002 | Video

[mousquetaire]

[ D'Artagnan appears front and centre of the video. He'd barely been able to make this thing record the first time around. Now, he's actually confident with it. Perhaps overconfident. Behind him there's a lot of concrete, but whatever that's about isn't clear just yet. ]

It seems there's a lot of new faces here.

[ It doesn't feel that long since he got here, himself. Seeing them all had made him count back, and realise it's been much longer than he thought. Three months gone, and this is the fourth. A quarter of a year. It doesn't feel like that at all. That's disturbing.

And invigorating. Things need to change. ]

I suppose I ought to welcome you, but that doesn't feel right at all. To those of you who want to leave: I'm sorry. It's not so easy as that. I wish it were. But whoever you are, whoever is listening to this - don't give up. We will leave this place, someday.

My name is d'Artagnan, of the King's Musketeers. I'm from a long way away. So are most of you. What I will tell you is, most of the time, it's not terrible here. You don't have to stay in the place they gave you. They'll ask you to Register. I did, but you don't have to. They won't hurt you for making a choice. But there are times when there's trouble, and there are times when the less trustworthy among our number feel the need to make themselves known. If any of you feel threatened, or afraid, then I give you my word, I'll do whatever I can to help you. You only need to ask.

[ He looks entirely sincere, and he means it. His duty ought to be to protect the King of France, and his subjects. Instead, he will do what he can for the people here - especially for other imports. ]

That's the serious part. These things, on the other hand.

[ The camera switches away from him to reveal that the concrete behind him is actually a car lot, and he's focused on one particular hovercar - bright red, with sporting stripes and fins, it looks like an old-fashioned racecar that's missing its wheels. D'Artagnan's voice has turned eager, less formal. ]

They're like nothing my world has seen. I want to know how to drive one. If there's any among you who can teach me, I'll trade whatever you like. Money, skills, anything you need. [ Thanks to the job that he hates, on top of the fact that he's Registered, he actually isn't poor in this world. That's almost as unusual for him as the flying cars. ] Whatever you think is proper. If I'm going to be here for a while - and that seems clear by now - then I want to learn.

Comments

permatext; comm tag is "Tadashi"

[tadeadshi]

Not a bad welcome.

I have experience driving without any incidents, so I could teach you if you want.

[mousquetaire]

[ Ah. Text. Well, that overconfidence didn't last long.

He can actually do this!! Give him a moment or so - ]

You wouldn't mind? I'd be grateful. I'd need you to be patient.

[ D'Artagnan is one of the least patient people he has ever met. He's probably the one who'd lose his cool, in all honesty. ]

I've never driven before. Not unless you count a cart. Is that all right?

video;

[shuckit]

[ oh. right. this was a thing. he vaguely remembers this guy being a thing. it's still so weird to experience grey's face with an actual... voice. he feels like there's one he hears when they talk in each others head, and it's not this.

so weird. he likes his grey better. less fabio going on.

anyway. ]

Some would rather stay. [ or, at least, go someplace safe. ] Either way, figuring out the Porter is what we need.

Send the ones home who want to go home. Keep the shanks who want to stay from being sent back.

video;

[mousquetaire]

[ Didn't this boy go home?

Well, regardless. He'd been helpful before, so d'Artagnan is glad to see him. ]

If they want to stay, and this world will have them, I would like to see their will done.

I've not been able to get close to the Porter since I got here. I was told it would be difficult, and so it has been. You know that as well as anyone.

[ A little pause. ]

I thought you'd managed to escape.

video;

[leaflets]

[ oh hey, it's the guy with the difficult name. ]

What's a 'must-ket-ear'?

video;

[mousquetaire]

[ Oh, Hinami. He keeps giving her difficult words.

That's probably not getting better any time soon. ]

It's a soldier. Well - I'm a soldier. We're named for our guns, the musket. We're a regiment, serving the King of France.

There aren't any where you're from, I suppose?

text.

[increscents]

Boy scout trying to drive his first car? That's cute.

text.

[mousquetaire]

[ When he gets the car, are you going to sit in it and stick your head out the window? ]

I don't know what that is, but I'm sure it's an insult.

If you're so clever, you should teach me.

text

[bloodpressured]

OKAY.
PUTTING ASIDE THE FACT THAT THERE ISN'T A KING HERE,
A FACT I HOPE YOU'RE AWARE OF,
SO YOUR JOB TITLE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO RELEVANCE TO ANYONE,
YOU DO REALIZE YOU JUST ESSENTIALLY OFFERED FREE UNCONDITIONAL BACKUP TO ANYONE LISTENING,
WHILE ALSO TRYING TO BARTER YOUR MONEY FOR A SIMPLE EXPLANATION OF TECHNOLOGY.
DO YOU NOT SEE A CONTRADICTION THERE.

text

[mousquetaire]

[ What. D'Artagnan stares at this for a moment. Ordinary text was bad enough, but this?

And why is it all in capitals? ]

Offering to help people is useless if they don't know I can protect them. That's why I told them what I do, and I didn't offer backup to anyone listening. I offered help to those who need it, when they're afraid, or threatened.

