Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"I'm lost sir! I woke up in the woods. I thought I had sleepwalked but I can't find anything that looks like home anywhere. I lost my clothes when I went for a swim in the river... they fell in and washed away. Can you help me please?"
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
The Farmer gives a sympathetic grimace. "Well, son, you're in trouble. Yes, I can help you. Let me unhook the tractor and we'll get you back to civilization. My name is Bart Batty, and you're in quite a pickle. Hop up on the tractor, and get your dog up there too."
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter helps Goliath up onto the tractor and sits behind him to hide his nakedness.
"Thank you sir, I'm so glad I found you, this has been the craziest day! I'm Peter, and this is Goliath." |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"Goliath?" the farmer rubs the dogs head. "Well, boy, I hope you take to riding tractors well."
Mr. Batty drives the tractor to his home in the village: all the houses are clumped close to each other. All of them are wooden, and amenities seem limited. They do have running water, but have a preference for keeping it outside. Mrs. Batty and the children aren't home, but Bart gives Peter a shirt and pants to wear, and sits him down by a wood burning fireplace (the only brick part of the house) and explains some things. "Son, your not home. There is a something that grabs people from old earth and brings them here. Some people say its Spirits, some think its God, others think its a just plain natural effect. At any rate, you're stuck here. You'll never see your family again, and your going to have to get used to that idea." "There's a good number of us americans, who have been pulled into this place. We call it earth, or occasionally new earth, and where you're from is old earth. We've put back together most of civilization: Tractors, Radios, Modern ships, and so forth. At least I think it feels like civilization, but I came here in the 70's. I hear the newbies find it quite different. And I'll admit there are some things we just don't have down right: the plumbing is still unreliable, and you won't see a lot of super fancy goods, but thats just life. "We're used to people like you coming in every so often, though most of the time there is more than just a boy and his dog. You'll be adopted into the community, or sent to one of the cities if you choose that." "I hope that helps you understand your position." |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Despite already been told as much, hearing it from a human being sent Peter over the edge. Tears begin streaming down his face, and he lets out a sigh that's half sob, the reality of his situation being just too much for him.
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Bart Batty doesn't seem too sure about how to handle this, but Goliath rests his large head on Peter's shoulder, and Bart leaves, seemingly to go to the kitchen to make something.
Rider, silent all this time, speaks up: "At least your not like me. You can still move around. You're not dead." |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter puts his arms around Goliath and hugs him while he 'get's it all out' and is finally able to calm down and relax after a few minutes. He doesn't respond to Rider, wanting to be left alone. He keeps an arm around Goliath and leans his head on the big dog, reassured that at least he still has his best friend.
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Rider quickly picks up that his comments are not welcome, and quiets down.
Mr. Batty returns with some very thick, very old fashioned bread and butter, and gives it to Graham to eat. He watches Peter for a while before heading outside, saying he'll be in the shop if he's needed. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"Thank you sir."
Exhausted from his long journey, Peter tries to rest and very quickly falls asleep on the man's couch. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter is awakened either Goliath getting up or by the mother of the family coming in. She has dark brown hair that doesn't quite reach the shoulders, is quite short, and is followed by a cat.
Goliath merely glances at the cat, then up at the woman. She moves quietly, seeming to hope that she hadn't woken him up yet, and starts making dinner. the sun is low in the sky, but still up. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter rises at the activity.
"Hi, I'm Peter. Can I help you with that?" |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
She's quite brisk. "Yes, If you're up, you can peel potatoes. I need about 8 of them peeled."
She shows him a 'chicken bucket' to peel the potatoes into, points out where the potatoes are, and hands him a peeler. He's peeling when Mr. Batty comes back to the house, driving his tractor. Two boys, dirty with sweat and dust, are trudging in nearby. Both have heads of red hair, and the older has a beard. The younger has brilliant red hair and is about Peter's age. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter peels the potatoes and tries to make conversation.
"Thank you for having me. This is all so confusing, and I don't know what I'm going to do..." When the boys come in, Peter gives them a little wave. When Goliath runs up to investigate the boys, Peter says "It's okay, Goliath just wants to be friendly." |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
The woman, who calls herself Anna, speaks very little, focusing on her work (Peter has been stationed on the porch, while she's cooking inside).
