1st race

[bleak_midwinter]

[Spam]

[Tommy walks the halls as if they belong ti him- it's not too strange, since they often did, back home. He walks as if's surrounded by hard men with razors stitched into their hats, with guns in their hands. It's easy to take offense to, but he'll be quick to reassure if anyone does.

He visits the Deck first, to smoke and to let it sink in where he is. After that, he makes the rounds, exploring: the dining hall for a good meal, the bar for some whiskey (Irish; always), the engine room. He spends a considerable amount of time in the common rooms, too, trying to figure out the TV's.

At night he's back on the deck, as high as he can go, as different as scene from his dreams as the Barge can provide.]

[Video]

[He's been on the ship for a full day before he announces himself. You might have seen him, or you might not have; for all he moves as if he owns the halls, his suit is drab enough that he can blend in when he wants.

He's in his kitchen now; there are patterned tiles, an old-fashioned wood stove, a china cabinet. It's cozy, if outdated for most of the Barge's inhabitants. Without his hat on, Tommy's eyes are a clear, penetrating blue. His voice is low, with a strong Birmingham accent. He's smoking, and it's obscuring his face in the already low lighting from the oil lamp on the table.]

From what I can tell, this place is all about 'forgiveness'. Not forgetting, but forgiving-- inmates and wardens alike. How long should forgiveness take? Are there things you could never forgive? People you'll always forgive?

Has your opinion changed, since you've been here?

Comments

voice.

[recinerate]

Some things are unforgiveable.

[bleak_midwinter]

[He doesn't turn off his own video- he doesn't have experience communicating via telephone, feels more comfortable showing his face. But he'll respect that others won't.]

Things such as?

[patheticvillain]

[Cassel saw him around, of course. Hard to miss those cheekbones. But Tommy does look like he owns the place, and Cassel appreciates that enough to give him a little bit of space. For now, anyway.]

[Until he shows up on the network, that is. When new people ask questions that aren't "where am I and why is this happening", Cassel is always interested.]

Always forgive family. And of course it has. Nobody can stay here long without changing at least a little bit.

[bleak_midwinter]

[he's noticed-- who gives him space, who broadens their shoulders defiantly, who walks in his way on purpose. He doesn't know Cassel's name, but he knows his face, by now.]

...Yes. [The answer makes him smile, a little. It's important that people know this about him, important enough that he'll let on immediately.]

I imagine some are more persistent about staying the same than others.

[demolitions]

Forgiveness, huh? Who told you that?

[bleak_midwinter]

It was implied, more than stated outright.

[irishrotter]

I think I've grown more open to the idea since I first started here.

[bleak_midwinter]

And how did that happen?

[omar]

Who you think forgiving who?

[bleak_midwinter]

I suppose that changes on on a case-by-case basis. Some people need to be forgiven; others need to forgive events, or people, or themselves.

[tucky]

I got a lot more forgiving by being here.

[bleak_midwinter]

Was it a hard change, for you?

spam

[witness_this]

[Furiosa doesn't take offence.

What she does take is a deep sense of recognition. She walks like he does, has walked that way for years. She knows the sound of it by his footfalls; the pace of his step makes her neck prickle, makes her turn back over to give him a shrewd, assessing glance.

It's habit, looking at people like this, openly assessing whether they're going to try to take her down, and where their knives are hidden.

It's a maladaptive, useless habit here, and when she catches herself doing it, she actually grins. Hard, quick, and rueful, inviting him in on the joke. Posturing in this place is pointless, and she's sure he knows it too.]

It strikes me. [A conversational starter, because there was nearly a bit of friction there, and it would have been all her fault.] How different worlds can be, how people can always stay the same.

[Because they look as different as different can be, Tommy and Imperator Furiosa, between his suit and her leather and metal, but they both apparently remember bodily how to walk the same way.]

