Jamie's Office Hours

[theoverseers]

[Want to chat with Jamie privately? Here is where you do it! . Jamie's office hours will be held in the art room for approximately four hours after lunch time several days a week. During that time, the room will be off-limits unless you're there to talk to Jamie.


Comments are screened for privacy.]

Comments

[theoverseers]

No, no, no, you didn't interrupt anything. I was just killing some time with my painting. [He steps back from the open doorway and extends an arm inside.] Did you want to come in?

[curdle]

Please you [ aka "please" ], yes.

[ She steps in hesitantly and closes the door behind her. Should she sit? Where should she sit?? She settles for a brief curtsy and standing in place. ]

I wanted to ask you what became of Chitanda's body. How did you vanish her away when we stood at assembly?

[theoverseers]

[There are plenty of chairs still scattered around the art room if she decides to pull one up and, either out of politeness or general lack of knowledge on whether or not it would be polite to sit while she stands, Jamie stays standing. Behind him there's an easel and canvas set up with three chairs, one with a pair of mugs on it, the middle one empty and the third with brushes and a metal palette covered in wet paint.]

...Ah. Right. I should've guessed someone would ask about her. [He folds his arms across his chest and looks down at his feet like he's mulling over the answer.] Bolton and I, we...didn't take care of her personally. Obviously, why did I even say that? But, um... [He's floundering for words a little, give him a moment, Thomasin.]

[curdle]

[ She quietly makes her way to a chair, pulls it out, and sits while he fumbles around for the words. It's both to show some measure of comfort with the whole situation (which is fake) and the fact that she won't be leaving until her question is answered (which is real.) Her gaze is steady, and never leaves Jamie for long. ]

Please.

[theoverseers]

[Okay, okay. Fortify, Jamison. Fortify.

He pulls up a chair for himself and sits across from Thomasin, head bowed and his hands clasped in his lap for a long moment. By now the music softly playing from his headphones has changed. After a beat he takes a deep breath, steadying himself, and lifts his head to meet her gaze.]

During trials the bodies of the victims are taken and cremated. Since we're on a ship and so deep in space there's no possible way to give them a real burial.

[curdle]

[ Cremated. Natsuhi had mentioned that, and she's gotten the basic idea of what it entails. It goes against her own beliefs, but the thought of the alternative is so chilling that this seems almost kind.

She swallows and nods. ]

What came of the ashes? And what...

Chitanda was murdered with knives, near all the kitchen's stock.

[ She doesn't want to even say it. ]

[theoverseers]

All the knives in the kitchen are brand new. [He's very quick with that assurance.] The knives that...Toby used are gone. Those went out with the trash from the compactor. [He hesitates before answering about the ashes though.]

The ashes are being stored away in a different part of the ship for right now. [The least they can do for the victims is treat them with a little respect in death and not shoot them into the cold depths of space.]

[curdle]

For now...

[ She pauses. ]

Until the game is won?

[theoverseers]

Until the game is over. [It's a small correction but it seems like an important distinction to him.]

[curdle]

[ JAMIE, WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN ]

I thank you for telling me.

There is no retrieving them, is there? For some small ceremony of remembrance.

[theoverseers]

I...can ask. I don't know if they'll listen but I'll do my best. [He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small device then presses a button, stopping the music gently pouring from his headphones.]

I get how important it is to remember people you care about.

[curdle]

Truly?

[ Thomasin will describe this white devil box to someone later with great detail, as it is surely a device relevant to the metaplot. ]

That would be a kindness. She was not... never did I speak with her, but she was well-loved. [ She's not going to talk about Toby or the Griffin, since they all know what happened to those bodies. ] I'd not wish for one of them already burdened to ask of her fate.