[Zelos is joking as he always was wont to, but there's some truth in what he says. Taking care of his fellow recruits had been part the reason why Guy's been able to justify going along with all of this craziness. Not that he's fully aware of the fact, in any case.
That tree fort is huge. Guy lets out a whistle as he looks up at it, visibly impressed.]
You guys built that by yourselves? We should be hiring you--it's better than our outposts!
[His eyes slide back towards Guy. ...It really is like having a kid. Like he can talk.]
We're still the same crew.
[...He is far less impressed. Probably because idk they had to talk Ed out of adding fifty hideously gauche skulls and stuff. Ed...has no decoration sense. Anyway he's amused deep down in his black kokoro. Jumping lightly onto the first step he starts up.]
Who says this is a compliment I want? I'm a swordsman, not a woodsman. Most of it was the others anyway.
[So no???? This is going to be one of those times where Guy teases him to embarrassment isn't it. He almost regrets fetching him. Almost. A ways up he stops at a platform and turns off it onto a branch before climbing up higher. Did Guy really think he would sleep in the accommodations like a sane person...]
And now the great Zelos Wilder is being humble. It's a miracle.
[Okay, okay, teasing aside... Guy's surprised by how high up they're going. Climbing trees isn't an issue for him. He follows after Zelos without much trouble, though he does glance up to gage how far they have to go.]
Ah, you forget-- I'm the great Zelos Wilder. How pedestrian do you think I am?
[Now he's messing. It's not too much farther though to a spot where two branches join before meeting the trunk. A sort of natural platform. There's a duffel bag discarded carelessly up here as well as a few leaf wrapped fish hanging from vines. Surprise, surprise he does feed himself.]
Sit down and maybe you'll learn a thing or two.
[Quite literally perhaps. Looking down from here it won't be hard to see why Zelos chose it; there's a good view of the whole tree house/fort/thing.]
[The view makes the climb worth it. From up here it's easy to see the architecture of the fort, and of anyone who might be walking around as well. What catches his eye, however, are the fish. Guy's got manners: he's not going to snap them up without a word, but he does look at them with a pleased expression before he sits down as he's told to.]
["Sometimes". He sleeps far less than he probably should, but it hardly seems to slow him down these days. He wonders how long he can go on like this... Mm, that's neither here nor there. Walking over to the fish like he's lived in this tree all his life he unties one and tosses it to Guy. Under the leaves it's been cooked and prepared like travel food; made to last and amazingly edible. In fact it doesn't taste half bad at all.]
I didn't bring mineral water you'll have to rough it~.
[Settling with a leg hanging daringly off the branch he looks at Guy.]
[He's quick to catch the fish and to unwrap it. After a moment of careful inspection, he takes a bite. It's been too long since he's had seafood: he misses it something fierce, and the welcome crunch of it beneath his teeth is almost as good as a welcome home.
It's surprising how good it is, and how happy it makes him.
Guy leans against the trunk, grinning openly back at him.]
[It'd be easy enough to avoid this. Never mention it. But that's not how a friend should behave. ...Still he can't say he's well-versed in handing these things out. Not this bluntly.]
I put you in a spot. It was pretty uncool of me; I'm sorry.
[Ah. So Zelos hadn't forgotten about it. Guy nibbles some more on his fish, taking care to leave no part of its flesh untouched. After a moment or so passes, he speaks up.]
... if I was still mad at you I wouldn't be sitting here. [He sets down the leaf. There's nothing but bare bones left.]
I accept your apology. Just don't do it again, you hear?
[He tilts his head, hair spilling over his shoulder like red water. Or blood of one wants to be pedantic. His hair color certainly suits one of those images better than the other.
He's not ready to commit to that request just yet.]
[He didn't expect there to be two choices. In his mind it'd been straightforward, just one. The distinction being made isn't exactly something he likes. Guy lets his hands drop in his lap, expression becoming something a little more serious.]
If you're going to sign me up for something, I'd like to know ahead of time. [He keeps his tone amiable, pleasant.] That's all I'm asking.
[There are a lot of options. And a lot of pieces on the board. Still it's "tell me in advance" not "ask me". He's not sure how he feels about that or how he's meant to interpret it.]
You realize this is hard for my ego.
[What the shit? He's just buying time while he thinks. The pros. The cons. What he wants. What the situation calls for. What he's willing to give up for what Guy wants. It's not as simple as "yes" or "no". Most importantly of all: if Guy knows in advance, without the guise of plausible deniability... How can Zelos protect him from the consequences? To be an accessory in a plot is one thing. To be caught plotting is so much worse.
