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

[assumedposition]

[ Albert continues to eat the spaghetti without complaint though, remembering to chew before he speaks again. ]

It's perfectly edible, of course. I'm just sorry it has to be your first exposure to spaghetti. I promise, while I'm here, I'm going to learn how to cook this dish properly! Pizza, too. Then you'll see!

[vivelavenir]

I have nothing to judge it on, so now, it can only get better.

[Another smile, before he resumed eating also. It was warm and filling, so that was good enough.]

I'm looking forward to trying your take on the dish, though. And-- pizza?

[assumedposition]

Pizza's great! It's like-- you have a flat, round, baked bread as the base, then on top of it you put tomato sauce, and then on top of that you put all kinds of toppings-- anything you want! Onions and olives and capsicum and pepperoni, ham, salami, mushrooms...! I'm not really selling it, but trust me, it tastes better than it sounds.

[vivelavenir]

It sounds... complicated.

[He decided. The combination was exciting, but the visual of all of those foods mounted onto a single piece of bread currently lodged into his imagination was a bit ridiculous.

Still, another thing to look forward to. Those were growing in number on this ship.]

But interesting. Is it your favourite dish?

[assumedposition]

Ah... close to it, but not quite.

I hope you don't laugh, it's actually bouillabaisse. It's just... the dish my mother would always cook whenever anyone was upset. [ He smiles at the memory. ] Even in first class restaurants, you know, I never found one that made it as well as she did.

[vivelavenir]

Well, of course. Because they couldn't make it with the care she-- did. [Not does.

Still, he says this completely without irony. Sentiment is absolutely an ingredient in cooking, as much as in anything else.]

That's a nice choice.

[assumedposition]

That's true enough, isn't it?

What about you, then? Come on, tell me of your favourite food.

[vivelavenir]

Hmm... if I had to pick.

[Though he'd asked, he hadn't much thought about it.]

Maybe, though it's boring, fresh bread. The way it is when it's warm and you break it apart, the crisp of the crust and the softness in the center, the art that goes into making it. It's the food of every-man, but it can be... well. [Going a little pink here,] Elegant in a way, can't it?

[Yes, he's choosing his favourite food based on aesthetic and not taste.]

[assumedposition]

I agree-- a good choice! There's nothing that beats the smell and taste of warm, fresh bread in the morning. Though truly, I hadn't thought that deeply about it in that way before. Do you often put things so poetically?

[vivelavenir]

[Oop, well, that was only going to serve to embarrass him further and make him redder still. He hadn't meant to ramble on about bread, but Albert was on the mark; maybe that was an unavoidable trait of his.]

I'm not certain the poetry is any good, but I do tend towards it, yes. It is... you could say, my favourite type of verse. Beyond critical works, novels, or lyrical mythologies, poetry is the great art. Maybe it's gone to my head a bit. [His friends teased him often enough for it. He'd been called poète almost more than by his name here so far.]

I'm very fond of poems.

[assumedposition]

Really? That's amazing. I don't think I've ever met anyone who was any good at poetry before.

But I'm afraid you might find me rather disappointing, then. I'm quite horrible at them. Franz once-- [ there's a pause here and he stops, as if frozen by something, but then it's gone in the blink of an eye and he continues on as normal] Franz once said I should try my hand at composing a poem for Eugénie, but it was so awful that it ended up never seeing the light of day, haha.

[vivelavenir]

Not at all. [Chuckling, softly.] My friends are not usually in the habit of poetry and some even find it grudging.

[Franz, he assumed by that faraway look, was a companion or brother from home.] I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you should think... the writer is always the most critical on himself.

Still, if you have an interest, a book of my favourite verses arrived with me. I'd lend it to you.

[assumedposition]

Oh-- I couldn't possibly take your favourite book from you! There is little enough here to remind us of home as it is.

[ Though to be honest, Albert is almost thankful for that. ]

[vivelavenir]

Oh? But it's as you said about supper... poetry is also better when shared.

I have it nearly memorized, so you let me know when and if you change your mind.

[assumedposition]

I suppose that's also true, isn't it? Then, if it is all right by you, I would love to read some of your favourite poems. Though-- I can't promise I'll have anything interesting to say about them.

[vivelavenir]

Even if you have nothing to say about them at all, I'm glad you'd give them a chance.

[Setting his fork down, he went to reach into his jacket-- the volume was small and he's an incredibly huge lit geek, so he'd thought to carry it with him.

Albert was right when he'd said it was what little he had to remind him of home, as it normally was. There was a twinge of attachment to it, but he pressed that aside. He did want to share it and he'd try not to be overcome by sentimentality.]

Here.

[Passing it to him, he pressed another smile onto his face.]

Les Tragiques, by d'Aubigné. Be kind to her, even if she's a little cruel in return.

[He wasn't ashamed to say he'd almost been moved to tears on his first read-through, at parts.]

[assumedposition]

[ Taking the book with both hands, Albert's careful to treat it with the appropriate gentleness you'd expect of a friend giving you their treasure. ]

... Thank you. I will read it this evening, and I'll keep your words in mind.

[vivelavenir]

[Any hesitation he'd had vanished with that.

Really... he was very fortunate to have met Albert. He was exceptionally easy to get along with.]

You're welcome.

And thank you for the company, alongside the meal.

[By which he meant to say how good it was to know him, here.]

[assumedposition]

It is I who should be thanking you.

I know I'm-- I can be spoiled, sometimes. But I'm working to fix that, and in spite of it you came anyway. I really... appreciate it.

[vivelavenir]

...So long as you work to better yourself, nothing more can be asked. A good heart will always help to make a good head, Albert.

[He had exceedingly a lot of faith that Albert would turn out for the best, however sheltered his upbringing might have been. He had all the right makings for it.]

[assumedposition]

[ Turning faintly pink at the praise... ]

... Ah. You're overstating it... but-- thank you.

I'll do my best.