caughtinanetwork | 001. [video] intro.

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001. [video] intro.

[Gives the SFC a gentle flick, giving the camera a wry smile. Seems like he's managed to get rid of all signs of his wet arrival, minus his damp clothes. He's trying very hard to forget the whole incident for your benefit.]

So what, all I get for gracing you all with my presence is this booklet and this horrendous tunic? No welcome party, no parades, no nothing? Geez. Not to mention there's water in places you don't deserve to even know about.

[He pouts his pretty boy pout, looking very hurt indeed.]

Ah, well, I'll forgive you this time. I'm sure that there should be plenty of hunnies out there to cheer me up, yeah? We can have a party of our own now that the great Zelos is here!

Oh, and Lloyd and friends? That includes my dear, voluptuous hunny, my darling angel, my cool beauty, and my precious little one-- If you're here, you're invited, too. Don't leave a man hanging, hmm?

[With a wink and a grin, he turns off the feed.]

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Of course there's nothing wrong with it now. That's because we fixed it. You... [He swallows.] You don't even remember that? You don't remember... dying?

[Though considering the thoughts that've been running through his head, that last remark earns Zelos a glower.]

I'm not going to murder you, Zelos! Sheesh! You're just... I'm just trying figure out how bad this is!

No. [He answers that immediately.] Nothing has ever happened to this thing.

Hey, I never said you will, just that it looked like you wanted to. [He sighs and crosses his arms over his chest again.] Come on, let's get back to my question. There has to be a reason why our memories don't line up, right? For me, the answer to that is plain and simple: it just never happened to me. But you seem dead set on trying to convince me that these events are real. So. Any thoughts?

Well, maybe you're from... before it happened...

[If Lloyd sounds unsure, that's because he is. He's used to Zelos being from farther forward in time than him. The idea that Zelos might somehow have come here from before the time he was here before...

Gah, it's confusing even to think about!]

What's the last thing you do remember?

The last thing I remember is having settled business with the king. No memories of this place. Sorry to disappoint.

[He says that all with a straight face, watching carefully for Lloyd's reaction. This entire ordeal could have been avoided if the damn idiot just asked about that first, or hadn't been so stubborn about proving this "truth" to him.

Then again, it wouldn't really be Lloyd if he hadn't bothered, would it.]

Edited 2013-03-31 03:57 (UTC)

[Or maybe some part of Lloyd knew that it would be an exercise in frustration from the start.

...actually, no, that's probably giving Lloyd too much credit, but the problem exists either way. The fact is that Lloyd is from much earlier on the timeline than Zelos. "Settling business with the king"? He blinks, able to think of only one thing.]

You mean, the last thing you remember is joining up with us?

What? No, of course not. This happens after the worlds are united, I just needed to make sure the whole system of the Chosen was abolished.

...What's the last thing you remember? Before coming here, I guess.

Oh. [That's relieving, and yet...] I don't know if that's before or after what you remembered before.

The last thing I remember is when we had to go through the Otherworldly Gate to get back to Sylvarant and escape from the Papal Knights.

[And he can only hope that that's a unique event. Otherwise, he'll have to figure out another point of reference to tell Zelos when he's from.]

[He shrugs.] Does it matter? As long as it's finally been drilled into that thick skull of yours that I really don't have any memories of being here.

[That's when he pulled Sheena away from Kuchinawa... That's even before they finished forging all the pacts with the summon spirits. That's far.] Geez, that's... that's pretty far back.

[Inconvenient, if anything.]

It matters.

[He says that as insistently as he can.]

It matters if it hasn't happened for you yet, or if it has but you don't remember. I don't know how I can figure that out, but it still ought to be important. If you lost them, then maybe we can get them back.

[He takes in a breath, then lets it out, rubbing the back of his neck.]

Is that a problem? I know some of what's going to happen because you told me. You and Colette and a few others. I know we're going to reunite the worlds.

[That's the biggest thing he can think of.]

[He's quiet as he absorbs that information. Could it really be that he just doesn't remember?] So even if it turns out that you're right and I just can't remember, what are we gonna do about it? What can we do about it?

No, it shouldn't be a problem. [It's just that he hasn't betrayed Lloyd ask far as the brunet can remember. If it's second hand information, it's just not the same.] How much do you know? I mean, what did they tell you?

Maybe I should check your Key Crest first, just in case there's any damage.

[He sets the picture aside on a small table, then takes a step closer to Zelos. Not quite invading the other's space yet, but clearly intent on doing so.]

How much do I know? About reuniting the world? Well, you and Colette told me I'm going to use the Eternal Sword to reunite the worlds. I'm not sure how I do that yet, but I'm supposed to practice and get stronger so I can. Pretty cool, huh?

[He grins. After a moment, though, the grin fades a bit.]

Though I guess... other things are going to happen, too? This guy named Richter said something about Ratatosk and needing his help to balance the mana, but I'm not sure what he meant or what went wrong. He didn't really want to talk. He just attacked me. I don't think I'd know even that much if you hadn't been there to help.

[He also probably would have gotten his butt kicked, but he doesn't like acknowledging that.]

[Zelos is perfectly okay with his bud touching him - he's invaded Lloyd's personal space so often in the past, so. He turns his gaze down as well.] I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

Well, that's one thing I was wondering about. [He's talking about his betrayal, of course. But if he really had been here previously, he doubts that he would have brought it up to Lloyd voluntarily. Maybe he's better off not asking about it... No, definitely better off not asking.]

