driftfleet | video

Entry tags:

video

Who: Sorey, Mikleo & y'all!!!
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Selvin-9
When: Early January

[The video starts out jostling and blurry, like some kind of snowed-in Blair Witch project. There’s even screaming- oh no, that’s just excited screaming, and it’s more like breathless squeaks than screams.]

Mikleo- Mikleo! Get it get the- you got it?

I’ve got it. I still think this is ridiculous…

[There’s a jostling movement as the communicator is transferred from one to the other, and for a moment it lingers on a seemingly-empty wolf kigu, its wearer invisible but sounding as unimpressed as the costume’s expression. It’s gone in a flash, and Sorey suddenly darts into view, wearing a goblin kigu, running through the snow with the clumsiness of a person unaccustomed to winter weather, over to a truly ugly snow sled…with wheels.]

Do you see this?! [Sorey seems unable to contain himself, gleeful and giddy, posing in front of the sled with a peace sign in front of a rental shop on the slope.] This is the coolest thing ever- ohhh, I wish we could buy it!

[Sorey suddenly gets closer to the camera, grinning a grin that precludes any rational decision-making.] Hey Keith! I challenge you to a sled race! Or anybody, anybody who’s game! I’ll bet rental fees and hot chocolate that I can beat you!

[There’s a long-suffering sigh - albeit mildly affectionate - from behind the camera. Mikleo’s done this song and dance before, it’s old hat.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This sounds like a touchy subject. His wits have somewhat returned, though he's a cautious creature. Nothing Mikleo can do will change that. In fact, it's better if he does nothing at all.

He closes his eyes for a moment and steadies himself. Okay. So, not a ghost. Just some kind of... race... that shares a name with a mythological creature. No big deal.]

They are on my world, though I'm not about to discuss the particulars of religious symbols as I do not adhere to that faith.

[And anyway--]

I apologize for my earlier rudeness. I should have guessed you were some manner of... being. Though in all my travels, I cannot say I've met anyone who is chronically invisible.

[HUFF.

but fine, he apologized, so after a long moment and an exasperated sigh, Mikleo relents. very reluctantly.]

It's... fine. I'm just tired of being questioned about it, that's all. It's not our fault that humans picked a word that's used for something else in every other world, apparently.

Anyway it's not that we're invisible, it's that most people - and technology, apparently - lack the ability to perceive us.

A quirk of the translation device in our heads, perhaps.

[That's also strange.]

Purely magical beings can still be detected by the appropriate technology on my world. It appears even the Atroma have limits. My familiar, Carbuncle, can only appear for five minutes at a time before it dissipates.

It's not as if I'm entirely undetected. Usually we can't be seen or heard without resonance, but this machine picks up my voice just fine. I don't have an explanation for it.

If you're so concerned, why not just come here and test your resonance directly? The communicators don't make it clear.

[he could use a distraction anyway, while Sorey's carting around like
a lunatic.]

There are a great many things here that cannot be explained.

[That's... tempting. Even though part of him is a little bit terrified, he's curious. The curiosity is winning.]

Can you give me your coordinates? I would rather not trudge through that fluff any more than I have to.

The same could be said of any world. That's what makes them so fascinating.

[Beep boop have some coordinates. Come at me if you dare.]

[Something about that resonates with Alphinaud enough that it gives him pause. His eyes brighten just like that, and his lips curve into a smile.

Seems Mikleo's hit a good note, here.]

I could not have said it better myself. I shall be there anon.

[But first he's going to dig around on the Goldstone for something he can give Mikleo by way of apology because holy shit that's rough. He fuffed up here.

Within the hour, Mikleo has a guest-- a very, very short elfling dressed in a ridiculous puffy parka. He looks a little unsteady on the 'snow' and ice, like he's about to slip and fall at any minute. He does slip a little and squeak in alarm, but then he's fine again.

He casts his eyes this way and that, looking for something he knows he won't be able to see. Willingly going into a ghost trap... Krile would have a field day if she found out about this.]

