shipmaster | (no subject)

What is out there? A monster?

What a good question!

With a good answer, I'm sure. So spit it out.

Oh, it's true. The answer is really incredible by most world's standards.

That really doesn't mean you should go out in it. I'd hate to see you go so soon.

Then by all means, tell me what it is. I must sate my curiosity on way or another.

Oh, go do what you have to do. I don't always enjoy the results of free will, take this venture for example, but it's a certain advantage Blanks enjoy.

Shame most of you don't use it well.

On the contrary. I'd say it's been fruitful so far.

[ There is now a squidrat on Miles shoulder again, little tentacles pulling on his ear. ]

Oh? How so my little duckling?

[ Hey. He swats at those tentacles. ]

I have an audience with a Judge, don't I?

Is that what this is? Oh very well, should we do this properly?

I think we should.

Er. Properly how?

[ And suddenly, there was light.

It takes a moment to adjust to the sudden burst of illumination, but when the eyes clear, Curious and Flourish still stand at the base of a throne. Sitting in it is an enormous man made of stone, barely perched on the edge of it how he leans down to 'see' better. His eyes are invisible under a mop of hair, but the lips have a certain bitter twist to them.

Around them, the sky is blue, the grass green and sways gently in a crisp spring breeze.]

You did come to the Arena, after all.

[ Oh no. OH HELL NO. Not without the rest of their team. Bel pulls Miles to his feet and starts backing away. ]

[ Oh hell. Flourish backs up too, letting Curious drag him back. Having much the same thought. ]

You can't have a game with just two people.

Furthermore, we're on the same team. There's no one to compete against!

[ Neither of the Lacertans actually SEE Messenger move. The statue is merely leaning back, one leg flung over the arm of the throne, the next time one looks. ]

Oh come now, what have they said about my games?

[ He frowns at that, thinking furiously back through all the things they've absorbed today. ]

That you're about teaching things. Plants, information, that sort of thing.

I am oh so partial to learning and advancement.

Still wish to leave? I will let you go.

[ Goddammit. Curious may be his teammate's name, but Flourish can't resist sating his own curiosity ... ]

Fine, then. I'll play.

And you my little duckling?

Yes.

[ A beat. ]

What is a duckling?

Small and foolish, I'm guessing.

AND. Nothing you're likely to run into here.

Anyway! Lets do a little bit of a walk about then, shall we? [ A moment later, both Blanks are enveloped by a sudden, swirling wind and shrink. They change, getting smaller. Cuter, more tentacley.

EVERYTHING IS SO BIG AND SO FAST AND YOU CAN FIT INTO EVERYTHING AND YOU CAN TASTE FROM YOUR SKIN AND HEAR FOREVER. ]

[ What. The hell. Flourish barely has a moment to yelp in terror before the change is on him and the world expands in dizzying leaps and bounds. But by the time it's done, he's ... happy? About it? Because holy shit he never knew how amazing that thing was, and over here, and he can move without hurting because there's no bones in this squishy body, only boundless enthusiasm -

He immediately moves to try and scramble up on top of Curious, his tiny tentacles waving all over them. He is, naturally enough, a an especially tiny squidrat. ]

[ Curious squooshes this way and that, only mildly aware of their passenger in this new, fantastic sensory overload. WHAT IS THIS??? NEW COLORS?? RANGES OF SMELL? HOLY CRAP EVERYTHING IS SO BIG. ]

Good Lord what? Can you see THAT? Is it SUPPOSED to be like this?

[ For the moment, the Judge is silent, to let them get used to their new form. They have all night, after all. ]