The Patina does some recruiting for their X Bike team and adventures to the top of the city.
The Patina does some recruiting for their X Bike team and adventures to the top of the city.
Cast:
- Marathon Messenger is played by Penn Van Batavia. She can be found on Twitter at @acquiredchaste and in drag as horror king JOHN on Instagram at @john.is.risen. Penn is an indie TTRPG designer whose most recent work includes SLICE *IT* OUT, a grisly carving RPG about cutting pieces of yourself out to fit in. Check out faer other work at pennharper.itch.io.
- Cassidy Shard is played by Sydney Whittington. She is our wonderful editor. She’s also a contributing editor and occasional guest player for the Orpheus Protocol, a cosmic horror espionage actual play podcast. Find her on Twitter at @sydney_whitt.
- Emma Blackwood is played by Cameron Robertson. Find her on Twitter at @midnightmusic13 and on Instagram at @reading_and_dreaming. Cameron is also a player on Tabletop Squadron, a Star Wars Edge of the Empire actual play podcast.
- Birdie Foundling is played by Kit Adames. Find her on Twitter at @venusvultures. Kit is also a voice actor and writer on Elevator Pitch Podcast, a queer genre-hopping anthology podcast that can be accessed on Spotify and YouTube.
- Our GM and narrator is Nick Robertson. Find him on Twitter at @alias58. Nick is also the GM for Tabletop Squadron and can also be found as a player on the Orpheus Protocol.
Music & Sound Credits:
- This podcast features the musical talents of Dora Violet and Arne Parrott. You can find Dora at facebook.com/doraviolett. You can find Arne at atptunes.com.
- old radio Channel search sound effect by Garuda1982. Link & License.
- Breezy city amb.wav by patchen. Link & License.
- 12120 collapsing building.wav by Robinhood76. Link & License.
- Spirit of Freedom (ID 1430) – Remastered by Lobo Loco. Link & License.
- Unexpected Hoedown In Bagging Area by Doctor Turtle. Link & License.
Art Credits:
- The official artwork for this podcast was created by Rashed AlAkroka, who can be found on Instagram and Artstation @rashedjrs.
Find Us Online:
- Our Website
- Twitter
- Join our Patreon
- Join our Discord
A Knight of Shreds and Patches Transcript
Season 3 Episode 17: Consider a Change in Lifestyle
Transcript by Cameron Robertson
Intro:
[hurdy gurdy music begins]
Nick: Welcome, listeners, to A Knight of Shreds and Patches. An immersive actual play podcast. This episode features the talents of –
Penn: Penn Van Batavia as Marathon Messenger and Gwendolyn Rozenthall.
Kit: Kit Adames as Birdie Foundling and Vaus Foundling.
Cameron: Cameron Robertson as Emma Blackwood and Janus Foundling.
Sydney: Sydney Whittington as Cassidy Shard and Winifred Foundling.
Nick: Nick Robertson as GM and Narrator.
Sydney: Hello listeners, this is your editor, Sydney, with today’s messages:
Oh, hey, I didn’t see you there. Pretty nice weather we’re having, huh? [pause] Yeah, no, for sure. It’s definitely weathering out there. Also, did you see the forecast for next week? Apparently, it’s starting to be the spooky season, so in addition to the fall pollen, there’s also Spirit Halloween spores starting to spread. Just watch out that you knock your shoes off before you go inside, you don’t want to go out into your living room and see that one’s sprung up there. Unexpectedly, at least.
Which forecast was that? Oh, I think I might’ve heard it on the Patreon feed, where if you choose to support us, you’ll get access to bonus episodes, campfire conversations, and other fun rewards. If not, I’m sure there’s some other fun content, released weekly.
And with that, we wrap up today’s announcements and head into Season 3, Episode 17: Consider a Change in Lifestyle. And so…
“Join us, for now our tale to yours attaches
To carry hope: a Knight of Shreds and Patches.”
[hurdy gurdy music ends]
[electronic beeping]
[robotic powerup noise begins]
Distorted Robotic Voice: Power restored. Systems online. Reconfiguring audio connection.
[robotic powerup noise fades to radio frequency static]
[over radio]
Sydney (as Cassidy): Last time on a Knight of Shreds and Patches, Birdie and Emma went to go get our contract negotiated and signed with Opal. From what I heard, Opal's butlers were impeccably mannered, and they dodged the biggest potential contractual pitfalls to make sure we aren't forced into anything. Just gotta do two jobs, in addition to our X Biking duties. Speaking of, I kicked my training into high gear out at the arena, taking notes and recording strategies before I hit the track in earnest. Once we have a suitable bike for me, at least. It's been a while since I've had one small enough to do any tricks on, but hopefully it'll come right back. Not like it's a death race or anything. At least I had the company of our other resident death sport expert...
[static]
Sydney (as Winifred): Such a good supportive team, the Patina. Now that they're employed with Opal, it won't be long until they have access to her corporation resources and facilities... which would matter a lot more if the debug key was still on premises. Though their course of action hasn't actually changed, since it turns out the key is tied to? inside? the X Bike trophy. Sometimes the hardware to wetware mapping is a little... imprecise. For now, I've got a lot more to read, and the trail is finally looking shorter. Maybe I'll swing by to share some findings. And some compliments. Sorry, Birdie, we're all consenting and attractive adults.
[radio static]
Episode Start:
Nick: After the whirlwind of the masquerade ball and the high tension of meeting and negotiating with Opal and coming to an agreement, you realize something about Sasnak that maybe Birdie knew, but the rest of the Patina had not noticed until this point: one of the most dangerous parts of the city is the beckoning of the routine. Days start to blend into each other as you rest, explore, and take care of small daily tasks. Over the course of two weeks, only a couple of big events really stand out to you. During this time, we see Emma and Cassidy arriving at the X Bike Garage Complex. The two of you have gotten the keys to Opal's garage, but are expected to provide a bike and staff as far as you can tell. You're not sure when your first race will be, but you need to be prepared and quickly. The X Bike Garage Complex is a long row of white roll top bay doors. From your visits before you know you constantly hear the sound of metal clattering and welding and cutting as the bikes are constantly disassembled and reassembled, either in repairs or an attempt to upgrade the machinery. You find yourselves in front of Opal's garage door. Most of the garage doors have a logo or a company name spray painted on them, some sort of personalization, but this one is decidedly blank white.
Sydney: Cassidy's - with the party and the festivities concluded - she's back to her standard black tank top and a pair of khaki shorts with her work boots on.
