JUNE OPEN LOG

[sailmods]

[but, hey: you shouldn't be left out of the camping fun just because you didn't think to sign up, or you only got here yesterday, or actually you only got here today and you have no idea what's going on! because the camp can come to YOU!

meaning, shortly after seeing the others off, Friday returns to the atrium and begins setting up a few items she's brought from... somewhere, one assumes? a pup tent. two sleeping bags. a tent stove. s'mores accoutrements. there's a fake potted plant that she decided looked enough like a tree. all pushed together in the middle of the atrium.

at her spot behind the desk, she looks visibly pleased with herself. she's doing her best.]

Comments

[ktizo]

Oh-

[Taking the treat from Vi, he thanks her with a smile.]

My thanks. Won't you sit with me? I am happy to share the marshmallows.

[There are plenty in there, and as he starts eating gingerly- he expects it to be hot- his face lights up.]

Oh, this is much better! You're right, I was certainly wasting them.

[ex_heaved685]

[ Instead of saying 'you're welcome' like a normal person, Vi winks at Hythlodaeus, before flopping down next to him and starting on her treat. ]

Thanks. What's that saying? A broken clock rings twice a day or somethin'? I occasionally get this stuff right.

[ She brushes the left over crumbs off her pants as she chews. ]

So, you from under a rock, too? Or your place just doesn't have these?

[ktizo]

I have never seen marshmallows where I am from, no. As for camping itself- perhaps some would find it a good use of their time to risk getting eaten by the flora and fauna in the woods, but I personally enjoyed the city.

[He shrugs as he eats, making a soft "oop" sound as he drops crumbs over his robes.]

Much safer, you see. Though I can defend myself if needed, I would much prefer not to have to.

[Of course, if he had been able to drag Hades and Azem camping with him, it would have been different. Those two could protect the camp and Hythlodaeus could make them marshmallows, or something. Moral support!]

[ex_heaved685]

Is that what this is? 'Camping'?

[ Vi squints at the word "enjoyment" being implied in that sentence. People do this for leisure? But once she stops long enough to think on it, it does seem exactly the type on insane thing a Piltie would love to do. ]

Yeah, I'm with you. Where I'm from this is just called being 'rat-ass' poor.

[ktizo]

Apparently!

[He makes a sweeping gesture at the campsite with sticky fingers.]

People do this for fun, it would seem.

[So far it hasn't been awful, he's having a nice time talking with people, and the smores are delicious. But he wouldn't go out of his way to do this again.]

Hmm. Being "rat-ass poor" isn't something I'm familiar with. My people were focused on their contributions to the star, you see, not personal wealth or possessions. All were equal. What was it like where you're from?

[ex_heaved685]

[ 'Contributing to a Star' is probably the most insane thing Hythlodaeus could have possibly landed on Vi's very pragmatic ears. ]

I'm from an underground city that no one in the right mind would choose to live in because it's so shitty. A real 'stab Petre to pay back Don' culture, if you know what I mean.

[ Or maybe he doesn't. ]

But never-mind that, a star? Like hanging in the night sky by the sun kind of star? How does that, you know... pay for anything?

[ktizo]

[He doesn't, he really doesn't. And he's quietly very glad for that.]

Oh, no, the star we lived upon. As for paying for anything- well, when mankind is gifted with creation magicks, that is hardly an issue. If we wanted for anything, we could simply create it.

[To prove his point, he focuses- a single large purple butterfly manifests itself in his hand, and flutters away. It's something that only takes a small amount of aether to create, so he doesn't mind showing her.]

[ex_heaved685]

[ The look on Vi's face when he performs the minor magic trick is caught somewhere between shock and disbelief. She's quiet for a long moment before she finally says: ]

You're a mage.

[ It's a loaded word, judging by her tone. ]

You didn't even need anything to make Arcane happen. Shit...

[ktizo]

I had to draw the aether from myself, where it would usually- at least, upon my star- be all around us. It means I cannot create anything quite on the scale of what I could back home without tiring myself out- although, I never was very good at manipulating aether in the first place.

[He smiles sheepishly, as if he wasn't actually capable of far more than he lets on.]

Is... being a mage a good or a bad thing where you are from?

[ex_heaved685]

The star is like... a giant battery?

[ This is getting weirder and weirder for her brain to try and wrangle up an appropriate image of what Hythlodaeus' world looks like. Is it mostly him surfing on a star through space? Most definitely.

Vi gives a shrug at that last question. ]

Who knows? Story goes that the mages in my world were warmongers and killed each other off hundreds of years ago. But the people telling that story would probably say the same about us Trenchers so...

[ Vi really has no horse in that discussion. Hextech was developed and implemented during her time in prison. She had no chance to form a moral opinion on mages, the arcane, or the tech branching from it. It's there and there it will stay. ]

[ktizo]

I suppose you could think of it that way...

[He chuckles though- he's never heard it described that way before.]

Ah- but we are a peaceful people.

[Were a peaceful people. Now they are naught but ash and memories... but this is hardly the time to bring that up. He tilts his head, curious.]

What is a Trencher?

[Someone who perhaps has no magic to speak of, perhaps? He's not sure, but there seems to be a distinction between the two.]

[ex_heaved685]

[ Vi seriously doubts that anyone anywhere can be 'peaceful'. For every person succeeding, there's another getting ground down to the bone in exchange for that good fortune. But likewise... not the time or place.

Vi grins with all her teeth showing, not a pretty thing, but mischievous and a touch self-loathing. ]

People from the Undercity. Ask anyone Topside and we're all slum living deranged criminals that deserve what we get. Which is... nothing. Cute, right?

[ Sore spot? Where? ]

[ktizo]

[Hythlodaeus does frown a little at that.]

What a terrible attitude for them to have. I have never heard anything like it, truly...

[Shaking his head, his smile soon returns, though it's softer now.]

I never asked for your name. Mine is Hythlodaeus- 'tis a pleasure to meet you.

[ex_heaved685]

[ Vi laughs at that, the intensity of the moment passing. ]

Yeah, that's what we keep telling them. But things never change, so...

[ Vi sighs heavy, scratching the back of her neck. ]

It just frustrating to see another way so clearly, but it's impossible to reach, you know?

[ After a moment, she tips her s'mores in Hythlodaeus direction like a salute. ]

I'm Vi. Nice to meet you here for what it's worth, Stardust.

[ktizo]

It is truly beyond my comprehension, how one could treat their brethren in such a way. You have my sincerest hope that things do change, somehow.

[There's nothing else he can do for her, sadly. His smile widens a little at the nickname.]

Stardust? Heheh... what makes you choose that name?

[ex_heaved685]

Thanks... But I wouldn't worry about it too much. It's my mess to deal with. And nothing we can do about it here.

[ Vi grins at the next questions. ]

Do you hate it? Stuff that comes off stars is stardust, right?

[ Shockingly... Vi knows shit about stars, actually. ]

[ktizo]

Right you are... heh. I like it.

[Though as far as he knows, everyone here is from one star or another. But he won't protest it.]

I have never had such a nickname before.

[But he seems pleased with it, anyway. He'd try to think of one for Vi, but- well, he's not used to handing out nicknames, and it would feel forced. And Vi is a nice name, anyway.]