Huh. Don't know anything about that. But now's not really the time to talk about that, is it?

It can't hurt to be safe, though, right?

[With no protest or resistance from Zelos, he leans close enough to examine the runes carved into the redhead's Key Crest. Nothing seems to be wrong, which makes him breathe a sigh of relief before straightening up.]

I think you're right, though. It looks okay to me.

[He tilts his head.]

Just one thing you were wondering about?

[It doesn't even occur to him that Zelos might be worried about his betrayal. He does know, he just hasn't been hit with the full realization that Zelos doesn't remember being here, and what that means for everything they've been through together. It hasn't occurred to him that Zelos wouldn't remember that either.]

Yeah, you're right. Besides, I think Richter left already, so I guess there's no way to find out anything else.

Just as I thought. [Sighing, he looks Lloyd in the eye. There's no easy way to break this to him, and there's no guarantee he'll listen, but...] Look, as much as you want me to remember, I really don't think it's gonna happen. There's no spell or potion or whatever that gives people back their memories; even if there was, someone would have given it to me by now, right?

[So many people claimed to know him, but none of them fought as hard as Lloyd to try and fish some memories out of him. Of course it'd be Lloyd out of anyone, but that Zelda woman seemed to care for him just as much, if not more, and had seemed very resigned about the issue. It'd be best for Lloyd to accept it now, for both their sakes.

Zelos cracks a smile and shrugs.] Yeah. Some of the other stuff isn't really worth talking about if you haven't experienced it yet, so! No biggie.

Just because nobody knows a way yet doesn't mean it doesn't exist. We found a way to get Colette's memories back, right?

[Lloyd? Give up and accept that something is impossible? Come on, Zelos. You should know him better than that.]

This is just a little bit different. I don't know how we'll do it yet, but we'll figure something out. Until then... Hm. I guess you'll need someplace to stay.

[And now it's finally occurring to him that Zelos might need to have some things re-explained.]

It's free to live anywhere you want, and we don't use gald here at all. You can get stuff like food and clothes for free if you show the shop keepers your mark. Er... Do you know about that yet?

[A hint of confusion lingers at Zelos's last remark, but Lloyd shakes his head and brushes it off. If it was important, Zelos would have said what it is, right? Right?]

Okay...? If you say so.

[Okay, maybe there's a hint of doubt, but he won't push it right now. Maybe later, once Zelos has settled back in.]

[No use in trying to talk him out of it at this point. It feels like he's exhausted every option, and he's not about to go searching for more. At least Lloyd has accepted that he doesn't remember now, for the time being.]

I read about most of that, yeah. Don't have a place to stay yet, though. Nothing's gonna be good enough compared to my mansion. [Huff huff.] No one's given me enough time to think about it because they're all too excited about my arrival. I'm just too popular for my own good.

Well, this is supposed to be an inn.

[ Don't mind this awkwardly tall guy watching this from a different room in the hall. Suddenly the tall doorways and high ceilings make a bit more sense, because this guy is taller than Regal- ]

And if you're one of Lloyd's friends, chances are high you can take care of yourself in a fight.

[ He tucks his left arm up under his chin like one would do with a fist if they were thinking - only he doesn't have a left hand, just a stump with a bright dragon tattoo. ]

If you want to stick around him for a few days, until you explore the city better, that shouldn't be a problem.

[Lloyd isn't all that surprised by Rand's appearance. Rand does live here, after all, and Lloyd's gotten used to seeing him around. The teen only blinks at the interjection before he nods, giving into a grin.]

That's right, you could stay here! There's other empty rooms. It's a really nice place. Rand and Mat even built it themselves!

Oh, yeah, this is Rand. Rand, this is my friend Zelos.

What a sausage fest... [Colette offered him a place, but honestly? Being here would mean a) staying in close quarters with Lloyd, b) staying with multiple people (which meant less chances of confrontation) and c) not staying with a young girl.] Still, not much better offers around. I might just take it.

[Two finger salute.] Yo. You treating my bud right?

Well, he cooks better than the two of us...

[ Sausage fest isn't a phrase he completely understands, but ah well. ]

The forge is pretty much his, so long as he doesn't decide to start a project in the middle of the night. I think we're pretty much out of his hair, and him ours.

Hey, you'd only have to stick around as long as you want. You don't have to stay, you know.

[That's okay, Rand. Lloyd doesn't get it, either. He only thinks he does.]

Mmm, sausage. That sounds like a good idea for lunch.

[He'd make a gagging sound if anyone actually understood his words. He sighs and puts up his hands.] I know, I know! Geez. Maybe Colette's would be a better idea.

Full of compliments, I see. That's one factor to think about, I guess. But if this guy's the best cook around, that's even less points for this place.

[Grinning, he moves to sling an arm around Lloyd's shoulders.] I'm afraid your talent's eating, not cooking, bud!

We - Mat and I - are mostly good at 'stick it over a fire' cooking. There's the wonderful benefit of all these shops and free things about that we usually just eat whenever. Unless someone really wants rabbit stew.

[ Its a slight joke between him and Mat. Don't think too hard on it. ]

I suppose our worlds are different enough that indoor plumbing isn't a huge plus. I forgotten how nice it was.

[Lloyd gives Zelos a scowl and shakes him off with an attempted swat to the back of his head.]

Are you saying there's something wrong with my cooking?

[He brightens at the compliment from Rand.]

At least someone appreciates it. And indoor plumbing is the best! It's way better than an outhouse or using the bushes!

[Well, someone's easily pleased.]

And it doesn't even stink!

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