video | un: SecondWind

[crosspear]

Have any of you tried a fruit called the 'doreh'?

[It’s a brief question. Gaius addresses the network early in the morning, hopefully after people have eaten breakfast. There have been a few things on his mind for a while, so he might as well ask now before the network turns to death talk again.]

I spoke with one of the workers on Thesa before coming here, and he shared some with me. It’s a green fruit with several leaves, and it has a bumpy texture...you might have seen it before. When you slice into it, the juice is purple. It's delicious and tastes like honey and plum, but...if someone offers you the same fruit in a different color, you might want to be careful. I’ve heard the other colors of doreh have side effects that are...less than desirable.

[How ominous? He seems to know what’s going on, at least.]

With all the conversation topics we've had, I'd also like to ask...were you religious where you're from, or was your world religious? I've visited the temples here, and they're...unique. [It's so hard to pick just one word.] I've been thinking about my own faith...a lot changes when you end up on a different world, doesn't it?

[He pauses for a moment, and then shakes his head slightly.]

Haha...it sounds a little heavy when I phrase it like that, but I'm still interested in hearing about your worlds if I haven't lost you all yet.

Comments

video | un: real_life_actual_king

[tummyflowers]

Really? Talking about religion? Maybe things are dandy where you're from, but where I'm from we had a little something called the Crusades. It wasn't a good time. It's why I have a blanket policy - no talking about religion.

But Catholic.

ah, finally a masa tag in my inbox 💋

[crosspear]

Do you think now's a bad time for it? I think it's interesting myself, but you may be right.

[He looks a little apologetic. Maybe he'd spoken too soon about this? Crusades are a type of holy war, if he remembers his studies correctly, but he can't be certain there's been many in the history of his world.]

We can talk about something else if you'd like, though...I'm not sure anything I have to say would be of much interest to anyone from a royal family.

[He's being a little modest, but...heck, how is he supposed to talk to a king? That still deserves some respect.]

the greatest gift of all

[tummyflowers]

Well I'm sure I can think of something. So how about...

[Wow, look at this kid. Actual respect. That's all he ever wanted. Okay, don't blow this. Don't blow this, Richard. Bring up something really cool. Something awe inspiring. Politics? Murder? Oh, Murder does seem pretty topical lately. Science? History? Music?]

Some pretty fine looking girls around here, wouldn't you say?

[Boom. Nailed it.]

[crosspear]

[So...that's how it's going to be. There's only one response that he can have here, and it's to laugh politely. Not too much. A warm, jolly chuckle.

Because he really doesn't know how else to answer, but it buys him time.]

I take it there's no 'real life actual queen,' then? I'm sure if you're looking for company, you'll be able to find someone.

[Nailed it.]

[tummyflowers]

Oh, there is. But we're not seeing each other anymore.

[She broke his heart! And uh, exiled him.]

[crosspear]

[Is it because she's in a pod, maybe? Can royalty break up or divorce? Or...is there something else? Gaius can't really make an educated guess here.]

I'm sorry to hear that. [Seems like a safe answer.] You're looking to meet someone here, then? I don't think it's impossible. You can't be the only one looking.

[tummyflowers]

Oh, well, not really. I have a girl of my own now. Totally in love with me, completely digs me. [Oh yes. A woman that he has made it with. Or was about to.] But you know, lots of young fellows like you around, there's always talk. Nothing wrong with a little guy talk, right?

[crosspear]

Haha...I'm happy for you, then. With any fortune, she'll join you here soon.

[Guy talk? You mean that thing where people talk about girls and Gaius chuckles in the background because all women are goddesses?]

I can do that. What do you want to talk about?

[tummyflowers]

Oh, well um... [He doesn't really know how to guy talk. Gareth only ever liked to be too manly for feeling, the Chef was too timid to risk having an opinion, and Galavant only ever obsessed over his own gal pal. So where did that leave Richard? Severely lacking in topics about women.

Still, he must soldier on. No point calling it quits...]

Breasts. Women sure do have them. Very... round, aren't they?

[crosspear]

[...this is sure taking a hard left into the uncomfortable. Gaius can only roll with so much.]

Ahaha...most mammals have them, though I've heard that some lay eggs instead of nursing.

[Is it still guy talk if he tries to change the subject?]

[tummyflowers]

... is that normal where you're from?

[Because... damn, he's not sure he could deal with being with a woman who laid an egg because... okay, no wait, he's into it. Yeah, he could deal.]

Sorry for the late reply, I took a break because of the heat.

[crosspear]

Monsters and animals are capable of all sorts of things, so I can't say one way or the other. I take it it's not something you've heard of?

[This beats talking about breasts to a teenager in his own humble opinion.]

[tummyflowers]

Well, no, not as such. Everyone tends to do it the, well, normal way where I'm from.

[crosspear]

I see.

[There's not much more he can say there. Birth is birth.]

Is there anything you'd consider unusual in your world, then? Anything that's different from here or that seems different compared to the worlds of others you've spoken to?

[tummyflowers]

Well, now that you mention it, yes. It seems like people just never get around to singing. Like, at all.

[crosspear]

There's not enough music here for you? I played in a band myself once...but only for one show.

[tummyflowers]

Not like that. I mean spontaneous unrehearsed musical numbers complete with dancing and clever repertoire. You know, normal.

[crosspear]

[. . .]

I'm afraid I've never heard of that happening before.

[It sounds fake, tbh?]

[tummyflowers]

That's what everyone keeps saying. Am I really the only one from a normal world?

[crosspear]

[He could point the obvious out. Or he could remember Richard is a king and try to humor him. It doesn't seem like there's a way to win here.]

You just might be.

[tummyflowers]

[He sighs mournfully.]

Moments like these make me really miss home where things made sense.

[crosspear]

Haha...I know what you mean. I think about home a lot as well. I suppose I always will.

[tummyflowers]

Yes... bit of a shame with the whole not existing thing anymore, eh? [Super casual. Like the destruction of all realities but this one is just one of those things like the weather.]

http://i.imgur.com/qjhp4SL.png

[crosspear]

That might be a bit of an understatement.

[He's going to keep his tone casual if Richard is. They're all supposed to be moving on, anyways. He can't cry about it over the phone.]

What do you think of Olympia so far, your majesty?

[tummyflowers]

Oh, please, just call me your grace. Majesty seems so pretentious, don't you think? [He just can't go for it. It's too much.] In any case, I'm not terribly fond of a few things. Would it have killed them to give me my own place?