video; un: archon

[onlythans]

[ the video is clearly being shot from a phone is propped up on the coffee table. in it, Reno is sitting on the floor of his living room in an otherwise fairly bare-looking apartment, leaning back casually on both hands.

behind him, Thancred can be seen doing what appears to be a casual few reps of push-ups. or possibly a lot of push-ups. it's likely that Reno is aware of what Thancred is doing behind him, and Thancred is definitely aware that Reno is filming, but neither fact seems to bother either of them, and it doesn't seem like this somewhat unorthodox spectacle of physical prowess will be slowing down or stopping anytime soon. ]

Yo. [ a brief salute as a greeting. ] So we've been watchin' some monster movies lately and came up with a list of questions for those of ya who are from Earth or who might know the answers for some reason.

[ Reno lifts up one hand to tick through the questions from memory: ]

1. Where is Japan and what's the beef between Japan and America?

2A. Where's Russia and what's the beef between Russia and America? And 2B. What's a cold war?

3. What big war event happened in 1944 that would make somebody's pocketwatch stop keeping time?

4. How long is a klick?

How far. It was a measure of distance, I think.

[ — an interjection from Thancred that earns an amused eye-roll from Reno, clearly for the camera's benefit. when Reno speaks again, it's in a surprisingly accurate imitation of Thancred's accent: ]

Oh, excuse me, how far is a klick. Hey, and while we're at it, is "British" the place where they have accents like his?

[ Reno shakes his head, smirking; when he speaks again, it's back to his usual drawl. ]

...What was I saying? Oh, yeah — 5A. What's the story of the mouse and the lion? And 5B. In the story of the mouse and the lion, did the mouse and lion become friends or did the mouse kill the lion with the splinter?

6. Have any of you ever been to the moon?

[ there's a pause while he tries to remember if there's anything else. after a second, Reno turns halfway back to Thancred to ask, ] That was it, right?

It for you, mayhap. I'd still like to know what in the seven hells is a "DILF" —

[ but alas, that's one answer that Thancred is destined not to get, at least by present company, because the audio fills with the sound of Reno's laughter as a hand approaches the camera to switch off the feed. ]


[OOC: Responses may come from Thancred, Reno, or both! Threadjacking is definitely encouraged.]

Comments

audio; un: hythlodaeus

[nomoresharks]

I am mostly here to learn these answers myself, admittedly, but I can at least provide a bit of trivia while I'm here.

[Though he's certain Thancred already knows]

In my time, Etheirys has no moon.

video ; @thundaga

[astraphilia]

I posted this lookin' for answers and now I have more questions... 7. What is Etheirys? Is that where you and Thancred are from?

[ he's aware that Thancred and Hythlodaeus are from the same(?) world(??) or at least some version of, or iteration of, the same world, but that's about the extent of the knowledge. ]

How'd ya get a moon if you didn't have one before... wait, what do you mean "your time"?

[ so many questions from this comparatively short message! ]

[nomoresharks]

'Tis the world we're from, yes. And I am approximately twelve thousand years behind.

As for the story of how the moon came to be... Well. "Someone made it" is the best explanation I have to give. Most of my knowledge on the subject is second or third hand anyroad.

[astraphilia]

Twelve thousand—

[ oops, he dropped the phone. give him a second while he scrambles and picks it back up... ]

That's a long fuckin' time. I ain't even sure Gaia's been around for twelve thousand years. [ he barely knows Gaia's history back to when he was born tbh he didn't go to school tho so the bar is low. ] And I sure don't think anybody made our moon...

[ ...although it's not wholly outside the realm of possibility. ]

[nomoresharks]

Oh, this is most definitely an exception to the norm. 'Tis obviously not impossible given that it was done, but I'm certain most moons are like your own--perfectly natural satellites orbiting a world.

[astraphilia]

That makes me feel a little bit better. [ it's said with a laugh, but there's some real relief in there too! ] We've had enough unpleasant surprises from space without finding out our moon is fake too.

[nomoresharks]

Now, now, I wouldn't say that. It may be created by someone else, but that doesn't make it "fake."

[It is in this case, but that doesn't make that the case for everything!]