Cameron: And Emma's not quite dressed for mechanicing today, but it's fine. She's got on a knee length dark floral skirt with her brown boots. She has on a brown t-shirt with a brown leather belt at her waist, and is wearing a open, long sleeve, brown button down shirt to at least provide some arm protection, since she was going to be in the garage.
Cameron (as Emma): Well, this is exciting.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, it's pretty plain.
Cameron (as Emma): Mhm.
Sydney (as Cassidy): I suppose that's because Carbon and co. took all of the personality with them when they left.
Cameron (as Emma): Realistically, I think it's just that Opal doesn't really care [laugh], and Carbon and his posse were probably too distracted to do decorating.
Sydney (as Cassidy): That's fair. Well, if we're here long enough, and I have any time that's not learning to X Bike, maybe I can do some art.
Cameron (as Emma): What do you mean? You're the most X Bikey X Biker to ever X Bike. You X Bike -
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah...
Cameron (as Emma): - so good.
Sydney (as Cassidy): That's - you and Marathon keep telling yourselves that.
Cameron (as Emma): I'm just trying to force into existence what Marathon has manifested [laughing].
Sydney (as Cassidy): [sigh] I mean, I, I know how to ride a bike. I'm quite good at it. It's just a different style. But let's, let's let's open this up and see what we got to start with.
Cameron (as Emma): All right.
Cameron: Emma holds out a clicker and presses the button.
Nick: As the door rolls up, there is more rattle than you would expect in the door, and you see that it is one of those very old style cable winch doors that just pulls it up over a pulley system. The inside of the garage is surprisingly clean, besides the oil stained plain concrete floor. The walls are, except for a few scuffs, plain white plaster, and there is a row of high windows like you would see on a basement along the back wall providing natural light. There is a rack of hanging fluorescent bulbs with a pull string to turn on the lights. But besides the old smell of metal, spilled oil, and body odor, this garage is completely bare.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Ah, they took everything.
Cameron (as Emma): Well, it's a lovely open concept.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Uh huh.
Cameron (as Emma): Dang. Um.
Sydney (as Cassidy): We're open to make any concepts.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, I was hoping some of the larger machinery would be here. Okay.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah. I mean, we've got a bunch of stuff in the rig, I suppose, but that's not maybe the level of gear that we'd - and that's a lot of pain to move.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah. Maybe we can get a wagon. [laugh]
Sydney (as Cassidy): And it's like, you, you tell me what gear we need. I don't really want to move the bow press in here.
Cameron (as Emma): I don't, I don't really want to move anything, at least from the rig. Uh~ let's - you know, now that we've seen this space, let's, let's go track down Audrey and Surge and see if, one - if they're willing to sign on and lend us their bike, and two - if, if they actually own the machines in their garage.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, sounds good.
Cameron (as Emma): Because if they do, that is at least a smaller amount of distance to move them.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, well, I'll let you do the talking. Tell me when you want input.
Cameron (as Emma): Okay.
Sydney (as Cassidy): I'll do Marathon's silent and powerful stance and, you know, interrupt the conversation with things that put my foot in my mouth.
Cameron (as Emma): [snort] You're gonna start talking about what a great X Bike racer you are.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, if I need to be honest with these people about, 'oh yeah, I've totally done this so many times' so that they sign up and aren't surprised.
Cameron (as Emma): You know, I'd really prefer not lying to them.
Sydney (as Cassidy): To the mechanics, yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, yeah, very much. Do not, do not want to do that,
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): So
Sydney (as Cassidy): Seems good.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah. Alrighty.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well, we'll see what they think.
Cameron (as Emma): Let's go.
Cameron: Emma pushes the clicker again to re-lower the garage door and turns around to head down a few bays to where Surge and Audrey's shop is.
Nick: The route in between the garages is a wide, flat concrete road. There are indentations in front of each of the garages that function as gutters, and they are deeply stained from various oil spills with lots of scrap and trash. It looks like the city itself doesn't bother to clean those out very regularly. And as you head down this walkway, Surge and Audrey's garage is four or five spaces down, and you can't help but overhear a piece of a conversation as you get close.
Nick (as Surge): Carbon is the shittiest boss that we've ever had, so we could even see this as some sort of blessing, right? Like we don't have to work for that tool bucket anymore, at least.
Kit (as Audrey): Well, yeah, in a way. I mean, it doesn't do us any good to be mechanics without something to work on. So, you know, yeah, pros and cons.
Nick (as Surge): Well, there are other professions besides being a mechanic. I would like a job doing this as much as you - obviously, that's our passion - but maybe this is a chance to move on, because I'm definitely not going to just walk down pit row asking people if they have any mechanics openings. I won't debase myself to that again, and it's not like someone's just going to walk up and offer us a job.
Cameron (as Emma): Good morning.
Kit (as Audrey): Oh, Emma! It's um sorry. Weird, weird time we're have- happening. Uh - How are you?
Sydney: Cassidy gives a wave too.
Kit (as Audrey): Oh, and your friend, is this Birdie or Cassidy?
Cameron (as Emma): This is Cassidy.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Hello.
Cameron (as Emma): Cassidy, you have heard of Surge and Audrey. This is Surge and Audrey.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yes. Mechanic friends, X bike - I don't know - maintainers extraordinaire.
Nick (as Surge): Not anymore.
Kit: Audrey will smile really big at Cassidy and will give a very friendly wave. And when she smiles really big, you can see that she has a little gap between her front teeth.
Kit (as Audrey): Surge - it's gonna be - whatever. Yeah we're - it's so good to finally meet you.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah. How much have you heard about me?
Kit (as Audrey): Only good things.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well there's only good things to hear.
Cameron: Emma's just smiling and nodding.
Nick: Surge glares at Cassidy's flirting that's happening. She is not amused.
Sydney: Cassidy knits her eyebrows and looks back at Surge.
Kit (as Audrey): Surge, do you want to introduce yourself?
Nick (as Surge): I'm Surge, unemployed mechanic. Great to meet you, and it's great to see you, Emma.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah um, for the unemployed bit - couldn't help hearing bit about that as we walked up to the garage - y'all were on Carbon's team? I hadn't realized that y'all were working for Carbon.
Kit (as Audrey): Uh~.
Nick (as Surge): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): Was it- was it one of the other drivers on his team that fucked up your bike? Because I thought Carbon was supposed to be good. [laugh] Is he not actually?
