oo1 ♕ ( t e x t )

[spitfiery]

[ it takes her longer than she likes to figure out how to work the device; after enough cautious tinkering, rhoda manages to work her way around the text function. it's still damned fiddly; the keys are smaller than that of a typewriter and she has yet to discover how to underline words for emphasis (which is perhaps for the best; she would certainly abuse that option, though now what you get is the wanton abuse of capslock in its place). ]

I understand that NO amount of scrubbing will rid me of the markings on my arm.
However, might I inquire as to whether there are any witches aboard this star-ship who have at the very least succeeded in HIDING it under a Glamour?
I would attempt to do so myself, but I don't know if there are any enchantments or wards upon the thing already. No one wishes to have their magic BACKFIRE upon them, naturally.
Beyond that, should anyone care to explain just WHY we must be branded like CATTLE as though we were PROPERTY of this vessel, I would be INFINITELY grateful.

Yours Faithfully,
Lady Rhoda Lamb

Comments

text

[deprecate]

magic isn't REAL.

( permatext )

[spitfiery]

[ ...are you mocking her, sir? ]

You must be thinking of FAIRIES, else I've never heard such BOSH.

text until he decides for it not to be

[deprecate]

[ Course not. Let's overlook the fact that this is practically the first time Cillian's used the capslock key in his entire history of technological texting. ]

someones read 2 much HARRY POTTER

( t e x t )

[wont]

Dear Lady Rhoda Lamb,

You are not the first to liken us to cattle, given the numbers marked onto our arms.
It is my experience that they function not unlike a key,
and grant us access not only to our rooms, but to various places aboard the ship.
How it does this is far beyond my understanding.
Thought it is said to be 'technology' rather than 'magic', as I'd first believed.

If you are in search of those touched by magic,
I have several in acquaintance.

Sincerely,
Alayne Stone.

( text )

[spitfiery]

Dear Miss Alayne Stone,

Thank you for your assistance.
This technology is far more advanced than anything I've previously encountered. I might be inclined to marvel at it were it not so invasive.

I wouldn't object to being introduced to any fellow witches.
Are we few and far between here? I do believe I've encountered someone who simply denied the existence of magic, which lends the impression that we may not exist at all in the future.

Yours Sincerely,
Lady Rhoda Lamb

( text )

[wont]

Dear Lady Rhoda Lamb,

There are those aboard who are learned in such advances.
No doubt they may provide more reassuring answers that I could ever hope, given my ignorance.
You will be best served offering them your inquiry.

I believe they call themselves 'wizards'.
Is a witch perhaps a lady wizard?
You will forgive me, I hope, if the question proves too simple-minded.
Mention of magic is left to stories and songs in my world,
and so it is thought a fancifulness and little more.
We've neither wizards nor witches, though there is talk of them abroad.
Are they commonplace where you are from?

Sincerely,
Alayne Stone.

text.

[helpmeguideit]

I'm afraid it isn't magic that brought you here or keeps you here. We're in a ship, and it is...technology that brought you here. Those numbers are important for identifying you. I would not hide them.

( text )

[spitfiery]

Not that I'm suggesting more be added to these tattoos, but can this form of identification be effective if the individual's name isn't written anywhere?

( text )

[helpmeguideit]

As it identifies your room, your contact information, as well as your locker, it is all that is necessary. It also makes differentiating between very similar seeming individuals easier. I share a name with another person here.

text;

[abrahamic]

you're a witch?? like a real one?

[Because this is the important thing here. No, really.]

( text )

[spitfiery]

Of course. Are there people on board pretending to be witches?

[jilt]

Really, just pull your sleeves down a bit, or see if someone has a pair of opera gloves about. There's no need to be so dramatic.

[spitfiery]

Opera gloves wouldn't suit the clothing I've got.
Magic really isn't that drastic a measure, provided one knows what they're doing.

[hearme]

Dear Lady Rhoda Lamb,

Unfortunately I am unfamiliar with sorcery and, therefore, unable to aid you. Should you find a way to cover or otherwise remove the markings on your arm, I would be most grateful if you would be so kind as to pass on such knowledge. I too hold a particular dislike towards the numbers and would be able to thank you financially for your services. Lions tend not to make good cattle.

Yours sincerely,

Her Majesty, Cersei nee Lannister of House Baratheon, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms

( text )

[spitfiery]

Your Majesty,

I have been informed that this is the doing of technology and, for the sake of identification, that these markings ought not to be hidden.
I see no harm, however, in the use of magic to simply obscure the numbers. If it is so vital that they be seen, then any competent witch in the vicinity may lift the enchantment with ease.
However, I still wish to find another of my kind before I make an attempt of my own.
I shall, of course, not hesitate to aid Your Majesty once I am sure the enchantment can be cast safely.

Yours Sincerely,
Lady Rhoda Lamb

text

[rickon]

[Rickon has gleaned one major concept from this whole thing. That it was in capital letters only emphasizes its importance.]

are you a cow

( text )

[spitfiery]

[ and rhoda is sure someone is mocking her again. ]

I only said we were LIKE cattle. I'm a witch, really.

[text]

[growling]

[ OH GOOD they have witches here. They'll be all set for Halloween if they can just find a vampire, maybe a few zombies. ]

No idea about "glamours", sorry. Good luck with that. But they seem to have assigned us numbers because they're too lazy to learn our names, easy way to keep track of us.

No idea why they brought us here, but if I figure anything out I will be the first to scream it on top of a mountaintop.

( text )

[spitfiery]

[ she's honestly surprised she hasn't managed to encounter a single witch so far. of course, rhoda forgets that she is, along with the rest of her social circle, part of a minority, even in her own country. ]

Well, better that they demean us out of laziness than out of an actual desire to demoralise us all? Whoever the shadowy force of "they" may be.

[skindeep]

I might be able to make it a bit more pleasing to you, with the correct supplies. No witchcraft necessary.

Oh, and don't let Cillian get to you. He still teases me sometimes too.

[spitfiery]

With cosmetics, you mean? I'm afraid I didn't even come here with a single tub of cold cream, let alone the sort of thing that might cover up a tattoo.

You mean that charming fellow who doesn't believe in magic? I take it he's a friend of yours?

video;

[doesntdohumble]

A witch.

[Eric manages to look both displeased and unimpressed at the same time]

( text )

[spitfiery]

[ oh dear. is this another person who doesn't believe in magic? ]

I am.
I haven't said anything to offend, have I?

text;

[assumption]

Numbers have meanings. Could be counting something?

text;

[spitfiery]

The first numbers are supposed to count "jumps". I can't tell you the logic or patterns for the next ones, but they're supposed to be for our identification.
Whatever the reasoning for them, I can't see why they had to be etched onto our skin.