avalononline | video; un: stargazer

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video; un: stargazer

Hey there, friends! I have a little poem I wrote for you. Yes, you.

[Well, he actually wrote it for Merlin, but who's nitpicking? He reaches for a piece of paper he composed his masterpiece on, clears his throat, and recites:]

My magic is green,
But also dark,
After hearing my terrible poetry
Are you feeling a little spark?

... No? [There's a lingering grin on his face, before he screws up the paper and tosses it over his shoulder.] Oh well! I'll think of something catchier next time.

Anyway, now that I've got your attention, I just wanted to let everyone know that earlier last month, me and a couple of pals did a little exploring in the desert on the north side of the island. It was a long journey, but eventually we found what I can only call a huge whirlpool of sand.

I would have loved to have gotten closer to see what was causing it, but the sandstorms around it were way too strong. My guess has to be some powerful being hiding inside it, or maybe some strong magics were cast on the area to keep out intruders. For now, it's a dead end.

It did get me wondering, though: has anyone done any exploring of their own around the island? What did you find?

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If I were inclined to encourage him he, likely, would do precisely the opposite just to be contrary. That's the sort of person he is. And if he did write more he would merely continue to make a mockery of a magnificent form of art. I'll not have it.

If you put it like that, you make it sound like you're the poet. In which case, you should be the one educating him. But I guess it'd be kind of hopeless if he's just going to do the opposite of what you tell him.

[She taps at her chin thoughtfully.] It sounds very intentional on his part. He seemed kind of receptive when I was talking to him about it.

Ah, n-no... I'm no poet, merely a fond patron of the arts.

[As a noble he has more important things to concern himself with than art, don't you know.]

It is rather intentional. Anything he can do to be infuriating, it seems, is his preferred course of action.

If that's true, then if you stopped reacting, he'd probably stop... you know. Doing what he's doing. If he's just doing it for the reaction, once you ignore him, I bet that'd just backfire on him.

[Ah but if he doesn't react explosively to everything Claude does how will he keep his attention?

er..... wait-]

Of course he's merely doing it to make a nuisance of himself- [That's just how their dynamic works. Two dumb boys pulling each other's pigtails.] Unfortunately most often his actions have the possibility of inconveniencing others as well and I simply cannot stand by and allow him to do so without some measure of awareness of what he's doing.

Oh, I see. So you're trying to protect other people from his antics. I'm not sure how doable that'll be. I've seen him here, there, and everywhere, so it seems to me like he gets around and might be a little trouble to keep track of.

[She's grinning from ear-to-ear.]

Have you considered getting him a leash?

You have no idea.

[So many years trying to rein him in.]

I fear he's far too feline to accept one. Though it is quite tempting.

I mean, you could wait until he tries something on the wrong person and pays the consequences for it. I'm sure not everyone is so accepting. But on the other hand, he might get lucky and never run into that.

It's been the better part of a decade and he has consistently weaseled his way out of consequences. Someone has to hold him accountable.

I mean, I can try, but I kind of like his attitude.

[...Because, honestly. Aerith is sort of a shit lord in her own way. It's bad news for everyone for Claude and her to band together.]

But that might just be because he makes me laugh. I can appreciate that.

[Gosh he's glad he didn't answer her video in kind because he is absolutely flustered and it's maybe kinda sorta just as obvious in his voice as every other emotion.]

I will not say his behavior is... always out of line. He just has no appreciation for finer things or really anything that requires rules.

Save for chess, I suppose.

[Ugh saying nice things about Claude in public to some girl he knows is flirting with the idiot. This is possibly the most awkward moment in his life..... and that says a lot.]

I think maybe some rules might be unnecessary. If one always followed rules, we'd never know if something needed change. He might have the right idea sometimes about challenging what we consider a rule.

[But that's purely speculative.]

I honestly don't know enough about him or where you guys come from to know that for sure, though. I guess it could be troublesome if it's not acceptable or something. I know there are people here who are kind of archaic and from my understanding there's specific ways to handle things with those kinds.

His entire being is devoted to challenging the status quo and he has lead us through war and innumerable hardships with that particular trait of his. I do not mean to discredit the value of such an outlook. Not in the slightest. He has opened the eyes of a great number of folk, especially those of us stuck in our "archaic" ways.

[For as much as he's been complaining and getting all flustered over Claude's everything he certainly speaks with the kind of conviction and composure one would expect from a man used to addressing the public when it comes to actually genuinely praising him.]

The troublesome part is when he argues for the sake of argument. Just to be contrary. But if I have to endure his childish need to hm... ruffle feathers, so to speak, in order to have him as a friend and leader then I would happily do so. No matter how infuriating he may be on a day to day basis.

[...There's a lot of glowing speak for a guy that seems...
Well. Claude is Claude. Aerith hardly knows him well enough to give him any other kind of descriptor. Funny to be around, but she wouldn't have considered him immediately dependable for much.]

He doesn't sound like he's all bad. The way you spoke of him before, I thought you were at odds with one another. Sometimes you have to take both the good and the bad! But maybe you can find a way for him to dial it back a bit? Or maybe he will do so on his own eventually.

[Because that's precisely what Claude wants you to think, Aerith. He's good at that. ]

Some day he will get tired of listening to me yell at him... or I will grow too tired to continue scolding him.

I don't know. Maybe he likes when you yell at him? You know, there are some who are just happy to have attention, regardless of what kind of attention it is. You know. Kind of like a pet!

O-oh.... no I think that is... certainly not the situation here.

[ahahahahha Claude? Happy to have his attention? Liking getting yelled at? that's hilarious.

Why does the very idea of that make him flustered? He's really not sure he likes this conversation anymore.]

Hm, no?

[Aerith sounds puzzled, but in the end, he's more the expert than she is.] Well, you do know him better than I do. I'm sure you've got him mostly figured out inside and on the outside, too. I was just rattling off ideas, really.

He makes it very difficult to know him well...

[So... maybe he could be wrong? But that's not exactly something he cares to think about too closely.]

I suppose there's no certainty one way or another without asking him directly. [Which just makes him huff another exasperated sigh. Because that is clearly out of the question.... And surely Claude's not actually paying attention to this when he's so busy being a flirty menace.]

Now that's an idea.

[She pauses for several long moments because based on his response, she's getting the impression that something so direct hasn't actually happened just yet.]

Have you actually ever asked? If not, what would be the harm in doing so?

[He genuinely splutters at that. ]

That is hardly the sort of thing one simply asks and even if I were to ask such a question I would no doubt get an obtuse non-answer and redirection... likely specifically designed to be more irritating.

Edited (icon fail) 2021-08-03 01:54 (UTC)

I don't understand what the problem is. You guys are obviously friends, right? Isn't that normal? If you're curious about something, you just ask.

[Then. She has a brilliant idea.]

Do you want me to ask for you? I don't mind doing that. [Because of course she has to stick her nose right where it doesn't belong.]

Perhaps in some circles-

[He starts to respond, something pretentious involving nobility and etiquette and then he chokes on his next breath, voice rising slightly in pitch.]

Ask for me?! W-what precisely do you mean to ask?! I assure you there is no need for that.

[He's getting so worked up. It's actually kind of funny. And she really does enjoy getting under the skin.]

I was just going to ask him if he likes the attention and if that's why he does what he does. And then I thought I'd ask him if he likes your attention, too.

[It's so easy to get him flustered. He can't help it. He has a terrible poker face and when something gets him going it takes a lot to get him to calm down as well.]

Absolutely not necessary, Miss. I assure you.

[If he assures her enough then clearly she won't do it.]

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AERITH you're going to kill him

YOU'RE WELCOME.

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