driftfleet | [ you can't equip that. ]

Who: Belthazar and you!
Broadcast: Yes
Action: The Bishop.
When: 12/1, evening.

[video;]

[Much like before-- over a year ago, now-- Belthazar wakes up in a daze. He feels cold all over, a little sick, and he realizes that he's actually felt this before. There's a nice coating of dust all over his room, and an unexpected gift of red clothes folded at the end of his bed. It's... what he was wearing. A gift from Adrasteius, after...

... Ah, his memories are all scrambled again. He wonders how many years it's been this time.

He moves to put on his normal undershirt, but it seems tighter than he remembers, and the sleeves are shorter by a few inches, which makes the wrist-covering part look stupid. It is with great reluctance that he flips on the video feed, still sporting the same bedhead as before.]

According to my communicator, I've only been asleep for about a week... but I can tell you that it felt far, far longer. I apologize for completely missing the feast I had planned. It appears I was sent back home again.

[He clears his throat.]

Also, if-- if anyone has any skill at sewing or altering clothing, I could use a little help. The robes Kirian made me do not fit anymore.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[In many ways, he is still rough around the edges, still a fiery and impetuous fifteen-year-old with no idea how to carry a conversation. It's only been three years since he was adopted, after all.]

I was fifteen when it all began. And now I am a little past eighteen... I think.

Edited 2016-12-06 12:00 (UTC)

[ fifteen years old. what's that to an elf? he's not cool with humans that young being here.

big bro instinct are rising. ]

Are things..ok, back home?

[It's fifteen for an elf, too.]

Ah, well--

[His ears flatten somewhat. He's not used to people asking about his well-being, at least not strangers.]

The last time I visited home... it was civil war. It was very, very bad-- and I was nearly killed. But now I've been adopted officially, and I am far away from all the fighting.

[He twirls a bit of curly black hair around his finger.]

I suppose a legion of demons invading the world does not constitute okay, though.

[ the last elf he met was over 9000 years old so he thought it might be...younger.

oh christ. why does every world suck? at least he was adopted, by a good family he hopes, one that will love and protect him as best as a family can against...a legion of demons what the hell?!

he just. opens and closes his mouth for a moment, unsure what to say. it's hard to offer comfort to a stranger, he's never sure how much of it will be welcomed. when he finally speaks, his voice is soft. ]

I'm sorry. Congratulations on being adopted, though - that's really great. [ he never got to be. ]

[Winn is a good egg. Belthazar can already tell, and he's usually not that good at reading people. A part of him insists that nice people don't exist and it could be some kind of disappointment waiting for him, but he shoves that part aside. He doesn't need to think like that to survive anymore.]

... Thank you. Adrasteius-- Father-- he worries that he found me too late, but I think he happened at the perfect time.

[He pushes some hair behind his ears, not that it does much.]

There are not many orphans in the Fleet, I've found.

[ though winn would understand. he's had a little experience with that way of thinking. ]

Yeah, I'm on your side. [ he seems a perfectly sweet kid. sure it would've been great if it happened sooner but at that age he knows from experience that you completely lose hope of it ever happening. ]

I actually know...a lot.

[Yeah, he really had at that point. He was more like a wild animal than a teenager.]

You-- you do?

[Winn has his full attention now, long ears standing straight.]

[ he wishes he didn't. he nods. ]

Yeah. I'm one. [ okay his parents are still alive but his mom walked out on him when his dad went to jail, and the state picked up the pieces. ]

[That totally counts.]

Ah... I'm sorry. That isn't the best thing to have in common.

[A soft breath after a pause.]

But I hope you found some measure of happiness as I found mine. It can be different things for different people, or so I am told.

It can -- and I did.

[ he smiles. he had science and computers growing up, and now he has people, too. ] I turned out fine, you don't need to worry about me. But if you need to talk to someone who gets it, I'm a pretty good listener.

[Belth had books and magic, so that's... almost the same thing?]

That is something I am quickly learning. Thank you, Winn. I'm -- [Ah, he's so awkward.] -- sorry for unloading all of this on you. It's hard to reconcile that I was only gone for a week.

[ he shakes his head lightly, starting at that thank you. ]

I can imagine, you have nothing to be sorry for. We gotta stick together - drifters and orphans.