[ conjuring refreshment table . . . ]

[arcanepower]

Who: Belth and whoever
Broadcast: None planned
Action: Wonderduck
When: slightly backdated to 4/24

[The Wonderduck has a visitor today. He's only a little over five feet tall, dressed in black robes, and looking curious and surly at the same time. An interesting combination. But he does come bearing gifts or bribes, however you might call it, and they are fresh and fucking delicious.

He's here to visit one person in particular, but he's also really nosy so he might... wander off into the kitchen to see what the ducklings have. His ship doesn't even have a spice rack. It's disgraceful.]

Comments

[arcanepower]

[He's talking to an elf, but yeah. Shit. That's probably not a great idea. He's young, let him make mistakes.]

Your... kind?

[Belth leaps to the first possible conclusion.]

Do you feed from magic, too? Oh, no. I should have asked specifically, but it didn't occur to me. I don't want to starve you--

[wilder]

- You're not going to starve me, Belthazar. Any mana I need is naturally produced by my body, not unlike how a body produces its own blood, you know? As long as I don't use too much of it, I'm perfectly fine to use the excess mana how I wish. And since I'm not a novice mage, I know what my limits are.

Besides, the stuff I'll be giving you is stuff I can't really use anymore. So...don't worry about me, okay?

1/2

[arcanepower]

[That's a pretty sound argument, but it's in his nature to be contradictory. He reddens at the accusation of feelings, and his ears pin down against his dark hair.]

I'M NOT WORRIED!

[arcanepower]

[... ah. He clears his throat awkwardly.]

Y-you can clearly handle yourself.

[wilder]

[oh my goddess Belthazar. You are the most adorable tsundere. Does his ears move around like rabbits?? Holy shit. It's hard for him not to laugh]

Right, right- of course. Of course!

[He clears his throat a few times and looks around the hall they are in in front of the quarters.]

Hmmm...okay...follow me, okay?

[He opens up the hatch to his quarters and - jumps down because why the fuck would you use the ladder when you take no fall damage? But he remembers to call up to Belth]

But you better use the ladder! I'm not fixing your arm again!

[arcanepower]

[Yep. They are defnitely rabbitlike. Or rappiglike, if you're an Abyss or Xillia character.

He looks like he's considering jumping, but then Kaneis calls up from below and he makes a face.]

Ugh, fine. I'm using the ladder!

[He puts up with the teasing, but only just barely. At least he's not afraid of heights. Tap tap tap go his boots, and then he hops off the last step.]

... Oh. It's bigger.

[Yeah, the Wonderduck is loaded with upgrades.]

[wilder]

[Sorry Symphonians just have rabbits that try to murder you. It's a thing]

[But yes good, he looks to make sure Belth actually is, before he turns and starts digging through his closet.]

Yeah. Got the bedroom upgrade a couple months ago. Nice to have your own space.

[He pulls down a leather pouch that looks like it came from Mor. Moving to sit on the bed, he'll pull out a glowing golden feather, and hold it out for Belth]

Here. These things are made of pure mana. See if you can use it.

[arcanepower]

[Belth glances around appreciatively. It's still smaller than his bedroom on Exsilium, but anything is better than living on the street. He can appreciate having personal space.

When Kaneis takes the feather out, his eyes widen. He reaches out to take it-- gently-- and then he inspects it. It glows softly in his hands, casting orange warmth where his green eyes do not.]

It's... amazing. How did you come by such a thing? Is there some kind of phoenix stowing away on the ship?

[JUST EAT IT ALREADY, YOU NERD.

Also did you just call Kaneis a bird? You did, didn't you.]

Or... wait, this is your mana?

[... Now he's just confused. He cranes his head around to see how, feasibly, he could shed feathers.]

[wilder]

[And he just...sits and watches, waiting as Belthazar works through his own conclusions. A phoenix being stored away is a new one! But at least he seems to come to the right conclusion eventually. He puts quite casually:]

I usually keep 'em tucked away.

[arcanepower]

[Belth is trying to make sense of this.]

... Like a paladin?

[SUDDENLY IT ALL MAKES SENSE.]

Paladins can summon forth wings made of light and mana, though it isn't a permanent thing.

