OPEN POST: THE ANNIVERSARY

[gentleidealist]

THE ANNIVERSARY

[It's been exactly two years since Mithos took over Paradisa. That's two years of delightful massacres, scaring people into the Dead Zone, and manipulating former friends with the ageless face of a Kharlan hero. Two years of your character struggling to hold onto life as they know it while under the shadow of a fearsome ruler from another world. Two years of scraping to get by, cowering in the Dead Zone, waiting for a chance to go home or a death that Paradisa can't-- won't-- give.

There is nothing planned for today, though there are a few whimsical sort of changes that Mithos called for. The angels are on security detail as usual, policing the grounds; however, Mithos and his closest subordinates may be stepping outside. There is a grand feast set up in the ballroom... but angels don't eat, so it's really just for show. The place has the air of a graveyard party where even the dead decide not to attend.

There is an undercurrent of anxiety tonight, a breath held in anticipation. Something is about to happen, and even the insects are quiet.]

CASTLE GROUNDS
INSIDE THE WALLS
THRONE ROOM
BASEMENT
THE OUTSKIRTS
TOWN
DANY'S CAVE
DEAD ZONE SETTLEMENT
THE FOREST

[ooc: HUGE OPEN MINGLING POST for characters who either reside in the castle as angelic little zombies, or people who are returning for whatever reason. Please don't threadjack something without notifying the muns in advance!

You are free to make your own sections if you'd like and I'll add them to this post :)]

Comments

[wilder]

[Zelos doesn't have the courage to go near the castle, no matter the day. Too many faces he recognized as ones who once had expressions, too much fear that going near means he'd be caught and won't come back. Even stepping close to it's grounds make him feel a wave of panic. ]

[The town isn't too much better, if he could eat he'd probably want to lose his lunch every time he walked it's streets. But it had supplies and it was a bit more bearable than that castle. ]

[So he can be found around the city, raiding empty houses for any supplies that haven't been picked over. His golden wings are out in case he needs to make a quick escape or blend in with some angels, and his hair is still cut short and somewhat messy (there's not exactly mirrors in the wilderness okay). He doesn't bother to look over his shoulder like most survivors, he can hear people coming a mile away. ]

[gentleidealist]

[Lloyd spots Zelos from a distance. Something in him hurts deeply, knowing that Lloyd had a hand in all this. More than a hand. More like both hands.

But now it's time to put all that behind him. He hops off a roof and approaches, wings hidden. He knows Zelos can hear him-- but he makes no effort to hide himself. He doesn't draw his weapons, either.

He casts a shadow not unlike that of his father. History moves in circles, after all.]

Wait.

[wilder]

[Zelos freezes when he hears that voice. No, that was a lie- he was frozen the moment he caught the sound of Lloyd, the smell. He doesn't even have to look at him to know it's him. Lloyd could've tried to hide himself all he wanted, but he'd still know him. ]

[ No matter how much the guy's changed. ]

[But he composes himself. His back is still towards Lloyd, but he'll put his hand on his hip and look off in the other direction. While anyone else would be preparing to defend themselves? Zelos is leaving himself wide open. ]

....Heh. Been awhile since I've heard that voice.

[gentleidealist]

[Lloyd sees this, and it makes him feel... uneasy, somehow. It'd be easier if Zelos attacked him, to be honest. It'd be a lot easier if people just hated him. And yet...

He unties the bag from his belt. It's at least moderately heavy, and it makes an unfortunate 'thud' when he tosses it between them.]

I'm done. With all of it. I want--

[His hands tremble as he balls them into fists. He's finally starting to let himself feel again and it's wrecking him.]

-- I want to help.

[wilder]

[The truth was, Zelos could never hate Lloyd. He hated Mithos, he hated Paradisa, he hated himself possibly the most of all- but never Lloyd. No matter what the guy did, no matter how many people cursed his names- Zelos knew he could never hate Lloyd.]

