considering ataraxion | canon is Rule of Rose

[pinnedup]

An airship? Like the one... No. Not if I forget again.

I don't want to. They're not safe - the airships, I mean.

I'm sorry.

Comments

[pike]

[ Curious. ]

You've been on an 'airship' before?

[pinnedup]

When I was young.

It didn't- stay in the air.

[pike]

I think you'll find you won't have that problem with this one.

Though I doubt that goes very far to assuage your fears. People can be quite impressionable— [ A beat. ] When they're young.

[pinnedup]

Are you the mechanic...?

[pike]

[ He laughs and then smiles at her. It's an odd smile. ]

I'm one of the doctors. In a sense.

[pinnedup]

So then... You don't really know how to keep a ship up there.

[pike]

I've been reassured it's quite difficult for it to drop out of the sky. Given that — in space — there isn't really an up to drop out of.

[pinnedup]

All the way up there? I can't imagine being so high.

And the stars? How do they look, up close?

[pike]

I haven't the slightest idea, unfortunately. [ A pause. ] No windows.

[wiretap]

Don't apologize.

[inauthentic]

I'd say there's plenty more dangerous than airships. Like, ah— [ He gestures upwards and wiggles his fingers. ]

[pinnedup]

Then how do you know where you really are? Where you're going? It sounds terrible.

[pinnedup]

But I am apologetic.

[pinnedup]

I don't follow.

[wiretap]

Why?

[pike]

The machines tell us. A bit of good faith, really. But we haven't much choice in the matter. [ A beat as he stares like a staring thing. ]

As for our destination — that's not really for us to know. Much to some people's frustration. Though— it could be considerably worse.

[pinnedup]

Because she's excited... and I am not.

[inauthentic]

I meant the, ah— [ He wiggles his fingers again. Like that's going to help. Yes. ] Mundanes. Foul beasties, really.

Are you— How old are you, petal?

[pinnedup]

I suppose if you're in space...

Yes. It could.

[pinnedup]

Oh- I don't think they're beastly, just... pushy.

I'm nineteen.

[wiretap]

She intends to put you somewhere you don't want to be.

[pike]

What were you doing on an airship?

[pinnedup]

Maybe.

She hasn't started writing.

[pinnedup]

I was on holiday with my family.

[wiretap]

Her friends are very insistent.