oo2 / video

[mysterzie]

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. ]

Comments

[mysterzie]

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

[hymnals]

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.]

[mysterzie]

[ 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?

[hymnals]

[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.

[mysterzie]

[ 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?

[hymnals]

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

[mysterzie]

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

[hymnals]

[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.

[mysterzie]

Who the fuck poisons orphanages?

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

[hymnals]

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.

[mysterzie]

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. ]

[hymnals]

[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.

[mysterzie]

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

[hymnals]

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

[mysterzie]

[ 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?

[hymnals]

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

[mysterzie]

Even if I'm such a jackass? Somebody who "stole an identity"?

[ Legit, he's trying to figure this out. How does someone decide when it's right to do something if you don't like it? ]

[hymnals]

I don't understand how this shit is hard for you. There's a difference between 'good' and 'nice'. In fact,

[and here he begins to gesticulate angrily with his free hand--]

nice is usually the enemy of good because most 'nice' people are just fake fucks who would burn your earth and salt it the minute you looked away and let them!

[mysterzie]

Far as I've seen, they're the same things.

[ He still hasn't let go. The feeling is placebo now but that's as much help as any. His mental edges are fraying from the proximity to power that he isn't taking, but even that is better than the total emptiness partially soothed by Adra's magic. ]

And even if they're not, how the fuck do you tell?

[hymnals]

[Adra snarls.] By paying attention.

[mysterzie]

[ That gets an offended huff in return. ]

Fine. So you're good and definitely not nice, and nice is actually shitty. Got it.

[hymnals]

[Adra rolls his eyes.]

No, not quite. Look, here's the point: if someone needs help, I help them. Doesn't matter if I like them personally or not.

[mysterzie]

Because you definitely don't like me.

[ It's almost a badge of pride, or maybe he's just so twisted up that being driven to this point is hilarious. It is, in its own way. ]

[hymnals]

I don't fucking know you. Your behavior up to this point hasn't been stellar, but you're obviously frightened or desperate or some horrible cocktail of the two, so.

[mysterzie]

Well, dying has that effect on people.