video; un: stargazer

[leicesters]

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?

Comments

[inemeraldfaith]

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.

[silky_bearing]

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.]

[inemeraldfaith]

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?

AERITH you're going to kill him

[silky_bearing]

[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.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

[inemeraldfaith]

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.]

[silky_bearing]

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.

[inemeraldfaith]

[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.

[silky_bearing]

[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.]

[inemeraldfaith]

Oh, so that means you'll be doing it? I won't do it if you do. But you actually have to do it.

[Wrong, Lorenz.]

[silky_bearing]

What!?

[His voice actually cracks at that.]

That is- Of course not, that would be... unbecoming. One does not snoop in polite society!

[inemeraldfaith]

It's not really snooping if you're doing it with good intentions, right? As his friend, it's almost like showing that you care about him. It'd be different if you barely knew him. Which means that it'd be snooping if I did it. But I don't really care what someone else thinks of that.

[leicesters]

Yeah, Lorenz! Show that you care about me!

[...Guess who's been snooping.]

[silky_bearing]

Claude!?!

[Guess who doesn't know how to mute yet and just slaps the phone against his chest to both muffle his yelp of surprise and keep himself from dropping the stupid thing.]

This charming lady seems to be under the impression that your contrary nature and ceaseless antagonizing are because you want me to yell at you. Some sort of attention seeking nonsense. Please inform her she is mistaken.

[leicesters]

[Claude tries to school his face into a mockingly stern expression.] Aerith! Please stop making strange assumptions! I would never do anything to antagonise this upstanding gentleman...

[No, he can't keep a straight face, dissolving into laughter.]

[inemeraldfaith]

[Aerith has to actually put a hand over her mouth to hide how close she is to laughing. This, of course, inevitably fails.]

No, you would never, would you?

[She sees what you're doing, Claude. She's fluent in what you're doing. Which is exactly why she's grinning from ear to ear.]

[silky_bearing]

[More spluttering. It's an absolute tragedy they can't see his face.]

Insufferable!!!

The both of you!

[leicesters]

[Claude doesn't need to see his face to be able to imagine it, it's classic Lorenz.]

Oh, relax! I was just doing what you asked! All that yelling and spluttering can't be good for you.

[inemeraldfaith]

I don't think I'm insufferable...

I just wanted to have a little fun. We're all stuck here, after all. Seems kind of silly not to make the most of it.

[silky_bearing]

Goddess, not this again.

What did I tell you, Claude? Hmm?? Your idea of fun is nothing but stressful!

[He will have to apologize later, Aerith, but for now the spluttering has calmed enough that he... remembers he can just hang up on Claude now and, really, it's a glorious thing.]

[leicesters]

[if Claude had a bullion for every time Lorenz hung up on him... he just laughs and offers Aerith an apologetic shake of the head.]

Sorry about him. He's always been uptight, but it's only gotten worse ever since he got here.

[inemeraldfaith]

I can't really blame him for that. It's a foreign place. I hope he's not too upset. I really was trying to help. But for what it's worth, it seems like you're both very close.

[Lorenz obviously cares about you, Claude.]

[leicesters]

Yeah, we've been though a lot together. You probably guessed already, but between you and me, I bet he'd love the idea that I want his attention.

[under the constant stream of outrage......]

[inemeraldfaith]

Well, I mean. Don't you?

[She taps at her chin in thought. She's pretty sure he antagonises for attention. For the reaction. That makes sense to her. Isn't that why she likes to push buttons?]

[leicesters]

Well, yeah! It's funny, and he makes it way too easy. Not sure how I feel about the pet comparison, though.

[He grins. Yes, he overheard that part of the conversation.]

[inemeraldfaith]

That's what I was thinking, because I kind of like to do the same thing.

[He mentions 'pet,' and Aerith mirrors his expression.] It was just an idea. I think you're probably a little too unruly for a leash. Maybe we can get a collar with a bell and put it on you.