The Crash Site

[blindandlost]

It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter how you were travelling. All that matters is the Island, and the Island wants you. All are drawn to the same stretch of shoreline; your plane suddenly loses power and drops from the sky to crash into the sand. Your boat runs aground. Your helicopter plows a deep furrow until the blades tangle and catch in the thick growth of the jungle.

However it happened, now you're here. You belong to the Island. There might be something salvageable in the debris, but no matter what you find, no matter who is with you, one thing is certain:

You are lost.

Comments

[doctoral_bird]

[ His eyes went back to squinting, but not out of displeasure. More out of skepticism. And bewilderment, because how is one flown to collect on a job? Still, this woman didn't seem to mean him any ill will, so the best he could do was slowly shamble out of his gallant ship. ]

Just marvelous. So I'm dead or something? Because that sounds a lot like the lines and phrases an owner of purgatory would give.

[ The man's knees trembled, weak from the trip. ]

Well I'm glad you seem to be alright! huff I-I mean, unless we're the only ones who didn't make it. Being deceased here and all. I-I don't know how it works yet, give me some time to figure that out.

[ He dusted his robe with his hand, taking off his hat to seriously fan himself. Black did not reflect heat very well. ]

[parasitus]

I'm not certain whether this is purgatory or not, but I am fairly certain that, whatever this place may be, it doesn't belong to me. If I had my way, why, I would be back among civilization, cleaning the streets as they do need.

[She spoke wistfully, pressing a hand to her chest melodramatically.]

[doctoral_bird]

[ When he was all prim and proper again, he slowly shuffled up to the woman, grimacing as his boots sunk unpleasantly into the sand. These robes were not beachwear... Eugh. ]

Then we are kindred spirits at least. My name is Malkus Iverwelling.

[ He dipped into a small bow. ]

Cleaning the streets? You're a streetsweep then? A noble profession, I'm sure.

[parasitus]

You could say that. I consider it a personal mission to scrub clean the useless and broken things left strewn about.

[Though she's wearing something along the lines of a pantsuit, she still offers him a small curtsy in response, red lips curling up into a smile.]

I am called Genie.

[doctoral_bird]

Marvelous! Yes, I agree wholeheartedly! If we don't do it, who will right? Hohoh- yes.

[ He had no idea that she might not actually be completely literal here. All he knew was that he had a good feeling about this lady! Plague doctors were kind of a thankless job in his time, as were street-cleaners he imagines. ]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Genie! Good to know there is at least one other civilized spirit in this land.

[parasitus]

Likewise, I'm sure. There are others here, of course, some of whom make for surprisingly diverse conversation-- although...

[She turned vivid blue eyes on him quite suddenly.]

May I ask you a question?

[missfunction]

Paige would find herself immediately swept up into a pair of unwaveringly strong arms before much longer, Rabbit leaving the hunk of metal to thunk in the sand before the 'bot was swooping down to rescue his Walter Girl, catching her just in time to save the smaller woman from falling.

"Tch, j-j-jokes at a t-time like this, Paige," even if it was one of the many qualities she so enjoyed about the other woman. And, to be honest, if it was Rabbit hurt instead of her Walter Girl, she'd be doing the same exact thing. "Gotta g-g-get that head looked at. L-let's track down Petey."

[missfunction]

B-b-but they probably ain't got anyone else here t' do th' job, huh? [Lips parting to allow a cloud of steam to puff into the air.] Someone's g-g-g-gotta do it.

[The sad truth, of course, but Rabbit had seen enough dead bodies in the past, bodies who hadn't had any family or friends around to claim them, who had still needed to be buried.]

[tomorrowsyesterday]

Wheee, there went the world spinning wildly when she was suddenly caught up in Rabbit's arms. Paige let out a low startled sound, gripping at the front of the automaton's shirt as if to steady herself, just letting her forehead rest against her shoulder. It helped to center herself somewhat, having that steady contact, even if as adrenaline was fading, her head was starting to ache.

"If not now then when? Without jokes how can we call ourselves civilized? Puns are the sign of a healthy society after all." Not really arguing the point about getting herself looked at for once- this was a bit more than feeling under the weather or knocking her head on a cabinet door.

[missfunction]

I d-d-don't think so! [And before Malkus would be able to push off of the shore and back out to the peaceful quiet of the open sea, the heavy robot would be stepping with a cute bounce into the vessel with him, effectively making it useless as Rabbit's hefty metal weight had the boat digging into the sand.]

We're waitin' t' g-g-get rescued offa this island! Ya c-c-can't just leave like that, bird guy! There's hurt people that n-n-need help!

[doctoral_bird]

Of course! Thank god there are others. I do hope they're as pleasant as present company-

[ He shrank back just a bit, sinking his head into his shoulders. ]

A-Ah, a question? Er- sure! Yes, ask away!

[awfulsentimetal]

[Annnnnd his attention is drawn to the weapon that he has been so very carefully ignoring. The Spine suppresses a repulsed grimace.]

I, uh, appreciate the offer, but I don't think you're gonna have to be shootin' much of anything, Miss Genie.

[The survivors he's met so far seem trustworthy enough. The idea that any of them might be violent doesn't bear consideration.]