The boys are quite surprised to see to see Peter and Goliath, and the introductions are a little awkward. the older of the two is Logan (with the beard), while the younger (bright red hair and Peter's age) is Weston. They handle the dog well, though they make sure with Peter that he gets along with other dogs -- there are apparently three others around here. Their mother calls them in early and informs them that Peter has been 'recently plucked'. The potatoes are about done, and the boys head to wash themselves off, joined soon afterwards by their father. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter washes up and joins them. "Thank you so much... I'm famished!"
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
The meal is simple but hearty. The boys throng Peter with questions about where he is from, and what life is like there. They seem to find him, if not a celebrity, at least strange and exotic. Most of the questions are about computers and politics: They apparently come from a fairly religious background, and computers are not to be had here, with very few exceptions.
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter tells them about the latest and greatest toys and gizmos... Being an only child who was left alone a good deal of the time, he was somewhat spoiled in that department, even so, he spent far less time with those toys than he did out in the woods around his home.
After dinner Peter asks if it's alright to feed his leftovers to Goliath, and volunteers to help clear and wash the dishes. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
The leftovers go in the fridge: They have a supply of food for dogs, and Anna Batty is a little offended Peter suggests giving it to a dog.
Bart and the boys are headed out to do some final chores around the house, but Mrs. Batty is glad of the help with the dishes. (feel free to act at this point, we don't have to skip) The boys are somewhat eager to show Peter the property. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
(He wasn't suggesting the family meal's uneaten food, just what was left on his own plate if that was unclear)
Peter helps around the house however he can until the boys are done with their chores, then joins them in exploring the property. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
(Correct, she objects to his food being fed to the dog -- he notices all of the others have completely cleaned their plates of food)
The property is large, and well cultivated: there is a massive garden as well as the fields. The boys don't venture too far from the house, saying they'll show him the rest of the property later. They bring the dogs with them (who have some squabbles with Goliath, but are mostly friendly and respectful of the giant dog). When they are done with that (which is quite early), he is given a blanket and told he can sleep on the couch. Mr. Batty says he's going to take Peter to town the next day to the courthouse to report a new member of the community. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter thanks them and makes himself comfortable on the couch. Despite his nap, he's quickly off to a deep sleep once the activity dies down around the house, as it's been a very long day.
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
As peter is lying down to sleep, rider speaks up again.
"So, what do you think of them? And where do you plan to end up?" |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
'They seem nice enough. Where do I plan to?... I'm not sure I get much of a choice.'
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Rider: "you always have choice. have a good night."
That night, Peter dreamed of wild half-men running through the woods, with bestial faces and long claws. They met in strange councils, discussing... Peter couldn't figure out what they were discussing. Peter was woken up quite early, 5AM or earlier, by the family getting up and moving around: cooking breakfast, feeding animals, and so forth. Mr. Batty asks Peter how he slept, in a loud voice and a manner that seems to imply he let Peter sleep in. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"Ok I guess... I had some weird dreams."
'Must be your influence' he thinks to Rider while wiping the sleep from his eyes. Good morning! Thank you for your hospitality." |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Rider: "I'm sorry to hear that. Is my presence a burden?"
Peter is asked to help with some of the final morning chores, and then the family eats. They go over their plans for the day: Mr. Batty will take the boys and Peter into town on the tractor, where the boys will go to school for the first part of the day, and Peter will be presented at the courthouse. He and Mrs. Batty make a list of things for him to pick up, and the boys are told to take the 'school wagon' home. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter finds much of the journey boring. At the court house he's asked a bunch of questions, mostly about his history and current skills. He's also asked if he'd prefer to work as a farmer, a mechanic, a miner, or in transportation. Rider explains that they ask this to most people, but few
While he's at the court house, He meets a man who seems like he runs everything: plump fellow who goes around making sure everyone is happy and makes lots of references to 'Boston', which is the the capital of the region, and his apparent home. Peter senses something strange about the man, and realizes that its quite similar to the mysterious sensation that rider gives peter... |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
When asked about a possible vocation, Peter replies that he'd rather be a hunter! He does whatever he can to avoid picking, if he has to choose one of the four options presented.
