ic contact.

[arcanepower]

[What is this strange goblin technology? Why is it not blowing up in his face?

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[hymnals]

[With a gentle sigh in his voice.]

Come on, buddy. Where are you?

video;

[arcanepower]

[Belth's voice sounds far away, quiet and sulky. The camera only really shows some leaves.]

'M on the planet.

[hymnals]

[He squints at the scenery around Bel, pursing his lips. Probably a bit too dangerous to go teleporting around down there.]

If you want me to come to you, I'm going to need a better description than that. Unless you'd rather I wander the horror forest all night, which I fucking will do.

[arcanepower]

No! You don't have to. I'm not that far from the landing place.

[After a moment, he shuffles a bit forward and grabs the communicator.]

Do... do you want me to come back to the ship?

[hymnals]

[Yes, of course. But he doesn't want to bully Bel into it, either.]

Only if you feel like you're ready to talk.

[arcanepower]

Not really. [He sighs, defeated.] But it's getting late, and... I don't want to be here after the sun sets.

I'll come.

[Belth shuts off the communicator. He gathers his things and stuffs his journal into his robes, then picks his way back. It's an hour or so before he makes it back onto the Bishop, all awkwardness and keeping his eyes down, except to look for Hiro (so he might avoid him). If Adra isn't waiting, he'll just go straight to the library.]

[hymnals]

[ADRA IS RIGHT THERE AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE SHIP. RIGHT THERE.]

Hey, buddy. Let's walk.

[They're going to the library, anyway.]

[arcanepower]

[Caught by dad, again.]

Okay.

[He shuffles along with his head down and his hair in his eyes. He really doesn't want to talk. He'd rather curl up in the fetal position and look at the mana gem he's been using to sustain himself, and wonder if it'll ever end.

Instead, he walks.]

[hymnals]

[Adra folds his hands behind his back as they walk, looking up at the ceiling.]

So. Tell me what that was all about, back there.

[arcanepower]

[He's just like the man Belth remembers. Even if Adra doesn't remember Belth's biggest tantrum, he does, and so he... tries to be honest, here. There's no lying to Adra. There just isn't...]

I don't... know. He called me something and I... reacted.

['Smarmy human child' isn't worth getting called mana-sucking trash, he thinks.]

[hymnals]

What did he call you? Why did he say it?

[Once they're at the library, Adra throws himself down in the nearest bean-bag chair. He loves these things.]

[arcanepower]

[Belth sits against the beanbag chair Adra is in, hugging his knees to himself.] "Dirty mana-sucking trash". [He rests his chin on his arms.] Why should I know why he said it? I'm not him.

Humans never understand.

[hymnals]

[Adra massages his temples.]

You're telling me there was no preamble whatsoever? That's your final answer?

[arcanepower]

[A long pause.]

... Well, I called him an obnoxious human child.

[hymnals]

[FANTASTIC. He struggles to keep his tone patient.]

Why did you do that? I thought you two were friends.

[arcanepower]

Because he wouldn't bathe. And he acted like I was staying on the ship for him, which... I'm not.

[Not entirely, anyway...]

[hymnals]

So you're not friends.

[arcanepower]

[He fidgets with his sleeves.]

I... I don't know! I'm not an expert on friends. I didn't even have any before this place.

[He sighs and slumps over a little more.]

He thinks I am a monster. I highly doubt he wants to be my friend.

[hymnals]

No, he does not think you're a monster. He cares about you. He's not even upset.

[Good head on that lil man's shoulders.]

[arcanepower]

[He blinks, then lifts his head slightly. He can see Adra's golden hair out of the corner of his eye.]

He... isn't?

[Belth is such a dumb kid.]

[hymnals]

[Gently.]

No. He said he was just trying to offer you an example. He didn't mean it.

[Adra holds up a hand.]

Now, don't get me wrong. He shouldn't have used that kind of language with you. But you shouldn't have spoken to him that way, either. You are friends.

[arcanepower]

[Ah. Now that he thinks about it, he remembers Hiro saying something to that effect. "YOU MEANT WHAT YOU SAID." Yeah, well, years of being targeted for simply existing tends to do that.

His ears lower, and he goes back to looking at his shoes.]

I guess.

[He's so very reluctant to admit this fact.]

[hymnals]

[Adra leans forward, turning to get a good look at Bel.]

Nope.

Try again.

[arcanepower]

[Belth startles and leans back.]

That isn't good enough?

[hymnals]

Not nearly.