ONE. be curteous and present yourself well

[quiteagooddonor]

[The audio turns on and there's a short pause before a moderately young, eager British voice speaks.]

Hello! My name.. Well, it's Tommy D. I'm-- I'm a new warden here.

[His words become more careful.]

I don't-- I don't know if you know about The Cottages or White Castle or anything, but it really doesn't matter that I'm a student of Hailsham. It really made... it makes no difference in the end. [A beat.] I know I'm not the best out there, but if you give me a chance, I'll work hard and I expect I can surprise you.

[A pause and then he's back to his original chipper tone again.]

I heard that the inmates are assigned to us. Is that right? Do I.. Do I talk to the Admiral about it or is it automatic or... ? Sorry. I'm rubbish at this sort of thing. I promise I'll be better once I've gotten to know how it all works.

Comments

voice (so sorry, Tommy)

[una_persson]

Hello, Tommy, and welcome. I'm Una Persson, a warden.

It'll be about a fortnight before you receive your inmate assignment. So that gives you some time to get acquainted with the place and the people here.

voice

[quiteagooddonor]

[There's a long pause, then a meek voice at last.]

..Miss Emily?

voice

[una_persson]

Miss—? No, it's Una. Una Persson.

warden filter. voice.

[quiteagooddonor]

[There's a gap between replies where Tommy accidentally fail!filters his reply to himself only, then comes back with a warden filter. Also accidentally.]

Are you a donor?

private. voice.

[una_persson]

...

[There's a subtle alarm going off in her head—not the "something is bad about this kid" alarm, but rather the "context required, use caution" alarm. So she switches the communication to Private.]

I don't believe so, but that depends on how you define the word "donor". What does that word mean to you?

private. voice.

[quiteagooddonor]

Thanks.. for the.. [He realizes the filter is fixed.]

It means students of Hailsham or White Castle or one of the other schools for Donors. You know.. Those of us who were raised to donate our organs, when we're old enough, until Completion.

[A beat.] I've met your Original.

private. voice.

[una_persson]

[Horror. What world is this. Granted, she's seen similar before, but Tommy's relative nonchalance about it makes her stomach tie itself in knots.]

Actually, I didn't know—I'm not familiar with any of those names. And I'm not ... not a Donor, like you mean.

[Beat.] What do you mean, Original?

private. voice.

[quiteagooddonor]

Oh.

...

Uh. Maybe I've.. Sorry. I shouldn't have assumed like that.

[He switches on the video. Contrary to the icons, his head is shaved and he looks just a little pale and possibly sickly. Tommy gives a small wave.]

It might be better that you didn't know. In case you are one. Or were meant to be one. [A beat as he glances sideways awkwardly and then back again.] It's not something anyone wants to be.

private. video

[una_persson]

[Una switches over to video as well. Just as well Tommy didn't arrive in the middle of the age-change flood, or he'd be confronted with, well, Miss Emily. As it is, it's a two-or-three-decades-younger version of Hailsham's headmistress he's seeing, and who's looking at him with concern.]

Where I come from, we don't have that system. But it's not unusual here for people to bear extremely strong resemblances to others.

Are you feeling all right? Do you need anything? We've an infirmary if you're feeling unwell.

private. video (oh, the room in the background is that of The Cottages, btw)

[quiteagooddonor]

[There's another awkward pause while Tommy squirms a little.]

I didn't realize this was that sort of place.

...

Hm? There was something else you sa-- Oh! No, I'm quite alright. It might take me a bit to recover, but it's.. it's fine. I'm actually responding quite well.

private. video (so noted)

[una_persson]

[A penny finally drops for Una and it cuts right through the rest of her puzzlement over what Tommy's saying.]

You're a donor yourself.

[Only marginally a question.]

private. video

[quiteagooddonor]

Of course. All students of Hailsham are expected to begin their donations when the time comes. [...] We actually have quite a good reputation at Hailsham. Everyone else always sort of looked up to us.. or maybe they just looked up to Hailsham. Someone told me it was a better place than most of the others.

[There's a sudden tightness tugging at his lips.] I'm not sure that's true, but there you have it. It's.. you look like her. It would make sense that she would try it. Even if she was afraid of us.

[A pause.]

Wow. I've already told you a lot more than I'd intended. I'm sorry. I think you might be modeled after her, though. Miss Emily. I think they might have intended you for Donation in the beginning or something.

What, uh.. what year are you from?

private. video

[una_persson]

[It takes quite a lot to really horrify Una and/or render her dumbstruck, and congratulations, Tommy—you've succeeded.]

...late twentieth century. You—you're talking about cloning, aren't you?

private. video

[quiteagooddonor]

Maybe not then.

[He shrugs and grins.]

I think I've heard of it before. I'm not certain if it's the same as Donors, but I expect it's similar. I think 'cloning' is a bit more scientific, though.

private. video

[una_persson]

I—yes, I suppose so. It might be the process by which Donors are—

[She can't bring herself to say "created".]

Born.

[Good lord, so uncomfortable. Not a common feeling for her.]

I know you said you were feeling all right, but you might want to see one of the doctors in the infirmary, just to be sure. They can monitor your ... recovery, and help you if needed.

and eddie might end up calling him tommo. XP

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

Hello, Tommy! I'm Eddie.

I think Una's filled you in with some things about assignments. Is, well, there anything else I can help you with?

private. video

[quiteagooddonor]

Oh. We, uh. We aren't born, Miss Persson. We're raised. I guess you could say 'created' as well.

[This is all nonchalant fact for him.]

That's alright, thanks! I'm responding well and I wouldn't want to be spotted needing a carer when I've only just arrived.

ohgodnoooooo

[quiteagooddonor]

Oh. Um. Am I meant to ask the Admiral for one or is it something he chooses for us?

I'll find my way around, of course, but.. Is there a Guardian here? Or some other kind of teacher, to explain how things work a bit better than the initial offer?

Re: ohgodnoooooo

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

No, he gives you one. There's an announcement. Although, there's nothing to stop you asking. I'm just not sure anything'll happen.

[frowny face]

Unfortunately, no. There's... not really any authority here at all. No teachers, no Guardians, no Prefects. We have to answer each other's questions, basically.

[quiteagooddonor]

Right. I may give it a go, if there's anyone I fancy redeeming in particular.

That's.. yeah, alright. Who do we go to with those sorts of things then? I mean, there must be some veterans or something. Perhaps a particularly wise person.

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's been tried, at any rate.

...Well, I had taken to asking the other wardens in general, but some people have been here a long time. [pause] It doesn't make them wise or even sensible, to be honest.

[Private]

Miss Persson's a good choice. She's the lady you were talking to before.

PRIVATE

[quiteagooddonor]

I don't expect them to know everything, of course. I was rather hoping they would have more insight than I do, at least.

She's.. uh. Well. I might know her. [...] It's a bit odd, speaking to her.

Re: PRIVATE

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

And most of them do, and are very useful and helpful. Some of them are still idiots. I imagine that's true of everywhere, though.

... you might know her? Where from?

PRIVATE

[quiteagooddonor]

A bit, yeah. That's why I was, uh.. That's kind of why I wanted names. If you could give any.

Home, in England. She says she's from a different time, but.. well, it's kind of a hard thing to explain and I'm not very good at it and, if it's true, it'll all kind of personal so I'm not really sure she would want me to be telling you. That makes sense, right?

Re: PRIVATE

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

George is a good guy too.

Ah. Well... sometimes, here, people have similar faces? What name do you know her by? It's a strange thing that happens here, and she might not be who you think. You don't have to explain anything else, it's okay.