Upon seeing the Boston man, and getting that feeling, Peter thinks to Rider... 'He's like me, isn't he... one of your people is in him.' |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
They sigh and ask a few more times, but quickly just write something down and continue on.
Rider is quite surprised when Peter thinks the message at him. "I have no idea. How can you possibly tell that?" |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
'Just a feeling I'm getting... I have a pretty good sense of people.'
Peter approaches the "Bostonian" extending his hand for a shake. "Hi, I'm Peter. I just got here from Earth yesterday. Any tips for a newcomer?" |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Rider: A good sense of people? would you be able to pick up me in yourself?
--------------------- "I'm Mr. Hysop. I represent this county in the council at Boston. Tips for a newcomer? I'd say to throw yourself into this world as much as you can. find something here that you can live with and be it. Lots of you folk have trouble adjusting. Find your niche and go for it!" Councilman Hysop looks at Mr. Batty "Is he the only one you found?". Batty: "Other than a dog, no." Hysop gives Mr. Batty a worried glance, obviously in reference to something being fishy. Hysop: "Well, I've got to be going. Good to meet you son." |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"Nice to meet you too... Sorry you have to go, I was hoping to hear more about Boston."
Peter thinks to Rider... 'I don't know, this is all new to me. Is there something we could say to him that people wouldn't think was strange, but another "rider" might recognize to let him know I'm on to him?' |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Rider: "I don't think he's one of us. At least not with knowing so little about him. And unless we're sure I don't want to say anything suspicious at all. These people can be quite paranoid. Most of the time we observe each other and then drop names."
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
((So is Peter supposed to go back to the Batty's? I was under the impression they were supposed to give him a new place to stay or something...))
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
(Hysop isn't handling any paperwork. He's just walking around making sure everything is running smoothly and looking good. He's a politician)
Peter's paperwork nears completion, and he is asked if he'd rather stay with a local family, or be moved to a 'assimilation home'. The assimilation home is in Boston, and there aren't very many people there at the moment. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Recalling how early these farmers seem to get up to start their day... Peter elects to check out Boston. That should give him more opportunity to talk with Mr. Hysop.
"I think I'd like to see more of this land and go to Boston." |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Mr. Batty looks a little disappointed, but not much.
Peter is asked what the dog is 'good for': what its been trained to do: lead the blind, guard dog, herding, hunting, ect.? Mr. Hysop is still in the building, and reappears volunteering to drive Peter to Boston and drop him off at the center. "Isn't my job making sure everything in Boston goes well for the people out here? I'll give him a lift." |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Batty, and please tell your family I said thank you and g'bye."
"Goliath is my friend and he's the smartest dog ever! I taught him lots of tricks." Peter has the big dog roll over, play dead, shake hands and speak to demonstrate. "He's a great companion...I never taught him to do a real job though... but I bet he'd learn real fast if I did." his tone switches for the benefit of the animal.. "Wouldn'tcha boy!?" |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"So he isn't trained for anything specific, but he is very well behaved and trainable. You may need to improve his training. No idea what his age is? hmmm. I suppose you can keep him with you."
Mr. Batty promises to tell the family, and notes his boys will miss Peter. Mr. Hysop has about an hour of business to do before heading back to boston. Peter can either acompany him or stay in the courthouse and 'learn a little more about this place' Mr. Hysop's 'car' is odd: it looks like you took the front of the tractor and put a different set of wheels on it and moved the carriage farther back. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter thanks Mr. Batty again, and asks him to give his thanks and goodbyes to his family. After that, he sticks to Hysop like glue, trying to figure out how to confirm his suspicions without endangering himself...
When Mr. Hysop discusses Goliath, Peter replies "He could learn whateva! Goliath is as smart as they come, and I wouldn't go anywhere that I couldn't bring him." |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
The Dog is thankfully well behaved, seemingly able to tell when he should be friendly and when he should lie down and nap.
