063rd metal

[godsays]

Yes. It's normal.

[ Zane is in the greenhouse dome; he's lit by the panels of lights aimed on the plants, to keep them alive. Keep them going. ]

For the Barge to be dark, and for people to be left behind.

More than a year ago, now, it was Silent Hill. It's been the Mirror Barge. It's been the Emperor's attempt to escape... it's been crash-landings on planets of caves and lightning.

Stop talking about the Barge like it's safe. Just because you can't die doesn't mean you're safe. It means that there will always be another opportunity to set things right. It means you can't let go of hope.

If anyone wants to, in the greenhouse, you can adopt a seed or a seedling in honor of someone left behind. I don't know if it will help. It might.

Comments

[routemistress]

[Iris is red-eyed and grim.]

What've you got that's covered in thorns and isn't pretty?

[godsays]

Come see.

Or come touch, and pick whichever draws blood.

[routemistress]

No, I already know. Aloe vera. Terrans used to bury it with pharaohs for immortality, and it soothes burns and all. Find me the biggest, ugliest one you've got and me and Elvis and Solace'll be up later to piddle on it.

Them, not me. Probably.

[godsays]

Oh. I think those are beautiful too.

[voice]

[routemistress]

[This is Iris breaking into fresh floods of tears and then turning off the video.]

So did I, Zane love. So did I.

[to_dust]

I didn't think it was safe--

I have no idea what I thought.

What have you got that's hardy and large blossomed?

[godsays]

Sunflowers. Some others, I don't know what they're called, but they're orange, and the leaves are coarse.

[to_dust]

...sunflowers. That one. The Doctor said they only grow on earth.

[godsays]

That seems like a waste.

[fireincarnate]

[Zane.

Not the Zane she argued with there - the Zane who had turned cold. (But maybe he was right, in the end. Maybe, if she'd graduated - )

Her eyes are already burning.]

Is there a flower for queens?

[godsays]

You should ask Morgana.

[ He has a guess who she's talking about. ]

Private

[fireincarnate]

[A low, brittle laugh.] I don't know if I can have that conversation.

"Hey, Morgana, what's a good flower for the version of you I couldn't save"?

Private

[godsays]

Just ask her about her favorite.

[bodilesswarrior]

...Do you have any Crocus flowers? [Stephanie isn't the only one she mourns, the only one she failed, but it's the first thing that comes to mind.]

[godsays]

Can you describe them?

[bodilesswarrior]

I'm thinking of the purple ones. They've got long petals - they look like a goblet, before they open up. Three stamens in the middle. The leaves are sharp, with white stripes.

[After a moment, softly.] They always thrive, even in winter.

[godsays]

I know which ones you mean. Yes. There are some.

[video]

[theresalwayshope]

[Hi, Zane. Have an Allison coming to you from Tig Trager's cabin. She's currently stretched out on her stomach on Tig's bed, and Duchess is hopping towards her, dragging a bright pink bandanna along by the corner neatly caught in her little mouth. As she talks to Zane, Allison takes the bandanna from her and dangles it over Duchess's head, just low enough that she can snag the corner in her mouth again, the promptly hop away with her stolen 'prize.' Within a few moments, she hops right back over to offer Allison the bandanna again to repeat the game.]

Are there any plants with really nasty thorns, but really pretty blossoms? [She's heard about the people that are missing...and she hasn't seen Mindy around anywhere. With none of the missing showing signs of returning...

It actually feels like a nice idea.]

[video]

[godsays]

...besides roses?

[video]

[theresalwayshope]

Something thornier. With...bigger thorns. Or at least nastier ones. Like...

...ooh! Maybe some kind of cactus?

[video]

[godsays]

Yes. There are those. A red flower?

[punched_hitler]

It's not safe, but I don't think that means we should resign ourselves to letting it be someplace where you can't find any safety, either. [Because that sounds far too much like the other Barge for his liking.]

Like you said - there's always an opportunity to make things right. But I think there are always opportunities to make it safer, too.

I think we just need to be better prepared, maybe. [Including himself.]

[godsays]

It's not safe, but how many of the people here ever made a home where it was safe?

[punched_hitler]

Part of me wonders if that's not at least half of the requirement for ending up here. Either way.

[godsays]

It probably is.