✘ Round 8 | [Audio]

[glacius]

You all... you all are truly insufferable, you know that?

[Right off the bat, this is strange behavior for Glacius, who has woken up to an odd, subtle-but-familiar buzzing in the back of his mind. He might notice it from the last time the gods pushed him to lash out at people, but this particular brand of rage plays off emotions that are already fiercely strong in the alien: his protectiveness towards the people close to him, or in this instance, the one person he is closest to. He's always been frustrated at the treatment Carlisle has had to endure, in his own world and occasionally in this one, but this just pushes him to a breaking point.

At this point Glacius thinks he would like nothing more than to waltz out into the city and pick a fight with someone who so much as looks at his partner the wrong way, but he can't. He can't just wander through the city thanks to the ever-oppressive heat just outside, so that leaves him with only one avenue: arguing over the network. This should come off as extremely uncharacteristic of Glacius even to people that only know him in passing.]

It's bad enough, the trouble that I go through for all of you. But to put Carlisle through anything even remotely similar? My partner?! How many times has he come home exhausted, terrified, or in tears—because of what he has to go through here? Because of what you have asked of him, or of what you have done to him? All he has ever tried to do is help the needy of this city! If you've ever ended up injured, there's a good chance he has helped you directly! You probably don't even know what that does to him—and worse, this is how you repay him?!

So. [The ice alien pushes a little snort through his nostrils, as his brief but angry tirade is replace by a colder sort of fury.] Let this be your warning. If any of you come anywhere near him with any intent to harm him, physically or emotionally, you will answer to me. I will keep him safe. I must!

[And with that, some of the otherworldly warrior's true protectiveness beginning to bleed through, he cuts the feed. He's not sure if this accomplished anything and it wasn't even therapeutic to get out like he was hoping thanks to the outside influences still leaving his mind addled, but he can't just sit by any more.]

Comments

[restinglichface]

So what, your guy's got a giant target on his back or somethin'? What's he doin' to get so much attention?

[glacius]

He—[Glacius almsot launches into an explanation on his partner's curse and how it has lead people to judge him unfairly, followed by an ardent defense of the clergyman... but even under the god's influence, he manages to remember that's not his place to talk about. The alien growls, chafed by his inability to truly describe the injustices Carlisle has to suffer, and tries to find something else he can air his grievances about.]

—He is a healer and a cleric, and often offers his services to people in need. Sometimes he even runs himself ragged doing it. And they have no idea! No idea at all what he puts himself through for them! They continue to cause trouble, fighting with each other, running off and getting themselves foolishly injured, then turning around and taking advantage of his gifts without knowing what it can do to him. Ungrateful, selfish! And that is to say nothing of those who have been rude or cruel to him despite his aid!

[restinglichface]

[Wow. That is, uh, a lot.

There's no hiding the surprise on the elf's sharp features, the way her brows draw up or how her mouth twists into something very uncertain. What the hell is going on with people today? First Barry and now Glacius?]

That sucks, for sure. I guess I'd be pretty pissed too if I was in your shoes. [Just the thought of anyone trying to take advantage of Barry like that drags a strange coil of something red hot within her.] But somehow I don't think airing this shit over the network's gonna help much. Words don't get through to folks like that.

[glacius]

Well, there isn't much else I can do about it with this blasted heat. [Glacius still sounds scornful, but this is more of a forced mutter—as if a part of him knows this is the wrong way to go about things, but he needs an outlet.] Anyways, if they have not changed their ways by now then I am not sure what will get through to them, but I have to try. I have to try everything in my power to keep people away from him. They don't deserve him.

[restinglichface]

I'll remember to keep my distance then. Don't wanna get in the way of you and your boo.

Hopefully folks will get the point.