There are plenty of flora and fauna in my world that have been created by someone else, but they are just as deserving of the name as any.

[astraphilia]

[ don't do this to him Hyth....... he needs to believe the moon is safe okay ]

...Okay, so what is your definition of "fake" if not "made by a person and not by nature"?

[nomoresharks]

[never!!]

Why, doing so on false terms, of course! Otherwise these phones we are using would be "fake" as well, would they not?

[astraphilia]

[ ...hang on. Reno's doing the white math lady gif. ]

I hate that that's a really good point.

[ because the phones aren't fake, they're real... but they were definitely not made by nature. well, at least most phones aren't, although who knows in this place. ]

[nomoresharks]

[He laughs]

That is not to say I'm unable to see your point of view. But the act of creation is quite common where and when I'm from, you see, so it seems perfectly natural. Similar to that device in the Science Discovery Center, you could say, though not done with machines.

[astraphilia]

Then how is it done if not with machines...

[ every question Reno asks he's getting more scared of the answer lmao ]

[nomoresharks]

Creation magicks, of course.

[...Right. Not "of course" in the slightest. And he'd been doing so well with keeping common terms from his world out of his explanations, too.]/small>

That is to say, using magic and a healthy imagination--as well as some knowledge of the subject at hand--to bring creatures, plants, and objects into being.

[astraphilia]

Oh, of course.

[ Reno laughs at that, not unkindly. it's fun that there are worlds where that kind of thing is an of course and not something that can only be achieved by a super-ancient race of powerful beings. (ha, ha.) ]

So what, I could just invent whatever I want and create it and that's it?

[nomoresharks]

Mn, perhaps not in your case. From what I have heard, creation magicks are an ability unique to Etheirys--to my people specifically. I don't believe the art has managed to survive the past 12,000 years, but I would suggest asking Thancred for something accurate.

[astraphilia]

I'll bug him about it when he's done doin' push-ups.

[ arm day waits for no man! ]

audio forever;

[onlythans]

[If Thancred's breath seems unusually even and sort of controlled, that's probably because he's still doing push-ups while he's talking. What a multitasker.]

...Ah, true. You missed both of them, I'm afraid — the white one and the red one.

[EXCEPT FOR THE PART WHERE HE WAS ONE OF THE PRISONERS IN THE MOON JAIL BUT YOU KNOW WHAT. LET'S JUST. LET'S JUST NOT PUT THAT ALL OUT ON THE NETWORK IN FRONT OF HYDAELYN AND EVERYONE.]

[nomoresharks]

Wait, there two?

[onlythans]

I'm afraid so. The white one, at least, is still there. The same can't be said for the red one.

[ALLAGANS.]

[nomoresharks]

You win some, you lose some? ...Strange as it may be to apply that concept to moons of all things.

Although I do think I've heard mention of this one. The red one was the one that fell recently, wasn't it? The small one?

[onlythans]

From a certain point of view, one could say the white moon was both a gain and a loss, aye.

[weeps]

Mmhmm. The red one was — oof, a moment.

[Some shuffling noises can be heard, as well as the crunch of carpet, before:]

— was built to house the primal Bahamut and launched as a satellite. Its fall constituted one of our seven Calamities.

[nomoresharks]

Ah, yes, that is indeed what I remember hearing. Though I do have a question about that, if you will indulge me. 'Tis nothing too serious, I think, lest you worry.

[Nothing he needs to wait for another Starlight gift for, anyhow.]

This Bahamut is--or rather was--a "dragon," was he not? What exactly is a dragon?

[onlythans]

One of seven, aye. All children of the Father of Dragons, the great wyrm Midgardsormr.

["What is a dragon" is such a question, indeed.]

As I heard it, they didn't arrive on the star until after it had already been sundered.

[nomoresharks]

They are from another star entirely?!

[There is as much excitement and awe in the question as there is shock. To think that there truly could be other sentient beings beyond the sea of stars...!]

Incredible!

[onlythans]

I wouldn't get too excited about it. There's no trace of it left to be seen, as I understand it.

[...]

My understanding is, that's precisely why Midgardsormr left with his unhatched brood in tow. To flee his star's imminent destruction.