vatheon | Tea party!

[Guy's eyes darken at that. He had intentionally shut himself indoors for the last curse and kept his mouth shut. Seeing other people's thoughts was interesting enough (if not a horrible invasion of privacy), but the things that would pop into his own head were not things he ever wanted others to see. Things that he himself had a hard time looking at. It was hard enough keeping himself away from his housemate - the LAST person who needed to see what was on his mind.

And then the prank that had been pulled, if one could loop that into their circumstances... Talk about things he didn't want to be in his head.]

It's not as if we have a choice in the matter - it seems all we are in the end are just... test subjects. They're providing us with just enough outside contact to tease us, and holding away just enough information from us to keep us on our toes. They're starving us of knowledge because they know it will make us search it out - keeps us from becoming complacent and boring, I suppose.

[He pauses, his shoulders tensing up.] Not saying I've enjoyed any of this. But I would rather have teasing and momentary embarrassment over harsher experimentation. With everything they've managed to do to us in our time here, with us or with their own... what's to say they don't have our lives in the palm of their hand right now?

[His tone is even, just a bit lower and more pessimistic than normal. It was unnerving, this whole situation. Now more than ever. Normally he'd try to focus on sticking through it, of making the best of it. And yes, that was still important. But the ever-growing fact that the staff here were just toying with them made him edgy and nervous.

He wasn't much for action. But Zelda was right. There had to be more they could do. If only they had more information - more to work off of than simple speculation and theory. Cold, hard facts could be a godsend to finding a way out of this ridiculous cycle, possibly before innocent people started getting hurt.

Hgh. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that.]

Edited 2012-04-25 18:55 (UTC)

They do hold our lives in their hands. The coral is necessary for our survival in this environment, and we certainly aren't the ones in control of it. The curses are supposedly "communication" from the Lamufao, but I don't believe it. The only thing being communicated is that we're at their mercy.

[Zelos, please stop her. She's reaching for the notebook, it's going to be too late at this rate!]

Gettin' a little serious in here for a tea party y'know. I'm sure there's a way out that we'll find eventually but there's no need to work on it every waking second. Relaxing is definitely important too!

[He dips another cookie in his tea and pops it in his mouth, uncomfortable with the sudden serious vibe even as much as he's aware of his hand in making it so. Sometimes his negativity just... slips out. Usually nobody notices but it's harder to put something past Zelda. Or Guy for that matter, he's pretty sharp.

Still, he's finding it difficult to turn the conversation away from the dark theories about Vatheon. Our lives in their hands... It's not something he's unused to, regretfully, but the difference here is he can't choose to just... end it. It had been a comfort back on Aselia, despite his being aware of his own cowardice that would ultimately prevent him from taking that fatal action, but to know that he could take his own life if things were ever pearshaped beyond recognition? Morbidly reassuring.

Here they don't even have that. Five days later and there you are, just as trapped, now with one more painful memory and the knowledge that you'll be forced to face whatever torment the bubble had in store. Guy is right. They've been lucky thus far with stupid fairy tales and thought bubbles. How long will their luck hold out?]

[Guy starts a bit at that, then gives an awkward laugh. Serious, huh?]

Conversation is conversation, haha. It's important, and I certainly don't mind discussing things. They're just a reality, as awful as that is to admit. But... yeah, we're all level-headed people here, right? I'd think we could talk about matters without necessarily getting introspective and deep about it.

[Yes, Zelda, he's tossing a "it can wait" glance at you over the rim of his cup. Not that he doesn't love hearing her ideas or anything, but Zelos had a point. This was a social call, and Zelos didn't seem too comfortable with the topic. Well... not that it was the most comfortable of things to talk to, but still. They might as well theorize when all the minds in the room were capable of processing it.

He takes a long sip of his tea, mulling over the scent before continuing.]

We've been given some time to breathe for now, at least. And despite our strange circumstances, we've still been given a unique chance to learn, to meet people that we would have never met otherwise. [A dry smirk as he thinks of Ion... of Luke...] There's even people here that should very well be dead - people who have been given a second chance of sorts. It's rather bittersweet, however it works... but regardless of how or why, the reality is that we're in a rather unique position, aren't we?

[Aaaand that smile becomes chipper once more.] I wouldn't be able to sit here and have tea with the two of you and listen to Zelos mangle that poor instrument otherwise, after all.

[Enjoy that tease in his tone, you crazy redhead.]

[The comment about people who should be dead hits her harder than she intended to allow it to. Link... Link. For his sake if nothing else, she will never allow this place to force her to succumb to despair again. If she really is the reincarnation of a goddess, then she should be able to figure it out eventually. She just needs to be patient.]