Rider is still unconvinced that Hysop is one of his people and refuses to tell Peter his 'name': the thing they use among themselves. Getting an opportunity to speak with Mr. Hysop alone isn't difficult after the errends around town are done. Mr. Hysop seems to own several businesses as well as having a political role. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter decides to make an attempt without Rider's help. He keeps close watch on Mr. Hysop's reaction as he says...
"I'm interested in hearing more about how this place is different from home... I've heard here are strange creatures and spirits in the woods... ever see anything like that?" |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Hysop: "It ain't a rumor boy. There are demons out there. We don't know why they're there, but they possess people and turn them into monsters. They keep on trying to take over our society. Something of an ambitious streak, I suppose. Every so often one of them will start attacks on the rest of us. They turn into some sort of beast to do it, and then sneak in and hit their target. It happens to both us and the Indians. Some claim they can only take over if you give them permission, but I don't know about that. There are two cures: death or an exorcism, and neither of them are that reliable. If you see some spirit out there, or even in town, or some half-human beast, get out. Its got enough power to smash you flat."
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"Take over? How are they trying to take over?"
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Hysop: "They wish to be the rulers. Win elections, get appointed as judges, and so forth. I suppose its not anything new: enough of us have ambitious streaks, but they tend to play by different rules. Killing opponents is one of their favorite tactics. And they have a habit of trying to change up the church. No idea what that's about. I don't think they're demons proper, but the tendancy to mess with religion has a lot of people convinced otherwise."
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter sits uneasily in his seat. His thoughts racing, half in a panic that he might have made a terrible mistake trusting Rider...
"How far is it to Boston?" |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Hysop: it's about 2 hours, maybe a little more.
The roads are bad, but the car seems made for them: they certainly aren't going freeway speeds, but they are going quite fast for a bumpy mostly dirty road. Rider seems to have noticed Peter's reaction: "Are you really going to believe the official garbage about what we do? Some of us do that: the stupid ones who don't get that everything has changed. " |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
'I'm not sure what to believe... This is all pretty crazy. You haven't done anyone any harm as far as I know, but you can't blame me for being a little nervous about our arrangement with what people say. I'm totally not saying you are, but for all I know you could be just gathering your strength until you are powerful enough to take me over completely. Wouldn't I have to be kind of dumb not to be at all concerned about the possibility?'
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Rider: "Yes, I could be lying about my inability to posses you without your complete and total permission. I could be trying to usurp your life so I can live my own. And yet here we are. I suppose it all depends on how much we trust each other, and how much you trust these new 'friends' of yours. And how much you trust paranoia as a way of making decisions."
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter tries to keep his thoughts to himself for a while, if that's even possible, disquieted by Rider's adversarial response... He could just be being defensive, or he could be trying to cow Peter into continued acquiescence.
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Mr. Hysop notices Peter's quietness:
"Every thing all right son? you seem a little put off by my answer. Does it worry you, or do you think we're all crazy?" They make it to town, and Peter is dropped off at a large and mostly empty building. Its somewhere between a boarding school, a hospital, and a barracks. It can easily house 100 people, but right now it seems only three older women work there and he's going to be the only boarder. Comments are made to the effect of 'No one else?' and 'They usually come in groups'. The Women to be part time workers engaged in keeping the place up. They teach school during the rest of the time. The 'house' is right on the edge between a neighbourhood and a business part of town. Their last names are Coffin, Stove, and Bryant. Coffin is a spinster and by far the oldest (and smallest) and the other two are widows. They make good and sure Peter knows to keep the dog out of the house (there is a yard out back) and go down a list of expectations. Apparently young boys are expected to work around here. He's given the choice of helping to clean, or of finding employment for two hours after school each day. The city of Boston is somewhere between 1900 and 1960 in feel. Cars are everywhere, but they are all the same kind, modeled after the tractors. Smog hangs over the city. Electricity is present, but Neon signs are not, though some people have done their best to imitate showy effects with other patterns of light bulbs. The streets are still that half-dirt half-roadbase, which is going to be very dirty when things get wet. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"You'll get used to it. Its always a shock when they come in"
Mrs. Coffin: "If it rains? the dog can sleep on the porch or in the shed. I'm not letting a big messy dog inside." Coffin is quite willing to work out a place for the dog as long as it isn't in the building. Moving somewhere else is a little problematic... the paperwork to move him here is already done, and the law is apparently stingy about people moving from place to place rapidly. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter will see if he can make up a bed big enough for the two of them to share in the shed. If questioned, he'll tell them he means no offence, but he feels safer in a shed with Golaith than in a house without him. He's willing to find a job or come in and clean, and will offer to clean until he finds work.
