2017-06-01
Shaenon: This storyline was co-written with David Blake, who pledged at the Arbiter of Reality level of our last Kickstarter and thus gained the privilege of doing Jeff’s job. Thank you, David!
Skin Horse
By Shaenon K. Garrity & Jeffrey C. Wells
Awwww, Remy is so thoughtful.
The postal workers who have to handle his packages might disagree.
Nah, if they’re reality blind it’ll just see mannequins. If they aren’t? They’ve seen worse.
I’m not sure a box full of corpse parts is Weird enough to be covered by reality blindness.
Not weird at all, actually–the USPS regards such things as “medical supplies”. Although, if I’m not mistaken, they do need to be shipped overnight delivery and packed in dry ice to keep from decaying in transit, and need to be marked “biohazard”.
Anyone wanna look up the US Snail’s regs on this for us, nyao?
I’ll check Publication 52 during break to see if body parts are specifically covered. In general, while we turn our noses at spoiled meat and fish and isolate them from the rest of the mail, we will attempt to deliver the parcel, though we may call the recipient to see if they will come to pick it up so to spare the carrier the ordeal of being stuck with a stinky parcel for up to 8 hours.
I looked at Pub 52 and body parts look good to go. Remy will have to use caution in packaging since leaking or odorous parcels are a no-no. If he’s shipping via air transportation (and he is if he’s shipping from New Orleans to DC) AND he’s using dry ice he must use less than 5 lbs and special packaging rules apply. This is only for domestic shipping – human and animal remains are prohibited in international mail (guess we want to limit the amount of bird flu or zombie rage virus that gets spread around.)
A UPS or Fedex employee will have to weigh in on what their rules are.
USPS – We deliver for you!
Former UPS employee here; in general what mutt and Robert said holds true for us. It’s not specifically barred but, but if its leaking/oozing/making a mess it (hopefully) isn’t going on the package car.
Speaking as a postal clerk, I can tell you: no! They can’t go by the regular mail or priority without special packaging and handling. (There was an incident, some years ago, in Philly, I think, where three heads rolled out of a package—some med supply place shipping on the cheap.)
And there’s hardly a day goes by without something down on the package belts oozing and needing cleanup. There are lots of hazardous things handled every day. I’ve lost track of how many times things have shut down for “mysterious white powders.” Syringes and needles…all sorts of pills…
He’s not allowed to send them through the mail, and Fed Ex carriers have probably seen worse.
A third hand always comes in so handy.
Okay, does he help the Iwa or the Law?
Loa. Also spelled “lwa”, pronounced “low-ah”. Basically, the Gods of Voodoo. And from what little I know about Candomble, Santeria, and Voudoun, you DON’T want to get on their bad side!
Well yeah, see above re: gods :p
As I understand it they’re relatively laid back but also fairly active and involved with mortals, so there are more opportunities to encounter them (for good or bad) than with most religions.
Demigods. Voodoo is technically monotheistic.
Maybe he’s on standby in case the staff at the Long Wavelength Array in New Mexico need a hand. Or a leg up. Or a shoulder to cry on. Or simply an extra body or two.
Wow, an entire string in one entry. I’m impressed. Two thumbs up.
Didn’t know Remy was from Haiti. Should’a guessed from his accent.
Too bad there’s not a panel with Remy wrapping a present and Brian using one finger to help tie the knot in the ribbon.
“It’s so nice to have a Thing around the house!” Morticia, singing, IIRC…
That’s some good reading for a dude with his eyes sewn shut.
Well, it’s a spirit animating the alligator, so perhaps it should be visualized as an invisible man (woman?) using the ‘gator as a puppet.