(no subject)

[chosen_gigolo]

Who: Zelos and Tsubaki
When: backdated February 14th, around noon
Where: The park
Style: Whatever
Status: Closed

The morning was just fading into noon when Zelos started setting up the picnic blanket in a particularly nice spot in the park. Finger sandwiches, pasta and fruit salads, cookies and mini cakes, and a large pitcher of home-made juice litter the blanket, far too much food for one person to consume in a sitting. In fact, it's too much for two, but the curse had left Zelos with a nervous energy that he'd taken out on the house and kitchen, resulting in all the chocolates he'd delivered that morning being finished on time despite the curse, this handsome array of lunch foods, and the entire house sparkling from top to bottom. It hadn't helped; he still felt strange about having been a woman (and a unicorn of all things) but the memories were starting to fade and he decided to let them, focusing instead on treating Tsubaki to a nice afternoon's picnic in the park.

The Chosen plopped down once all the food was laid out and lets out a small sigh. If Tsubaki showed up, that is. She'd agreed to meet him, but he was well aware of her hesitance. He hadn't seen her out and about much, though, and thought maybe she needed the time out of the house. Time with... well, a friend. 

So here he is, Zelos Wilder, trying to make friends instead of just letting friends happen to him.

Comments

[clairvoyancies]

[Different times... Different timelines, too, maybe? That's something she hadn't considered, but it would explain a whole lot of the reactions she's gotten since being here.

She breathes a sigh.]

Well. Since you are here, I'm sure you would be able to help prepare him for what's to come.

[That's...something.]

At least...he remembers you...

[chosen_gigolo]

I guess there is that, though supposedly we don't remember anything from here if we end up going back so I'm not sure I see the point in trying to "prepare" him or anything.

[Mostly... he's ashamed of what he has yet to do in Lloyd's timeline and he doesn't want to tell him and risk Lloyd hating him here in Vatheon. He looks at Tsubaki, catching her tone.]

Does one of the people from your world not remember you at all?

[1/2]

[clairvoyancies]

[...!

Ah, whoops...]

[2/2]

[clairvoyancies]

[She hadn't quite meant for that to come out so easily. Maybe it would be worth something to train his friend anyway, and maybe it wouldn't...but either way, she hadn't meant this to be about her.]

...He...he doesn't, no. [Her only "friend," too.] But it is hardly his fault, so...

[She can't exactly be angry about it, can she...?]

[chosen_gigolo]

It must be hard on you, though. I have a hard enough time with Lloyd not remembering everything, I can't imagine how I'd feel if he didn't remember me at all...

[He can't quite resist putting a hand lightly on her shoulder. What he wants to do is hug her, tell her everything'll be okay, that he'll protect her and be her friend, but he's fairly certain that would have her running for the other end of the city. He removes his hand quickly, in any case, worried even the small gesture will cause her to clam up.]

Have you tried talking to him anyway?

[clairvoyancies]

[She barely notices the touch, actually, but she flinches all the same. Perhaps it's something involuntary. She doesn't even realize, but she turns to him like nothing happened, when he asks the question...and nods.]

...I did. He found me not long after we parted ways that day; after I'd gotten changed and then ate with you.

But he seemed about as confused as I was.

[Can't be helped. There's nothing she can do. She wonders if there's ever anything she can do.]

[chosen_gigolo]

Hey, look at it this way. He's your friend, right? At least you're talking about him fondly. So there's something about you he likes anyway and I'm sure you can reforge that.

[Zelos offers her a reassuring smile.]

He'll come around.

[clairvoyancies]

I...would hope so.

[She nods at the encouragement; thankful for it even, which isn't something she can say very often. She still won't, although her tone of voice is one of obvious gratitude.

She looks down now at the food, the grass that lay beyond the picnic blanket she had chosen. And then shrugs her shoulders.]

Until then, I can only hold onto the memories I have. I-I refuse to believe that they are lies.

[chosen_gigolo]

Of course they're not! You lived it, right? No one can take that away.

[Trying to swing the conversation away from depressing topics, Zelos doles out some pudding into little paper bowls and hands one to Tsubaki.]

Here, try this! I think you'll like it.

[clairvoyancies]

Oh—

[At the distraction, Tsubaki stares at the bowl for a moment before taking it. She never believed anyone could take those memories away; there is strength behind what she says, but nevertheless, she is glad to hear it from Zelos.]

This is…chocolate, correct?

[chosen_gigolo]

"Chocolate and banana! With wafer cookies. You can eat it with a spoon, but my favorite way is like this." He picks one of the cookies gingerly out of the swirl of brown and yellow pudding and uses it to scoop a good sized dollop to pop in his mouth.

[clairvoyancies]

…

[She is staring at first. Blinking as he simply grabs the cookie (or what she assumes is a cookie) and uses it, as if it is a spoon. At first she thinks maybe she’s mistaken; maybe it is a spoon after all, but then she grabs one for herself, feeling the crumbs on her fingers.

