The Patina spends quality time in pairs during their last bit of free time.
The Patina spends quality time in pairs during their last bit of free time.
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.
- Challk Writing - Slow.wav by PsychoPancake. Link & License.
- Declaration of My Love by Squire Tuck. Link & License.
- That Guy's Sky Is Way Too High (long version) by Doctor Turtle. Link & License.
- NEONBULA.mp3 by P C III. 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 38: It’s Following the Cows
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:
Hope your Pride’s been full of magic and rainbows and unicorns, with the occasional protest as needed (they sure seem to be needed a lot these days, huh). And as we move into Lust month, also known as July, start off the Patina way and cozy up with a spicy romance novel. Check out our amazing Discord server for recommendations from your fellow mercenaries.
If, instead, you’d rather celebrate Sloth month with all that summer heat outside, consider backing our Patreon and curling up with hours of bonus episodes, campfire conversations, and other fun rewards.
And with that, we wrap up today’s announcements and head into Season 3, Episode 38: It’s Following the Cows. 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]
Nick (as Juno): Last time on a Knight of Shreds and Patches, Juno here! We were a wildly successful criminal syndicate! Cassidy managed to modify the evidence logs all according to plan, Emma was a great distraction for a crusty clerk, Marathon stole documents and did a sick jump out of a window, and Birdie somehow managed to go on a date. I’m not sure how she keeps doing that. But she got the information we needed at the same time so who can complain really? And I may~ have hit a camera server with a magnetic clipboard on the way out so there’s no video evidence we were ever there. You can’t prove it, we’re masterminds.
[radio static]
Episode Start:
Nick: The day after the Patina completed their heist against the Ramp Girls Headquarters, we find them having just finished recapping their mission to Opal in Opal's office. There is morning sunlight streaming in through the window behind her, and Opal is comfortably seated at her desk processing the information that she has received from her, as she views them, independent contractors.
Cameron (as Opal): All right. Well, it sounds like you were very successful at your job, although things didn't um precisely go as you expected, it seemed. But very, very pleased that you completed all three of my requests. I have already sent Colonel Karma a lovely thank you note and flower arrangement in thanks for her assistance in providing the report I asked for.
Cameron: And she makes meaningful eye contact with Birdie is like, it's not really a report, but that's what Karma thinks she wanted.
Kit: Birdie gives a little wink.
Cameron (as Opal): Yes, some - so I haven't heard any rustlings yet about the um, we'll say altercations.
Penn: Marathon fumbles with sunglasses hanging from the second button on her button up shirt and slides them on very quickly to hide her wild eyes.
Sydney: Cassidy is fidgeting behind her back outside of sight, but not letting it show on her face.
Cameron (as Opal): I haven't heard anything, like I said, but I will be on the lookout and I'll have my silencer look into it.
Penn: After Opal says 'silencer', a bead of sweat starts to drip down Marathon's temple.
Cameron (as Opal): Are you - are you crying, Tall one?
Penn (as Marathon): [clears throat] No ma'am.
Cameron (as Opal): All right. There's, there's really no need to be emotional. I'm sure it'll be fine.
Penn (as Marathon): [noise of protest]
Cameron (as Opal): It won't be talked about.
Penn (as Marathon): I'm just get sweaty. I'm sorry.
Cameron (as Opal): Oh, okay. Okay, yes.
Penn (as Marathon): You can see my eyes.
Cameron (as Opal): Oh, okay.
Penn: She pulls down the shades and puts them back on.
Cameron (as Opal): Okay, yes, you are just sweating profusely, all right. Um, new so my silencer should be able to make sure that nothing makes the press, and they were able to pay off whoever is necessary to make sure that um, none of that is traced back to any of us here.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Sounds excellent.
Sydney: Cassidy's shoulders had slightly relaxed at that phrasing.
Penn (as Marathon): Does that mean you're killing people?
Cameron (as Opal): What?
Penn (as Marathon): [gulp] You said silencer, does that mean - does that mean, like, murder silencer? Not -
Cameron (as Opal): No~.
Penn (as Marathon): And you know what, if that's an inappropriate question, ma'am, I apologize.
Cameron (as Opal): No, those are what I call my hit men. My silencers is just my my um, hmm - the one who makes things go away, but not in a killing type way, in like a bribing people to stay out of the press and to paying newspapers not to print things.
Penn (as Marathon): Oh thank god.
Cameron (as Opal): That that type of silencer. Silencing the rumors and potentially totally true things that I don't want being spread about.
Penn: Marathon with her hand in her hair gives a thumbs up without looking up.
Cameron (as Opal): I don't, I don't have any plans to kill any of the Ramp Girls that you beat up.
Penn (as Marathon): [clears throat awkwardly]
Cameron (as Opal): That just seems cruel. It'd be a terrible week for them. So great work. That is the the last of the contractually obligated jobs that you have for our little side agreement, which is, which is good, because um, y'all are going to be busy. I noticed that the turnaround time on this job was rather quick, which I assume was to give you ample time to prepare for your rather demanding race schedule across the coming weeks.
Cameron (as Emma): That was our intention, yes.
Cameron (as Opal): Good. So keep winning. I think you're doing an excellent job so far. Keep it up, and we won't have any problems. And if I have another particularly juicy job come across my desk, I'll alert you. But like I said, your contract on that part has been fulfilled so no no additional obligation to take on any further responsibilities.
Sydney (as Cassidy): And we'll talk to Reginald about getting the reward for this one.
Cameron (as Opal): Yes, he has all of the things at his desk up there. I find it eas-, instead of just calling him in every time to make him do it in front of me, I'm it's fine. I trust my staff. Y'all can just walk out of my office and go to him and it'll be totally fine and taken care of. Go, go forth and win things for me.
Cameron: And Opal does a hand wave gesture with both hands, shoeing them out the doors of her office.
Nick: And the Patina leaves having successfully reported their mission and gotten Opal's blessing. The group has just a couple of days before the first of their pressing schedule of back to back X Bike races begins. They have a little bit of time to tie up loose ends and relax before the break neck pace of their schedule created by Opal takes up all of their time. The first thing we see some hours later is Cassidy and Marathon walking together down Merchant's Alley.
Sydney: Cassidy is leading the way through on this leisurely walk through Merchant's Alley. Their last stop on this minor tour was, Cassidy had found a small stand that did Tree All specific imports, and the two of them came away with one of the very few packs of the Maple cigarettes in Sasnak that Marathon most prefers. And Cassidy is holding Marathon's hand as she gently guides her towards their next stop.
