Video: 003 Re-awakening

[did_i_say_percy]

[When the video switches on, Armand appears dressed, his shirt collar and shoulders are visible, and leaning with his back against a wall inside the Ship.]

I cannot say I'm surprised to be here.

Do any of the people I knew remember me? It's Armand. [He lifts a hand into view and waves, fingers waggling.] Uh, St. Just [pronounced san jyoost], if you don't know me.

What's the weather like? If it's not freezing, I don't mind walking a reasonable distance. Unless the wildlife has gotten faster. [He doesn't seem too certain about that last, but he knows that not everyone out on their own gets eaten.]

At the moment, I'm by the pods still, but I don't plan on staying here. This Ship makes me feel uneasy.

Is there anything else I should know before leaving here?

Comments

[professorwolf]

Oh, there are still farms outside the city limit. We are not quite so advanced as that. Poseidon isn't even that large of a city-- larger than the populated part of the Old city, surely, but not as large as London in my time, not nearly. Really, the worst you will have to content with are kitchen appliances and motor vehicles, like this one, I think.

[He adds, a bit more wrly:]

And mister Tolansky still has one of his beasts, so that will certainly still be about to contend with.

[did_i_say_percy]

So long as no one expects me to control one of those, I think I could live with it. [Live with, not like it his tone implies.]

How is Todd? I hope his other creature didn't die.

And, I was worried to ask before, but is Miss Potts still around?

[professorwolf]

I'm not honestly sure what happened. It seemed as if there were two, and then when we came back from the time travel ordeal, there was one. I'm sure he can explain better than I can.

[Honestly, Lyall is fairly pleased that he can handle the motorcycle on his own. A larger vehicle would be far too unweildy-- and expensive-- but this gives him mobility during the day, which these days he sorely needs.]

Miss Potts is indeed still with us, as is Mister Stark, Doctor McCoy, Major Alenko, and many others I'm sure you remember. I could give you a list, if you--

[He pauses, both in voice and in step, and blinks a few times. Guess what, Armand, you just got to witness Lyall's first memory jump. He shakes his head to clear it, momentarily confused, and definitely not sure just what prompted that particular... daydream? Was that a daydream?]

I'm sorry, what was I saying?

[did_i_say_percy]

[Armand waited a moment for Lyall to continue, then realized he was distracted, very much distracted.]

You were speaking of people who were still here, but professor, you didn't look well a moment there. Will you be--

[Armand didn't think he was in any shape to deal with something serious, except to call for help. The man hadn't passed out, so perhaps they'd be able to get back to the city.]

Should we call someone?

[professorwolf]

No, no, I'm well enough....

[He rubs briefly at his forehead, frowning more in confusion than pain or anything else like that. He's trying to figure out just why he decided to flash back to a night out on the town with Alessandro now, of all times. It isn't as if he was thinking about his paramour, or anything even remotely related to him. Not unpleasant, certainly, but also not expected.]

It's just not like me to get distracted like that.

[That comes out more in a mutter, to himself, but he rallies quickly enough to offer Armand a little smile.]

But I'm quite all right, now.

[did_i_say_percy]

If you're certain you'll be well. [Armand isn't as certain, but he isn't going to try to force his opinion on a grown man either. He trusts that Lyall will ask for help if he needs it; he doesn't seem overly prideful.]

I am anxious to see people. I suppose anxious isn't the word, but if so much has changed I want to see how my friends are doing. And I do hope I can fit in better this time. I don't feel I was quite pulling my weight before, although I tried.

Too many choices can be as confusing as too few.

[professorwolf]

It can be, indeed. Miss Potts will certainly have a direction or to for you, however. She seems to have become something of a central point of contact for half the city, and most of us from the ship. I can take you directly to her bar, if you like-- that's the only free housing left, I'm afraid. The Flop burned down several weeks back.

[He'd offer his couch, except his couch appears to still be full of Nick Burkhardt. Eventually the man will find his own place, but in the meantime, it's not unpleasant having more company. It just means there's no room for anyone else.

Lyall really ought to get a bigger place, one of these days.]

[did_i_say_percy]

[Armand thinks for a moment before answering.] I wouldn't mind seeing Miss Potts right away if she knows about housing and work. Do I want to know why The Flop burned? [He is hoping it was some kind of accident. Those still happen.]

[professorwolf]

I was there, actually. It happened in a spate of riots that occurred in the wake of Nem's murder and an unpopular political appointee from a neighboring city-state to replace him.

[Sorry, Armand, he answered your question without even thinking of whether you'd want to know.]

[did_i_say_percy]

[During that description, Armand looked increasingly worried.]
There are neighbors? [Someone getting murdered sounded serious, but Armand couldn't understand even the idea that there were more communities on Verdana.]

[professorwolf]

Quite a few, actually, Poseidon certainly isn't alone on this planet. Bellona is the neighbor in question, though they're several days' travel away, as I recall. They seem to be the largest in this part of the continent, however, and the most keen on interfering in the politics of others'.

[did_i_say_percy]

Is Bellona another city? What's it like there? [Armand is a little worried about war, and probably more than a little cautious about actual civil war. He knows how nasty those can get.]

I don't want to sound cowardly, but what good would it do to cause such trouble under these conditions?

[professorwolf]

Really more of a city-state, with some control over the surrounding territory, but yes. I haven't been, but I hear it's more advanced than here, but also under much stricter control. That, I believe, is part of the reason for the unrest. No one here really wants to become like Bellona.

