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

[lostinmyway]

[Grune's mind goes wandering away for a little while. Abruptly:] We should go on a picnic at night sometime. It would be fun!

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Dhaos' first thought in response is No.

Dhaos' second thought in response is that while he would more than likely not eat much-- again-- he obviously doesn't mind spending time outside at night anyway, so he would have no real reason not to go.

Except, of course, that Grune's presence is still awkward and strange for him to deal with.]

...It would be dark.

[lostinmyway]

Oh, there will be plenty of moonlight.

[Come on, Dhaos. Say yes.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Never!]

...If you fell asleep, I would in all likelihood leave you there. [Which is actually a lie. Dhaos may be a demon king, but at least he's a gentleman.]

[lostinmyway]

Oh, that's all right. It would be fun to sleep under the stars! [Is that a yes?]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Absolutely not!] ...If you wish. [...Why does he do this to himself?]

[lostinmyway]

[Grune beams at him, absolutely delighted.] Oh, I'm so glad!

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Dhaos ignores this reaction completely. He didn't want to go on any more picnics with Grune, or indeed any other outings with the woman. Because now whenever he saw her, he would remember that he had forgotten everything he held dear for ten full days. But unfortunately, Grune seemed to be impossible to avoid for long. For all her alleged forgetfulness, she remembered details about him quite well.

Underneath his cloak, Dhaos' hand tightens into a fist. He did not want to think about the implications of that.]

Ahaha, I hope this doesn't mean I've been having Grune remember too much about Dhaos :D;;

[lostinmyway]

[Grune is completely unaware of the direction of Dhaos' thoughts, being too busy being happy.]

When should we have our picnic?

Nah, Dhaos is just in a wary state of mind now XD;

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Again with these dull, vague guttural sounds in response.] Preferably not in the near future.

Okay, good. :D;; *PARANOID*

[lostinmyway]

Oh, why not?

Paranoia can be a useful defense! ...But yeah, I know >__>

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Because he doesn't want to have a picnic period.]

...I would rather not.

Whee self-confidence.

[lostinmyway]

Do you think it would be too cold?

We has it.

[whatdeheckisdat]

...Among other things.

By the bucket.

[lostinmyway]

Other things?

In spades.

[whatdeheckisdat]

[...Curses. He didn't know how to refuse her. He shouldn't even owe her an explanation.]

Not wanting to.

...Let's go to the beach! *shot*

[lostinmyway]

[Grune looks at him blankly.]

Why don't you want to go?

:D Sandcastles!

[whatdeheckisdat]

...

[How does he say this?]

...I would rather be alone.

:D!

[lostinmyway]

[And now she's confused..and just a tiny bit upset on his behalf.]

Oh, no, that can't be right.

[whatdeheckisdat]

...Why not?

[lostinmyway]

Why, we had so much fun the last time. [Don't break her heart, Dhaos.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[He doesn't really want to, but he doesn't want to be reminded of all this. Maybe he's asking for too much.

All the answer Grune gets is an uncomfortable sound.]

[lostinmyway]

It's always more fun to spend time with friends than to be alone.

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Believe it or not, he knows.] I am used to it.

[lostinmyway]

...Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. [And she genuinely is. Her friends are everything to her. To be alone--it would be unbearable.]