That has nothing to do with driving lessons, and that's what I asked for - not the technology.

[ So, now that we've cleared that up: ]

Is something wrong with your device?

video;

[illuminescent]

Ah, so that is where you went.

If someone should ask, I will gladly attest to your earnestness in wishing to learn.

video;

[mousquetaire]

I'm determined, my Lady. I can't help myself.

[ He's glad she approves, given that his other housemate most certainly will not. ]

Did you have need of me? I thought Delilah could use the walk, anyway.

video

[rathercommon]

[ Yes she would like to have a chance to look at that butt as it climbs out a driver's seat ]

I can definitely teach you, if you'd like. Also, this was a ridiculously sweet post, and thank you for saying all that.

video

[mousquetaire]

[ Kitty's a good girl. D'Artagnan likes her; she's kind even when she doesn't have to be, and that's quite a rare thing. ]

I meant it. People coming here will be angry, and afraid. If I can make them less so, I'd like to.

If you have the patience for a beginner, I'd appreciate the help.

video;

[grimreaping]

This will be a welcome message for a lot of new arrivals to see. Thank you, d'Artagnan.

video;

[mousquetaire]

I hope so. There are worse places to be trapped, I know that, but everyone has questions at first.

[ So, very slightly awkward. Their last conversation had been...interesting. ]

How are you? It's been some time since we spoke.

video

[purepazaak]

This a local tradition? This taking to the comm system and making grand promises.

video

[mousquetaire]

It's not a grand promise. That implies I'm not going to keep it, and believe me, I meant every word.

[ A little pause. ]

I have no idea what the locals do. It's what I do. Is that so strange?

video;

[worldeater]

[Well, hi there.

Using the word "grudge" isn't quite right -- it suggests that their previous conversation actually left an impression on him -- but here's the thing about dragons: they're willful in all the wrong ways.

Basically, you bother him in his post, he bothers you in yours.]

And how will you aid those who feel threatened or afraid?

video;

[mousquetaire]

[ Oh look, it's the man who thinks he's some sort of god, indulging himself with a lowly mortal. Whatever did d'Artagnan do to deserve such a boon? ]

I'll aid them however I can. I'll fight to defend them. I'll guard them. Not everyone here is trained to fight, Monsieur, and those of us who are should use our skills.

Some of us care what befalls others around us. I don't expect you to understand that.

video;

[fuckai]

Holy shit, is that a hovercar?

[They don't even have hovercars in the goddamn space future]

Twenty bucks and I'll teach you to do donuts.

[Church it's a hovercar.]

video;

[mousquetaire]

[ He has no idea what you just offered, but he's probably doing it. ]

You'll teach me to do what?

I thought that was something you ate.

action; fight me.

[desequilibre]

[ Athos is careful about not letting d'Artagnan see him in the shadows when he finally enters the farm that evening. He'd been laying in wait ( not for long, mostly since the moment he heard hooves ) and he'd made sure all the evidence of his existence ( wine glass, book ) is out of sight. It's only when his friend passes oblivious and on his way to take off his jacket that he steps out. With one hand he reaches up and whacks d'Artagnan upside the head with a gloved hand, hard enough to sting likely, but near enough the kind of hit a father would give a wayward child. ]

That's for the hovercar.

[ See, son. You've upset your father. Athos crosses his arms when d'Artagnan turns, his head cocked to one side. Then a small smile tugs at his mouth. ]

The rest was quite admirable.

you have left me with no choice

[mousquetaire]

[ He stays out for long enough, with no complaint for Athos, that he actually starts to think he's gotten away with it. He shouldn't have been so cocksure.

Eventually, after he's found food in town, he rides home and stables Delilah. He genuinely thinks he's home free with Athos round on him. With a sharp cry he turns around, rubbing his head and throwing his friend an accusing look. ]

You actually waited up?

[ All things considered, he shouldn't be that surprised. ]

I found volunteers, you know.

[ video ]

[animated]

I was actually given the job of driving instructor when I got here. I think by this point I’ve got a pretty good handle on teaching, if you still need lessons.

[ video ]

[mousquetaire]

You were?

[ He's accepting all takers. The more lessons he gets, the quicker he'll learn, right? Right. ]

Well, I'd appreciate it. I'm not sure many of the others have dealt with hovercars before, either.

audio;

[whathawksdo]

Well, D'Artagnan, of the King's Musketeers, you'll have to let me know how easy it is to learn driving once you manage it.

audio;

[mousquetaire]

You mean to say you've been here all this time, and you've yet to learn?

video;

[theminotaur]

[ chillin' on the grass in the backyard, abigail has a dog leaning over her shoulder looking at the screen like yes, hello, pet me. doge pls. ]

400 years old and you're still such a guy. Watch out though, red is one of the top four most ticket car colors.

Re: video;

[mousquetaire]

I didn't realise that was just for men.

[ And then, as if it's an ordinary every-day question that anyone in their right mind would be asking - ]

What's a ticket?

[ He's so ready to be on the roads. ]