first one to make that doctor who joke loses

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Who: Everyone! All of you!
Broadcast: Maybe!
Action: Definitely!
When: Anytime during the toxic moon event!

---

[boy oh boy, isn't everyone just so excited to explore this... charming... place...?

this is a game-wide mingle and the timeframe isn't super-important, so throw in with whatever you want! play war games, go shopping for gas masks, get lost in the wilderness, hide up in the Iskaulit and refuse to set foot on the moon, anything goes.

here's the main event info post for reference! have fun!]

Comments

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Sure. It's not a cheery subject, but...

[he shrugs a little, because it's hardly a secret, either. he's pretty sure he's mentioned it briefly before, even if it was in the form of a story.]

It used to be a lot like this on the surface, up until about... Three, four centuries ago, I think. The world was poisoned and a lot of man-made things collapsed when the earth split open. There was so much loose radiation buzzing around that you'd basically just cook to death if you stood outside long enough.

[he starts tracing a circle on his open palm. he seems to be doing it intentionally (perhaps it's part of that charm?) rather than to fidget.]

Like I said, it hasn't been like that in a long time, but most people still live underground in spite of it. A lot of traditional culture has grown from old things they used to do to stay safe and survive.

[child_of_bhaal]

But you saw it. And didn't cook to death.

[It barely sounds like a question. More like she's asking for confirmation that she's correct. All the while she's watching what his hands are doing. She's expecting to see some kind of new magic.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[briefly, he considers killing her.

it's not out of any real fear or spite, and he quickly assures himself that she doesn't deserve anything like that, not by a long shot... it's just an old instinct that kicks up, since this conversation would have likely gotten him killed (or the closest equivalent they could manage) back home.

after a moment of silence, he huffs out something between a laugh and a sigh and holds out his hand somewhere in front of her.]

There's a lot that hasn't killed me yet. I'm going to put my hand on your stomach, all right?

[child_of_bhaal]

[If she knew his thought, she wouldn't be offended. She has thoughts about killing all the time, and imagines most people think about how quickest to dispatch her, when they know what she is.

She sits up a little, moving her arms out of his way.]

I trust you.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Hah. That's alarming.

[he's heard that a lot, actually. he's never sure why, and is still bothers him to hear--since he'd never consider himself a particularly trustworthy person.

still, all he does is press his palm against her torso, pushing gently at the space just under her ribs. not super-comfortable for a nauseous person, but he mutters some words to finish his little spell.]

Silar, da clet't, jeu'a paisa.

[there aren't any flashy sparkles or bizarre sensations, but her stomach does suddenly feel much better. with that knot easing up, he draws back and... wiggles his fingers. ta-da!]

[child_of_bhaal]

I feel like that's been said to me before.

[Which it hasn't. Not specifically those words, but definitely that feeling has been directed at her. Not only by the person she was trusting either. As if it would ever stop her.

The fact that he is helping her only cements the trust further. Perhaps aided by the relief of not feeling like if she smelled anything vaguely resembling food, she might throw up.]

Well, I'm impressed. [No, you're just grateful, Syeira. There is a difference.] Is that something you can teach us hapless idiots, that will absolutely keep going out here, without any safety precautions?

[birdsbirdsbirds]

It won't last forever, but it's something.

[with that little trick finished, he puts his glove back on. he shakes his at the question without even having to think about it. he knows the answer--it's the other reason he doesn't do this kind of stuff very often.]

Unfortunately not. The energies it calls upon are extremely volatile, even towards those who have a natural affinity for this sort of thing. [he puts on a cheery smile, mostly for humor.] You'd drown yourself. It'd be awful.

[child_of_bhaal]

Probably. I was never meant to be a wizard.

[And she does feel better. Having a settled stomach makes the fever bearable, and her sigh is a grateful one.

She sits for a moment, and thinks about continuing the small talk, the easy conversation. But there is an elephant on the stoop with them, and really it needs to be addressed. So she may as well out with it.]

We don't ever have to talk about it, you know. Not if you don't want to. Whatever you like, so long as you don't avoid me anymore. I lose friends too easily here at Atroma's whims, I'd rather prefer to keep those I have on speaking terms.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[well, that's. relevant and upsetting to hear.

after all, the whole reason he approached her is because she's suddenly one of the only postive acquaintances he has left. suddenly, she's one of his closest friends (even if that isn't saying much). it's good to know she pays more attention than she makes it seem.

again, he'd normally be more angry about getting called out... but he's too tired. he hunches forward a little, leaning back into her shoulder.]

Do you know that I saw into your... calibration, back when we were on the Marsiva?

[child_of_bhaal]

[Cue her instant surprise. She sits up straighter, looking at him more directly, eyes wide.]

Wait, what? I had a calibration?!

[Don't panic. Don't panic. Don't panic.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[unperturbed, he gives her a steadying pat on the shoulder. that's kind of what he thought.]

Don't worry, it wasn't that bad.

[child_of_bhaal]

But it was some kind of bad. Bad enough you didn't want to see me for a while.

[She's absolutely sure of it.]

Do I owe you an apology, an explanation or both?

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[he shakes his head again. in fact, he brings up a hand just so that he can wave it in a very no-no-no-calm-down gesture.]

Listen, I haven't gone out of my way to say hello because I'm not sure how much you've learned about me from mine. I'm trying to use yours as a jumping point. There were... similarities.

[like, you know. human sacrifice and stuff.]

I promise I wasn't traumatized or anything.

[child_of_bhaal]

Similarities?

[She has to ask. She needs to know.]

Please tell me what you saw, Robin. I'll fill in any blanks you want, but my own memory keeps secrets from me, I need to know.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Ah...

[this is where he finally gets hesitant; it's not that he was bothered himself, but the idea of telling Syeira about the various tortures, betrayals, and split-personalities he found (especially when she might not know about them) doesn't really sit well with him.

...but, he'd want the same thing, if it was him. so he ends up giving a little shrug and tapping his forehead with an index finger.]

I could just show you...

[child_of_bhaal]

[She isn't confused by what he means. Ellesime had walked into her dreams once. And Syeira herself, could do the same, but this was probably a different method.

She nods, careful but sure.]

Please.