vatheon | Soldier on

Entry tags:

Soldier on

Who: Zelos Wilder (

chosen_gigolo) and Guy Cecil (

relinquishing)
Where: Golden Victory; Zelos is finally getting around to reopening the place after the bodyswap curse and finding Lloyd
When: Sept 28th, late morning
Status: Closed

[Closed for a little over a week, Zelos isn't at all surprised to find that the Golden Victory has accumulated a small layer of dust. But what can he do? Half the staff had turned into women last week, and this week...

Well.

He's been doing what he can for Lloyd and it seems to be helping somewhat but it's difficult to keep up that level of energy even for him, especially when he hasn't been getting even the small amount of sleep he requires. Pile onto that his worry about others he's come to consider friends in the bubble being taken by this psycho too and he's not nearly as upbeat as usual beyond a surface level. His heart's not in the act. Even the fact that Estelle is no longer in the bubble and therefore out of harm's way, at least in the murderer sense, does little to ease his tension.

Because on top of all that, he misses her.

But no use dwelling, right? Shaking his head, Zelos grabs a broom and starts tidying up.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nah, I got it. You should wash that stuff out of your hair before it turns green.

[He could smell the chlorine from the entrance.

He keeps his back turned, filling the bar sink with soapy water for the glasses.]

You don't have to hang around if you don't want. Pretty sure you had enough of me anyway.

[..damnit, he hadn't meant to say that...]

If I'd had enough of you, you'd probably know it by now. Besides, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to be here.

[The answer comes easy enough. He would have figured that it would be the other way around, honestly. Zelos was the one who had gotten up and left their last couple conversations. Was it annoying? Incredibly. But Guy was patient enough to work with self-centered brats. And Zelos... well, he seemed to have a different motive behind his attitudes than simple selfishness.]

Heh, just give me a couple minutes and I'll go rinse this stuff out upstairs. I don't need to give you any more reason to tell me I look like a pumpkin.

[Okay he can't help but grin a little bit at the pumpkin jab. Maybe a lot of this was in his head, but... well, being called a coward...

Heh. It's not like he's wrong. He can't hold that against Guy.]

Sure, go on then. I guess I wouldn't mind the help sweeping when you get done but don't feel obligated.

[To help or to stay. Why do you even put up with him, anyway?]

[Because he considers you a friend. Dur.

He gives a dorky little salute before turning away from the bar, tossing the satchel he had over his shoulder onto one of the bar stools before trotting his way up to the locker rooms.

It's not a very good throw, though - Guy's only been gone a minute before the bag finally slips off the chair and falls down to the floor with a loud KLANK.

Yes, KLANK. And it sounds like something just broke off of whatever took the brute force of the blow to the ground. If Zelos were to peek, there's a few parts scattered along the floor.]

[The Chosen leans over the bar to see what made such a noise, hands full of suds.

Uh-oh.

Wiping his hands on a towel, Zelos makes his way around the bar and stoops to pick up the spilled bits of tech along the floorboards. He has a cursory knowledge of crafting things but this is much more complex than he's familiar with. Best to just find as many bits as he can and put them together for Guy to fix when he returns.]

[Which isn't too long afterwards! He's never been one to linger in the shower regardless, so it's been only a few minutes before he's traveling back down the stairs, vest tucked under one arm...

... and whoa, wait, is that his precious fontech in pieces on the counter--]

...

[PRIORITIES SHIFTING let's just throw that vest onto the counter and look at the damage and oh dear Lorelei it broke off--]

--Zelos!

[WHAT DID YOU DO.]

Hey! Woah! It fell out when you tossed your bag! I just picked it all up so stuff didn't get lost, alright?

[He throws his hands up defensively, not really wanting to get into an argument about it. Or anything, really. He's not sure he has the energy.]

What is it, anyway?

Not a toy.

[Guy just rolls his eyes, grumbling a bit under his breath as he pulls a half-completed little gadget out of his bag, opening the lid and adjusting its new angle thanks to that journey to the floor.]

It's a music box.

[He sifts through the pieces on the counter, picking one snapped piece up and not even bothering to hide the sunken look on his face at the sight of it.]

Or, well... I guess it was a music box. Damn. It took me two weeks to find this size rod, too...

[Guy's obviously upset about this and the last thing Zelos wants is a confrontation right now, so he doesn't say that he didn't call it a toy, nor does he say that Guy probably shouldn't have dropped it on a barstool without looking. He just vaguely clams up until he trusts himself to respond, quietly clinking glasses as he removes them from the soapy sink and sets them on the drying rack.]

Maybe you can find something in the nostalgia nook.

[He's quiet for another moment as he begins to drain the sink, watching the water and suds swirl away.]

I didn't know you made stuff like music boxes.

Maybe. [Siiigh.] I'll just have to hope I'm lucky, I guess...

