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.]

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[He almost laughs. Almost. Then Guy brings up Estelle and there's a brief flicker of hurt, so brief it's easy to miss if you don't happen to be looking at him right for that second when it flashes over his face. It's replaced by that same easy grin that doesn't seem quite so easy today soon after as Zelos leans onto the bartop, both elbows folded.]

Well I'd give you a long lecture on how ballroom dancing is an easy way to a woman's heart and you should start working on that fear of yours 'else she might be disappointed, but there doesn't seem to be a point in boasting about it when Estelle's gone.

[Had there seriously been a difference? It feels different, her not being here, which is new in and of itself. Not to say he doesn't notice when any of his hunnies leave - far from it - just... Estelle was special and it's simply.. different.]

Besides, that flirting thing was only with people you like anyway. I did enough observing to figure that out.

[Too bad he wasn't looking, although his attention is definitely caught when Estelle is dryly tacked onto the end of Zelos' comment. The wisecrack Guy had sitting on his lips is gone in an instant.

...

He stays quiet, letting the teasing and comments about himself slide without a reaction other than a neutral softening of his expression. "Same song, second verse" anyways, so he's not about to go down that road again. Not yet, at least.

So was this why--]

...She's gone? You mean she's not in the city?

[Obvious fact is obvious, but he's watching Zelos' reaction carefully.]

Nope, totally out of the bubble. She's probably the lucky one, to be honest, not having to deal with murderers and curses and whatever.

[Funny, it doesn't sound like he's 100% sold on that lucky bit. Or maybe he is, but there's a very quiet sort of melancholy behind it. It would have been nice if he'd at least gotten to say goodbye...]

Yeah, it's probably not the safest place to be.

But that doesn't mean it's all that lucky for the people she left behind.

[Losing someone from the bubble hurt, even if you couldn't admit it out loud. Guy knew that well enough.]

Yeah, Ioder's pretty broken up. Actually he's mainly in denial but y'know, it's not like we know for sure she'll never come back so who am I to tell him he's wrong? He's illustrating her books.

[Not that he's wishing she'll come back or anything. Or maybe he is. Who even knows. There is the fact that if she does things might get awkward with Sheena - not that things aren't always awkward with Sheena - but the girl gets all kinds of up in arms when he's spending time with his hunnies something about 'protecting the innocent' or.. whatever.

...He should probably thank her for it.]

I was talking with Bianca about an art show. Maybe I'll put some of Ioder's illustrations up with passages from the books.

An art show? Huh... I'm sure people would appreciate seeing that. I doubt many people knew she wrote.

[He certainly didn't. But the few conversations he'd had with her, he knew she was curious enough for an outlet like that.]

I know it's probably easy to go into denial, especially since they were pretty close. But it's okay to just say you miss her.

[Glance. Yes, he means you, too.]

[He has to stop himself from correcting "wrote" to "writes" and the very fact that he does have to stop himself is enough to prove Guy right in his mind.]

He does, obviously.

[He sighs heavily, leaning on the counter again.]

She's...

[And for once he's at a loss for words. Everything he can come up with seems paltry for someone so bright and shining.]

...guess I miss her too.

[There we go, a crack in the shell.

Guy doesn't give any response at first, merely nodding as he brings the ice away from his head. The lack of words from Zelos is a surprise, especially considering they were talking about a woman. But considering how tight-lipped Zelos usually became around things that upset him, it was a good enough guess that Estellise had been, at the least, a friend.]

Makes you wonder if having them in the bubble in the first place was a good thing or not, huh? To have someone here, only to watch them leave... you'd think it would be easier if it didn't have to happen at all.

But even if it might be safer away from all this, you'd still want your friends with you. [A certain redhead had told him that, once upon a time.] Old or new or whatever. They're still a part of your life. Hopefully a good one.

There's nothing wrong with missing that.

[The specific words chosen elicit a dry, not entirely humorless laugh from the redhead.]

You actually listen to the bs that comes out of my mouth? I'm touched! Maybe there's hope for you after all~

[He grins teasingly at his companion, but there's a strange sort of warmth in hearing his own words parroted back at him in a similar circumstance, and knowing Guy had to take them to heart at least a little in order to remember them now.

Sure, a friend is gone, but he still has a few here too.]

[An eyebrow is raised in mock offense - the smirk gives away the intentions completely, but still!]

What, you think I don't care about what you have to say? I wonder if I should be offended.

[Wroooong. Zelos should get that idea out of his head right now. Guy is not a fan of ignoring conversation without good reason.]

I listen to what's important. Words don't have to be profound to be important. Even if you think it's trash, it doesn't mean it has to be. Besides, what friends are for if they can't bother to lend an ear, right?

Geeze, laying it on a little thick, aren't we? That's pretty inspirational~ Maybe you shoulda been a motivational speaker instead of a servant.

