ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ'✿,｡･:*:❀･ﾟ'❁

[bufudine]

Who: Serph and Zelos
Where: Outside the Embryon Base, near the forest
When: After this conversation
Style: [Action]
Status: Closed

[There's a few people Serph means to eventually contact about concerns of little urgency: updates on progress; follow ups on interesting parts of conversation; and meeting certain strangers to have an idea of the influence they'd exert on those he knows. This meeting with Zelos falls into the first category; he wishes to show the redhead the fruits of his and Cielo's efforts with the rose bush under the guidance of Duke. It's thanks to Zelos they even considered taking up gardening, after all.

And, well, it simply seems like a good time to meet his acquaintance in person.

The Embryon Base isn't hospitable by most peoples' standards; it had previously been an abandoned three storey building. The outside isn't even painted, exposing the grey concrete walls, and not all the windows have glass in them. But he and Cielo have made it their home, marked by distinctive orange splashes of paint on the doors and a flag with their colour.

While waiting for Zelos, Serph is crouching to water the plants they're growing in those Vatheon mugs. Most show no sign of growth yet, but a few of the faster growing plants have sprouted already. However, the orange rose bush is obscured by the building's structure, if one approaches the base from the main city rather than the forest.]

Comments

[chosen_gigolo]

[Zelos isn't an idiot, but apparently he plays one on the SFC.

The admonishments and reprovals were to be expected after his little one drunk show but what really bothered him were the messages complimenting him on how they'd been amused. Right. How do you respond to that? Generally he'd just taken a proverbial bow and moved on but it rankled him that now he'll likely be viewed as "that silly drunk guy." The part that really gets him is why he's upset in the first place. He plays a fool all the time, so why is this any different?

It's irritating and frustrating and Zelos had been quite glad to be invited out for a completely unrelated reason.

He approaches the base from the city, hands stuffed in his pockets with an air of nonchalance and calls out when he gets close enough.]

Serph?

[bufudine]

[It takes a moment for Serph to respond; he wants to pour the last bit of water from this miniature watering can first. When he's done, he sets it down in front of the mug he needs to water next before he straightens to speak to Zelos properly.]

Zelos.

[If he'd been someone else, he'd be wearing a warm smile right now. But no, Serph is the master of the lineface so all Zelos gets is a nod in greeting.]

It is good to meet you in person.

[chosen_gigolo]

Yeah, you too.

[He's gathered this guy's a calm type and so he's not offended at all with the luke-warm greeting.]

Looks like you've done well for yourself out here. Nice spouts you've got, though I doubt the mugs will be big enough for long.

[bufudine]

[Good assessment!

Serph considers Zelos' words, looking down at some of the mugs. That's true... some of them are growing much faster than he expected, thanks to Zelda giving them a head start. He returns his attention to Zelos and gives him a nod.]

We were planning on bringing in garden beds, though replanting is a large task for just Cielo and I.

[chosen_gigolo]

Well I don't mind helping some, if you want. I sort of need to get out of the house for awhile anyway.

[True facts. Not only had he been a complete ass, things with Zelda had been mildly awkward ever since he'd kissed her. It was a stupid thing and he wished he could take it back. Or maybe he didn't. You see why he needed out of the house?]

I would like to see the rose bush though, where is it?

[bufudine]

[Nodding and turning to lead the way, waving his hand in a "follow me" gesture.]

Your help would be appreciated. Your knowledge exceeds ours by far.

[It's a very short walk to round the corner of the base to where the rose bush is planted. The concrete is broken up around the bush, but it's filled with plenty of well watered, fertile soil. The flowers are generally a vibrant orange, though there are a few flowers at the end of their lifespan that are starting to wilt.]

[chosen_gigolo]

[The Chosen follows Serph around the building, hands still in his pockets and pace easy and light.]

It's more a hobby, really. I've got a butler at home who takes care of the real work but I like to dabble when I have spare time.

[He walks up to the bush and smiles a bit, leaning over to examine the flowers.]

It's very nice! You've done a great job here. Maybe you could plant a few more to brighten up the place.

[Reaching out, Zelos brushes his hand over one of the dying flowers.]

These few should be pruned so the others have room to grow, though. May I? Do you have clippers?

[bufudine]

[He'd been considering more roses, yes, though that endeavour will need to wait; he's out of Starfish Tokens to buy more of the Magni bombs he'd used to create the holes in the concrete.

Serph nods in acknowledgement of the praise and obliges Zelos' request, loping off to find the secateurs he'd sought out after he realised using Cielo's knife is not ideal for pruning. It doesn't take him long for him to return and offer the shears to Zelos.]

What is a butler?

[chosen_gigolo]

[Zelos takes them with a nod of thanks and leans over the bush, careful of the thorns. He cuts carefully and methodically, clearing the plant of any dying flowers or dead wood with cuts at an angle as he answers Serph's question.]

A butler is basically a servant. He gets paid to manage the household, do the shopping, everyday stuff like that. Sebastian's been with my family for years.

[And is the closest thing I've ever had to a father.]

[bufudine]

[As Zelos trims the bush, Serph is carefully observing how he does it and mentally taking notes.

While he doesn't know what a servant is, Serph can understand the explanation of having others to do work; he often had Gale take care of things back at the Embryon base in Muladhara when he was out. Because Zelos had people working under him, surely he was a person of some importance, back in his home?]

Are you a leader in your world?

[chosen_gigolo]

I guess you can say that, though I don't really have a lot of influence anymore aside from being pretty loaded.

[Zelos tosses aside a few dead blooms and twigs and regards the plant for a moment to see what else needed trimmed.]

I used to be kind of a religious figure but it was all bogus and we changed it. I still have some say in matters of church or state but not a lot. The King's pretty much trying to lock me out.

