XOqNI

[tongueamok]

Hello, this is Carlisle. I mean, it's not Carlisle as in I'm actually answering you right now, so if you're trying to reply to me at the second, you should probably save your breath because I'm not really here. This is some kind of a recording of my voice, but this is my communicator. I'm going to assume these devices are as common here as they are in other places — not my world, but others, ones more technologically advanced than where I come from— so if you'd like to leave me a message, then you may do so here, or er... Right. Here is fine. So just leave yo— [beep]

Comments

[tongueamok]

I don't know. I was there nearly a year myself, and she'd— I mean, you— you'd been there far longer than that.

[There's some muttering to himself on his end about a number and if only he could recall hers. He's fairly certain it was an early one.]

[circumitus]

[Don't think she didn't catch any of that muttering, Carlisle.]

Number?

[tongueamok]

[His voice gets louder as he brings the phone to him again.]

Ah, er. We were all given numbers on our arms, and they marked when we were brought to the Tranquility. I... suppose I never thought to even see if yours was there to determine if it really was you or not.

[circumitus]

[Fair enough. Rey was wearing her armor when they first met, so it wasn't like he could check then. And the second time he was too high on those damned fireflies to probably notice.]

Everyone was branded with numbers? That's a little... barbaric.

[tongueamok]

I was told they were key to giving us access to the ship, as well as a few other uses. Everyone had them, though.

[circumitus]

Suppose that would make sense. Sort of.

[At least, it's no less unbelievable than "magic phones" and everything else that she's seen here. Plus, not even her world is advanced enough to have achieved spacefaring technology, so it doesn't sound too strange.]

So what do these numbers have to do with how long you've been there?

[Forgive the 20 Questions, Carlisle. Rey has them.]

[tongueamok]

[He's just glad she seems interested now, though he has yet to figure out why.]

Ah, well, the first number -- no wait, maybe it was the second -- well, one of the numbers designated what jump you arrived on. It was a complicated bit of technology, the jumps. Didn't quite understand it all myself.

The point is that mine was forty-two. I don't quite recall yours. Only really saw it a time or two, but I remember thinking it was certainly an early number, and that you must have been one of the first ones aboard the ship.

[circumitus]

[It's good that Maketh shared Rey her collection of notes regarding the Tranquility. Otherwise she wouldn't understand much of what Carlisle just said, plus the terminology.]

One of the first ones? Any idea how long that could have been?

[tongueamok]

Let's see... there was a jump every month I was there, I believe? So... assuming we're going by a calendar of twelve moons...

[That sound on his end would be his pen scratching across paper as he does some numbers.]

The first people would have showed up on the Tranquility about three and a half years prior?

[circumitus]

[Three and a half...?

[FUCK.]

Seriously? Was there for that long?

[tongueamok]

Well, assuming you came in on the first jump. It'd be a little less than three years if you came in shortly after.

[NOT HELPING, CARLISLE.]

[circumitus]

[NOT HELPING ONE BIT, CARLISLE.]

...

[She falls silent for a good moment, taking all of this information in. It's several seconds before she speaks up again:]

And this "other Rey" had been around long enough to take someone else's name and let some kid call her his mother.

Great.

[Now it's her problem. THANKS, OTHER!REYBAMA.]

[tongueamok]

That's right.

[A pause on his end.]

I... did tell you about that, didn't I? I know I mentioned thinking you were related to Mr. Prochainezo, but I can't recall if I told you about the lad you two lived with in that treehouse outside of the camp. I mean, I suppose I must have, if you know about them.

[He knows he mentioned Firo, but did he mention the kid? He doesn't think he did, but he must have. Surely.]

[circumitus]

You didn't.

He did, right after claiming he was m... her son. [And, of course, mistaking this Rey for the other Rey. Ugh.]

[tongueamok]

[There's a lengthy pause on his end of the line.]

I'm sorry, but what?

[circumitus]

That kid. You know. Calls himself "Muscovy".

[Who the hell would name their kid after a long-dead principality, anyway? IT IS A MYSTERY.]

[tongueamok]

... What.

[That was less of a question and more of a statement that time.]

[circumitus]

Didn't stutter.

[Smartass.]

[tongueamok]

I know that, but— the lad is here? Here? Of all the people who could've been pulled from there into this place, why him?

[Why not someone he likes?]

Are these false gods looking for people associated with you and Mr. Prochainezo or something?

[circumitus]

Is that a problem?

[She's not being accusatory or anything -- she really is genuinely curious. Whatever information she can get on Muscovy, the better.]

Are you really looking for a valid answer to that? [But no, in all seriousness:] He did have something to do with her, though? And Firo as well?

[tongueamok]

I— I mean, no. No, yes, he had something to do with you and Firo, but no, it's not a problem, and no, I don't want to know the answer to that.

[That'd be frustration eking into his voice. He sighs, trying to quell it.]

I know you lived with the lad, though. You all stayed together outside the camp after the ship crashed, so I can only assume you must've thought well enough of him.

[The way he says that implies his opinion of Muscovy is not terribly high.]

[circumitus]

[Perhaps she should slow down with the queries before she makes Carlisle explode or something. How unfortunate would that be?]

Must've been a crazy three or so years for her to have thought that that would be even remotely all right.

[Because, where Rey is standing, she is simply not parent material. None of her previous selves were. She wouldn't wish that fate on any child, even one as... strange as Muscovy is.]

[tongueamok]

Some of us are not fit to handle children, Miss Rey. I never questioned why you did it. I was just happy he was out of sight and out of mind.

[circumitus]

Take it you're not a fan of the boy?

[tongueamok]

It's a little hazy, but I'm pretty sure he pulled a knife on me for no reason not five minutes after my arrival on the Tranquility. Who gives a lad that young knives? And lets him creep around as he did, silent as the grave, doing whatever he pleased in the camp?