Kit (as Audrey): It was one of the others.
Cameron (as Emma): Ah okay.
Kit (as Audrey): Yeah. Um.
Nick (as Surge): Sometimes he's good. It doesn't matter. Nothing matters.
Kit (as Audrey): [lovingly exasperated sigh] What Surge is saying is that we got let go by Carbon, so we suddenly have run into an abundance of free time if you need anything.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Oh Wander didn't think you guys were worth keeping around?
Kit (as Audrey): Well, Wander is the kind of person that wants only people that he can control,
Sydney (as Cassidy): [barf noise]
Kit (as Audrey): - doing things to equipment that he kind of owns now. And Carbon, I don't think Carbon really cares that much. So
Nick (as Surge): Carbon doesn't pay enough attention to the work that goes into a race to actually make a call. This was one of his buddies put in a word to get us dropped. They don't like being made to look bad. Either way, they're all douche canoes.
Kit (as Audrey): Descriptive.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, I like it. I think it works. So speaking of Carbon going and working for Wander's team now,
Kit (as Audrey): Mhm?
Cameron (as Emma): Guess~ who is the new team Opal driver.
Kit (as Audrey): Emma??
Cameron (as Emma): It is not me.
Sydney: Cassidy gives another wave.
Kit (as Audrey): Oh, okay. Well, okay, that's not, uh, that's really good? I'm glad?
Cameron (as Emma): I'm really loving the question marks at the end of your sentences, Audrey.
Sydney (as Cassidy): It's a good opportunity.
Sydney: Cassidy gives a wide smile that's not entirely genuine.
Kit (as Audrey): Yeah, if you know what you're doing, and and and I, I'll never get on an X bike. So I, I respect that you, you have the courage to do so. [X Bikes are scary laugh]
Nick (as Surge): Of course you're not getting on an X bike. Those things are death traps. I wouldn't let you.
Kit (as Audrey): Well, thank you, but -
Cameron (as Emma): It's more fun keeping them working anyway.
Kit (as Audrey): Yeah.
Nick (as Surge): That's true, but I'm sure you're going to do great, uh, Tassidy was it?
Kit (as Audrey): Surge.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah,
Nick (as Surge): Cassandra?
Sydney (as Cassidy): That was it. You know, I it's been 45 seconds since I said my name, I know why you could forget it.
Nick (as Surge): II just wasn't listening.
Cameron (as Emma): Y'all are gonna get along great.
Nick (as Surge): Yeah, we're gonna be besties. I can tell -
Cameron (as Emma): Cassidy.
Nick (as Surge): - we're gonna -
Cameron (as Emma): Cassidy, Surge. Cassidy.
Nick (as Surge): Oh, okay, I'm actually a little embarrassed. I said Tassidy, that's a stupid name. I'm glad you're not named Tassidy.
Cameron (as Emma): You were pretty close.
Kit (as Audrey): Yeah.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, you're almost there.
Nick (as Surge): Someday. Anyway, sorry about that. It's been a bit of an emotionally compromising day, and we have to finish getting all of our equipment out of this garage, because we've been evicted. Great. Super stoked.
Sydney: Cassidy through the course of this conversation, has been kind of looking to Emma expectantly, waiting for the point where Emma's gonna pop her question.
Cameron: And Emma has been letting Surge get out a lot of feelings before asking. [laughing]
Cameron (as Emma): So if y'all are evicted from this garage, how would you feel about relocating, say, five doors down and being on Team Opal again?
Cameron: And Emma gives a winning smile.
Nick (as Surge): No, absolutely not. We're done with this business.
Kit (as Audrey): Surge -
Nick (as Surge): Sorry, I'm done with this business. Audrey, you do what you want.
Kit (as Audrey): Surge! I - okay. Okay.
Kit: Audrey will lean into Emma as soon as she can catch Surge looking away, and will nod to Emma, and then will look back to Surge and say,
Kit (as Audrey): Wait [determining approach noises] Come on~. It's Emma!
Nick (as Surge): [grumpy noise]
Kit (as Audrey): And you wanted a job~.
Nick (as Surge): They can't afford us.
Kit (as Audrey): Well, I'd say there's no harm in working with how maybe we don't rely on money to be the only way they can pay us. Emma already helps out with us and with our other work.
Sydney: Cassidy gives a head tilt at other ways of payment.
Kit (as Audrey): Oh my gosh.
Nick: Surge smirks at Audrey.
Nick (as Surge): Hey, I thought we were in a committed relationship, but we can always rediscuss those boundaries if you're suddenly interested in changing it up.
Kit (as Audrey): You know I didn't mean that!
Nick (as Surge): Yeah, I know, but it was really funny, and you're blushing really hard now.
Kit (as Audrey): Yeah, oh, [deep breath and sigh]
Nick (as Surge): Look, we can talk about specifics, but you'd have to be willing to split a decent amount of the pot and also pay for garage space. We can supply mechanical gear and expertise.
Cameron (as Emma): We'd definitely be open to splitting the pot with y'all and the cool thing is, I've got garage space. I have a full empty garage,
Nick (as Surge): Oh.
Kit (as Audrey): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): Twice the size of this one.
Kit (as Audrey): They have a fully empty garage~.
Nick (as Surge): That's convenient.
Cameron (as Emma): Plenty of space for additional side work or other things that we might want to work on mechanically alongside the X Bike.
Nick: Surge is burying their forehead in their hands and looks up slightly blushing at Audrey.
Nick (as Surge): Look, I know you're not doing it on purpose, but if you keep double entendre-ing I'm gonna be really distracted the rest of the day. I need you to stop doing that, okay?
Kit (as Audrey): What did I do?
Nick (as Surge): You're doing - I can't help but think you're doing it on purpose.
Cameron (as Emma): Plenty, plenty of space in the garage for activities. [giggle]
Cameron: Emma - Emma throws a wink over his shoulder at Cassidy.
Kit (as Audrey): [sigh]
Nick (as Surge): Big ol' empty garage. Eyebrow wiggle.
Kit (as Audrey): All of you are terrible.
Sydney (as Cassidy): I don't know that the cement is gonna - you need to, like, bring in a mattress or something, let that space.
Kit (as Audrey): Oh, great. Now there's Cassidy and Surge making jokes. Emma, you're not helping either.
Nick (as Surge): No, -
Cameron (as Emma): Sorry.
