Out and About

[devwocean]

Characters: Orphaner Dualscar and open
Location: Pretty much anywhere you want, including his hive.
Time: During the day
Style: Any
Status: Open

[Dualscar's been mostly staying home for the last couple of days since the Grand Highblood arrived, but he can't stay in forever - for several reasons.

1. He's not a wiggler.

2. The Condesce is there and he doesn't want her to think he's a wiggler.

3. They need groceries.

So he ventures out for the first time in a while, striding purposefully through the streets with an eye out for anything big, purple, and hairy.

Not that he's scared, though. Oh no. Definitely not.]

Comments

[zelda_hylia]

[Zelda looks just about dead inside, sitting at the plaza and waiting for Sola to return. Even in this situation, though, her curiosity hasn't left her. Dualscar is the first troll that she's seen since the Grand Highblood arrived. She raises her eyes to look at him, but not her head.]

Hello, Dualscar.

[devwocean]

[Oh, it's his neighbour. He's starting to warm up to her a little, after their multiple meetings, and he smiles in a distracted way, his eyes darting from side to side before he moves towards her across the plaza. It's sort of an open area.]

Good afternoon, Zelda. [Belatedly, he realizes she looks pretty upset] Is somethin wwrong?

[zelda_hylia]

[There are no Grand Highbloods here, but there are probably traces of his hair left behind!]

Please, don't concern yourself overly much with it. I know that you all have a lot to worry about right now.

[It's difficult for her to admit out loud that she's not certain Sola will come back. He's not a person in the traditional sense, can he be revived?]

I have advised the other species in the bubble to avoid the situation as well, so you do not have to worry about that either.

[devwocean]

[He stiffens. Wow, he hadn't mentioned the Grand Highblood at all, and he's not sure if that's what she's really talking about, or if it's just his sensitivities.]

Wwhat situation wwould that be?

[zelda_hylia]

[That is definitely what she's talking about, she hasn't seen a single troll since he arrived. It's kind of INCREDIBLY OBVIOUS something is going on. She glances around too.]

Just the new arrival.

[devwocean]

[He's silent for a few moments]

The Grand Highblood Subjugglator is bein' dealt wwith. Is that really wwhat you wwere sittin' here wworrying about?

[zelda_hylia]

Me? Certainly not. Though I am curious what is being done about it. I understand that telling more people could compromise the plan, though.

[Zelda glances back down.]

A friend died, that is all. I am just... waiting.

[devwocean]

I'm as curious as you are. The other trolls wwon't tell me the plan. [He says this with an angry growl, clearly frustrated]

[Oh...] It...wwasn't the Highblood wwho did it, wwas it?

[zelda_hylia]

[Yup, that sure is a little bit of pity on her face there. Zelda still doesn't know that it's inappropriate for trolls, though she's coming to understand quadrants to some extent. She shakes her head no.]

It was not the Highblood, thankfully. The only lasting mental effects on him should be the ones people normally feel from death.

[devwocean]

[Talking about someone else's problems is definitely way better than talking about his own. He affects a concerned expression]

Wwhat happened to him?

[zelda_hylia]

[Goddesses Dualscar, she wants to talk about someone else's problems! You are so inconsiderate.]

He -

[It seems wrong to tell everyone that he committed suicide even if that's exactly what he did. It's private, isn't it?]

He... fell.

[devwocean]

[Too bad, Zelda. :| ]

Fell? From a building or something?

[zelda_hylia]

That's right. I healed his body, but... I can't bring back the dead.

[Zelda looks somber for a minute before taking a breath.]

This city can, though. It is only a matter of time, so it's nothing to be fretting about too much. Thank you for your concern.

[devwocean]

[He nods. He's aware of her pain, but sort of oblivious to it at the same time, far too preoccupied with his own worries to even pretend to care that much.] I see. I'm awware that city brings back people wwho die. Does it happen evvery time?

[zelda_hylia]

[Oh good, let's talk technicalities. Zelda likes those!]

As far as I am aware, yes. However, it only seems to do so with foreigners. Locals who die do not come back.

[Her hand rises to her chest, touching where Vatheon's mark is through the fabric of her clothing.]

Anyone that bears this mark will be revived in five days if they die.

[devwocean]

[Technicalities are devoid of emotion and therefore an excellent conversational topic! He touches his own mark, visible on his forearm, and frowns]

I wwonder wwhy wwe havve this advvantage, but not the actual residents.

[zelda_hylia]

It's difficult to say. The most commonly accepted theory is that we're experimental subjects of some sort. Considering the vast array of things that happen during curses, I have to agree.

[devwocean]

I'd believve it, givven wwhat I'vve seen so far.

[zelda_hylia]

There is little to be done for it, I suppose. We have managed with what the city throws at us this far. We will be fine as long as we utilize all our resources.

[She smiles gently, leaning back.]

That goes for whoever is brought here as well. Do not be afraid to ask if you require assistance. I can't offer much in the way of offense, but my barrier and healing spells are strong.

[devwocean]

Yes, quite right. Wwe wwill find a wway to stop our captors evventually, wwith enough time and resources. Wwe aren't totally powwerless.

[He blinks, and then inclines his head] You're vvery kind and generous to offer your spells so freely. Perhaps I wwill take you up on it, if I havve a need.

[zelda_hylia]

I would like that. I enjoy casting, but it seems a little wasteful if there is no purpose behind it.

[Zelda looks like she sincerely means it. She's just one of those people that enjoys being useful, it seems.]

[devwocean]

[Wow she really is sweet. He can barely believe she's still alive]

You'vve been vvery kind, since our first meeting. I do appreciate your support.

[zelda_hylia]

[Once you achieve a level of sweetness that makes people want to protect you, your survival is ensured! Not that Zelda thinks that way, but that's certainly how it's worked out for her.]

I have no reason not to be. We are all stuck here together, after all. Pointless fighting amongst ourselves is just going to delay us from figuring this place out.

[She looks a little rueful.]

If not for the circumstances, I would try to fight my way out, but... there are many people here that would not be alive if they were to return to their home worlds. I would not feel right finding a way home that forced all of those people to march to their deaths.

[devwocean]

[Unless you're talking to a manipulative sociopathic troll, in which case he just wants to use you.]

Wwait, you think that wwe'd be dead again if wwe wwent back to our homes? Those people are alivve noww!

[zelda_hylia]

Alive here, yes. But we cannot be sure that it isn't the coral somehow sustaining them. A sudden return to their home might sever that connection and kill them once more.

[She's thought about it quite a lot, if it would be right to start a rebellion here and force the administration to return people home. Until she knows for sure what would become of the people who have no choice but to live here, though, she'll do nothing.]