001: Audio | un: Graywords

[heartlessswordsman]

[Unlike everyone who isn't an asocial loner, Zelgadis prefers to keep his face off the network. He doesn't even really want to address the network at all, but he's kind of reached a point where keeping to himself isn't really working out. Sooo this is him stepping outside his comfort bubble, good for him.

Well, kind of stepping out of it. He just goes ahead and skips a proper introduction completely in order to get down to business.]

You'll have to forgive me if this seems like a stupid question, but the sort of technology that you have here doesn't exist where I'm from. To say that everything feels overwhelming is an understatement, but before I get too off track...

[There's a deep sigh, the sigh of a man who is just So Done with all the ridiculous curveballs that life keeps throwing at him.] This... microwave device, I believe is what it's called. It's not supposed to be smoking, right?

[Maybe he should have asked someone for technology tips before almost setting his hotel room on fire. Sorry about the smoke, hotel.]

Comments

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[One last tug and Darin seems to have landed the fish, a big, burly trout that flops on the grass as Darin pulls himself up. He shakes himself dry like a big, stupid dog and looks at the fish, then proclaims.]

Whoo! Yeah! It's a whopper alright! I knew this spot would be good!

[heartlessswordsman]

[GOOD JOB DARIN. Zelgadis snatches that fish up by the tail and holds a hand out to help Darin up because he's nice that way.]

Good call. Come on, I'll get a fire going and you can get dried off.

[AND they can cook a fish, everybody wins.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Alright, let me just gut this guy too.

[Darin sets about gutting the fish right there on the spot with his handy-dandy pocket knife. Once that's done, he hands over the fish to Zel to prep while he shrugs off his sleeveless coat and black shirt underneath.]

[Don't mind that hideous looking scar across his back. It's from when he almost died as a kid.]

[heartlessswordsman]

[He could start the fire the old fashioned way but also he has some fancy new magics to keep practicing. He sets up a nice little cooking area and conjures a small flame, taking the fish from Darin skewering them fuckers right up. He gets them set up over the fire and glances over Darin's way. LIKE it would be kind of rude to just be like YO NASTY SCAR BRO, right?

I mean fuck manners.]

How'd you get that? [I mean he can probably guess but hey]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Hm? Oh this?

I got it when I was five. When my brother and father were killed. See, I turned to run and my brother got in the way. He got cut completely in half.

I just got mostly cut in half.

[heartlessswordsman]

My God. I get that you're not exactly human, but it's still a wonder that you were able to survive something like that.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah, well...I wasn't awake for most of the healing process. But I figure if I'm half of some god, he probably didn't want me biting it before I could fulfill his stupid plans.

[Darin takes a seat by the fire to help dry off and warm up.]

...you said you've had experience with demon lords. Anything to do with that priest relative of yours?

[heartlessswordsman]

[Zelgadis hums thoughtfully, taking a moment to turn the fish over before answering.]

Yes. Everything to do with him, really. A fragment of the demon lord Ruby Eye Shabranigdu was sealed inside of Rezo, it was the cause of his blindness. We... theorized that Shabranigdu was responsible for influencing Rezo's actions, that he was probably the driving force behind why Rezo had done some of the terrible things he did.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

That...

...Sounds alarmingly like me.

[heartlessswordsman]

Well, you're probably good so long as you don't start turning people into chimeras or infecting entire towns and putting them into comas.

[He's just going to stop himself there before he starts bitching about Rezo again.]

Anyway. Yes, I've noticed some similarities, at least from what info I've been able to get from you. I don't... really think these two situations are too similar.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah well...

From me end, they're alarmingly similar. Especially since I've seen what's become of my brother, Dromas.

He's...terrifying now. In both power and personality. And I don't know how much is him and how much is Diomuhr's influence.

...And there's nothing saying I won't become the same as him if I fail to keep my emotions in check.

[heartlessswordsman]

I'll be frank, I don't know you well enough yet to say either way what may or may not happen. Maybe you'll become like your brother, or maybe you'll prove to be strong enough to control yourself. If there is one small blessing that comes with being stuck here and losing our powers, it's that whatever is inside of you won't be any stronger than an average human, just like us.

[He pauses and awkwardly clears his throat ahem]

That's... not very comforting. I never was good at being comforting.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

No...

Actually, having someone with experience in this gives me a little bit of comfort. But...the fact that we were brought here to 'provide magic' to jump start the multiverse or whatever?

It's got me worried that they're gonna wind up drawing Diomuhr out.

I've seen what his magical power can do. I never want to see it again.

[heartlessswordsman]

Assuming that the same rules apply to him as apply to the rest of us here, even if he was drawn out, he wouldn't be unstoppable. I'm not saying that you shouldn't be concerned at all, I certainly would be were I in your place, but perhaps the situation isn't quite so dire.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Would you assume the same rules applied to a dark god hellbent on destruction? Diomuhr is literally the Archfiend's leader. No one is equal in power to him. It took the entire Celestial council just to match him.

[heartlessswordsman]

[This is fascinating and all but Zel needs to check the FISH. he wouldn't want to burn any more FISH.]

I don't know what I would assume in a situation like this, honestly. Since we really don't know what to expect, we should have plans in place just in case. Chance favors the prepared.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Alright.

If I start going out of control, I need you to kill me.

That's a plan, right?

[heartlessswordsman]

[He pauses to think this over for a second, plucking one of those fish up and inspecting it in the process.]

Hm.

Yeah, I guess that'll work.

[So quick to murder, this guy.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Don't get all emotional and try and find another way or anything.

[heartlessswordsman]

[Zel doesn't answer right away because he is too busy chomping into this fish and then passing the other one over to Darin.]

As a last resort, I wouldn't hesitate to strike you down if it meant protecting someone else.

[he's just SAYING, God. Don't get all defensive, Darin.]

I would, however, prefer to find a less deadly solution.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah yeah yeah...

[Darin snatches the fish and gives Zel a look.]

Says the murderhappy swordsman who drew a sword on me when we first met.

[heartlessswordsman]

[god what a giant baby]

What would you suggest I do, then?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Pretend you don't want to kill me?

[heartlessswordsman]

You literally said "I need you to kill me", I don't want to kill you.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I was being dramatic!