[The only thing he felt was fear and sadness that the guy might have lost his way. And immense guilt that he was one of the things that caused all that.]

[At the sound of the thud, he'll pause. If it was anyone else, he'd suspect a trap. But he doesn't feel that there. And yet...]

What changed your mind?

[gentleidealist]

[He bows his head, messy hair doing whatever the hell it wants. Angels of Cruxis don't get haircuts, you know.]

I saw someone. [It wasn't the first time he'd discovered an old friend, but...] I could have killed him, but he still stood up. I could feel it... I could feel his heartbeat, like it was in my hands. It made me sick.

[A delicate pause.]

I joined Mithos because I wanted the fighting to stop. So that his loneliness wouldn't poison the whole world. ... I haven't accomplished anything.

1/2

[wilder]

[Yeah tell that to his short hair.]

[It really doesn't take much to guess who that someone was. Genis. Guess that little squirt really did manage to pull something off...Zelos wonder if the kid knew. ]

2/3

[wilder]

[But he listens to the words, and....he can't help but feel a twinge of familiar irritation]

...You're always so stupid when you try to fix everything yourself, you know that?

You always get all bent out of shape. And you think too much about stuff you're not good at thinking about. Then you go make some stupid choice that doesn't work, and get all mad at yourself afterwards.

You just don't work good alone.

3/3

[wilder]

Then again...

[He'll finally brave it enough to turn and look directly at his friend. He's never worn his emotions on his sleeve, it's not his style. But even so, it's clear guilt is written all over it]

It's not like we gave you much choice.

I'm sorry, Bud.

1/2

[gentleidealist]

[He's expecting anything but an apology. It's been forever since he just let go. Probably the better part of two years. The admonishments-- coming from Zelos, of all people-- hurt, but he understands. He's not sure he believes it, that he's even partially innocent in all this, but he understands it.

Yet the apology? That's what eats at him, finally.]

[gentleidealist]

[God, he just wants his friends back. He sucks in a breath through his teeth and looks away sharply. All of a sudden he wants to rip everything to shreds, like tearing his skin off might help shed some of the sin he's accumulated. But that's not how it works.]

Yeah, [he says through a dry and especially rough throat.] I'm no good at being alone. I want to be with everyone. I want to make things right.

That's why I brought all this. [He gestures to the sack.] There's enough inhibitor ore in there to make Key Crests for the residents under Mithos' control. The rest... we'll have to deal with later.

[wilder]

[Part of him doesn't quite understand Lloyd's surprise at his apology. Then again, Zelos never understood why Lloyd never got how much he was a screw up with everything. This was no different, if only he had been more careful...maybe things would've turned out so differently]

[But now's not that time for that. Instead he just holds out his hand for his friend to take. ]

So what are we waiting for? Let's get outta here.

[Preferably before a patrol catches them. There is stuff Zelos would like to say to him, two years worth of stuff, but it can wait. ]

[gentleidealist]

[Lloyd stares for a minute, looking for all the world like Zelos just grew a fifth limb. But this gesture all he needs. If Zelos can accept him, then maybe someone else can, too.

He smiles something painful-- and takes his friend's hand.]

All right.

[wilder]

[Zelos knew it wouldn't be this easy for Lloyd when it came to everyone else. Even if there were people around who knew what Lloyd used to be like, there's been so much that happened. The road for Lloyd will be tough, understandably so. If it was anyone else, Zelos would right along with the skeptics. Even now there was a small inkling in the back of his mind that this could be some sort of trap. He's got no doubt people will think him mad for accepting him so readily. ]

[But hey, his one pathetic value is that he's Lloyd's friend, right? If he couldn't be Lloyd's friend, or show trust in him when he needed it - then what good was he?]

[He'll return his smile. It's a phantom of his old smiles, then again unlike those it's genuine.]

Cool, I'll show you the way.