It is certainly unique. Since time does not pass at home while we are here, we may as well enjoy it when we can and learn what we're able to, hmm? I'll be the first to confess that I get more than a little sidetracked when it comes to research in Vatheon.

Sidetracked is too weak a word for that, Zelda-hunny♥ I had to go spelunking in a book cavern to find you the last time! she filled the whole living room with books; you couldn't even see the ceiling. Pretty impressive.

[Exaggeration to be sure, but the mental image is pretty good, right? And he calls her Zelda-hunny in a calculated distractive jab; he knows there's people from her world here that fit into the very situation that Guy described.]

Edited 2012-04-25 20:52 (UTC)

[Exaggeration or not, the image still sounds remarkably accurate, and Guy can't help but let out a lighthearted laugh in return.]

Hah, I've seen her in the library from time to time, and I KNOW she isn't quite that bad. [Aaaand turning his attention a bit more to the one in question, that grin of his nothing if not honest and chipper.] But hey, geez, I wouldn't say that's a horrible waste of time or anything, even if it is just being sidetracked! I mean, they're giving us this kind of access to knowledge for free. We might as well take the chance while it's here.

[He might also be saying that because he himself had been surrounded by books on electricity, technology, and physics only earlier this month. Zelda could probably attest to that - she was one of the many who had seen him with his own stacks of books, even though he never stopped to talk much about them. He can understand the thrill of drowning one's self in the knowledge of their passions - there is, after all, very little to compare it to.]

Stop calling me that already!

[Ugh Zelos, ugh! Part of her knows he's doing it so that she doesn't have to focus on her feelings, but she indulges in the part that's irritated with him for his behavior - just as he wants.]

It isn't a waste of time perhaps, but accomplishing much of anything is difficult if you spread yourself too thin. I fear that I let myself get swept away too easily.

[She knows that she does. After all, she'd spent seven years with Sheik doing absolutely nothing but their mission. Now that it's over, her mind and heart both need a break from being quite so single-minded.]

I dunno how you two can do it! I start reading some dusty textbook and my mind starts to wander. I'd rather be out doing something.

[Or someone. Yes that's implied. He has the delicacy not to say it though, not overtly. And yeah Zelda he's just going to ignore that you told him to stop using that nickname just like he always does~]

Learning's all well and good but activity is definitely my first choice.

Hey, hey, last I checked, learning was an activity! Just means you're exercising your brain rather than your body. [Or your libido - geez, Zelos.] But hey, to each their own, right?

[Snrk. He'll just turn back to Zelda, thank you very much.]

I know the feeling - I can get the same way with technology if I let myself get too deeply engrossed in it. Finding a balance takes practice, even with our passions! But you seem like a woman with self-control, for the most part, and at least you can openly admit that you have your weaknesses. I'm sure you'll be able to keep yourself level when it comes to your time.

[The princess is a little less sure than she can control herself. Anyone that's seen her talking with Duke would agree - they jump from one topic to the next and pretty much don't stop until they've exhausted themselves on a pile of books.

To be fair, she was trying to distract herself from feeling much of anything that week.]

I appreciate the vote of confidence. And Zelos, he's right, you know - not all activities have to be physical! You should try it sometime, I know you've got a good head on your shoulders.

[It's a sad day when Zelda realizes she has to specify the "on your shoulders" bit.]

[It's not as if Zelos doesn't read. In fact, he can get through a book quite quickly and retain most of it, especially if it's mathematical (he has a talent for numbers). It's just that he learns better through experience, through hands-on application. After all, what's interesting are the deviations from the books, those exceptions to the rules that study doesn't prepare you for. Too many people in his life relied on book learning to tell them what to do in life when it just didn't work that way, so really he'd come to the conclusion it was better to learn on your own and learn the important things, like what made people tick, how to learn someone's price, how to manipulate someone without them knowing, and most importantly how to tell when they were doing that to you.

Of course... he'll keep all that to himself, content to keep playing the uncaring, willful idiot. It's part of what he'd learned, after all. Most people were less careful with information around a laid back, seemingly disinterested and flighty individual. He had no reason for the act here, he's quite aware, but old habits die hard.

He waves his hand in the air carelessly.]

You don't have to waste time being smart when you're this pretty♥

[Pft.]

You don't have to waste time being smart when you're uglier than the depths of hell, either~

Come on, Zelos, don't go throwing yourself into that kind of stereotype. Anyone can be intelligent and just choose not to use those skills like they should. Zelda's right, you know. You're a lot brighter than you give yourself credit for. Much more than just a pretty face. You're only wasting your time with that brain of yours if you refuse to use it for the right things.

