video | un: mkavalanche [backdate: October12th]

[fragileheart]

[This device is not something Aegis is used to, but he's nothing if not tenacious and stubborn, determined to figure it out if only to ask one very important question.

It's at a slightly off angle, but the source of the young man's irritation is relatively obvious: Iris has seen to bless our dear former knight with some rather cute, fuzzy attachments - namely rounded ears, pale circles around his eyes, and a very large, long fluffy tail that's flicking about in irritation behind his back. All of it is a mix of his natural silver and a deeper gray.

So much for Iris' gentler traits. Aegis is too busy being upset to notice any change in that regard.]

I apologize for the intrusion on anyone's day, but I would like to know just what in the world has been done to me?! This is humiliating! This... is this how it's always going to be? Every month?!

[First network post and he spends it yelling about his moonblessing.

Great first impression, Mr. Alver.]

Comments

video, un: birdinthehand

[chichichi]

[ It's Iris and Setsura is bored. She has too much energy and not enough and she's in the midst of a break from her research to encourage productivity, allow some fresh perspective because she's stuck in some places and missing information in others and certain things aren't making sense.

This, though? It makes sense. It makes sense, but -- ]

Well, you're cute, but a bit loud. If that's how it's going to be every month, you might consider investing in something for headaches.

[fragileheart]

[Oh.

Well now he's turning a very interesting shade of red.

He puts a hand over his lower face and looks away.]

I-I apologize. My volume got away from me. I will refrain from being so loud.

[chichichi]

[ Red is a good color on him and that reaction... well, it's a good thing it isn't Cordis right now, but it might not save this righteously indignant and evidently polite, innocent minded, Iris afflicted person.

It won't. It isn't. ]

You don't have to be quiet, but the time and place are things to consider. It's your first time, isn't it?

[fragileheart]

[He's not entirely innocent minded.

As evidenced by how he initially chokes at her line.

He's also not Kanata and can actually suss out an innuendo, though really what does that say about his mind?

That grin is not helping.

He almost, almost cranks up the volume again to make some indignant comment about his apparent love life (lack thereof) is no one's business but his own, but in a rare blessed moment of actual sense outweighing his reactionary behavior he swallows it and tries not to think too much about how absolutely burning his face is.]

I arrived here last month, but nothing like this happened to me. I had hoped I would be spared such indignities...

[chichichi]

[ She doesn't miss that initial choke and that's certainly interesting. It a satisfying look on his face, too. He's really reactive and she likes that, but that grin of hers evaporates with that last line of his and she sobers for the moment. ]

The gods of this world aren't kind. You're better off concentrating your efforts on finding trustworthy people you can Moonlace with than hoping for such a thing.

[fragileheart]

[wait no go back to teasing he doesn't want to think about this--]

I-- that. May be a problem. I'm not against... touch or anything like that but I'm not exactly--

[Goddess, what would Vicious say if he were here? Or Misella for that matter? He knows he has some less than desirable traits but it's a completely different animal (haha) to say such things aloud.]

I may not be the easiest to get along with.

[chichichi]

Then advise your partner to occupy your mouth or take some initiative and occupy your mouth with some part of them.

[ SETSURA. ]

There are activities you could do with someone while holding hands that don't require talking, you know. If you're shy, that's fine, but don't use it as an excuse when your life and livelihood are the stakes.

[fragileheart]

[Aegis coughs and chokes as if he was drinking at that moment, leaving him sputtering and going so red it's nearly purple.]

Wh-wh- why would you say something like that so brazenly?!

[He is dead.

He is an ex-human.

Bury him now.]

[chichichi]

[ Setsura laughs. ]

I'm curious when you got the impression that I'm some sort of demure woman with delicate sensibilities who'd blush and stutter the suggestion.

[ Because she isn't and she wouldn't. To even bring her to the point of a fluster is -- well, that's besides the point. He won't manage that. ]

That's a good look on you, though.

[fragileheart]

E-even if you're not - which in my defense, I never assumed - that is something that shouldn't be spoken of so loudly on a public network!

[He doesn't know, Setsura.