Penn (as Marathon): [giddy] I can't believe you found somebody who's selling Maples in Sasnak Traveling! Oh,
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well -
Penn (as Marathon): You're gonna share one with me later, right Miss Cassidy?
Sydney (as Cassidy): Sure. You just kept saying you missed them and the Voyagers weren't as good. So
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah, this will last me just a little bit longer. I'll make them last.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, the further away we get, the harder it's gonna be to find them. So
Penn (as Marathon): [sigh] I guess so. Getting a little homesick.
Penn: Marathon brushes off her short sleeved button up that's now been opened to reveal a white cut off underneath.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well, you know, once we get to this next stop, maybe you can tell me - share a story about something here. Now that you're far enough removed from it, what are you missing?
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah, the streets, just the steps of it, the sound of the industrial machine making power. It's more of a sensory thing. I'm just a little homesick. I don't think I would actually enjoy being back there, Miss Cassidy. I have a much better time hanging here with you.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well, good, because we're here.
Penn (as Marathon): Oh, and where is here today?
Sydney: Cassidy points up to the tea shop that Emma had previously recommended. The tea shop is oddly plain from the outside. It's almost brutalist, with just painted white cement and a balcony, but the furniture on the balcony actually looks very contrasting to the industrial railing and the metal door on the front. And as you look in the windows and take a closer look, maybe it is actually cozy. It's very minimalist and as Cassidy opens the door and lets Marathon lead inside, it looks really nice, but there's not that much around, and it's mostly white.
Penn (as Marathon): Wow. Miss Cassidy, you picked quite the spot. Do we just seat ourselves?
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, find a table. The wait staff will come around. We can get fancy sandwiches or fancy tea.
Penn (as Marathon): Well, I'd fancy both. [laugh]
Penn: Marathon tries to give a sly wink.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Do you need to go upstairs and go sit on the balcony and watch the crowd? Or do you want to sit inside and stare at food and each other?
Penn (as Marathon): Well, both views sound great, but I think I enjoy people watching with you quite a bit, Miss Cassidy, so let's go upstairs.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Sure.
Penn: And Marathon eyes the staircase and sliding her hand into Cassidy's again, starts the charge upstairs to find a table before they settle down at a nice spot that oversees almost the exact same scene that Rye and Emma had seen before.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Apparently, last time Emma was here there was a riot, so we'll hope for not that.
Penn (as Marathon): I I would actually be - okay can I be completely honest? I would be very interested in what a riot looks like right here, but I don't want anybody get hurt. So
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah.
Sydney: The wait staff comes by and Cassidy and Marathon put in orders for finger sandwiches and drinks to their tastes.
Penn (as Marathon): So Miss Cassidy, how you feeling about these big races coming up?
Sydney (as Cassidy): Uh so - I don't know. The adrenaline is just pumping in my veins.
Penn (as Marathon): You seem so adrenalized right now, that is -
Sydney (as Cassidy): Oh yeah.
Penn (as Marathon): - the word I was gonna go for. Yeah.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, I'm really feeling the hype.
Penn (as Marathon): Mmhm. No, I've been thinking - I've been seeing some of these other big teams have, like mascots, and I was wondering, since we're aiming for the big, big times, do we want to Patina a mascot?
Penn: And Marathon gives a big smile.
Sydney (as Cassidy): [surprised laugh] I mean, yeah I - sure. [laugh] What's your idea?
Penn (as Marathon): Hmm.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Are you gonna be like one of your uh, derby girls?
Penn (as Marathon): I mean, I was thinking of bringing a little, little ice derby charm to it, as long as that's all right.
Sydney (as Cassidy): The mascots in the in the high leagues are so weird.
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah like a mysterious fish?
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah and it like has -
Penn (as Marathon): I haven't seen it, but -
Sydney (as Cassidy): - a smaller fish inside.
Penn (as Marathon): - it intrigues me. Oh, you've seen it? Shoot…
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, I've watched all the top teams because I'm sitting out there, like, trying to study strategy and stuff. So, like, it's really creative, but it - I don't know how they came up with it.
Penn (as Marathon): Well Miss Cassidy, as one of the lead racers, I was think- - I have a couple of appropriate outfits picked out - but I was wondering if there was any sort of, like theme or prop I should go for, you know, to cheer on my favorite racers.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well, I'm wearing plaid and sunglasses, and Birdie is wearing like leather bikinis, so somewhere in the middle of those, I guess?
Penn (as Marathon): Plaid bikini? Yeah, I'm liking this. Okay, okay, like sexy lumberjack. That's kind of the energy I'm feeling. Hey, you know what actually - Melissa showed me a few things a few years back - I could break out the chainsaw. I could do some chainsaw tricks.
Sydney (as Cassidy): We don't - where are you gonna find a chainsaw? There's no trees here. Well, there's trees in the in the domes, but
Penn (as Marathon): I'm sure Aubrey and Surge could whip something up chainsaw-esque.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Just don't hurt yourself.
Penn (as Marathon): Of course not.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Don't hurt us. I mean, we'll be down on the track, but
Penn (as Marathon): I will only bring joy and righteous, winning fury to your heart with my awesome, sensual chainsaw dance. [laugh]
Sydney (as Cassidy): Wow~.
Penn (as Marathon): [laughing] Yeah, right? Sure.
Sydney: Cassidy sits back from the table as their drinks and a two tiered plate of sandwiches shows up.
Penn (as Marathon): But I would love to show you few the other tricks Melissa taught me as well, if you're ever willing.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Are those also chainsaw based?
Penn (as Marathon): Uhh~. Chainsaw is optional.
Penn: And Marathon gives her a little look down her nose.
Sydney: Cassidy's cheek slightly blush as she looks away and takes a sip of her chai tea that has been all that she's been ordering at every place that she's gone to since having some at Janus' shop.
Penn: Marathon, takes a sip from her tea as well, giving some playful eyes at Cassidy before closing her eyes in a splendor from this dealer's choice tea.
Penn (as Marathon): Mm! That's good. I don't know what it is, but it's good.
Sydney (as Cassidy): You'd really just asked for a dealer's choice and didn't follow up to see what it was?
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah. I trust them. They brew tea here all the time.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, I guess it's just that's too, that's too brave, too brave for me. I gotta know what I'm drinking.
