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

[godsays]

[He glances to Kelsier, once, somewhat uneasily.]

The only thing that's helped here is talking. Most everything else has just... made things worse.

[myironeyes]

[After a quiet lull, in clipped, flat fragments,]

Ruin is gone. Vin killed it. Someone else is god, now. A friend, or someone who could have been one. He doesn't use me.

He's. Gentle. I can't stand it.

Kelsier is easier. I was older, I'm supposed to watch him.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

Well, you make anybody throw up and you're the one mopping it up. Got it?

Spam

[deadly_ned]

You do that, you know. Constantly stump me for things to say.

Spam

[myironeyes]

That's...okay?

[He hopes it is, anyway. He's still rusty at conversation, sometimes, but he generally doesn't mind silence.]

Spam

[deadly_ned]

That's perfectly fine.

Spam

[myironeyes]

Okay.

[A momentary half-smile.]

Spam

[deadly_ned]

You're not as bad about conversation as you think you are.

Actually, you're doing well. If I gave awards out for best conversationalists....?

Gold star.

[Private]

[unknownsoldier]

It's not a life anyone should have.

[And that's probably the extent of their commiseration, because Zack doesn't really do sympathy.]

Did you have any other family members? Or just your younger brother?

Spam

[myironeyes]

[He snorts, but it's more amusement than objection. After a few beats of silence -]

...we didn't have stars either.

[He's trolling just a little. It's true, but he's tilted his spikes to catch a view of Ned's reaction.]

Spam

[deadly_ned]

...Was it just exceptionally foggy on your planet?

[Private]

[myironeyes]

[A small shake of his head.]

Only us.

He - people were drawn to him. But most of those friends are dead too, now.

Spam

[myironeyes]

Mists, every night. And ashfalls.

[myironeyes]

Is that likely?

[His tone is mild, sort of 'huhn, really?'.]

Spam

[deadly_ned]

That sounds miserable. Part of the thing I like most about waking up to bake pies is the waking to the morning.

Not the mist.

[myironeyes]

That sounds. Perturbing, but tolerable.

Spam

[myironeyes]

They were sort of pretty, actually.

[He doesn't love the mists the way Kelsier does, but he got over any suspicions about them when he was small. Most people didn't dare go out in them, so it was a safe time to travel, or as safe as anything.]

But they dissipated quickly enough in the morning.

Spam

[deadly_ned]

It's probably a better idea if I stick to my own planet.

Yours sounds. Intimidating.

Spam

[myironeyes]

It's better than it was. Thanks to - the man I told you about.

People tell me they can see the stars now, but.

[He shrugs, the motion muffled by the line of his cloak. He can't see them. But that's alright.]

Spam

[deadly_ned]

...The stars are out now.

You can't see the stars?

Spam

[myironeyes]

I don't see based on light, anymore. And they're too far away for the way I do see.

[He's more wistful than actually sad about this. It's not like he can miss it.]

Spam

[deadly_ned]

....That's terrible.

Spam

[myironeyes]

It's alright. It's...good that they're there.

[Mare would have liked it, everyone being able to see what she could see.]

[godsays]

He has absolute power over you and he isn't taking it.

[It's a surprise, though, that Ruin is gone. He doesn't know how anyone can kill a god, but - Vin. She's an exception to the rules.

It bothers him, in a similar way, that Charles can do anything to Zane and instead just helps him.]

[forgetyourusedtobe]

Probably. It's not like this boat only picks up people with a strong stomach.