Hello?

[In the timeframe between the conversation's end and Alphinaud's arrival, Mikleo has ditched the costume- or rather, left it draped over a nearby bench, since he felt a bit too silly wearing it alone while Sorey coasted around on his sled, and he'd had his fill of the wild ride, thank you very much. He'd also felt curious as to whether or not this stranger would find him without the wolf's head looming in full view.

Since Alphinaud had been perfectly visible over the comm, and the voice is familiar enough, Mikleo steps over, leaning in to try and catch the elf fellow's eye.]

Hello.

[How's your resonance there, buddy?]

[Alphinaud certainly hears him, but he doesn't see him. The reaction is instantaneous; he squawks and goes reeling back, very nearly falling over. Thankfully he does not.

He turns his head this way and that, trying to discern the source of the voice.]

H-hello. You are the one I am looking for, then? It-- it appears I lack the ability to see you.

[He's trying very, very hard not to visibly tremble.]

[Alphinaud might hear the quietest of chuckles, too. It's been a while since he's had that sort of reaction, and it's still pretty funny.]

You can hear me, though- that's better than nothing. I'm Mikleo, by the way.

[Alphinaud's cheeks burn at that, but he tries to relax. He's not scared of ghosts, and Mikleo isn't a ghost. So it's not like there's a problem. It's not like... there's a problem...

He bows at the waist.]

Alphinaud. T'is a pleasure to, ah, meet you... I apologize for my earlier rudeness.

[At least Sorey thought it was funny, but... maybe insulting his boyfriend wasn't the best course of action, however unintentionally.]

I've brought an offering of sorts. [He reaches into his coat and pulls out a small glass bottle full of faintly-glowing golden liquid. Very gently, he holds it out for Mikleo to take. He can't... see him at all, but.] This is called 'ether'. It is made from the essence of elemental crystals, distilled into pure water using a catalyst. It is commonly used to help recover one's magical energy.

I thought it may be of some interest to you, if not to study then to use.

[Mikleo half-reaches for it, immediately intrigued - new thing! and it's shiny! he does so love treasures - but he hesitates before he makes contact.]

Alright... I'm going to take it now, so-

[And then he does, accepting it gingerly, the bottle now floating freely in the air as he lifts it up to examine it. It feels... weird, is the best way to put it. He can sense the water within but it's being altered, almost tainted (though not negatively) by some energy. It's almost familiar, but not quite the same...]

I think we have something similar on our world- to recover not only magic but health, stamina... yeah, it feels kind of like an elixir, just not as potent.

[Alphinaud manages not to wince. No, he's watching in wide-eyed wonder as the bottle literally floats. Given that, he can sort of guess where Mikleo is. It helps.]

Elixir is not unknown to me, either; it's a concoction that rejuvenates both the body and mind. It seems to me that even though our worlds are very different, our alchemy evolved in similar directions.

Would that I had the skill to replicate it, but I only dabbled in potion-making.

Hmm... well, I can have a look, try to copy it myself. I've done this sort of thing before, and it can't hurt to try.

[And having a tonic that can imitate the effect of certain gels would be immensely useful in a tight spot, or when Sorey isn't around to help them regenerate power.

The guy's still nervous, though... well, he's not surprised. Ghosts are creepy, and even if he says he's a seraph, floating things must still look kind of weird. He takes a moment to infuse and pocket the ether, considering his options as he does so. Finally he nods.]

Would you mind taking a step or two back? I'm gonna try something.

[He's been looking for the opportunity, so might as well.]

[His expression brightens.]

I would be very interested in seeing the results. We have an upgraded infirmary on the Goldstone. I'll gladly lend you whatever materials you need, if we have them.

[He looks confused somewhat but he steps back two paces and adjusts his coat.]

Is this far enough?

Mm, plenty.

