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

[garwin]

[Make him. No, he's not going to stop looking at Balfour like that, he's going to continue doing it. Because it's getting a reaction.]

A military boy.

[See that smirk? Teasing is imminent at this point. It is not if, it's when. It is going to happen.]

[blueeyedflyboy]

Oh.

_{[Relief!! That wasn't nearly as bad as what he thought you were going to say.]}

Yes, I am. Or.. Well I don't know if was is appropriate. But yes.

[garwin]

[Nah. Military boy is the only thing that's occurred to him. Honestly.]

You're too cute for that, you know. Lookit this face.

[Just casually reaching up to pinch Balfour's cheek now, yup. He does this to Tyler sometimes...in fact, he has to keep constantly reminding himself that this guy is not Tyler, because this whole thing is very...surreal, right now. It's hard to actually process still.]

[blueeyedflyboy]

_{[Wait, wait, what? What are you-- Why? No! Why did you just do that? Have a traumatized look.]}

Uh.

_{[Wait. There are words. He just has to find them.]}

Ah... I, ah... I agree. I'm not exactly...military material...

_[WHYYYY]

[garwin]

[Because he can. Reid does a lot of things just because he can. The question of should he usually doesn't stop him.

He laughs.]

Yeah, you're definitely not. [He doesn't mean that in an insulting way, honest.] Why'd you join, though?

[blueeyedflyboy]

No real choice. If I hadn't, we would have been down a swift for longer than we could afford.

_{[He doesn't realize that that probably sounds like gibberish to Reid.]}

[garwin]

[It does sound like gibberish. Down a swift, what the hell does that mean.]

...Now say that again in English. Because I have no idea what 'down a swift' means.

[blueeyedflyboy]

The man we lost rode a swift, a comparatively small, fast dragon used for reconnaissance.

_{[He takes a breath. These words are hard for him.]}

She insisted on me as her rider and would take no other.

[garwin]

Oh. [Well shit. This isn't the turn he was expecting this conversation to take. But at least it gets rid of his teasing smirk, now. Well, he could make another teasing comment, but he won't, because he understands this is not a time for that.]

So...they choose you and...that's it? You're stuck with it?

[blueeyedflyboy]

Yeah, pretty much.

_{[Stuck with it? Inherited it? Same thing, really, to him.]}

Long story short, yeah.

[garwin]

Sounds like it kind of sucks. Not having a choice, I mean.

What if you wanted to do something else with your life?

[blueeyedflyboy]

_{[Reid wouldn't understand and Balfour knows it. He wouldn't understand why it was no real choice, even though it seemed like he'd had a choice. He could have said no.]}

Ah, well, these things happen.

_{[His tone is light, airy, dismissive.]}

At least it kept some good men out of trouble, right?

[garwin]

[He shrugs a little.]

I guess.

Like you're not a good man, though? [Because he's really got the impression that you are, Balfour.]

[blueeyedflyboy]

More.

_{[More men, some better and worse than himself.]}

I...didn't really matter.

_{[What a strange thing to admit.]}

At least I could protect the others. If I hadn't, men would have died.

[garwin]

Everyone matters. [Don't say that you don't, he doesn't like that attitude. Especially not coming from Tyler's face.]

Whatever you did, I'm sure it was important, which means you are too.

[blueeyedflyboy]

No...

_{[His voice is soft, and he shakes his head. He doesn't really want to get into all of it.]}

No, I don't. Not as much as... Well.

_{[He ducks his head and takes a step back. He's not sure why he's fleeing, but he's nervous. He has to shut up. This guy, he isn't his friend. He's the friend of someone who looks like him.]}

[garwin]

[Did he say something wrong? He's not going to fight to keep this conversation going, but for the moment he's still determined to talk.]

You just said though. But, whatever. Honestly it's not my problem. [Because oops, he found himself starting to care too much and it's making him uncomfortable.]

[blueeyedflyboy]

It's a, ah, long story, really.

_{[He lets out a forced laugh, but seems a lot less distressed now that Reid is being dismissive. Good. There was no reason for him to care, after all.]}

Nothing to concern yourself with, at least. Politics and all, you know?

_{[That's right, just brush it off with a light laugh and a wave of the hand. Nothing to concern himself with. Politics. Family. Second sons and all that. Reid wouldn't understand nor would he care. He shouldn't care.]}

I did get to meet the dragons, though, so it wasn't that bad.

[garwin]

[You know saying that just makes him more curious, right? But he's not going to pry, exactly. They're only known each other less than a day after all. And Reid still hasn't introduced himself...]

Right, politics. It might not be so bad, but it still makes you all twitchy. [Because he can tell. He's not blind.]

[blueeyedflyboy]

Well...yes... _[blink] But, I mean, we don't even know each other. Or, you know... I don't think I even know your name.

[garwin]

[It's the face, man, he keeps feeling like he does know Balfour. But he doesn't.]

It's Reid. Reid Garwin.

[He's not going to apologize for being so nosy and asking so many questions, but...]

I guess it's hard not to be curious, considering the fact that you look like one of my best friends.

[blueeyedflyboy]

Reid. I'll remember that. And I guess I can understand. I mean... You know Tyler, after all.

_{[Which was why he kept touching him and picking on him, but Balfour wasn't really used to that.]}

Don't worry about it. It's just all a long story that I'd rather not get into. Family politics and all, you know?

_{[He's much calmer saying that this time. He doesn't feel pressured.]}

[garwin]

[He could make sure you remember his name. I mean, what.]

Yeah, we've known each other for a long time. [A beat.] I didn't mean to freak you out or anything. [Essentially, he's sorry.]

I get it. I wouldn't want to talk about my family either. [Really, nope, that is a not going there subject. Best to just leave it alone.]

[blueeyedflyboy]

Don't worry about it. I understand. Especially considering, at first, you thought I was him. I'm just...admittedly, not used to being touched. <sub>[Without malicious intent, the silence says.

He nods to his statement about family.]</sub>

I can respect that. I don't so much mind talking about mine; however, I don't like getting into the politics, at least...not the first time meeting someone. No offense, but... You know, the whole 'don't air your dirty laundry' thing.

[garwin]

Why, is touching not allowed or something where you're from? [Man, Reid is all about the touching, he's a very physical person. At least with friends that he actually cares about.]

I get it. Didn't think anyone actually still used that phrase, but I get it. [And he's back to teasing.]