caughtinanetwork | Video: Gotta catch up on all the gossip!

[ Someone taking a bath when he can tell where Zelos and Dhaos are?

Its enough to pull Duke from his window perch and talking to what animals were about - see, Zelos? they're not inside - to go check on Zelda's room. Where there is no Zelda!

He might have turned in a circle before going and making tea and waiting... probably at the table. Duke is totally not slicing up an apple for her while waiting, really not... ]

[She certainly didn't expect Duke to be there when she finally emerged in a bathrobe. It covers well enough, but she doesn't categorize Duke as "family" in the same way she does Dhaos or Zelos. Zelda jumps and makes sure it's tied securely before speaking.]

Duke?

[Why is he here? Not that she didn't expect him to be concerned, but she definitely didn't expect Zelos to put up with him. Goddesses, what if something had happened to Zelos?]

... Awake. [ Just.. pointing out the obvious. With a nice amount of relief. Yes, he's been told and interacted with a few people who were worried over people who fell asleep and didn't wake, and then the people woke, but...

The Child of the Full Moon sleeping and Zelda sleeping were a bit different. ]

Slept after a week of not eating; want something more? [ Setting the apple wedges closer to her - or another chair near her - than to him. ]

I'd best be careful to not overwhelm my digestive system. Thank you.

[She pulls out a chair and nibbles at the apple slices delicately, forcing herself to not down them all at once and make herself sick. Compared to the taste of food when she was an angel, they're divine. Not to mention the fact that hunger is the best spice.

Now, how to broach the subject of what he's doing here...]

I didn't expect to find you outside the forest.

[Zelda smiles at him to let him know that this isn't necessarily a bad thing.]

True. [ Oh, look, tea is ready. He'll work on that. ]

... was.... worried. Wished to aid. [ Even if it was mostly somewhat passive aggressive 'I can aid Zelda first' for a while, with Zelos. ]

[He's quite sweet in his own way. Zelda doesn't rise from the table, well aware that Duke might be experiencing the overwhelming urge to help she often does when someone falls asleep. Instead, she just smiles up at him, now more genuinely.]

I appreciate it. I'll be sure to do the same if you ever experience one. Though I'll probably have to move you here... I wouldn't want any animal mistaking you for dead.

That... would be problematic. [ And here's tea. ]

.. although an interesting idea; what happens if one who is in a coma is in a situation that would ordinarily result in death... [ Not. that he's offering to let them find out on him. ]

[The princess takes the tea with a scowl.]

I'm afraid it will have to remain a mystery.

[She blows on the tea to cool it slightly before taking a sip, expression relaxing. She's all for academic interest, but not when it comes to possibly hurting the people she cares about - or even discussing the matter.]

Were Dhaos and Zelos alright? I'm not entirely sure either of them know how to manage without me.

[It's a white lie. She doesn't want to offend Duke, but she has to know that they're okay. And really, it's only half a lie. Dhaos doesn't do well on his own, and Zelos gets into all sorts of trouble. He's likely gone and done something crazy while she was asleep ~~like start a host club~~.]

Was not offering an answer to it. [ He.. can understand the idea of him possibly having worth, if only because other people would be unhappy if something happened to him. ]

.... may have introduced Dhaos to the idea of gaining warmth from freshly dried clothes. [ There's a white and a gold laundrybasket cat now. Oops. ]

... Zelos. ... [ How does he word. And how does he try to keep that lingering 'do not like' from his voice. ]

... tolerant, of my wish to stay here. [ .. ignoring a few attempts to lock him out. ]

Wait... do you mean to say that you two were sitting in clothes that just came out of the dryer?

[The image causes her to laugh, and she can't quite resist reaching out to pat his arm. Oh, Duke, you get cold so easily!]

You know, there's something in Vatheon that we didn't have on my world - it's called sunscreen. If you used it in conjunction with a hat for your scalp and covering clothing, I'd imagine you could visit the island even without a Cruxis Crystal.

[Her face softens when he mentions Zelos.]

You're getting along a little better, then? I'm glad.