"So people can't move where they like? Or is it 'cause I'm a kid who's been 'Placed'? " |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Mrs. Coffin isn't pleased with it, but concedes that Peter can sleep in the shed with the dog the time being. She assures him that the 'demons' aren't interested in attacking a boy like him "Though they might want to posses you, but that always seems to happen out in the forest."
Rider seems to be amused by all of the concern about the dog. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter is hoping they will back down and let Goliath in the house, but he's prepared to do anything to remain with Goliath.
Once that's settled, Peter will look for a job. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
The old women stay firm on the dog issue.
there are several job openings out there: packing fish. washing windows. Assembling kitchen pots and pans. unloading freight and sorting who it goes to. As he's out looking for a job (walking around), he notices several people giving off 'rider vibes'. All of them are wealthier, and all of them are older men who give off an air of respectability. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
If he can, Peter will take a job with one of the men who give off "the Vibe" so that he can observe them and keep an eye out for strangeness...
Anything but packing fish... icky! |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter finds it impossible to find a job with a man giving off the rider vibe nearby ... those sorts of people don't seem to hang out at factories and so on. Though it does occur to him that he might ask one of them if they know of a job he could have. Anything the man says might be closer.
Rider asks Peter what's up with his odd decision making ... unless Peter has already told him he's seeing more people who give off that particular vibe. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
'That feeling I got from Mr. Hysop... I'm getting it from a bunch of these guys. I kinda want to keep an eye on them to see if I'm right.'
Peter will follow that instinct an ask some of the men in question if they know of work... He will do his best to make a good impression and if they say have no position for him, he will suggest they might do well to have an eager and enterprising personal assistant! |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Rider asks Peter to point out which ones have the 'vibe'. He also points some wealthy men out that don't have the 'vibe' and asks about them. When Peter tells him they don't, he seems rather surprised and concedes that Peter might, in fact, know how to sense which people have other riders and which don't.
Rider: "I suppose its your life on the line, not mine, so I'll let you make this call: The others will know me by Senarich. But I warn you, that if someone who is not sympathetic to me finds out ... you will be killed, imprisoned, or at the very least shunned and I will have to find someone new. It will be quite unpleasant for both of us." Will Peter mention the name to the men he's asking about work? |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
'Would they know you by name? Do you know all of your people by name?'
Peter is not so bold as to surprise one of these men in a public setting... but instead continues to try to find work with one of them, and will wait for an opportunity in a more private setting once he's gotten a feel for the person. Even at that point he will try to bring up the discussion of the "creatures" and "Spirits" and attempt to get an idea of if they are being truthful when asked questions like "Are you afraid of them?" or "What do you think they really want" and he explains this rough plan to Rider. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"Yes, We know each other's names. We've been around here a long time, and there aren't very many of us. I know some a lot better than others though."
Several of the men just brush him off. A few more give suggestions that he's already heard. One of them takes him seriously for a moment: "And just what's the problem with working with a bunch of other boy's your age? Get enough of them in school? Its certainly not because you're afraid of doing a little lifting" He looks at Peter's large frame. "I might have a job for you ... are you self-motivated enough to stay on task?" |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Quote:
"Nah, I haven't even been to school here yet. Those jobs just sound really boring..." He glances over toward where they pack fish "or smelly." Quote:
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
OCC: Peter has ST 9 and is 12 years old. He's big and strong for his age. He'll get bigger as he reaches 16 and fill out as he reaches 20, but that doesn't keep him from being a big and strong 12 year old (who is still weaker than your average adult)
"That's... quite an accomplishment. congratulations. I take it you're not bad at paperwork then. My secretary commented the other day he was having trouble keeping up with everything. You can be his assistant. The place is called 'Morton's Frieght'. Its down by the docks. Ask for 'John Kissenger'. He's my secretary. What was the name again?" |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
((OOC: Okay, I'm just a little skewed I guess. I was personally 6 feet tall and I would guesstimate ST 10-11 by the time I was 13. I was certainly bigger than most kids my age by some, but they weren't the ones described as having a big frame, I was.))
