.]

...Yeah, I'm sure he will. If you're that nervous, we should back off a little and wait for the others.

[As calm as he sounded, the suggestion to regroup was hopefully clear.]

I-I'd like that.

[Xander she's sorry, she IS, but. But maybe neither of them were ready for this. Come on. Fall back. A captain knows when to fall back.]

D-Damn, anxiety must...run in the family. Prob'ly from the other genetic donor, right?

[Leaving might not be so on the table right now, friends, because there is a very large, very crustacean-looking security guard in a bulky vest coming your way.]

Excuse me. [The voice is a gravely growl and it's hard to tell if that's their natural voice or they're trying to be intimidating.] But I need you and your group to come with me.

Hm?

[Yep, still calm.]

Is there some kind of problem?

[ Oh god what's happening ]

[They make a gesture toward the stage area with a massive claw.]

Your group won a random drawing to go backstage to meet the cast and writers for the show. [Now that they're actually talking the guard sounds...kind of bored.]

...A drawing?

[How does that make any sense, did they even register or anything?]

What...

[??????????]

. . .

Have we, now.

[do you hear how skeptical he is.]

O-Oh! Really? Wow, a-are you sure?

[ this... sounds like it could be bs but it's bs that the guard might not be in on at least??? ]

Hey, we can't really turn it down, right?

[OR: Guys, if the jig is up, we're boned, and if we don't go along with this, the jig is gonna be up ANYWAY.]

... [This was such an obvious trap that Ardyn almost wanted to laugh. Gods, and he thought leading Noctis around had been transparent.]

[But what else could they do? There were too many people here to start a fight, and Ardyn wasn't really one for collateral damage anymore. Even if they just scattered that might prove another problem entirely. If the others were still backstage, this served enough of a purpose to get them back together. The rest could follow, somehow.]

I guess you're probably right, Hikaru.

[Ardyn's right hand curled and uncurled into a loose fist restlessly.]

[...You all wanted to bail before and now you're going to take bait this obvious? If Jane hadn't been in a tizzy before, she is very much visibly nervous now. At the very least, she has the presence of mind to apply it to a totally different sort of fear.]

I-I don't...know if I can...like, backstage? U-Up close and...this is hard enough, I...c-can we please stop by the bathroom first?

[go to the bathroom and hide there FOREVER]

Y-Yeah, do we have to go right now or can we... well, you know.

I-I don't wanna freak out too bad in front of them...!

[If need be she will yell about girl problems to get people to back off because hopefully that kind of discomfort transcends universes]

... Well, you can't sell and in-person meeting online but, you know, memories are priceless.

[ She's doing her best to sound kind of... fondly exasperated and not terrified out of her mind. Who knows how well it's working! ]

We might as well go!

Random selection by the producers, fan appreciation, blah blah blah. [A heavy, growly sigh and they glance at the girls.] Whatever. Do whatever you need to, just come backstage when you're done. Tell them what group you're with.

Rest of you, follow me.

Edited 2017-07-22 01:42 (UTC)

[Ardyn was still entirely calm, hands in his pockets and posture as relaxed as ever. But he gave the others a look that was entirely his own, not even pretending to look like Gladio anymore. It would have raised suspicion to object now, and if this went badly someone needed to warn the ship. Choromatsu and Jane got a sharp glance at them and towards the door; the others got something calm and steady. Whatever happens, stay behind me.]

[Then he just tilted his head in the guard's direction, taking a few easy steps to follow.]

Come on. We'll meet them when we get backstage.

[...Where there was less risk for collateral damage.]

[ The very suggestion of splitting up their little group makes her stomach twist into knots but... if even two of them can get out of this unscathed then...

She practically bares her teeth at Choromatsu and Jane, less a smile and more hurry up and run. ]

Yeah, don't worry! Just go do whatever you need and catch up with us in a sec. [ "Get out while you can." ]

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