driftfleet | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Everyone messed up by the dragon plot, and visitors
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Blue Fish's clinic!
When: All throughout the Solrius dragon plot and through the space flight to the next destination.

[So several RPG characters, a dragon, and two messianic figures walk into a planet.

Everything is suffering and tears, there's a lot of dead people, there's no punchline. But, hey, for the survivors, the Blue Fish's clinic is treating wounds and generally being a decent place to rest and recover and pray you don't see a dragon again. And for those who weren't involved, there's enough people bedridden here that there may just be someone you want to visit.]

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[Belthazar originally stopped by to give some food to Allen, but now he's thinking that he should've made cookies for everybody. After his initial delivery, he comes back, and this time he has an armful of books. He sets them in a place that's out of the way and takes one in particular-- a book on fire techniques.]

I didn't know you got mixed up in that...

[In Mikleo having to die, he doesn't say.]

Are you all right?

[ He manages a small smile for the elf, but he is still a little out of it - even if he swears he's not. ]

Ah, yeah. I did. I went with Allen.

[ So... yes. Very mixed up in that. Still trying to sort it all out in his head, too. ]

And I'm fine, pretty sure it looks worse than it is. They're not lettin' me go yet, though. [ Sigh. ]

As someone who assists healers frequently, you do not look like you should be released. Sorry.

[Belth smiles, but it's equal parts relief and sadness.]

Anyway... I brought you something I thought you might like. [He holds it out for Eithan to take.] This is a treatise on using glyphs to improve the potency of fire magic. There are several chapters on variations as well, so you can do more than just make fireballs with the right training.

[ Aww. Have another sigh for that one - exaggerated as it is. ]

Not you, too, man... Geez. Now I'll never get out of here.

[ He notices that sadness, but before he can ask if he's okay, he's getting a book handed to him! So he takes it first, turns it in his hands to see both covers, flips through the first few pages... And the more Belth talks about it, the more he's actually interested. Sure, he's already powerful by his own world's standards, but this could be something entirely different... This is the kind of book he can appreciate! He smiles at the elf. ]

Dude, seriously? That's awesome! Where'd you get this? Is it from your world?

I would rather you didn't open up some of your wounds. That is a thing that happens, you know.

[Oh, Eithan. Belthazar smiles a little more; he's glad he's apparently found a book that Eithan won't fall asleep reading. He seems like the type.]

I picked it off one of the planets I visited a long time ago. I have no idea if the properties will translate, but if nothing else, it is good reading.

Can I get you anything?

I know, I know... I dated a healer. Used to fuss at me about the same things.

[ (Yeah, because he was constantly getting into trouble...) ]

Only one way to find out if they will, yeah? Definitely gonna try some of this when I'm free. Thanks a lot!

[ He puts the book on the stand beside him - for now. ]

A stiff drink. [ Snort. ] Nah, I'm okay. What about you, though? You okay?

[ Didn't think you'd get off the hook that easy, did you? ]

My father is one. So was my... my sister. [He hesitates, but he doesn't say much else on it, not until Eithan is prodding. It's hard for Belthazar to lie on a good day, but calling him out on his sadness only makes it worse. Whenever he lies, it's always full of bravado, a grand gesture to prevent anyone from seeing his fragile heart. There's nothing of the sort, here. He's given up on that life.

His expression falters and he looks down at his lap.]

... I knew Mikleo. I met him a few times. We talked about magic, and history, and... and I helped him, once. He mentioned getting sick, but I didn't think anything of it after we'd gotten away from it, and now he's...

[Something occurs to him, then.]

I heard he was with some man on the surface. Do you know who that was?

[ ... Oh. Eithan didn't know that Belth knew Mikleo. How could he have? Everything happened so fast, it's not like he had time to tell anyone where he was, what he was trying to help with... And here, this guy personally knew the one who... who couldn't be saved any other way than the way it went down.

His own expression turns sad. He's handled a lot of death, a lot of "do what must be done," but that never makes being around it any easier. He looks down as well, pushes a hand through his hair as he listens. Yeah, now he's... Yeah. ]

I had no idea you knew the guy... I never met 'im before, myself. Sorey, either. [ Beat. ] That's the man he was with. They were close.

[ It was obvious to Eithan from the start, even if the others hadn't remotely implied as much anyway. ]

He was thoughtful, and intelligent, and kind. I-- I wish I'd known him better. [He sucks in a breath, shallow and shaky, and focuses on smoothing his robes.] His friend must be suffering right now.

There has been so much death lately. Syeira came back, but that doesn't make it any easier. One shouldn't place hope in such things.

Yeah. From all I've heard, I wish I'd known 'im, too. [ He lets out a breath of his own. ] And no doubt Sorey probably is takin' it really hard.

[ But he looks over at Belth again, at that last comment. Who? Did what now? ]

Syeira?

[With a trace of envy:] He made better ice cream than I do.

[THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENT...]

A friend of mine. She-- she sacrificed herself on the last planet, with the dinosaurs...

Death was always temporary in Exsilium, too. It takes an immense amount of energy to pull us from our timelines and our worlds and keep us here, so I imagine they will want to do everything they can to keep us alive.

[ Oh no that's-- that's cute but also sad fjdksla why

Syeira, though... he winces all over again. ]

I... yeah, I guess they would, wouldn't they? Twisted as that shit is... [ He sighs. ] Goddess. I'm sorry that happened to her. I mean, I'm glad she's alive though.

[ And even though Belth said not to place hope in such things, he does have to wonder what it might mean for Mikleo. ]

[He bows his head.]

I haven't spoken to her yet. I don't know what to say. I don't know... if there's anything I can say.

[He huffs.]

If Mikleo comes back, I won't know what to say, either.

It might not matter what you say. Hell, you could probably say nothin' at all and just be there. That'd still mean somethin'. Get the point across. ...For either of 'em.

[ He sighs. ]

Not that I know for sure, or anything. Hell, comin' back isn't somethin' I knew was actually possible until just now. But... still.

... Yes, you're right. I've... I've never had friends before I arrived here, so I am still learning.

[He gathers his robes and gets up from the chair.]

Can I bring you anything? Tea? Real food?

[ Eithan just... smiles. The kid's got friends here, that's for sure. And that's good.

... But then he's immediately distracted! ]

Oh dear goddess yes, real food. You would be my damn savior.

[He smiles in a soft way that only lasts for a brief moment.]

Let me see what I can whip up. I gave everything I had to Allen since he was so... ravenous. Still, this shouldn't take long.

Yeah, uh, ravenous is an understatement.

[ He's been witnessing the crazy amounts of food being demolished, okay. Where is it all going...??? ]

But seriously, I owe you one!

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