driftfleet | [ you can't do that right now. ]

Who: Belthazar and you!
Broadcast: Y
Action: The Goldstone.
When: After the shuffle

[action; bridge]
[This is kind of old hat to Belthazar by now, but he's still startled to be deposited on yet another ship. He hasn't been on this one before. Two long pointy ears stick straight out of his messy hair, just as strange as his glowing eyes. It's weird to have all his memories suddenly there, and he's a bit disoriented by that.

He also hates dealing with change. Dreadfully so. He takes a moment to straighten his collar and regain his composure.]

It appears I'm your new cook. You're welcome to the pudding, but a word of warning: even rats won't eat that, if given the chance.

[action; kitchen]
[One of his first acts as the new cook is to completely reorder the kitchen. However people were eating before, that is about to change. Walking in, it looks like something out of Matilda-- flour, sugar, and starch all marching along to their assigned spaces in the cupboards; pots and pans neatly slotting together and sliding into yet another cupboard; and the beginnings of a stew simmering warmly on the stovetop. Belthazar dictates all of this with one hand while the other measures some spices into the broth.

Whatever he's making smells really good, but the cook himself doesn't seem to notice anyone else walking in. He's a little too engrossed in enchanting the colanders and cake pans.]

-----

[broadcast; video]
[Once he's had dinner started (because Light knows these people have probably never had a decent meal in their lives), he sorts out his new room and his personal shopping list. If he's going down to whatever planet they're docked at, he wants to make sure he gets the necessities-- cooking utensils, meat for the freezer, fresh vegetables, spices, and whatever else they can possibly grow on their own.

As always he's doing twenty things at once, but he pauses because he really needs to see how much time has passed and if anyone he knows is still here. He fidgets a little with the device until he can turn it on again.

He hasn't grown up too much since he was last here, with a healthy amount of baby fat still in his cheeks, but his eyes are a bright gold instead of their old radioactive green.]

My name is Belthazar. I was here, once, but between all the time that's passed at home and coming back, I haven't figured out how long it's been. The food still tastes like a different four-letter word, so I suppose things haven't changed all that much.

... I feel as if I'm waking from a very long dream, but I'm not sure which one's the dream. [He runs a hand through his bangs.] Er, right, my list. [He fumbles a bit with a pen and paper and tries to pretend he isn't a graceless creature.]

Does the Iskaulit still have a greenhouse? And, is there a place in this system where I can shop for a kitchen?

[He has more questions, but food is always a good place to start.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The only reason Eithan isn't crying yet is he's too distracted just by talking to him - it'll happen soon enough. But he catches the waver in Belth's voice, gently rests his forehead to the top of his head - I'm here, it's okay.

When he steps back, Eithan listens, nods... but cracks another smile at the mention of his formerly green glow. He shakes his head. ]

I always thought it was beautiful. Still is.

[ The words are out of his mouth before he's thought about it (typical), but he doesn't regret it. Just smiles. ]

[Gods, that little bit of touch only makes his heart freak out more. Each time he's ended up with feelings for someone, he's been distracted by this utterly revolting feeling like he's about to pass out, throw up, and explode all at the same time. He has no idea how humans do this more than twice in a lifetime.

Of course, then Eithan has to say that and Belth turns as red as his robes, all the way from his neck to the tips of his ears. He flushes deeply and dangerously.]

Y-you-- you're shameless! Do you just say whatever s-silly thought pops into your head?! [He bites his bottom lip for a moment.] You're incorrigible, absolutely ridiculous...

[His pale fingers tremble slightly as he reaches up to frame Eithan's face with them. Then it becomes very obvious that he can't actually reach. He pouts, then grabs onto Eithan's collar and tries to yank him down a few inches.

It's not a graceful kiss, certainly, but it's the young and impulsive sort of thing you'd expect from a tsundere teenager.]

[ Ahh, there's the blush, and the indignant look on his face, and all of the stuttering and stammering. Eithan can't help it - he snickers, completely full of himself for a moment. He's never been able to resist teasing someone, but Belth makes it especially fun. Seriously, this is the best. ]

Yeah, that's me, totally ri--mmp--!

[ Aaand yank! He doesn't even have time to process what's going on before he pretty much falls against the other, their lips meet - well, more like crash into each other - and his eyes are wide and it's his turn to blush because dear goddess, Belth is kissing him and okay so he was wrong a few seconds ago because actually this is the best and that's all there is to it

... and a few fractions of a second later, once his brain finally catches up to the moment, he leans back in for another kiss - a little more graceful this time, but no less impulsive, and full of emotions he's pretty sure don't even have words at all. Not that it matters. This is more than fine. ]

[Belthazar is nothing if not someone who wants to live on his own terms. That means his own freedom, his own quest for knowledge, his own people that he can trust to support him when he needs it or reel him in when he's gone off the deep end. And somehow, Eithan has become his most important person. It's a huge step from someone who used to only think of himself, from a street urchin who focused everything on rising above the life he was 'given'.