Penn (as Marathon): Don't worry. One of us got to be brave for you.
Sydney (as Cassidy): [scoff noise]
Penn (as Marathon): But I think you're plenty brave enough.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Hey, Marathon, so it's been a few days since our our Eaves conversation. Do you - do you feel like you got what you wanted? Are you no longer in turmoil?
Penn: Marathon's face goes a little serious when Cassidy mentions the Eaves conversation, and then she settles back.
Penn (as Marathon): Um hmm. I just really appreciate getting to spend time with you, however that looks, and I'm lucky to have it. So yeah, if the if you're happy with it for now.
Sydney: Cassidy gives a shrug.
Penn (as Marathon): Are you - how are you feeling?
Sydney (as Cassidy): You just have to tell me if you're looking - if you want something specific and if you don't tell me something, I'm going to assume that you're you've got what you need.
Penn (as Marathon): Well [sigh] all right, Cassidy. [clear throat] You know - okay, I said I would love to build to something serious, but if that's, if that's - I would love to be more serious with you, but I don't want to scare you away or anything, because that's happened in the past. So, and that's just a personal thing, maybe I should just be more upfront about that. But, um, yeah, I don't know if you, if you are willing to, like, think about that and you want to do something like be more serious.
Sydney (as Cassidy): All right, so let's - now that I know what conversation that we're having compared to last time, -
Penn (as Marathon): [awkward laugh]
Sydney (as Cassidy): - let me tell you what my thought is.
Penn: Marathon starts scratching the back of her neck.
Sydney (as Cassidy): I am an adult, and I will tell you if you ask something that I'm not comfortable with, and I will expect you to do the same for me.
Penn (as Marathon): Fair. Fair.
Sydney (as Cassidy): So instead of, I don't know, kicking around that you may want to do something sometime, but maybe it's not the right time, like if you want something, say it. Like it's not -
Penn (as Marathon): You're right, Cassidy. You deserve this. Cassidy Shard, I would love you to be my girlfriend, and I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Of course, Marathon.
Penn: And Marathon slides across the table to grab Cassidy's hand and just starts peppering kisses.
Penn (as Marathon): [excited and relieved noises] Oh~. Wow. Okay. I'm sorry I'm not very good at this adult relationship thing after, after -yeah. [laugh] Oh, thank you, Cassidy. Wow. Cassidy Shard is my girlfriend.
Sydney: Cassidy, takes her hand back.
Penn (as Marathon): [joyous laughter]
Sydney (as Cassidy): I mean, every no two people are the same, but it sounds like all the ice derby girls and folks were kind of a mess. And I'm sure I'm a mess too in a different way, but I'm at least a mess that likes communication, like be up front. Thank you.
Penn (as Marathon): You're better mess. You're - you're my mess now, Miss Cassidy.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Oh, good. Well, you're mine too. So
Penn (as Marathon): [flustered delighted sigh]
Penn: And Marathon starts blushing.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Apparently the sandwiches are pretty good.
Penn (as Marathon): Oh, I'm a bit too nervous to touch mine.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well, we did the hard part already. Now you can just enjoy being on a date with your girlfriend.
Penn (as Marathon): Ooh!
Penn: And Marathon gets a little giddy from that before taking a sandwich.
Penn (as Marathon): Okay, which ones you order?
Sydney (as Cassidy): I got those pastrami on rye.
Penn (as Marathon): [excited] Oh, with the mustard?
Sydney (as Cassidy): Mhm.
Penn (as Marathon): Yea~! Okay. I think you are catching on to me. [laugh]
Sydney: And Cassidy reaches down to take a drink, and as steady as her hands are when she is in combat, there are noticeable ripples on the surface of the tea before she goes to drink it.
Nick: Next, we find Emma and Birdie seated at a table looking across a boiling pot of cheese at each other.
Kit (as Birdie): So Emma~.
Kit: And Birdie will fold her hands on top of the table like they've just been seated and are about to begin their official friend date.
Cameron (as Emma): Birdie~!
Cameron: Emma mirrors and does the same hand crossing.
Kit (as Birdie): How have things been?
Cameron (as Emma): You know, things have been pretty good. You know, work was a bit hectic this week.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, just little bit stressful. You know, unexpected projects that come up and stuff.
Kit (as Birdie): Oh, yeah. You know, -
Cameron (as Emma): You know how -
Kit (as Birdie): - the usual.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah. But I have so been looking forward to this cheese.
Kit (as Birdie): Me too.
Cameron (as Emma): So
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah, back in the day, a couple of the older Foundlings did a job and they got like a massive payout, and it was - I don't even remember whose birthday was coming up, but we decided to celebrate kind of early, and so Winifred and Vaus took everyone here, and I think I totally got kicked out when I was younger, so hopefully I don't look that similar.
Cameron (as Emma): [laugh]
Kit (as Birdie): But I've been dreaming about this place ever since we've come back, so I'm glad that we are getting to do it.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, you know, hearing, hearing the stories about your family, I'm not, I'm not shocked that y'all would have -
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah~.
Cameron (as Emma): - gotten kicked out as younger versions of yourself.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah. Zan tried to, like, take the full cheese pot. Because we had like a bigger party, we had two cheese pots, and so Zan tried to skip town early, and, like, was trying to bring things out of -
Cameron (as Emma): No~.
Kit (as Birdie): - the restaurant.
Cameron (as Emma): The pot is so hot.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah. Yeah. They realized that afterward.
Cameron (as Emma): [laugh]
Kit (as Birdie): And then I think that they also managed to stab themselves with the little fork once.
Cameron (as Emma): Oh~ my goodness. Um yep. Let's not do any of that.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah. Yeah, I think, I think that's a good plan.
Cameron (as Emma): I'm glad that you're getting to relive a bright childhood memory without probably some of the chaos that surrounded it when it first occurred.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah. Yeah. It's, you know, it's fun. [contented sigh] So you, when we talked about coming here, you kind of seemed like you had, like, an objective in mind. Did you want to talk about anything, or are you,
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah.
Kit (as Birdie): - you doing good?
Cameron (as Emma): So, well, yes, I'm doing good, but also, I did have something to talk about.
Kit (as Birdie): Oh, okay.
Cameron (as Emma): Combo, so, I mean most important thing was just we deserved a friend date,
Kit (as Birdie): Awww.
