Bothering the groundskeepers is one of the few fun things Zelos can do when he's supposed to be doing something completely unfun instead. What's up with the carnivorous flowers over there, I heard the roads were getting fucked up by witchy roots, hey what happened to the key to this completely nonexistent room, are the last century's ghosts still in this manor, etc etc. He's halfway through explaining that last point to some poor, unsuspecting girl who just started working here during the winter when something catches his ear.
"Zelos!" he hears, and just like that he chokes on his words.
The tone of that voice, the pitch, the fact that it's his name; Zelos doesn't waste time in turning on his heel to catch Lloyd's face as he runs through the gate to greet him and only him. Warmth spreads on his heart--so, spring really has come. The sight alone is enough to pull a large grin on the lord's face, already stepping forward as well and waving a hand trying to dismiss the girl from before, but all that comes crashing down when Kratos fucking Aurion enters the picture and pulls Lloyd back.
He stops halfway through his route to meet Lloyd halfway, hands balled into fists as he tries to steel his expression into something neutral instead. God damned Kratos Aurion again, he thinks, watching them talk in hushed enough voices that Zelos won't be able to hear. Honestly, what's the point of all of this? Lloyd has lived here in the manor since he was a child, and Zelos has known him since what feels like forever already. Having a personal relationship like that with the current Lord would make everything easier. It should be encouraged. Just because the asshole has served the family even when Zelos' father was alive and they didn't get along doesn't mean he gets to micromanage Zelos' staff, head knight or not. And what does he even get out of micromanaging his own fucking son, anyway? It's not like appearances matter much where no one can see them.
Okay, okay, let it go already, geez. Zelos chews a little on his own tongue to keep from saying anything he knows he'll regret in front of the head knight, even when Lloyd disengages his father and approaches him on his own. Then Lloyd kneels down, uttering his scripted greeting instead of whatever he might've wanted to say, and Zelos almost feels insulted. His blood boils, a little, but it's quickly doused with resignation as he wills himself to sigh and droop his shoulders rather than keep a useless flame alight.
Ah, well. This is just how it is. "Yeah, yeah. Rise already, will you," Zelos says, bored, gesturing with one hand for the young knight to get out of the kneel, the other hand resting on his hip. Then he gives Lloyd a small smirk. "Welcome home."
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"Zelos!" he hears, and just like that he chokes on his words.
The tone of that voice, the pitch, the fact that it's his name; Zelos doesn't waste time in turning on his heel to catch Lloyd's face as he runs through the gate to greet him and only him. Warmth spreads on his heart--so, spring really has come. The sight alone is enough to pull a large grin on the lord's face, already stepping forward as well and waving a hand trying to dismiss the girl from before, but all that comes crashing down when Kratos fucking Aurion enters the picture and pulls Lloyd back.
He stops halfway through his route to meet Lloyd halfway, hands balled into fists as he tries to steel his expression into something neutral instead. God damned Kratos Aurion again, he thinks, watching them talk in hushed enough voices that Zelos won't be able to hear. Honestly, what's the point of all of this? Lloyd has lived here in the manor since he was a child, and Zelos has known him since what feels like forever already. Having a personal relationship like that with the current Lord would make everything easier. It should be encouraged. Just because the asshole has served the family even when Zelos' father was alive and they didn't get along doesn't mean he gets to micromanage Zelos' staff, head knight or not. And what does he even get out of micromanaging his own fucking son, anyway? It's not like appearances matter much where no one can see them.
Okay, okay, let it go already, geez. Zelos chews a little on his own tongue to keep from saying anything he knows he'll regret in front of the head knight, even when Lloyd disengages his father and approaches him on his own. Then Lloyd kneels down, uttering his scripted greeting instead of whatever he might've wanted to say, and Zelos almost feels insulted. His blood boils, a little, but it's quickly doused with resignation as he wills himself to sigh and droop his shoulders rather than keep a useless flame alight.
Ah, well. This is just how it is. "Yeah, yeah. Rise already, will you," Zelos says, bored, gesturing with one hand for the young knight to get out of the kneel, the other hand resting on his hip. Then he gives Lloyd a small smirk. "Welcome home."