>>5571035"They're cute." Edith says. "They got glowing eyes like spotlights and their skin is really hard but soft when you touch it. Old Ironside was brought over to Joyous Habror back in the 40's with the Thule community. He's kind of a big deal. Like a mascot!"
"He got plushies like Smokey?"
"Oh, he's got GIANT plushies! Pillow-sized!"
"Neat! You got one, Edith?"
"Uh...several. Anyway, he's part of the ferry service, and since we'll have to go out to the pirate islands...we gotta take Old Ironsides!"
"You're right, we do! I want to ride a sea serpent!"
"Hold on kids, hold on." Sam says. "Who's buying, exactly?"
"Does it matter?" you shrug. "We don't have to like, exchange dollars for pieces of eight, do we?"
"I just want to make sure. Each of us pays their own way?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Hold on!" Edith says. "I wanna treat you guys today."
"If this is about my shoulder, you really don't need to. We're cool." you say.
"No, it's not about your shoulder...not really. I just want to do something nice for your two! And hey, you can treat me to dinner sometime later!"
"Okay." Sam says. "So Edith, you want to pay for the food...and the ferry? Because you fly, Izzy flies, and Izzy can make a Thule eye I can ride on."
"Of course I'm going to pay for the ferry! Why wouldn't I pay for the ferry?"
"Because I just explained why we don't need to take the ferry...."
"But we gotta take the ferry!"
"Yeah!" you say. "Come on Sam, you aren't afraid of the sea serpent, are you?"
"It's impossible to be afraid of Old Ironside. Kids take pictures on his back. Dr. Bell could sic her thoughtform on you and you wouldn't be afraid of Old Ironside. He's the Clifford the Big Red Dog of the seas."
Dr. Bell...you don't think you've heard about her. She sounds scary. Maybe she's TIMS? A lot of TIMS cases involve thoughtforms and the poor people that get bonded to them.
"So you aren't afraid of Old Ironsides. So then, what's the problem?" you ask.
"We don't need to ride him. Especially when there's a fee."
"I'm not going to fly to an island of ghost pirates when I can take a sea serpent."
Sam looks at you from over his sunglasses. "Little kids take pictures with Old Ironsides." he repeats.
"Oh, don't be such a tryhard."
Sam tosses his hands up. "Alright. But Edith, two things. First, you sure you want to eat the food there? It's honestly not that good."
"Yeah, I know, that's why I'm going to zip on over to Johnny Winter's and get a flurry burger."
You aren't surprised. You guess she really does eat only burgers.
"You want me to bring you something, Sam?" Edith asks.
"Naw. One of us has to eat the hardtack stew. We can't all show up with burgers."
"That can't be the best thing they got." you say.
"Well, they got fresh fruit. But like, as far as actual meals go..."
"Hardtack stew is the best they got, are you serious?"
"You don't want the jerky, believe me."
