001.

[ukan]

[The first thing Lark does is follow his nose. He gets himself some food, enough to clear his mind, and then finds a quiet corner up on the deck where he can watch the universe drift by. He watches the network first, making cursory judgments of the people there. And then he turns the camera on himself.

He's not sure any of this is real, but it's always safest to pretend it is. If it's real to these people, it needs to be real to him.]

Monarchism depth doubtfully entrancing.

[He closes his eyes, no. Not right. Slow breath in: who am I?]

Sorry. My name is Lark. I've already introduced myself to the cafeteria, [he holds up his clean spoon] You eat pretty well here. Better than I've had in other cages. I can tell what most of the things on my plate were originally. In a place like this, in times like these, that's a blessing.

[Now the question. Time to find out the important things. He should have waited, but he doesn't have time to spare.

Who am I? Lark. Where am I? That, as Shakespeare said, is the question.]

I'm still monkey lid drudging cloud?

Comments

[Private]

[ukan]

I have no warden. Where does that put me in the rankings? Do I report to you?

[Private]

[scentbombed]

Technically, you don't have to report to anyone yet. I've got an inmate of my own, but if you have an issue that you need... someone like us... for, then yes, you can ask me.

[Private]

[ukan]

[He smiles with a small nod.] Thank you. I do have something to ask--someone mentioned there was a room I could go to when I need to run. But I need a Warden's permission to get there...

[Private]

[scentbombed]

Yes. That's the CES. [But after her mistake with Red, she's taking no chances.] Do you have a full moon issue? Apparently it works a little differently between worlds.

[Private]

[ukan]

No, no. I change at will. And right now I'm taking a break from my four-legged counterpart. I just need to be away from walls, even if it's just an illusion.

[Private]

[scentbombed]

Still -- there's no full moon on the deck, but there is one on rotation in the CES. It's coming up tomorrow, actually, so if caution needs to be exercised... [She lets the implication hang: he needs to do it, or she'll do it for him. She may not be the pack leader here, but she's as close as it gets, and she's not afraid of a big bad wolf.]

[Private]

[ukan]

I appreciate the concern for myself and those on board. But I can promise you, the moon has no effect on me.

[Private]

[scentbombed]

Good. [And she'll be keeping an eye on the CES for the next few days anyway, because that was a huge mistake with Red, and she doesn't intend to repeat it.]

Then, yes, I can let you in. Anything else?

[Private]

[ukan]

I think that's it. Thank you.

[Private]

[scentbombed]

Right. Well, I'm in 1-3, if anything comes up. [She flashes a faint, wry smirk.] Paw-friendly doors and everything.

[Private]

[ukan]

We're on the same floor so if something goes awry should be easy to find you. Don't worry too much if you can help it; I've never had a problem with Changing.