[action/anon text] - Struggles - 020 [Backdated to afternoon of 4/2]

[relinquishing]

Gnomeday, Gnome Redecan 02, ND 2018

[The first thing Guy noticed upon waking up was how unbelievably sore he was.

The second? The barrier on Zelda's bed was gone. He could easily tell - he'd sprawled out a bit as he started to wake up, mixed up in the covers and the remains of the uniform he had last remembered wearing. He hummed wearily, giving a confused and clouded glance around the room as he propped himself to his elbows.

Had he fallen into a coma again? Guy grimaces, rubbing a crick in the back of his neck. He'd left Zelda here alone like this again, of all times? Damn it. How long had he been out?

Worrying wasn't going to help matters, though. He heaves himself out of bed, stretching his arms above him, straightening his back, and adjusting his clothes enough so that he could wander the house without being too embarrassed coming across another housemate (if they were awake by now.) He pads across the floor with bare feet, descending the staircase about halfway before finally bother to call out.]

"...Zelda? Hey, are you around...?"

----

[It's only after he' had a good share of time to talk to Zelda and get his bearings that Guy finally picks up his SFC, opting to keep himself anonymous this time around. There was too much that had happened while he was gone. It would just be nice to get a general sense of the city, if anything else.]

Breaking the ice around strangers is pretty hard, isn't it? I know we all have to do it all the time around here, with everyone coming and going. But it doesn't make it any easier.

Some people take to it easier than others, though. And I'm sure some of you have learned ways to interact with a new person just by being in this crazy place.

So tell me, Vatheon. How would you treat a stranger?

Comments

[relinquishing]

[Hey, can't blame a man for wanting to get his facts straight!]

Sorry. I was just trying to understand, I guess. Just please don't push yourself so hard about it, alright? It's not going to do you any good. It really won't.

But I know you'll figure something out.

[He stares down at his cup for a few moments before plopping it onto the coffee table, rising to his feet with a tired grunt.]

I need to go wash up. I'll be down a little later. Okay, Zelda?

[zelda_hylia]

[She doesn't answer verbally, just nodding and getting up to head back to the kitchen to make something while he's washing up. If nothing else it gives her something else to focus on.]

[relinquishing]

[His shower is quick, and he's still got that change of clothes from weeks ago, although he doesn't bother throwing on his orange jacket for the time being. He's adjusting his sleeve cuffs when he finally comes back down the stairs, pausing and ruefully flicking a glance over to the kitchen before he wanders over, leaning with a shoulder against the wall.]

Thank you.

[zelda_hylia]

[She's set things out neatly, but there's only one place setting. Zelda rises once she sees him.]

Of course. If you will excuse me, though, I do have something to attend to this evening. I believe I may have found a solution to Embryon's... food issues, and I told them to meet me this evening. Take care.

[Is she being more short than she needs to be? Yes, but she's not making the appointment up either. She doesn't give him a chance to say much more than "goodbye", promptly heading out the door.]

[relinquishing]

[It doesn't stop him from shouting out:]

Be careful....! Please...

[It's eerily quiet afterwards, Guy staring over the food with a horrible pit already tight in his stomach. Had he really upset her that much? He eats a bit, picks at the rest, staring around the empty house most of the time, before finally slamming a fist down on the table and rattling all the dishes.

What was he supposed to even do to help her?

The food is packaged and put in the refrigerator, Guy spending the rest of the evening tucked away in the library. Despite his absence, he does leave a note for her; if she wanted him back, he'd come and stay again in a night's time. If not, then that was fine, and he'd see her against some other time - whenever she felt was best.

Honestly, he wished he could stick to his stubborn gut, grab a change of clothes, and simply stay one more night. Or two. Or twelve. But if she was upset... there wasn't much he could do. Being around too much would only make that worse.]