Nick (as Surge): - there's this thing you can do with the the engine winch and the chains. Okay, anyway,
Cameron (as Emma): Mechanic role play, Cassidy. [laughing]
Sydney (as Cassidy): Ah yes. Lots of connectors.
Nick (as Surge): [let's refocus team] Yes, we could probably come to an agreement. Do you have a bike?
Cameron (as Emma): About that. We have a couple of cruisers. Not~ fit for X biking.
Nick (as Surge): Mm great.
Cameron (as Emma): But I notice that you still have the cute one right there.
Nick (as Surge): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): That didn't join Carbon in his escape to Wander.
Nick (as Surge): Yeah, douche canoe number four thinks it sucks still.
Cameron (as Emma): Well, that's because he's a bad driver.
Nick (as Surge): Audrey, I don't want to speak for you, but I'd be willing to throw in use of the bike, just so that we could show them that the design is good.
Kit: Audrey looks very self satisfied and will nod.
Kit (as Audrey): I mean, if you insist, Surge.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Just tell me the best ways that you you've learned how to work it, and I can do my best to show it off.
Nick: Surge walks over.
Nick (as Surge): Throttle, clutch, brake.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, I know that.
Kit (as Audrey): [laugh]
Cameron (as Emma): Try not to hit the brake so hard that you crack things.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Ah~ yes. I'm not new to biking.
Nick (as Surge): Okay, well, I guess we've got a job. I said no one was gonna walk up and offer us one, I guess the universe is feeling contrary today.
Kit (as Audrey): But you're always feeling contrary, so maybe the universe is feeling non-
Cameron (as Emma): Agreeable?
Kit (as Audrey): -contrary? Yeah, agreeable.
Kit: Surge walks to the door of the garage and looks up at the sky and says,
Nick (as Surge): It's not like big tittied X Bike fans are just gonna show up and ask if there's anything they can do to show their appreciation.
Kit (as Audrey): Hey!
Cameron (as Emma): Audrey's right there.
Kit (as Audrey): Yeah!
Nick (as Surge): Additional ones!
Cameron (as Emma): [laughing]
Nick (as Surge): No way that would happen.
Cameron (as Emma): I thought you were in a committed relationship, Surge.
Kit (as Audrey): Yeah, so much for our marriage.
Nick: Surge turns around says,
Nick (as Surge): Can't blame me for trying.
Kit: Audrey's going to fake cover the handlebars of the bike that they're standing next to and say,
Kit (as Audrey): What about the kids?
Nick (as Surge): Don't you talk to me or my son ever again. Okay, it was a bad joke. I just if things were going to be this surreal, I figured I might as well go for broke, right? Um,
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well, wait till you meet our second driver.
Kit (as Audrey): Huh?
Cameron (as Emma): [chuckle]
Nick (as Surge): What is your team called?
Kit (as Audrey): We should also meet the other driver just before you answer that question. We should probably meet whoever it is, so we can also give them the rundown of how not to die.
Cameron (as Emma): Oh, yeah, 1,000% that will be happening.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah. We're gonna -
Nick (as Surge): Gas.
Sydney (as Cassidy): - training -
Nick (as Surge): Clutch.
Sydney (as Cassidy): - continuously -
Nick (as Surge): Brakes.
Sydney (as Cassidy): - until the race, because we don't want to die and hearing you guys describe everything as death traps, only reinforces that we gotta know what we're doing. Sorry, I'm probably the safest X Bikes driver that there has ever existed, because I don't have a death wish.
Kit (as Audrey): Mm. Mhm.
Cameron (as Emma): So as far as the name that we're racing under, TBD. Y'all know that I'm a member of the Patina. Uh Opal has mentioned needing to jazz up Cassidy's name to be a snazzy driver name.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, Cassidy Shard is too, too dull for her, apparently.
Cameron (as Emma): It's not flashy enough.
Sydney (as Cassidy): It needs some opalescent sheen.
Cameron (as Emma): Mhm.
Kit (as Audrey): [small laugh]
Cameron (as Emma): So not sure what the name's actually going to end up being. Currently 'Opal's Team' or [laughing] 'The Patina sponsored by Councilwoman Opal' - I don't know.
Nick (as Surge): Great. Well, we can hash out all the contract specifics later. I may not have started on board, but Emma, I trust you. This should work pretty well. And as always, thank you, Audrey, for talking me into it.
Kit (as Audrey): You're welcome.
Kit: And Audrey will bat her eyelashes at Surge and then smile at Cassidy and Emma.
Kit (as Audrey): Very happy to be doing business with you, properly now.
Cameron (as Emma): Mhm! [yay friends!]
Nick (as Surge): So like I was saying: gas, clutch, brakes.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Can you? Can you say it one more time? I don't know if I heard you -
Cameron (as Emma): Oh my gosh.
Sydney (as Cassidy): - the first three times yet Serge,
Kit (as Birdie): Uh oh.
Nick (as Surge): I'll continue to explain it. Uh. X Bike racers aren't usually very quick on the uptake, but
Cameron (as Emma): She -
Sydney (as Cassidy): Just quick on the throttle.
Nick (as Surge): We might as well start moving now before things get repoed.
Cameron (as Emma): She knows how to ride a motorcycle, Surge.
Nick (as Surge): Great. Then you can roll that to your new garage. And Emma, if you could grab that extra large tool kit there, and I'll roll this lift.
Cameron (as Emma): Mhm.
Nick (as Surge): Audrey, you can carry that bag of rags and look gorgeous.
Kit (as Audrey): Anything for you.
Cameron: Emma shakes her head good naturedly as she approaches the very large tool chest that was referred to as a tool kit.
Nick: It has wheels, but it's that awkward just below waist height, and the wheels are super small to where it would be easier if you were strong enough to just lift it by the handles on the sides than to try to roll it all the way to the other garage.
Cameron: Yeah. Center of gravity wise, it is not meant for pushing, really. But as Emma approaches it, she's rolling up the sleeves of her over shirt to prepare for the hard work of walking five garages down, and Cassidy catches a flash of color on the inside of her left forearm.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Is that the new tattoo, Emma?
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, it is.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Joining our ranks of the bodies as storytelling.
Cameron (as Emma): And Cassidy gives jazz hands, showing all of her flowers and vines on her arms and shoulders.
Cameron (as Emma): Well, yeah, y'all left me alone with Vaus so,
Sydney (as Cassidy): Unavoidable.
Cameron (as Emma): What what else was I supposed to do? They're just very convincing, you know?