[He glances at Serph.]

Any particular reason you ask?

[bufudine]

[A few of the words that come from Zelos, Serph doesn't understand. "Pretty loaded"? "Church"? "State"? What do these mean? He has learnt of religion from Tiir and Ky. So Zelos is one who had upheld religious law before overturning it?

His reason had been simply out of idle curiosity, but he sees no harm in divulging the reasoning behind it.]

Only those who are considered more "important" have others serving them in my world. Tribe leaders like myself, and those they bring into a position of command.

[The bush is looking better than ever, in Serph's opinion!]

[chosen_gigolo]

I guess it's really similar on my world, though the people who are considered more important aren't always right about that.

[The Chosen stands up full again, having trimmed all that needed to be trimmed and spins the clippers around one finger before handing them back to Serph handle first.]

Difference is butlers get paid, and they can quit if they want, but I treat Sebastian pretty fairly.

[And by pretty fairly, he means he basically gave the older man the run of his house and fortune. As the only person from Zelos' childhood that never abandoned him, the redhead is forever in his butler's debt, even if he couldn't stop the things that happened.]

Didn't even notice! I answer from my email.

[chosen_gigolo]

[This is the first time a conversation has gone so smoothly in ages and Zelos is finding himself relaxing as Serph turns his attention away from Sheena just like that, without having to be asked.

He could get used to this.]

It's only been a short while but since the worlds were merged, there's obviously a lot of confusion. I'd been trying to use what little influence I have left to smooth out the peace process but it was slow going. It's kind of nice not having to deal with it here, though.

[bufudine]

[Ah. Yes, if Zelos had been a religious figure and they'd overthrown said religion, it was logical he'd lose much of his influence. It'd be like... relinquishing leadership of a Tribe.]

Your world will find peace, with you helping.

[He says it sincerely; he's wished for nothing but peace since he gained his Atma, and he can see that Zelos wants peace, too. And people who truly want something... they don't wait for it to happen; they make it happen.

...Though the matter of Vatheon is an entirely different matter.


ooc: Whoa, you can answer from e-mail and choose icons other than the default? How? :O]

[chosen_gigolo]

Hah! Well, I'm trying but it's mostly going to be because of Regal's influence. He's a duke, and the head of a big company that's got trade agreements now on both sides of the world, so he's pretty much covered all the bases. Money still talks, even if being the Chosen doesn't.

I did save the Sylvaranti ambassador's life, though, so unless the assassin was hired by someone in the Tethe'allan government, that probably helped too.

[He shoves his hands in his pockets again, glancing up at the canopy of leaves. Just what would happen if and when he got spit back out into his old life? Would he still be poisoned and wounded? Probably. Maybe he'd be dead. Who knows.]

((ooc: What I mean is I hit "reply at the webpage" and it just opens the comment I'm replying to so I don't see the whole thread.))

[bufudine]

[To be quite honest, a lot of what Zelos had just said goes right over Serph's head. Trade isn't a thing in the Junkyard and money doesn't have the same kind of commodity it does in other worlds. But he understands that it's someone else mostly pulling things together... in Zelos' eyes, anyway.

Based on the context, he can guess Sylvaranti and Tethe'allan are the names of the two halves of the world. Serph thinks peace doesn't happen because of one single person. Zelos is important in the process, too. But Zelos seems pensive right now, so Serph won't interrupt. He's quite at home with quiet and good company, after all.


ooc: Oh cool! I didn't actually realise you could do that asdf;klj Thanks!]

[chosen_gigolo]

[Serph's silence gives Zelos a chance to ask questions of his own and he's had one burning since Serph told him there were no plants on his world.]

So what do you eat, if nothing grows where you're from? Just meat?

[bufudine]

[...Ha ha ha he's not about to tell Zelos exactly what kind of meat he eats.

Serph's reply is completely serious.]

We don't eat. We don't need to, to survive.

[YEP.]

[chosen_gigolo]

[He's not as surprised as Serph might expect. After all, Zelos doesn't need to eat either, though that's because of the crystal and not any inherent ability.]

Oh really? Huh. How's that work?

[bufudine]

[Cool, another person who's not weirded out by it. There really aren't very many of those. He's not about to test his luck with the need to devour, though.

But how does that work...? He's not entirely sure what Zelos means by that, but perhaps explaining the situation in the Junkyard will answer it.]

People are the only living things in my world.

[Aside from the one cat.]

There are items that can be eaten for medicinal purposes, but we don't gain nourishment from them. We don't require 'food' to sustain us.

[chosen_gigolo]

Is that so? Huh. Well if you don't eat, then how do you sustain yourselves? I've got this.

[He taps the round, red crystal set into a small gold crest on his chest. His mark from being dragged here surrounding it.]

But humans usually need to eat things. Do you have something that keeps your body in stasis too?

[bufudine]

[Serph eyes the crystal curiously. A source of sustenance? So Zelos doesn't require food either.

He gives Zelos' question some thought; before arriving in Vatheon, he'd never thought it was unusual to not require food.]

Even before gaining our demons, we didn't need to eat.

[Serph sounds a little apologetic.]

We know little about ourselves. Autonomy is new to us, and our identities are unknown.

[chosen_gigolo]

[Zelos peers at Serph, scrutinizing a bit. His emotionless demeanor, his ability to sustain himself without food, autonomy being new... he almost sounds like one of the lesser angels in Cruxis' employ. Though.. demons is new.]

Gaining your demons? What demons?

[bufudine]

[The tattoo on Serph's face pulsed with a blue light, before fading to its usual solid black. There is very little to explain about his Atma and most of what can be explained can just as easily be shown.]

I can demonstrate, if you'd like.