[bleak_midwinter]

[Tommy carries no knives, but he carries a gun- a holster, the pistol tucked away against his left side. He sees her, too, but after the brief scan for weapons what sticks with him the most is her posture. It's grand like a man's, reminds him of a military commander as much as it reminds him of his aunt Polly.

He's always been drawn to strong women. They tend to have qualities that he does not, and could never have.

He smiles back at her, not a wide grin, but a smile that reaches his eyes, makes them crinkle at the corner. She looks strange, but then he supposes he must look strange to her.]

Certain things are universal. They tend to create universal qualities in people.

[withtheoldbreed]

[Gene's out on deck when Tommy comes out, and predictably, he's out here smoking. Unlike certain other people (Snaf...), Gene tries to respect other people's reluctance to have people smoking in the dining hall and the library and most of the other places inside the ship, and coming out here is kind of nice regardless.

Even if it's still a little surreal and maybe scary, because how the hell does any of this work?

He startles a little when he hears the door open and turns to see who it is, slightly surprised to see someone he doesn't recognize step out and start looking around. Gene's still wearing his uniform and has his .45 and KA-BAR on his hip along with the corpsman's pouches so he's not feeling especially in danger, but it's still frustrating to feel that heightened sense that something could go wrong as he watches the newcomer, that he needs to stay on his toes and make sure no one sneaks up on him. When's he going to get over that.]

[bleak_midwinter]

[Tommy has just struck a match when he sees Gene, and he takes his time to light the cigarette that had already been in his mouth. He walks over after, slowly.

He doesn't recognize the uniform, but he recognizes everything else. He doesn't smile, but he inclines his head and doesn't stand too close.]

At ease, soldier. [Unless he's misjudged the situation terribly, he doesn't think that'll be offensive.]

[Video]

[chillestrogue]

In order;

Depends on the situation.

Yes.

Yes.

Not yet, but give it time.

[Video]

[bleak_midwinter]

Very systematic. Practical.

[spam]

[punched_hitler]

[Steve's on his way back from his shift at the kitchen, shirtsleeves rolled up and looking a little worn out as he passes by one of the common rooms and spots someone fiddling with the TV. He's fairly sure he's had that look on his face, himself, so he detours into the room, approaching the guy obliquely so he won't startle if his attention's on the controls. He's both stealthier and less stealthy, all at once, because he's not good at moving silently, but he's skinny and short and most people overlook him.]

Need a hand? They're pretty simple to work, once someone points it out to you.

[spam]

[bleak_midwinter]

[He's stuck his cap in his pocket- it's dark enough in here without that obscuring his face. He's kneeling on one knee in front of the TV, has gotten it on to show static but nothing else.

He looks up, rests his forearm on the drawn-up knee, gives a modest nod.]

I admit I'm not even sure what they're for.

[video]

[routemistress]

[She's spotted him already, on deck while she was walking her dogs, but only to nod to. Now she smiles broadly.]

I've never been much of a grudge 'older, to be honest. Life's too long to stay angry. Forgetting, now, that's another kettle of cats entirely.

I don't think that's changed since being 'ere, not for me. And welcome aboard. I'm Iris.

[video]

[bleak_midwinter]

[He doesn't soften immediately, because he doesn't know her, and he's an intelligent man. But he's seen her around, and her broad smile does change the way he sits. He shifts his cigarette from between his thumb and his finger to between his two fingers, and he inclines his head.]

Not easy to forgive when you keep remembering.

Thank you, Iris. I'm Tommy.

[Video]

[maytakecenturies]

Why should forgiveness be necessary?

[She is still smarting from the memories she relived, changed, in the Enclosure, but it doesn't show. For now, at least, she's in control of her emotions.]

[Video]

[bleak_midwinter]

I never said it was, miss.

[ukan]

Forgiveness is about letting go and moving on. From what I can tell, you don't need forgiveness to do any of that. Forgiveness is a sanctimonious way of embracing hurt, when I'd rather see justice done.

Wouldn't you?

[bleak_midwinter]

You seem quite sure you know what I want, for a man I've never seen before.