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.]

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[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." ]

Don't worry, we'll see you soon.

[He called over his shoulder with a small smile directed at Yuuri; one she'd seen before on a different face.]

['But it's mine regardless.']

[Like hell he was making any excuse to walk out of this room without knowing where the others were.]

[Akane.

'It's okay because it worked, but what if I was left behind there?'

'W-well, uh, I figured you could escape alone, then... or something...'

'But that way of thinking is completely wrong!'

Sorry, Akane. He's still thinking like that. But it's different this time, and he calls after Jane and Choromatsu:]

Don't worry--we'll take notes on what you miss if you need to go back for anything!

[Lobsterperson starts to lead them through the crowd to the backstage when the screeching audio feedback starts.]

What the-?

[There's a lot of confused and concerned murmuring from the rest of the crowd of fans.]

[That sound was all Ardyn needed to hear to know that something was definitely wrong. He looked back to the stage; wasn't someone missing?]

[This plan was always utter shit from the beginning. Really, he expected better of himself. Infernian damn it to hell, they knew it was a trap and they'd still let it get this bad. When he slowly took his hands from his pockets, Junpei might have noticed a pen in his left.]

[Only one thing left to do now. In a flash of light a bag of frozen sugar was in Ardyn's right hand, being launched at the guard's head with as much precision and force as one could throw a bag of frozen sugar. Hopefully before attention was back on them, he quickly snapped:]

Go. Find the others and regroup, I'll catch up.

[Might as well make catching them as hard as goddamned possible. Trusting Junpei and whoever was left with them to get after Jane, 'Nadir' bolted as soon as he said that, running in the direction of the stage with every intention of jumping up onstage and getting back behind it through the nearest available route. Bolton must have gone through somewhere, right?]

Edited 2017-07-22 02:38 (UTC)

Ow-! What the- HEY! [WELL OKAY THEN, crustacean guard is chasing down the giant man who just threw sugar in their face while at the same time pressing the button on the walkie talkie.] I need back-up in the main hall, we have a situation.

Dad--!

[God damn it, this has all gone to hell and it (mostly) isn't even Junpei's fault, for once. But the pen was enough of a signal for him to get ready, so he doesn't have to waste time being surprised and startled by this turn of events.

No, he's caught on the choice: follow Ardyn, or follow his orders?

It's not even a choice. It takes no time. Yuuri's holding on to him, so Junpei wheels around, swings a robot arm at the guard's walkie talkie in the second they cross paths, and bolts like the dickens towards the bathrooms.]

Sorry! Emergency! I have a condition!

[ She doesn't get a chance to protest before Ardyn's gone. And really, what could she say if she did? Ardyn's right and and order from the king is an order from the king.

She slaps her free hand onto her head, only able to think that they'll draw even more attention if her stupid wig falls off and god why didn't she just dye it and get a haircut and-- she's in such a tizzy that yes, that really does seem like the most important thing in the world all of a sudden. ]

Where-- where are they? [ the bathrooms? their fellow idiots? WHO KNOWS ] Someone needs to get back to the ship!

[ Oh hey guys what's-- OH GOD ]

G-Guys?!

[HELLO YES WE'RE IN THE GIRLS' ROOM JUST RESOLVING TO GET THE HELL OUT AND THERE IS NOISE WHERE ARE Y'ALL]

Oh God - c-c'mon, let's go! Now!

Edited 2017-07-22 03:08 (UTC)

[Oh, good! That was easy! Junpei laughs like a maniac.]

It's all gone to shit, guys! Why are you still here?! Move!

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Ack-! [The guard just manages to dodge the robot arm but also has a choice to make now. Sugar Man or Mysterious Condition Kid and Girlfriend?

...Sugar Man wins, this shit is personal now. But they are putting out a quick description of Funyarii-san over the walkies so you guys might want to book it.]

Edited 2017-07-22 03:09 (UTC)

You'll need more legs than that to catch me-! [why not taunt the guard as a distraction for team 'get the hell out', too]

[But you sure the fuck do have a situation, because ardyn lucis izunia caelum tenmyouji is on the goddamn loose and his legs are like 75% of his body.]

[He'd sprint through the nearest backstage entrance he could see, pen still in his hand and debating on if he wanted to risk the Armiger; there was nothing but junk and Siegfried in there, and only one of those was something he could utilize. He could probably throw a bottle or two if he had to and trip up anyone after him, but first things first; get backstage where trouble wouldn't lead to a lot of casualties.]

[Sorry Ardyn, but you're not his King. Xander takes off after him and the crab]

Siegfried, now!

[Well, far be it from him to argue. Ardyn snapped his fingers mid-stride, and in a flash of crystals Siegfried appeared in Xander's hands sheath and all.]

Don't forget we're not here to cause collateral damage, save it for the people who deserve it!

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O-Okay, thank you!

[ he's not a girl but he's fine being assumed to be one

which is to say he's going off with Jane LET'S GO ]

[LET'S FUCKING GO wait is Xander coming with them or going with the others fffffffffffuck it they need to keep their cover]

I-I'll be right back Dad, promise!

[Now do we actually go hide in the girl's room for five minutes and breathe or are we going to foolishly book it in the wrong direction]

[ LET'S JUST GO TO THE GIRL'S WASHROOM FIRST IF JUST TO WAIT A FEW MOMENTS he doesn't want to... leave everyone behind... ;__; ]

[Yeah let's just go in here and oh boy Jane is running for the first thing that looks like a sink and gripping it with both hands, breathing hard.]

Fuck - oh, fuck...

[The tickle of "wow you fucked up you coward" gets body slammed to the back of the thought process line because we can't do that now, we can't deal with self hatred right now.]

[ ...you know he probably shouldn't be in here he realizes a moment too late but oh well no one else is here it's. fine. he can pretend. ]

A-Are you okay?

[If the actual girl in the girl's room isn't yelling at him to get out, then he's fine. It's another thing he can have to one-up his brothers with.]

Y...yeah. Will be. [Close eyes. Deep breath. Fuck, she wasn't ready for this.] Y-You?

I'm fine. Just...

[ he doesn't want to be useless ]

[The "Just" hangs in the air for a good moment. Jane opens her eyes. There's nothing steely or cool about them, the same panicked shiver is still there.]

...I-I know. We can't just. We can't leave them. A-And we don't know if the others are okay, either...God, but what do we do...

Let's... let's wait a little longer. See if anything changes. If nothing does...

[ He draws in a shaky breath. he needs to... not be a coward right now. ]

They might get suspicious by then so... you should go back to the ship. Let everyone know that things are going wrong. And I'll buy time so they're focused on me and not you.