Fitzgerald Blackburn/IF-2.7182
Rumor / Community LoreThis article contains lore created collaboratively by the Blaseball community. It is just one of many Rumors that we've found in the Interdimensional Rumor Mill. You can find more Rumors about Fitzgerald Blackburn at their Rumor Registry.
- Origins
The cloud of smoke left by Miki Santana's incineration refused to disperse, even after several minutes. Despite no apparent replacement for Santana, the umpires demanded that play continue. After the end of the inning, an industrial fan was used in an attempt to drive the smoke off the field; it continued to hold form, and rolled into the dugout. Later in the game, a Spies uniform filled with black smoke strode onto the field and hit a flyout.
Afterwards, the smoke was detained and questioned. By Spies tradition, the smoke-spirit was assigned a codename by rolling dice and consulting a lookup table: Fitzgerald Blackburn.
When asked why they retained form, they said: "I don't want to just disappear into the wind. I don't want to be forgotten. I want to be here. To experience the world."
- Agency Work
Upon induction to the Spies, Blackburn was assigned espionage work, and proved naturally talented at both infiltration and emotional intelligence.
Blackburn's amorphous form makes it extremely good at sneaking into places; they can fit themselves into extremely small spaces for extended periods of time. For example, Blackburn reportedly once infiltrated an office by hiding inside a printer toner cartridge. They are also a master at air-vent escapes.
An exquisitely acute empathetic sense also makes Blackburn excellent at determining when someone is lying, though this also means that Blackburn has had to learn mental discipline so as not to burst into tears at the slightest provocation.
Blackburn is no longer allowed to blind people by blowing smoke into their eyes.
- Blaseball Career
Debuting as an acceptably good batter, Blackburn slowly improved over the seasons, through peanuts, blessings, and updated gear designs. While not the leader or captain of the team (because Spies do not do leaders), Blackburn is a central backbone of their organization. Even through the disastrous Season 9 reverb, Blackburn remained a constant, doing their best to get everyone accustomed to their new roles.
Blackburn is now an exceptionally good batter who remained in that position for almost their entire career. Until Season 13, their equally exceptional pitching ability was kept highly classified, though Blackburn's unerring aim and strong arm when throwing balls back to the infield have long fed the speculation of the highly-observant.
- Scattering and Trades
After reports from Blackburn and observations of Hotbox Sato about their experiences as smokespeople after being flooded off base, it was hypothesized that should Blackburn be swept away for an extended period of time, Scattering could be life-threatening.
After Theodore Holloway's death in season 13, Blackburn was inconsolable. Several days later, when Flooding crested again, Blackburn was swept away to Elsewhere. They remained missing for the rest of the season. It was speculated, and later confirmed, that they allowed themself to be pulled away by hopelessness and despair.
Between seasons, it was determined that the best way to deal with both Blackburn's physical and mental state was to provide them with an extended period of rest. A careful misfiling of paperwork sent Blackburn to the San Francisco Lovers as a pitcher. They quickly proved their brilliance on the field as a pitcher; batters report that Fitz's diffuse outline makes it exceptionally difficult to tell what kind of pitch they're throwing.
The next season, due to what may or may not have been intentional interference by Becker Solis, Fitzgerald Blackburn was sent to the Spies' Shadows. It has not been seen since.
- Relations
Math Velazquez, being mathematics across all space and time, steadies Blackburn's perpetual anxiety about being forgotten. Velazquez's motivation for becoming a Blaseball player is also the same as Blackburn's, so their respective existential takes on life match. Son Scotch once told the press that "[Blackburn]'s totally in love and should really admit it to themself."
They may or may not have a queerplatonic relationship with Alexandria Rosales, being mutually supportive of each other's anxieties and traumas.
Blackburn's response to learning about Hotbox Sato's existence was curiosity about another individual made of smoke. A meeting was arranged. Blackburn entered the room where Sato was in diffuse form; a few minutes later Blackburn ran out, slammed the door behind them, and refused to describe what happened. Sato commented afterwards that Blackburn "needs to loosen up".
Speculation about Blackburn's position in the Lovers' polycule abounds, most of it centering around Knight Triumphant. For their part, Blackburn has remained completely silent when questioned.