Sydney (as Cassidy): Okay, well, let me see it. Let's let the could the crowd appreciate.
Cameron: And Emma turns back towards Cassidy and flips her arm around to show the inside of her forearm, and what you see there is starting at her wrist and then facing up towards her body, there's a handle of a standard hexagonal screwdriver that just has the six sides with a little indents in it that's purple and black. And then, rather than the actual screwdriver, part of the screwdriver coming out of that, there are three flowers. There's a white, three petaled, very angular looking flower that's got big old leaves on it. And then there are two longer, skinnier flowers, a mix of darkish purple blue and white on one, and pinky purples and light pinks on the other.
Sydney (as Cassidy): That's really cool, Emma. You're joining the flowers rank too, not even just tattoos.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, I liked your approach of using the flowers as memories, so both of both of these are really common around Thunder Bay. So and then the screwdriver just felt appropriate -just like my experience with the Patina. So
Sydney (as Cassidy): As one who is a master of screwing?
Cameron (as Emma): Nope. No, just your number of screwdrivers.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Ahh yes.
Cameron (as Emma): But yep, that is my ink. Ta da.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yay~.
Sydney: Cassidy starts kicking up the kickstand and checking that the bike's in neutral before starting on her way out of the garage with it.
Cameron: Emma walks back over and picks up the giant tool chest.
Nick: Surge under their breath goes,
Nick (as Surge): Holy shit. That weighs like 200 pounds.
Sydney (as Cassidy): It never gets old.
Kit: Audrey is watching appreciatively.
Nick: And Serge bumps her with their hip as they leave wheeling a large engine lift. And gives Audrey a smile and says,
Nick (as Surge): Maybe this will work out after all. I told you there was nothing to worry about, Audrey.
Kit (as Audrey): Yeah, yeah, you told me, uh huh.
Nick: More time passes in the comfortable blur of routine, and somewhere in the similar days back to back, we see Marathon and Birdie off on errands in Merchants Alley with some very rare time to themselves amongst the crowd.
Penn: Marathon is dressed in a lighter colored canvas looking suit, with the sleeves rolled up and a linen shirt underneath.
Penn (as Marathon): So what kind of things you like to do around here? I guess maybe it's been a while for you, but - well, you were 17 when, when everything went down - like the kinds of things you like to do then and now, kind of change, or,
Kit (as Birdie): Um, well, the kinds of things that I enjoy doing then are not really the kinds of things that I would probably enjoy doing now, because a lot of them did include stealing from places, and we are currently working with two very big council members.
Penn (as Marathon): Hm. Well. So we could, I mean, I'd still be down to steal something, but nah, that's entirely up to you.
Kit: And Birdie will tuck one of her braids back behind her shoulder. It's just in her normal two braids today, and she's wearing a brown top that reaches about halfway down her arms, that ties in the front and has on a looser fitting pair of shorts that buckles in tight around her hips and reaches about to her knees. They have a bunch of pockets and patches decorating the fabric and some sturdy brown boots that she normally wears.
Kit (as Birdie): Um, I mean, I could just show you around to the places you haven't been before if you wanted. I could take you up to the Eaves.
Penn (as Marathon): Oh, sure, yeah, I'd be happy to jump around a little bit more up there.
Kit (as Birdie): Oh, have you already gone?
Penn (as Marathon): Uhh were we not up very high when we went to visit your your Nona?
Kit (as Birdie): Oh, Nona only lives on the floor above us. The Eaves are all the way up, and they're mostly just rope.
Penn (as Marathon): Oh, oh yeah, remember peeking up at those from the bottom. Yeah. Let's go- let's go check that out. That sounds kind of fun actually. And we got no Cassidy and Emma to tell us it's too dangerous, so
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah, but don't die, because then Cassidy will kick my ass.
Penn: Marathon puts her hand through her slicked back hair.
Penn (as Marathon): Nah, yeah. I promise I won't tell Cassidy, because I don't think it'll be super impressive.
Penn: And Marathon has her fingers crossed behind her back.
Kit (as Birdie): Hmm. Okay. Well, if we're gonna go there then I might as well take you to the Crow's Perch too then.
Penn (as Marathon): Oh, what you got little names for them? Sick.
Kit (as Birdie): Well, the Crows Perch is the highest point on the city. It's kind of like the thing that people use to know that they can't build any higher. That's it. That's it's probably the most dangerous point of the city, I guess.
Penn (as Marathon): Why would it be dangerous? I mean it's high, but
Kit (as Birdie): Uh~
Nick: We jump to Marathon and Birdie up in the Crow’s Perch of Sasnak Traveling, a web of rope bridges and slack lines high up in the antennas and escalated infrastructure of the top of this city. There is very little that is stationary. Everything sways with the motion of the city and its travel and Marathon, you can't help but notice that it is a long, long way down.
Penn (as Marathon): Sheesh, oooh I'm not - I'm not usually one who gets afraid of heights, but I can't take my eyes off, well, I can't say the ground, because I don't think I can see all the way to the bottom, but
Kit (as Birdie): [giggle]
Penn: Does it feel like it's swaying?
Kit: Yes, it absolutely feels like it's swaying. Birdie will, with a concerning amount of confidence, brace her hands against the railing and will hop up so that she's sitting on it.
Penn (as Marathon): OH SHEESH! Oh!
Kit (as Birdie): It's fine.
Penn (as Marathon): Uh okay.
Kit (as Birdie): It's okay.
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah, sure. It is okay. It's cool.
Kit (as Birdie): We're cool.
Penn (as Marathon): This is epic. We're cool. Let me, let me hop up there with you.
Kit (as Birdie): Don't~
Penn: Marathon, very gingerly and not as, not nearly as cool as Birdie, like positions herself so that she's sitting on the rail as well, but has like, a death grip on it.
Kit (as Birdie): Uh, yeah, if you want to be like, really disoriented, just look up while, um, while it's like, swaying like this and stuff.
Penn (as Marathon): No, you know, maybe is, maybe if I wanted to puke, I would look up.
Kit (as Birdie): That's fair.
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah, but this is awesome, like, I am, and you, you came up here a lot as a kid?
Kit (as Birdie): Um, yeah, yeah. Winifred did quite a bit of work up here because it's kind of like, um, like, you know how on boats, they have the crow's nest and stuff to navigate?
