001; the most optimistic newb you will ever meet. (video; open)

[assumedposition]

[ There's a boy on your video feed. Or more accurately: an intense close-up of his face, like he's inspecting it without realising it's turned on. But then before you know it, he leans back with an excited victory whoop. ]

Whoa! I got it working!

[ Now you can see more of him: he doesn't look to be any older than sixteen, but he's dressed in what are unmistakably fine clothes-- a collared shirt, a cravat, a jacket, etc. Even the patterned material is obviously opulent. ]

Man, these things are really ancient... --oh. Sorry. Talking to myself. Where are my manners? I'm Albert...

[ He trails off quite suddenly, as if he were about to say something else after his first name, but then thought the better of it. It's also noticeable that he pronounces it in the French way, "Al-bear", without the t. ]

Anyway! I'm making this video because I was hoping one of the kind citizens of this place could direct me in the way of food! French cuisine is preferred, but I'm not particularly picky. Hunger is the greatest sauce, or something like that.

Although-- now that I think about it, I don't... actually have any money? Oh, goodness. That was silly of me. I'm sorry, maybe just forget the whole thing.

[ He has the decency to look slightly sheepish. ]

In any case, since I'm under the impression that we're all sort of in this place together until we can manufacture an escape plan, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to meet everyone soon. I hope we'll be good friends!

Comments

[vivelavenir]

[As he's finally learned the trick to using one of these impersonal little gadgets (somewhat, anyway), have someone who is glad to learn you found your way out of the locker room, Albert!]

You're in good spirits still, I see!

Have you gotten your supper yet?

[He realises it took him a while to understand what to do with this device and hopes someone was faster to his aid. Not that he'd be very much help with questions about this place yet, either.]

[assumedposition]

[ He laughs gladly to see Jehan's reply pop up. ]

Not as such. I have found the kitchens? But then I ran into a small problem, of sorts...

WELP.

[vivelavenir]

Oh?

[Curious, now:]

What was that?

[assumedposition]

I-- well, I don't exactly know how to... cook?

[ He looks incredibly sheepish ]

[vivelavenir]

Oh!

[Have a light laugh. He's not making fun of you, really.]

Is there nothing simple? Bread, cheese, cured meats?

[If not, well. Cabbage or potatoes were fairly simple to boil and could be dictated to him.

Though, he had no idea what the kitchen contained and if it wouldn't also be different than what he was used to. ...Not that Jehan had done very much cooking in his day either.]

[assumedposition]

I couldn't find any bread... it's probably impractical to keep bread on a ship-- it'd go bad too quickly. Most of it's canned as far as I can tell, and the rest is refrigerated or frozen...

[vivelavenir]

[Canned foods? Militaristic, but sensible on a ship. It called to mind the question of who stocked it.

But, one thing at a time!]

The Appert canning jars usually contain ready-to-eat foods, or so I've heard.

Perhaps try opening one?

[assumedposition]

Oh-- fortunately it's a little easier than random guessing, these days. They tend to have pictures printed on each can so you can tell what's inside.

[vivelavenir]

Was there nothing in the pictures that you were hungry for?

[A small smile to signal that he was glad for the explanation. Canning wasn't yet so popular, and the main factory of production in France had burned down during his youth.]

[assumedposition]

Most of it's pretty basic... spaghetti, baked beans, tuna... I suppose you could eat them on their own without adding anything, but the prospect isn't greatly appealing.

[ Oh Albert. You have never known true hunger. ]

[vivelavenir]

[Jehan's hailing from a time period when asparagus and garlic were considered luxuries of the upper classes. Baked beans were old news even for him, but spaghetti was rare even inside of Italy, and tuna in a can is unheard of.

More than all of that, though, the thought of having such a wealth of choices and still being hungry is baffling. He doubted one man could eat even that much in a sitting and Albert's 'problem' Albert is lost on him.

It sounded ignorant, if not outright spoiled.]

Then you at least won't starve

[He's going to try to proffer this concept up gently...]

You have many selections. Other men would consider it lucky; a hungry man definitely should.

