[ Whoa. Okay. He likes pushing people's buttons, but not unintentionally. And besides, he can tell the elf is legitimately terrified right now. Geez. Poor kid. ]
Hey, no, dude, I won't. Seriously. [ He holds up both hands - a gesture of peace, and a "please keep breathing that shit's important" ] I just meant, I am a vampire, so if that's what it's like, then I get it. That's all. It makes sense. To me, anyway.
[Belthazar finally remembers how to breathe when Eithan says that it makes sense, and there's nothing about him going to the network and outing him as some kind of mana vampire. That's the last thing Belth wants or needs right now. Vampires don't really exist in the same context in Azeroth, but Belth has picked up knowledge of them from his interdimensional adventures and many, many books.]
... It appears I've completely misjudged you. When I heard the rumors, I thought it must be some cocky human who has no idea of what he's getting into.
[ He really is relieved that the guy still wants to go through with this. So... here's hoping it works. dsfajk
And he isn't late! ... Well, okay, he's like two minutes late. But that's pretty good, for him. He waves when he gets closer, grinning like they're already friends and no ridiculousness literally just happened. ]
Glad you made it. And hey - thanks for givin' it a shot.
[Belth looks embarrassed, but that's mostly because of his own conduct. He bows again when he reaches Eithan.]
I just wanted to see the inside of this library. My name is Belthazar, by the way.
[It's clear as day now that he has glowing green eyes, but Belth figures his new compatriot won't ask questions. More importantly, he isn't reading Eithan as a real Azerothian demon.
That's good. That's really good.]
Books on terraforming. Is there anything specific about it, or should I grab every single one I can find?
[ Just wanted to see--... Goodness, kid. Eithan can't even keep from shaking his head at that. ]
Nice to meet you in person, Belthazar. Eithan Paine - though I'm guessin' from the rumors and the trackin' me down, you already knew that. [ Shrug~ ]
He didn't give me any specifics to look for, but he seemed really interested in fixin' broken ones. So I guess just grab whatever looks detailed, technical, and like a damn good resource. Sound good?
I did. [He's not very good at people, can you tell? Still, the dryness of his tone means that he's prone to honesty, which is a good thing... probably...]
Wait, you were doing this for someone else? [It's Belthazar's turn to shake his head.] You should have mentioned that in the first place.
I'll see what I can find. Wait here, and try not to look too suspicious.
[ He nods, finds a spot by the wall and leans back against it, arms crossed and completely casual. ]
No problem. Just your typical guy, waitin' on someone to finish whatever they're doin' in the library. [ Beat. ] And if anyone recognizes me, I'll... improvise, I guess.
[Belth turns to go into the library, but Eithan is being totally unconvincing. He sighs in a long-suffering way and reaches into his black robes for something. He isn't very nice about throwing the history novel at Eithan's chest, but at least he didn't aim for his head.]
Here, at least pretend you're not a delinquent.
[He disappears through the doors, huffy and stubborn as usual, and he doesn't return for a solid hour. But when he does-- he nearly trips on his way out.]
[Belth catches himself before he can fall. He's obviously kind of clumsy if his nonchalance is anything to go by. Still, he looks exhausted from what should've been a very enlightening and wonderful experience.]
I'm fine. Here, I have your book.
[He holds it out in one hand. The other goes to his forehead. Maybe he should sit down.]
[ ... Yeah, maybe he should sit down. And Eithan definitely notices the fatigue, and the way that hand goes to his forehead. He takes the book with a nod, but he's not about to let this go. ]
Thanks. I'll get it to him, and as promised, no more Spirit.
[ He salutes - three fingers against the side his forehead. ... It means something back in Meridia okay just roll with it. dfjkls ]
But, dude, you're not fine. You're lookin' paler than you did before you went in there. Will you at least sit down somewhere?
I don't care about that! [he snaps, and it comes out quite a bit harsher than intended. He's trying very hard to hold it together but he looks so feverish, and he feels like it, too.] I mean-- don't worry about Spirit or whatever faction you want to be. Your friend is trying to help the planets we come across, right? That is far more important.
[He brushes Eithan off and turns, intending to simply go back to his ship and not worry about this anymore, but then he simply crumples where he stands. He's not sure how he got on the ground, but he sure is tasting pavement right now.]
[ He blinks at that snap, but otherwise doesn't react outwardly - inwardly, though? Man, that was unexpected. Did something happen in the library? Or... what? ]
Yeah. I agree.
[ He'd elaborate, maybe throw in some sort of self-deprecating joke, but-- no, never mind, not important. Because right this moment, the kid is walking away and then suddenly dropping like a damn rag doll. Thank the goddess for demonic reflexes - he drops along with him, grabs him before he can potentially hit the ground hard and do any more damage to himself. ]
Okay, what was I just sayin' about sittin' down? [ Sigh. ] I'm not buyin' that you're fine, so tell me how to help.