Cameron (as Emma): - because Cassidy and Marathon got a date date.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah, ha ha losers.
Cameron (as Emma): And we deserve fancy stuff too.
Kit (as Birdie): Yes. [giggle]
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, so we can go and talk to them all about our delicious cheese and chocolate and broth for meat?
Kit (as Birdie): I think yeah. Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): And, and they can be jealous of us.
Kit (as Birdie): Mhm mhm.
Cameron (as Emma): So the first objective is that, but the other one, something I wanted to talk to you privately about.
Kit (as Birdie): Okay.
Cameron (as Emma): So I have had conversations with some of the party where I'm doing all of these one on one to try to keep it all as friendly and blameless as possible.
Kit (as Birdie): [immediately knows where this is going] Is this about the Guts?
Kit: And Birdie will lean in and talk through her teeth.
Cameron (as Emma): It's in reaction to the Guts.
Kit (as Birdie): [sigh] Yeah. Okay.
Cameron (as Emma): So the - I think obviously, that was a tense situation. There was it definitely got a lot worse, I think, once Marathon and I fell through the floor,
Kit (as Birdie): Mhm.
Cameron (as Emma): but even before that - we we weren't in a good spot as a group.
Kit (as Birdie): Mhm.
Cameron (as Emma): It, it, it was already becoming toxic even before Marathon and I went poof.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): And I think it was probably - what I'm hoping, is that that job was just like the perfect storm to cause that tension. But I - so I want, I want us all to remain friends and not have, not have jobs add stress that we then have to therapize out with each other afterwards.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): And one of the things that I've come up with, like look looking back and reflecting on it, I think there was more that Marathon and I could have done to defuse the situation. Cause I think we - there were, there were attempts made, but they were kind of timid attempts. And I don't think any one is like getting tense and worked up with the goal of fighting it out with somebody else.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah, like malicious ends or anything.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, it's just it - there's, as the stress goes up, other emotions start going high. You've got adrenaline going. It's -
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): We're not necessarily in the best state of mind, just in general.
Kit (as Birdie): Mhm.
Cameron (as Emma): But so one of the things that I am going to commit to trying to do going forward is do a better job of calling out the kind of toxic work environment in the moment.
Kit (as Birdie): Mhm.
Cameron (as Emma): Because I think if it had been called out that okay, maybe, maybe we're gonna have to have some conversations once we're back top side, because people's feelings were hurt and like, obviously you have responses to things and like, they're valid and they need to get talked about, but maybe it's good - it is necessary to be able to have someone step in and say, 'Hey, noticing this, recognize there's high, high feelings happening at the moment, but the tenseness and standoffishness that's happening currently is making it more dangerous for everyone'.
Kit (as Birdie): Mhm.
Cameron (as Emma): So to be able to, just like, call attention to it and have everyone be willing to push the pause button,
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah
Cameron (as Emma): - to work through stuff. And so I'm willing to commit to doing that. I think, in general, I think I'm kind of hard to ruffle that way, but of course, if I'm being a horrendous bitch -
Kit (as Birdie): [laugh]
Cameron (as Emma): - and causing pain for everybody else, like feel free to call it in reverse. But that's something that I want to try to do to keep us safe in the moment and to not have it continue to ramp up, because the longer we let it go, the more uncomfortable it became, and then the harder it was to interject. And then when Marathon finally did, kind of hurt Cassidy's feelings doing that, so it like just to avoid, avoid the mess in general, I'm going to try to call attention to it and push that pause button.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): And I'm just talking to everybody so that everyone knows that that's something I'm gonna be on the lookout for.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): Just so that if I step in and I'm like, 'Okay, I'm shutting this down, we'll can keep doing it later. Everybody chill.' Y'all aren't just like, 'What the heck? Why is Emma, like, being so, like, forceful about this? Like, what's going on?' Like that that, that's my, that's my my goal with it is to keep everything safe, keep all the people safe, keep the relationships safe.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): Keep it from just downward spiraling into horrible friend breakups.
Kit (as Birdie): Mhm. No, that's - I appreciate it. That's a good idea. Yeah, I hope we're never in one of those situations again, but of course, you know it's like, you can never control all the aspects of a situation that you're put into all the time.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah.
Kit (as Birdie): And so it's like, just trying to keep in mind what's going to keep us alive is what's best.
Cameron (as Emma): Uh huh. That's the priority.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah so, I mean, I really appreciate you doing that for us. Because, yeah, it wasn't, it wasn't great. It didn't feel, feel great at all. And I mean, like, I've talked about before with, like, the only group I really had that was this, that I stayed with for this long was, you know, the Foundlings and so, like, when we would fight, it's like, how family fights. It's like, and there were clear people that were, like, in charge. And, I mean, you know, Zan and I were, like, pretty back and forth with how we were we were doing, but in groups that I was with, you know, when I was an adult, people come and go so often that group dynamics are always changing, and so people are always kind of tense. And it's very much like how the Rust operates. Of like, people can be miffed, but they're all there for money in the end of the day. And so there's no like, no one actually resolves their conflict unless they like, someone gets hurt, they fight it out, or just talking it out and having, like, actual mature conversations isn't always people's first priorities when it comes to -
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah.
Kit (as Birdie): - keeping the group together, because they're probably going to leave in another month anyways, and I'm glad for this.
Cameron (as Emma): I don't want anyone to ever feel like - how do I phrase this? I was gonna say, I don't want anyone to ever feel like leaving is an option, but like, it is. But like, [laughing] you're not -
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah, like it doesn't-
Cameron (as Emma): [overlapping] - you're not trapped, but we don't-
Kit (as Birdie): [overlapping] - it shouldn't feel like we on the first option.
Cameron (as Emma): I don't want anything to escalate to the point where it's like, 'Fine, I'm leaving' and like that - I don't - I want to avoid that. But I also, I know we have, we have a lot of different backgrounds amongst the group with a whole lot of traumatic shit that has occurred. And so while I think we can do a better job in general, like, like, I think we did for our activities earlier this week. We can be super prepared, have a plan well established going in, like I think that the prep work we did on that helped a lot, so I think that's a good thing to keep going. But also, you never know when you're going to run into something that is going to trigger an emotional response like that.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): So having this as a backup of we need to pay attention to the job or getting to safety or whatever, and we will be having a conversation about this later,
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): - when we can actually sit down and have a conversation that provides value and is a constructive conversation, and not just -
Kit (as Birdie): Angry.