But we could use an extra pair of hands buildin' shelter, if you wouldn't mind.

[parasitus]

[The sudden stare quickly softened back into a smile, although there always seemed to be something almost manic behind all of her expressions.]

Tell me, friend... what do you think of souls? If you consider this a possible afterlife-- I shudder, however, to think death would be so dull-- then that must imply a belief in them, yes?

[parasitus]

[Genie saw that.

It isn't an unfamiliar reaction at all, and she says nothing, although something odd creeps into her expression-- a tone of something dark or secret, almost smug.

A pacifist.]

Fair enough, then. I shall do what I can to aid you in such, although I am somewhat unsuited to physical labor... you see, my strengths lay elsewhere.

[parasitus]

... you're right.

[Genie stands, dusting the sand off of her clothing, careful to avoid the cuts and bruises she gained during the crash.]

... isn't it funny, how arbitrarily humans as a species assign sentimentality to actions? Burying a body... a strange action that only we have imbued with such honor.

[A humorless laugh of sorts, and she turns her gaze to look to the wreckage.]

Well, not all of us, I suppose. Did you know that there are cultures in which bodies are left out for the birds and other animals to feed on?

[awfulsentimetal]

"A sharp eye and a quick trigger finger"? [The Spine guesses, crooking a heavy black brow and displaying a hint of a wry smile.] I'm sure we can find somethin' else for you to do if you're willing to help. Either way, I ought to be getting back--comin' along?

[parasitus]

It seems I've given myself away, how embarrassing.

[She smiles in return. Such a handsome machine she's found. Now that her grief about being alone has passed, she begins to wonder the ways in which a machine can be broken.

Or should she harm him at all? He isn't human, doesn't seem to display their flaws, although perhaps he's a bit quick to trust someone like her.

She will simply have to see.]

Yes. I do believe I will.

[missfunction]

[Rabbit does not like the turn this conversation has taken.

As Genie stands, the copper automaton quickly follows with the usual noises of her mechanical form, but the line of her lips presses together firmly, blue and green gaze following after the woman intently. Something is prickling at her senses, but the 'bot can't quite distinguish what.]

It ain't s-s-strange. It's j-just th' r-right-t-t thing t' do! Ya can't l-leave yer loved ones out just l-layin' 'round. It's disrespectful. [And also, clearly unsanitary.]

[parasitus]

Oh, why, yes, of course, in our culture, it's considered quite unthinkable to leave a body unattended to, out in the open air. I was merely making an observation.

[greeterings]

[It took a few moments for that deep voice to really click. The silhouette was familiar, the hints of silver gleaming at the edges even moreso, but what would The Spine be doing here? Unless he rode in on one of the aforementioned alien cows, Peter usually only heard Spine's voice when he was being woken up... which meant...

... uh oh.]

Y'know, I was beginning to suspect as much. Usually when you show up in my dreams, you're telling me to go sleep in an actual bed, because I've drifted off at the desk again and will inevitably wake up with the mother of all neck-cramps.

[He sat up on his elbows, and began shifting his weight forward to sit up in earnest.]

That would be much appreciated. Sooo... hypothetically speaking, if this isn't a dream, then... any idea what's going on?

[He hadn't looked at the plane crash at all during their conversation. If The Spine was right, and this whole situation was somehow real, then that meant... he didn't want to think about what that meant.]

the beach is now diamonds

[awfulsentimetal]

[The tall automaton gets to his feet with some difficulty, the sand shifting under his great weight, and offers a hand up. It looks like he's made a friend of this odd woman.

If only everything else could be so easy; if only a few kind words and a smile could heal Miss B's wounds.]

Glad to hear it. It's just a ways up the beach--oh, and uh, we found some luggage. Maybe some of it is yours?

[doctoral_bird]

What- what do you mean- what are you doing! Stop!

[ He quickly tried to shimmy further into the ocean but that LEG, Rabbit was like a cute anchor. And though he tried as much as he could, his end of the boat was leaning up just a bit. ]

What on earth is an island! What are you doing! You- You- my boat! My boat! What hurt people!

[ His long slender arm shot out towards the burning wreckage, pointing directly at some disembodied leg. ]

He is fine!

[ Truthfully, his doctoral instincts were flailing and writhing in his body. Damn damn damn! ]

[doctoral_bird]

[ Malkus tried to return his own uneasy smile. It was still a good feeling, right doctor? She didn't display any reason for him not to trust her. ]

Well yes, of course!

[ He gestured a bit through the air. ]

All of that, you know. Heaven and Hell and the after life. This purgatory is supposed to be dull! That's the point, right? This is where we... er...

[ Honestly he didn't really read too much into that. He was still somewhat of a man of science. ]

We do things. Finish business and whatnot before going to the other afterlives. Or something.

[parasitus]

Tell me, friend... do you believe that an artificial man could be given a soul?

[doctoral_bird]

[ He rubbed the underside of his beak, humming. ]

Wow, that's an interesting one...

[ His head tilted... and tilted... and tilted, until he swayed to one side quite curiously. ]

I don't know! That's interesting. Who's soul? A unique soul or the soul from some man who has already passed? What is-... Mmm... I must have missed that lesson, because I am not sure where souls come from.