"My name is Peter Nichols sir. I don't believe you told me your name. Would you be Mr. Morton then sir?" |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"Peter Nichols...Yes, I'm Robert Maxwell Morton."
Mr. Morton goes on his way. Rider fills Peter in with a little more about the man: "Robert Morton is the son of William Morton, one of the richest men in Boston when I was here last. William was.. quite opposed to us. sparked a couple of witch hunts. His son had Irodontus riding with him the entire time. He kept his head low, understandably... I take it the old man is dead. That's good news for us." |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
'Ah ha! So I was right! Well that certainly takes to worry out of talking to him if you know for a fact he has a rider of his own.'
Peter heads off to the docks and looks for Morton's Freight and John Kissenger. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Rider: "It takes some of the worry out. Just because we're the same species doesn't necessarily make us friends. Or the fact that we're both in on the secret. I have to convince them they can trust you before they will trust me."
John Kissinger is bent over something, scribbling furiously when Peter comes in. He is surprized to hear that Morton hired the boy, but pleased to hear it. Peter almost instantly notices that Mr. Kissinger has a rider with him. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"So Mr. Kissinger, what do I do exactly? And what does the job pay?"
And he says internally... 'Hey Rider, do you know this guy? He's got a rider too.' |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Kissinger: "You're how old? 15? that would make it ... 30 cents per day."
"We've got an aweful lot of things going every which way. Mostly you'll just do what I ask you. To start with, I need you to go through this stack of mail. Sort it into bills, discussions on business deals, personal letters, and complaints. Rider: "Never met him before. He has one of us? thats interesting. I wonder if Irodontus knows about it. We're not far from the seat of power boy. Your nose for us is an interesting asset. Don't let the others know about it." |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"Actually I'm 14 sir." Peter corrects Mr. Kissinger, wanting to be truthful, but hoping that it doesn't affect his wage.
He sorts the mail carefully. With Rider encouraging him to keep his own secrets he imagines himself a secret agent looking for clues to the mastermind's devilish plot... A flight of fancy to help make the task more entertaining. "I just got here, so I'm not sure about the money yet. Things must be pretty different here... will I be able to get a place to live and food for 30 cents a day?" Peter works hard and will try and find other ways he can help the office as he completes his assigned tasks. (And could [overconfidence (12)] suggest something that is clearly biting off more than he can chew. He might even just do it [Impulsive (15)]) |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Kissinger: "For thirty cents? You are new here. 30 cents will go farther than in the old world, but its not anything you can live on. That's what your parents or guardians are for. you're only going to be doing a few hours a day. you can't support yourself on unskilled labour 750 minutes a week."
"Yeah, at 14 its 25 cents a day. Sorry about that. I suppose you could have lied about your age... You've got the size and the smarts for it. But enjoy being boy while you can. Its fun." Simply sorting the letters is easy and quick enough. Peter tries to find evidence of rider activity, but its either well-hidden or not there. Peter suggests several things to Kissinger, including paying bills and writing answers to the letters, but Kissinger shakes his head and says things like 'perhaps later'. Afterwords Peter was asked to spell check (and make legible copy of) a hand written letter about opening up a route to Rome. The next task is just as boring (which is to say a lot less boring that packing fish, but still boring): sorting pile of old documents by date. there wasn't much time to read them, but He did notice that all of them had the signature of the father William, not the son. As Peter was wrapping up to leave, Kissinger told him the next assignment was to get his own paper-work done. Apparently there was something special and complicated about hiring teenage boys. You had to pay the government, and then they paid the boy. Apparently this made it easier to regulate or something. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"Hhmn.... My parents are back home where I came from and I don't have a guardian. They gave me a place in a building to sleep, but they won't let my dog Goliath inside, so I'm sleeping with him in a shed for now... I guess I'm gonna need more than one job if I'm going to find a place to live."