Nothing is easy and everything is hard. As always it all revolves around what you're willing to lose.]
[Guy looks at him, long and hard. Dragging out an apology from Zelos was a feat in itself. The man was never direct about anything--it was as though being clear was too much trouble for him. Even now, Guy's still shooting in the dark, hoping he's reading the emotional static he's receiving correctly.
It's all so frustrating. Zelos is trying at something, but at what, he can't quite grasp.]
What are you talking about? [If he can't tease it out, he'll ask. It's up to Zelos whether or not he wants to give him a straight answer.]
[That sounds important, right. He's just saying whatever's most convenient.]
How often do you think I ask anyone's opinion on anything?
[Never.... Really. Though not entirely for the reasons he's presenting. ...Damn it. He guesses when it comes down to it things depend on how much he trusts Guy. His eyes flick Guy's way again, having wandered, watching from the edge of his vision. ...How deep is he willing to let this go.]
[Basic courtesy, hm. He looks down at the platforms below. ...He's not the guy he was two years ago. He doesn't know what kind of person he'll become while with the CDC. But until there's a need he shouldn't revert back to giving up on people so easily.]
You're right. You're a living being. Not an object for me to play around with.
[Guy's choices are his own and Zelos needs to have faith in them. He can't simply control the situation to his liking and try to keep Guy in the dark. Okay he's done rudely having a whole secret second conversation with himself. Maybe.]
[He doesn't know what's exactly running through that head of his, but he's got a good enough idea to know it's probably something troublesome. Guy rests his cheek against his hand, sighing.]
Having to make you say that only makes your image even shadier. [How'd he end up friends with a guy like him, anyway. Enough of that. He's reaching for another fish without asking, though he's courteous enough to hand it to Zelos.]
... what do you mean by that? [There's no need to pretend Guy hasn't read Zelos's file. He understands he's not 'human,' but he has little idea of what being an angel meant.]
Hm? Did you think I lived among angels or something? [The idea is weird to think about. He's more surprised Guy is even asking for clarification though.] I live with humans. I'm the only angel in Tethe'alla in fact. It's about what you'd expect.
[Fear, discrimination, idolization, all that good stuff.]
Are you going to eat that or what? I slaved pretty hard over it, you know.
[It's more the "lifeless being" deal that catches Guy's attention. By all accounts, Zelos seems like he's alive. Obnoxiously so. He remembers the colorful wings he saw way back on the Neheda, how he hasn't seen them again since. He tilts his head, hand on his chin.]
[His laugh doesn't hold an ounce of restraint. Really...? it seems to say. In actuality he feels worried; it's only self-awareness of his situation and his company that keeps him from touching his keycrest.]
I don't know if I should be touched or offended. Did you ever consider maybe I'm not everything you see?
Plenty of times. [He's seen how quickly Zelos can switch between being serious and being an airhead. It must be a practiced skill of his. Guy takes a bite out of his fish, chews slowly.]
And even if I asked, I'm betting you won't give me a straight answer. Right?
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That tree fort is huge. Guy lets out a whistle as he looks up at it, visibly impressed.]
You guys built that by yourselves? We should be hiring you--it's better than our outposts!
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Like he can talk.]We're still the same crew.
[...He is far less impressed. Probably because idk they had to talk Ed out of adding fifty hideously gauche skulls and stuff. Ed...has no decoration sense. Anyway he's amused deep down in his black kokoro. Jumping lightly onto the first step he starts up.]
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birds of a feather flock togetherIn any case, Zelos's answer doesn't dampen Guy's enthusiasm one bit. He's grinning from ear to ear.]
C'mon, take a compliment for once in your life.
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[So no???? This is going to be one of those times where Guy teases him to embarrassment isn't it. He almost regrets fetching him. Almost. A ways up he stops at a platform and turns off it onto a branch before climbing up higher. Did Guy really think he would sleep in the accommodations like a sane person...]
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[Okay, okay, teasing aside... Guy's surprised by how high up they're going. Climbing trees isn't an issue for him. He follows after Zelos without much trouble, though he does glance up to gage how far they have to go.]
Wouldn't it be easier to stick to the platforms?
