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[The camera's at an unnaturally flattering angle of Mettaton's upper body, something only possible for someone with extendable arms or something ridiculous like that. He sits behind a table of some kind, and if he had a stack of papers and a pristine suit it might be reminiscent of a news anchor. But for anyone who has met this showy robot, Mettaton's expression looks a lot more drained than usual. He quickly remedies this and puts forth a pleasant smile, his voice smooth and clear.]

Hello there, beauties and gentlebeauties! It's Mettaton, here at last to deliver the content you've been craving! ...If we weren't under such grim circumstances. You see. I would love for the purpose of this communication to be to serenade you with my dulcet voice. But I have some news for you that is both meaty and fascinating... Like a Steak In The Shape Of My Face, which is both enticing and satiating. So why not compromise and have both?? [He raises a finger.] I've just recovered from connecting to the Horologium itself in an attempt to gather some information by using my robotic talents... At the pleading of Pidge-darling over here. [Who he gestures to, but she's off camera.] And with her assistance. It wasn't easy! Think of it as a token of my dedication to you, my lovely new viewers... Ohhh yes!!

( Read more... )

[ lotor is in the lounge area, and seems to have found the video games. he's not playing them, but he seems to be considering it, fiddling with one of the controllers as he speaks. and, for someone stuck on an abandoned spaceship, he doesn't seem to be too entirely bothered by the whole stuck thing.

outwardly, anyway. inwardly, lotor is suffering psychologically just like everyone else, but he does a good job at pretending he isn't. he is a professional liar, after all. ]

All of this exploration and chatter, and no one has come together to wonder what is making that noise?

[ he doesn't sound bothered, by the ever-present rumbling underneath their feet, but he does sound curious. like this entire thing is academic, rather than, you know. a dead ship prison. ]

I was born on a space station, and I have to admit, I have never heard something like that. And, as Sheryl has already pointed out, we are not moving. We seem to be stuck in stasis, hanging in nothingness, while something, or someone, is making that dreadful noise.

[ he tosses the controller onto a nearby couch. ]

The closest thing I can think of is that it almost reminds me of the planet destroyers, in my own corner of the universe. Giant creatures that wander space and time, eating dead planets. It is a remarkable function, and interesting to study -- an intergalactic recycling center, ensuring that the universe does not get overly cluttered. Or perhaps it's a malfunction of the mechanical variety, or maybe the noise is simply in our own heads, a figment of our imagination.

[ lotor pauses before shrugging, and inclines his head toward the screen. there is something, in the glint in his eyes. a need to be distracted, a need to talk to someone, a need to not feel trapped on this ship going absolutely nowhere.

being stuck is the thing lotor hates the very most. ]

Does anyone else want to add to the baseless guessing, or would someone like to join me in a game of flight simulation?

ooc: threadjacking is always welcome in my posts. :)

[thankfully the network is online, so he doesn't have to communicate his wishes in a string of hopefully sent emojis. instead, he can speak into the watch, calm, direct. not betraying the tiredness that comes from having just spent the better portion of a day, a whole night, and the entire morning on this project.]

Something relating to this supposed king was brought to my attention. There is a spell of great, ancient power written in the walls of his cell in runes. It's a very elaborate, highly dangerous form of teleportation, but there is a section that still eludes me despite my best efforts - the final outcome of the work. Unquestionably, if this can be figured out, we have a better chance of figuring out where in this ocean he should be.

A few more sets of eyes and minds should do the trick, if you understand things about arcane energies and magecraft well beyond your common tricks and illusions. I'd appreciate the help.

[there's half of a stifled yawn before the feed cuts out. he hadn't been able to stop, once he started - once Merlin actually got to work, he was going to get things done.]

[[ooc: plotting comment.]]

[ lotor has kept mostly to himself, since the return from struxta, with some rare exceptions. for someone who has chased his destiny for 10,000 years, he felt woefully unprepared at dealing with the consequences of it all falling apart. and so, he's kept quiet, mulling over what he plans to do. how he plans to wield his time, here. what chess pieces he is going to move next.

ultimately, lotor decides that sulking is pointless, and keeping himself isolated is even more pointless. no, he needs new connections, and new "friends" (whatever), and to explore the circle more than he has. he had been so wrapped up in ensuring that allura was safe (and simultaneously quasi-begging for her not to kill him) that he forewent all other connections.

allura is a dead-end. this is (likely) more worthwhile.

so, enjoy a sudden message on your magical watches of a lavender total dream-boat dumpster fire. you're welcome, circle. ]

Now that all of us seem to be more or less healed . . .

[ what moron sends a group of people into a contaminated hellfire without proper decontamination procedures. astoria is an amateur. ]

We all seem to come from far stretches of the universe, and some of us have asked questions. Some have asked the same one I am about to pose, so forgive the repetition. I'm certain most of you have some sort of basic understanding of your universe in comparison to others, but I confess I'm more curious than most -- to my own detriment, more often than not.

