[video, March 11]

[breakin_ur_lore]

Good evening. My name is Med'an, and if we haven't met yet, I'm one of the physicians aboard the ship.

I wanted to introduce myself, and let everyone know that the medbay is always open. Even if I'm not there, someone will be able to help you, and you can always call me, too. Small injuries are easy for me to heal.

[The young man pauses, his somber expression shifting uncertainly, but he seems to rally himself and continues.]

...I also wanted to offer my services as a paladin. I'm still a student, but back home I've been training under the Hand of Argus. I know that we all come from different places...and maybe, back home, you haven't heard of the Light. But you don't have to know anything about the Light to find a paladin useful. They're sworn to protect the innocent, and uphold justice.

So...

...please let me know if I can help.

[He's concerned about the different sorts of people on the ship. Not in a "must convert people" way - that's not really what the Light is about - but he's already seen too many frighteningly damaged people aboard, and all he wants to do is help them. He is young and naive enough to believe, firmly, that there is something that can be done to fix anything, and he's determined to be a part of that.]

Thank you for your time. [Seriously, he nods to the camera, before switching it off.]

Comments

[visionarie]

I'm afraid I haven't heard of the Light. [To be fair, he's only two weeks old.] But I would like too.

[breakin_ur_lore]

[It's ok, young man you dont need to feel down, Med'an didn't know about the Light either when he was two weeks old.

It's nice, even a bit exciting, to hear that someone is interested. He sounds a little like he's reciting a favorite sermon.]

The Light is a natural energy inherent in all living beings. It is coaxed out by small acts of kindness, service to those in need, and the confirmation of truths. With time, it rewards those who are receptive to it, with blessings both seen and unknown.

But just as one's connection to the Light can be strengthened by good, so too can it be weakened by acts of selfishness and destruction. There are those from whom the Light has withdrawn entirely, and who live in despair and rage.

[visionarie]

[He listens to the explanation, his quantum mind racing through millions of thoughts, each branching off with every question into separate threads and all of it contained in mere seconds.

He looks at him, one thread sparking his attention in particular.]

Do they live in despair because the Light has withdrawn or because the despair drove the Light away?

[breakin_ur_lore]

[The boy takes a moment to think about it. It's a good question, and one that didn't really consciously surface for him; but he thinks he knows the answer.]

...well...it would depend on the person, of course - but I guess it could be both. The despair drove the Light away, and then they felt as though they were lost without it.

[...yeah, if he thinks about it, he might know more people like that than he realized.

Quickly, he adds; ]

But the Light can come back - it doesn't abandon people, or anything. That is, if they want it back.

[probably.]

video

[knaval]

Sooo... like a cop, but with weird spooky magic stuff?

[that sounds vaguely like the shit drift is into.]

video

[breakin_ur_lore]

[He honestly hadn't really thought of them like that, and the idea makes him smile a tiny bit. ] I guess so.

But...with more focus on the weird spooky magic stuff. [He says that phrase with much amusement, because magic is so normal to him that he doesn't usually think of it as "weird" and "spooky". And then, of course, there's the difference between holy magic and arcane magic and blah blah blah....]

But they do enforce the law - or they can, when there's an absence of other peacekeepers around.

Re: video

[knaval]

Sounds like some weird spooky magic stuff to me.

[magic isn't even real in riptide's world, he just doesn't much into science.]

So... you were given a job in the medibay instead of a law one? I mean, I guess I understand. What is this, Black Block space? I don't even know.

video

[breakin_ur_lore]

Well, the Light is good for healing - and I'm good at it, I guess. I know a few other spells, too...

[pause.]

..."Black Block space"? [Those are all words he knows, but he has no clue why you would put them together like that. He sounds curious, though!]

Re: video

[knaval]

They make poor decisions. I think it's an organic thing.

[riptide assumes they hate magic, too.]

What other spells?

[breakin_ur_lore]

[Med’an just makes a thoughtful noise, as though he totally understands what they’re talking about. “Organics”? Well, he…supposes that’s an accurate term for him, and other...non-robot creatures. ...This is the most robots he’s ever met in his whole life. Not that he’s had a very eventful life so far or anything.]

I can do some nature magic, too - I’m a shaman. Not one with a lot of training, but I can talk to the spirits and everything.

[You know. Like you do.]

[knaval]

Ohhhh my god where is Drift when you need him? Or Ratchet. Oh my gosh.

[he barks a short laugh.]

Okay. Okay. That's cool. That's really cool, seriously!

[ersatzeverything]

Hey, yeah, I've heard of the light. It's that thing that happens when the sun comes up. [Forgive this smartass.]

[breakin_ur_lore]

[R u d e . Although - maybe because he's young, or maybe because he hasn't had the pleasure of hearing it five million times already - it actually makes Med'an's lips quirk up in a brief, wry smile. I mean, it is a little funny.]

Or when the moons are full.

[(Yes, plural moons.)]

It's not exactly the same thing, though.

[ersatzeverything]

[Moons? Weird. Not as weird as dragons or the fact that his guy he's talking to has pointy ears, but still weird.]

Okay, so it's protecting the innocent and upholding justice yadda yadda. I've gotta ask, what kind of justice are you upholding?

[Protecting the innocent sounds great, but justice is a tricky thing, and he's seen it too often used as a friendly-sounding code name for rigidity and ruthlessness.

