III [Accidental Video; Backdated a few days]

[wilder]

[The feed opens after this scene, as Zelos sets down his bag and accidentally causes the locket attached to open. They look to be in some area of the Station and Zelos is accompanied by what looks like grouchy black cat with a red scarf (who is no other than Mako who accidentally got turned into a cat by a feather). Also there's a baby dragon.]

Jeez- fine, Mako! I'll try! Stop giving me that look!

[Zelos sighs and tries to think how to do this. He's never actually tried to undo a curse or enchantment with magic before - he usually left that up to Raine. Just how was he supposed to do this? But he had to try something, so he makes a thinking noise for a moment before he snaps his fingers]

Okay, got an idea! Just hold still, okay? This takes concentration.

[He makes sure to be standing up so he can concentrate properly. Then, he starts channeling magic. Glowing light and glyphs appear around him. As he does so, water comes up from the ground, clean and sparkling with magic. The water starts to spin around the cat, until it forms a very large spinning bubble around him without getting him wet. Zelos meanwhile, looks like he's trying really hard to keep up concentration as he tries to recite the incantation he heard Raine say a lot]

Root of all creation...grant us the breath of- shit! Wait! That's the wrong one!

[And with that mess up, his concentration is broken. The glowing glyphs immediately dissipates and the sparkly water bubble? Well it immediately loses it's form and the water SPLASHES down on the cat. ]

MRRROOOOW!! [The cat freaks out, sneezing out a fireball in the process]

Whoa-! [Zelos jumps back away from the splashing water and FIRE, looking very startled]

...Oops?

Comments

[wilder]

Heh, yeah. I get told that a lot.

[And he shrugs!]

Please, like I have time for hobbies.

[showmeyourwreath]

This is surprising to hear, certainly. [Okay, that gets her to crack a smile.]

Everyone should try to make time for hobbies. All work and no play makes you a dull guy. There's nothing you like doing for fun? [Adding quickly.] Aside from the obvious.

[wilder]

Haha, don't worry- I'm pretty sure I'm not at risk of becoming dull.

But sure- I like to go to taverns, gamble, spend time with ladies, read, pull pranks... [he trails off and shrugs] stuff like that.

[showmeyourwreath]

No, you probably aren't. [And she can say that with complete honesty, for better or worse.

But wow wholesome pastimes, Zelos. Though she brightens when he mentions something.]

You like reading? What about?

[wilder]

[Somehow he's not surprised she latched onto the reading one.]

Places and things in the world that strike my interest.

And erotica.

[showmeyourwreath]

[Oh, she likes spending time with ladies, too.

One hand gently holds her face while the other half goes a little red. Just for a moment. She's not surprise and yet, and yet.]

Well, um, I do like romantic things myself, I guess--[Cough]--but what interests you about the world? Or worlds, maybe, I should say.

[wilder]

[Yep. He is not surprised at all he got that reaction. If anything, he was hoping for it]

Yeah? Well if I find anything good in this library- I'll let you know! ♥

[Because he's sure that's exactly what you want]

I dunno. When I was younger, I'd usually just read whatever I could get my hands on that wasn't about Chosens or my hometown- you know, as a way to get my mind off stuff for a bit!

But now that I'm older and I travel more - I've become familiar with a lot of places, so I know when they get stuff wrong or I'll get stuck on thinking about things I could do to help them out. Which isn't what I'd call relaxing. [He sighs.]

Oh well. At least books about local cuisine are still safe.

[showmeyourwreath]

[What a great friend-person.]

What--no erotica, Zelos!

[But she listens attentively, because that's a pretty interesting way to go about things, and not just because she and her friends do much the same thing, one way or another.]

That's pretty amazing, even if it doesn't end up being as relaxing as it should. I'm sure people appreciate it, though. But you like cooking?

[wilder]

Oh c'mon! I dunno what fairies do, but I know most human romances? [staged whisper] Don't stay celibate.

Cooking? Uh...sure, sometimes a little! [If by little you mean work your ass off at it and get super happy if someone likes it. But no time for that because- gah, he's actually being complimented for being a good person. Time to act like a brat.] But you really think so? Aha, does that mean you're finally falling for me~?

[showmeyourwreath]

Well, if you mean sex, fairies have that. Sometimes. Maybe not all of them? There are so many different kind of fairies, I'm not sure they all work that way.

Oh, if I get the ingredients, would you make me something from your world sometime? ...If they even exist, here. It's such a fun part of learning about other people's cultures. I could help too, I like helping. I'm, um, used to cooking for a lot of people.

[For totally innocent and not punitive reasons at all as you can tell from her INNOCENT NONCHALANT SMILE.

But wow, Zelos, she sees you dodging that. Again.]

Hmm, I would, but I'm not really into older guys~. [Says the girl who flirted with someone a gajillion years her senior/strike> She grins slyly, eyes half-closed, before smiling a genuine smile.] Yes, I really think so. Sometimes, it's not enough to just really mean well, you know? You can want to help people but without learning about them, you'll get nowhere very fast.

[wilder]

Yeah, that. [Different kinds of fairies- jeez, these people are complicated] Guess that'd be a personal question to ask 'em. [Which he's about to do right now] But you mean sex in the kind of way humans and elves do, right? Not some weird...dance with flowers and bees kinda deal.

Make you something? [He tugs at one of his hair locks, but tries to play it cool] Uh, Sure-! Why not? If...you can find the ingredients, I'll show you what I can do!

