FAQ with Skewers Sadface McGee [video, open]

[myironeyes]

[Marsh is centered in the camera's view, the wall behind him plain, rough-hewn grey stone. The light flickers a little, as though not produced by an electronic source, glinting dully against his spikes. His voice is quiet and raspy, but the words are clearly enunciated.]

I am Marsh. I am a warden aboard this vessel.

If you have heard stories of Inquisitors from the others from my world - they are true. But they are not true of me anymore.

If you have not, simply know that I do not wish to hurt anyone.

[His mouth twists faintly, and he reaches up to tap one fingernail against the blunt surface of the left spike.]

Yes, they're real. Yes, they hurt. No, there's nothing to be done about it.

[Since that seems to be what everyone wants to know first. The message ends.]



[Spam, Kelsier's room, backdated to wibbly time after the power swap event]

[Marsh sits in a chair beside Kelsier's bed, burning tin and bronze at a steady clip, compounding wakefulness as he does so, hunched over a plain grey shirt, diligently mending the seams.]

Comments

[myironeyes]

...very much so.

[He's not even pretending to know what those are.]

[myironeyes]

It seemed more convenient.

If you have other questions, I will hear them.

[Which is not the same as promising to answer, but hey.]

[forgetyourusedtobe]

You should look into sunglasses.

[myironeyes]

Why?

[darknessb4me]

Oh.

[This seems perfectly reasonable to him.]

At least you didn't die.

[strangehistorian]

Has anyone told you about floods?

[surrenders]

Better to say it before someone else does, right?

[myironeyes]

They are all truths I am accustomed to. It just seemed more efficient not to repeat myself.

[myironeyes]

Mmm. A dubious blessing, but accurate.

[myironeyes]

I observed the most recent incident, although I was not affected. I am certain...how far the range of possibilities extends.

[Private]

[myironeyes]

I'm sorry.

We were - not supposed to exist. They caught our mother, but I managed to get him and run in time. For years it felt like that was all there was, staying hidden, staying ahead.

Spam

[myironeyes]

Is there anything you don't have a machine for?

[More nonplussed and amused than anything, though it's more apparent in his voice than his expression.]

[voice]

[myironeyes]

I could inquire. Although I am not sure where the question would be best directed.

Spam

[deadly_ned]

We still roll out the dough by hand. It's, um. Preferable. To get all the air packed in.

[myironeyes]

[Marsh doesn't say 'I told you so,' not because Marsh is above saying it, but because Zane is not Kelsier. He just nods.]

Re: Spam

[myironeyes]

So, there is one, but you haven't figured out how to make it any good at it yet.

[general 'you']

Spam

[deadly_ned]

I like rolling out the dough. It's zen. It gives me time to think.

Spam

[myironeyes]

[After a moment -]

I do too.

But for the opposite reason.

[He likes it because it's something to do that doesn't require much thinking at all.]

[surrenders]

I mean, it's better to tell it your way than let someone else tell it. Even if you don't got much to say.

[myironeyes]

Is it?

[He actually sounds faintly unsure, under the raspy deadpan delivery. It's not something he's ever really had the luxury of doing before.]

I just. Thought people deserved to know.

[surrenders]

It's always better. You let someone else explain who you are, they say who they think you are.

[godsays]

He doesn't know what to make of me.

[voice]

[logistical]

I shall return when I have determined exact operation of these machines.

[A beat.]

Can you read?

[Private]

[unknownsoldier]

Nobody's ever said they're sorry.

[He sounds confused, like he's not sure what to do with the sentiment. People at home.. either didn't know or didn't care.]

My sister got caught, I ended up here trying to save her.

Spam

[deadly_ned]

Somewhere out there in the millions of universes, there's an order of monks devoted to the zen of piemaking.