[The blonde pauses, letting his eyes flicker up to watch Zelos fiddle with the last of the glasses. The quiet behavior from the redhead is still peculiar, and it's enough to knock Guy out of his sudden sourness. He was expecting a snide remark or maybe even a chiding poke at his hobby. Not... not this pensive little scene.

What the hell was on Zelos' mind?

...

Oh, right, he asked a question.]

That's cause I usually don't. I've made machines that can read basic fondiscs and play music off of that, but not like this - I didn't really try anything crank-driven until I came here and read about it a little more.

[He plucks up a smaller screw, gently fiddling with what he could manage using only his fingers.] It's not like I regret it or anything. I mean, I can pick out a tune, but music isn't really my specialty, you know? So-- ah come on, you fit before -- uh, so doing things like this takes a lot of time.

...I don't really make them very often because of that.

[There's a tone of something warm and a little distracted in his voice. He also doesn't make them often because he only really makes them for others, after all... and this one was special.

Or he wanted it to be special, at least.]

[The warm tone of Guy's voice catches Zelos' attention and he glances over his shoulder at the blonde. He knows that tone...]

Oh? Then I guess something must have prompted you into this little experiment, right?

[He turns and walks the two steps to the barfront and promptly leans his chin on one hand in a caricature of the stereotypical gossip, burying his earlier pensivity underneath the image.]

Do tell~♥

[The blonde hesitates in the middle of threading in another screw. Wow hi, you sure got over that fast enough.]

Huh? Y-yeah, of course, I'm making it for someone else - it's just a gift.

[Don't look at him like that.]

[Hey, juicy gossip is way better to focus on than his own feelings about missing Estelle and what even he's feeling about Sheena. At least the latter is asleep and safe.]

A gift, huh~? You can't just leave me hanging, bro! For who?

Geez, does it really matter...?

[If you're trying to avoid complicated feelings about women, then this really isn't the right way to go, man.

...]

It's gonna take a while, but... it's for Zelda.

[He's only trying to avoid his own complicated feelings, not Guy's!]

Oh? Y'know you'll start leading her on with all the flowers and music boxes and whatnot.

[Looks like he's missed the fact that they're dating. He may usually be on top of that kind of thing, but to be fair he's been plenty distracted.]

[EYEROLL. It's not like he's raining treasures down on the woman or anything! He's not really into empty flattery like that anyways, and he can feel his expression sour a little at the implication.]

You say that like she can't figure things like that out for herself.

[No need to mention that he doesn't have any need to lead her on anyways. Zelos will have to figure it out sooner or later.]

[Doth his ears deceive him or is that the lack of a denial of Guy's affections for the woman? Progress!]

Oh she'll figure it out~ The question is what'll you do when she does, hmm?

[He gives an easy shrug, picking up another screw.]

Who knows! Hopefully not run and hide, I guess. Hah, I'd hope I have enough dignity to face up to whatever she decides to see.

[It's said simply, a contrast to how upset he was the last time the two had spoken about this. No issues here! Totally!]

[Again, not the answer he was expecting. Something fishy's going on here...]

...There's something you're not tellin' me.

[Nothing like the direct approach!]

Maybe.

[And he is going to continue not to tell him because this is actually kind of fun in a twisted sort of way.]

But I'm serious, it's just a gift! Don't go overthinking it too much, cause I'm sure not about to. Besides, it's-- [He casts his eyes back over the pieces that remain on the table, muttering something under his breath and quickly crouching down to the floor.] --it's not like I'm, uh... expecting a specific reaction, or... dammit... Zelos, are you sure you picked all of these up?

Everything I saw! Maybe it's in the bottom of your bag.

[Wait, no flailing, making her complicated gifts...

Zelos sputters and leans all the way over the bar excitedly, hair dangling down and possibly getting in Guy's way.]

You asked her out, didn't you!?

[Well, that was fast. Guy swats a bit at the red locks suddenly dangling in his face, trying and failing to to shoot a look at Zelos from his current position on the floor. Okay, okay, backing up a little so he's not talking at the floor--]

Huh? Why d--

[And that's as far as he gets before his head collides with the bottom of one of the bar stools with a loud THUNK. He curses loudly, sitting back on his haunches with his hand against his head.]

--ghhhk... ahhh, why would you go and assume something like that so fast?

[Not saying it isn't true, but still.]

Yikes, you okay bud?

[Guy's injury prompts Zelos to snag a cloth full of ice and bring it around to offer his friend.]

You're not arguing or flailing anywhere, that's why.

[Instead of the terrible teasing that would occur normally, Zelos simply gives Guy a smile. Good for you, bro.]

[He gives a nod and a sigh, taking the ice with a quiet "thanks" before pressing it against the bump on his head. The lack of a bite to Zelos' response is, again, highly confusing. Again with that passive behavior, Zelos?

Hnn.]

Since when do I flail about things...?

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/SUDDENLY ALIVE (1/2)

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