Cameron (as Emma): - snide comments and making each other feel bad.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah, yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): So that was all I had. That was my my one dinner topic that was on my agenda. So
Kit (as Birdie): Well, we got through it with half of the cheese, all of the entree, and the dessert to go, so we did pretty good.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah um so now we can just speculate how Cassidy and Marathon's date is going.
Kit (as Birdie): Ooh.
Cameron (as Emma): Which is a much more fun conversation.
Kit (as Birdie): Are we putting money on this?
Kit: And Birdie will lean in.
Nick: Another day has passed, and next we see Emma and Winifred seated at Winifred's kitchen table as they wrap up a lesson.
Cameron (as Emma): Okay... that makes sense.
Sydney (as Winifred): Once you get all the shortcuts down, I think it's faster and more effective than any other options, but if you get lost, it's just Colon + Q.
Cameron (as Emma): Okay. Yeah, I'm, I'm definitely going to need to refer to my notes for a while, but it makes it makes sense, at least. So
Sydney (as Winifred): You just gotta remember all the modes. It comes with practice, but we can call it for today.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, thanks.
Sydney (as Winifred): McKenzie enjoying her time in your other arm?
Cameron (as Emma): Mackenzie! [baby talk] She's just so chunky.
Cameron: Emma has Mackenzie sitting on one leg with both arms around her stomach to kind of hold her up, and it's just bouncing her on her leg.
Cameron (as Emma): She's so cute. I don't, I don't get to play with babies a ton when we're on the road and I was - with the amount of cousins and them constantly having kids, I was, I was very used to being able to just like, go and hang out with a chubby baby. It's seems derogatory to say this, but it's kind of like going and hanging out with like a puppy. [laugh]
Sydney (as Winifred): I mean, holding babies is oddly peaceful, yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah. [baby talk] Like, she just doesn't know what's going on. She's just happy.
Sydney (as Winifred): I think it's more peaceful the less responsibility you have.
Cameron (as Emma): Oh yeah, knowing that I can hand her back at any time definitely makes this better.
Sydney (as Winifred): Well, for now, we're gonna need to hand her to Larry, because I need to go run into the actual office and turn in some paperwork.
Cameron (as Emma): MmMmm.
Sydney (as Winifred): [short laugh] Interested noise?
Cameron (as Emma): This might be weird and feel free to say no, but can I tag along?
Sydney: Winifred raises an eyebrow at Emma and then puts a finger to her lips.
Sydney (as Winifred): Yeah, I don't think they mind. There's not anything - I mean, it's conference rooms, and if it's something sensitive, they'll have the door shut. All the real interesting stuff happens elsewhere.
Cameron (as Emma): I'm I'm honestly just curious how this is a functioning organization with how little control is actually had over the city. [laugh]
Sydney (as Winifred): Well, people can tell the weather, and you don't have any control over that either.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, but I don't, you can't. You can take readings and stuff, so I guess, like, I don't, I don't know what's
Sydney (as Winifred): It's the same concept.
Cameron (as Emma): I don't know what you're reading.
Sydney (as Winifred): The city.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah but [I don't understand noises]
Sydney (as Winifred): I mean I can - let's, let me put my shoes on. Hey, Larry, can you grab Mackenzie?
Nick (as Larry): Yeah, I got her.
Sydney (as Winifred): Thank you.
Cameron (as Emma): [baby talk] I'll see you later.
Nick: Larry sweeps into the room and picks up Mackenzie.
Nick (as Larry): Oh, look, there's the little snot bubble. I got her. Come on.
Nick: And he whisks out of the room.
Sydney (as Winifred): If she has a snot bubble you might want to wipe her nose~.
Cameron (as Emma): I don't think she had one.
Sydney (as Winifred): Oh, it must be the latest nickname. I can't keep up.
Cameron (as Emma): Does he rotate through them a lot?
Sydney (as Winifred): It's like every third day.
Cameron (as Emma): [laugh]
Sydney (as Winifred): And I'm only here during waking hours about every third day.
Cameron (as Emma): I mean, she's young enough at this point that it's probably not confusing to her yet. [laugh]
Sydney: Winnifred has moved from the kitchen table to the couch by the door and is sliding on thigh high black boots.
Cameron: Emma walks over and joins her and slips her feet into her standard boots.
Sydney (as Winifred): Well, it's a it's not too far of a walk. We go out of this dome, and we turn down the street, and then we go into the next dome. It's a smaller, like, administrative one.
Cameron (as Emma): All right. I'm really used to walking and stairs since we've got here, so
Sydney (as Winifred): [laugh] It becomes a non issue quite quickly.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, it's, it's a amazing way to work up your cardio super quick. I still don't know if I'm happy about the fact that I did that.
Sydney (as Winifred): I mean, having good cardio is handy for a lot of activities.
Cameron (as Emma): Yes, but I don't like stairs.
Sydney (as Winifred): You could swing a sword a lot harder, faster, longer - some combination.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, I don't, I don't know we've - I don't think we've ever been in a fight where I was nearing the point of tiring myself out.
Sydney (as Winifred): And now you really won't.
Cameron (as Emma): That's true.
Sydney: And Winifred stands up and grabs her black fisher cap off the hook by the door.
Sydney (as Winifred): Shall we?
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, let's go.
Sydney: As Winifred had described, it's probably a 15 minute walk. It's down one flight of stairs and then level the rest of the way, so it's actually a pretty easy on the scale of what you have seen, and you quickly go into a smaller dome. It's still climate controlled. There are some gardens on the rooftops, but the buildings are a little bit taller, a little bit closer together, and Winifred gives a grand gesture as they enter.
Sydney (as Winifred): This is where most of the bureaucracy in the city runs.
Cameron (as Emma): Ooh, fun.
Sydney (as Winifred): So that building over there, that's where the Council meets. There's a big conference room with a big table. There's a bunch of other rooms where staff actually run the city when the councilors aren't gesturing wildly at each other or attempting to kill each other.
Cameron (as Emma): [sarcastic] What do you mean it's not actually the council running the city?
Sydney (as Winifred): [sarcastic] Yeah, would you believe, [laugh] the actual work is delegated?
Cameron (as Emma): [sarcastic] No, I'm shocked.
Sydney (as Winifred): Hm.
Cameron (as Emma): [sarcastic] I'm shocked! I haven't had that experience at all with the counselors,
Sydney (as Winifred): Wow how lucky.
