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

[ceruleo]

Okay, okay. Got it. [ A beat. ] Is she gonna believe us? I mean didn't that guy [ this guy ] say he read someone's mind or something...?

[eyedrop]

That's where all the people with charm and charisma come in.

He did say that. Yes.

[ and then jumped to a totally irrational conclusion, but that's neither here nor there. ]

[ceruleo]

[ No comment on Kylo Ren's deduction skills, because, let's be real. Lance can't do better. ]

Charm and charisma, huh? Can I help?

[ Implying he has either of those things. ]

[eyedrop]

Sorry, I should have been more precise. That's where all the women with charm and charisma come in.

[ Well, Lance did talk down those goats. But they're not really part of this society. Less biases. ]

[ceruleo]

[ Oh. Right. ]

Maybe next world.

[ A beat, then: ]

You should get Princess Allura to help you out. She's got all the wining-and-dining diplomacy stuff on lock for sure.

[eyedrop]

[ He'd heard her talking in response to the others, and while he doesn't know much about her, she did sound pretty cultured. ]

I'll look her up. We need everyone we can get.

[ceruleo]

She's the real deal, alright. She does a lot of speeches for the Coalition, plus she's a great actress.

[ I mean, she sustained the 'surly Keith look' for a whole episode. Impressive. ]

[eyedrop]

[ hmm ]

You sound pretty fond.

[ceruleo]

What can I say? If you knew Allura, you'd fall for her, too.

[eyedrop]

[ He has a guess that Allura is also a teenager, so he doubts it. ]

Just stay focused.