barbarus: (b r i g h t)
Damianos of Akielos ([personal profile] barbarus) wrote in [community profile] maskormenace2016-09-05 07:58 pm

1 cuff | video | joint post

[ The video turns on to reveal a large man, who is providing it with a close-up shot of about half of his face, and one strong, muscular shoulder. Most of his skin is bare, aside from a white tunic-like garment pinned at that shoulder. It's evident that someone is in the room with him, since he's focused on them and not on what he's doing. ]

Is it working? I cannot tell if --

[ Another voice interrupts, directing his attention back to the camera, and then Damen adjusts it so that his whole face is on screen. He is dark-haired and dark-eyed, and his olive-toned skin is well bronzed by sunlight.

He could not look less comfortable with a camera in his hand. His smile is a somewhat awkward attempt at friendliness, but it's obvious this is new to him.
]

Hello. My name is Damen. [ His eyes flick away from the camera at that, looking again at his companion. 'Damen', and not 'Damianos'. A pet name given to a network of strangers. He sees no reason to hide their true names - but he’ll do it, even so.

While he is introducing himself, the person who had his attention earlier decides to make an appearance. Or better yet, he decides to slide into the space by ending half on Damen’s lap, one hand lazily lifting to sweep a little of his hair back from his forehead. Where the original man is large and olive skinned, Laurent looks fair and slight in comparison. He isn’t actually in miniature, a fact he will press upon people at some point, when perspective is brought up. And where there is bare skin on show behind him, his is all covered up by the kind of clothing that looks restricting even by modern standards.
]

And mine is Laurent. [ He somehow manages to look like he’s smiling without following through, which is a power he possessed before the Porter ever decided to bless him with new ones. ] As you might have guessed, we’ve only recently arrived to this wonderful place.

[ Damen has rearranged himself to give Laurent space, and slide an accommodating arm around his waist. At that comment, though, he rolls his eyes up at his lover. Be nice, Laurent.

Laurent catches that look out of the corner of his eye, mouth twitching slightly like that smile he’s been curbing is threatening to break free.
]

We would like any advice you can give about acclimatising while here. This world is unlike our own, your buildings, modes of transport, ways of communication - [ Lifting his brows upward as if to indicate the device . ] - they’re all unfamiliar. We would not like to remain ignorant.

[ Then Damen leans in, tagging onto the end: ]

And I have need of a place to train. I prefer the sword. If any of you would test your skill against mine, I’d welcome it.

[ The glance they share then seems to be one of mutual agreement. Laurent shifts slightly, reaches out to turn off the feed. His sleeve obscures the view, but to those with extremely good hearing they might catch the as if anyone could best you before Damen interrupts his own smile to reach forward.]

Wait - there was something else. [ There’s a brief scramble for something beside him, and then Damen lifts his file into view. With his eyebrows lifting and expression dubious, he reads from the page. ] Can someone tell me what-- ‘Sunday School’ is? I am supposed to teach it.

[ He glances up at Laurent, nodding. ] That’s it.

[ It’s settled then, Laurent angles the camera once, so that his sincere ( no, really! ) expression can be caught. ] We appreciate the aid.

[ ooc: Damen is red and Laurent is blue. ]
kryo: (xiv.)

[personal profile] kryo 2016-09-06 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
There is a distinct lack of preparations, I had noticed.

[ Where are the camps and the messengers and the training grounds? Shoddy work. ]

So you do not believe these Russians are the root of all evil? [ He sounds like he's amused, like this is an enjoyable joke. But really, if America is to be anything like his uncle, using another kingdom as a scapegoat for power, then he would like to know it. ]
sidequestings: (if you wanna start a fight)

[personal profile] sidequestings 2016-09-06 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Apparently this is the way war is done here.

[ the question earns a twist of his mouth, a little wry, a little tired. ]

I'm sorry to say that I've seen what evil looks like, and this is just.. typical of two quarreling nations, I think. I don't understand the conflict enough yet to have a more educated opinion.
kryo: (toby57)

[personal profile] kryo 2016-09-06 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[ True evil.

Laurent's eyebrows tick upwards slightly, adding it to a curious little list of things he'd like to know about Mahanon.
]

Someone is always to blame. Wars only start because a kingdom wishes for more power. I would not like to be forced to fight for the wrong side.
sidequestings: (this is the hell in me)

[personal profile] sidequestings 2016-09-06 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
The good thing, as far as I can tell, is that there's no overt pressure to fight for anyone at all. [ he makes himself more comfortable in his chair, leaning his elbow on the arm of it and frowning thoughtfully. ] That doesn't mean, of course, that there aren't a hundred little things going on beneath the surface, though, and those who're registered do get certain privileges. Make us want to fight the Russians.. [ he trails off, then shrugs lightly. he doesn't think he really has to continue the thought-- a willing force is always superior to a conscripted one, after all. ]
kryo: (toby24)

[personal profile] kryo 2016-09-09 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Fear or favour. He's known kings who use one, the other, or both. That kind of ruling does nothing in the long-term. It does not make people loyal. It does not inspire trust. He can see why getting the imPorts unified would be a struggle. He certainly has no stake in this place's war and were he able to return home tomorrow he would do so.

But from what he has heard through the other imPorts, that's unlikely.
] Privileges?