002 - [Written/Action]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Dhaos is, as a general rule, not a social person.  He certainly doesn't mind being surrounded by people, but when most of the residents of Luceti are human he finds himself half-wishing he could strangle some of the people around him.  As such, he's spent an awful lot of time in his apartment for the past few weeks, dwelling over the latest experiment and pretty much waiting for himself to calm down.

He really was powerless here.  Even if he had been weakened by mana deprivation and injury, the Demon King of Aselia controlled his own fate, made his own decisions, chose his own path.  But here, the Malnosso could do as they wished-- they could transform his body and erase his memories, wipe the urgency of Derris-Kharlan's situation from his mind, give his heart to another woman.  Dhaos had always been in control of his own fate, and the fates of others as well, and the change was... upsetting.

Although, as Dhaos once realized with an unhappy surprise, it was something of a relief not to be the one responsible for the lives and deaths of others...

Anyway, now that it's been long enough for Dhaos to think back on the experiment without throwing a fit or something similar, it's time to get something he's been wondering about straight. This is his first time using a filter, so he's not sure he has it done correctly, but he does his best.]

[Written, Filtered to Martel: 70% Unhackable]

I need to speak to you.

[Written, Unfiltered]

What are your worlds called? Do the people of different regions call it something different? Is there a meaning behind the name, or has it been lost to the ages?

[And after a minute:]

And if there is anyone else here from Derris-Kharlan, I would like to know.

[And he can be found reading in the library/on top of the library. It's been a little while and he still hasn't read up on any of the other worlds, so he's rectifying that today. And as always, feel free to find him stargazing at night.]

Comments

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Dhaos actually moves back a little at the motion, because physical contact is not what he wants right now. But when Grune stops on her own, something resembling guilt wells up in his chest.]

...

[He has no response for Grune's suggestion. He can't win.]

[lostinmyway]

Hmm...or maybe it's supposed to rain tomorrow.

Is it?

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Unfortunately for Dhaos, no.]

No one can tell.

[lostinmyway]

We should pack an umbrella, just in case!

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Dhaos sighs. At least he'll be dry... Hopefully.]

If it rains, we should probably stay home.

[lostinmyway]

Oh, do you think so?

[whatdeheckisdat]

Yes.

[lostinmyway]

Oh, all right.

[whatdeheckisdat]

...

[It cannot have been that easy.]

[lostinmyway]

If it rains, we can just go the next day.

[Nope.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Darn.]

It would be wet.

[lostinmyway]

Oh, then I'll bring an extra blanket to sit on.

[Problem solved!]

[whatdeheckisdat]

...Will your housemates mind?

[lostinmyway]

Why would they mind?

[whatdeheckisdat]

...They might need that extra blanket.

[lostinmyway]

Oh, I'm sure it will be fine.

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Living with Grune must be very difficult sometimes.] Ask them first.

[lostinmyway]

All right.

[It seems to be important to Dhaos, so she will.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

...Why do you enjoy picnics so much?

[lostinmyway]

Oh, on picnics, you can spend time with your friends and eat good food and spend a beautiful day together.

Don't you think picnics are fun? [Say yes, Dhaos. There is no other answer.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Never. Dhaos has few friends and doesn't eat!]

...I think there are better ways to spend my time.

[lostinmyway]

Like what?

[This is completely beyond her comprehension.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

...

[Depressingly, he can't think of anything.]

[lostinmyway]

Dhaos?

[whatdeheckisdat]

...You are a very simple person.