caughtinanetwork | Video, filtered away from the Grand Highblood

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Video, filtered away from the Grand Highblood

[Zelda had waited for an entire day for one of the trolls to post a general warning for the populace before realizing that Signless was currently unconscious and Dolorosa was no longer in Vatheon. It was likely that the other trolls were too caught up in planning a defense to remember to warn everyone, she decided. Far be it from her to leave people uninformed. Zelda will simply take care of it herself.]

Hello, Vatheon. One of the new arrivals this cycle is extremely dangerous and capable of inflicting a sort of mental attack on those that stand against him, bringing their fears to life. He is very unstable. I am speaking about the Grand Highblood, the one who posted a video just yesterday saying "I can see you".

[No, she won't add the "motherfucking".]

I have not experienced his powers personally, but I was warned against engaging him very strongly the last time he was present. I now pass this warning along to anyone who was not aware. Be very cautious if you choose to do so anyway.

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Guess you've got my number.

[He laughs a little, self deprecating and shallow.] It's harder than it looks, though, if you're not made of stone or something. I don't think you could do it and keep it up for long. You're always wanting to help, you're not self-centered enough.

It isn't about being self-centered though, is it? It's about keeping yourself from hurting others.

[Zelda didn't miss it when they talked about how they couldn't change their behavior and Zelos looked so lost.]

If it is for the best, then I believe I could do so.

It's about protecting yourself from getting hurt just as much.

[He's thinking back to that night too.]

And you don't think the second one of them has a problem you can solve you're not going to want to get up in there and fix it? And worse, since you've already helped so much, they're gonna come to you anyway.

[Zelos glances at her sidelong.] Wouldn't the guilt of refusing just kill you?

My solutions seem to cause more trouble than they are worth, frequently.

[She looks right at him, not holding back the fact that she sees right through his silly pervert facade. It's a piercing, uncomfortable stare.]

Why don't you tell me how you do it, Zelos? How do you turn people away when they seem to want nothing more than to get close to you? How do you deal with the guilt at seeing someone's sad expression? How is it that you're alright, pretending to be so air-headed all the time when you're actually quite intelligent with so much to offer?

[Zelos pauses for just a second, then frowns slightly. Oh he sees what you're doing there Zelda but you can't push the master. No way. He shrugs and leans back, stubbornly ignoring the knot in his stomach in knowing that if this escalates, she might learn quite a bit.

Maybe he should let her. It'd certainly prove to her she couldn't, shouldn't push everyone away. He can just see it now. He spills his life story and she ends up a wibbling mess. He's a little horrified at how vindicating that seems right now.]

I don't deal with it. Clearly anyone who wants to get close to me just wants something from me so why should I humor it unless I want something too? It's how people are, they use each other.

[Zelos watches her face, knowing that Zelda doesn't agree with that assessment of humanity.]

And when someone comes along that doesn't fit that mold, you avoid them. Like Colette. She is your friend, but you were so desperate to protect her from yourself that you imposed on someone who was almost a stranger at the time.

Or I just decided I'd rather live with someone easier on the eyes. Colette's cute, sure, but I prefer someone more mature~

[He smirks at her and there's an easy believability to his words that's been perfected over many years. He knows how to tell women what they want to hear, convincingly, and while this may not be what Zelda wants to hear, his practiced ease should be enough to sell it, or at least cast doubt, and that's the point he's trying to make; he's the biggest kind of heel and she doesn't want to be like him.]

I'm sure the same thing applies to Lloyd, then. I am not stupid, Zelos. There is a reason you don't invite them here even though I have said I would not mind. The way you look at them, it is as if you are afraid that you will somehow corrupt them.

[Zelda looks cold as she regards him.]

In my case, it was alright, though. I think perhaps you sensed that the work had been done for you, to some extent. Congratulations, you have taught me to be like you.

Don't be an idiot, I told them they could come by any time.

[He had, too. It had been a big deal for him, and for them judging by their reactions, and sitting here listening to Zelda belittle that bothered him enough to comment without thinking.]