[ lotor pauses. ]

This witch -- [ and lotor says the word somewhat disdainfully, but it likely isn't too noticeable unless you know him personally. lotor has Negative Feelings about witches. ] -- seems to have dragged us here from all walks of life, but seems to lack an understanding of how or why . . . is there a pattern? Likely not, but for the sake of data -- What is your world like? Your culture? Your language, or your understanding of technology? Has your species achieved space-travel yet, or is this a new concept to you?

[ he pauses, again, before shrugging his shoulders. ]

And, in anticipation of the same questions being turned on me, and some of the individuals remaining in the Circle spilling my deepest and darkest secrets -- my name is Lotor. I am the Emperor of the Galran Empire, a warlike space-faring species that has conquered most of the known universe. [ for someone sharing that he's in charge of a warlike conquering species, lotor doesn't look too concerned at how that relevation is going to destroy his reputation. ] I am recently in charge; our past leader had much to be desired, and I am seeking to shift the goals of my species into something less self-destructive and something more productive. [ he seems to skip smoothly over that. ] My species has no homeworld; it was destroyed some time ago, which then spawned a war. No Galra has known a home planet since; I was born on a space station.

[ lotor seems to consider all of that, weighing out whether or not he wants to go on -- but he seems to think that's enough to chew on, for now, and he folds his arms over his chest. ]

Anyone else? New members? Old? Information in exchange for information, of course. I'll answer questions as I'll receive them.

[ Welcome back, everyone! On the morning after the triumphant return from being a robot is suffering world Struxta, a message flashes. Staring at you from the screen is a young woman, a pensive look on her face. ]

Hello. I hope everyone has had a chance to rest. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Celes Chere, and I have a proposition for you all.

[ She settles into a more comfortable position, shoulders rolling back slightly as she sits up straight. ]

I noticed that there were a number of us, myself included, who were not as prepared to deal with what they found in Struxta. I can't help but wonder if this may be an oversight on our Astoria's part, or that she may not have been as exacting when choosing who she pulls into her circle.

But that doesn't matter. All of us are here now, and we all offer our own skills and talents. I propose that we share those skills and talents with others, no matter how seemingly mundane. Knowledge in exchange for knowledge. We don't know what sort of world we will be thrown into next, so we should prepare for anything.

I can offer sword lessons to any who wish to learn, as well as any other insights that come from my former post. All I ask is for you to return the favor—to me, and to your peers. Where do your talents lie? What knowledge are you willing to offer to help others?

[the video starts of as nothing but static and white noise, a few seconds of black and white chaos that seems like nothing. but then a voice, distant at first, cuts through]

-- ing on? Helloooooo. . .

[a few moments later an image flickers into view along with the audio, although it's grainy and of poor quality. but everyone can see Akira front and center! he seems to be somewhere dark, judging by the poor lighting, and he's seated on the ground with a metal wall (???) behind him]

Oh, perfect. Stay that way for about five minutes? Cool, thanks.

[is he talking to his watch? anyway]

Remember that underground Connor-san was talking about a few days ago? Fooooound it.

[he gives a two-fingered salute as to emphasize his point]

If anyone wants to come tunnel camping with me, I'd appreciate it. It'll be fun. Probably? Probably. Bring food and water though; I haven't eaten or drank anything all day. Maybe also bring tools and explosives and other things that can break through thick metal walls?

[he angles the camera to show the wall against which is sits. it looks pretty sturdy, and it's clear what he's asking in so many words: please break me out of here]

That'd be pretty cool, too.

[somehow, he manages to sound so extremely blase about, um. being trapped in underground tunnels?? he pauses for a moment, as though thinking, before he perks up to speak again]

Oh, right. This place is huge. Probably about as big as the city itself. I wasn't able to wander too far in, but once we manage to break down the entrance, I think we should gather up a bunch of teams to come explore it. If we dive far enough, maybe we'll find something interesting.

[there's a pause as the video feed glitches out for a second or two, Akira's face replaced by more static, more white noise. but eventually he returns, brows furrowed as he flicks at his watch like he's trying to make the damn thing work]

Let me know if you need directions. You'll know you've found the place if you see two people-- [Ryuji and Ann, probably] -- standing outside a giant metal wall yelling at me for getting stuck.

[and that's when the feed cuts out entirely]

((a network post for this here! I don't plan on posting a tunnel exploration log, BUT once Akira's free you can totally handwave and/or thread out your characters exploring the tunnels and finding what's inside that post c: have fun everyone!))

Due to Chelseamod's ineptness with Dreamwidth communities, the tag post is now awkwardly floating around amongst your entries.

VIEW IT, IN ALL OF ITS GLORY.