[It's not like what he's attempting is dangerous, it's just- well, Alphinaud'll probably be startled again regardless. But he's making a small effort to be nice about it.

Once the distance is sufficient between them, he summons up his element, a curious mixture of windstepping and the reflective shield he'd developed for Pendragon- fusing together to create an opposite, inward-mirror-like effect. The cold, energized air swirls around him, a person-sized snow flurry, and slowly it closes in to fuse tight to his body, sealing skin, hair, clothes, features- all in a gentle coating of frost.

When the arte fades, he more or less looks like a moving ice statue, translucent, reflective, and ethereal... but visible, more or less.]

[Alphinaud hasn't exactly been warned that Mikleo is a being of water, but he has an inkling when he sees water and wind coalescing about a human-shaped form. His blue eyes grow wide with surprise-- and then wonder, because that is honestly kind of incredible and he'd sort of like to know how one gets that tight of a control on magic.]

By the Twelve...

[He's now an ice statue, which is slightly less terrifying than just being invisible. Alphinaud would be tempted to touch if he was a touchy person, but he is not.]

Your command of water-aspected aether appears almost instinctive.

[There's even frost on his eyelashes. It's haunting, but effective.]

[Aether...? Well, that's probably what he calls it. Mikleo lifts his shoulders in a slight shrug, and the frost on his body follows the movement, a series of feather-cracks appearing over the surface before glossing over again- almost like pond ripples, there and gone.]

I'd feel pretty inept if it wasn't. Seraphim have elements they're born from, and mine is water.

[He's mostly just glad the poor guy didn't faint or something.]

[Alphinaud is one part perturbed and two parts fascinated, but that's how it is with every new encounter, honestly.]

Ah, a water elemental! Of course!

[Oh, his fingers itch to draw, but...]

I specialize in the study of arcane entities, though admittedly I never studied people.

What is a seraph, exactly? You seem closer to human than anything else.

[Mikleo makes a face at that, not quite offended, not like he'd felt at the "fiend" comment, but it's still not a great thing to say to a seraph. If he'd done that with Edna he'd probably have gotten an umbrella to the face.]

That's because you've only met a seraph with a human-like body. There are seraph of all sorts- I've met one with the form of a dog, and another looked like a lizard-man... there's even one in the shape of an enormous glowing dragon. We take the form we feel is our own, that's all.

[Though it's a little more complicated than that, he might as well keep it simple for now.]

Seraph is what humans decided to name us- elemental beings, gods, supernatural entities... it covers a broad range of what they deem cannot be explained. Some are revered as gods to people, but most of us just keep to ourselves and live outside of human society.

[He can sort of read that expression, and judges correctly he said something wrong when Mikleo goes on.]

Forgive me, I did not mean to give offense with my assessment. [He doesn't try to explain further because he's pretty sure he'll just dig a deeper hole. 'You don't seem like a non-sapient water sprite' isn't exactly a high bar.

The part about being revered as gods gives him some pause, but he chases it from his expression with a polite smile.]

But Sorey is different.

That's a nicer way of saying he's weird.

[He's all affection, though, mingled with stubborn exasperation. Yeah, Sorey's different. He loves his weird unusual dumb human.]

He was raised in a seraph village alongside me, so his way of viewing seraphim is a bit different than your average human.

[He can sort of tell. Sorey already tipped his hand that they're dating, so he has a certain expectation.]

Quite literally, too, I suspect.

[He rubs his chin.]

Does he struggle to describe you at times? I have an idea of my own, though perhaps you have already thought of it...

Describe me? I guess... he mostly just flounders and says something vague.

[blah blah blah this is my seraph friend, they are beautiful in nonspecific ways]

What are you thinking about?

[He nods. It seemed that way to him when he pressed Sorey for answers.]

I can draw your portrait from what I see now-- with some adjustments made from your input, of course. Either you or Sorey would be able to produce the sketch and give anyone an idea of who they were conversing with.

video

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

Re: video;

video--> action;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)