He just doesn't know.]

It is absolutely not a good look on me. None of this.

[chichichi]

I've been using my indoor voice.

[ She reminds him pleasantly. ]

If you're that concerned about your reputation, you should consider your next moves carefully.

[ Yes, moves. There were conversations before theirs. There will be conversations afterward. What will he do? Come on, let's see it. ]

[fragileheart]

[Aegis squints at her through the device.

They're not face to face, are still strangers, and yet her words give him an odd sensation in his gut. The only thing he can really compare it to is when Vicious actually acts concerned and nearly human in those rare moments while continuing to be his flippitant, annoying self.

Even then, the comparison isn't completely accurate.

Either way it has him simultaneously on edge and aggravatingly curious all at once.]

... I suppose even if I had a reputation to be concerned about in this new place, it's already ruined at this point. Still, I don't know how comfortable I can be with how... open people are here. Doesn't that sort of vulnerability make you uncomfortable even a little?

[chichichi]

Is that what you consider it? A vulnerability?

[ Her cheek is dropping into her hand as she regards him. ]

[fragileheart]

[... there are absolutely similarities between her and Vicious.

He swallows hard, finding it difficult to meet her gaze.]

Y-yes. Of course. To allow yourself to be that... honest and exposed in front of anyone would require a great deal of trust, would it not?

[chichichi]

You don't seem to be having that much trouble right now and we're near-complete strangers.

[ There's a quiet intensity to her gaze as she leans back. ]

What do you have to be ashamed of?

[fragileheart]

[What do you have to be ashamed of?

He swallows hard, hand pressing against his chest just above his heart.

Even if it's a lie--]

A lot, I'm afraid.

[chichichi]

You're a good looking man. I'd fuck you.

[fragileheart]

[Excuse him while he proceeds to choke on his own spit and fall off the couch.]

[chichichi]

[ He might hear something like a chuckle from his device. ]

Really?

[ She's a little less bored now. ]

[fragileheart]

That--! [He picks up the fallen device and props himself up against his couch, looking positively harried and frazzled.] was not even what any of this was about! If you intent was to compliment me you missed the mark greatly!

[chichichi]

Or you're too much of a prude to accept it.

[ Simply. ]

That is exactly what this is about. That -- [ she gestures to his ears, the changes ] -- and this are how it's going to be every month unless you overthrow the gods and change the culture here.

[ Is she joking? She doesn't sound like she's joking. ]

You'll adapt or you'll die and crystallize. Shouting about shame and indignities and refuting valid compliments won't change anything.

[fragileheart]

I--

[How dare--

She's right but she doesn't have to say it!

His face will not stop being red and flushed and he just doesn't know how to deal with any of it. He does know about crystallization, he is aware that he can't just hole up in his too fancy apartment and hope for the best.

And death is really not an option after everything he's been through.

He drops his hand, skewing the view of the camera, but the fact that he's curled his legs up and is resting his forehead on them is still visible.]

I was already beginning the process of tearing down one governing force, I'd rather not start all over again.

Why in the world would they force such a place on a person like myself? It seems needlessly cruel, regardless of how much assistance they need!

[Vicious would thrive here! Why not him?!]

I suppose if nothing else... I am adaptable. Once I stop feeling like I'm going to careen off the nearest cliff that is.

[chichichi]

[ Tearing down a governing force, he says. Now that's interesting, but -- ]

You're doing it again.

[fragileheart]

[Poke him about it later.]

Ah-- ...!

[Damn it!]

W-well you're not exactly being comforting here! How else would you expect someone like me to react to this?!

[TSUN.

His tail is moving fairly erratically behind his back and actually smacks him in the head, resulting in a grunt but actually serving to force a calm on him. He takes a deep breath, face still so red he feels like a beacon in the night.]

I... cannot fathom how saying you would-- how what you said was intending to be a compliment but if it was I suppose a thank you is in order... I am... very new to all of this...

[chichichi]

Did you take it as an insult?

[ She's curious and she's asking. ]

Because you don't seem that unimaginative to me.

[ SETSURA. ]