video; un: eraserhead

[eyedrop]

[ Aizawa's lolling against some tree somewhere. Terrible, slumped posture; hair wild about his face. His expression is neutral, bordering on irritable, and his voice is an exhausted monotone. He sits with one leg folded over the other, idly tossing a cat figurine from hand to hand. ]

Hey. Myself and a few others did some looking around. Apparently, both the sea clan and the mountain clan have their allies--but they're not within easy reach. In the case of the sea clan, the empress's brother is married to some far-off queen. The mountain clan's allies aren't too nearby, either.

[ He shifts minutely. His eyes flutter briefly shut, and he sighs. ]

Point being, war between these two would be irrational. The old man we spoke with said no one really wants to start anything, but I don't know how true that is. I haven't tried to approach the nobles.

[ He really doesn't look or act the part, and he knows it. Nor does he have an escort. ]

If you've spoken to any of them, what's the mood? What do they want?

[ He cards a hand through his hair, frowning slightly. ]

They're the key to this, I think. Certainly the key to actually meeting that empress of theirs. So if you've got info, or if you've made any connections, spill it.

Comments

[datapoint]

[Lucina -- she hasn't met her yet, but she'll remember the name.]

Ah, no, my tribe doesn't have royalty. I'm a Seeker, and I used to be a Chieftain. [For like two days. It counts.]

[healstaffs]

[ Those words mean nothing to her, but they sound fancy to her all the same. ]

A 'Seeker'? Does that mean you're really good at finding stuff?

[datapoint]

It means... [It's complicated. She pauses a second to give Lissa a cue that the explanation isn't going to be simple.]

My tribe isn't supposed to leave our sacred land. Those who do are outcast, except for Seekers -- who, like you guessed, are supposed to be finding something. Most of them don't come back; I might be the only one right now.

[healstaffs]

Oh.

[ That's kind of depressing. ]

But it must be a great honor, right, to be able to leave? [ She quickly adds: ] Though I hope you get to go back to your friends and family.

[datapoint]

[ALL HER FAMILY IS DEAAAAAD but she doesn't say that.]

I will once I find what I'm looking for. I'm hoping Hathaway can help with that.

[healstaffs]

[ omfg ]

What are you looking for? Is it something super important that will save all your people or something?

[datapoint]

[Well. What she was anointed Seeker for and what she asked Hathaway for are not exactly the same, but Lissa doesn't need to know she's being a little selfish.] Something like that.

But anyway, if outlander titles will help, I'm game. Otherwise I'll give you whatever support I can.

[healstaffs]

We can add it to our list anyway! [ Whose 'we' here, who knows. ] I'm sure they're better than nothing.

Thanks, um.....

[ Is 'aloy' her actual name or another rando word.... ]

[datapoint]

Aloy. [Pronounced A-loy, not alloy. A common mistake because A-loy is stupid.]

I'm going to assume you're Lissa. [Or LISSA!!!!]

[healstaffs]

A-loy. [ There, she's got it. ] And yeah, that's me. Lissa of Ylisse, but everyone just calls me Lissa.

[datapoint]

Then good luck, Lissa.