[He reaches down to pick up that bag of inhibitor ore with his free hand and then starts to lead Lloyd away before the guy can change his mind. He may have forgotten about the supplies he had come here to get, but what does it matter? He's got Lloyd, that's the real reason he kept coming to this city anyway]

[gentleidealist]

[... Oh. They are definitely holding hands. This is different. But honestly, he doesn't know where he's going and he's afraid he might mess something up if he isn't led so obviously.

He hears a familiar fluttering, but it's so far away that it's more likely they haven't been noticed. His free hand moves to one of his swords just in case.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler often raids the town for supplies. Mostly bits and pieces he can salvage and turn into something constructive be it for keycrests or some other invention to make like marginally more easy in the Resistance camp.

He's been more careful, as the patrols have grown larger. He's not entirely sure if Mithos knows him as the one who freed his sister or not, but he promised Ino he wouldn't take any more stupid risks. Being a man of your word is a lot harder in a place like this.

He's picking his way through some debris, as always trying his best to block out the far less pleasant sights and smells of the town when he notices Zelos. He carefully picks his way over the rubble to him]

Long time no see.

[wilder]

[Zelos stops when he hears that voice. His feathers ruffle up in slight annoyance as he turns to look at the guy. He sure remembers what you did man]

Oh hey, it's the idiot.

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler rolls his eyes a little, bending to pick up a piece of metal, examining it before dumping it in his backpack]

Hello to you too, Zelos. It's super nice to see you, too.

[wilder]

I'm just saying how it is.

Ran into her the other week, kinda hurt you didn't mention anything to me.

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler exhales, before standing straight, abandoning his scavenger hunt]

Right, and what would you have wanted me to say? 'Hey, Zelos, by the way, Martel's back. But you can't go looking for her because if they catch on to where she is, she'll be dragged back'.

She wanted her being lose a secret, you can't get all uppity with me about it.

[wilder]

Or not done it at all.

[Oh wait, that sounds way too harsh. He makes a slight frustrated sound at himself]

Don't get me wrong...I didn't like her locked up. But you did kinda do the one thing to make Mithos even crazier.

[whichwayyoulean]

Well, sorry, but if it comes between having her stuck in there with Captain Crazyface and actually being able to be free, I'd do it a hundred times over. I don't care how angry he is, maybe now he can learn he can't have everything he wants.

[Oh gosh there's some bitter anger there isn't there. His fists clench, just slightly. Martel, after all would always be something of s sensitive subject with him]

You know he kept her in chains? Like a dog.

[wilder]

[It's rare for Zelos to show his anger. Years of being in the vile noble courts, of working under the Renegades and Cruxis- places where showing the wrong emotion could get you killed had taught him to always keep it inside, to show that you're nothing but water on the surface.]

[Yet even so, he still has a temper. Things that set him off when pushed enough. The years under Mithos's control only served to give more triggers to bring that temper out. And Once-ler just frolicked over one]

[So the man may found himself suddenly grabbed by his shirt and slammed up against a wall, a single hand holding him there even though Zelos is much shorter than him. ]

Yeah, Once-ler! I knew that! I had to be near that throne room, day after day after all! I mean, unless Lord Yggdrasil had someone for me to kill!

Do you really wanna act like you know more about that place than me?

[whichwayyoulean]

[Well, if it's one thing the Once-ler is good at, it's pissing people off. He really wasn't expecting Zelos to move, after all, angry as he was, he'd let his guard down. He hits the wall with a grunt, one hand gripping rather ineffectually at Zelos' wrist.

It sure did suck to be a regular human sometimes.

Still, he glares down at Zelos, little seen anger in his own eyes]

So you've seen all that and you still think it was better that I left her there? For what? So that we could have an easier time out here?

Sorry that my rescuing our friend has been such an inconvenience to you all.

[wilder]

No you idiot!

[Yep, slowly going to yelling now]

So we could have an easier time getting other people out of there! Like Colette and the others!

At least Martel was the one person who wouldn't have be harmed! Now there's no telling what'll happen to them!