two, two, two posts in one; 4/6

[wearingguess]

[ hey, it's a prismagram post from 1stQadrMargaFan! you know, that one c-plus/b-minus-list influencer who's always posting magic tutorials, fashion selfies, food pics, and random animal encounters. (well, not so much recently, but... yeah.) ]

Hello, First Qadr!!
Thank you all so much for your comments and messages over the past couple of weeks. I can't believe I went three entire days without responding to anything! 😳 But I always read everything you send me, and I will try to answer you all as soon as I can. 🧡🧡🧡

But now I must make an important announcement!
✨ Starting today, this account will be going on indefinite hiatus ✨
I will keep comments open, but I won't be posting any more pictures or videos. This is just a personal issue and there's no need for anyone to worry! 🦋😸🍇
I want to say thank you again. Your support over the past several months has meant more than I can possibly express!! You're all breathtaking, with and without your Moonheld and Moonblessed traits! Let's all keep doing the very best we can to look out for one another! 👋🥰

[ a few minutes later, there's another post, from another account: laurea. this one's video. long antennae and parts of the colorful underside of a pair of butterfly wings are visible on the subject (who doesn't appear particularly jazzed about them). ]

Hello.
Ah... this message is primarily for my fellow Moonblessed. For those who don't know me, I am Titus Alexius.
I have been thinking about this quite a bit lately, and... I think that we ought to, if possible... that is, to the extent that it is possible...

[ deep breath! ]

I think we should stop moonlacing.

[ and now the hurried qualifiers. ]

We need to do a little, of course, to survive. Obviously we should all feel free to do that amount. But beyond that minimum, we should most likely refrain.

[ he hunches his shoulders and looks down!! ]

This will certainly be a great sacrifice... and terribly difficult, especially during the moon cycles... and no doubt quite unpleasant in many ways as well. For some of us more than others. But while the effects of chroma generation initially seemed exclusively beneficial, with the very worst of them still being harmless, it is now more than clear that there are others that are neither predictable nor safe.

[ now he shuts his eyes. ]
...All of Port Sylvel paid the price for that. And many perished in the subsequent battle as well. We cannot bring them back, but we owe it to them not to let it happen again.

[ another deep breath. then he opens his eyes and looks back into the camera. ]

At least that is what I think.
I would like to know what all of you think.


[ there's a slightly awkward pause!! ]

...On that note, I am also looking for work.
I am willing to do anything, though... physically demanding work is probably best avoided, unless you don't mind its being accomplished poorly and only after a likely unreasonable length of time.
Nothing that requires moonlacing, either, though I suppose that much is obvious.

...
And that is all. Thank you!

Comments

[audiomancer]

You're right! That was a lie, obviously.

[ :)))) ]

Well, how do I explain it...

The kind of thing you're trying to undertake, the idea of someone trying to show restraint in a world of infinite supply... In usual circumstances, it wouldn't interest me too much. Restraint and inhibition is a dull thing to watch, I'm sure you'd agree.

But because I know your philosophy, and the kind of person you are, it's intriguing. Your desire for compassion and indulgence are really at odds in this situation, non? You've been forced to pick between yourself and others. [ And, though it goes unwritten, he clearly thinks that Titus picked wrongly. ]

So I just want to see what happens, in the end.

I've never seen someone withhold from moonlacing before. If there's something worthy of my registre, I want to hear it.

[wearingguess]

In other words, you wish to look at a sad person without the need to leave the comfort of your own home?

[audiomancer]

And with compensation, don't forget.

What do you think? Spending time with me is pleasant, isn't it? So getting paid to do so is rather generous!

[wearingguess]

[ this is stupid...
he'd have to be a total idiot to accept. even if lobelia isn't up to anything, it's not like has titus's best interests at heart.


but money is money.
besides, what's he going to do, kill titus horribly? ]


Fine.

[audiomancer]

[ Getting blown to smithereens would suck but $20 is $20 ]

Parfait!

I'll leave you with my address, so please come at your earliest convenience.

Also, if you could clean out the fridge and freezer first, that would be the most important thing. When I realised we could easily keep food cold here, I may have overestimated its long-term efficacy.

[ He has so much suspiciously unpackaged meat and the apartment smells so bad, please save him Titus the neighbours are sick of him ]

[wearingguess]

[ titus immediately looks up "how to clean out a fridge and freezer" on moontube

ultimately, once he's seen the carnage and made a token attempt to address it in the traditional way, he will probably complete the task by using lobelia's funds to buy a new fridge and have the old one hauled away to hell

but that's a story for another time... ]