I was siting in the basket and Dhaos decided to join me. It didn't last particularly long. [ Dhaos tipped it over :c

Oh. ]

Have also been told of an 'electric blanket' which is as a blanket, but heated. Think would like the ... 'sunscreen' option, perhaps. ... will have to look into sunscreen. [ Hats? what is this nonsense? Duke doesn't know hats. ]

... mostly a case of 'get along' by pretending the other isn't in the room.

I have some if you'd like me to apply it for you.

[She tilts her head at the electric blanket.]

Electric blanket... I don't believe I've heard of it. Then again, I haven't looked into novelty items for the most part.

[Zelda looks a little sheepish at that last part.]

That's all I would ask of either of you. Thank you.

.... 'apply'? Some sort of... [ Why would he need to have aid in 'apply'ing it. Confusion. Obviously Terca Lumireis does not have Sunscreen either. ]

Yes, just a moment. I'll go get it.

[Zelda stands. She'll also use this excuse to get dressed, not wanting to expose herself to Duke. It just... no, she shouldn't do that. She's wearing a light sundress when she patters back down the stairs with a tube of sunscreen, squeezing a little out and rubbing it on her arm.]

See? It's a chemical reaction of some sort, it prevents the radiation from the sun from burning your skin.

[ Surprise, surprise, Duke's cut up more apple. And there may be a simple sandwich too.

Duke studies that tube, watching as the ... lotion like stuff more or less vanishes as she rubs. ]

Hmn. Absorbs it before skin can, perhaps. [ Which is pretty much his entire problem. ]

I believe that to be the case.

[With the bit left on her finger, she reaches up and rubs it on his nose, seeming amused.]

Oh! You made more food? Really, you didn't have to. I don't mean to be troublesome.

No trouble. [ See? Half that sandwich is for him. ]

Assuming is not a permanent thing; how would they ever need to sell more?

Well, thank you. No, it's not permanent. It lasts for a few hours. That should be long enough. Though you do behave rather like a cat when it comes to napping in warm places.

[He behaves like a cat in more than one way, and she's definitely picked up on it by now. This is the first time that she's vocalized it, though. Zelda smirks at him before settling down to eat the sandwich and a few of the apple slices.]

Hmn. Although the urge to nap in sun's warmth would be .. limited, due to knowledge that it is a bad idea, normal situations.

[ He can take a short nap. Maybe. ]

I wouldn't mind keeping an eye on you.

[She's rather used to being near to Duke while he's sleeping now. She fell asleep with her hands in his hair once, even!]

If the weather is nice, I could do a little reading. I think it is beneficial to be on the surface once in awhile. It's not exactly our natural habitat to be stuck under the ocean, after all.

This is true. It is likely coral power and the elevator shaft that prevents the air down here from being ill for us - or perhaps coral power that enables no ill effects of the air... [ Tangent! ]

.. perhaps why regular contact is necessary. Hmn. Although if those who live on the surface require less, perhaps also points for an inhospitable surface. ... Would not mind that. [ And back to conversation without pause. Tea. ]

I've been meaning to test if the surface is hospitable or not, though there are roadblocks.

[Zelda elects to not mention more on the plans her and Serph had spoken about. It doesn't seem like a good idea to let Duke know that she'd considered allowing one of the locals to choke to death on the island.

Or that she's still considering it.]

Hmmnn. Obviously few natives would volunteer for this. [ and you're not taking any wildlife here. ]

Yes, that's the problem exactly. It would be helpful if they were more upfront about what it is they want us to accomplish. "Be heroes". Honestly... that's terribly vague.

[She reaches up to comb her fingers through her hair as it dries out, sighing slightly at what a mess it's become. Oh, she was rotated in her sleep alright!]

"Be heroes"? [ An absent blink. ]

Often a small few who would do what few others would, regardless of potential consequence, if they succeed, are considered such. However, they are also those who often create the biggest stirs; something you had noticed was a pattern among those who arrive here.

So in this situation it would be asking a local if they minded aiding in something potentially disastrous to health. They do not quite seem to mind such things; if their April Fools attempt is a sign.

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afdklwifwo NOT THAT FACE... at least it's not over the shoulder

Woops sorry Zelda.

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