He can just be himself with Eithan and that's amazing. He hopes Eithan feels the same way. They both have issues with their birth and background, but they're not all that different.

But -- but Eithan is kissing back, and kissing him again, so really, he has nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. The elf melts a little, and melts a little more, until he's completely pliable in the redhead's arms. He hopes that Eithan doesn't mind his inexperience, as he's not completely sure what he's doing, but it's a soft and warm and fluttery kiss so he's absolutely fine with it.

He's breathless as he pulls back, gold eyes wide, stark against his pink blush.]

Um. [His eyelids feel so heavy. Damn romantic gravity.] Sh-should I have asked first? It-- that was okay, right?

[ Eithan's just as breathless, and completely unable to stop smiling. Between his heart hammering in his chest and the redness in his own cheeks, he's a little embarrassed! But that's completely overshadowed by just how happy he is in this moment. It's been so long since he's felt anything even resembling hope and true contentment. He's not sure exactly when it happened, but Belth really did become his most important person, too. And this all just proves it. ]

Of course it was okay, you nerd. More than okay.

[ As if to prove a point, he presses a quick, small kiss to Belth's forehead, lets his fingers gently play with the ends of his long, dark hair. ]

Wanna go somewhere and sit down? I think we've got a lot of catchin' up to do, yeah?

[ All of what Belth's been through since leaving, all of what Eithan's been through in the meanwhile... yeah, it's a lot. ]

[Another blush dusts Belth's cheeks as his forehead is kissed. He'll always be easy to fluster. That hasn't changed in years and it's not about to change now.]

Haha... t-that's good! Really good.

[He's somewhat distracted by the fingers in his hair. If they had a moment to cuddle up to each other, Belth thinks he could fall fast asleep. But not right now. He pulls back a little, but keeps his fingers wound into Eithan's sleeve.]

Right, let's find a place to sit. I feel like I'm about to vibrate right out of my skin. I'll be bouncing against the walls before long.

[ Eithan just... smiles. Not that he's stopped smiling, obviously, but more to the point, he couldn't stop smiling right now if he had to. ]

Heh, don't do that, you might hurt yourself. C'mon.

[ He might have to stop playing with Belth's hair long enough for them to actually walk, but... doesn't mean he can't hold his hand instead, right? ♥

The Blue Fish hasn't changed much since Belth's been gone. There's still a lounge! Which is as good of a place as any to sit. He plops himself down in one corner of the sofa. ]

For the most part, things aren't much different around here. Same shit, different day. Atroma's still a bunch of dicks. You know. ... I really, really missed you, though.

[Belthazar squeezes his hand tightly, protectively, as if one or both of them might vanish at any moment. That's not going to change for a while. Sorry, Eithan. He's happy to sit down right next to Eithan, snuggled up against him with both feet curled against the cushions.]

I-- I missed you too. I really missed you when I got here and realized I'd forgotten. In a way, though, I'm glad it hasn't changed too much. I'm glad it hasn't gotten worse.

[He closes his eyes and rests his cheek against Eithan's chest.]

I've been so busy with my siblings and my studies, it's unbelievable. I barely have time to think. Not that I mind, of course, but... taking care of myself when I was smaller isn't the same as taking care of three children. Father and Avali are gone so much because of how awful things have gotten outside the city, so it's just me running the estate half the time.

Being a noble is so much responsibility. I don't think I really understood until the past couple years.

[ Yeah... Atroma isn't worse. Some shit's screwed up on his own end, but that's... different. And they'll get to that. At... some point.

Eithan wraps an arm around Belth's shoulders, content to hold him close, the slight weight of him at his side more of a comfort than anything has been in way, way too long. ]

Yeah, it can be a lot. [ Eithan cracks a smile. ] My sister and I are close enough in age that we can tag-team whatever comes, but man, you were takin' care of three kids on top of it all? That's insane...

[Belth feels a little self-indulgent, so he nuzzles into Eithan's chest and sighs.]

I have my work cut out for me, truly. But I'll manage. It isn't my first time apprenticing a magister, and as his adoptive son I have more freedom.

[He's not about to fall asleep, but the anxiety feels like it's draining from him as tangibly as water washing the dirt away. It's dizzying.]

Anyway, I'm here now. The children will be fine in their timeline. Right now I'm in yours and I don't want to be anywhere else.

[ you can't do that right now. ]

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