avalononline | 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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Probably good to do before someone gets it in their head to go monster slaying.

Anything else of note out there?

Weeell... Speaking of monster slaying, there were giant sand worms. Nothing I haven't handled before, though! We made it out in one piece.

Why am I not surprised?

[ It just figures there would be giant worms in the desert. ]

I’d be interested to hear if you turn up any info about this sand whirlpool – or anything else out there. Haven’t been outside the city much myself since I got here.

I'll be sure to let you know if learn anything. It doesn't seem like anyone lives or travels through there, so it might be tricky, but even just finding some old stories about the region might be better than nothing.

Even stories have gotta start somewhere, right?

Name's Juzo, by the way.

Exactly! In my experience, they often have a kernel of truth in them.

Oh, I'm Claude. [and because he can't withhold his curiosity any longer...] I have to ask, what's with the helmet? Are you getting ready for a battle?

[ Aaaand there it is. There's a bit of a pause as Juzo inhales deeply and blows smoke at the camera again. ]

It's my head.

Oh. [he... doesn't immediately seem to get it? he's turning his phone this way and that as though it'll help him figure it out, then he just settles on the obvious:]

Er, sorry, I thought it was armour.

[ Ah, yeah, it doesn't seem like he made himself clear. Perhaps on video, it's harder to make out. ]

Don't worry about it. A lot of people make that assumption at first.

[ The camera draws back a little, so that it's not immediately all up in Juzo's muzzle. Maybe that'll help. ]

Where I come from, I'm what's called an Extended. Just means I've got some machine parts and some human parts.

Well, consider my mind completely blown! I didn't know there were people who could also be machines.

[Sure, the talking ducks are one thing, but this...]

Yeah. I'm learning that the technology where I come from is kinda out there compared to most other places folks around here are from.

Really out there. So did someone... make you? I mean, put you together like a regular machine?

[how is gun babby formed]

That's quite the question to ask a guy you just met.

[ He says it dryly, but at the end of the day he knows these questions were bound to come up. He opts for an exceedingly simple explanation, since anything more than that is likely to be confusing. ]

I'm human. They built all the machine parts into me. Took some stuff out, added some stuff in.

"They" being the military.

Yikes. So they wanted to make you into a soldier more powerful than any regular old human, basically.

[That kind of experimentation isn't unheard of in his world, at least, so he understands that much.]

I take it you didn't sign up for that?

Don't remember. Whoever or whatever I was before I ended up like this is completely gone.

[ He breathes out a lungful of smoke, letting it dissipate before he continues. ]

But I like to think I chose it. I must have had some reason.

Oh.

[He's not sure if that's better or worse, really, but it also sounds like he's made his peace with it in his own way, so he won't comment further.]

Maybe you had some noble reason for it, like defending your country, or protecting your loved ones?

Something like that. In any case, I've got reasons now.

Right. That's what matters most.

Anyway! Sorry for asking so many questions. I bet you get pestered with them all the time.

No worries. Bein' the only Extended around just comes with questions.

I hope no one's treated you badly for it. People here are largely accepting, in my experience.

No worse than I was treated back home. If anything, I got more screams and weird looks there than here. Kinda weird.

I suppose it's like you said, and people just aren't used to technology like yours here. I'm sure when people are used to seeing you around, it won't be a big deal at all.

Either way, I don't mind. I'm used to it.

[ He tilts his head a little, looking Claude over a moment - though it's difficult to tell since he lacks eyes. ]

You're a friend of Marianne's, aren't you?

That's right. We're from the same world. I guess she told you about me?

She did. You and a few others. She's good people, so a friend of hers is a friend of mine.

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