Cameron (as Emma): - of work being delegated.
Sydney (as Winifred): How did your latest job go, by the way? I helped Cassidy get some access.
Cameron (as Emma): Oh, it went overall, pretty dang smooth. And then uh, also, there was some excitement - unforeseen excitement.
Sydney (as Winifred): That sounds about like a job.
Cameron (as Emma): Mhm. Yep. And of course, we were all radio silent and [laugh] -
Sydney (as Winifred): [understanding laugh] Oh boy.
Cameron (as Emma): - all going around doing separate things. So, yeah, it was, it was probably good that specifically that Cassidy didn't know about the exciting things that were happening.
Sydney (as Winifred): [laugh]
Cameron (as Emma): She might have face palmed so hard she like dented her forehead.
Sydney (as Winifred): Oh, that is a relatable feeling.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah.
Sydney (as Winifred): [noise of pained reflection] The Foundlings were a colorful group of youngsters. I don't -
Cameron (as Emma): [sarcastic] You know, judge- judging off of your adult selves, I find that hard to believe.
Sydney (as Winifred): Yeah, it's, you know, the color starting to wash out of my hair.
Sydney: And Winifred runs her hand through the white streak.
Cameron (as Emma): It's probably time to fix that then.
Sydney (as Winifred): No, I think it gives character.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, I just figured you liked having color in your hair.
Sydney (as Winifred): [laugh]
Sydney: Winifred points upward to the building that they've just reached the front of.
Sydney (as Winifred): This is the Forecasting Bureau.
Cameron (as Emma): It's tall.
Sydney (as Winifred): Yes, and it's a bureau.
Cameron (as Emma): Does it forecast things?
Sydney (as Winifred): No, the people do.
Cameron (as Emma): Oh~, okay.
Sydney: She pulls a key card a lot like the one that she had given Emma and Cassidy to secure the rig out of her pocket and uses it to badge into the building. As they go in, Winifred gives a wave and a warm smile to the the secretary at the desk.
Sydney (as Winifred): If it isn't my girl, Thursday. I hope you're doing well tonight. I've got my friend Emma here. We're gonna go drop off some paperwork, and I'm gonna bring her through the public areas. She was curious how the bureau was working.
Cameron: Emma gives a little wave from behind Winifred.
Nick (as Winifred’s girl Thursday): Well, of course, you've always got the run of the place. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.
Sydney (as Winifred): Thank you so much.
Sydney: And Winifred takes off down a hallway.
Cameron: Emma follows.
Sydney: As they walk past offices, a couple of rooms that look like small computer labs - there are large terminals sitting on the tables - she gives Emma a running summary of what goes on.
Sydney (as Winifred): So these groups are running historical pattern recognition. Part of it is discovery of old logs, part of it is massaging old database formats into current things to run analysis on, part of it is slotting in new data as we have it, every time a Turning occurs or a change in tread speed that may or may not be accompanied by a change in direction, it all gets noted down. They're 70% or so accurate.
Cameron (as Emma): That's not bad.
Sydney (as Winifred): Which is a lot better than anything previous.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, no, 70. 70% is good.
Sydney: They round a corner. Most of the offices are closed and the lights are out. It's a slow part of the day, but a couple of people look up, see Winifred and go back to work. One attractive, 30s looking woman looks up, sees Winifred, and then double takes and gives an eager wave, and Winifred flashes another smile as they keep walking past.
Cameron (as Emma): Honest question, how many people in this office are in love with you?
Sydney (as Winifred): Hmm, if the office is full, there's probably -
Cameron (as Emma): 70%?
Sydney (as Winifred): - there's probably 200 people on staff.
Sydney: Winifred puts a knuckle up to her lips, not letting it touch to preserve her sharp black lipstick.
Sydney (as Winifred): Maybe only 30.
Cameron (as Emma): People or percent?
Sydney (as Winifred): People.
Cameron (as Emma): Okay.
Sydney (as Winifred): My aura puts some off. Men.
Sydney: And she gives a [laugh] shrug.
Cameron (as Emma): I mean, 15% of a population is still kind of wild.
Sydney (as Winifred): They're nice. I like them.
Cameron (as Emma): Well and they like you, so I guess that's good.
Sydney (as Winifred): If I make it into the office and stay long enough to chat. Doesn't happen super often. Anyway, this is the, what we'll call the Red String Room.
Sydney: And she points through - this is a much larger conference room. There's a bunch of tables with erasable boards laid on top and filling up two walls of this room is a collection of what look like, old weather readings, star charts. There's a picture of a cattle drive. In your brief look, as you walk past there is so many approaching the level of a mood board that no one has decided what mood it is, and so they just put everything on.
Sydney (as Winifred): This is the group that doesn't know - they have taken the approach of they don't know what's important, and so they think everything is.
Cameron (as Emma): It kind of looks like they're trying to hunt down a serial killer, but they don't have a lot of ideas, or they have too many ideas. They don't have many leads. [laugh]
Sydney (as Winifred): If you're up in the Stacks, there's a reason we try to warn ahead of time on the Turnings. Sasnak is kind of a - have you ever heard the urban legends of the when you're building a system from scratch, it doesn't work without a blood sacrifice?
Cameron (as Emma): Yes?
Sydney (as Winifred): It's kind of morbid, but Sasnak's a big city, so we tried to keep that as low as possible.
Cameron (as Emma): Huh.
Sydney (as Winifred): They're not super accurate, but they know they're not super accurate, and sometimes, somehow, they have an intuition. When they tell us to listen, they are often, more often than not correct. 53% normally, and 80 when they say to listen.
Cameron (as Emma): Hmm, that's a substantial difference.
Sydney (as Winifred): We keep them around.
Sydney: And Winifred walking around, they've made it down two sides of the building, and Winifred gestures to a small lunch area with a couple of tables. There are a few more people here, but they're all close in conversation, and no one really looks up as Winifred walks past.
Sydney (as Winifred): Food. [short laugh] I imagine it's similar at most places.
Cameron (as Emma): Always good to have some place to eat.
Sydney: Around the last corner, now you can see down at the very end of the hall the door that you came in.
Sydney (as Winifred): And here is my directorate. This is the Esoterics - the everyone has a different idea, and as long as you can report back with some probabilities and they're reasonably accurate, anything over 60% is worthy of an independent study.