["Right things" varying in context, of course. But he'll assume that's easy enough to pick up on.]

[The topic is one that is likely to make Zelos uncomfortable, so she changes it to something else innocuous. She allows herself to talk a little later than usual, but when it reaches the time of night where she would usually be taking a bath, she begins to gather the dishes, smiling apologetically.]

It seems it got late faster than I expected. We have extra rooms, so you are welcome to stay the night if you would like?

[Zelos enjoys a good conversation as much as the next person so he's in quite a good mood when they finally wrap it up, especially considering he feels he's gotten a decent read on Guy through all this. He's a good sort, honestly. Zelda's offer to let him stay, though, makes him grin a bit wickedly. One last test for his theory, shall he?]

C'mon Zelda-hunny, we said no sleep overs, didn't we~? Unless you wanna revisit the rule.

[Yeah, wow, he had never stayed so late to a social call, haha. Not that he minded! The talk itself was refreshing, topics continuing to bounce back and forth, bickering and banter and laughter all echoing through the room well into the evening. Things are finally slowing down with a tired but cheerful sort of cloud.

So when Zelda offers for Guy to stay the night, he can't help but let out a chuckle. It... it was late. And kind of tempting, to just accept the little token of hospitality. But after some hesitation, he shakes his head.]

Hah... It's a kind offer, really. But I think I can manage getting home regardless of the time. [Luke would probably make a fuss if he woke up and Guy wasn't there - the blonde had left a note saying he'd be back in the evening, anyways.

But still! He rises from his seat as she begins to clean, giving the smallest of bows in Zelda's direction. Formalities, but eh. They had their place, and it's soon replaces by a soft, polite expression.]

Thank you kindly for the conversation and company, though. It's been very generous of you. Both of you.

[Zelos's comment about no sleepovers earns him a questioning look. Silly Zelos, Guy isn't a hunny! He can't even touch her! She turns back to Guy when he starts speaking and smiles, nodding.]

You're welcome over any time. There aren't too many people we both get along with, so it was nice.

[Harsh, but true. Zelos hadn't liked Shizuo much, they'd ended up having a lot of tension between them - up until just a couple weeks before he'd left, at least.

It probably would help if she brought her female friends home instead, but she'd rather not having him hitting on them. Some of the poor girls wouldn't stand a chance.]

There's plenty of people we could both get along with, you just don't let me invite them over.

[She is right, though. When it comes down to friendly conversation like they'd just wiled away the evening with he has a deplorably small number of people he's comfortable around. His version of 'get along with' just tends to be more broad because of it.

Zelos hauls himself to his feet as Guy gets up.]

Here, I'll walk you out. We finished the milk with all that tea anyway so I need to pick some up.

Fine by me. I won't say no to a traveling companion this late at night!

[He pauses, watching Zelda collect up the dishes for a moment.]

Would you like help with anything before I leave, or...?

Certainly not! You're a guest after all. I can do this much. Please, don't worry about it.

[She waves to both of them, then turns back to the dishes.

Oh, they are a little messy, aren't they? Where are those gloves...]

[Zelos looks mildly amused at the prospect of Zelda doing dishes but he heads towards the door anyway. He'll just wash them again when he gets home if she fails, though it's more likely that he'll find her still up being a complete perfectionist about it instead.

Occasionally the gentleman he, Zelos holds the door open for Guy before him, calling back to Zelda.]

I'll see you when I get back!

[The door closes behind them, and they're down the walkway and out into the cobblestone streets soon enough. Guy himself is keeping a casual pace, his hands in tucked into his pockets with just a slight swagger in his step. Someone's apparently had a good night.]

It's not too far of a walk from here to Pendulum - I'll probably have to split with you in just a couple minutes, if that's alright.

Sure, no problem, though only if you answer one thing for me first.

[The redhead glances sidelong at Guy as they walk, one eyebrow raised. He's pretty sure he already knows the answer to this question after extensive verbal testing during their conversations tonight, he just needs it confirmed.]

You've got the hots for her, eh?

[...

...

...hrk. Well. Erm.]

Excuse me?

Edited 2012-05-17 07:47 (UTC)

Oh c'mon! You were making moon-eyes at her all night! You're lucky she's totally oblivious or she might have caught you.

[He shrugs easily.]

Might take some work but you're genuinely nice and you can keep up with her brain so I'd say you've got a real shot if you wanna take it.

Whoops hi have some Nik tl;dr

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WHOOPS WHAT HAPPENED let's get back on this mkay

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blarg this tag got lost in my inbox. Sorry!

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lol Nik's shooting off some short tags tonight, wow

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