Hey, I'm only about five years older! Some of my best times were with women ten or twenty years my senior! [Because someone needs that factoid in his life. And ugh she's still on it. Maybe if he's laconic she'll stop it] Ah, yeah. Guess so.

[showmeyourwreath]

[Flora makes a face. This guy--]

Zelos, do you have any scruples about anything? [She sighs, but that said, she doesn't raise that much fuss about it's...actually an interesting question.]

Uh, I would assume so? [She rubs the back of her head.] I mean, one of my friends is a fairy, but her dad is human, so humans and fairies are sexually compatible at least. [She wags a finger, suddenly.] But hey, don't insult the Dance of the Rose, it's a very important courting ritual.

[She 100% made that up, because you know what, she can have fun, sometimes--something she's going to need in the wake of that lovely tidbit of information Flora's jaw drops.]

Oh my--Zelos why are you telling me about your love life! [A beat.] In that context! [Because, she probably wouldn't mind gossiping about romance, but this is so much??

And sorry you're such a good person sometimes, Zelos? She might ask him about it, one day, but she'll leave it aside for the moment. She wonders if he's aware of how abysmal he is at hiding it. It's actually adorable, but she'll be nice, and not poke at it.

For now.]

Wonderful! Thank you. What would be least hassle for you to make? And remember, I can grow a lot of things, so please don't worry.

[wilder]

I'm fairly sure we've already established I don't. [But okay, half fairies! That settles that question. He nods and then snorts at that] Aw how nice, and completely made up!

[Because no one would ever want bees in the bedroom. That'd be terrible]

What? It's not like I'm giving you explicit details! Sheesh!

[QUIET FLORA HE'S TOTALLY A RUDE JERK STOP THINKING OTHERWISE DX]

Uh...probably a sandwich? Or rice balls? But I could make curry or stew or something- it's not that big a deal.

[showmeyourwreath]

[She makes a tsking noise, but smiles.] Hey, there are people and creates born with and from flowers where I'm from--just without the bees. I mean aside from bees doing their usual thing.

[You of all people should know that some people are into weird stuff, Zelos.

Man, but she breathes a tiny huff.]

Keep it that way! But, my, you are so insecure.

[OH HE'S DEF RUDE SHE WON'T ARGUE THAT, BUT SUCH A NICE CENTRE. 8D]

Stew sounds lovely. What'll you need?

[wilder]

Yeah, yeah- I'm sure a beauty like you was born in a bed of roses! [Or something like that. But whatever, that idea is going down as fairies are weird creatures]

[he scoffs] I'm not insecure! Please!

[LIES ALL LIES >O ]

That depends. What kind of stew do you want?

[showmeyourwreath]

...I'd have to ask my mother about that. She might have. Flower petals can be quite comfortable, at any rate. Anyway, no, pixies and pixie pets are literally born from special flowers and trees. It's quite the sight!

So far off from twenty five are you, anyway?

[YES YOU DO LIE A LOT ZELOS, YOU SHOULD STOP THAT.]

Oh um, any is fine, I suppose. I'm not terribly picky, as long as it's not an endangered animal, but I suppose I'll be gathering the meat anyway.

[wilder]

Really? You mean like fruit or something? Strange.

Uh- [a beat. Wait a minute. How far off was he?] That...depends! What's the date?

[NEVER]

Please, endangered animal meat's expensive. [Yes. That's the reason] Beef or pork should be fine. 'Sides that...[He thinks for a moment] I think you need kelp, radishes, onions and carrots. Oh, and if you can find some pineapple or purple satay that'd make it better. Though I haven't seen either of those around, so don't sweat it if you can't.

[showmeyourwreath]

Hmm, not quite, unless you want to think of them like fruit. They really just burst from the flower's centre, ready to fly and everything.

[A slight pause, since it was September when she left and that's weird]

September eighteenth. Oh, um, if that means anything to you. I'm not sure you keep the same calendar, or not. I'm sure we could figure it out, otherwise!

[She frowns distastefully.]

Expensive and wrong. [Not that she has any delusions about it being sold despite that. Or rather, because of it. Anyway.] Most of that won't be a problem, including the pineapple, but this is the first I'm hearing of purple satay! I'm guessing it's indigenous to your world. What's it like?

[wilder]

Huh. Sounds like a sight to see.

[He looks a little surprised, but not by that much. Mostly because yeah, he's been shit at keeping track at the date]

September 18th already? Jeez...guess I am twenty-five! [Sheesh!]

Oh good. [Not the endangered animal thing, but the ingredients] Um well, it's...purple.

[showmeyourwreath]

[Flora blinks, then breaks into a smile that makes the sun look dim.]

Oh my goodness, happy birthday, Zelos! It sounds like it may have passed, unless it's today--but either way, really, happy birthday!

[She was already going to get him something but now she has to make sure it's a lot more nice.]

[wilder]

[Oh jeez why is she smiling. STOP THAT PLEASE]

Uh- thanks. It's really not that big a deal.

[showmeyourwreath]

Oh, sorry! [She's not that much. And no go on operation: stop smiling, even if she might have turned it down a bit.

A.

Bit.] I'm just a little excited, I guess! So when was it, exactly?

[wilder]

[He sighs and rubs his forehead. He shouldn't have said anything]

A couple weeks ago.

[showmeyourwreath]

Oh, my. Well, I still hope you have a great day. [But that's not exact, Zelos!! Which is maybe why she's guessing he's really not big on them, for some reason. And she may be wrong but--]

I don't think you're that old, you know.

[wilder]

[Oh, it's for a completely different reason- but he really rather not get into that. So he sees that opening and take it]

Really?