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

Spam o_o

[godsays]

This is your fault.

[Zane is bothered, irritated, angry. Kelsier in a coma. It must have a cause. It can't just be so mysterious. It must be because of the stresses of Marsh's arrival.]

O_O

[myironeyes]

[He goes still.]

...like hell it is.

[godsays]

You didn't see how upset he was.

[myironeyes]

And he's always been so delicate.

[Bull. Shit.]

[godsays]

He contacted me over the network after he saw you for the first time. Why? So I could come Soothe him.

[myironeyes]

[Shut up.]

Be that as it may, he didn't keel over from too many feelings.

[voice]

[logistical]

Greetings, and welcome aboard. I am Spock.

[Beat.]

What kind of people did these Inquisitors hunt?

[godsays]

How do you know?

[voice]

[myironeyes]

[He wonders if someone told Spock about them, or if the word just means that much across worlds. His voice is dour and cold.]

Halfbreeds, most relentlessly. But they were the Lord Ruler's chief enforcers in various spheres.

[routemistress]

Not a dickie bird, Marsh lovey. Consider me an Inquisitor virgin.

[Iris very nearly manages to say that with a straight face.]

I'm guessin' you don't 'ave commercial airlines on your world, 'cause that'd be a right bugger in the baggage queue.

[voice]

[logistical]

You are from Kelsier's world, then?

[voice]

[myironeyes]

[A solemn nod.]

He is my brother.

[voice]

[logistical]

I wish you a pleasant reunion. [Since Kelsier was dead and all.] Have you acquainted yourself with the ship?

[myironeyes]

[He makes a rough harrumphing noise low in his throat.]

Kelsier has been finding new and fascinating ways of ducking out of things he doesn't want to deal with since he was six.

He'll get over it.

[voice]

[myironeyes]

[yeah about that they are bad at feelings]

I have explored somewhat, but the purpose of some of the facilities eludes me.

[myironeyes]

[He doesn't understand about a third of that.]

...no, we do not.

[godsays]

You just wish you could drop into a coma.

[routemistress]

[Which third? XD]

Just as well. 'Ave you talked to the medical department about that? 'Cause I'd bet you one of 'em'd be able to do summat for the pain. Unless you like it that way, of course.

[myironeyes]

This is what I am. I do not wish to evade the consequences.

[myironeyes]

If I were so irresponsible, he'd be dead a hundred times over before he hit puberty.

Allow me my impotent disapproval.

[Yes.]

[voice]

[logistical]

[The evasion is noted and (weirdly) approved of.]

Which facilities in particular?

[routemistress]

What the 'eck's it for, anyway?

[myironeyes]

Power.

[A wry twist of his mouth, not a grin.]

Most awful things are.

[godsays]

Then I'm right. You do want to.

[routemistress]

Yours, or someone else's?

You're from the same world as our Zane, aren't you?