#2. in which Arc is nothing but a homesick toddler.

[taceoum]

[Accidental Video.][The feed clicks on, showing a very clean apartment kitchen. When one says "clean", it actually means spotless and glittering, since Arc is very, very passionate about cleaning and scrubbing. On the table is a bag filled with onion bulbs, and next to it is the brat herself, slumped over with her hat off as she peels them.

Comments

[Video]

[precursor_dax]

[Awww...now that's just heartbreakingly sad. Even Daxter can't turn his back on a kid that miserable.]

Hey there. Ya look like you could use someone to talk to. Missin' somebody back home?

[Audio.]

[taceoum]

[Oh, Oracion. The damned video was on-- She grabs it from the floor, smacking herself into the table by accident and switching to audio.]

N-N-No, it's not-- [It's no use trying to hide her tears, but it's not like she can open up to a complete stranger. What if they found her ridiculous, or even worse, immature? She sniffles, not even wasting a second to think about what kind of creature it is on the screen.] I... well. I-I-I miss my an-- ... my brothers. And ev... everyone. I'm trying n-not to, but it won't-- work--

[Like you can do anything, you dumbass. You can't do much but screw up and make people yell at you.]

[Video]

[precursor_dax]

[Daxter doesn't know it yet, but she sees herself the way most people back in his world see him apparently. Even still, Daxter's settled a bit with the way people here have accepted him.]

I know that feeling. Listen, ah, well I haven't got yer name yet...anyway cooking ain't my strong point, but, ah, do ya like pets an' stories?

[Consoling people is totally not his strong point,,,but he's trying.]

[Video.]

[taceoum]

[Well, you won't have to worry about cooking a thing, Daxter. There's plenty of raw onions to go around here.

This guy may be a stranger, but she's a bit touched and bitter at the same time. Are you lying about that? You may say you know that feeling, but have you felt it to the extent I have? You probably don't know what it means to feel like this. But she doesn't know how much this... animal has been through. It's not her place to say whether they've suffered more or less.]

I d-d-don't want to trouble you. I mean, you--hic--probably have better things to do.

But... I... I guess I like pets and stories. I-I'm Arcana Levos. I'm s-sorry I haven't intro--introduced myself.

[A subtle yes, please tell me more from her, just to be polite, but she needs to take her mind off of these things. But you're probably joking, aren't you? Soon you'll be making fun of me.]

[Video]

[precursor_dax]

[Yum...raw onions. That's a gourmet meal right there.]

Well, I've gotta dragon and a crocadog ya can come play with sometime if you wanna. As far as stories...

[He thinks a moment before launching into a huge and obviously purposely exaggerated story of one of his adventures. This is partly because he's an attention whore and likes to be noticed, but partly because it's highly distracting this way so if she's listening then she can't be lonely.]

[Video.]

[taceoum]

[It's almost too bad that no one else shares that sentiment. Raw onions keep the turtlesnakes away.

As she listens, jealousy builds up. Although she's getting suspicious about some details, she can't help but feel as if all that she's done is nothing compared to this guy. She doesn't realize that at some point, she accidentally switched the feed from audio back to video. Not that it matters, though, because one can tell she's sulking even from her voice. It must be nice to have a glamorous life like that, full of adventure and overcoming obstacles. Che! I'd give up anything in the world to have a life where all you do is just do your thing. Anything.

But something in the back of her mind tells her that might not be necessarily true. So she just settles for politeness.]

T-That's... amaz--hic--ing. But w-where'd you get a dragon? Aren't those hard to find?

[Video]

[precursor_dax]

[Hey pest control is important.

It'd probably be more grand if certain parts didn't involve him being a betting chip to people who wanted his fur or thought Ottsel-meat was a good snack...or he hadn't been poisoned as blackmail...but he totally and courageously overcame it all...according to him anyway.]

Dunno how hard or easy it's 'sposed ta be to get dragons here. I just found an egg mixed in with a buncha fake ones around here this time last.

[Video.]

[taceoum]

[Although she's definitely bringing in all of the negative and envious thoughts, Arc tries her best to hide her scowl, although that messes up her face and makes her look as if she's going to bawl again. Courage! Determination! Those kinds of things are so difficult to obtain, yet all of you make it sound like it's so easy. Don't you think you deserve to suffer a little bit? I bet you don't know what it's like to suffer in ways that aren't physical. I bet you're only bragging about your adventures to make me stop crying and to make me feel as if you're more important, like you're not expendable! You greedy little son of a bitch! I bet that was your plan after all--

But she has to be quick to shake those hurtful thoughts from her head. She doesn't know what this... Ottsel has been through. She has no right to complain about being judged when she herself judges. But I can't help it! It just happens! I'm not the one at fault here!]

The d-dragons I know... they're g-hic--ods of sorts. There's a-- a white one that looks after us. [It's

[Video.]

[precursor_dax]

Pfft, gods are a whole lotta hot air. unless this white dragon of yours actual does his job.

[yeah, dax doesn't like dieties much, and he's technically sort of one now.]

Considering several points of adventuring have included being a betting chip for people who thought my fur looks better on them or that Ottsel meat tastes good? Nah I'm not into animal abuse unless it's a dangerous monster.