04 ❀

[princessia]

Who: Elize Lutus and YOU maybe?
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: FS Starlight, at the parks!
When: February 14-20ish?

[VIDEO]

[ The broadcast opens up to show a young girl with fluffy blonde hair, only about eleven or twelve years of age. She's sitting down, out in the park. She has a notebook, a stash of pens, her mage staff, and her doll next to her. ]

...I'm Elize Lutus. Hello. I've been here for about ten months now? I think. If anyone needs help with anything, let me know. I'll do my best.

[ That's mainly directed towards many of the newcomers to the fleet. Then there's an awkward pause. That's not the reason why she's making a video broadcast in the first place. For someone as shy as Elize, she normally dislikes recording herself for the entire public to see. ]

Um... so, I've been learning a lot about other worlds. And Jove has been teaching me how to write in the common tongue! She taught me some Elvish words too. Like falon. That means friend.

[ The reason she decided to record herself is to show off what she has been learning, her achievements, like a proud child. She opens up her notebook, holding it open to the screen. It's lines of sentences written in the common tongue, recognizable to those who come from Thedas. (It looks a bit like this.) Some lines are written in practiced repetition. They're extremely basic sentences like "my name is...", "how are you?", simple greetings, etc.

Everything is written in sparkly, pink gel pen ink that she bought from the station. It's written neatly too, with no smudging. She made sure the ink dried! ]

When I get better, I'm hoping to write a letter entirely in common tongue.

[ She flips the notebook over to look at her own writing. Her shoulders slump in disappointment and her proud expression begins to falter, like there's a moment of disbelief that the letter she writes might not reach. She then looks back up, putting on a brave smile even though her cheeks are red with embarrassment. She'll get this letter delivered, somehow. ]

If... anyone wants to hang out or something, I'm at the park. Or, we can just chat over the communicator. That's fine too.

[ACTION]

[ And as she mentioned in the broadcast, Elize will be in the park. She's laying down on her stomach, being diligent and practicing writing down sentences repeatedly in her notebook. ]

Comments

[nerdeology]

[Well. He can't really do anything but wait, in that case.

When she arrives at the fountain, he reaches down into the water and lightly pats at the surface, making ripples. He's turned off the communicator for the moment.]

Yes, I'm here. Can you hear me?

[princessia]

[ Close enough to hear him, she does a small surprised hop in the air and nearly drops her communicator. Her head turns towards the origin of the voice, though she still can't see anyone by the fountain. But the ripples... ]

Mikleo! Yes, I hear you... [ She goes from startled, to excited. Boy, doesn't she look strange to anyone else that may be in the park. ] You are here!

[nerdeology]

[Well. He's glad that she's happy about it. He'd been worried that he'd just make her more uncomfortable.]

Yes, and you can hear me. It looks like you do have resonance, then.

[princessia]

I do!

[ That's what Mikleo just said, but she's happy enough to repeat it. She totters closer to the fountain, moving to sit on the edge of it. She wants to sit next to him.

Then sudden embarrassment. What if she's sitting on him or something...! She still can't see him. ]

I-I'm not in your way, am I?

[nerdeology]

[He laughs, quiet and brief, and steps closer to sit down beside her, leaving enough space that they won't get in each other's bubble too much. She really is too sweet.]

Not at all. I'm quite used to dodging around people who can't see me. Can you hold out your hand?

[princessia]

Oh, good...

[ She smiles, relieved, although she's still blushing. As instructed, she holds out her hand. ]

Okay.

[nerdeology]

[Mikleo reaches out and gently cups her hand in his, giving it a very light squeeze. She might feel the pressure, and his hand is cool to the touch, sort of like dipping your hand into lukewarm water.]

Do you feel anything?

[princessia]

[ The water-like sensation around her hand takes her by surprise. Her fingers twitch for a moment, then she relaxes. She knows it has to be just Mikleo. ]

I do. It feels... cool. Is that your hand?