Cameron (as Emma): Hmm.
Sydney (as Winifred): But here's here's why I'm here.
Sydney: And she opens a door that it's closed and the lights are off, but it is an office, and sitting on the desk is a card for one of the coworkers celebrating their upcoming birthday. She quickly writes a message in and gives it a signature with a flourish.
Sydney (as Winifred): You can't digitally send in a signature. Gotta have some camaraderie. Build goodwill for when you need a favor.
Cameron (as Emma): Mhm. That, yeah, that tracks. That's pretty common.
Sydney (as Winifred): Plus, I like Maggie. I would come see her if she was here. But
Cameron (as Emma): Is she in the 15%?
Sydney (as Winifred): Yes.
Cameron (as Emma): Okay, just curious.
Sydney (as Winifred): Mhm. [chuckle] Maybe when she decides she is willing to actually date a coworker.
Cameron (as Emma): But if, if we're in this section, then you're both doing independent study, right?
Sydney (as Winifred): Mhm.
Cameron (as Emma): So it's not really dating a coworker.
Sydney (as Winifred): No, and there's, there's never any pressure, but I've made my interest known, and we'll see. Give it a couple of months.
Cameron (as Emma): Done what you can.
Sydney (as Winifred): But this is, this is the Bureau. There's some further systems upstairs, but I can't get you into those.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, no, that's fine. I appreciate you showing me around. I hadn't, hadn't realized that there was this many different approaches being taken to try to plan out, or guess at - uh predict. That was the word I was looking for. To predict the Turnings and stuff. That - I like that there's a bunch of different ways that's cool.
Sydney (as Winifred): It's hard because we really don't - no one, no one knows for sure. Actually, you can see my office. It's two doors down over here.
Sydney: And Winifred shuts the office door that they came out of. Opening this other door, Winifred the office is fairly plain. It's got a wood desk, a wood cabinet, some writing utensils. There's not even a computer in here. You guess it's because Winifred often is accompanied by her tablet as her main form of interfacing.
Sydney (as Winifred): I don't come in here much, but there's two chairs, if you - [laugh]
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, and a table.
Sydney (as Winifred): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): Doesn't appear very lived in.
Sydney (as Winifred): No, I have other - my field office is really where I spend my time, but it's kind of out of the way.
Cameron (as Emma): It's good to have a place here, though, where you can meet up with people and have conversations.
Sydney (as Winifred): Yeah, sometimes it helps to swap some ideas around. Everyone has a different approach, especially in this hallway. And I really just want to, I want to understand how the city works to keep people safe. I also just like knowing things.
Cameron (as Emma): To keep people safe, but you also just want to know, for knowing's sake. [laugh]
Sydney (as Winifred): Sasnak is a really cool place.
Cameron (as Emma): I get it. I - [laugh]
Sydney (as Winifred): It's a fun challenge. I've spent a lot of time.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, I get it. I'm I am similarly interested, but as I am not here all the time, eh [noise obviously explaining lack independent study for this topic]
Sydney (as Winifred): I mean, if you have, I can't divulge too many secrets, but I might know some things. This is the venue for it. I can draw you a picture on that board.
Cameron (as Emma): Ooh yeah!
Sydney (as Winifred): I got a stick of chalk.
Cameron (as Emma): Teach me. What are you doing? What is your independent study project?
Sydney (as Winifred): So,
Cameron (as Emma): Oh, boy, I love it when people start off with 'so'.
Sydney (as Winifred): [delighted laugh]
Cameron (as Emma): It means something very technical is coming. [laugh]
Sydney (as Winifred): Well and the fact that you didn't flinch away, that's you can - [laugh
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah no, I asked the question!
Sydney (as Winifred): You're a good student. Yes.
Sydney: Winifred draws a quick, large, flat cylinder with a bunch of wheels underneath, and then draws a couple of bubbles and some tall rectangles on top.
Sydney (as Winifred): This is Sasnak. You may recognize it.
Cameron (as Emma): It does seem vaguely familiar. Yes.
Sydney: And Winifred draws two arrows coming out from the main body of the cylinder, basically zooming in and starts drawing a bunch of layered geometric lines.
Sydney (as Winifred): So you don't - I'm gonna abstract this a little bit. Power, sewage, water, more power, networking.
Cameron (as Emma): Okay.
Sydney (as Winifred): Also networking. This one actually is a little bit bigger, it's a maintenance tunnel, but there's more - a lot of these are redundant lines. This is the layout that's right under my field office, of course, it changes throughout the city, but basically - I am tapped into this power line and these networking lines, and I'm looking for - there's a lot of things that go around, and I'm trying, I'm trying to reverse engineer the - we talked about neural nets a little bit -
Cameron (as Emma): Mhm.
Sydney (as Winifred): - when, when I explained it a long time ago. Now we, I think we've, we've covered them in more detail enough that relevant to your hardware needs so
Cameron (as Emma): Mhm. Little bit of a refresher from high school.
Sydney (as Winifred): Yeah fair. So there are a lot of local hubs throughout the city, and I haven't totally confirmed whether it's a fully distributed network or there's a central hub somewhere where the signal just gets repeated around, but we've got the neural networks that, as far as I can tell, are making, are cascading the results of decision making, and I have tapped -
Sydney: And she circles a couple of locations on the networking line and one on the power line.
Sydney (as Winifred): - these and I from what I can tell between these two, and believe it or not, some of the weather and moon phase [laugh] info from the red string room,
Cameron (as Emma): Hmm!
Sydney (as Winifred): I am starting to get, we'll say 30% of an idea of some of the non linear processing of the Sasnak decision making, which is to say, I might know parts of how it decides what to do. And the next step is chain those together, find more -
Sydney: And Winifred draws the line coming down, and then draws a second line all the way across the bottom of the board.
Sydney (as Winifred): - 4, 5, or 60 more places to tap in enough to get enough detail. That's kind of the thrust of the research, is direct contact with the city.
Cameron (as Emma): That's very cool.
Sydney (as Winifred): So most of the other approaches don't - the city is very opaque, and I grew up interfacing with it. There are days where it seems like it has a mind, whether an actual mind is - can you differentiate between a mind and sufficiently advanced technology?
Cameron (as Emma): [ah yes the age old question] Yeah.
Sydney (as Winifred): I'm not sure. If there is one, it'd be great to talk to it. I wonder if the city even knows that there are people stacked on it.
