[video] BACKDATED TO JAN. 19TH | un: newt

[groupiedrifter]

[Ah, yes, it's the half-dragon birthday boy!

He wastes no time in playing out the likely anticipated song of celebration.

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This lute is getting some mileage.

It ends on a smug, contented:]

Haaaappy biiiirthday to meeeee!

That's the second birthday in a row that we're stuck on a mission. Man. But at least this birthday wasn't me stuck on a western-themed planet where we literally ran out of food to eat. That was a real freakin' bummer. [... well, it was the worst part until the townspeople turned into ash, but we don't talk about our traumas, new bloods] You guys better tell me happy birthday by the end of the day, or I'll cast a spell on you.

.... Mmmmnah, that would be too easy.

I'll just follow you around playing nothing but the happy birthday theme.


But the point of this wasn't just to shout at the rooftops that I'm 37-years-old! I spoke with the barkeep, Fribbington? What a queen, guys; I'm so jealous of her beard. Do you know how hard it is for me to get one of those? It's borderline impossible.

Ah — Right. Like, I spoke with her, and she really does not like Jun Shortaxe. Something about being sure you and him are on the same side, because it's not always that clear. But she had a lot of good things to say about Dweyre — that he was smart as a tack, helped a lot of people while in their party, best in his group at the Knights of the Seven Sisters... that after he died, nothing was ever really the same for them. I wish I could say anything else about the conversation jumped out at me... but...

Oh!

She mentioned the heirloom was some kind of scepter.

Round and royal-like, passed down through the kings. So valuable to King Zaros that he was willing to send parties after it and into deadly situations. Apparently this kind of gig, it would have set up Fribbington and the Brigade for the rest of their days as adventurers.

Unfortunately, things went really sideways. You know.

But uh! Yeah, that's all I got. I gotta admit, I've never been very good at finding the little details when it comes to things like this — maybe that's the ADHD talking. Either way, I'm almost done with the Ballard of Dweyre, so make sure you stop by the tavern and give a listen.

... Also, like. Cake. I want cake this birthday.

Someone around here has to have cake.

And I've also got an important questionnaire for everyone, by the way; no rush to finish it, it's just a little something to pass the time. Especially you new people. New people are required to fill this out.

[Anyone who knows him knows he's full of shit. But the text file comes through:]


NAME:
DATE OF BIRTH:
FAVORITE MOVIES:
FAVORITE FOODS:
FAVORITE MUSIC:

What’s your claim to fame?

How do you like to spend your free time?

What skill would you like to master? 

What is your proudest accomplishment? 

What is your biggest pet peeve?

What is the most useless talent you have? 

If you had a warning label, what would yours say?

Are you a cat or a dog person?

Do you sing in the shower?

If you only had 5 minutes in a grocery store, what would you buy?

Which body part do you wish you could detach and why?

If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?

If police arrested you with no explanation, what would your friends assume you had done?

Can you touch your nose with your tongue?

Comments

[heroooic]

[Rand, buddy, you did it!! Finn’s going to pretend he had literally any hand in this. Ass-kicking threat revoked, for the time being.

… Not that the survey itself was particularly detailed, but that wasn’t really the assignment was it?]

C’mon man, nothing?? There’s gotta be something you’re known for back home, even if it’s stupid!

voice;

[dragonmount]

[ he thinks, bleakly: the dragon reborn broke the world; the dragon reborn sealed away the dark one at the cost of almost everything; the most powerful channeler to ever live; the dragon reborn can break the wheel; the dragon reborn will break the world again; lews therin kinslayer killed everyone he's ever loved and so has every man who channels —

he answers aloud, sounds softly amused, ]

Come on, what would I be known for?

[ sounding like, you've met me. ]

voice;

[heroooic]

[At the sound of Rand's voice, Finn frowns anew. But it's a different sort of frown -- the pouting, frustrated, supportive kind where you fully believe your friend is simply selling himself short.]

I dunno, man, lots of things! Maybe you're always the first guy up in the morning, or maybe you've got a really great singing voice, or... I mean, you hunt pretty good, I've seen you do that!

[He drums his fingers against his cheek, impatient.]

There's just gotta be something, that's all. Even if it's only something you're known for by the people who care about you.

[dragonmount]

[ finn is...such a sweet kid, isn't he. the ache settles in his chest, a kid like this being here with all its dangers (and hasn't there been a close call already?), directing kindness at him without knowing the futility of it. ]

Well, [ rand says after a beat, ] my father is the best archer in the Two Rivers, but I might be nearing as good as he is. [ gently, ] Do you think that counts?

[heroooic]

[Were Finn privy to Rand's innermost thoughts, he might feel a mix of flattery and deep embarrassment at Rand's opinion of him. The mental block he'd been contending with here in Aldyhion wasn't the first impression Finn cared to give, particularly not to someone who Finn considered inherently worth impressing.

Then again if Finn really had access to his innermost thoughts, Rand's opinion of him would be the last thing on Finn's mind.]

I mean... it's close, but that's your dad! This has gotta be a you thing. Dig deep, dude. It doesn't even have to be cool. [Though it probably was, if Finn was betting.] Maybe you snore super loud, I dunno.

[Why was this important to him? That's a complicated question. Maybe he was still feeling pissy from earlier, or maybe a month of deflections was finally getting to the kid.]

[dragonmount]

[ that's easy, he can suddenly hear mat saying, clear as day. you're the stubbornest bloody woolhead in all the two rivers. go on, admit it, you know it's true. and there was a time when rand would laugh easily, and confess that mat had the right of it, while perrin gave his shoulder a friendly shove, and egwene would cheekily agree before pressing a kiss to his hair to take the sting out of it.

it leaves him breathless for a moment, how much he misses them. he has no right to miss them (he reminds himself, ruthlessly). he can't help himself. ]

I'm a strong swimmer, [ he says, finally. ] More than anyone I know.

[ he is a strong swimmer, but wil al'seen is better, and so are elam dowtry and emry lewin. it's a harmless lie, though, and believable enough by his own estimation. ]

[heroooic]

[The time it took Rand to arrive at such a simple conclusion gave Finn pause. It could be true that Rand was just extremely humble, that squared with the way he’d been up to now. Still, there was a politeness to it that rankled Finn. He was impatient to be closer, and that feeling sharpened the edges of his voice without realizing.]

Well, that’s something! Took you long enough, though. [Finn laughs, more to prove he’s Just Joking than something genuine.] Maybe I gotta start keeping a list of stuff you’re good at, dude.

[dragonmount]

Maybe you should, [ he laughs, relieved to be moving past the question of his skills. we're all fine here. ] It'd make things easier for me the next time there's a survey to fill out.

[ not that he doesn't hear that sharp press of irritation. he's torn somewhere between being sorry and glad for it; that's the right idea, get sick of him. the reason he walked away from everyone he's ever loved still exists aboard the ximilia, on the planet alydhion, follows him closer than his own shadow. ]

[heroooic]

Maybe I’ll start messaging you each time you do something rad. [Finn’s subconscious frustration took on a teasing note; it was a more comfortable place for those feelings to settle towards someone Finn considered a friend.] I can be real annoying, man. Watch out.

[Suffice to say, if Rand was counting on Finn giving up on him? He had a real storm coming.]

[dragonmount]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[heroooic]

[BELIEVE IT, BRO]