ataraxion | 004

Tranquility.

[ It's with a warm sort of politesse that Petyr addresses the network this time around, a crimson sash draped over one of his shoulders and a new set of robes upon his frame. Visible next to him, at the fringe of the image, is a girl with chestnut brown hair and her hands folded in her lap, who should prove familiar to at least some upon the ship. ]

I inquired some months ago as to the existence of a physical library, and was informed that the ship lacked such a facility. As such, I have taken it upon myself to begin one for the sake of those who would prefer the feel of a solid page than the, ah. Furnishings that the ship provides. My collection is meager, but it is more than what was available upon my arrival. Should you care to take advantage of it, I can be found upon the fifth level, next to the quarters that Alayne Stone — [ at the mention, the girl sitting next to him smiles prettily and offers up a wave ] — keeps as a seamstress. She has offered her help in my endeavor, to care for the books in my absence.

That said, should you be willing to part with them, we would greatly appreciate any spare books that you might have. This service is without charge, and meant simply for the comfort of those upon the ship.

I have taken the liberty of attaching the list of the books collected so far, and hope that some of you, at least, will find some use in it.

[ And, with a duck of his head, the feed cuts out. ]

ATTACHMENT.

ooc: feel free to talk to petyr or alayne or both!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Here's Tommy. Here's Tommy rubbing his nose and looking a little disconcerted 'cause making suggestions isn't usually a thing which he does. ]

Lotta people who don't have books might remember some. If you got somewhere to write it down.

[ It's that disconcerted quality that first makes itself clear to Petyr, a number of assumptions as to the cause popping up in its wake.

Whatever conclusion he settles on, his answer doesn't change, delivered as steadily as his first communication had been. ]

Is that an offer?

[ It's a good idea — his tone, curious rather than condescending, says as much. He doesn't know where parchment and ink might be found in that sort of quantity, but the inhabitants of the ship have proved resourceful enough. ]

[ And nearby at Petyr's elbow, there is Alayne, peering. The tips of her fingers are curled over the rise of Petyr's shoulder as she leans into the camera frame — the gesture much more familiar than Petyr's politesse. She smiles at Tommy, obviously pleased to see him (and not so secretly glad that he is no longer inebriated.) ]

What a glorious idea, Tommy. Oh, do say you've a tale to share. [ She crinkles her nose. ] I promise we will not hold you to recite it aloud. [ So much talking — she imagines he would balk at the idea. ]

[ Tommy is caught flat-footed by Petyr's question and then even more by Alayne's enthusiasm, which he recognizes is a little stupid given that it's the obvious question to ask. His eyebrows remain slightly scrunched as he shrugs. ]

Probably do better askin' someone who reads more. [ But even he gets that that is a bad and disappointing answer so after some hesitation, he tacks on: ] Might remember that thing about the fish enough.

[ Petyr's smile is born of amusement of two kinds: the first at the vague description of a story that Tommy furnishes and the second at his continuing discomfort (though he's careful to keep any indication of the latter out of view). ]

The fish? [ he repeats, eyebrows rising, though the question is more in passing than not given Alayne's promise not to coax forth a recitation. ]

[ Where Petyr is mindful when it comes to his amusement at Tommy's discomfort, it has become something of a mainstay of Alayne's endearment with him, a note both constant and warm that colors the way she smiles at him now. ]

I do hope there is more to the tale than simply: once, there was a fish. [ She laughs then, brightly, and seems happier than she has in a long while — though why that is isn't wholly clear. Perhaps the ship has brought her some small blessing or perhaps it is the company of the man who sits beside her, the way she glances at him briefly (like friends sharing a secret) before continuing: ] Please, do not leave us all in such suspense!

[ Tommy may miss Petyr's amusement simply due to the fact that he doesn't know the man very well and can't even begin to read him as a result (not that knowing, in the end, would likely improve matters. But he can't miss Alayne's or the glances she shoots toward her father. He's grudgingly glad for it, he supposes, though he'd prefer if it wasn't at his expense. ]

Guy gets his leg bit off by a whale, decides to hunt it down to get revenge. Everyone tells him he's crazy, but he doesn't listen. Whale swims around, wrecking everything, and guy's crew start to desert him. Eventually he catches up to the whale, manages to spear it, but it sinks his ship, drags him underwater, and he drowns instead. The end.

[ The scale of the story is, perhaps unsurprisingly, not quite what Petyr had expected at "that thing about the fish." He huffs out a breath of laughter, as if unsure of whether he ought to be amused or somber in regard to the tale.

Mildly: ]

That's quite the tale.

[ Alayne seems confused and looks between both Petyr and the small image of Tommy. ] Is a whale a fish?

Yeah. Big one. [ More or less. Tommy vaguely remembers something from a picture book when he was a kid that throws that kind of into question but the answer works here for now. ] Old story where I'm from. Lotta people call it a classic. Never really got why.

It's a little — darker than most popular tales, in our time, [ Petyr muses, glancing once at Alayne. ] But I suppose the overarching themes hold the same — ruinous ambition, revenge, and the like.

[ A pause. ]

Classic or not, we'd appreciate the contribution.

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