Penn (as Marathon): I think? I haven't seen many boats, but
Kit (as Birdie): Fair. So this is basically the same thing. It's the easiest way to see what direction and where we're going while on the city is by coming up here and watching how the city moves and stuff, and because it's just on the outskirts, it's too dangerous and there's too much dust kicked up to really see what direction everything is going, but up here on a clear day, you can,
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah, I can see the horizon now that you mention it, yeah.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah. It's kind of peaceful. Not a lot of people come up here ever, you know, given that it's like this.
Kit: And she'll use one hand to gesture out.
Penn (as Marathon): [panicked parent of toddler near a curb noise] Careful! Oh, sorry.
Kit (as Birdie): [giggle]
Penn (as Marathon): No, well, it's, I mean, thank you for bringing me - I mean, this is, this is amazing. Like I got, I'm just like feasting on this, this view, um as much as I can feast, I guess, while my stomach is is twisting, but it's beautiful.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah, yeah, it's like, so high up that all the smoke and stuff from the city doesn't really, I don't know, it doesn't really, um, feel the same up here. Winifred used to come up here a lot when we were younger, for more of a casual interest than, you know, work, because none of our jobs ever really took us up this far, usually just in the Eaves or in the higher floors of the tower. But now that she's on the forecasting thing, I'm sure that they have a lot of their their data, like, gathered here, and they have people come up here and stuff, because, you know, monitoring the city's behavior and seeing when Turnings are gonna happen, it's really important to a lot of people who live here to be able to know that that's coming.
Penn (as Marathon): Turnings?
Kit (as Birdie): Ah~
Penn (as Marathon): Like uh -
Kit (as Birdie): We don't, we don't get them super often. So, you know, just if everything starts shaking, just grab some stuff. Okay?
Penn (as Marathon): Ah, that was maybe the most disconcerting sentence I've heard in the last couple months. But yes, okay.
Kit: Birdie will raise her hand again to wave it kind of dismissively.
Kit (as Birdie): Just don't worry about it. Just don't worry about it. It'll be fine. Mm.
Penn (as Marathon): Well, I'm just gonna flip my little legs on the opposite side of the railing after hearing that, but I'm happy to hang out up here with you.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah.
Penn (as Marathon): Did you used to do a lot of thinking up here?
Penn: Marathon with the same amount of caution, lifts her legs back over the railing.
Kit (as Birdie): Um, yeah. Well, before I met the Foundlings, I'd come up here more often because I was um, sort of staying up here in a weird way, um.
Penn (as Marathon): Like here, here? Like this exact platform?
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah, it was in the warmer months.
Penn (as Marathon): Sheesh~. Dang.
Kit (as Birdie): Because no one ever came up here. No one wanted to, so I could kind of come up here and not be bothered. And I mean, I made the Foundlings when we first met -
Kit: Birdie laughs to herself.
Kit (as Birdie): Um I sort of stole all their money, and they found me up here while they were doing some work, like cleaning something or other, and I made him chase me all the way down to the Eaves. So, you know uh, having five kids running around this probably made for pretty entertaining thing on the outside.
Penn (as Marathon): I would have loved to see that. It doesn't look like there's a ton of people up here.
Kit (as Birdie): No.
Penn (as Marathon): Is that-? Has that always been the case?
Kit (as Birdie): Um.
Penn (as Marathon): I think I I see some hammocks and stuff. Are, do many people come up here? Do people still work like you did as children? Is there a lot of children work still going on?
Kit (as Birdie): [surprised] Ahh.
Kit: Birdie will shrug and tilt her head.
Kit (as Birdie): I don't know about any more up here, but yeah, people work up here sometimes. People have to keep the the rope bridges together and I don't really know who they get to do that. And in terms of just kids who work on Sasnak, there's like, hundreds, you know, so who knows what really all the jobs that they do.
Penn (as Marathon): Dang. Well, RIP to those kids, I guess. I don't know.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah. I mean, things aren't like that in Tree All are they? Did you have a job?
Penn (as Marathon): As a kid? I didn't grow up in Tree All, so I didn't really have a job as a kid there, but I mean, some kids will, like, help coordinate parking spots and stuff. It's like a job, if they want it, I don't know it. Think you have to be like, 12 or something. I don't know.
Kit (as Birdie): Huh.
Penn (as Marathon): But it I - there is not hundreds of children working in Tree All Mountain, but yeah I dunno.
Kit (as Birdie): Um, seems like there's the clouds are getting a bit more dense, so maybe we should probably head down.
Penn (as Marathon): It is so pretty up here. You know, do you think I could bring Miss Cassidy up here? Or would she be -
Kit (as Birdie): Well, she's a climber, so she might have fun.
Penn (as Marathon): Actually, that - great idea Birdie, and thank you for showing me this spot.
Penn: Marathon starts heading towards the ladder.
Kit: And Birdie while following Marathon, will be like
Kit (as Birdie): So yes, take Miss Cassidy up here, but just don't come on a cloudy day, because you can get stuck inside of a cloud and then it starts raining, and it's really weird. So unless you won't be soaking wet with Miss Cassidy, and in that case, I'm not judging you.
Penn: Marathon pauses right before she gets on the ladder, puts her hand on her chin, kind of as a joke for Birdie.
Penn (as Marathon): Hmm, I'll have to think about that one.
Kit (as Birdie): [laugh]
Penn (as Marathon): But is there anything you want us to take care of while we're while we're here? You know, besides helping out your sister and getting the Knight fixed and stuff? Anything I can help you out with? I don't have a ton on the on the Marathon agenda.
Kit (as Birdie): I mean, I don't know. It kind of just, if something comes up, I'll ask you for help. But it's hard to come here and be like, you know, like, I guess in if I you know, I don't know. I don't know, in like, a hypothetical situation, there's a lot of things that I'd like to do, but hard to say where to get a start on things like that. I don't know. Maybe, we can. We can go to the Guts or we can go to the Saskirts and we can help out with stuff there. They always need extra hands and stuff. [overlapping] And you guys, you got some biceps?
Penn (as Marathon): [overlapping] I have hands. [end overlap] Yeah.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah.
Kit: And Birdie will lightly punch Marathon on the shoulder.
Penn (as Marathon): Well, sounds good, Birdie.
Penn: And Marathon grabs onto the ladder as she starts to head down.
Penn (as Marathon): I'm happy, happy, happy to help wherever I don't know. I just won't make you happy while we're here.
Kit (as Birdie): Aww, that's sweet of you, but yeah, I think -
Penn (as Marathon): Shut up. [laugh] You're my friend.