[Really though, that sappy side of Guy is nice when it shows briefly, but for a prolonged span of time? It starts to make Zelos fairly uncomfortable. Sadly, due to his weariness, his change in subject is less than graceful. Still, he hopes Guy will go along.]

How's your head? Feeling any better?

Maybe. Too bad my one true calling is trumped by fealty, huh?

[Don't worry, he can take a hint. He got his point across anyways, even if he was a bit forward with it.

Subject change = go!]

I think I'm alright, yeah. It wasn't bad. Just warn me before you decide to flip over the counter like that next time. Who knows. I might just have a heart attack.

[Imagine what Zelda would say if that were to happen! Tsk tsk.]

Edited 2012-11-22 16:33 (UTC)

[Pff, looks like Zelos isn't the only one who can get overdramatic. He laughs a bit.]

Noted. I'll try and make sure you stay in one piece, if only for Zelda's sake~ Granted if you mess up with her, your ass is mine, got it?

[Protective older brother mode is go.]

What--? Y-yeah, yeah... [That smirk is quickly turning into a grimace.] No pressure or anything, huh?

[He'd really like to keep his ass to himself, thanks. 8[ But with how close Zelos and Zelda were, he guesses he shouldn't complain. Besides, it's good to know that someone's going to make sure she stays safe... and, uh. Keep him accountable. Or whatever this wonderful little threat meant.

It only takes a second to get his composure back together, letting the awkward flair soften into something more sheepish.]

But yeah. I got it.

[He slides off his seat with a huff, a hand running through his hair as he glances over the club floor.]

You said you wanted a sweep-up, right?

[Accountability is definitely the key word here. He's pretty sure he'll at least hear both sides if anything went south between the two though. After all, he'd become friends with each independently. But knowing the both of them, Guy's more likely to put his foot in his mouth just by being overly caring. Zelda's may act like princess of everything but she's still a teenaged girl on the inside.]

Yeah, and some dusting. I'll get the high stuff if you get the floor.

[And out come the cleaning tools. That's quite enough serious talk for one evening.]

You sure that shouldn't be the other way around?

[He's still snatching up the broom, regardless of the tease. Last he checked, he had you beat by at least a couple inches, sir!]

[A smirk is all Guy gets in response before Zelos pops his brilliantly golden wings and takes a feather duster to a nearby light fixture.

Being an angel has some small perks.]

[...

What.

Zelos, you have wings.

Since when have you had wings?

...]

--That has to be cheating.

[The fight's not in his voice whatsoever. He is just trying his best not to stare.

Point proven, then, you little show off. 8|]

Jealousy is so unbecoming~

[There's a bit of his usual snark back in his tone now. For better or worse, talking things out with Guy, even if it was only for a short while, had helped get his head back on straight. As much as it ever is, anyway.

Don't mind him, he'll just be getting the dust off all the chandeliers.]

[EYEROLL.]

Well, can you blame for being a little surprised? It--- geez, have you always had those? [WHAT A DUMB QUESTION. But it's not every day you find out your boss sports an extra-magical set of appendages out his shoulders. Maybe they were just something new.]

[He shrugs, eyes still trained on what he's doing with the duster.]

Nah, it's part of the Chosen deal. I'm an important guy back home y'know!

Important enough for your own set of wings, huh...

[Guy's never been too fond of the "chosen one" argument... although maybe that would explain the attitude that he kept throwing around. It certainly reminded him of a different foolhardy "hero", at least.]

So, what exactly are you chosen for?

As a sacrifice.

[He snorts a bit, finding it morbidly funny.]

Pretty complicated to tell you the truth. I don't much like to talk about it, considering it's not really something I ever wanted to be.

[His feelings on the position of Chosen are much more complicated than that, but when has Zelos ever been transparent about his feelings?]

[He halts mid-sweep. That was not what he expected to hear... and, surprisingly, is vaguely pulling on another conversation he's had. It was from a long time ago, but--

"I'm not the first Chosen One, but I am one of the last."

One of the last...]

You were just thrown into it without any other options, then. Unless I'm hearing things wrong. But why you? What's so important about this sacrifice being you?

The church had a breeding program. I'm the product of that. Had to get a body that was just the right mana signature to accept the Goddess' soul, so the church forced my parents to marry and here I am.

[There's a hint of something in his tone, even if he doesn't turn to look at Guy as he tells the beginning of the story. It's derisive, cold and hateful, but it's only a hint and it vanishes as quickly as it had appeared.]

I spent most of my life running away from it though, and the whole system turned out to be bunk so it's not so much an issue now. Could you get me a cloth? There's a dirt clod up here somehow.

[He switches seamlessly into discussing work, the only clue to just how uncomfortable the turn of conversation has made him.]

Soldier on

Wow, you weren't kidding.

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