[Lyall, for example, doesn't really like the idea of stricter control over their personal lives. Just this curfew is bad enough.]

And considering the trouble in question resulted in several executions last week... I wouldn't blame you in the slightest for not wanting to cause any yourself. There are other routes to take which are less destructive, anyhow.

[did_i_say_percy]

Executions? [Armand can't help his horror at that idea.] I understand that riots aren't a good thing, but executions? You can be certain I won't want to cause any trouble at all.

Though . . . I wouldn't shirk from doing what's right, law or no.

[professorwolf]

I know you wouldn't.

[Lyall reaches over the bike to pat the boy lightly on the shoulder.]

You don't really seem the rioting type, anyhow. Most of us aren't. They were all locals, and the ones executed were deemed the instigators.

[did_i_say_percy]

People should be able to express their opinions of a government, especially if it's going wrong. [Armand tries to take comfort from that kindly pat. He knows how reserved Professor Lyall is.]

Perhaps we shouldn't look down so much on the locals. [Something in Lyall's tone reminds him of a few of the more unkind things some of the League would say about the average French citizen, the poor people who were just following along and hoping that their new leaders would help them better than the old ones had. Not everyone was either the cream of the Committee or the abject victim of the same Committee's cruelty. There were many, many people in between who kept their heads down and just lived through the troubles. Surely, the people here weren't that different.]

It worries me to see people in a position to be belittled, especially by people who are in a position to know better what might be done to improve the world.

[professorwolf]

[Lyall glances over at him with some surprise.]

I wasn't-- or at least, I didn't mean to. I merely meant to say that none of us caused or participated in any riots, that I am aware of. And, while I approve of dissent in the proper channels, destruction of property and endangering of lives really should not be a tolerated method of expression opinion.

[He's of two minds on the execution. As a werewolf, he tends to veer on the side of violent justice, but as an investigator in his own right, he does wish he knew more about how they had come to be charged.]

[did_i_say_percy]

[Armand bites his lip. He doesn't want Lyall mad at him.]

Maybe they were bad eggs, the kind of people who like to cause trouble. But don't you think causing violence isn't most people's first choice? I barely knew how things were run before when there were less natives, and people mostly left one another alone except the Outer Authorities. [Who so far as Armand knew were considered a necessary evil at best before if not outright enemies.]

And now they're allies of the government?

[He shuts up then. Armand knows he has to think things through, and he's not any good at making decisions. He just doesn't know enough.]

I suppose this all too much to worry about today. I need a place to live and a job and-- [Deep breath. He needs his long dead mother to cry on, or at least his sister. So blink, and lots more deep breaths.]

[professorwolf]

[More puzzled than anything else by Armand's, to him, sudden and very direct interest, Lyall tilts his head as they walk, and offers:]

We get by as we can. On the whole, we are on decent terms with the local government, though, yes. This isn't a distant Outer Authority who swoops in now and then to wreak havoc. It is a city like any other, and it must function as one, which means it requires a government.

[Lyall slows to a stop, now that they're at the bottom of the mountain path. The Old City is just beyond them, and a hard-packed road crosses in front of them.]

We'll find you a place, most likely with Miss Potts. Then we can see about explaining everything properly.

[did_i_say_percy]

[Armand keeps his chin down.] My apologies, Professor Lyall. I think some things remind me too much of home.

Thank you for telling me these things. I'd rather find out early than be surprised later. [His urge to cry isn't quite past, so he doesn't dare life his head.] I know I can trust you to be honest with me.

From here, is it a long ride to see Miss Potts?

[professorwolf]

[That, he can understand, and he nods sympathetically.]

No apologies needed, pup. You've been gone a long time, and there's quite a bit to take in, here. It will take some time, I imagine.

[He climbs onto the motorbike and pats the seat behind him, where there's room for a second body.]

An hour, maybe a bit more. I can take it slowly, if you would like, since it's your first ride.

[did_i_say_percy]

[Armand gives a tiny nod as well, and finally looks up enough to examine the motorbike again.]

I only wish you'd go slow enough that I don't fall off or get sea sick. [Then he climbs into the spot provided and tries to figure out what to do with his hands.] Should I hold onto you?

[professorwolf]

I dare say you should.

[Lyall sounds a bit amused, and he looks over his shoulder with a smile at Armand.]

I would hate to lose you halfway there.

[Not in the least because he's pretty sure Armand is a bit more breakable than he is. It might be a bit awkward, but he'll make do. Armand, he's sure, won't likely mind as much.]

[did_i_say_percy]

[Armand doesn't mind. He just didn't want to interfere with driving the motorbike. He isn't sure how it's done.]

I don't want to get lost either.

[And he closes his eyes and leans his head against Lyall's back. Time for sight-seeing later in the trip. He doesn't think this will be as fun as flying in Wing had been.]

Don't mind me. I will try to be a little burr on your back.

[professorwolf]

[It might be, depending on Armand's definition of "fun".]

Arms around my waist, and then we'll be off. I won't let you fall.

[Once he's fairly sure the pup is going to stay put, he puts the bike back into gear. It doesn't quite roar to life, but it definitely sputters and growls its way there. Then he kicks up the stand and starts off-- slowly, at first, to let Armand get used to the sensation. Heaven knows it took him long enough to feel comfortable with it.]