Kit (as Birdie): [laugh] Well, thank you either way, and I'll let you know if anything does come up.
Kit: Birdie will get onto the ladder after Marathon has gone down several rungs, and will try and coordinate her pace with Marathon so that she doesn't accidentally step on Marathon's head.
Nick: And as the two of you are making your way down out of the Crow’, the rumble of the city undergoes a concerning change. The gentle hum, the noise that fades into the background, gets louder, and the swaying of the constructs around you also begins to grow, and you realize that you are in a Turning at this moment, stuck out in the open in the most dangerous part of the city. Marathon and Birdie, I need both of you to roll me a hard Coordination check and Marathon - you have two black die because you've never been in a Turning before.
Kit: Can I give Marathon a blue die by yelling directions to her?
Nick: You can give her a blue die if you give yourself a black die by not being 100% focused on yourself.
Kit: Okay. I'm rolling two yellow, one green, three purple, and one black.
Penn: I'm rolling three purple, two black, two green, two yellow, and one blue.
[dice rolling]
Penn: A single failure and two advantages.
Kit: I got one success and two advantages.
Nick: So Birdie, the Turning has started at the absolute worst time. You know you are somewhere unprotected and unstable, but you have, in the course of your time growing up here, been in this very region during this time as a job with the Foundlings, and you know what to do to make sure that you're as safe as possible. You yell instructions to Marathon, trying to, in these brief seconds of the beginning of the Turning, help her as much as possible to also protect herself, but it's pretty difficult to explain years of learned instinct to somebody in the midst of a crisis. And Marathon as things begin to shift and you find your center of gravity forced away from the ladder that you're clinging to, you hear towards the outskirts of town - the Saskirts - a horrible crunching roar as one of the stacks is destabilized and falls, and there is a rush of debris and dust and wind as one of Sasnak's least stable constructions is claimed by this shift in momentum. The distraction of this turn and the collapse causes you to miss the next rung of the ladder.
Penn (as Marathon): Dirt.
Nick: And you have just the time to curse as you feel your hand and then a foot and then the rest of you fall into open space. You feel the sensation of wind around you, the sudden shock of your arm striking something stationary, and then all goes black. Birdie, after a blur of crisis and reaction, you are in a triage ward that the Patches have set up near the Saskirts and are working on making sure that patients get the right treatment in the right order to respond to the collapse caused by the Turning. How are you helping?
Kit: When Birdie used to live here, she did spend quite a bit of time at the Patches for various reasons, not only her own injuries, but all of her family members, and also because Winifred liked to just come in and talk to Nurse Bliss for a really long time and she'd get bored. So Birdie actually does have quite a bit of medical know how, just from the years of doing that and from being on the road and finding that people are very willing to let you travel with them if you know how to bandage people up and do a good job with stitches. So right now, she's taking direction from the head nurse, going wherever she's most needed to help out with giving stitches or applying tourniquets and sitting with unaccompanied kids who are trying to be reunited with their family members.
Nick: Marathon, you figure you can't be dead, because being dead shouldn't hurt this much.
Penn (as Marathon): [slowly waking up] Dirt~.
Nick: And as you open your eyes, you see the biggest owl you've ever seen leaning over into your vision, and she looks pissed.
Penn (as Marathon): [gonna take a bit for her brain to restart] Ahugh! Is this - I'm not dead? Am I in some sort - wh-what - owl?
Kit: The owl in question is a woman who's probably in her late 30s to early 40s, and has lightly graying hair pulled back into a haphazard looking bun, with giant circular glasses covering from above her eyebrows to below her cheekbones and light brown, almost steeped tea colored eyes, watching Marathon very closely with a minor look of annoyance on her face.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): So you finally decided to wake up, huh?
Penn (as Marathon): [having a rough day] Uh oh. Ow. I didn't do well in animals class, but owls don't talk right? That's a different bird.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Unfortunately for you, I am not an owl. An owl would be much less disappointed with you.
Penn (as Marathon): [very out of it] Oh, it's - that's painful, but also that's very attractive thing to say. Sorry. I'm a little dizzy.
Kit: The crease in between her eyebrows deepens a little bit, and she will lean into Marathon, and will use her thumb to press Marathon's left eyelid up a little bit, and pull out a tiny little flashlight and say,
Penn (as Marathon): [pained] Oh, bright.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): I think you might be more concussed than I originally thought you were.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained noises]
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Disappointment aside, what's your name?
Penn (as Marathon): [brain reboots are hard] Mmmary-mar-marathon.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Okay, what's the last name?
Penn (as Marathon): [oh she concussed] Messenger?
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Yep, okay. Do you know where you are?
Penn (as Marathon): [said very slowly] Uh... Sssssasnak Traveling.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Okay, little slower on the uptake than I would like. Do you know who you came here with?
Penn (as Marathon): [slow] Where's Birdie?
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): There you go. Okay. My name is nurse Tawny Fowler. Can you say that for me?
Penn (as Marathon): [slowly] Tawny Fowler.
Penn: And Marathon says the words like she's playing with them in her mouth.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Okay, uh huh.
Kit: She's very unimpressed.
Penn (as Marathon): [slowly] Are you an angel, Tawny Fowler?
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Unfortunately for you, I'm not, because you might be luckier to be - whatever. Look, Miss Messenger, you are very lucky -
Penn (as Marathon): [why so formal angel?] Messenger?
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): - to not be dead right now, okay?
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Thank you. Yeah, I - [overlapping] where's Birdie?
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): [overlapping] Don't thank me - thank your little friend. [end overlap] She's helping with a lot of triage patients we have right now, and I got stuck with you.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed but still helpful] Oh. Can I help too? Or
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): When you can say your ABCs backwards, you can help me.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Shit~.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Don't try right now.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Z - okay.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): You've got a concussion and your shoulder, your left shoulder, has been dislocated, but we managed to set it, and you should just be dealing with some soreness and sensitivity over the next couple of days, okay?
Penn (as Marathon): Oh, okay. Uh, what- what happened? The ground was shakey.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): You fell off a building.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Makes plenty of sense. That would happen to me.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Really? Maybe you should consider a change in lifestyle, Miss Messenger.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] You know, somebody tried to convince me of that a little bit ago, but I think, um, right where I belong.
Penn: Marathon puts on a cheesy smile.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): It's very cute. Yeah, very cute. Okay.
Penn: Her smile glows a little bit.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): I'm gonna continue cleaning up your scrapes and you're gonna have to keep them clean and unirritated, which means no climbing around the Eaves now, okay?
