[ 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]

[Belth is very easily flustered. Not calling him out on it is a good choice.]

I don't usually cook for anyone but myself. It's... an interesting feeling.

[princessia]

[ Good thing she's nice enough not to call him out. She nibbles a bit more at the pastry, then looks back up at him, tilting her head. She's smiling a bit... clearly, she is very pleased by his cooking. ]

Interesting? Why do you say that?

[arcanepower]

[She is, and he's strangely happy about it.]

It... isn't something I really considered doing before. I don't make people happy, usually.

[Well, that's vague.]

[princessia]

You should cook more often! [ A little fist clench with her free hand. ] You'll make people happy and gain a lot of friends!

[ Maybe she just wants to eat more of his cooking. She's always thinking about friends too. In her mind, she may be thinking of him as a friend already. He gave her food. So kind! He is a friend now. ]

[arcanepower]

[He leans back a little, not expecting such... passion.]

But I'm-- I'm not good at that. Friends. I'm not good at friends.

[His ears flatten again.]

I didn't even have one until two months ago. I have no idea what I'm doing...

[princessia]

[ She's reminded somewhat of herself, having formed her very first friendship with Jude not too long ago back on her own world. Making friends is still something she's new at herself, but she wants to make as many as possible. ]

That's okay! I felt like that too before. [ It's even scary for her sometimes... ]

We can be friends, if you'd like.

[arcanepower]

[It's really hard to say 'no, I'm terrible with people and want nothing to do with them usually' when faced with Elize.]

... You know what it's like?

[Now that's something he hasn't heard before.]

But you're so... nice. Everyone must love you.

[HA HA HA HOW WRONG YOU ARE, BELTHAZAR.]

[princessia]

[ She shifts uncomfortably, thinking about the people of Hamil. She's getting along with most people, but that was after she left behind that village... ]

Not... everyone. That's not true.

[arcanepower]

[His brows furrow. He could push, but it's none of his business. And he doesn't want to upset her. He turns his nose up then and crosses his arms.]

Well, they're obviously stupid. And wrong. Honestly, to mistreat a girl--

[He mutters something else that sounds halfway between Tolkien Elvish and Latin. Whatever it is, it's vehement.]

[princessia]

[ The surprise on her face turns into a tiny smile, with a faint flush. She doesn't understand the language he's muttering, but she feels flattered he'd express such disapproval on her behalf. ]

Don't worry. It's okay now...

[arcanepower]

[He lets out a breath like 'ffffffffffffffffffffff' and doesn't make eye contact.] That's-- that's better.

Some people are disgusting. They end up self-centered and incorrigible in all they do, and they won't lift a finger to help those suffering around them. Your worth isn't determined by greedy simpletons.

[princessia]

[ Wow, that's some big vocabulary for her, Belth! It does sound a lot like what she thinks about the villagers of Hamil and how they treated outsiders... ]

You've met people like that too?

[arcanepower]

My city is controlled by them. The rich and the corrupt prosper while everyone else is crushed into the dirt. [He hates them. He wishes he could just annihilate them all but that's, you know, not something he could actually do even if he had the strength to. His sister would want him to do better.

He'll have to change their minds and do things the hard way. The right way.]

The only thing they understand is power.