The Visitor

[presidentheartbeat]

[There's a garden behind Meltokio's castle that's big enough to get lost in, covered in flowers and weirdly shaped hedges and even an entire section shaped like a maze. It's the perfect spot to get lost in after a particularly tough day dealing with whatever political fall-out there is to take care of after everything that's happened, and even nicer for a quick break when everything else, even just the company of friends and family, gets too overwhelming for Zelos.

Granted, it's a little strange and slightly nerve-wrecking for Zelos to be out here on his own, given his status as one of the only two Aegises left in this world, artificial or not, but he figures that he'll be fine. Anyone who cares will know where to find him, anyway, and it's not like he can't defend himself, either. Besides, it's just a quick walk through the silent, empty garden. It's fine. So he walks through the garden and makes it over to a private little section with a fountain and a kiosk, making a beeline over to a rose bush.

He delicately takes one of the flowers between his hands and stares, awed, at a plant he'd never actually gotten the chance to see growing naturally like this--he'd only known what they looked like in vases and fake bouquets, never really in a pristine, beautiful garden surrounded by greenery and life. Much less in the wild. The sight of it is mesmerizing. And then Zelos wonders what it feels like, so he takes off one of his gloves, exposing the glowing, orange ether lines on his arms and palm, and runs a thumb over the surface of the petals.

So entranced is he by the roses that Zelos doesn't notice anything else amiss in the garden, or in the air, nor does he hear the approach of someone else into the scene.]

Comments

[vexeven]

Some vacation. He'd never fuss with a starshard again, if it was just going to plunk him in another damned garden; Even sighs irritably as he looks around, spotting a mane of red to rival his own and dismisses his armor, feeling oddly plainly dressed in comparison. At least he was wearing neutral colors instead of stomach-medicine pink, he supposed.

He might end up needing some of that, between the color and the awful stink of the roses the stranger was handling.

Hoping he doesn't startle the redhead too terribly, Even clears his throat.

[presidentheartbeat]

[Well, so much for not startling him. The sound is sudden and loud enough in the quiet of the garden that Zelos whirls around quickly enough to send his hair flying a little, then relaxes just a fraction when sets his wide eyes on his new, unarmed companion. 'A fraction' being the keyword here: because try as he might, Zelos can't remember ever having seen the person that currently stands in front of him before, and that sets him a little on edge.

Surprise and vulnerability are very quickly hidden behind a smirk and a dangerous squint to his eyes, though. Zelos hums, goes to put the glove back on as he regards the man that stands before him with clear, open suspicion.] "Why, hello there, you. I'd thought this part of the gardens was empty this time of day." [He finishes with the glove and sets one hand on his hip, shoves part his hair over his shoulder with the other.] "What, you lost or somethin'?"

[vexeven]

He certainly can't blame the stranger for being suspicious; he himself has a suspicion that these gardens aren’t open to the public. He holds his hands up a bit, to show he’s unarmed, his expression neutral.

“I do believe I am. Apologies for the intrusion.”

Hopefully this redhead wouldn’t be as obnoxious and absurd as the one from home. Maybe he’d even be reasonable.

[presidentheartbeat]

[Well, bingo--now this stranger has officially identified himself as an actual intruder. He makes obvious gestures to show he's not a threat, but for now Zelos is gonna reserve the right to remain suspicious, thank you very much.] "Well, ain't that something. I guess the maze-like corridors of this garden are too much of a match even for the staff." [He laughs at his own joke and crosses his arms.] "So I take it you're not a gardener?"

[There's something else that's... slightly off, about this person, but Zelos can't tell exactly what it is. Something that doesn't fit with the rest of the scene around him, but fuck if Zelos knows what. Hopefully he'll figure it out eventually.]

[vexeven]

He huffs a short laugh, adjusting the cuffs on his sleeves with a slight smirk. "Not one that works here, no. I suppose you could say I dropped in unexpectedly."

He's not at all used to being studied. He's not fully sure he likes it, but he doesn't break the other's gaze for a moment. "If it's not too much to impose, all I'd like to do is leave. I'm not certain of the way, but an escort wouldn't go amiss. Preferably not one of armored guards; I would prefer to remain discreet."

[presidentheartbeat]

[Well, something about the everything that he's just said kind of doesn't sit well with Zelos. Tense and humming through a smile, he steps away from the rose bush with his arms still crossed, ether gathered at his fingertips just in case.] "Right, of course. Well, I guess I could guide you, if you'd at least tell me your name first. It's the least you could do for startling me, no?"

