Post-It: ETD 00:03am [Video]

[maced_eggs]

I don't understand the death toll.

No, I do, I mean. I know how it works. You die, Admiral brings you back, you're up and bouncing again in a week's time.

But I mean.

Who's taking your soul out before you go? Are people's souls staying in their bodies through their deaths? That's why it hurts so much to come back?

That's the most horrible thing I've ever heard in my life.

Someone give me back my powers and my fuckin' Post-its. Or a drink. Or all three. I want to take souls again, I've changed my mind. This place is awful.


[Spam for Dark Heart]

[By some small miracle, Mason's managed to find his room again, nestled safely on the fourth floor between Gary and Dean. He remembers it only when he's able to find one of the two on the ship and them follow them back to their rooms.

Here, he's fast asleep after a long and trying week, his muscles twinging and aching. He's under his smelly, stained comforter in a terrible Murphy bed with springs popped up all through the mattress, clothes spread everywhere. Home sweet home]

Comments

[routemistress]

We get too many murders 'ere to let people stay dead. Sorry, petal.

[private]

What got you?

[maced_eggs]

Yes, but who's there before the murders?

[Private]

Ugh. Too many things to count.

[routemistress]

...What are you on about, Mason?

[private]

That were a real rough one, weren't it? I am sorry.

[maced_eggs]

The whole fuckin' point of reapers isn't just that they get the soul out the body. They do it before that person dies. So the soul's not in pain.

Fuck, no wonder the lot of you are so screwed up. You're feeling the pain each death you go under.

[Private]

I'm only not going to think about it, for a while. An' drink.

[routemistress]

If they were going to stay dead, I'd be all for that, Mason. But pain exists for a reason. Think about it.

[maced_eggs]

[Mason is looking more and more sullen. When he's furious, he goes quiet]

You are not understanding.

Pain's a deterrent. You're a kid and you put your hand on the stovetop and ouch, you won't do that any longer.

Pain when you die stays with your soul. It marks you. Issnot the same thing at all.

[routemistress]

That's exactly what I meant. Do you know a better way to teach people not to do that again?

[private.]

That bloke you killed. Did you reap 'im? Did anyone?

[maced_eggs]

It's permanent, Iris. An' it happens over an' over again? Give them the death toll but don't mark their souls like that.

[Private]

No one reaped Ray. Ray was not supposed to die.

[routemistress]

Sweetheart, I've lost count of the number of times I've died 'ere. And before 'ere, come to that. So you build up a bit of scarring. It adds character.

Did you actually get killed in that breach?

[maced_eggs]

It turns you rotten. It hurts you more'n I can possibly express. It's not...it isn't good.

I am not currently deathtolling. No. I am not more dead than I am usually.

[routemistress]

Do you think I wouldn't know if I were rotten? If the people I love 'ere were?

I didn't say it were good. That's why we try and prevent it. But it's not like that. Not 'ere, at least.

[maced_eggs]

If I die, I want someone to take my soul. Who reaps me? I don't want dying to hurt.

[routemistress]

You're the first reaper I've ever met that I know of, petal. I'm not convinced it'd even work 'ere, and besides I don't reckon anyone else on board knows 'ow to do it.

So it'll 'urt. And then it gets better. It'll be fine, Mason, really.

[maced_eggs]

I don't want to die in pain. My soul's going to be in pain.

[routemistress]

I really don't think the Barge works that way, sweetheart. Look, normally if I got killed I'd regenerate. Whole new body. Mostly new identity. That's 'ow I work, right? That doesn't 'appen 'ere either. This boat's not part of a world. The usual rules don't apply. And we've never 'ad anyone reap any of us before and we're mostly all fine. So I think you will be too.

[maced_eggs]

I don't understand this place, Iris love. I don't think I want to. Logically it's a mess.

[routemistress]

She's a living thing. She's got 'er own rhythms and purposes. It's been my experience that she looks after us, in the long run.

[maced_eggs]

She does provide the food.

[routemistress]

...Can you feel souls? I mean, when someone's not about to die, just ...normally?

[maced_eggs]

Oh, yes. All the time.

Well. When I've not had that taken away from me.

[routemistress]

So you can't feel 'em here? It might not've been taken away. Not everything does - just the stuff people cn make trouble with, usually. It might just be that they're diffeent 'ere.

[maced_eggs]

I tried to take Johnny's. Couldn't do it. Felt him all up and down. You know what they feel like, it's instinctual.

If I was still a reaper I could do it with no problem.

Maybe the Admiral was concerned I'd be rippin' out souls left and right.

[routemistress]

Can't see why you would. No, I think - look, this boat's very like one of our timeships. She works in the same way, as far's I can tell. And I know my bus talks to 'er. I hear it.

But I can't 'ear her. She's ...too big, she's not on my wavelength. I think maybe it's like that. You've just shifted wavelengths.

[maced_eggs]

So I can't see ghosts any longer?

That's not so bad. Fuckin' annoying buggers.

[routemistress]

Ooh, they are. I've got a few medium friends, they're mithered off their feet with 'em. Never know when to shut the 'ell up.