Peter does the required paperwork before taking some time to explore and check on what things cost. Later he will head back "home" and looks for a place he can wash his only set of clothes, that are no doubt starting to get a little ripe. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
"The stiff old ladies are your guardians kid. It'd be better if you had someone else, but you don't. They'll take care of you and see to your indoctrination as part of the community. And you won't be able to get more work. One job and school is all you get. Laws are a little stiff on that. And they're not so keen on minors owning property."
Kissinger actually shoos him out the door before he can finish the paperwork: "No way I'm letting you work over time: its not worth it. It'll take long enough". He checks prices on the way home: a good loaf of bread is about 5 cents. Shirts are about a dollar. the price ratio is somewhere between 20 to 40 times that of home: his wage was about 9 dollars for 2 and a half hours of work. When he gets home, Mrs. Coffin presents him with some 'new' clothes (new to Peter, that is). The three women are just about to eat, and it seems the meal was timed to coincide with his arrival. The food is a soup. filling and tasty, but nothing special. The woman start hounding him with questions: did he find a job? where was he from? why didn't his parents get 'snatched' into this world along with him? What kind of food does he like? the list goes on and on ... they seem to have entertained themselves all day by making lists of questions to ask him when he got back. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Quote:
On the way back, Peter will try and find some dog food Goliath would like, and a collar, so that if he wanders off people will know he belongs to someone. On arriving back home, Peter politely thanks them for the food and clothing, and tells them of his day and new job over dinner (leaving out the part about how he chose who to ask about work of course). He's happy to tell them about Burlington and his life there, and that he has no idea why it was only he and Goliath that found themselves here. He tells them he likes fried chicken, hot dogs, french fries, hamburgers and pizza... typical kid fare. In general he is not a picky eater. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
OCC: sorry, I calculated for 30 cents, not 25. 30 * 20 = 600 = 6 dollars. 30 * 40 = 1200 = 12 dollars. thus $9. dropping the cost to 25 cents a day gives him from 5 to 10 instead of 6 to 12, so 7.50 on average. the real trick here is first that peter is just guestimating and second that some things cost comparatively more or less. He's only working 2 and a half hours: that's also law. Yes, they have wacky, restrictive child labour laws here. If you're feeling chafed, thats ok: peter is a teenage boy after all.
The women are impressed with him finding a job so quickly and that he got a non-standard job. They've heard of Morton's freight: William Morton was not only a successful businessman, he was a notable statesman. A traditionalist, from what the women mention. Several offices are maintained throughout the 'civilized world', which from what Rider says (Or Senarich, as his name apparently is), means a number of cities centred on the northern coasts of the Atlantic. After dinner, Mrs. Coffin lays out his schedule: Every morning he will wake up, eat breakfast with them, do the dishes, go to school, go to work, and then return home for dinner. After dinner is free, but they want him back in by 9 o'clock... apparently they are under the impression that after 9 things get dangerous outside and no respectable person is outside. Senarich seems to roll his eyes at those comments. |
Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
Peter will take Goliath for a walk after dinner and learn the lay of the land a bit more.
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
The city is large enough to give an impression of size, yet its still small enough that Peter can actually get a feel for it. The city was created around the docks and factories, and has something of a dingy feel to it. Peter also gets the impression its not just him that's being closely watched... everyone here seems to watch everyone else.
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Re: (IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]
As Peter travels about exploring the city he chats with Rider.
'Any idea why everyone is so paranoid? Are they all just afraid of your people, or do you think something else is going on?' As he gets a feel for the lay of the land, he keeps an eye out for novelties. He's interested in trying local foods they might not have back home. He's also interested in finding a bow so that he might go hunting. If he was not able to find one before, he will also look for a collar and dog food for Goliath. If he see's those in need, he will follow his boy scout instincts and assists people if he can. If this is to be his new community, he thinks he'd best be a part of it. |
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