[network] @joacin; video/audio/text; poof [day 164]

[haillenarte]

[@joacin's voice is calm, husky, and professional.]

I would like to announce that the rubble in the museum has been cleared. There is now a viable path to the other side.

[there is an accompanying video:

the camera focuses on haurchefant — who else? — doing some heavy lifting, shouldering a large block of concrete from the pile and pushing it to one side. he isn't wearing a shirt, and even in the dim lighting of the museum, his muscles glisten with an alluring mist of moisture. haurchefant grunts. he doesn't seem entirely aware he's being filmed.

the camera then pans over to aymeric, who is just as topless and well-built as the first elezen, though considerably more tan, and less sweaty. he pauses in his work to sigh and roll his shoulders, running one hand through his dark and attractively disheveled hair. the camera keeps moving. house and merlwyb come into frame, but even though merlwyb has stripped down to a fairly revealing cotton bodice, the video doesn't linger on her. instead, it moves toward the last of the ishgardian knights, estinien, who has just finished removing the last of his armor; his back muscles flex while he pulls his luxurious silver locks into a ponytail — and just as he turns around, the video ends.]

Thank you for your patience regarding this matter.



[...unsurprisingly, five minutes later, @joacin posts another message to the network.]

apolgies
my apologies
please do not watch the preceding clip, here is the correct video
i am deeply sorry please frgvie me goodbye

[the second accompanying video is much shorter, and simply features the rubble pile collapsing in a cloud of dust, metal, wood, and glass while a startled hange yelps and moves out of the way. when the dust settles, there's a clear path to the other side! how nice!

...no shirtless elves in sight!]

Comments

>> video; private

[dravanicide]

[Estinien's expression doesn't falter much, his scowl hardens a hair, but not much more than that. Lutha isn't the only one disappointed, however, Estinien cannot say he is very surprised.

After all, his own adoptive father had let him down, why not another hyur?]

Are you so blind to not see that I have chastised the fool who posted such a lecherous recording? I will grant that perhaps in your haste to speak ill of my kind, whilst simultaneously making a piss poor example of yours, you overlooked it. Nevertheless, know you that I have said my piece to the young lordling for daring to even record this rubbish in the first place, let alone share it amongst the rest of our fellow captives.

[He says each word with an obvious growl, his tone fast and sharp, irritation lacing his words.]

If you wish not to make enemies, then you will offer civility. Machines do not equate to the living, and even if your world would place my kind below yours, scant is the comparison equivalent. You will watch your tongue, or you will lose it. The choice is yours.

>> video; private

[hangfire]

Seeing what business you conduct with each other is none of my own. I'm not here to watch you slap another's wrist and deem it enough to keep my own mouth shut. To expect otherwise is naive.

[He dares a smirk at the visible anger of the other. The demand rings too close to the words of his father, a man he couldn't hate any more if he tried. Behave or lose your ear, Lutha, behave or lose your fingers, Lutha.

The threat is real, and the lack of his hand is enough proof that he knows it, but he still can't hold back the urge to willfully spit at the effort.]

To threaten mutilation while demanding civil reaction in the same breath doesn't paint a glorious picture of yourself, either.

>> video; private

[dravanicide]

You are correct, 'tis naive of me to expect a hyur to take notice of aught past his own ill-conceived self importance. Dull ears and a duller mind, I should better remember such are the qualities of your ilk.

[You want some racism? He'll give you some right back. While Estinien isn't one to speak prejudice, he is not above it. Especially when angered.]

'Tis civil to let a man know what he's inviting upon himself due to his actions, is it not? I could merely allow you to prattle on such nonsense without knowing what mine intent will be in light of it. I have shown you naught but civility till your shameful display, not unlike that of an infant—reactionary and thoughtless in the face of what he dislikes. Little do I think you have any right to criticize me on what picture I paint of myself.

>> video; private

[hangfire]

Then you should know I don't particularly care what I look like to a creature like you, especially if you have so obviously made up your mind about what I should be.

Your affairs among your own are no one's immediate care, let alone mine, and presenting it like I should be some sort of empathetic fool just makes you sound like an overbearing mother. Let your younger speak for himself and learn what he needs to, without deeming it such an offense for you to step in for his sake.

As I said before, I will hold my tongue if your people will watch their actions.