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[Now he's messing. It's not too much farther though to a spot where two branches join before meeting the trunk. A sort of natural platform. There's a duffel bag discarded carelessly up here as well as a few leaf wrapped fish hanging from vines. Surprise, surprise he does feed himself.]
Sit down and maybe you'll learn a thing or two.
[Quite literally perhaps. Looking down from here it won't be hard to see why Zelos chose it; there's a good view of the whole tree house/fort/thing.]
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You sleep out here?
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["Sometimes". He sleeps far less than he probably should, but it hardly seems to slow him down these days. He wonders how long he can go on like this... Mm, that's neither here nor there. Walking over to the fish like he's lived in this tree all his life he unties one and tosses it to Guy. Under the leaves it's been cooked and prepared like travel food; made to last and amazingly edible. In fact it doesn't taste half bad at all.]
I didn't bring mineral water you'll have to rough it~.
[Settling with a leg hanging daringly off the branch he looks at Guy.]
So.
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It's surprising how good it is, and how happy it makes him.
Guy leans against the trunk, grinning openly back at him.]
So, what?
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[It'd be easy enough to avoid this. Never mention it. But that's not how a friend should behave. ...Still he can't say he's well-versed in handing these things out. Not this bluntly.]
I put you in a spot. It was pretty uncool of me; I'm sorry.
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... if I was still mad at you I wouldn't be sitting here. [He sets down the leaf. There's nothing but bare bones left.]
I accept your apology. Just don't do it again, you hear?
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He's not ready to commit to that request just yet.]
With Gliese or with volunteering you?
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If you're going to sign me up for something, I'd like to know ahead of time. [He keeps his tone amiable, pleasant.] That's all I'm asking.
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You realize this is hard for my ego.
[What the shit? He's just buying time while he thinks. The pros. The cons. What he wants. What the situation calls for. What he's willing to give up for what Guy wants. It's not as simple as "yes" or "no". Most importantly of all: if Guy knows in advance, without the guise of plausible deniability... How can Zelos protect him from the consequences? To be an accessory in a plot is one thing. To be caught plotting is so much worse.
Nothing is easy and everything is hard. As always it all revolves around what you're willing to lose.]
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It's all so frustrating. Zelos is trying at something, but at what, he can't quite grasp.]
What are you talking about? [If he can't tease it out, he'll ask. It's up to Zelos whether or not he wants to give him a straight answer.]
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[That sounds important, right. He's just saying whatever's most convenient.]
How often do you think I ask anyone's opinion on anything?
[Never.... Really. Though not entirely for the reasons he's presenting. ...Damn it. He guesses when it comes down to it things depend on how much he trusts Guy. His eyes flick Guy's way again, having wandered, watching from the edge of his vision. ...How deep is he willing to let this go.]
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[Basic courtesy, hm. He looks down at the platforms below. ...He's not the guy he was two years ago. He doesn't know what kind of person he'll become while with the CDC. But until there's a need he shouldn't revert back to giving up on people so easily.]
You're right. You're a living being. Not an object for me to play around with.
[Guy's choices are his own and Zelos needs to have faith in them. He can't simply control the situation to his liking and try to keep Guy in the dark. Okay he's done rudely having a whole secret second conversation with himself. Maybe.]
I'll ask ahead of time.
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Having to make you say that only makes your image even shadier. [How'd he end up friends with a guy like him, anyway. Enough of that. He's reaching for another fish without asking, though he's courteous enough to hand it to Zelos.]
Here. Let's have a picnic.
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Now, now. Don't be like that~.
[Pulling out his kunai he uses it to cut one side off the fish, handing the fillet to Guy.]
I'm a lifeless being. We're not considered people in Tethe'alla. I'll work to be more considerate for his Lordship.
[Teasing, teasing. Cutting off the other side he picks it apart, eating it piece by piece like an uncultured vagabond.]
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... what do you mean by that? [There's no need to pretend Guy hasn't read Zelos's file. He understands he's not 'human,' but he has little idea of what being an angel meant.]
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[Fear, discrimination, idolization, all that good stuff.]
Are you going to eat that or what? I slaved pretty hard over it, you know.
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If you're lifeless, I must be beyond dead.
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[His laugh doesn't hold an ounce of restraint. Really...? it seems to say. In actuality he feels worried; it's only self-awareness of his situation and his company that keeps him from touching his keycrest.]
I don't know if I should be touched or offended. Did you ever consider maybe I'm not everything you see?
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And even if I asked, I'm betting you won't give me a straight answer. Right?
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