[Video]

[smallmediumwelldone]

Good evening.

[There’s a woman speaking, tone clipped. The corporate jumpsuit hangs off her small frame, and her hair is swept up into an old-fashioned bun. Or so it seems - she’s standing a bit away from the screen, and it’s tilted at an odd angle.]

I am given to understand that this is how to contact my new coworkers? My name is Beatrice Brewer, at your service, and I assure you I am quite qualified. I am - was - an apprentice of the fifth circle in, ah, a collection of magi, have experience in a thrilling variety of crises, and am quite keen to get started on - [a heavy sigh, more notable for the fact that someone observant might catch that she doesn’t breathe] - this situation.

[There’s a long pause.]

Drat, is this bloody thing even on? Dreadful place, what sort of dog and pony show are they running, honestly. Stuff? Stuff? Of all the names?

Comments

[breq]

Very universal. Most people don't like to be considered disposable, after all. And then ones who want them to be disposable don't like thinking of them as human.

[ She pauses. ]

The Gerentate. I don't know if you've heard of it.

[smallmediumwelldone]

No. Gerentate? Is that another realm? Pardon me saying so, but you don't look much like a spirit, madam. [Ship and spirit both start with S so it's basically the same thing.] It's a pity my- a friend's hounds aren't here for you to be introduced.

[breq]

It's another nation, certainly, but not another realm of existence. Nor would I say I'm a spirit. I'm a human, like quite a few people here.

[ A lie. ]

[smallmediumwelldone]

Ah. Well, as a living breathing person, that puts you one up on me.

[Beatrice gives a small uncaring shrug after that. She doesn't particularly miss her mortality.]

At least if there are any redeeming aspects to this - nonsense, it's quite interesting to learn about the possibilities of all these worlds. Thank you for the welcome, madam.

[breq]

Are you not breathing?

[ She examines the video for a moment. Interesting. She should've observed that from the start. ]

You're very welcome, all the same.