001. [video] intro.

[notchosenbychoice]

[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.]

Comments

[zelda_hylia]

He has not, actually. The biggest thing of note he's done since arriving here in Vatheon was helping Kratos repair Lloyd's key crest. I do believe he almost got in a fight with Lloyd once but he hasn't killed anyone, and that fight was nearly a year ago.

[He also got in a fight with Zelos once that Zelos never told her about. Shame on Zelos.]

Ah, Kratos is not here any longer, so don't worry about that. Thank the goddesses, that man was beyond irritating.

[notchosenbychoice]

Hmph. Getting away with the little boy act, I guess. Not that he's not still just a kid, but you know what I mean. [Waves a hand.]

You got that right. Pushed so much crap onto Lloyd, it just pissed me right off.

[zelda_hylia]

Not exactly. He has made no secret of his age or his crimes, but there is simply no point in fighting here. We all come back to life within five days if we are somehow killed, and he is simply too powerful to be killing repeatedly - not to mention the fact that there are penalties for people who murder. He seems to be getting along better with humans for now, so there may be hope on that front.

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

Truly? He seemed extremely protective of Lloyd during his stay here. If anything, I would say that he pushed unpleasant duties on you instead of on Lloyd... perhaps you expressed your irritation at him for doing such a thing so he did it to you instead.

[notchosenbychoice]

[He's quiet for a moment. As much as he hates the brat, he knows that he is also very similar to a certain red-clad brunet. People can learn to change... Zelos is definitely trying hard to. Maybe the kid can, too.] Well, I guess I'll have to see for myself. In small doses.

There were a few... unpleasant duties, yeah-- [His voice falters and he grimaces, but he pushes on:] --but those things had to be done. Of course, Kratos could have done it himself, but it would have given away the game. [His hands ball into fists.] I don't doubt that the guy cared about Lloyd, he was just absolute crap at showing it. Jerked Lloyd around for a good while, then forced a battle to the death on him. Though I think he knew from the start that he was gonna get beaten, but then he would have forced Lloyd to watch him die. If not for Yuan, that would have been a lot more scarring than it had been.

[zelda_hylia]

[Kratos did what with Lloyd now? Zelda's face screws up unpleasantly before she forces herself to put on an impassive expression. A battle to the death? He planned to have his own son kill him? She's heard snippets of that part of the story, but never the whole thing. Most of Zelos' confessions had revolved around his betrayal, not the things that other people did. She'd weasled some more information out of him about the World Tree and the way the two worlds worked, but she never pushed for a full explanation on why he hated Kratos so much - because honestly, she didn't like the man either. He was a stubborn know it all that kept far too much information to himself to the last second.

And he always tested her wards in the middle of the night, that jerk. People who are not angels need sleep!

Hearing that he very nearly put Lloyd through something like that ignites her irritation with him all over again. She's come to think of Lloyd like a younger brother over her time in Vatheon, or perhaps even like a son (which is understandable, considering she did literally mother him for a week). How could Kratos have done something like that?]

...it certainly would have been.

[Kratos should be glad he isn't here right now. Or maybe he would feel soothed by having Zelda yell at him over something like that, it's hard to tell. He's a freak.]

[notchosenbychoice]

[Of course he feels vindicated when he sees her reaction. God does he hate that guy. Parents who don't know how to be parents shouldn't even bother with kids. Ever.

However, he's mostly made his mind up about Kratos. Even if the guy's a shit dad, he's still Lloyd's dad, and so, if he really did see him again, he shouldn't give him too much trouble.]

Even if Lloyd claimed to be prepared for it, it still would have been-- [He doesn't even want to think about it.] Ugly.

But, since he's not here, I won't have to worry about it.

[zelda_hylia]

[She simply nods, shifting awkwardly. What else is there to say? She'd owed him an explanation for her actions the previous day, but saying more than this would feel like she was pushing herself on him, trying to force their friendship to happen again. From her end, of course, that friendship is still there. There's not anything he could say or do to erase it, the lack of his memories simply makes things uncomfortable. He's still Zelos.

Knowing him, he almost certainly doesn't know that just being Zelos is enough.]

Zelos...

[Zelda lowers her head.]

I'm glad you're here. Whether you remember the past year or not, you are a person I am glad to have around. You are still yourself, that is enough. Please don't feel badly for what the scientists have done.

[notchosenbychoice]

[He can't help his eyes widening, the sudden dryness of his throat. What is he even supposed to say to that? Words of reciprocation would be clearly false, but never had he imagined that he would be on the receiving end of such sentiments.

Licking his lips, he shrugs before working a smile onto his face.] Of course. You don't have to-- to worry, or anything.

[He stands. They've had enough of this conversation, he thinks.] Uh-- thanks. For-- being so... patient.

[zelda_hylia]

[It's a struggle to not laugh wryly at that reaction, but she manages. Zelos always did hate sincere displays of emotions. On some level, she'd been hoping he would react that way, so that this incredibly difficult conversation could be over. It was a little manipulative of her perhaps. Certainly it had been unfair, but it was something she'd wanted to express regardless.]

Take care.

[Zelda moves to start a fresh pot of tea. There were likely to be more new people showing up today, she might as well be ready. Hopefully there wouldn't any more difficult surprises.]