Penn: Marathon continues to smile.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): I need a verbal response. Miss messenger.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Yes Tawny Fowler. Thank you~.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): You're welcome. [under breath] The Foundlings always someone's bringing tourists around...
Kit: While Nurse Tawny Fowler is turning away to write a few things down in her clipboard now that Marathon is awake, Birdie rushes into the room as she had spotted that Marathon was now minorly awake from the hallway, and Tawny will mumble a quick
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Oh, so it's just a zoo in here now.
Kit: While Birdie will take Marathon's shoulders in her hands.
Kit (as Birdie): Are you okay?
Penn (as Marathon): [much pain] Oh OW. Ow.
Kit (as Birdie): Oh, sorry. Sorry. I'm so sorry.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Hey Birdie! Nice to see you.
Kit (as Birdie): Marathon I thought you were dead.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Wait, shit. Was I that close?
Kit (as Birdie): [remembered panic noises] You hit your head pretty hard. You have to stay you have to stay alive remember? You promised me you'd stay alive. Yeah?
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] When did I promise you? I don't remember a lot of things, I guess.
Kit (as Birdie): Oh, no.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Do you do you think Tawny Fowler likes ice derby, by the way?
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): I do not like ice derby, Miss Messenger.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] It was worth a shot. Well, Birdie, I heard you needed help. I'm happy to get up and help.
Kit (as Birdie): No, no it's -
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Can you help me? Can you say my ABCs backwards for me?
Kit (as Birdie): Unfortunately, not. I think we gotta go, though. Okay? We gotta go make sure -
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Yeah.
Kit (as Birdie): - that Emma and Cassidy are okay, and then then we can talk about -
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed and now worried] Oh shoot Emma and Cassidy!
Kit (as Birdie): Marathon's eyes flit a little bit.
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah, we - let's go.
Kit (as Birdie): Um, yeah, gonna get you a wheelchair.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed and being brave about it] Nah, I feel, I feel great. Uh, ish, uh, let's, let's, let's, let's, uh, let's do a soft jog.
Kit: Nurse Tawny Fowler will spin around in her chair and knock her glasses down to the tip of her nose to look at Marathon over the rims of them.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): You are not going anywhere standing, walking, or jogging. Do you hear me?
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Yes Tawny Fowler.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Great. Well. [sniff]
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Yeah. Well, I it sounds like I can still sit, Birdie, if you give me the wheelchair.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah, I'll go get you a wheelchair. Um, just -
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed and trying to whisper] I'll stand once we get out. Yeah.
Kit (as Birdie): Um, no. Whatever. I'm just gonna get the wheelchair.
Kit: And Tawny will write a few things more on her clipboard and sigh in a very exasperated manner.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): I can't, in good conscience say that you're at 100% health right now, but I've done all that I can. Here. I'm gonna -
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] I'm feeling 100% sure that maybe we should talk after this?
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): According to your ramblings while you are asleep, you've got Miss Cassidy to go home to, so I don't recommend that, Miss Messenger.
Penn: Marathon blushes very red.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Yes Tawny Fowler.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Mhm. I'm gonna give you five pills to help with the pain over the next few days, and if you need more, you come back to me - okay?
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] Yes Tawny Fowler. Thank you.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): Mmm.
Kit: And it's at this point that Birdie will come in with a wheelchair, and she's obviously twitterpated trying to exit very quickly, and she will help Marathon get into the wheelchair while Tawny Fowler watches on.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] I got it.
Kit (as Birdie): Oh, okay. I'm sorry.
Penn (as Marathon): [pained and concussed] No no, I appreciate it. I just I got it. Thank you, Miss Tawny Fowler.
Kit (as Tawny Fowler): You're welcome. Don't let me see you again soon.
Penn: Marathon tries to give a wink and ends up closing both eyes.
Nick: The two of you, Marathon and Birdie, are able to escape the watchful eyes of Tawny Fowler. As you are leaving this triage area, you see Patches from all over Sasnak pouring in this direction to help those who had been injured in the Turning and after a very adventurous trip to the Eaves, you head for somewhere hopefully, a little quieter, a little safer.
[hurdy gurdy music swells]
Outro:
Penn (as Marathon): Welcome back folks, you’re tuned to Going the Distance: Traveler’s Guide on road dial 1558. That’s a wrap on today’s log and we’re set to loop after these considerations. Further detail for the following is cataloged in the show notes.
This has been A Knight of Shreds and Patches, an actual play podcast using the Genesys game system from Fantasy Flight Games. The show is edited by Sydney Whittington, and features the talents of:
Kit Adames as Birdie. Kit can be found on Twitter and Instagram @ venusvultures. Kit is also a voice actor for Elevator Pitch Podcast, a queer genre-hopping anthology podcast that can be accessed on Spotify and YouTube.
Penn Van Batavia as Marathon. She can be found on Twitter @ acquiredchaste and in drag as horror king JOHN on Instagram @ john.is.risen. Penn is an indie TTRPG designer whose most recent work includes SLICE IT OUT, a grisly carving RPG about cutting pieces of yourself out to fit in. Check out faer other work at pennharper.itch.io.
Sydney Whittington as Cassidy. Sydney can be found on our Discord server, which is linked in the show notes, and on Twitter @ sydney_whitt. She’s also a contributing editor and occasional guest player for the Orpheus Protocol, a cosmic horror espionage actual play podcast.
Cameron Robertson as Emma. Cameron can be found on Twitter @ midnightmusic13 and on Instagram @ reading_and_dreaming. Cameron is also a player on Tabletop Squadron, a Star Wars Edge of the Empire actual play podcast.
And Nick Robertson as narrator. Nick can be found on Twitter @ alias58. Nick is also the GM for Tabletop Squadron. Nick can also be found as a player on the Orpheus Protocol.
This podcast features the musical talents of Dora Violet and Arne Parrott. You can find Dora at facebook.com/doraviolett. You can find Arne at atptunes.com.
The official artwork for this podcast was created by Rashed AlAkroka, who can be found on Instagram and Artstation @ rashedjrs.
You can follow the Patina on Twitter @ akosap_podcast or visit the website: www.akosap.com. To further support the show, consider joining the Patreon at www.patreon.com/AKoSaP, where we’ll be bringing you weekly content including bonus episodes, campfire conversations, and other fun rewards.
Until you tune back…
…stay bold and stay kind