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]

[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.

[assumedposition]

[ He accepts the small device and holds it up so Jehan can see clearly, then points to the function to turn the video off. ] Here you go. You just press this one here. Try it. [ Then hands it back. ]

And I think I'll let you be the judge of that one, if you please. Myself, I am going to go with the spaghetti. The Italians did the world a good deed the day they invented it! Even in a can, it surely can't be too bad.

[vivelavenir]

[Ah, not so difficult at all. He feels a little silly for having not realised, but then, the things that might seem obvious to some were still new for him. He'd take it back, repeat the motion, and replaced it into his pocket.]

Still, I don't know that this is different than before, except that it isn't laughing now. Maybe that isn't an improvement?

[Given, before laughing a little himself and glancing down at the cans on the table.]

All right... you will have your masterpiece of Athenaeus of Naucratis, and I will brave the fish.

[assumedposition]

[ A small laugh ] Well-- you know, you might not want to broadcast every second of your day to the general public, that's all.

[Albert looks dubious at the second comment, though.]

Are you sure? I can get out a second can of spaghetti, if you want. There's tons of them. Don't feel like you have to prove a point to me.

[vivelavenir]

Does it broadcast to everyone?

[A little surprised, there. No, that was not something he wanted at all. Even the idea of broadcasting his pocket to an entire ship's population makes him feel a bit sheepish, much less actually doing so.]

And yes, I'm sure. Spaghetti would be equally adventurous-- I've never eaten it. But I'll take what's available; it's better to eat it than to be picky.

[Maybe softly giving a reminder, there.

That said, he'd pick up the can marked off for the tuna.

...Albert, can you see the oncoming question? He hopes so, because it's a little embarrassing to have to ask you, yet again.]

1/2

[assumedposition]

Well-- not everyone, exactly. It's more like... everyone who chooses to look? Think of it like a newspaper. There are a range of articles to choose from, but you don't have to read them all. You can skip over whatever you like, or forget to read for days at a time.

no i lied 2/3

[assumedposition]

Wait-- you've never eaten spaghetti?!