[wilder]

Hmmmm...maybe? [He's not 100% sure what a paladin is honestly]

Mine are definitely permanent though.

[arcanepower]

[What is Warforged we just don't know and we sure as hell are pretending it didn't happen.]

I'm glad you can hide them. They would probably get you a lot of unwanted attention otherwise.

[He examines the feather in his hand. It's very pretty, but useless to him except as an energy source. Time to see if this works.

His glowing green eyes flare brightly as he holds the feather in his fingers. There's a sharp intake of breath, and then it's over as quickly as it began. Nothing remains of the feather but Belth shivers regardless.]

Ah, that's a little better.

[wilder]

[What is this Warforged I have no idea what you're talking about it never happened]

Yeah, no kidding. And makes it harder to get through doors.

[He watches calmly as Belth does that. It's...pretty damn weird, honestly. But at least nothing burst into flames, so that's something.]

So it worked?

[arcanepower]

[The boy nods, and pushes his bangs back from his forehead with a sigh of relief.]

That'll keep me going for a few more days, at least. Not a whole week, the charge isn't enough, but enough to continue working on my other project.

[His hair goes right back into his eyes when he lowers his arm.]

... Thank you.

[wilder]

[He gives an awkward shrug and nod at the thanks. A nod shrug combo?? It's weird, he's not good at taking thanks]

Right....whatever. [He holds out the pouch]

Here, go ahead and take the bag. It's nearly full so it should keep you going for awhile if you ration.

[arcanepower]

[Belth isn't good at giving thanks, so both sides of this are pretty fucking awkward.

His eyebrows jump up, but then he takes the bag.]

I... really hope you didn't just sit there plucking your own feathers. That seems... extreme.

[wilder]

Ha- only when I'm preening. These things just molt like crazy.

[To demonstrate he'll summon his golden wings and stretch them out as much as he can in cramp quarters. AND SURE ENOUGH, magical feathers go everywhere]

See? That happens every time.

[arcanepower]

[Belthazar is a bit surprised at SUDDENLY GOLDEN WINGS filling the room, and it makes him jump back. There are feathers everywhere. There are feathers on the floor, on top of the locker, on the sheets, hell-- there's even one attached to Belth's robe.]

W-- wow, that's...

[He's so starry-eyed right now.]

They're amazing.

[He should probably stop gaping and like, pick up these feathers.]

Can you fly with them, or are they only decorative?

[wilder]

[wow that sure is some starry-eyed gaping. He's not sure...what to make of it. But he plays it cool, folding his wings against his back since there's really not that much room in here]

Oh, they're fully functional. It's sorta like having an extra pair of limbs?

[arcanepower]

[IT'S COOL and the scientific part of him is going freaking nuts.]

I see. So it isn't like paladins at all, really.

[He unsticks the feather from his robe and puts it in the sack. And... then he tries to grab the rest. Don't mind him as he scoots around and straightens things up.

He can't help it, really.]

There isn't much opportunity to run free, though, if you enjoy flying.

[wilder]

[And he just keeps watching, his eyebrow raising. Is he...really straightening up his room as he picks up feathers? Wow. That's something else]

[At the question, he gives a shrug]

I prefer piloting to flying with wings, honestly. [partly because he...can't work out flying with his wings] Flying around with glowing golden wings- kinda makes you a giant target, you know?

[arcanepower]

Thinking about it that way, it really would. [And then, very calmly, as he tucks in a blanket:] Think of them like plumage. You can use them to attract a mate.

[wilder]

Attract a mate? Seriously kid?!

[SERIOUSLY BELTH? SERIOUSLY? HE IS NOT A BIG BIRD]

I'm not a bird-! What, do you use those movable ears to attract mates too??

[arcanepower]

[Belth finishes picking up the feathers but he's tempted to throw them at Kaneis anyway. True to form, his ears pin back, making him look like a pissed off cat.]

What-- my ears are nothing like a pair of pretty wings! Besides, I have no interest in anyone. None at all. Books are much better.

[wilder]

Uh huh.

[About the lack of interest in anyone. Whatever kid whatever]

I get dates the same way humans and elves do. I'm not that bizarre.