[Belthazar just blinks for a moment. He should be sprawled out on the ground, but instead, Eithan is holding him and... and it's very, very distracting. He was just barely able to control himself around Mikleo before, but deep in the throes of mana withdrawal, his iron will is beginning to rust.]
No, no-- I don't want to hurt you, [he stammers. He fights weakly, trying to get to his feet beneath him so he can run away. Or try. That's not going to happen, most likely.] Please, I can barely...
Hurt me? The hell're you talkin'-- [ Lightbulb! ] Oh. The... magic thing.
[ He bites his lip, thinking... And now that he's put two and two together, this really does look a lot like something familiar - like what happens when he goes too long without feeding. Withdrawal at its damn finest. Geez... So, no, he's not letting go, and that weak resistance isn't going to get Belth anywhere. He shakes his head. ]
Look. If you need it, you should get it. Seriously. So how do you do it?
[He's still fighting even after Eithan figures it out, but to no avail. His fists don't hit very hard at all, and he's trying not to hurt Eithan anyway; he's only fighting to get away, trying to pull the arms off him.
The demon's question makes him still. Don't tempt me, he wants to say. Demon magic is the most addictive kind. But Eithan hasn't shown himself to be corrupted-- which Belth would see in his mana signature-- so... maybe it's okay. Maybe, just this once...]
N-not here, we can't do it here. It hurts and I don't want to hurt you. You'll scream-- a-and what if I take too much? I can't--
[ His tone is a bit darker for that statement - the smallest amount he'll let slip of what he's hiding from his past. But it's gone as quickly as it appeared. Besides, what he has to do hurts, too. It's still the same. ... Sort of.
He does let go, but only after he's sure the kid's stable enough to not completely collpse on the ground, and because of the massive protesting going on. He's not about to let him run off, if he's even capable of doing such a thing. He offers him a hand up instead. ]
You can't just let yourself suffer like this, damn it. I'm takin' you back to your ship, and we'll figure it out there. Deal? ... Can you walk?
[Belthazar doesn't miss that. Maybe he's found a kindred spirit after all, but that doesn't quell the trembling, the fever, the pain shooting through his whole body. Nothing will-- nothing but mana. He takes the hand and shivers, ever-sensitive to Eithan's magic pulse. It's so hard to be touched right now, so tempting, so he pulls away as soon as he can stand.]
I-I can walk.
[He takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself. The shaking subsides a little.]
Are you sure you want to help me? After the way I've treated you?
[ Leave it to Eithan to keep it up for a second. ]
I'm on the Blue Fish, which... there's probably a lot of people hangin' around. So yeah, let's go to the Iskaulit. Less chance of somethin' goin' wrong.
[As they make their way to the shuttle, Belthazar still can't believe he's doing this. He can only hope Eithan's mana isn't as addictive as a real demon's, or else he'll be in trouble. But he's out of options. He drove himself here, so he can't feel sorry for himself. There was just... only so much that Hiro could do, since he lacked an abundance of mana. And besides that, Syeira--
[ Honestly, he's glad the kid can walk, given it looked like he might just completely pass out for a second back there. He's also glad he can apparently help, somehow - though he still has no clue what he's getting himself into. But he's not worried. ]
Origins? No... Guess I never really thought about where any of the ships came from. Thought it was just part of the whole "hey, you're stuck here now, no explanations ever" kind of deal.
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Hey, no, dude, I won't. Seriously. [ He holds up both hands - a gesture of peace, and a "please keep breathing that shit's important" ] I just meant, I am a vampire, so if that's what it's like, then I get it. That's all. It makes sense. To me, anyway.
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... It appears I've completely misjudged you. When I heard the rumors, I thought it must be some cocky human who has no idea of what he's getting into.
[He bows his head.]
I apologize.
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Heh. Y'know, I can't really blame you for assumin' that. Don't worry about it. It's fine.
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[The deal is still on, or at least, Belth has to come up with his half.] I can meet you on the planet in a half hour. Will that be acceptable?
aaaand action~
[ He really is relieved that the guy still wants to go through with this. So... here's hoping it works. dsfajk
And he isn't late! ... Well, okay, he's like two minutes late. But that's pretty good, for him. He waves when he gets closer, grinning like they're already friends and no ridiculousness literally just happened. ]
Glad you made it. And hey - thanks for givin' it a shot.
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I just wanted to see the inside of this library. My name is Belthazar, by the way.
[It's clear as day now that he has glowing green eyes, but Belth figures his new compatriot won't ask questions. More importantly, he isn't reading Eithan as a real Azerothian demon.
That's good. That's really good.]
Books on terraforming. Is there anything specific about it, or should I grab every single one I can find?
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Nice to meet you in person, Belthazar. Eithan Paine - though I'm guessin' from the rumors and the trackin' me down, you already knew that. [ Shrug~ ]
He didn't give me any specifics to look for, but he seemed really interested in fixin' broken ones. So I guess just grab whatever looks detailed, technical, and like a damn good resource. Sound good?
