un: ragnvaldr | video

[devowr]

[A pretty man with red hair and a thick grey fur shawl around his shoulders appears, seeming hesitant for a moment. He understands that this is how it works, having seen it before. Still. It’s new to him. ]

Good evening. [For those who speak English or its interdimensional equivalents will hear a thick Scandinavian accent. His voice is clear and confident, and he offers a warm smile to the camera.]

Though the snow and creature-rearing has kept us busy and indoors these past weeks, there is no reason we cannot get to know one another. Afterall, must we wait until spring to match-make? So much idle time, so much plentiful food… I think we should all become better acquainted.

My name is Ragnvaldr, the qualities that make me a good husband include hunting, fishing, wood-chopping, and leather making. Also, I am literate.

Comments

[fillme]

he’s the best!!!

[he finds this dude and his funny accent soothing to listen to. there’s a comfort in his frankness, as well, though it’s a bit bittersweet. bleak, maybe. but time is hardly real to Hikaru, anyway…

speaking of that…

Hikaru’s learning…being a bit honest isn’t exactly so risky, here… it still feels a bit experimental every time, so he hesitates at first. he could just say that it’s a misunderstanding, but…

well, what else does Hikaru have to do in this place? he’s curious to test things…]

yep

[of “some sort,” indeed.]

what i am hasnt got a name though
there’s all kinds of strange types here…

[devowr]

What is the nature of your brain snatching?

[I mean. It was for food. Right? ]

[This makes Ragnvaldr’s heart beat a little faster. He’d spoken with monsters before, of course. They weren’t usually so reasonable.]

…Is that why you write in this manner?

text -> video

[fillme]

[? who doesn’t know shorthand? even most boomers know what it is, even if they can’t read it… maybe he’s oldschool. in a different way. all types, right?]

Oh, nah. I write that way because it’s typical for people my age in my world. We’re extremely used to this level of technology, so I use a lot of shorthand. Plus, I speak with an accent, so it sort of bleeds into how I write, I guess. I don’t write like this because it feels strange for my personality. And it’s tedious.

[so, Hikaru turns on his video, figuring it out after a bit of tinkering.]

Anyway, “brain-snatchin’” is a bit…

[he laughs a little, scratching his cheek as he tries to figure out how to articulate it.]

Incorrect, I guess?

That’s what the humans in my region called me for like…hundreds’a years: “The Great Brainsnatcher.” They offered me heads, cuz they thought I’d grant wishes for in exchange ‘em. But… I never needed ‘em, or anythin’. I didn’t want ‘em, neither. It was kinda one big tragic misunderstandin’.

Lately, I’m called “Hikaru.”

[devowr]

[This all sounds very much like-]

… Are you a God? … Or mistaken for a God?

[He takes in the other’s appearance. He’s a fairly average boy, isn’t he. It. It? ]

Why are you Hikaru now?

[fillme]

…Dunno. Mistaken fer one, I think. I’m prolly just a monster. [Hikaru hasn’t had confirmation that other gods exist the way humans even perceive them to be… it’s a confusing question, though it’s not a bad one…

the “Hikaru” question is hard, too. he isn’t Hikaru. but he is, too. it’s a lie, but so few people know it. it feels real all the time, even though it’s not. even though he’s distinctly aware of how different they are as people, the more he develops into his own ego…]

An’ I’m Hikaru now cuz that’s the name given to this body I’m in.

Feels kinda scary, just sayin’ all this stuff…

[but kind of—cathartic, in a way…?]

Risky, haha…

[devowr]

Are you a monster of a dark nature? You seem to be kind enough.

[The name given to the body he’s in. Ah. This is the person whose brain he snatched? …Well. He wasn’t looking to jump to conclusions.]

What sort of risk? Do you fear you will be hunted? Have you done something to warrant such retaliation?

[fillme]

Ummm…

I dunno…?

[he’s ambivalent to life. he doesn’t really feel bad when he hurts people. but he feels bad doing the wrong thing. he feels bad when people think of him poorly. he likes making Yoshiki happy. he absorbs curses for humans, and he tore himself in two to make himself less dangerous…

Hikaru can’t make heads or tails of his nature. he knows he doesn’t like the idea of being “dark,” though.]

Nah, it’s more like… I had t’keep it a secret, back home.

Doesn’t really seem t’matter as much, here…

Doesn’t mean I’m gonna totally expose myself; I should still be careful. But there’s lotsa non-humans, here. Even a guy who’s somethin’ kinda like me.