…She actually cracks a smile.]

A rather crude way of eating it.

[And she’s totally doing it, too.]

[chosen_gigolo]

[Zelos is completely delighted to have Tsubaki smiling. Something just lights up when she does and he tries very hard not to over do it by pointing it out, he simply smiles back and scoops more pudding with another wafer.]

Sometimes crude is way more fun~!

[clairvoyancies]

[She puts the wafer she’d been using for a spoon in her mouth, chewing and her hands are already grabbing for another one. Once you start, you just can’t stop!

…Or something. Anyway.]

And fun is important...in its own way.

[Licking her lips. Not sure if it’s more important than her manners and appearances, but...oh well. For now, she supposes it must be.]

[chosen_gigolo]

Fun is the most important! Without fun everything would pretty much suck if you ask me.

[He scoops more pudding, getting it all over his fingers and having to lick them off after finishing the cookie itself.]

[clairvoyancies]

What is fun for one person doesn't necessarily hold true for another, though.

[She’s on her last one before she knows it, dipping it into the chocolate once more to try to get as much of it as she can.]

But luckily, today isn’t quite like that, so…

Thank you.

[Admittedly, she had not expected this to go quite so pleasantly, when she agreed.]

[chosen_gigolo]

Hey, when I set out to show a girl a good time it's by doing something I know she'll enjoy. That's the way to do it.

[He smiles softly at her again, so very glad she's enjoying herself. He'd been worried with the theme of the day and all that she'd close in on herself, or even not show up at all.]

You don't have to thank me. It's fun for me if you're having fun.

[clairvoyancies]

[That’s pretty impressive and bold of him; considering she didn’t even know if she’d enjoy herself until just now. But then, that’s Zelos, it seems. She’s already getting used to such claims. A faint smile lines her face as a reaction to his.]

…There was someone else, too, was there not? Someone else you were to show a “good” time to…

[With the curse, she doesn’t remember it well, but she remembers him mentioning something about seeing someone else either later or earlier in the day. Or maybe even both—]

[chosen_gigolo]

Yeah, I'm taking Mrs. Brisby out to dinner, actually.

[Zelos polishes off his last cookie before continuing.]

I couldn't very well let her be all alone. A little mouse like that in a big place like this? She's a sweet lady so someone should look after her.

[Not to mention there's something just downright nurturing about her that makes Zelos want to speak with her more. He's vaguely aware it may have something to do with his own maternal issues but when the thought occurs he usually shoves it away. No need to think about that.]

[clairvoyancies]

I see. I’ve…yet to meet her, actually.

[She wonders if she should be taking this all literally. As if mice could talk…but then, Vatheon is a strange place, so perhaps it’s not so hard to believe.]

But if she is as sweet as you say, then I would hope she has a good time as well.

[…it’s funny, the idea of jealousy never crosses her mind. It seems natural, having lunch with one person, dinner with another. Valentines’ Day or not.

Looks like they’ve finished the pudding, though. Awww.]

[chosen_gigolo]

I hope so! I've never exactly entertained a mouse before.

[He laughs and starts cleaning up a bit, packing away the used paper plates and plastic cutlery in a garbage bag, but he leaves the food for now in case Tsubaki isn't finished eating. There's still all sorts of delicious things, after all.]

[clairvoyancies]

Nor have I.

[She continues picking at the things Zelos hasn't put away yet, trying to try a little bit of everything. It doesn't occur to her to help right away. She's just kind of watching him.]

Do you know her well...? Admittedly, I am having trouble picturing a talking mouse.

[chosen_gigolo]

I had trouble picturing it too but there she was on the network all gossipy and stuff. I think she's lonely, to tell you the truth. Not a lot of other talking animals, you know?

[He sits back down on the blanket, pouring himself and Tsubaki some lemonade.]

I don't know her well at all though, so I could be off, but lonely seems to be something pretty common here what with being yanked from our home worlds.

[clairvoyancies]

...I can see how that would be so.

[She nods slightly, lowering her head as she takes a glass of lemonade for herself when Zelos finishes pouring it. The bright yellow color kind of rubs her the wrong way, admittedly, but he seems to be drinking it just fine; so she takes a sip, making a bit of a face at how sour it is.

...Still, it's actually quite refreshing.

She lets out a breath as she finishes, pulling the cup away from her mouth.]

One learns to get used to being alone, though. [She certainly has. Or at least, that's how it was, before she came here.] But perhaps with people like you, she will not have to.

[chosen_gigolo]

Well I can't be there for her all the time! [He rubs his neck sheepishly. Nor should he be, for anyone, since sooner or later he'll just ruin everything anyway.]

But y'know, once in awhile, when people are sick of being lonely, I don't mind helping out.

[Assuaging his own loneliness is just a plus.]