[assumedposition]

[ Albert doesn't miss the implications of that comment. He might lack good judgement but he isn't totally stupid. It dawns on him that with a single thoughtless remark he's inadvertently revealed much about himself. Jehan must think him terribly spoiled. And, well, it wasn't untrue. Albert turns a deep shade of crimson. ]

Oh...

I suppose-- you're right, of course. I hadn't really... thought about it that way before.

[ He winces internally at the choice of words. Albert, put your foot further into your mouth, why don't you. ]

[vivelavenir]

[...Well. There was the problem with ignorance, really. It didn't willfully intend to be foolish, but it didn't willfully intend to be enlightened, either.

Jehan hoped that the reason for Albert's was that the world and France had so far advanced by his time period that no one was hungry, no one was poor, no one was destitute. Not because it was a symptom of his wealthy upbringing.]

Well... it's good thing you'll think of it that way now.

[Especially in a place with no fresh produce, if it really was like that.]

Since there's the luxury of choice, why not pick the one you prefer and solve your hunger.

[assumedposition]

Ah-- right! Of course.

Say, why don't you join me here, and we can make a meal of it together? Eating alone is terribly lonely.

[vivelavenir]

When you put it that way, who could refuse.

[He agrees, letting out a breath and laughing just under it, shaking his head.

It was difficult to be too serious with him; though he'd have to keep an eye on what his new friend said, from here on.]

I'll try to locate the kitchens. But... let's forgo the tuna, if that's all right?

[Dead Fish That's Been in a Can For A While: No.

Such was the luxury of choice.]

[assumedposition]

[ Albert's relieved; if he had offended with his earlier comment, clearly he'd been forgiven. ]

I won't begrudge you that one. Canned tuna is an abomination.

And this place isn't too hard to find! It's at the end of the hallway, if you just keep going straight.

[vivelavenir]

I'm a little inclined to agree with you. Though, if it makes access to a food source easier on the populace... then it might also be a blessing.

Right. Straight. Hard to mess that up... I will see you there shortly?

[assumedposition]

Yes! I'll be waiting.

[vivelavenir]

All right.

Good-bye for now!

[And there's going to be a lot of shuffling, noise and motion while he tries to figure out how to turn this off.

Spoiler: He doesn't, but it gets placed into his pocket anyway. So it's like he did. Close enough.]

[assumedposition]

[ ... Albert just puts his face in his hands and gives way to soft laughter. ]

action;

[vivelavenir]

[It would take him a little while to arrive... not having gotten lost, but having stopped to observe a little, along the way.

When he poked his head into the kitchen at last, his brow was furrowed and he was wearing a smile.]

...My pocket was laughing at me for nearly a minute, on my way here. To think, the future has made giggling coats a possibility. Progress is amazing!

Re: action;

[assumedposition]

[ He stands up from the bench top he was sitting at and waves enthusiastically when Jehan pokes his head in ]

Oh-- sorry. That was me. You forgot to turn your video off.

[vivelavenir]

So I assumed. I'm sorry-- I don't quite know how.

[This was better. Being in person.

Heading inside now, he glanced about. Very different, but that wasn't such a surprise anymore.]

I hope the wait hasn't been difficult on your stomach.

[assumedposition]

Don't apologise! Here, do you mind...? [ He holds a hand out. ] I'll show you how.

And it was nothing. Food eaten alone has little taste, as they say.

[ It may be just a saying, but it wasn't far from the truth, either. Albert appreciated the company even more than he let on. These days his thoughts tended to slide towards melancholy when left to his own devices. It was one of the reasons he was so adamant about finding things to do as quickly as possible. He found it was not a sensation he enjoyed, and strove to avoid it as best he could. ]

[vivelavenir]

Oh. [Reaching in, he'd take it out and offered it to Albert.] Thank you.

[His smile grew a little at the statement. That was a way to add spice to what Albert found bland before, in a manner that was the opposite of offensive. It was lyrically put.]

That's surely the case, yes. Maybe even in regards to tuna in a can.