driftfleet | oo2 / video

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oo2 / video

WHO "Ino" & YOU
BROADCAST Fleet-wide video!!
ACTION Starstruck for anyone that might look in the cargo bay.
WHEN April 12th.

[ Ino, what'choo doin'? She looks... strained. Stressed, but trying to hold it together. She's sitting in front of the camera, taking a deep breath as if to prepare herself for what she is about to say. ]

Hey, guys. This is really sudden, but I need to ask a favor of anyone who'd listen. It's important! I've got this friend... he's got a huge problem. Back where he's from, some people can hold a lot of powers in them, not magic or anything like that, and they need to take even more in sometimes or they go crazy. Or die.

Does anyone have any powers they could... lend him? He'll give them back, he promises, it's just—[ She reaches up, clutches at her chest like it's hurting her to think about it. Judging by the slight sheen of sweat on her face, maybe it is. ]—he needs help really badly. I'm worried about him, and there's not much I can do...

[ Her head dips, long bangs covering her face before she sucks in a breath, part for the show and part out of real difficulty in keeping herself together right now, before her hand snaps out and she turns off the feed to collect herself. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And it was going real well for you, wasn't it? People tend to prefer honesty over bullshit.

[White light limns both of his palms as he lifts them up, face-forward. He keeps talking as he does this.]

Fortunately, even assholes have a right to live.

[The light jumps from Adra's palms to Aaron's body. The sensation is at first warm, comforting, like being wrapped in a down comforter. The warmth intensifies as Adrasteius continues to channel, and this comfort shifts to a feeling of energy, revitalization. The Light surely cannot satisfy Aaron's true need, but it can pacify the suffering--at least for a time.]

[ His hands come up, move haltingly as if to take Adra's glowing hands and he jerks back and clenches his fists, nails digging into his palms. This is so hard and he's starting to rock at the display of the power that he can't take. He breathes hard and erratic but his shoulders are slumping from the perpetual tension and he wonders briefly if this is what Jace feels like every time his regeneration kicks in. ]

God, this is... you just do this all the time for people?

[Adrasteius doesn't like that reaction. He steps forward and sets a still-glowing hand on Aaron's shoulder (likely on tiptoe, since he's nearly a foot shorter than Aaron's present body). The ghost of wings appears on his back as he presses forward with his channel, and Light begins to swirl around his boots.]

All the damn time. But I think what you do is much more interesting. What's going on here, huh?

[ That touch is all the permission Aaron needs and his hands reach up to wrap around Adra's wrist. It's a tight grip, one where he's feeling out the power and replaying over and over in his head what it would be like to just tug, let it drain right out into his hands. But he promised, and he doesn't really want to kill someone who is actually helping him. It's a physical ache as much as a mental one and his face is screwed up at the fight going on inside. ]

Going on?

[Adrasteius winces--he's got delicate little bird bones--but he doesn't try to pull away. It's a curiously vice-like grip, though, even for someone who's as desperate as this person.]

Hmnh--the lies. Why are you using other people's faces? And--is this actually helping you?

Yes. It—whatever you're doing, it feels... [ He shakes his head, lets it bow down. ] But I can feel your power too. It's right here. I want it, but that kid said...

[ There's a pause, some hard swallowing. ] Other peoples' faces are safer than mine. Way safer. If you know it's someone else's then you know it's not mine and you know I'm not that person but you don't know who I am.

What, is somebody fucking after you or something? How can you expect anyone to trust you if you won't engage in even the basic fundamentals of integrity?

[His ears prick forward. He's easing off now, albeit slowly. That kid ...]

His name is Belthazar, by the way. What's yours?

Only the entire goddamn government where I'm from!

[ Trust is a weird thing. Aaron really doesn't understand it yet, can't understand it without an example to look after. ]

You guys have weird names. You can... call me Aaron.

[Exasperated.]

Is your fucking government here?

How should I fucking know that?! There's too many people in this stupid Fleet!

There really aren't. Like. Not at all.

[He shakes his head.]

Statistically, buddy, it's not likely. But if you want to stew in paranoia, I guess that's your business. Taking on someone else's appearance--especially without permission--is a fucking dick move, though.

[The Light, at last, begins to fade. Adra's last spell is one of renewal, a piece of magic that will pulse in Aaron's veins for a time before eventually losing efficacy.]

[ Aaron's still holding the blood elf's wrist, reluctant to let go after he's brought his body to some kind of peace after so long. ]

Oh so it'd be better if I asked someone to use their face?

[Adra doesn't move. If this is something Aaron needs, if it helps, then that's fine.]

Yes. You should never violate someone's autonomy like that. Their identity.

[ Not pulling away, somehow still helping despite all this stupidity floating around, Aaron doesn't know what to do with it aside from take advantage and continue to hold on. ]

If people say no, then I'm still stuck. What about my autonomy?

How do you know that they'll refuse? You have to give people a chance.

What, like you'd let me use your face?

[He shrugs.]

If you asked. If you were respectful. If I thought I could trust you not to run off and poison an orphanage with it, or something.

Who the fuck poisons orphanages?

[ Now he's legitimately curious and distracted. What kind of example is that. ]

Lots of evil in this world. Universe. Reality. Point is: taking on someone else's identity without their consent is wrong.

You can sit and justify it all you like, but that doesn't make the theft any less wrong. It's manipulative, it's cowardly, and you simply have no fucking right to do it. You could ruin their relationships; sow discord; encourage distrust and paranoia.

It's clear you're suffering from those last two, and that's--well, it's not fine, but it's your battle to fight.

However, if you don't want to fight it alone, I'd suggest a different approach towards the people on these ships.

Jesus, do you always headshrink people when you're pissed?

[ It's... more than Aaron's expected of anyone who's mad at him. He doesn't understand why, if Adra hates what he did, he isn't being kicked to the curb or told to just cut it the fuck out. Instead Adra is talking to him. ]

[He rolls his eyes.]

I'm trying to help you, motherfucker. I don't know what kind of shitty world you popped in here from--and no offense on that count, most worlds are disgraceful piles of tyranny and crap--but you're not fucking there right now. You're here. And, for the most part, from what I've seen ... these people look after each other.

But it's hard to help someone who doesn't respect the first fucking thing about you. Like your damned face, for example.

Why? I mean—why help. Pity or something?

Are you asking about me, personally? Or is this becoming a philosophical discussion?

[ His grip tightens before he catches himself and... well, still doesn't release, somehow just feeling the power in Adra even if he can't take it helps and he wants that. But it's obvious he's still irritated even if not on the same knife's edge as before. ]

Philosophy's not my strong suit. You seem like a proper dick, so why bother?

I'm only asking because I already answered you earlier. I'm helping you because it's the right fucking thing to do.

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