01 ♦ A sun makes shadows all over your face as you sit naked and blue

[rhapsody_in]

[Video/Text]
[There's a smear of colors as the communicator whips back and forth - someone's shaking it hard, then tapping it against a table. Then the video feed abruptly turns off, clearly by accident as evidenced by a rapid succession of random keys.] xzchjkyu wq123er

[Spam]
[This isn't the first time Bleu's woken up from the dead, or woken up in a strange place. It's not even the first time she's woken up in possession of a strange object, although the little oblong she finds bewilders her (this thing flashed images like the primitive and faddish moving pictures that had begun to appear in major cities - and it played sound). But it was the first time she could remember that she'd woken up so blue. She sees it in her hands as soon as she opens her eyes, confirms it in the mirror, and immediately dons gloves, a long-sleeved dress, and her Spanish lace veil. She tucks her key into a pocket and slips out her door into the sixth level hallway, keeping her eyes open and following no particular path.]

[Video]
[Some time later after some exploration and fascinating experimentation with the communicator, she is confident enough both in her unusual image and basic technological skill to attempt a real message. This time the feed captures the image of a lovely young woman with bright eyes, dark hair, and pale skin, though all are, oddly, in varying shades of blue. Nonetheless she has a beauty that might make the beholder exclaim a "Hail Mary" or a "hummina-hummina," depending on their piety. On this pretty face she wears a perplexed, shy look. When she speaks it's in a French accent and her voice is soft, feminine, and lilting with a distinct musical ring to it.]

Where in the name of fuck's cunt am I?

Comments

video;

[notdreaming]

[ How do you say such nasty words in such a sweet voice, Kara is completely stumped. ]

You're on the barge. It's an interdimensional prison ship.

video;

[rhapsody_in]

[It's difficult to do, but Bleu has a wide variety of very weird talents. She furrows her brow, looking very alarmed.]

May I ask why? I expected to be back in Paris - or oblivion, I suppose.

video;

[notdreaming]

It's an alternative to oblivion. You died, and then you were brought here for the chance to redeem yourself and go back.

video;

[rhapsody_in]

And how does that work?

[Voice]

[forsaken_queen]

[Sylvanas is unimpressed by the beauty. But of the newest chunk of arrivals at least this one seems interesting.

Okay that could be because the woman's skin is very blue. And she's wondering if she's going to end up with yet another half-assed copy of herself running around.]

Eloquent.

[Video]

[rhapsody_in]

[If Bleu was accused of copying anyone they'd be in for a slap upside the head; she helps create originality, she doesn't need to follow examples. And, frustratingly enough, for the moment this body is all her.]

I asked a question.

[Video]

[forsaken_queen]

Oh, I heard.

[Video]

[rhapsody_in]

Then answer, or tell me why you're bothering to respond.

[strangehistorian]

[Well. That's... one way to start.]

Hello, miss. This is the afterlife you have arrived in, a ship called the Barge.

[rhapsody_in]

[Got your attention, though. Success?]

Hello.

I don't really know what to make of that.

[strangehistorian]

I'm not sure how much help I can be without knowing your particular circumstances. I can help you get acclimated, though!

[rhapsody_in]

That would be a wonderful start. Who are you, to begin with?

[this_corrosion]

[Bonjour infirmière.]

Did you really just say that?

[rhapsody_in]

Should I not have? [Sweet-like-a-candy-striper smile!]

[this_corrosion]

Not on my account. How come you're blue?

You know. Not that I mind.

[rhapsody_in]

It's a long story. How come you're pinkish-peach?

You don't, hmm?

[routemistress]

[Well. This looks amusing. Also, this makes three blue people on board now, as well as two others Iris has met; where, she wonders, are the green, purple or yellow metahumans?

But the new girl strikes her as potentially entertaining, with her snappy replies and her turns of phrase, so she switches on her comm and grins at the screen.]

Welcome aboard, lovey. I expect you've been given the orientation speeches by now, eh?

[rhapsody_in]

[Amusing Bleu is, definitely. That's one part of her no amount of backed-up blue will change, and she gives Iris a tired little smile back.]

More like disorientation.

[routemistress]

Well, that's the Barge for you, lovey; it's unsettled by nature. There's worse places though, I can promise you that.

There anything you need, for now? Your room all right?

[private]

[fridgetothefire]

[Eventually, Anya answers in French, though her accent is Swiss rather than Parisian.]

Welcome aboard.

I see you've gotten answers to your initial questions, but if anything is unclear, I'd be happy to answer others.

[private]

[rhapsody_in]

[Bleu still hasn't managed filters, so it's a good thing the reply defaults to private.]

Thank you.

The only unclear thing is why I'm here. Apparently no one is going to tell me what I did wrong.

[private]

[fridgetothefire]

[She shakes her head.]

Don't think of it as - an arithmetic list of accusations. Even when you get your file, you won't know more about your own life than you already do, and you won't know which choices are listed as sins and which are just background. Figuring out what to be sorry for is part of the work of changing.

You're here, first and foremost, because you died, and someone thought you should get another chance.

[spam]

[myironeyes]

[For Marsh, ever since the spikes were set in his eyes, everything he sees, he sees in blue. He glances up at her passage, points his spikes in her direction, sees the gossamer of her Spanish lace drawn in pale blue lines, sees the shape of her face underneath it in darker blue, and a blue room behind her. Her face is unfamilar.]

You're new.

[spam]

[rhapsody_in]

[Bleu pauses at the sight of Marsh. Unusual beings are nothing new to Bleu but she isn't sure at all what to make of him. He looks like some martyred saint returned from the dead or blessed with vision despite having no eyes.

Maybe he is.]

New here, at least.

[spam]

[myironeyes]

[He's not far from it, in his way. His mouth twitches, not enough to be a smile, but it's a moment of rueful amusement nontheless, and he bows his head briefly in acknowledgement.]

Yes.