[ can't do that while stunned. ]

[arcanepower]

Who: Belthazar & you!
Broadcast: Open to the fleet.
Action: On the Marsiva.
When: A reasonable hour on 3/25

[action;]

[Anyone on the Marsiva can find a short fussy elf if they'd like. He spends most of his time in the kitchen trying to figure out what weird-ass ingredients he's supposed to cook with, but he can also be found just... staring outside the window.]

[video;]

[This is not Belthazar's first rodeo. He's not going to sit here and play with the console for your entertainment. He figures it out in about two seconds, being familiar with comm devices already, and he is furious. The look he gives and his tone are ice cold. That combined with the glowing green eyes is a pretty freaky effect, but he looks and sounds fairly young.]

Is this some kind of game, Initiative? I am DONE. Do you understand? This is unacceptable. I did not ask to be removed from my property, and my books-- [oh, he is so angry about his books]-- and I have studies I must attend to. My arcane research is infinitely more important than your misguided sloppy war or your failed attempts at entertainment, which I assume this is supposed to be.

[He leans back, looking about as severe as a fifteen year old can look.]

I'm waiting.

Comments

video;

[ino]

Not as far as we've discovered, anyways.

Oh -- and you've been implanted with what's called an "augment". It should be on the back of your neck. It translates what everyone is saying for you, and contains knowledge on your crew position and a lot of other stuff. Don't try to remove it, so far any attempts have just caused the person to be in unbearable pain to the point of passing out.

video;

[arcanepower]

[Belth's hand flies to the back of his neck immediately. He hisses through his teeth.] So that's what this is. They put something in our heads, like we're-- [Property? He can't find the words.] I don't know, but I don't like it.

So I've traded one prison for another. At least I am not being forced to fight anyone.

video;

[ino]

Neither do we, but -- until we can find a safe way to remove it, it's best not to tamper with it.

[ But oh, that gets her attention ]

One prison for another ...? Were you in a place like this, before? [ Or does he mean like literal prison ..... ]

video;

[arcanepower]

I won't.

[He grits his teeth.]

I was stuck on some Light-forsaken island, drafted into a war I did not ask for. [And now he goes into a rant, sorry Ino.] The morons in charge were particularly obsessed with time travel, which any bronze dragon will tell you is a bad idea, and it really did get worse the longer it went. Odd things kept happening to the transports, we were bombed more than once, there was a plague-- oh, but nothing was wrong, they would assure you, except everything was wrong and they honestly should never have involved us in the first place!

video;

[ino]

[ "Bronze dragon" sounds .... very familiar, but ... her memory is vague.

Either way, she definitely looks sympathetic ]

That does sound awful. I'm sorry. We haven't time traveled or been bombed here, if it's any consolation.

video;

[arcanepower]

[Wow, she's not even a little intimidated or telling him to be quiet. A+, Ino. He simmers down, though he's still tense; it's visible in his body language, in the way his eyebrows furrow.]

It-- it is. But I really just... want to go home.

video;

[ino]

[ Wait until you see her go on a rant, bro. Things get broken. ]

I don't blame you. We're doing our best to figure out how to make that happen, but -- I'm sure you know it's not that easy. I come from a place like that, too, that wasn't my home, so ...

video;

[arcanepower]

[She's so nice. She doesn't look anything like Caspa but he's reminded of her regardless. He glances down, plays with his sleeves, acting every bit like a child fidgeting as he's trying to behave.]

What... do you do when someone doesn't remember you?

video;

[ino]

[ Oh, sweet baby ... :(

She puts on a reassuring smile. ]

Well, I guess it depends on how close you were to that person. It's hard, but ... the most important thing is that you have to be patient with them. If you became close once, chances are there was a good reason for it and that it'll happen again, if you give it time.

video;

[arcanepower]

[Adra was like a father to him, and Belth is... scared. Of course he's not going to tell some strange girl that, nor is he going to cry again, but it's clear on his face that he's having a hard time. That's his greatest weakness-- having his heart on his sleeve.

He lets out a slow sigh.]

... Okay.

video;

[ino]

[ She doesn't know the situation, but ... ]

It's the hardest when it's someone who's a lover, or like family to you ... but I'm sure things will work out for you! Don't worry!

video;

[arcanepower]

A lover? [The mere idea is enough to make him stop fidgeting and look absolutely scandalized.] No! I'm not even old enough to drink! Or, rather, I shouldn't. I probably could especially if you consider human years, but that's beside the point. No, no lovers, none at all, ever, please and thank you, I would rather spend my time with books!

video;

[ino]

[ Tries not to laugh ... ]

I didn't mean to imply that you had one. I just don't know who you're talking about, specifically.

video;

[arcanepower]

[EW GIRLS wait he likes girls but THAT IS SO UNCOOL BOOKS ARE INFINITELY BETTER.]

He-- took care of me.

[Belthazar stops and shakes his head.]

I'll figure it out. I will.

video;

[ino]

I'm sure you will. And I'm sure he'll see very soon why you two were close.

video;

[arcanepower]

[Normally this is the part when he asks someone's name.]

Why are you so nice?

[... except that happens instead.]

video; 1/2

[ino]

...

video;

[ino]

[ She laughs ... ]

Well, you've given me no reason not to be?

1/2

[arcanepower]

[... That's kind of not what he's expecting, and his ears pin to the sides of his head. That's a pretty effective threat.]

Uh.

[Oh my god, Belthazar. Say something. SAY SOMETHING INSTEAD OF LOOKING MILDLY TERRIFIED.]

2/2

[arcanepower]

B-- Belthazar. My name! That's-- ugh, I messed up.

[... NAILED IT.]

[ino]

[ TRYING SO HARD NOT TO LAUGH AGAIN .... He's adorable :( ]

It's nice to meet you, Belthazar. I'm Ino.

[arcanepower]

[He blushes to the tips of his ears.]

It's nice to meet you, too.

[THAT WASN'T SO HARD, WAS IT?]

[ino]

[ Precious baby ... ]

I'm not sure if you've been told, but you'll be on the Marsiva until Saturday. That's when they shuffle all the new people onto their respective ships.

[arcanepower]

[He wrinkles his nose.]

What are the other ships like?

[ino]

Depends on the ship. They vary depending on who's on it, and if they've bought any upgrades. For example, my ship has a lot of people who are pilots or communications officers, so the helm is the most impressive part.