networkinthenight | audio / @hello / open

Hello, um, everyone. This is Aziraphale. I know I haven't met all of you, but I have gotten to know a good number of you as of late, and I've come to like you all a great deal, so it doesn't sit quite right with me not to apologize for recent events.

The sinking of the ferry was inexcusable. Our-- my failure, was a direct result of poor planning and lack of transparency, but I do need all of you to know that the intention had been to find our only way out of Beacon as other methods had been exhausted, and it was always in the plan to make subsequent trips for everyone remaining who wished a return home.

But I know that no amount of good intention will bring it back, nor heal your injuries, nor surface the supplies it was carrying. For all this, I am deeply and terribly sorry; this was, in no way, how I should have repaid all your kindnesses. I understand your anger, and you can direct it at me, if you would like, if you have need of a place to focus your ire.

However, I am afraid, actually, that I must ask a favor. I have, though not for lack of trying, not been able to retrieve much of the sunken raw material - if anyone should lend abilities, magical or otherwise, to help in the rebuilding of the ferry or the docks, you will have my deepest gratitude, for whatever that is worth.

I will try to assist with this as much as I possibly can, and otherwise will be available to assist those who require healing, though my ability to do so has been stunted.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

It's not too bad. There's not as many people in here as you'd think. Enough that I can hear and smell them, but it's not crowded really.

Well, no. I just meant. For a kitchen. I think ours is crowded enough with just the three.

Oh!

[ She's taken aback by that. ]

You... know how to build a ship like that? That's rather impressive.

Well, no, but. Someone has to try, and I think it'd be awful of me not to volunteer.

I think the kitchen here is bigger than the kitchens in the houses. It's an inn, it's meant for feeding more than just a couple people. Not as big as the kitchens in the colony tree, but still not bad.

What is a colony tree?

[ Eleven gives Aziraphale a look.

No, not quite.

More like: A Look.

It has the sort of implied exasperation that only teenagers can muster. ]

That's not... hard. I'm only 14. You're... [ She fishes for a word, momentarily. ] ... old.

...Well.

I've been friends with him longer than your father has been alive, no doubt.

[ And surely she thinks he's old. ]

[Really, half the time Stone says these things just for the excuse to talk about home.]

It's what the colony lives in. My people. It's a mountain-tree, bigger around than the village, with hollows in the living wood for rooms and flying wells and plumbing. It's magical, and connected to the court, to the Raksura who live in it.

[ The comment makes Eleven frown, but in thought not in unhappiness. She's trying to puzzle something out, clearly.

She doesn't know her father. She knows Mama, who gave birth to her. She knows Papa, who hurt Mama and raised Eleven and other numbers. She knows Hop, who... who is Dad, even though she's yet to call him that, and now never will.

Carefully, she settles on: ]

I don't know father. Papa wasn't... [ She stops herself. ] I live with Hop now. He's kind of old.

[Oh, that's...Jo knows some people might never have seen phones before. How old-fashioned.]

My name is Jo. How can you fix it?

Oh. Well that sounds very lovely and heavily based on community.

You must miss it a great deal.

Oh -- I'm sorry.

[ He just assumed that Hop was her father. And then, wait-- Hop? He knows Hop.

But he hasn't seen Hop in awhile, and he definitely doesn't want to alert Eleven to that. ]

And are you-- are you doing well here, in Beacon?

Dear Jo, I'm not a boat builder, but I have built a bridge. And I suppose I could start with the dock and work from there. -Aziraphale.

It's a good place. I was ready to go, though, I've been alive longer than anyone I know. I'd probably have been fine with leaving if I hadn't then gotten dragged here instead of properly dying. I had a whole year and then some to get used to the idea.

Oh, yes. I feel like people who live a long time and have a fulfilling life tend to feel better about it.

I was at peace, I think.

But now we have to go back.

Wait, what? We do?

[Stone is pretty sure if he goes back, he'll just die again. That seems excessive. And annoying.]

Well, I've got to go back, and stop some terrible things from happening at home!

It's good to hear that you're taking responsibility. Is there anything I can do to help?

Are you very good at... um, planking wood?

[ It's a good thing this an audio feed so Aziraphale can't see the look on consternation that Elizabeth is currently wearing. Still, she'll do her best. ]

I haven't ever tried it, but it can't be that difficult?

Oh. Huh. Do you think that's even a thing you can do? You're, you know, dead. Raksura at least don't come back from the dead.

I-- well, it takes a great deal of strength and patience.

Well, usually humans cannot. But when I died, I was supposed to... disappear, as it were. My soul destroyed. So anything is possible, I suppose.

And then we can just fish off the dock? That's not the best idea.

You might be able to make a raft.

[She isn't very optimistic about his chances.]

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