09 - Knight Catcher - 10th of the Human Category

[radiantwingedone]

Who: Duke Pantarei and Anyone o/
When: After This
Where: Forest quadrant
Style: Either is good o/
Status: OPEN

[ After someone else came to be with Zelos, Duke moves back out into the woods, to where he'd set up his house... and sort of sits there.

He needs to think about this. ]

Comments

[zelda_hylia]

[She took levels in "break everyone", actually. Zelda tries to peer up at him.]

Would you prefer it if I stayed out here?

[Truthfully, she knows her days of living peacefully with Zelos are numbered. He can't take it anymore, she can tell. Their bickering has become just a little more genuine in the past month.

It was always meant to be temporary.]

[radiantwingedone]

..... You... should be where you are comfortable. [ Yes. He would. But that would be awkward too because he's. weird. ]

[zelda_hylia]

I would be comfortable at home, but that is not an option. Vatheon doesn't allow us to come and go as we please.

[The princess takes a breath. How long would this city remain safe? She'd seen the glowing of the mark the night before, fainter than usual... and they'd been in that strange castle too, the one that felt so warped. Was the reality of this place going to fall apart entirely?

What would happen then?]

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke doesn't know, okay? He wants Zelda safe, but he doesn't want to do something Zelda doesn't like to keep her so. He's used to having a lot of ability to move, and thus is fully aware that it wouldn't be good to try to keep her and...

He.. doesn't know. ]

[zelda_hylia]

I have... something I believe I need to research, somewhere where it is quiet. Once we're certain his crest is repaired so that he won't lose control when he returns, would it be alright if I came here for a little while?

[If Duke is going to waver on it, she'll just take the choice out of his hands. Besides, until Zelos returns, he's in danger from Ky from overzealous people and their sense of justice. It's better if she's here to deflect people.]

[radiantwingedone]

... If you want. Would not be hard to add room for you.... [ It is a good way to handle it when he's conflicted. ]

[zelda_hylia]

[Adding a room suggests permanency, and she's not entirely sure she wants that just yet. Besides... it's entertaining to wake up and see all the animals that have come to call Duke's pile a bed overnight.]

That's not necessary. It was fine before, wasn't it? I didn't mind. Though perhaps I should bring a few more blankets, you seem to get cold easily.

[radiantwingedone]

[ Zelda, it is a tent. Its not like he's really building another room, it's a couple of sticks and repurposing a few sheets of canvas to make another part of the tent. ]

.... true enough. [ ..... Shush. ]

.... Used to larger creatures sharing, true.

[zelda_hylia]

[A few sheets that would totally prevent her from seeing the nest of squirrels in his hair. This is an unforgivable crime!]

I will bring some of my own this time, then.

[She squeezes his hand once more briefly before letting go to head back home.]

I'll come back soon.

[radiantwingedone]

..... As you will. [ He's.. probably going to take a seat and just... sit here again. ]

[zelda_hylia]

[The fact that he looks like he's just going to sit there confirms that yes, she does indeed need to return and take care of him. She'll be bringing food, too. Duke doesn't look as if he's been taking care of himself!]

[radiantwingedone]

[ Hey! Hey! He washed! He just... didn't bother with eating unless he was hungry. Really hungry.

Yes he needs watching. ]

[zelda_hylia]

[Even across the city, he'd be able to feel that golden power within her casting a ward over her house. It will allow Lloyd and Dhaos inside, but not anyone else. She won't let someone experiment on Zelos while he has no say in the matter. When she returns, it's with a rather large basket and a few blankets slung over her shoulder.]

Have you eaten recently?

[Don't lie!]

[radiantwingedone]

[ He's aware of it, just... not able to dredge up more than a "oh. That's new. okay." reaction.

He blinks blankly at her from his resumed seat. ]

..... Depends on definition of "recently". ... and how much counts as "eaten".

[zelda_hylia]

[That just confirms for her that he's been troubled by all of this. She lets out a small sigh, moving to sit next to him and unpack the basket a bit.]

I don't suppose you like sweets? I don't have much practice at making anything else. It's a bit silly, really...

[Inside the basket sits some mild-looking cakes and two thermoses of tea.]

[radiantwingedone]

.... Have not eaten those for sometime; fruits or berries, most sweet have eaten... [ He's... just going to sit here for now. He doesn't know what to do. ]

[zelda_hylia]

[Picking up one of the cakes in a napkin (a pumpkin spice cake), she places it in his hands firmly. One of the thermoses of tea is set next to him as well.]

It's no sweeter than some fruits, so you should be just fine. Go ahead and try it, I won't be upset if you don't like it.

[Besides, if he hasn't been eating properly something absorbent won't make him sick. Zelda takes out one to nibble at herself, looking up at the canopy of trees quietly.]

[radiantwingedone]

..... [ Duke... sort of absently inspects it with every sense but taste - well, hearing too, its a little odd to try to listen to a cake - before taking a piece off and tasting.

... interesting. Was that just because he hasn't eaten in a while? Maybe.

He pretty much eats the little cake this way, little bits and moments figuring out texture and taste, followed by little bigger bits.

And then staring at the napkin like it was magic for hiding the cake he pretty sure he didn't eat all of. Or had he. ]

[zelda_hylia]

[She has to cover a laugh at his expression, then she nudges over the basket.]

There's plenty more. Please, go right ahead.

[Her own is about halfway done. Zelda opens up the thermos to take a long drink, sighing. It was easy to forget that the glow of the Lamufao was fading slightly out here. It was easy to forget almost everything. Maybe that's why Duke liked it.]

[radiantwingedone]

[ It also doesn't have large amounts of people everywhere. That is mostly Duke's reasoning, but he nods and takes another of the cakes.

This one is also eaten by bits - and he may have snuck a small one to a squirrel - and vanishes far less rapidly and with less confusion once it was gone. Some of the squirrels are clearing out properly now, instead of hovering around the edges.

Inspecting the tea now. ]

[zelda_hylia]

[The tea is just a simple chamomile. She's been drinking quite a bit of it since Zelos died for the calming effect. It has a mild flavor for the most part - maybe slightly bitter, but the cake balances it nicely. The smell alone is quite relaxing. Zelda smiles at the squirrels a bit before looking to Duke.]

It's fairly mild. I hope it's alright.

[radiantwingedone]

[ Zelda Duke usually drinks water or just boils mint leaves for tea.

Okay, so he had actual tea now that he was in Vatheon but.. still. ]

... unsure why wouldn't. [ You're feeding him, Zelda, why would he not be okay with food. ]

[zelda_hylia]

You don't have any preferences as far as flavor goes? I won't be offended terribly if you don't like it.

[You have to have things that you like and dislike, Duke! Honestly, you're so strange sometimes.]

[radiantwingedone]

... far more accustomed to mint, however... [ A short shrug. He.. doesn't really have much of a preference this way or that. ]

[zelda_hylia]

Mint, is it? I will remember.

[The tea is making her a little sleepy, so she finishes it off and sets it down, moving to braid her hair like she tends to do before bed. She considers offering it to Duke as well, though she's not sure the squirrels would appreciate their nesting material suddenly being neatly bound.

Still, his hair is pretty. Zelda looks at it quietly.]