a welcome;

[mallowmods]

Who: Everyone and everyone!
What: Welcoming in the new members to Mallow Hallow
Where: Everywhere!
When: March 2nd.

[ Once everyone’s settled in their particular districts, no doubt thousands of questions running between each individual mind, there’s an announcement. Not over the devices, but rather in speakers all over each and every district. A familiar voice should ring out—you did, after all, hear the voice of your Queen earlier today. ]

Ahem! Can you hear me? Ah, right then.

Hello loveies! You might recall this particular visage which speaks before you—that is, I am your Queen. Call me Queenie, if you must! I’ve met you all on this particular day, and I find it important to bestow some of my boundless knowledge onto you, sweethearts.

Now! Done with formalities, let’s see where we stand… ah, yes! Might I be the first to welcome you all to Mallow Hallow, our wonderful little country. Not too big, not quite too small either! It’s just lovely, isn’t it? Oh, how all my new babies will love it here! Or—perhaps not. [ She clicks her tongue. ] Either way, it doesn't really matter. You're stuck here for the time, so do try to make the most of it, dears.

Of course, there are our sectors within Mallow Hallow. Six… [ There’s silence for a short moment. ] Yes, there are six, aren’t there..? Well, six different communities you might stem off from! Surely you remember the name from our meeting earlier? If not, I’m sure one of the regular inhabitants of each particular district will assist you in naming your new home!

Live where you’d like, eat what you’d like, do what you’d like! Our homes are now your homes, so please, consider us all a big happy family to you! Remember you can reach me or any of the other rulers of any of the districts, over at our voicemails! [ Somehow, that seems sarcastic… ]

Also, don’t cause any trouble, or I’ll personally end you. [ There it is. ]

I suppose that's all. Well then, bye now, dears! And let the word spread—Mallow Hallow is up and rising once again!

[ ooc: Quick links: Lochwell | Mallowhallow | Orlea | Astralfield | Crystalden | Highcrest | Whitewood | Network ]

Comments

[blueeyedflyboy]

No, touching is allowed.

_{[He hesitates, trying to figure out how much to tell Reid and how much he should keep quiet.]}

It's more of a... I don't know. My mother didn't touch or like to be touched much, nor did my brother. Touching is...intimate.

_{[He thinks about that. It doesn't make a lot of sense.]}

There's more, but that's the basics.

[garwin]

Right. [That seems a little strange to him, but okay. Alas though, this is Reid, and Reid is blunt about things, so...]

In that case, sex must be like, a huge deal for you, then. [Yup, he said it.]

[blueeyedflyboy]

[!!!!!!!

Balfour's eyes go wide and he just stares at Reid for a moment, not really sure what to say about that.]

Ah…

[......]

Well…

[Well he's not sure how big a deal it really is, see.]

[garwin]

[Oh my. Well, this is a subject Reid can deal with, at any rate. He grins.]

Really? The women aren't just all over you because of that adorable face? [Okay, now he's flirting, just a little. He's trying to test the waters man, see if he'll get punched for any flirtatious comments or something.]

It's not like it's anything to be shy about.

[blueeyedflyboy]

[Balfour frowns and shakes his head quickly at that thought.]

Too many I must say that I really don't like that kind of attention.

[He's blushing a bit, though, not upset with Reid at all.]

Honestly, I haven't really tried.

[To get laid, that is.]

[garwin]

What don't you like then, all of the women after you or all of the women after you? [Do note the emphasis and the raised eyebrow that accompanies it.]

Not trying is fine though. [He shrugs.] To each his own and all.

[blueeyedflyboy]

I believe that is a discovery best made later.

[In other words, he's not digging the women, but social norms demands that he pretend otherwise.]

[garwin]

[That is not a satisfactory way to dodge the answer. Not at all. Unless, you know, it's an invitation to go discover the answer elsewhere.]

It's the women, isn't it? You'd rather be with a guy?

[blueeyedflyboy]

If you absolutely must know, yes.

[He frowns, taking a step back, his posture suddenly defensive, as if he's afraid Reid is going to hurt him now.]

