( video, un: koriel )

[passio]

[ it’s this guy again. although he seems considerably less sad than he did the last time he appeared on the network to talk about accidental sympathy with the oracles of the sinless, that may not be the best thing in the world once he begins speaking. he's also wearing small angel wings, visible in the view of the camera—they're definitely fake accessories, however, rather than being a moonblessing or even a more permanent effect of the bracelet. ]

…hello.

[ he's nervous? he's nervous, and his shoulders fidget slightly. he can't look at the camera. ]

There’s been a lot of people asking about churches. [ ah. ] …I am a member of one that recently opened. It is… a re-establishment of the Order I used to belong to in my world before.

[ it isn't a ringing endorsement, but it is the truth. ]

We don’t worship any god. It is an order that focuses on the internal self and what people are capable of. A man named the Archangel is our leader. If you’ve met him… um, anyway, please come by.

[ and included, information about the Order of Malkuth, located in a primo spot on level one. go ahead, join the cult. ]

Comments

[lioness_rampant]

[ It's a good thing he doesn't mention his question, too, because that would be a surefire way to turn this conversation unpleasant in a heartbeat. Allura loves these mice, probably enough to become physically violent if something were to happen to them. Let's hope he never has to find that out.

For the moment she's all smiles, at least. ]

They were inside the cryostasis pod I was placed in for... quite a while, so we have something of a telepathic link. They're very special to me.

[ Platt, who is closest to the camera, yawns once and then leans in to snuffle at the screen. Please enjoy the view. ]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Dextera. Tell me, you're recruiting for your organization, but... are you happy?

[ Because he surely didn't seem too happy in his initial post, which is probably the reason she came sniffing around in the first place. ]

[passio]

[ dextera has many other questions that don’t necessarily involve the mice, too. the mention of a cryostasis pod sounds like something the researcher angels would indulge in, and he wonders if he and allura have anything in common. he hopes not, since all that’s in him is tragedy.

her question posed to him, however, is an unexpected distraction. ]

I—?

[ … ]

I have no reason to be happy.

[lioness_rampant]

[ That answer catches her off-guard with its bluntness. No reason...?

Her face and voice remain gentle--possibly becoming even more so than before as new concern fills her. ]

Could you explain what you mean?

[passio]

Ah…

[ dextera didn’t think anything of his answer until he saw allura’s response, and his shoulders hunch shyly—shameful, even if it was the only answer that he could really give. ]

…I simply don’t. [ he shakes his head. ] What makes people happy? I don’t really understand anymore.

[lioness_rampant]

[ While an organization's worthiness isn't necessarily derived from how happy it can make its members, for him to say such a thing... it tells her all she needs to know about his church. Isn't the point of a church to enrich its members? To improve the quality of their lives? Allura shakes her head. ]

I suppose what makes people happy is unique to the individual, but everyone has similar needs: food and shelter, but beyond that... To know that To have people you can rely on, and who can rely on you. To be loved and appreciated, and to give those things in return. To pursue the things that you feel passionately about. To know that... if you need help, all you have to do is ask for it.

[passio]

[ dextera sees what she’s telling him, and her definition of happiness feels like something he once knew. when he was younger, and his world was no bigger than his brother and the room they shared, he was happy. too much has happened since then for him to wholly reclaim that feeling.

still, he nods slowly. ]

And do you have all those things?