1.1.01.01.001: due regard for the well being of others.

[needshumility]

[There is an awkward, stiff cough, and a shot of the eighth floor common room. A young, very smartly dressed, man appears on screen, and he straightens his tie, then offers a small wave,]

Hello!

This remote viewer is tiny, and... well, I never thought a remote viewer could watch you. Fascinating! [He grins, a touch nervously,] So if you're watching, hello! oh, I already said that...

I'm Edward Russett, but you can call me Eddie. I'm not quite sure whether this is the equivalent of Useful Work or a Pointless Task, but I'm sure I'll find out soon enough.

Who are the local Prefects? What're they like? I imagine I'll be the Red Prefect here.

[awkward pause whilst he ponders whether to ask or not, then he directs the camera to a lightbulb nearby]

This is going to sound silly, but can I have some lightglobes? There's no natural light in my room. I... [slight nervous intake of breath. Dammit, night terrors.] I need a source of light.

Comments

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

You know Prefect?

...I have a few extra candles if you need them.

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

I know... several Prefects.

That would be really helpful, thank you.

[paaaaaaaause. Slight peer.]

Are you Previous?

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

Oh. Must not be the same. I can bring them by later. [Then...her own pause.]

Previous what?

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

Who is the Prefect here? What colour are they? I... should probably talk to them.

[oh, this is awkward.]

You... look like the Previous. Tell me, this is important, what colours can you see?

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

What color? I...[But then...a new question. And she could answer that one.]

All of them, of course.

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

Of course. [completely disbelieving.]

The Previous can see... everything.

I...

What's it like?

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

What's it like to breathe? I don't know how to describe it.

Can you not? [She has noticed the eyes but...well, there are strange people all around. It doesn't yet occur to her that all these things are related.]

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

It's not like breathing, I didn't think anyone could.

No. I can see a lot of red...

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

Just red? Is that normal for you? Or...for where you come from?

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

Well, the amount of red certainly isn't. But yes, of course it's normal. I've never heard of anyone seeing full colour before.

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

Oh.

Well, for most of us, it's normal to see all the colors. I've never heard of someone only seeing red before.

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

Never?

So this is something that never happened for the Previous at all? Hm.

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

No. None of my patients have ever come to me with anything like that, nor have I ever read about it. Certain types of color blindness are not rare, though. But that specifically? No. I haven't come across it.

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

So people who can see... Green or Purple, or Blue? Are they just as non-existent?

Wait.

Patients? Are you a Swatchman?

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

And no. I'm a doctor.

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

...I'm sorry, I don't know what that means. I do collect obsolete words, though, so could you explain?

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

...obsolete.

A doctor. Physician. Someone who helps people when they're sick.

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

Oh. That is a Swatchman. My father's a Swatchman. I'll make a note of it.

[Private]

Is the Mildew bad here, if you don't mind me asking?

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

Oh, well, alright. There are a couple of doctors here, myself included.

[Private]

Mildew? I wouldn't know about that. I don't think so. Are you allergic to it or...[SO. CONFUSED.]

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

All... Previous like yourself?

[Private]

Don't pretend. The disease. The Mildew. Do you get a lot of it?

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[Private]

I have never heard of that disease before!

private

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

Are you serious?

Because if you are, you're either a terrrible Swatchman, or... [a very, very good one, but that goes unsaid]

Could you show me some of your medicines? Just over the camera. I'm a little confused.

Re: private

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

I'm not a bad doctor...[Pout.] But alright. [She gets up and goes off screen for a moment before returning with a few bottles. She opens the cap of one and pours a few pills into her hand to show him.]

Just normal pills.

Re: private

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

[He pauses. And stares.]

What... do you do with them?

Solved the Mildew question, by the way. Never mind about that.

Re: private

[greatlightother.livejournal.com]

You swallow them. [Have a raised eyebrow.]

They're chemicals. They cause a reaction in your body to make it better. These release those chemicals to reduce pain. [She puts them back in the bottle.] The infirmary uses hyposprays, but I'm really not comfortable with those.