video/action;

[hymnals]

Who: Adrasteius
Broadcast: All
Action: Marsiva
When: Oct 19

[It's been a few weeks since Archimonde's downfall. Since the collapse of the Iron Horde. It was a good moment, hard-won, but Adrasteius hasn't felt celebratory. The battle had ended in triumph, yes, but also a warning. Something is coming. Something that keeps Adrasteius from sleep, that keeps him up late fiddling with wards, praying to the Light. Keeps him staring at the sky with unease threading through all of his brittle bones.

But all living things must sleep, eventually, and he's no exception.

When he wakes up, he expects to see his wife; possibly some children, crept in after nightmares. Instead, he's alone. The room is stark, chilly, sterile.

Familiar.]

Oh, for the Light's sake.

[He rolls over, groaning. This again. Lying flat on his belly, but with his face turned upwards, he addresses the camera.]

Bal'a dash, everybody. If we haven't spoken, I'm Adrasteius. If we have--

[He sits up, albeit with obvious effort. It's hard to be old, even for an elf.]

--nice to see you again. Probably.

[Adrasteius runs a hand through his feathery blonde hair.]

What did I miss?

Comments

[arcanepower]

[Belth tries not to look like he's been caught, but the result is that he holds his breath. He begins to turn red... and redder... until it's reached the tips of his ears... and he shakes his head, very determinedly.

He was always a terrible liar.]

[hymnals]

[Oh, shit. What's this? WHAT IS THIS.]

Belthazar?

Are you all right?

[arcanepower]

[He nods overzealously but doesn't breathe for a good... 30 seconds... and then it all comes out in a rush.]

I'M A MONSTER.

[hymnals]

[Adra's eyes widen, because what? What. He answers quickly, automatically.]

No, you're not--what are you talking about?

[arcanepower]

I messed up. I messed up so badly. I-- I think, no, I'm pretty sure, I accidentally--

[He drags his hands down his face.]

I'm in love with a human! This wasn't supposed to happen! I'm not even a hundred yet!

[hymnals]

[That's big news. HUGE NEWS. Adra has to take a minute to process, mostly because Belthazar prefaced the situation by calling himself a goddamn monster. He squeezes Bel's shoulders--gently.]

Okay, first of all, love does not make you a monster, regardless of who it is. Let's get that sorted right away.

[arcanepower]

[He's a blood elf and a teenager. Being overdramatic is kind of in the genes at this point. Adra's calmness helps, but that doesn't keep Belth from tugging a bit on his bangs.]

But I'm so much older! I know I'm not too much older by our reckoning but-- but elves and humans don't usually--

[hymnals]

Listen, Belthazar. If Vereesa Windrunner can shack up with the leader of the Kirin Tor--which she did, and may he rest in peace--then you can certainly have a human--

[He pauses. Who is Bel talking about, anyway?]

--friend.

[arcanepower]

I-- suppose you're right. [That mollifies him somewhat. It's true that racial tensions are perhaps less important now than they were a couple years ago. Garrosh is done for and there is a truce. But it'd still be really, really frowned upon at home. Perhaps not enough to start a war, but they'd have to live in a neutral area, and those are few and far between now.]

... You're not mad?

[hymnals]

Why would I be mad? Light bless any love we can find in this horrible world.

[arcanepower]

[That's what he needs to hear, above all, and for the second time in about five minutes, all the air leaves him.]

I thought you would disapprove. I'm... glad you don't.

[He lets go of Adra's robes and seems to draw back into himself slightly, fingers fidgeting with the hems of his sleeves as he looks down.]

And I'm glad you are here.

[hymnals]

I'm glad I'm here, too. But, hey.

[Adra presses a light, warm kiss to Bel's forehead.]

If you've found someone you care about, then I'm over the moon. Especially a human.

[arcanepower]

[Ohhhh nooooooo. He makes the most pathetic little squeaky noise and hunches his shoulders. His ears lay flat against his hair.]

R-really?

[hymnals]

Really really.

[Bel's racial politics were/are a little worrisome. More humans can only help.]

So--who is it?

[arcanepower]

[The mage shrinks visibly. He doesn't give an answer, just a tiny squeaking noise. Your son has turned into Simple Dog.]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

[hymnals]

Well, you don't have to tell me ...

[arcanepower]

[He rubs at his nose, ears down and cheeks cherry-red as they are wont to be.]

You won't tell?

[hymnals]

Do you really think I would?

[He sighs gently.]

[arcanepower]

I'm afraid you'll-- you'll try to talk to him-- [He stops. There's the gender. WELP. He's screwed now.]

H-Hiro. [He ducks his head again.] I still don't understand how this happened.

[hymnals]

Doesn't exactly take a scholar, kiddo.

[ALL GRINS OVER HERE.]

[arcanepower]

[and here is the long-suffering groan of every teenager ever]

Is it that obvious? Oh, Light.

[hymnals]

Well--

[Nah. He's not going to lie.]

Yes. But there's nothing wrong with that.