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001: [Video]

[Carter turns the camera on and it broadcasts. He doesn't know it's doing this, as he thinks he's just filming a video of himself.]

Entry one. Title: This Place is Fucked Up. Did I mention it's fucked up? Exhibit A, the bathroom--

[Carter swings the camera around and shows the bathroom, which has a wall of shrunken heads. Their eyes roll and they cackle when they see the camera. Carter backs out of the bathroom and closes the door.]

Can you believe that? My door is unlocked, too. What amateur kidnappers. Where's Reefs? He's gonna kill all of you. He's a hard motherfucker. Anytime now. Hey, do you see that?

[The camera flips around to show a Nameless, its mouth stitched shut and carrying a stack of laundry. It passes by the open door to Carter's suite. The teen gasps audibly.]

That guy had a sewn mouth! What the fuck! What the fuck! That is some fucked up Somali-pirate shit!

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[Well this guy sure is entertaining!]

Those guys probably won't hurt you. Or look at you. Or acknowledge your existence.

They're not that bad once you get to know them and can be good company. But, you could easily block them off with something from the market on deck 6.

As for the mindless minions, they won't bother you either. Just don't tamper with their mouths.

[A little icon pops up indicating there's a reply. Carter watches Lily speak in shock. There are other people here! And he was broadcasting to them! Whoops-se-fucker-doodle. Carter thinks a minute before replying.]

So you, uh, know what's going on, huh?

Yup! You're on the Black Tide, and we're headed for the Golden Shore. [She smiles and waves with her good hand.] Also, hi, I'm Lily.

[An adult! Carter's used to adults being authorities, and also calm. Sandrath's placid tone is music to Carter's ears. He's cautious, though, because Carter is pretty sure whoever's in charge here forgot to put a handler on him. The door is wide fucking open.]

So these are just special effects, right? This isn't--I mean, this is all really fu--screwed up. Those aren't real heads. Are those people dead, then? What's going on?

I'm Carter. So we're all, uh, you know. Special kids. And they're shipping us off somewhere. Great.

[Carter sits down on his bed. Reefs did what he'd been threatening to do for years and just ship him off to be someone else's property and problem. He didn't even say goodbye. That hurt. Carter's mouth twists in a frown.]

That's just great. But why a fucked up ship?

Oh, it's not so bad. It's pretty nice! The beds are comfy, and there's lots of food, annnd... there's a giant library! And a golf course, and an aquarium, and a garden... [She shrugs, her smile unwavering.] Could be a lot worse!

[She tilts her head, curious.]

What do you mean, "special kids?"

[His calm tone continues, but an amused chuckle manages to slip out.]

Nope, they are real, breathing, bodiless beings stacked up on top of each other. You can thank who ever put a spell on them. Every residential room on this ship has them in the bathroom.

[He has a feeling that Carter won't believe him about magic being on this ship, so he switches to video. The good looking dark haired man with brown eyes is smirking at the camera as he summons a knife to his hand. His attention moves to the blade as places the tip on his finger, balancing it.]

What I've figured out so far is that we've been kidnapped from our home worlds and there are some rather unusual things on this ship. For example, candy that act like real organs but tastes sweet and familiar. My suggestion? Adjust and adapt until someone finds a way off of this ship.

[So it's a nice cage. He sighs and runs his hand through his hair. It could be worse. There are at least kids his age here. Well, maybe a little younger. Who cares? It's not all adults and handlers.]

I've never golfed before...

[He's trying to find the positive in this. Or just make sense of this at all.]

You know, the kids where weird stuff happens around us. That kinda stuff. What happens around you? I do healing.

[Oh, he means powers! Lily understands completely. Are powers normal where he comes from? Or, at least, not unheard of?]

Oh, um--I regenerate. And I'm really strong and fast. What kinda healing do you do?

[She's an adult at 28 or so years (she'd lost track over the last few, sorry), but she'd dealt with littles her entire life in one degree or another. She lifts a hand, unsure as to whom had already contacted him.]

Shhhh, shhhhh... kitling, all is well. Certainly confusing and likely unfamiliar, but well.

[She offers him a smile and it touches her eyes.]

I'm Talia. What's your name?

yo brother chill the fuck out

u'll get used 2 it

[He perks visibly when she says she regenerates.]

And you're strong and fast? Wow, you must be really valuable.

[Carter hesitantly offers a smile. She seems nice so far, and he assumes she's a kept teenager like he is; under the thumb of her handler.]

So, uh, who's in charge here? Am I allowed to leave my room?

[When San switches to video, Carter gets to see the dark-haired man for the first time. Sandrath gives off an air of danger already, and Carter is quiet--when SDan summons a knife, Carter sucks in a nervous breath.

This guy has really scary powers, and he reminds Carter of his own sadistic handler, Reefs. Carter swallows.]

Magic?

[Magic. Or powers. Whatever they wanted to call it, it appeared he was on a ship where most people had powers and there were no handlers.

What the fuck.]

You're kidding, right? Who put us on this ship? And why?

[True, he's getting a little demanding, but the dark-haired man seems to have all the answers.]

[A woman. Carter finds women much more relaxing than men. He knows intellectually they can be just as cruel as men, but that's rarer. Female handlers were always nicer to him than the male ones.

Carter exhales a shakey breath when she asks for his name. Calm, be calm. Maybe she knows what's happening.]

I'm--I'm uh, Carter. Carter Smith. Are you in charge, Talia?

WHY are there shrunken heads in the bathroom? WHY does that guy have his mouth stitched shut? WHAT is happening?!?@!?!?!?!

[Her smile warms as he seems to respond to her, calming down and answering her question.]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Carter... Captain Rowe is in charge of this vessel, not I. You're on a ship, on the chance that you haven't looked out of your cabin window yet. You're a passenger on the Black Tide and our ultimate destination is the Golden Shore. [Her smile is less amused now, and her tone.] None of us were asked before being brought on board this ship, but we are expected to be grateful for being 'saved.'

[A brief pause and her expression eases again.]

Where are you from, Carter? [It was pretty much guaranteed that she wouldn't know the place, but speaking of their home typically helped settle new arrivals.]

[All her handlers are dead or gone.]

Captain Rowe, and yes. You can go anywhere and do anything! 'Cept the crew says deck 10 is dangerous, so... don't go there, I guess.

Yes, magic. You're going to see it a lot of it while you're here.

[He dismisses the blade and rubs the spot on his index finger with his thumb for a few moments. His attention moves back to the communicator and his expression remains rather neutral.]

I'm not. You can ask for Rowe or one of the crew, they'll be happy to inform you of the situation.

b/c theyre a dumb as bricks wall, b/c hes got a biting problem + ur on a boat so chill

[He takes in the information. They're on some kinda ship, and apparently they've been 'saved'. Kidnapped. He can understand that well enough.]

I'm from around. Just all over. You know. I travel a lot.

[He's never really had a fixed address. Carter rubs his eye.]

So--we're all stolen?

How can you be so calm? We've been kidnapped. They're gonna come after us.

[Carter wouldn't know how to feel if he knew that. On one hand, he hates handlers. On the other hand, they're often the only company special kids get. It's a tough situation.]

I don't get it. What's the point of this boat? We're just supposed to wander around while Captain Rowe takes us to this Golden Shore?

[In a way, it sounds almost too good to be true.]

Yup! That's the point.

[What a strange kid. Why is it so weird to him that they're allowed to wander around? Lily remembers that feeling, actually. Her world was pretty limited back in the Deep Underground.]

D'you want me to show you around?

You've got to stop yellin', kid.

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