he's probably fine.

[nerdeology]

Who: Mikleo
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: On the Huntress!
When: Now, basically

[You know what's great about being a seraph? Never getting sick. You know what's not great about being a seraph? Having zero frame of reference for what being sick is like when you experience it for the first time. And after a month of quietly enduring and/or ignoring it, despite being a water elemental trapped on a planet full of poisonous water, it's finally caught up to him.

It doesn't help that this realization comes hand in hand with the fact that he's been upgraded to captain, apparently, which is as nonsensical a decision as he's ever heard from the Atroma. The one perk - besides the sudden lack of malevolence on the Huntress due to Greed's departure - means that he now has a big bed to curl up and be miserable in.]

I have a few questions.

is there some sort of guide for captain's duties? for those who lack experience.

also:

how do you tell whether you are dying or just sick

[...Those questions should probably have had a completely different priority, but whatever. He's too sick to be bothered.

He makes an attempt at sending this out as an anonymous communication, but he's a bit too light-headed and bleary-eyed to pull it off, so it probably doesn't work too well. He still doesn't show up on camera, so there is that.]

Comments

[nerdeology]

I can imagine, if you've lived that long. There's still so much of my own world that I haven't experienced, so knowing there's this much more out there is a little overwhelming.

[bythewaves]

Well, as you say - you have seen only eighteen years! Plenty of time to see and experience more.

[nerdeology]

Indeed. All it takes is opportunity and a sense of adventure. I only left home this past year, and I've already seen and learned more in a short span than I have in all the years before.

[bythewaves]

The world is wide, the winds are cold, the forges fire is burning low; but wandering in this wide world I find, wonders myriad still untold.

[ Maglor sings softly and nods ]

May you never lose that sense of wonder.

[nerdeology]

[Mikleo listens quietly, somewhat surprised; Maglor had discussed music before, of course, but it hadn't really clicked that he was a singer. Music had never been a big part of his world- the most he'd heard was when Lailah turned to silly songs of children when her oath prevented her from speaking freely.

He's intrigued, as well, and the sound of it is quite pleasant. Almost a shame that it ends so quickly.]

I... hope so, as well. Is that why you wanted a music room? Not just for lessons, but... because you sing?

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor tips his head gently in acknowledgement ]

I am a bard, aye - music for me is as intrinsic as breathing. I can hardly stop playing, but... I know I can be annoying.

[nerdeology]

Not at all. It's quite beautiful.

[And he can understand something being a part of you to the very core. That's how he is with his element, after all.]

[bythewaves]

Thank you. If you ever wish to hear more, you need but ask. At the least, I hope having a room will keep me from disturbing the rest of the crew.

[nerdeology]

If you get any complaints, I'd be surprised. This place is already too quiet- not just the ships, but space itself feels so lifeless. It would do us all some good to have something to break the silence.

[bythewaves]

Is it truly? I have never heard the stars so clearly, although I suppose most folk cannot hear them.

[nerdeology]

"Them"? You hear the stars?

[He's included in that "most folk", apparently.]

[bythewaves]

I do, yes - you do not? Ah, but... you sound too much like water, so I suppose perhaps it is the... mm, wrong sound for you to be listening for.

[nerdeology]

[Sounds like water... well, that at least makes sense. He feels like this guy should meet Dezel at some point. Might help his grating personality a bit, if it goes okay.]

Most likely. There isn't much water in space, after all. Even the water on the ship doesn't feel right to me. Seraphim are strengthened by nature, life, and the hearts of those dwelling nearby. There's very little of that in all this empty dark.

[bythewaves]

That must be difficult for you. [ Maglor winces sympathetically ] And likely made even worse by the recent trip, I imagine.

[nerdeology]

[Mikleo scoffs faintly, crossing his arms over his chest, his voice agitated.]

It's why I'm in here and not getting anything done. The water on that moon is poisoned, and I'm being poisoned, too.

[bythewaves]

That explains your illness. [ Maglor nods slowly ]

Fortunately that also means that you will improve as we leave this place, which I am given to understand happens at the whim of our kidnappers. Is there anything I can do to help in the meantime?

[nerdeology]

I doubt it. No medicine in the fleet has done anything, and my own healing won't work, either. Time and distance from the source is the most effective way of reversing the damage so far.

[Which sucks, because he hates just sitting around waiting for it to go away.]

[bythewaves]

I am sorry. [ Maglor shakes his head in dismay ]

That is a bad state of affairs indeed. Hopefully we will not be long here in that case.

[nerdeology]

We've already been here for too long, in my opinion. I doubt I'll be leaving the ship in the near future.

[He'll take a lifeless safety over such a sick, slow decay.]

[bythewaves]

It would probably be for the best. Since I am not so bound, do you wish for me to be your eyes and ears below? I could leave the video on and go walking?

[nerdeology]

As generous an offer as that is [hah, no] I can't think of anything on that world that I'd want to see again. There's nothing but death and corruption.

[He's pretty sure he's seen enough already.]

Anyway, if I do need to leave, I have a friend here who can help me do so safely.

[bythewaves]

Not quite everything.

[ Maglor says softly ] Even in the shadows, light still shines, no matter how faint - I think you did not find their garden, eh?

[nerdeology]

[Ah. That.]

I did find it. It was comforting, for a time. But it only provides a contrast for how bad the rest of it is.

[bythewaves]

It does. But it is a good small light in the dark, also - all hope is not yet lost. I am glad they had the forethought to do so, and I have been surprised before by the resourcefulness Men when they put their minds to it.

[nerdeology]

Is this going to become a lecture on how humans really do have good in them deep down? Because I don't think I can handle another one of those.

[He's getting kind of exasperated by how many people rush to defend them. Just let him be angry for a while, gosh.]