Although Med'an does have a sense of humor, so that already puts him a step above the Brotherhood of Steel paladins he's encountered.]

[breakin_ur_lore]

[Pointy ears are all the rage, tho. Humans are missing out.

He has to think about the question for a few moments, drawing breath to answer and then pausing. It's one of those things you feel like you just know, but actually articulating it is harder than it seems.]

Well...um...the sort of justice that...protects people, and ensures that everything is fair. That lets people who hurt others be stopped. The Light is about what you do, not where you came from, or...anything.

[It's hard to say if that was a good answer. It wasn't very elaborate, but he does seem sincere about it.]

[ersatzeverything]

[Deacon nods once.]

Works for me.

I'll put you down as one of the "not-asshole paladins" then.

[breakin_ur_lore]

[He chuckles a little wryly. That sounds like a positive enough statement to him!] Well, thank you.

[a pause. He is honestly curious...] Do you know a lot of asshole paladins?

[ersatzeverything]

Oh yeah. Unfortunately. Not, like, know them personally, but we have run-ins. They're with the Brotherhood of Steel. Brotherhood of Bigots, more like it.

[breakin_ur_lore]

Oh. [Med’an shakes his head sympathetically. He’s been fortunate enough to meet - mostly - good paladins, but he certainly knows about some that are not.] I’m sorry.

I think a lot of people...or, at least, a few groups of people...have taken the Light the wrong way. The Light, and justice, I guess. It’s such an...important thing, that people are desperate for it.

[And then he pauses, to see if that sounded as wise outloud as it did in his head. He’s making it up as he goes, tbh, but it sounded right, right?]

[ersatzeverything]

Yeah, the Brotherhood of Steel want to restore order to the world, but not everyone agrees with their idea of order. And they've got pretty specific ideas of who deserves to live in the new world they're going to create and who doesn't.

[empressingly]

What a sweet ideal. Perhaps though you too might want to be careful. We wouldn't want anything to happen to such a nice young man.

[breakin_ur_lore]

[Med'an is woefully inexperienced in just about everything, but he can tell that this is some sort of threat or taunt. What's tripping him up is why he's being taunted. Maybe this person really doesn't like paladins and/or doctors? He...well, he thinks those are both cool things, but he supposes not everyone agrees with him.

He's not sassy enough to make this a witty comeback, but his tone is calm and airy.]

I am capable of taking care of myself.

[He's not scared of anything!!!!]

[meyneth]

[A doctor? That gets Fiora's attention. Her health has been weighing on her mind since she got here - she's not too eager to believe they can really just fix the myriad of problems with her body.]

You're a physician? Um... do you treat -- less conventional people?

[breakin_ur_lore]

Yes, of course. At least...I would try. [He will do his besto!!! Even though he sounds a little confused. "Less conventional"? Like....maybe some sort of weird human-orc-draenei thing, like that kind of less conventional?]

We have machines here that can do a lot, too - more than I thought any machines could do.

Are you injured?

[meyneth]

No, no, I'm not injured. I've just been wondering what would happen if I needed repairs, that's all. I'm not sure I trust whether those machines could help me in a pinch.

[although he'd probably know better than her. maybe they would be fine after all.]

[breakin_ur_lore]

Oh....[But now he's confused by that noun she just used. They're talking about machines, yes, but if she needed...? Maybe this is a weird or inappropriate question - but if she ever does get injured, then he'll need to know, right?]

..."repairs"?

I...I mean, my healing spells work for a lot of things...[??? psyduck???]

[meyneth]

Oh, er... is this thing not on video? Agh, sorry. How do I work this thing...

[A second later, the video turns on, showing Fiora off in all her cyborg glory.]

See? I'm mostly metal.

[breakin_ur_lore]

[At least she looks vaguely familiar - it’s hard to mistake her for someone else - but that doesn’t help him really...know what to do in case she gets hurt. It’s not like Azeroth has an abundance of cyborgs, and even if it did, poor Med’an’s barely set foot outside of Duskwood.

He’s also not sure how much is appropriate to ask about her….um...body. And suddenly he’s not sure how much he should be looking at her body either, oh god, this is awkward.]

Oh, I, uh... are you…

...part...um, flesh, too? [He can’t. He looks away from the camera, as though this will help avoid embarrassing eye-contact.]

[meyneth]

[Fiora doesn't look the least bit offended by the question, although her voice has become quieter and calmer as the conversation goes on. Smiling, she nods slightly and points at her face with one metal hand.]

Most of me was replaced, but they kept the really important parts. The "nervous system," I think? My head's all original. Well, except for my headset.

[after a pause, she adds:] Don't worry, I'm alright talking about it.

video

[noitatnacni]

...So that's actually kind of funny, since your version of the Light sounds pretty much like the exact opposite of the one where I'm from. You haven't heard of a guy named Vandal Savage, have you?

[Just checking.]

Also, I'm assigned to medbay too, except I don't know why. Healing is not on my list of spells. Anyway, my name's Zatanna.

video

[breakin_ur_lore]

Vandal Savage? [Despite his earlier serious manner, he can't help but smile just a bit.] That sounds like some sort of rockstar name. What does the Light do where you're from?

[And his expression brightens further when she mentions the medbay. Coworker? Yay!! :D ]

It's nice to meet you, Zatanna. Do you...I mean, do you know first aid or anything? [(The tone is kind and curious, not judgmental. He can heal, but he's not sure that qualifies him for the job he got here.)]