[video]

[suoxi]

[ the feed cuts on and Inara is positioned behind the console, smiling lightly with crimson lips pulled upwards as she regarded the camer thoughtfully. She is cleaned up and prepped for a public chat, hair dried and styled as well as she was able. ]

Good evening, everyone. My name is Inara Serra, and I have recently found myself a bit out of sorts with my arrival in this strange place. I would cry kidnapping, but I hardly think that is the case.

I was wondering - and hoping - that there might just be someone I know here. Please, if you recognize me, I would greatly appreciate if it you could respond.

Also, if anyone could perhaps explain a bit more about what this place is and how I might have come to be here - and why - I would also be greatly indebted to you.

Thank you.

[ she smiles once more as she waits for responses, should they come. ]

Comments

[[video]]

[tearsinnajar]

[She doesn't really have either of the things the other woman is asking for right now—useful information or recognition, but having someone to talk to at all might make her feel better in a strange place.]

I'm sorry, I don't really know much more than what we were told on arrival.

video

[shootingshields]

This place - Tu Vishan - is indeed quite literally on the back of a giant turtle, if that came up for you at all so far.

[video]

[assworthsaving]

[It's a friendly smile that greets her, though there's a touch of concern in his voice.]

Well. Now I'm curious as to what your definition of 'kidnapping' is.

video

[suoxi]

[ It does make her feel a little better, in all honesty. A kind face in a very odd situation is certainly welcome and Inara is not about to pass that up. Besides, networking is her gig. ]

It’s all right. I suppose this was just a desperate plea for a familiar face. [ She smiles, here – okay, so maybe not desperate, but she wouldn’t have been opposed to the idea – so long as it wasn’t Mal. ]

There doesn’t happen to be an easy way home about…?

[ probably not or these people wouldn’t be responding to her like this. ]

video

[suoxi]

[ congratulations you got Inara to falter and stare a little, dark eyes a bit wider than they were previously. ]

I’m sorry, I’m not sure if I heard that correctly. A giant turtle?

[video]

[suoxi]

[ she makes a quiet noise of dark amusement. ]

I should have been more clear; this does seem to be legitimate kidnapping, though I’m less inclined to believe it was purposefully malevolent. I couldn’t ask for a nicer cell, after all.

[notdreaming]

It's a turtle. Do they have turtles, where you're from? [ They don't on Krypton. ]

[wholenewstory]

The Emperor - brought us here. Said we - have a purpose.

Sometimes we, um, disappear. Not sure why, or how. Could be...going back.

[video]

[hackingyoursensors]

Nice to meet you, Ms. Serra. I'm Dick Grayson. I can't answer all of your questions, but I can say that I heard the Emperor was gathering protectors. Not sure why, though. Nobody is.

[suoxi]

[ still trying to comprehend the turtle. it's not that Inara doesn't comprehend what's being said -- she just doesn't understand it. ]

Yes. They do. [ she smiles. ]

Though to my knowledge, there aren't cities built on them.

[suoxi]

[ her lips press together in a line. ]

A purpose? And nothing indicates what that purpose might be? [ because she'd like to know. ]

[ ...though the disappearing comment makes her pause and frown a little. ]

Disappear? Does anyone come back?

[video]

[suoxi]

So that's what the purpose might be, then. [ ...sort of. ] Or at least, part of it, anyway. Is this Emperor always so ambiguous?

[wholenewstory]

[Cassandra shakes her head, her frown clearly frustrated.]

Um - sometimes. Usually they - don't remember being here.

[notdreaming]

Santo said that isn't normal on Earth either. I think it must be unique to this world.

[video]

[assworthsaving]

[He's a bit relieved that their definitions match at least. He nods in approval, then turns for a moment to look out at the room behind him.]

Really? What's your place like? Because I live in a tree.

[video]

[suoxi]

[ ...She lifts a brow, and moves aside just enough so that he can see her fire sector suite behind her. ]

This is not the norm?

[crossestheline]

In a nutshell; you're stuck on a giant assed turtle because some Emperor is feeling shady.

[suoxi]

It certainly seems like that. I know of larger breeds, but nothing even remotely close to this.

[ ...back up one second. ]

Did you say 'Earth'?

video

[tearsinnajar]

No good news on the getting home front, either. From what I've been told, people who try to leave end up coming back.

[suoxi]

[ Inara is also frustrated, but in a different way. ]

This is all a little hard to swallow.

[suoxi]

[ dry smile. ]

Eloquently put. I have to ask if you mean anything specific by 'shady', though.

video

[suoxi]

There are ships that dock here?

[notdreaming]

Yes, I did.

[suoxi]

But, Earth That Was--

[ a tiny frown. ]

This is very, very strange.

video

[tearsinnajar]

Hmm. I don't think I've seen much in the way of large, seagoing ships. But it makes sense considering the whole giant turtle thing.

[She rubs her forehead after that last sentence.]

Which never stops sounding completely crazy when I say it out loud.