2. and the breaking point

[rickitikitarr]

[Video]

[He'd woken up this morning to a terrible new alteration to his body, and to Zane's (rather terrifying) network announcement. So, subdued, short;]

I don't know what the hell is wrong with you people, but this place is fucking dreadful. Someone let us know when the rampage killing lunatic has-

[Fuck. He stops himself, because he hadn't intended to let his temper get away with him. This isn't helping anyone. He, quite visibly, draws a breath in through his nose, lets it out through his mouth.]

I'm sorry. I hope there can be an announcement when the halls are safe again.

[Spam]

[The flood really hasn't been good to him. He gives up on staying holed into his cabin, and makes the trek to go get breakfast. He looks rather unusual, in a low slung pair of jeans and a sheet wrapped around his head and shoulders, held together over his chest with one hand, like a grandmother with a massive shawl.

It's better than going shirtless, which is his only other option. By the way his bedsheet tents up the centre of his back, something is clearly wrong with his spine. When he gets his tray, one handed, and the hood of sheet over his head spills back to reveal a dip at the top of his shoulders, a keen observer will catch sight of a ridge of uncomfortable protruding plates. They're interspersed enough that the movements of his spine are only a little restricted, though twisting side to side more than a bare inch is impossible.

So, he learns quickly, is sitting back comfortably against anything. He perches up gingerly on the edge of his chair, flings one end of the sheet over his shoulder like a scarf to free up his hands a little better, and starts to stab at his meal. He is in a mildly better mood than he was earlier.

Very mildly.]

Comments

[audio]

[rickitikitarr]

No. But a few people recommended I look for work with him in the greenhouse, my first day here.

[Further ammunition for his feelings of 'what the fuck is wrong with you people.' She, however, is something of an exception to that rule, so he's audibly calmer by the next sentence.]

I'm having something of a morning. How are you doing?

[audio]

[tucky]

I'm having something of a morning, too. Something of a week, actually.

Iris thinks people are getting their personalities messed around with.

[audio]

[rickitikitarr]

That would explain a great deal.

[He admits. He'd seen her post, her bad news, and had nearly commented three separate times, but ultimately decided that it wasn't the sort of thing a near stranger should intrude on. But the severe nod he gives her now is coloured by it. She strikes him as credulous, but not so unawares as to be fucked around with quite that badly.]

Is it everyone? Or just a select handful?

[audio]

[tucky]

I don't know. Not me, I don't think.

[But would she know if she was? Mindfuuuuuuck.]

[audio]

[rickitikitarr]

Me neither, but I'm sure we wouldn't know if we were.

[Christ. He tries to fall back into his bed, then hits his spikes and growls, rolling, getting onto his stomach.]

And to boot, there's today. Are you all physically garbled as well?

[audio]

[tucky]

Nope. Don't look very fun, though.

[audio]

[rickitikitarr]

It's not, believe you me.

So, what's the plan, if people are currently scrambled? Wait it out and hope?

[audio]

[tucky]

I don't know. That's what we do for floods, but... this ain't a flood.

[She doesn't think. Do floods ever go unannounced by the Admiral? Do floods ever happen at the same time as other floods?]

I think some of the wardens are working on something.

[audio]

[rickitikitarr]

I hope you're right, Tiffany.

[Because otherwise he's going to really lose it.]

You've been here longer than I have. What do you do when it gets like this?

[audio]

[tucky]

I stick around the people that I care about, 'cause the people are what makes this place worth it.

[Totally parroting Venus and others there.]

[audio]

[rickitikitarr]

[He doesn't make light, because he's sure it's good advice for her. It just doesn't help him all that much.]

Keep your head down, hunker in.

[audio]

[tucky]

Yeah, that too. I'm staying in my room a lot-- 'cause, you know, I don't want to get murdered.

[audio]

[rickitikitarr]

Same here. Though I understand for some reason that's less permanent here than it might be otherwise?

[audio]

[tucky]

It ain't permanent at all. If you die, you get resurrected. You feel like shit for a little bit after-- it was about a week for me.

[audio]

[rickitikitarr]

Oh no- they didn't get you in this batch, did they?

[Very concerned; he hadn't heard.]

[audio]

[tucky]

No, it was like a month ago. During a breach. I got eaten.

[audio]

[rickitikitarr]

I'm sorry to hear it. I can see why you wouldn't want a second go-around.

[To say the least.]

[audio]

[tucky]

It doesn't feel right to me. I don't think it is wrong and bad, not anymore, but I hate it and don't want it to happen again.

[audio]

[rickitikitarr]

Wrong and bad on a metaphysical level, you mean? 'The dead shall rise?'

[audio]

[tucky]

Yeah. It's just very different from how I thought things were supposed to be.

[audio]

[rickitikitarr]

I don't blame you. It's hard to let go of expectation, particularly when they're related to such fundamental things as the absoluteness of death.

[audio] whoops I typed this up and then never hit submit

[tucky]

Yeah. But I've adapted, you know; now I think the Barge is just another way of doing things. And I ain't the only religious person who feels that way, either.

[audio] I do that ALL the time!

[rickitikitarr]

You're a religious woman, Tiffany?

[audio]

[tucky]

I'm very religious. I'm a Christian.

[audio]

[rickitikitarr]

I grew up evangelical.

[He admits, because it's a bit old- he's more than a little lapsed, but rather than making him want to bolt today it's just nice to have something in common.]

I've been wondering what my poor father would say about this as an afterlife.