[video - for the good of all of us (except the ones who are dead).]

[purpleknee]

Oh Abeegail, what am I to do? I need to help five people and fill them with hope so I can get something that makes me feel like I have a heart again! Because I don't have a heart inside my body, which apparently means far more to me than it does for most of the people in this stupid cave. Hmn? What's that Beeatrice, this trade is basically impossible for me without the thing I'm trading for? Right you are! How smart, and how quickly you realized it, you smart little bee.

[His faux enthusiasm drops and he glares flatly at the camera.]

Come help a witch help you to help himself help us all. I have healing magic and a temper. If you think this is cheating, I don't want to hear it, and I only want things that will actually help. I'm serious, I'm trying to be good, here.

...Oh, and it goes against everything else I'm trying to do here, but I should let you know that the bees I found can't make honey. Maybe if you tell Delight or someone they can, she'll believe you and the copies will be able to, I don't know. I don't really care.

[He's screwed.]

Comments

[purpleknee]

Then I think that's a fair trade.

[Especially since he was refusing himself the pleasure or arson already, while on this mission.]

Our beloved princess Ozma had a spell that kept everyone healthy and happy. When she disappeared, her blessing did, too.

[oversear]

Excellent.

[ Armand is not fond of the idea of someone unstable potentially setting everything ablaze while he daylight sleeps. ]

A powerful sorceress, then. Is this the true Oz you speak of?

[purpleknee]

She isn't a sorceress, she's a fairy child. Except when she isn't a child sometimes? It's complicated.

[When your princess isn't only genderqueer, but agequeer...]

If by true Oz you mean the one the Dorothies visit, then yes.

[oversear]

I see. I have a hard time imagining the spectrum of magic so I will take your word for it.

[ Armand's so basic. ]

Yes, that is the one I mean. Have you met Dorothy?

[purpleknee]

[It doesn't help that Oz has specific titles.]

There's been more than one. I've been to one of their funerals but the Dorothy I met was actually an Emma. I like her a lot more than the Dorothies.

[oversear]

I see. So, Emma went in place of a Dorothy. Were you lovers?

[purpleknee]

[SPITS]

EXCUSE YOU THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

[oversear]

[ Shrug. Just finding out about his new bro. ]

Apologies. I did not think it was a sensitive subject.

[purpleknee]

AT LEAST START WITH FRIEND OR GIRLFRIEND DON'T JUMP STRAIGHT TO LOVERS

[oversear]

[ Right, "girlfriends" were a thing nowadays. Committing that to memory. He's laughing, though. ]

Wouldn't a girlfriend be a lover? In more poetic words?

[purpleknee]

THAT MAKES IT SOUNDS LIKE

THINGS

HAPPENED

[burn him]

[oversear]

[ Things didn't happen? That's tragic. ]

Then you are a gentleman of sorts. Forgive me for my assumption.

[purpleknee]

[opens mouth

closes it

lays head on desk]

it's not

we just started dating before I got here

that's all

[oversear]

[ Oh no, he's adorable. ]

Ah. Congratulations are in order, I suppose.

[purpleknee]

[Later Warrick is going to lay down on top of the bookshelf and stare at the ceiling, wondering if that would even be an eventuality, with his curse. A kiss had burned him, so... Uh... Uh.]

thanks I guess

anyway I'm a lot more tolerable when she's around but I'd rather her not have to be here too so

trying out stupid Hope's stupid offer

[oversear]

She emulates a heart for you? That is rather romantic.

I understand the sentiment. I miss my paramours but I do not wish them to be here.

Perhaps, if you have healing magic, you should offer your services to the clinic. Anyone terminally ill could use the hope of becoming better.

[purpleknee]

[buries face in hands ugh it's dumb and sappy but also true]

Multiple paramours? Are you polyamorous or just...talking history?

[He doesn't really want to push on the subject, but he wants to get off of the topic of his own love life for a while, and even in Oz, polyamory wasn't super common. He only knows of Hercilia...]

One time I offered my services instead of the clinic and people just got mad at me so I don't want to work for the clinic.

[oversear]

Polyamorous? I am unfamiliar with this term. It means more than one love?

[ Oz seems like a progressive place. More than Earth circa 1990. ]

Then, yes. Sybelle and Benji. I am rather anxious about their fates.

[ They are so new to the Blood. How are they fairing without him there to guide them through the various lessons that need to be taught?

This is the first time he has mentioned them since coming here. He's surprised to find it's painful. ]

That is unfortunate. Don't become defeated. Some opportunity for hope will present itself.

[purpleknee]

Yeah, it's supposed to be a functional relationship type. The person I knew who was polyamorous wasn't exactly functional to begin with so I've never actually heard of it going smoothly before.

[Hercilia's a disaster. He kind of misses having her around just because it would be so easy to get into a literal fire fight.]

Well that is the HOPE anyway.

[hardy har]

[oversear]

I would like to think we are functional and smooth.

[ Whether the three of them would withstand the trial of time would be another question. They didn't get far in their immortal life together. Not before Armand was whisked away to Hadriel. ]

Do you count as one of these potential five?

[purpleknee]

[............hmn.]

I didn't really ask. I'm not sure that would count as ~*~real~*~ enough hope for him. What does that even mean?

[oversear]

I would count it as such. Inspiring hope in oneself, especially in a hopeless situation is next to a godly power, in my opinion.

[purpleknee]

HOPEfully Hope sees things the same way.

[oversear]

If so you are making good headway.

[purpleknee]

or heartway at least.