001 + 1st Metal / Voice

[godsays]

[ There are a dozen things he wants to ask. But questions, he knows too well, are a sign of weakness. Like baring one's neck, to another's teeth. Another's knife.

So he hesitates as soon as he starts the journal, stumbles over what he really wants to ask. Ends up blurting something he doesn't really want to say: ] Something told me I wasn't crazy.

[ And he backs up. No. ]

I'm not sure why I'm here.

[ Still too much to say. So he settles for a single question, one that's a trivial issue on his mind: ]

What's a 'shower'?

[ The Final Empire isn't much for internal plumbing. Or running water. ]

Comments

[patheticvillain]

That's the saddest question I've ever heard.

[godsays]

That says a lot about the questions you hear.

[patheticvillain]

Ooh, so analytical. I bet that makes you friends back in Showerlessville.

It's a way to get clean without boiling water on a stove, it's pretty awesome.

[godsays]

[ Teeth grinding. Ah, how he hates being ignorant. ]

How does it work?

[espanola]

You could still be crazy.

[godsays]

I know.

[ The evidence in question is somewhat shaky, anyway. ]

[espanola]

What makes you think you're not, all of a sudden?

[godsays]

I didn't say what I thought.

[omaera]

Sakigami!!! You beat me to welcoming the new guy!

[espanola]

Maybe you should work faster.

[routemistress]

Welcome, lovey. Bit of advice, if you'll take it. Focus on gettin' to know the boat and worry about the why later. This cruise does take a bit of gettin' used to.

Showers are a thing to wash under. Like a very directed 'ot rain. They're nice. You're from a world that's not got 'em, I take it?


[and private to Zane alone]

Word to the wise, lovey, that little chap with the green 'air's not the best judge of any bugger's sanity.

[godsays]

No. [ Because he may not have quite gathered all of that, but that the last is a yes or no question is clear. ]

[ private ]

What do you mean?

[routemistress]

Well, look on the bright side; the culture shock 'ere knocks everyone sideways at first, so you're not startin' off any worse than someone from a high-tech world.

I'm Iris, sweetheart - Iris Wildthyme. I'm workin' as a warden 'ere. You need anything?

[private]

...I'm not one to gossip. Well, all right, I am, to be honest. Look, a lot of our passengers are a bit crazy, right? That just goes with the territory, so to speak. That one's the pulling wings off flies kind of crazy, so I'd stay on your toes if I were you.

[secretasshole]

Mr. Sharpe seems to have answered your question about the showers, but if there's anything else you'd like clarified, don't hesitate to ask.

[godsays]

Was that meant to be helpful?

[secretasshole]

Asking questions about where you are, what it is, and how you got here is generally the response to arriving unexpectedly.

[wedonot]

Iris is right, worrying about the why usually can wait until you've gotten adjusted to the ship and what's to be expected of it.

Have you spoken to someone named Chromie yet?

[godsays]

No. Who is that?

[wedonot]

She's one of the librarians on board. She has a packet she distributes to new arrivals with information about what to expect.

[strangehistorian]

Hi there! Welcome to the Barge. What's your name?

[godsays]

[ A hesitation. No one has actually asked his name yet. ]

Zane.

[strangehistorian]

Hi there, Zane! I'm Chromie. Welcome to the Barge!

[Private]

[omaera]

[The girl replying to Toto was wild-eyed, almost hysterical... but when she turns her focus on Zane himself, she's almost intensely calm and clinical. She's obtained a pair of glasses from somewhere, which she pushes up onto her nose.]

I have a warning for you.

[Private]

[godsays]

[ His eyes narrow, slightly. He is interested; the words have caught his attention. ]

A warning about what?

[Private]

[omaera]

Have you noticed that the wardens all have a message in common?