the 002nd. || voice

[pike]

[ Much like Nigel's first post, there is only silence when the device first clicks on. Eventually, though, the young man on the other end of the connection clears his throat. His tone is politely curious. ]

I've been told that the dead do not stay dead here and in ways much more involved than the occasional curse. Which leaves me wondering, City: is there no need for undertakers here?

[ There's a pause and then Nigel adds: ]  I had hoped to make myself useful.

Comments

[pike]

That's rather unfortunate. I have a very limited skill set besides.

My schooling had very little mind for practicality.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

It's unfortunate for you and any other undertakers who might find themselves here, certainly. I know a few people who might disagree. It does go against the idea that the undertaker alone will always be assured of his necessity.

And that's rather the case with most schooling, I've found.

[pike]

[ That actually gets Nigel to laugh. Mostly just breath, but audible. ]

I've learned there's very little considered sacred in this place. Even the most universal truths find themselves overturned. [ A beat, considering. ] Save, that deities rule, of course.

I'd hate to be a psychopomp marooned here.

[ On his end of the line, unseen, Nigel grins at the thought. ]

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

And perhaps the first 'universal truth' to go is death.

You're close enough to that, aren't you, as an unemployed undertaker?

[pike]

[ Again, Nigel laughs. Amused perhaps by being called an undertaker a second time. ]

An unemployed undertaker who's never had an opportunity at employment. My father-- [ A sharpness to the word; there and then gone again. ] --would have never approved.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Twice the pity, then.

[pike]

Mm. [ The sound he makes is somewhere between agreement and disagreement; he doesn't bother clarifying. ]

It's my understanding that adolescents are not required to find employment here in the City. Is that true?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

It is true, yes. I suppose it's an act of mercy that the 'deities' or the City or whatever one wants to say have seen fit to do that much.

[pike]

For varying definitions of 'mercy'.

They say idle hands are the devil's playground, so I'm left to wonder what sort of lesson we're meant to learn from them. [ Not that Nigel wouldn't find ways to keep himself busy. ]

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you'll find some way to occupy yourself. Most of us have.

[pike]

And what do you do to pass the time?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Besides seeing to my household, my sister's education, and our well-being during the curses, of course I've acquaintances I like to speak with, the Network to amuse me, and a cafe to oversee. It isn't much, but it is something.

[pike]

'Your household'. Are you a royal or a domestic?

[ There were other options besides, but Nigel's upbringing meant he automatically assumed a patriarch or a servant of some kind. ]

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I'm hardly a royal, but I am an earl.

[pike]

An earl. [ Nigel mulls over this, trying to decide how he feels about it. It takes him a moment or two to make the connection, but eventually he does. ] Are there many earls in the City? A friend of mine had been meaning to make introductions to one for my benefit.

Cain, I believe his name was.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I know of one other, but I'm the only one named Cain.

Apparently we've a mutual friend.

[pike]

The princess Rosella. [ He says this with the sort of reverence he thinks one should afford a proper princess. ] I live with her here, in the Warehouse.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

So you're her new acquaintance, the one she meant to help find his way in the City.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

[pike]

That would be me, yes. Though I'm under the impression that Rosella is the type to constantly meet new people. And be always so very helpful.

[ A beat, then he remembers: ] My name is Nigel. Nigel Colbie. Pleased to make your acquaintance.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Yes, that is rather her tendency, for good or ill.

Cain Hargreaves. Likewise, of course, Mr Colbie.

[pike]

Does it lead her to trouble sometimes? [ Vaguely amused. ] She does seem to have quite a mind for adventure.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, yes. And she'd call it 'adventure' where others would call it 'trouble'.

[pike]

And what would you call it?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

'Trouble' as often as not, though not all the time.

[pike]

I'll have to remember that for future reference. She's gone to great lengths to see that I'm comfortable. And I'm looking to return the favor.