ic contact.

[arcanepower]

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

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[hymnals]

[Adra squeezes Bel's hand, very gently.]>

Belthazar, I'm as old as the hills, and even I'm not always sure. That's the kind of wisdom that only comes in the fullness of time.

But, for my part: think about why you're angry. Think about what it's for. Think about what it will serve. In most cases, if your anger only serves yourself, it's something you need to let go.

[arcanepower]

If my anger serves myself...

[Wow, that constitutes like, 90 percent of his anger. He bites his bottom lip, and then it all kinda... tumbles out. He's talking too fast.]

But I don't want people to walk on me. They've done that for most of my life. I'm not Caspa, I can't just take everything that's thrown at me and swallow it with a smile and forgive. They don't deserve it-- they didn't deserve her and if I let them continue to shove me down then nothing will ever change!

[hymnals]

I'm not telling you to let people walk on you. I'm telling you not to hurl insults at your friends because you might be slightly irritated by their hygiene habits.

[arcanepower]

[Whoop, there it is. Sometimes you just gotta tell a kid point blank. All the wind leaves his sails then, not that there was much in the first place, but it's clear he has a lot of issues. His anger is wrapped tightly around his sense of self-worth and tied to xenophobia with a fisherman's knot, so basically... he's a mess.]

... To be fair, [he murmurs,] it was a death threat.

[BELTHAZAR.]

I'll... do better next time.

[hymnals]

Oh--

[No, he's not going to get into the particulars again. That's done. IT'S DONE. He makes an irritated noise in his throat.]

Don't just do better. Think better. There are a lot of terrible people in the world, there's no denying that--but you've found a good friend in Hiro. It doesn't matter that he isn't an elf. It should never matter.

[arcanepower]

[Belth dips his head in a nod, but he's not letting go of Adra just yet. His voice is soft and crackly in places.]

You don't remember anything about before, but I keep making trouble for you anyway. [Adra must be so tired of him.]

[hymnals]

[Ah, Light.

Adra goes quite still, rigid, even, just for a moment. Then he leans over, still holding Bel's hand, and pulls the boy into a full-on hug.]

No, I don't remember it. But I can't imagine you ever making a second of trouble for me.

[arcanepower]

[Oh no, a hug. Unlike Adra, Belth doesn't stiffen, not for a moment. The locks broke loose a long time ago and he's fully given himself over to... whatever this is. He'd like to call Adra something like father, but he's scared that they'll lose touch again, that one of them won't remember, and they'll be trapped in this neverending loop... grasping at strings, trying to revolve around each other and missing.

Belthazar doesn't hug, he clings. His pale fingers work their way into the folds of Adra's robes until he can't feel how hard he's holding on.]

You're wrong, you're just saying that-- I threw a chair once and I told you no, and-- [His throat tightens, and he struggles as his voice breaks.] You were always cleaning up after me. Always watching over me. I don't want you to leave. I know I disappoint you but I don't want you to leave.

[hymnals]

[Oof. That's quite a grip, but Adra doesn't falter. He sets his chin, gently, on top of Bel's head.]

I never just say anything. Besides, throwing chairs and being told 'no' sounds like my average day in council.

[He sighs against Bel's hair. No one can see the future, not really, and Adra's not about to make a promise he can't guarantee. But ...]

I don't know what will happen tomorrow, or the next day. I do think that if we're meant to find each other in Azeroth, we will.

But for now, we have this. And I would never leave you here by my own choice.

[arcanepower]

[His hair is getting very shaggy. It's long enough to get caught in his hood, now, and his bangs have always been a lost cause. At least he brushes it. It's thick and has a tendency to be wavy, which doesn't help things. He doesn't think about his outward appearance much, however. He's more concerned with what's in front of him, which is a chance at having a family again and... not being entirely sure what to do with it.

Adra's words don't comfort him as much as they should. They had both said such things, and it happened anyway. But... they'd found each other again, too...

He'll have to settle for this, for Adra never abandoning him by choice in the Fleet. It's not much, but it's all he has, and by the Light he will hold onto it for as long as he's alive. That's all he can do; he'll hold onto what he has, because everyone will try to take it from him.]

Even if I mess up? Even if I scream and cry and I'm really, really bad?

[hymnals]

[Adra runs his fingers through Bel's hair, smoothing it down, gently untangling the snags as he comes across them.]

Especially if you mess up. That's when a person needs other people the most.