Cameron (as Emma): I guess I had, I had thought of the city as like a very large interconnected system, which obviously it is, but it - I hadn't taken a step back to view the whole thing as an like an entity unto itself.
Sydney (as Winifred): Some people think the city's plowing fields across the continent, which it could be. If you're thinking systematic, the why, why would you have a giant - this is a lot of effort of mechanical and the energy expenditures for this.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, I don't, I don't know, maybe like mixing up the dirt for farming purposes, but the treads are way too big to just be like, actually laying down lines in a field that you would plant stuff in, from my farming background.
Sydney (as Winifred): Yeah, even if that was the reason -
Cameron (as Emma): It could be aerating the field, though.
Sydney (as Winifred): Yeah, it could be part of a system, but it's the only thing still running.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah.
Sydney (as Winifred): And that, I feel like, by now, someone should have seen if there are other of these things around.
Cameron (as Emma): I mean, my hypothesis, based on what we saw in the red string room, is that it's following the cows.
Sydney (as Winifred): You and Eugenia, if you, if you could catch her, she would love [laughing] to to give you another 'so' conversation.
Cameron (as Emma): Okay, well, that the my sentence being funny was the extent of my interest in that part. [laugh]
Sydney (as Winifred): Fair enough. My personal hypothesis, I give it 30% that it was meant to be a city, maybe it was the only one they built. 70% after the era of wild tech ended, this had been being built as a terraforming tool, maybe for another planet, maybe for the moon, who knows - and it ended up being used to bring nature back here.
Cameron (as Emma): It ended up just roving around down here.
Sydney (as Winifred): Yeah, flatten some of the ruins and just give space for nature. I don't I'm not sure if it was designed to do that here, or if that's how it happened, but that's, that's my personal pet theory. Everyone has a pet theory. Maybe it's drawing giant graffiti in the dirt. There is a map in the red string room, and the only recognizable shapes that are on there are the uhh uh two circles and a rounded rectangle that get drawn by the more mature members.
Cameron (as Emma): Mm.
Sydney (as Winifred): Nothing else is really interpretable.
Cameron (as Emma): So they're faking the city doing giant penis shaped crop circles?
Sydney (as Winifred): People gotta stay entertained. And the three of them that think it's funny will put it on a lot of maps.
Cameron (as Emma): All right.
Sydney: And Winifred gives a shrug.
Cameron (as Emma): I just can't I can't believe someone would be so unserious at a place of business.
Sydney (as Winifred): Well, we're funded by the city, so -
Cameron (as Emma): And?
Sydney (as Winifred): - we don't really have shareholders,
Cameron (as Emma): Really then you're using public money and like you should be even more responsible.
Sydney (as Winifred): We try to encourage an atmosphere of innovation.
Sydney: [laughing] And Winifred gives a wide smile.
Sydney (as Winifred): Again, as long as we get results. Any other pictures to draw on my board?
Cameron (as Emma): No, I was trying to come up with some lines about penises not being innovative, but I haven't found one that really actually works yet.
Sydney (as Winifred): I mean do you want me to just draw one for you, Emma?
Cameron (as Emma): No, that's really fine. I don't need to see one. I'm okay.
Sydney (as Winifred): [flirty] Anything else you want to see?
Cameron (as Emma): No.
Sydney (as Winifred): Okidoki.
Sydney: And Winifred erases the picture, puts the chalk back in the tray, and gives a gesture to Emma to lead the way out.
Cameron: Emma turns around and heads back towards where they entered.
Nick: That evening, we see Emma and Marathon both laying on their backs in their respective bunks in the shipping container in the room they share, both of them staring up at the ceiling or the bottom of a bunk, depending on who it is.
Penn: Marathon is in just a white tank top and boxers, and is still a little excited and is drumming on her legs a little bit.
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] Hey, Marathon - I hesitate to ask this, but are you up? [laugh]
Penn: You hear a click from the bottom bunk.
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] I'm always up, Miss Emma. Just kidding. What's up?
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] Okay, well, I just wanted to let you know that I have had separate conversations with both Cassidy and Birdie about our super tense -
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] [overlapping] Oh the Guts.
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] [overlapping] Patina Guts time. [end overlap] Yeah, and so what I have committed to try doing to both of them for any future -
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] Is just being more straight up about any sort of conflict, right?
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] 1,000% just calling it out and saying, 'Hey, we're - this conversation can be had later. Right now, we need to focus and let's -
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] We're adults.
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] - let's all be chill and be safe and not make this terribly awkward for Marathon and Emma'.
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] You can't see it, but I'm giving you the thumb and pinky at the same time -
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] Awesome.
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] - from the bottom bunk here.
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] Cool. Yeah, because I think we both tried, but I think we can try harder.
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] And I wanted them to be prepared in case, just so that they know that I'm watching out and I don't think either of them would get mad at me for doing it, and I don't want you to have to be the one doing it, because one of the other people in the group is your girl-friend~.
Penn (as Marathon): My girlfriend? Yep Cassidy Shard is my girlfriend!
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] Uh huh.
Penn: [laughing] Just a little too loud.
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] So I don't want to make anything awkward for you.
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] No, no, of course not.
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] No. So I'm, I am, I'm totally fine being the the person to call it.
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] But we're all adults, and I'll call you out, Emma, do not worry.
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] Oh yeah, for sure. I've - I'm gonna try not to be tension causing, but if I am 100% tell me to shut up and focus.
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] Yeah, no worries. Oh my gosh. Now I'm all giddy and excited.
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] Oh I'm sorry.
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] Okay I'm rolling off my bed to do some push ups.
Penn: And Marathon rolls off the bottom bunk into push up position and starts pumping.
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] Okay, you do that. I'm gonna go to sleep. Enjoy dreaming about your new girlfriend~.
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] Six. My girlfriend Cassidy Shard? Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] Yeah your girlfriend Cassidy Shard.
Penn (as Marathon): [whispering] Seven. Eight.
Cameron: Emma laughs and rolls over towards the wall and pulls the blanket up over her shoulder.
Penn (as Marathon): Good night Emma.
Cameron (as Emma): [whispering] Good night Marathon.
Penn (as Marathon): [yelling] Good night Birdie! Good night my girlfriend, Cassidy Shard!
Nick: And we see the outside of the shipping container as the last of the lights are turned off and the Patina has a peaceful night, one step closer to the gauntlet of X Bike races that approaches.
[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