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]

Is she now?

[He shakes his head]

Sorry, but that's probably more a coincidence or a fairy thing. I know a number of red heads that can't even use fire magic.

[showmeyourwreath]

It is a coincidence, I'm only teasing. My little sister's powers are similar to mine--or at least come from the same place--but she's a redhead too, actually.

[wilder]

Huh, really?

[A beat]

Just how much more "little" are we talking about?

[ZELOS NO.]

[showmeyourwreath]

Really. Even if she doesn't the powers, she's a bit of a spitfire, anyway.

[OH HECK NO--]

She's like half your age, Zelos. [So, truth be told, Flora is rationally not concerned about him making advances or anything, and truth be told she'd be happy for her sister when she got older, provided her taste wouldn't be terrible.

But it's Zelos who's bringing this up. Who'd blame her for the kneejerk reaction? That's right, nobody.]

[wilder]

[Which may have been why he said it. Again, amusing reaction]

Really? Awwww. That's too bad!

[showmeyourwreath]

I'm sure you'll find some way to sleep at night.

[The truth of the matter is her sister might he even think he was a little bit cool.]

You don't have siblings?

[wilder]

Yeah, maybe I'll dream of you! ♥

[Hey he's totally cool]

No, I do. I have a sister too.

[showmeyourwreath]

I hope that I make you do work. ♥

[In his dreams, maybe.

Oh, but that actually gets her interest and she completely forgets she was ever even slightly-but-not-even-really irritated.]

You do? What's her name? How old is she?

[wilder]

[Wow Flora talk about easily distracted]

Yeah, I do. Her name's Seles, she's 17 now.

[showmeyourwreath]

[She's terrible at staying irritated, and this sounds interesting, shh!]

What a lovely name, and she's seventeen, huh? That's a fun age. So, is she into dating?

[wilder]

[ !!!! ]

She better not be!

[showmeyourwreath]

[Aha. Hook, line and sinker.]

Hmmm, so you're not sure, right? Teenagers can be pretty crafty.

[She probably shouldn't offer her experiences on the matter, but he's the king of that sort of thing even if she doesn't know it.]]

[wilder]

Yes, I know- I was a crafty teenager once.

[Which is why he's extra concerned! But he can tell Flora is trying to bait him!]

But you know what? No, she wouldn't. She's too proper for that stuff.

[showmeyourwreath]

The Great Zelos Wilder? No way.

[Of course she knows a little, but still. And, she absolutely is and it's been fun, even for that one moment.

She raises an eyebrow though, curiously.]

Is dating a taboo where you come from? Or parts of it?

[Flora's not sure she'd be surprised if it turned out that it was, Zelos is pretty shameless.]

[wilder]

Ahaha, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to take that.

[So moving on! He scratches his head]

It's...complicated. Dating isn't taboo, but Tethe'alla's got a pretty strict caste system. Violating that can get pretty messy.

[showmeyourwreath]

Oh...how is it structured? And messy how?

[wilder]

Uh- class mostly, with some race and religious stuff thrown in there. The House of Wilder falls right under the royal family.

It...depends. It's not as big an issue among the lower classes- but with nobility? Well, in worst case scenarios - it can end in death or worse.

[to put it simply]

[showmeyourwreath]

That's really awful, even if parts of the system don't entirely surprise me. And worse? Worse how?

[The looks she gives him is questioning, but not in a way may expect. She doesn't ask "how" as in the prospect that there is such a thing surprises her--she's had a hand in making that happen for some people oops--but just what they do as punishment. And how hard do you need to drive a point home, anyway? Over dating, for goodness sake! ]

1/2

[wilder]

[And Zelos actually hesitates]

It- Actually, the time I know about involved some friends of mine. So if it's all the same, I'd rather not say.

[Sure, he didn't know Alicia himself. But Regal was his friend, and so was Presea, Alicia's sister. Their story was not one made for idle gossips]

[wilder]

[And with that, he shrugs and goes back to his usual casual tone]

Anyway, it's not like Seles really agrees with the whole class system, but she's very insistent on being treated like a proper lady. So she'd probably stab any guy who didn't act like a perfect gentlemen well before I got the chance to disembowel them!

[showmeyourwreath]

It's fine, I'm sorry.

[Guilt eats at her, but she's fine with letting it drop. Absolutely she is, she's curious, but she doesn't need to know that badly. He's rather light on his feet with how he leaves things behind and moves on, she's noticed.

She's a half step behind him on becoming more casual but she gets there.]

Ev--[She thinks of Diaspro, Cassandra, and Chimera and amends.]--Most, just about every lady should be treated like a proper one, so I can't say I'd blame her being insistent. That is some nice initiative.

[But geez, that's vivid.]

I mean I'd probably feed anyone who mistreated my sister to one of my plants if she didn't do it herself.

[She wouldn't. Probably. Maybe--but the sentiment is there. There would definitely be a Stern Talking to depending on the infraction.]

[wilder]

[It's his talent. And he scoffs a little]

No you wouldn't. You're way too nice.

[showmeyourwreath]

[WOW!! How dare he be...probably absolutely correct!

She scoffs back, but it's half-hearted.]

I could, you don't know that. [Moments pass and she scratches her cheek.] Okay, maybe I wouldn't have a plant swallow, exactly. I guess I could also just leave them hanging somewhere from a tree for a bit....

[SURELY THESE ARE MORE PLAUSIBLE.]

[wilder]

For what? Ten minutes before you feel bad and let 'im down? You can't even stay mad at me for more than five minutes, my dear little Flora.

i'm laughing so much

[showmeyourwreath]

[She doesn't get huffy as she does very slightly exasperated because he's probably (read: absolutely) right and she can't deny it.]

Well, it's not like I could leave them there forever, Zelos! All the blood might go to their head!

[She taps a finger to her lip. Yeah, that's a bad idea. She couldn't to that to the hypothetical not-nice person.]

I could just tie them to a tree for a while...