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Wait, you were doing this for someone else? [It's Belthazar's turn to shake his head.] You should have mentioned that in the first place.
I'll see what I can find. Wait here, and try not to look too suspicious.
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I'll, uh, try to make it more clear next time?
[ He nods, finds a spot by the wall and leans back against it, arms crossed and completely casual. ]
No problem. Just your typical guy, waitin' on someone to finish whatever they're doin' in the library. [ Beat. ] And if anyone recognizes me, I'll... improvise, I guess.
[ Doesn't that just fill you with confidence? ]
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Here, at least pretend you're not a delinquent.
[He disappears through the doors, huffy and stubborn as usual, and he doesn't return for a solid hour. But when he does-- he nearly trips on his way out.]
Eithan! Are you still here?
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For a little bit. After that, he's just pretending. Oh well, it's not like he's gonna be quizzed on this later, right?
Belthazar comes back, and he closes the book, turning toward him - in time to see him nearly trip. He frowns, concerned, and makes his way over. ]
Whoa, careful there. You okay?
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I'm fine. Here, I have your book.
[He holds it out in one hand. The other goes to his forehead. Maybe he should sit down.]
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Thanks. I'll get it to him, and as promised, no more Spirit.
[ He salutes - three fingers against the side his forehead. ... It means something back in Meridia okay just roll with it. dfjkls ]
But, dude, you're not fine. You're lookin' paler than you did before you went in there. Will you at least sit down somewhere?
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[He brushes Eithan off and turns, intending to simply go back to his ship and not worry about this anymore, but then he simply crumples where he stands. He's not sure how he got on the ground, but he sure is tasting pavement right now.]
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Yeah. I agree.
[ He'd elaborate, maybe throw in some sort of self-deprecating joke, but-- no, never mind, not important. Because right this moment, the kid is walking away and then suddenly dropping like a damn rag doll. Thank the goddess for demonic reflexes - he drops along with him, grabs him before he can potentially hit the ground hard and do any more damage to himself. ]
Okay, what was I just sayin' about sittin' down? [ Sigh. ] I'm not buyin' that you're fine, so tell me how to help.
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No, no-- I don't want to hurt you, [he stammers. He fights weakly, trying to get to his feet beneath him so he can run away. Or try. That's not going to happen, most likely.] Please, I can barely...
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[ He bites his lip, thinking... And now that he's put two and two together, this really does look a lot like something familiar - like what happens when he goes too long without feeding. Withdrawal at its damn finest. Geez... So, no, he's not letting go, and that weak resistance isn't going to get Belth anywhere. He shakes his head. ]
Look. If you need it, you should get it. Seriously. So how do you do it?
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The demon's question makes him still. Don't tempt me, he wants to say. Demon magic is the most addictive kind. But Eithan hasn't shown himself to be corrupted-- which Belth would see in his mana signature-- so... maybe it's okay. Maybe, just this once...]
N-not here, we can't do it here. It hurts and I don't want to hurt you. You'll scream-- a-and what if I take too much? I can't--
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[ His tone is a bit darker for that statement - the smallest amount he'll let slip of what he's hiding from his past. But it's gone as quickly as it appeared. Besides, what he has to do hurts, too. It's still the same. ... Sort of.
He does let go, but only after he's sure the kid's stable enough to not completely collpse on the ground, and because of the massive protesting going on. He's not about to let him run off, if he's even capable of doing such a thing. He offers him a hand up instead. ]
You can't just let yourself suffer like this, damn it. I'm takin' you back to your ship, and we'll figure it out there. Deal? ... Can you walk?
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I-I can walk.
[He takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself. The shaking subsides a little.]
Are you sure you want to help me? After the way I've treated you?
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'Course I'm sure. [ ... And then he's cracking a smirk. ] Besides, to be honest? If flamebrain's the best you've got, you're gonna have to try harder.
[ Dammit, Eithan. ]
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I wasn't really trying, [he says mildly. At least he still has half a sense of humor.]
Anyway, I can't go back to my ship like this. Everyone will coddle me and make me feel worse. I've been spending time on the Iskaulit.
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[ Leave it to Eithan to keep it up for a second. ]
I'm on the Blue Fish, which... there's probably a lot of people hangin' around. So yeah, let's go to the Iskaulit. Less chance of somethin' goin' wrong.
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[As they make their way to the shuttle, Belthazar still can't believe he's doing this. He can only hope Eithan's mana isn't as addictive as a real demon's, or else he'll be in trouble. But he's out of options. He drove himself here, so he can't feel sorry for himself. There was just... only so much that Hiro could do, since he lacked an abundance of mana. And besides that, Syeira--
-- ugh. What a mess.]
Do you know the origins of that ship?
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Origins? No... Guess I never really thought about where any of the ships came from. Thought it was just part of the whole "hey, you're stuck here now, no explanations ever" kind of deal.
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