[vexeven]

So there was magic on this world, as well. Not that he would let on that he'd seen the glow, could practically smell it, even if he didn't have Ienzo's keen senses. But at least he would know how to defend himself, if the need arose. Idly, he wonders if this redhead has fire powers too.

"Quite so," he replies. "Apologies, as if I haven't been rude enough. Call me Even, if you would."

Comes back five days late with Starbucks

[presidentheartbeat]

"Nice to meet you, Even. The name's Zelos. Pretty as it may be to hear, do try not to wear it out." [Zelos laughs. He usually doesn't need to introduce himself, but just to be careful he decides to go with the full charade, watching Even's reaction most intently. At least he has a name to attach to this face, but. He still approaches the man slowly, body language and gait as loose and nonchalant as he can keep them while remaining observant.

He shrugs. Zelos stops a few feet away from Even, close enough to seem friendly, far enough to make a break for it if push comes to shove.] "Sure, why not. I can escort you. I just think it's kinda funny that a gardener would drop by uninvited and unsupervised in the most famous garden in the country and then get lost." [He tilts his head.] "Where'd you work before, Sylvarant?"

[vexeven]

"I come from a garden," he corrects mildly, keeping his eyes on Zelos, his posture as relaxed as he can get it without resorting to his old slouch; he was still taller than whoever this was, at least, even if Zelos seemed broader built. "I don't work with the earth directly; more of a planner."

He smirks lightly, huffing a soft laugh, remembering how easy it was to get turned around after regenerating, not making any remark to confirm the question about whatever Sylvarant was. Perhaps another nation. "Easy to get lost if you're stuck behind a desk all day, instead of wandering about."

[presidentheartbeat]

[Hmm, okay, that tracks. Zelos shrugs, finally at least stops being a guarded, prying bastard and gets on the move, gesturing for Even to follow along. He does, however, keep him at least at arm's length where Zelos can see him.

Unfortunately for Even, the best exits are close to the castle, so they'll have to make their way to where Zelos came from. So once they finally start walking, Zelos decides to offer him a laugh to distract from that.] "Oh, I know what you mean! Once you exit the stuffy halls of some palace or office it's like stepping into a whole different world, huh?" [He shrugs again.] "It's probably not very healthy for humans to be stuffed inside. Gotta stop and smell the roses every now and then, man."

[vexeven]

He respects Zelos' personal space with no issue, but the mention of roses turns his expression rather sour. "I'm not fond of roses. My family's been on me to take a vacation for years now, though, so at least with any luck this will shut them up." He should have brought along something to study, some hypothesis, a goal, other than merely wandering about like a lost soul.

[presidentheartbeat]

"Oh, what? Why wouldn't you take up their offer to take a vacation more often?" [Zelos dramatically tuts, shaking his head.] "The best part of life is getting to laze about, man. You should savour the freedom to do nothing that you have!"

[Honestly? He's speaking from personal experience. Barely a few months after their journey ended and Zelos still can't get enough of exercising his freedom as he wants it, when he can. The years of life he has on his backlog are all full of memories of being stuck inside tightly guarded gilded cages and experiencing a mere mockery of it, after all, so now that he finally has it in his hands... he finds that freedom of choice is painfully addictive.]

[vexeven]

He rolls his eyes a bit. Lea, this one was not; he seemed a good deal more like Nine, even with the whole king business. "I don't enjoy being idle. I would much rather be doing something worthwhile with my time than sitting around collecting dust. I get teased enough for that as it is even when I'm working," he finishes sourly, a decade of memories nipping at his nerves.

[presidentheartbeat]

[Zelos laughs, arms rising up in a peace gesture.] "Woah, man. I ain't teasin' ya--if you wanna do that, then do what makes you happy, yeah?" [he placates.

You know... the more Even speaks, the more he starts to think that maybe Even's not really as bad a guy as Zelos originally thought. He's sour and shrouded in mystery in the kind of way that sets off Zelos' alarms, sure, but he doesn't seem like he's got any ill intent. He doesn't even seem to be super interested in the fact that he's talking to an Aegis, much more worried and bothered by being made fun of for liking paperwork of all things.

So Zelos gets an idea, the closer they get to the castle. He hasn't lowered his walls, but he might as well try to be friendly here, right?] "You know what?" [he says, smirking,] "If you're more of a planner than a gardener, then maybe you could help me make this place actually worthy of me. Time for a renovation!"

[vexeven]

Eugh, so he was someone important. Definitely leaning more Eleven than Eight, which did nothing to improve his mood. He sighs heavily, deciding he may as well indulge the redhead in whatever scheme he was cooking up. It was just some gardening, anyway. It wasn't as if it would hurt anyone.

"And what do I get out of such a task?"