[garwin]

[Well. He said something wrong again, didn't he. He's not exactly surprised though, because he has a habit of doing that a lot.

He shrugs.]

There's nothing wrong with it. You want to know a secret? [That's really not so much of a secret in the sense that he doesn't actually try that hard to keep it from people.]

[blueeyedflyboy]

[Nothing wrong with it? Really? Tell that to the boy who's been tormented for four years just because the others suspect, just because he's polite and well-mannered instead of rough and crass and crude.

Balfour sort of wants to hide now. Still he stands there in that same defensive posture, blue eyes locked warily on the target in front of him.]

What?

[And he'll pretend that didn't come out a bit shaky.]

[garwin]

[No, maybe this is more then the typical Reid said something wrong mess that he usually gets himself into. He just has a feeling. It's enough to actually make him feel a little bad for pushing so much on the subject.]

I'm into guys, too. Just as much as I'm into chicks. Also, you're hot. [If he hadn't made that clear by now. He figures he'd just say it, you know.]

[blueeyedflyboy]

Oh…

[He drops the tough guy act, looking at the ground now. He still wants to hide, but still doesn't move.]

I-I see. Thanks, I guess?

[He's not going to admit that he thinks you're cute, too. This is too much like a trap to him. He's scared that one wrong word will cause problems.

So he jokes it off.]

Your taste in men is questionable.

[garwin]

[He thinks he gets it, what's wrong. He didn't pick up on it any sooner, but he's just going to take a wild guess and assume that Balfour's been bullied for this before. Or something like that, at least.]

People are assholes, and some of them judge too much. I'm not like that, though. [How could he be. Even if he wasn't bi, the fact that hundreds of years ago his family and others were hunted down and killed just for being different and having magic would be enough to ensure that he didn't judge others harshly.]

Hey now, I'm not so sure about that. [He has a...well, okay, yeah, it's kind of questionable. His taste in men, that is. But not in this case. Well, he doesn't think, at least.] We did just meet. There's plenty of time to get to know each other.

[blueeyedflyboy]

Thank you.

[He reaches out and puts a gloved hand on Reid's shoulder, squeezing a bit. He means it.]

It's rare to meet someone who…doesn't care. There's this whole big issue of family shame and while some just don't care anymore…

[He wasn't that brave. He was the eldest son, now, so he had to keep the family name in good light.

He squeezes his shoulder again, hesitates, and then gives Reid a quick hug.]

Really. Thank you.

[garwin]

[Well, family shame was certainly something Reid didn't have to worry about. He's not that close to his family anyway and he's probably already the topic of gossip anyway, so why should he give a damn anymore?]

You spend years caring too much about it and then finally, one day, you just stop. It's not worth it. Who gives a shit if some punk doesn't like the way you live your life? [It's a general you he means, but. He could be speaking from experience.

And here he was thinking that Balfour actually touching his shoulder was an improvement, so the hug? Yeah, that's a surprise, but not a bad one. Reid even hugs him back, making sure to let go when Balfour does so Reid doesn't make him uncomfortable. Again.]

Really nothing to thank me for. [He shrugs, smiling a little.]

[blueeyedflyboy]

You really...don't understand, do you?

_{[But that's okay, he decides. It's nice to have someone who doesn't judge things the same way people did at home. And if no one here knew that he was the only living son, well, there wouldn't be a problem, would there?]}

It really does mean a lot, hearing that.

<sub>[The only person who had ever told him that it was okay to not be 'interested' in marriage--though he wasn't sure if it was due to his age--was, oddly enough, his brother. And only one other person had insinuated that it was okay to not be interested in girls.

That was one of the many reasons he was crushing hardcore on his Chief Sergeant.]</sub>

[garwin]

Help me understand, then?

[He's curious, he really is, and saying things like that just makes him ask more questions.]

It's no problem, really. [Gosh he's not used to people thanking him for things, he's really not.]

[blueeyedflyboy]

No, it's alright. I like your way of looking at it.

_{[And if you understood, Reid, you wouldn't look at it the same way. Balfour doesn't want you to understand, not anymore. You said it was okay for him to be this way. He doesn't want you to change your mind.]}