01. The microscopic section of this gland or organ is extremely beautiful.

[bestsir]

[ The morgue and the coroner's office are in the basement of the Riverview Hospital, which would be depressing were it not for the fact that the coroner's office is placed so that it has a window. The basement also features a large storage room that has become a dumping ground for miscellaneous furniture and supplies. At times where Harry's been at loose ends and in need of something to do, he has reorganized that storage room ... and now he's found a new use for it.

The incursion of small pesky critters has a lot to do with it, as does the fact that his office is starting to overflow with items that he's collected around the quarantine in his time there. Soon the storage room starts slowly transforming into a distinctly 19th-century-flavoured laboratory, with tanks and cages for living creatures and jars for preserved specimens—not just of the pests, but also other interesting plants and insects. There's also an eyeball from one of the large predatory pterodactyl creatures, and feathers from the same are kept on his worktable.

It doesn't occur to him that it might be nice to mention this side project to the hospital administrators, but he doesn't exactly get a lot of visitors, so it's going to be a little while before anyone notices.

...well, once these messages go out, someone probably will. ]

To Captain Anali Apple and the Perimeter Guard
Greetings. I am Dr. Harry Goodsir, and I have the privilege to serve as Coroner to the Riverview Quarantine. I write in reference to the small Creatures that have been plaguing the city, and for which I understand you have offered a Bounty. As an Anatomist and Naturalist by training, I am very interested in these particular* Creatures, and would welcome the opportunity to acquire from the Guard any Specimens of these Pests*—living or dead—so that I may make a Study of them. Perhaps such a Study will yield results that are Relevant to the control of their Population and Range. Please advise how we may arrange Delivery.

Your obedient servant,
Dr. Harry Goodsir

Network text post | [Bad username or site: hds @ goodsir]
To my fellow Riverview citizens, greetings. I am Dr. Harry Goodsir, and I have the privilege to serve as Coroner to the Riverview Quarantine. I am also a Naturalist by training, and I have begun to collect Specimens of the local Flora and Fauna with the Intention of developing a systematic Catalogue of the life we encounter here in the Quarantine and without the walls. I should like to humbly request the Assistance of my fellow men and women in this Endeavour. I seek information about* Specimens for study, as well as any visual or written Reports of curious sightings that I may investigate further. You may write to me via the Network, or you may seek me in person in my Office at the Riverview Hospital.

Your obedient servant,
Dr. Harry Goodsir

[ Feel free to pop into his office with something awful in a cage or a jar. He'll (probably) be delighted. Post title is from the writings of the historical Harry D. S. Goodsir. ]

[ * These parts added after Nat sets him straight. ]

Comments

[bestsir]

[ ...He isn't used to seeing language like that from anyone but a sailor. Particularly not from a young girl who makes him think of his sister. And even the sailors had a tendency to excuse themselves in his hearing, as if he wasn't accustomed to their talk. Does she even know what it means? ]

Well, as you insist, I think I shall name him Edwin, after the Husband of the lady for whom Phoebe is named.

[ If it sounds a little stuffy, it's because he can't figure out how to say "do all the girls talk like that where you come from?" ]

[citharede]

[ She notices the change, because words are kind of her thing. Or part of her thing. The way a word is sung can change a spell completely.

Of course, that doesn't mean she gets where the change in language comes from. In fact she takes it completely the wrong way. ]

You didn't HAVE to tell me if you didn't want to. I wouldn't ask to see your manager or something.

[bestsir]

[ Well—damn. He didn't mean to offend her and he now suspects he has. ]

I apologise if I seemed a trifle short.

[ He hesitates for quite a while before finally deciding to just go all in. ]

I was merely surprised—that is, I am sorry, but I have to ask—"Cocktease"?

[ Just writing it makes his ears burn. ]

[citharede]

[ Cue staring at his message for several seconds in confusion. ]

Do you not know what it means?

I mean.

You have one. I'm assuming. You don't have to tell me if you don't please don't tell me actually oh god what have I done.

[bestsir]

[ What is happening. ]

Of course I have

[ No no no, wrong answer. After struggling for a moment: ]

I have spent the last few years in the company of Sailors and I have heard extremely creative Language in that time. I was merely somewhat surprised to find similar creativity at work here.

[ He stops short of adding "from a young lady no less". ]

[citharede]

[ A LONG PAUSE. ]

Okay but cocktease isn't that creative.

[bestsir]

[ Whether he wants to or not, he's got to tackle this one head-on, hasn't he? ]

I think I am unaccustomed in general to the liberal language that is common amongst men and women here.

It is not that I am Offended—merely that my Expectations are, I suppose you must think, terribly old-fashioned.

[citharede]

Oh.

OH.

SHIT

No, shit, I didn't mean to

I meant crap, is that better than sh the other thing.

[bestsir]

[ Well, now he just has to laugh, because for all her language, there's a real sweetness to Athena that he can't help but like. ]

Please—it is quite all right. I have heard far worse in the Hold of a ship! It is less a matter of Offence than of surprise.

There are those in my day for whom the word "Damnation" alone would be cause for Blushes.

[citharede]

Still.

Aunt Nory--my Aunt Lenore--keeps telling me to work on separating my street mouth from my "work mouth," yknow? So I'm not at some professional thing and suddenly saying f

saying stuff in front of a boss.

[bestsir]

That is wise advice—one must always know how best to suit one's Language to Circumstances.

And yet you need not worry that I am offended—it is quite all right.

[citharede]

Okay.

If you're SURE. Like really sure.

...Why do you Capitalize Some Words and not others?

[bestsir]

Quite certain.

I have discovered that my writing Style is rather antiquated; there appears to have been much stricter enforcement of rules in the years hence from my own. I suppose it is simply a matter of Emphasis, and it is what I have known.

[citharede]

Huh. That's kinda cool actually. I wish we still did that.

Anyway, keep me Informed about our about Pheebs, all right?

[bestsir]

I shall, you may count on it. And you are welcome to visit whenever you wish.