[nerdeology]

Yes, it is.

[He sounds pleased. This is a big first step! Much better than having no resonance at all. He doesn't want to make her uncomfortable again, though, so-]

Is this alright?

[princessia]

[ It should be fine, even if she can't see his hand. She tries to use her imagination, curling her fingers lightly in a similar way that she would hold a hand that's physically there. ]

This is alright. We're friends.

[nerdeology]

[Ah...

He's taken aback momentarily, but he allows it to pass like a breath of air, nodding even though she can't see it.]

Yes... we're friends. I'm glad, Elize.

[princessia]

Um... Mikleo?

[ She looks up with a hopeful smile and if anyone in the park is giving her any odd stares right now, she doesn't notice it yet. Still, she sees nothing but air. It just feels right to look in the direction where she can hear his voice the closest. ]

Does this mean I'll be able to really see you someday?

[nerdeology]

I think so, yes. This much proves that you have resonance, and it will only go stronger the more time we spend together. As long as you believe in seraphim, one day you'll see me.

[princessia]

[ Spirits are part of the norm in Rieze Maxia. There's no way she would stop believing in seraphim. Especially not now. ]

I want to spend lots of time together! [ A beat, then her cheeks flush red. ] But only when you're not busy.

[nerdeology]

[He laughs a little, stifling the sound with his free hand. He doesn't want her to think he's laughing at her, it's just- her enthusiasm is sweet.]

I'm sure that we'll find time. You can't rush it, though- resonance comes gradually, and impatience won't help anyone.

[princessia]

I see... I understand. [ Nodding. ] I know how to be patient!

[ She's obedient, good at listening, and waiting. Much like whenever Jude and Milla need to tell her to stay behind...

Honestly, her enthusiasm is making her just a little impatient, but there's not much she can do about it. ]

[nerdeology]

I'll do my best to help, too.

[Actually, though- that reminds him.]

Elize... I have a question. How well do you know those on your crew? Do you like them?

[princessia]

Huh?

[ The question throws her off guard for a moment. ]

I love Jove and I love Cole! [ Cassandra too, but Atroma sent her away recently. ] I hate Tek. He's a jerk. I don't know the others very well...

[nerdeology]

[Yeah, he can't blame her for those. Jove and Cole are nice enough (though Cole's power is- yeah) but Tek was scary.

More importantly, though-]

What about Solas?

[princessia]

[ Elize isn't sure if she's friends with Solas. She wishes she can be though, especially since she knows he's friends with Jove and Cole. She hasn't had any problems with him and he always greeted her with kindness. ]

Solas is nice and he knows a lot about the spirits from Thedas. And he painted the beautiful murals on the Pathstone! I really wish I could paint like that.

[nerdeology]

[Hmm. Elize is young and has been honest with him thus far, and he can tell that she isn't lying now. That means Solas hasn't done anything to make her feel unsafe.

Is he hiding from everyone? Or... what was all that malevolence from?]

I see. ...A short while ago I visited the Pathstone, intending to see you. We just missed one another, but I met a few people on your ship, so I was curious.

[princessia]

You visited?!

[ The smile she had while she was talking about Solas and the others, falters. She feels disappointed in herself, having missed her friend while she was on the ship. ]

I'm sorry I didn't get to welcome you in...

[nerdeology]

No, it's my own fault for not checking first. Anyway, it's for the best. I wouldn't have been able to stay for long- this is much better.

[A prolonged visit on a ship with that much malevolence... yeah, it would not have ended well.]

[princessia]

[ She suspects nothing. Maybe Mikleo was really busy that day or something! ]

Oh? Did you have something to do?

[nerdeology]

No, I...

[Ugh, he's really not sure how to tell her. He doesn't want to frighten her, but he hates the thought of lying. It wouldn't be right when she's been so up-front with him.]

There's something on your ship that I can't be exposed to. If I go there again, it could make me very sick.