012 - Lemon Meringue

[deadly_ned]

Question.

Or, um. Query, if you will.


Why do we have the death toll?

Does it teach us anything? Don't go doing what you do or you'll get punished for it? And why a week's worth of suffering? Doesn't death make you suffer enough? I hear it can be painful.


Why just...not have a death toll? Can any, um.

Is there anyone else on board who can stop a death toll from happening?

Just.

Just curious.

[Strike visible to those with psychic powers]

Comments

[deadly_ned]

This isn't a mind over matter thing, Iris. When you're dead, you're dead. Willpower won't stop a death toll.

[routemistress]

You talk as if your mind weren't part of your body, Ned my love. You're dead an' then you're not: that's not something most people are built to adapt to, is what I'm sayin'. That's why death toll. That's 'ow it feels to me, any road.

Willpower won't stop it, but you'd be amazed 'ow much of it you can push yourself through.

[deadly_ned]

But you've death tolled. I've seen it. It's a universal rule.

[routemistress]

Aye, several times. My body's not - I do 'ave a natural process that lets me get around stayin' dead, but it's not designed to come back to life Barge-fashion any more'n yours is. I only know two people on this boat that could.

[deadly_ned]

Who?

[private]

[routemistress]

Claire's already told you. My inmate's the other. They've both of 'em got a constant regeneration thing going. Claire's is ...I won't say it were better designed, it's got a different set of parameters to work with. I've not run Wade's biodata, but I've watched it 'appen enough - it's a beautifully complex series of processes stacked against each other, one thing keepin' the other in check, perpetual motion. Amazing bit of work.

[Iris' enthusiasm becomes plainer as she talks about it, her eyes shining. And then she catches herself.]

I made that private for a reason. 'E's not exactly shy about it, you understand, but it's still 'is business and not mine to share.

[private]

[deadly_ned]

I understand. I won't spread it around.


So it's...healing. Accelerated healing.

[private]

[routemistress]

Aye. Accelerated enough that 'e doesn't actually ever quite 'it death. It's got some dodgy side effects, but considering what they were starting from? Amazing work.

[private]

[deadly_ned]

[The disappointment in the Piemaker's face is plain as day, although he tries to mask it. No luck finding people on his wavelength yet, then]

Side effects?

[private]

[routemistress]

There's a lot of surface scarring, and it's 'arder for 'im to keep 'is brain on a leash than it is for most people. Then again, it's given 'im a perspective almost no one else gets. E's getting close to a place where 'e can stay on good terms with 'imself, and it's 'arder for 'im than most.

...And I'm not telling you what you're looking for, am I?

[private]

[deadly_ned]

But it alters his mind?

To be fair I wasn't at all clear on what I was looking for. If I was looking for anything at all.

[private]

[routemistress]

Aye. Brain cells aren't designed for constant renewal, it makes their functioning a bit... wobbly. Nothing 'e can't keep a grip on if 'e tries, mind, but most people don't 'ave to, you get me?

You've got a face on you like someone that dropped a pound coin an' picked up a button, is all.

[private]

[deadly_ned]

They aren't?

That's an...interesting way of putting it.

[private]

[routemistress]

Not at that rate, no. That's a massive set of networks an' connections that's designed to mostly stay in one place, not 'ave to reinvent itself every five minutes. In some ways, it's a miracle 'e's not a dribbling idiot. 'E's an amazing bloke.

It's 'ow you looked. You're lookin' for an answer no one's given you yet.

This is me still not askin'.

[private]

[deadly_ned]

Is it a quantity issue?


This is me...still looking.

[private]

[routemistress]

No, it's ...the human system's meant to 'ave a certain amount of inbuilt stability. All them synapses and electrical impulses, they're supposed to know where to go. It's like living in an 'ouse that redecorates itself an' rearranges its own furniture constantly. 'Ow many people do you know wouldn't be driven barking, gibbering mad by that after a bit?

...Maybe all I can do is keep you amused while you look, Ned my love, but count me in. Whatever you need.

[private]

[deadly_ned]

[The Piemaker did not know any people, but it worried him. He could only bring the dead back once, but they came back the same. Was anything fundamentally changed? He wasn't certain.]

I don't know.

I don't need anything. It's, um. It's not an amusing topic of conversation, usually.

[private]

[routemistress]

...All right, then.

Stargazey pie. Ever made one?

[private]

[deadly_ned]

What's stargazey pie?

[private/text with attachment]

[routemistress]

[Iris has to go and rummage through the data stored on her bus before she sends her next message.]

Old favourite of mine. Think you could pull it off?

[private/text with attachment]

[deadly_ned]

...It has fish heads in it.

[private]

[routemistress]

Well spotted. They're good for you.

[private]

[deadly_ned]

You want me to put fish heads.


In a pie.

[private]

[routemistress]

No, I want you to put the 'ole fish in, Ned. Just the 'eads'd be a bit too crunchy, if you ask me. Besides not being traditional.

[private]

[deadly_ned]

....All right.

All right, I'll make it. I can't promise how good it's going to be.

With fish heads in it.