06 ❄ ( VIDEO )

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack is sitting crosslegged on the chair, his Wood suite behind him backlit by the console screen. He looks pensive and it's taken him the better part of an hour to decide whether he should even bring this up, but it's been nagging at him like a stubborn itch that won't go away. He opts for video to reach the most people but as there are a number of new arrivals, the jury is still out on who can see him -- whether they'll see nothing but hear his voice, or those who will think this is an empty, glitched feed. ]

Has anyone else noticed lately that the kedan seem a little... different?

It's been a few weeks now and I thought it was just because the rationing had everyone on edge but I've had a bunch of them tell me they don't want me doing their deliveries any more, even after I offered to do them for free if they didn't have spare juulan.

[ an uncomfortable pause, then Jack's shoulders roll in a shrug of feigned nonchalance ]

Some of them were, uh, kind of nasty about it too. Anyway, I just wanted to know if anyone else had noticed it...

Comments

video.

[traitre]

[just echoing the sentiments of the person above. not that the kedan were overly hostile when they helped him to the city-- but he never got the feeling that he (or anyone) was truly welcome.]

Not that I'm familiar with the way things were before the rationing was put into effect-- but I can't imagine anyone would be overly pleased to share what little they have with so many new people.

Re: video.

[wintershepherd]

But the amount of Foreigners in comparison to the amount of kedan is pretty small... I can't imagine we're being that big of a drain? And it's not like we're freeloading, we all have jobs and some of us don't even eat.

[traitre]

Still, there are a finite amount of resources -- an amount that I assume has recently dwindled significantly, given the current state of the turtle -- and seemingly no limit to the number of Foreigners able to come in.

[an attempt at a sympathetic smile.] I'm not trying to imply it's our fault, but it's the easiest conclusion for them to come to.

[wintershepherd]

Maybe that's why we're going to a continent... so we can get some more?

[ Guess who got his passport papers and feels really awkward about them! ]

[traitre]

[he nods. that's the idea!] Among other reasons, I imagine.

I wouldn't worry about this becoming a permanent situation. You'll be doing deliveries again in no time, I'm sure.

[wintershepherd]

[ Something about the way the man says it makes it a little easier to believe. ]

Thanks. I don't think we've met...? I'm Jack Frost.

[traitre]

Qilby. [polite and pleasant as usual!] And you'd be correct-- I've barely been here long enough to acquaint myself with the city, let alone its inhabitants.

[and although there's far too much here to pique his interest, it's a welcome 'problem.' one he hasn't had in a long time.]

[wintershepherd]

It's nice to meet you, Qilby. Sorry you had to arrive at such a crazy time... I swear, it's not usually this bad.

[traitre]

No, I suppose if things weren't crazy, I'd just be sailing between life and death on the back of a giant turtle-- but in a city where everyone's polite.

[he keeps his tone light, playful; he's obviously just poking fun. soberly, he adds--] I've dealt with far worse in my quite considerable lifetime, and come out relatively unscathed. You've no need to be sorry.

[wintershepherd]

[ The remark draws a laugh from Jack. ]

Yeah, how's that for a vacation, huh?

I know. I just feel like... you know, kidnapping and all aside, this really isn't a bad place for the most part. It's not our homes, but it could be a lot worse.

[traitre]

I see it as an opportunity. Few people are lucky enough to have the chance to explore entire new worlds-- so why not make the most of it?

[it's clear from the way he says it that he's from experience -- a lot of it.] Someone as young as yourself, especially.

[wintershepherd]

Right! That's the spirit.

[ look he's full of big grins now! also because he made a pun ]

Have you done a lot of traveling, Qilby?

[traitre]

[too bad that, as far as qilby's concerned, jack's just some weird white-haired kid. he'd have appreciated the pun. :(]

You could say that. However all my travels up until now have been done within the bounds of my own universe; it's been millennia since I've been anywhere as utterly foreign as this.

[the word 'millennia' is thrown out so casually that it hardly seems out of the ordinary...]

[wintershepherd]

... millennia?

[ Yeah that caught his attention for sure. ]

[traitre]

[an arched brow.]

At the least.

[wintershepherd]

If you've been around that long, you must know a ton of stories.

[traitre]

[he laughs out loud!]

Is that the first conclusion you came to? [a smile.] Yes, I suppose I do.

[wintershepherd]

Well, yeah. I get most of my stories from the winds, and they've been around... like forever.

[traitre]

[haha! kids and their imaginations, am i right?]

I suppose it's a breeze keeping yourself amused, with friends like that.

[wintershepherd]

[ a boyish, shameless giggle at the pun ]

They're not just bags of hot air, that's for sure.

[traitre]

[you don't know what you're getting into here jack]

I'm sure there're those that'd be blown away by the very idea.

[wintershepherd]

Don't worry, I won't let all the wind out of their sails.

[traitre]

[he's long since given up keeping a straight face.]

Perhaps if you regale them with your tales, they'll be more inclined to believe.

[wintershepherd]

Well, I do have a few stories I could air out...

[traitre]

As long as you're not as long-winded as I know I can be.