And you're nothing like me. [He stands and faces her, facade cracking and aware of it but too far now to care.] Whether you ask for it or not, people love you. 'Oh boo-hoo, people do stupid things I didn't ask them to!' Well maybe they just want to protect you because they can see you're a good person. You're even just gonna cry about this later, aren't you? 'Oh I hurt Zelos too, boo-hoo-hoo.' Do me a favor and don't bother.

You know, you're right, there's genuinely good people out there, people like you who sort of worm their way in and make assholes like me feel like shit just for existing but also providing that comfort that maybe not everyone is a two-faced jerk. I'm telling you now to knock it off. Drop it. You're not fooling anyone with that crap.

[Zelos folds his arms, looking at Zelda with a stony expression. He's pissed, to be sure, but not for her calling him out. He's angry that she's trying to hide herself.]

[Though inwardly she does cringe at all of that, some of his words help her keep that carefully blank expression. Feel like shit for existing? She definitely doesn't want him to feel like that. Torn between the desire to pull him down into a hug and the more immature need to not lose this argument, she simply does nothing.]

[He can tell he's getting through to her, that her resolve is crumbling, just from the fact that she says nothing rather than shooting back a retort. She doesn't trust herself to speak, not in the face of his honesty. Good.

He turns his face aside, arms crossed tightly over his chest in his insecurity.]

Don't make yourself like me, alright? It's not any better and I'm sorry I even brought it up. The world needs the people that openly care, even if it hurts.

This is not my world, I should not waste my energy here. Besides, even if it were my world, there is no place for an overly sympathetic princess.

[She inclines her head to him slightly.]

I appreciate you trying to help, Zelos.

[Geeze, for someone so smart she really is thick...]

...forget the world, then! I-

[He paces back and forth for a moment. If he says this, he can't take it back. He knows that. And it risks putting more pressure on her, but... he's come to depend on her. She understands but doesn't push. He never thought there would be someone on his life who could even partially get it and not get all weepy or dismiss him but then they'd had that exchange during the curse and...

He didn't want to lose it. He needed Zelda to be Zelda. And he's pretty sure Zelda needs to be Zelda too, or she'll just make herself suffer through denial.

He sets his jaw and ceases to pace, looking directly at her with a gravity not usually present in his demeanor.]

I need you to.

Edited 2012-02-24 21:21 (UTC)

[She waffles between continuing to be cruel to him and accepting the offer of friendship for a solid, tense minute before she finally just smiles, sighing.]

You can be endearing too, can't you? Well, I am clearly out of my league trying to escape the Great Zelos Wilder.

[The amusement only grows as she continues.]

You might want to watch your wording, though. Another woman would have mistaken that for a love confession.

I think the word you're looking for is annoying, not endearing.

[The energy he puts into being honest is far more draining to him than anything he puts behind his grand performance and after a display like that, Zelos is pretty exhausted. He grins and winks at Zelda, making exaggerated kissy-lips.]

How do you know it wasn't~♥?

[Please throw me out now so I can go wallow in self pity, thanks.]

Yes, yes. You are quite annoying, I'll do anything to get you to be quiet.

[Zelda gets up and moves behind him, gently pushing him out of the room. Or she intends to, at least. She hugs him from behind briefly before continuing her original plan.]

[!]

Alright, alright, I'm going!

[The Chosen whirls around in the doorway and flicks Zelda's forehead gently. He doesn't have to tell her to keep all that to herself, he knows she understands.

He morphs his smile into a licentious grin, leaning over her a bit.]

...you sure you don't need any more comforting~♥?

[Why yes, he is trying to get the door smashed in his face! How ever could you tell?]

[Zelda is quite a kind woman, she'll indulge. She grabs Zelos by the ear and deposits him outside her room, shutting the door.]

[Mission accomplished! Now excuse Zelos while he retreats to his own room, locks the door, and makes a pillow fort to hide in while he wallows.]

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Video, filtered away from the Grand Highblood

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[Action] /end. I just wanted to use this icon.