001 - Welcome to the Bubble

[fistfullofmagic]

Who: Dhaos and anyone
Where: the Plaza
When: now
Style: any
Status: Open


[If one were to go to the plaza, they might see a tall blond man sitting on the ground looking utterly befuddled. Certainly an understandable reaction to the situation considering that last he knew he'd been bleeding to death, and yet here he was, sitting in an unknown place with only minor injuries and drenched to the bone. If this was the afterlife, it was more than a little strange.]

Comments

[fistfullofmagic]

[This tactic proves completely ineffective, for said blond doesn't even notice the presence of someone else. In fact, it takes some minutes for him to even move beyond blinking and breathing.

Eventually he raises a hand to his stomach. Instead of a gaping wound, all he feels is a large scar just to the left of his spine. ...How...?]

[chosen_gigolo]

[Okay so he's being ignored. Not a good thing. Zelos taps his foot in the puddle, making little splashing sounds, and then explodes in his annoyance and anxiety.]

Hey!

[fistfullofmagic]

[The yelling badly startles Dhaos, who instinctively rolls back and falls into a defensive stance. Aggressive yelling has never been a good thing in his experience, and this red-headed man seemed to not like him for some reason already.]

[chosen_gigolo]

[The sudden movement sparks Zelos into action as well, drawing his sword, and positioning his shield between himself and the blonde. Even if it's just one guy doesn't mean he's not formidable. Zelos is well aware there may have been Cardinals he never met. Before their journey, he may have tried to ingratiate himself, win favor and make an ally for his own protection, but he has people aside from himself he wants to protect now and he'll be damned if some Cruxis lackey is going to threaten anyone.

He watches the other man though narrow eyes, as if daring him to make a move.]

[fistfullofmagic]

[Dhaos curls further in on himself in an effort to better defend his vital organs since he's pretty sure he doesn't have enough magic at the moment to renew his barrier spell. Definitely not a good time for a fight, especially against someone he doesn't even know why he's fighting.

His eyes widen as he scans the man's aura.]

...You are...one of my people...?

[chosen_gigolo]

Fuck if I am!

[The blonde's defensive posture is completely lost of Zelos at the moment, who has instead focused himself on the other man's mana. It's so very similar to Cruxis, similar he knows to his own, as frustrating as that is to admit. It's why he stubbornly hasn't revealed his wings yet, despite the newcomer's probable knowledge that he has them.

Zelos widens his stance a little, light on his feet and preparing to strike.]

[fistfullofmagic]

[Dhaos, despite being on the brink of complete despair, is still very much against this plan. One stabbing was enough, thank you. And so he about-faces and takes off running. Escape is a much better plan than fighting at this point.]

[chosen_gigolo]

[Oh you're not getting away that easy! Zelos kicks into gear behind Dhaos, giving chase. You know that cape is really easy to grab...]

[fistfullofmagic]

[The sudden tug on his cape kicks Dhaos' survival instincts into high gear. Without a second thought, he takes to the air in hopes of shaking off his pursuer.]

[chosen_gigolo]

[Zelos doesn't even stop to think, sprouting his effervescent wings and flying right up after Dhaos, hand still lodged in his cloak. Really he's not sure what he even wants to do with the guy once he catches him, but his immediate fleeing from Zelos put the stranger strongly in the "guilty" category. He could figure out of what later.]

This post, now Dhaos > Zelos > Zelda

[zelda_hylia]

[Zelda is fairly certain she heard Zelos cursing moments before, so excuse her if she's combing the area looking for him. Now where...? Oh, his mana is...

Up there. He really can fly. Is he chasing someone?]

[fistfullofmagic]

[Dhaos twists, attempting to kick Zelos to make him let go. What's going on?!]

[chosen_gigolo]

[The kick connects with Zelos's shoulder, but not strongly. It's enough to make him let go of the cloak but not fall from the air. Now fully pissed off, Zelos rises level with Dhaos in a flash.]

I'm not letting some Cruxis bastard start shit here! We've had enough trouble with you already; this is ending before it starts!

[Zelos pulls his sword arm back and lunges at Dhaos, fire in his eyes.]

[zelda_hylia]

[If this were anywhere but Vatheon, Zelda would allow Zelos to fight his opponent. He is her friend, after all - she trusts that he wouldn't attack someone that didn't deserve it. This IS Vatheon though, and enemies cannot be removed forever. Fighting will only cause grudges, and that in turn will cause more fighting. Holding her hand in the air, she sends up a whiplike tendril of magic at the ankles of both men, yanking them down towards her abruptly. She cushions the ground so that the impact doesn't hurt them, at least.]

There is no point in fighting here.

[fistfullofmagic]

[Cruxis? But wasn't that ancient history? Before he has the time to say this, he's interrupted by suddenly being pulled to the ground. Though the impact does not hurt, it takes what was left of the fight out of him. Instead, he sort of goes limp and simply stops responding to the world around him. He only half registers the words of the blond woman who had essentially captured him.]

[chosen_gigolo]

Gah!

[Hitting the pavement didn't hurt but the suddenness of the tug made Zelos yelp anyway, landing squarely on his ass beside Zelda and sending his sword skittering a short ways away on the pavement.]

You don't understand! He's from Derris Kharlan!

[As if that explains everything...]

[zelda_hylia]

...do you know him personally?

[chosen_gigolo]

I don't have to! Only members of Cruxis live on Derris Kharlan!

[Stay out of this Zelda you don't understand!]

1/2

[zelda_hylia]

People cannot be killed permanently here, Zelos. Don't make an enemy unnecessarily! It's a waste of time.

[She sure is ignoring him now!]

2/2

[zelda_hylia]

[And then she promptly kneels by Dhaos, smiling kindly.]

I apologize for him. Has anyone explained this place to you yet? We can get you dried off and I will do so.

[fistfullofmagic]

[The tone of her voice sort of brings him out of his stupor. Someone was...speaking kindly to him? He slowly looks up at the source of the voice.

An...elf? Her magic feels a bit strange to him though. Regardless, that was a matter for later. In a subdued manner, Dhaos shakes his head in answer to the question of the first person to be kind to him in over one hundred years.]

[chosen_gigolo]

[Zelos thumps his hand on the ground, not having bothered to get up just yet either.]

Zelda, you don't understand! Everyone on Derris Kharlan works for Mithos! He's already my enemy!

[The Chosen lurches to his feet and snatches up his sword, not making to attack (he knows better with Zelda and her magic right there) but leaving the blade unsheathed and eyeing Dhaos balefully.]

[zelda_hylia]

[Zelos sweetie mommy is busy right now, okay?]

Do you work for a Mithos, sir? Here, let's get you dried off.

[She reaches out to him, casting a small spell to wick the moisture from his clothes neatly.]

[fistfullofmagic]

[Such kindness... Dhaos isn't quite sure how to deal with this.]

...Mithos Yggdrasil has been dead for four thousand years... [His voice is small, and almost childlike in how very, very lost he sounds. He begins to shake very slightly as the combination of adrenalin leaving his system, the distress from losing everything he ever loved, and the remaining injuries from the final battle on Aselia sap his strength. Desperately, he hopes the tears he feels building aren't noticed.]

[chosen_gigolo]

[Dhaos' words, quiet as they are, shock Zelos into full silence. He stands there dumbly, mouth hanging open, catching flies in his inability to form words.

But that means this guy's from...]