[Hey. Hey. Good thing that wasn't in your outside voice, Zelos.]
No, that's more or less how it happened. We fought Mithos once more; Lloyd shattered his Cruxis crystal, and then Lloyd reunited the worlds and germinated the Seed. With Colette's help.
[Raine hears that bitterness, Zelos. She gives him a flat look.]
If you try to say it could have been done without you, I can guarantee you won't like the results.
Why? 'Cause you'll hit me? [Zelos hesitates, then smiles into the camera.] Obviously, I was irreplaceable. Totally crucial to the whole thing. There's no way you could have done it without me.
[How can he be jealous of himself? If everything goes according to plan, he'll eventually be the one who helps them out. The one who makes the decision to stand up and keep going. Keeliai is supposed to be a reprieve, not some consequence of failing.]
[Wait, isn't he trying not to be bitter? That totally counts as a tease, though, right? Good-natured friendship teasing.
Zelos makes the conscious decision to relax.]
Hey, thanks for letting me know. Something for me to look forward to! ... You know, once the worlds are saved. I'm not looking forward to the fights or anything.
Of course I did. [That part he never doubted. But...] I swear that almost sounded like a compliment. I haven't heard one of those from you since the time you found out I could help teach Lloyd and Genis math.
[And technically not even then. It occurs to Zelos that Raine doesn't give out compliments very often -- and definitely not to him. He's not sure whether to be touched or not.]
[He doesn't mean to sound derogatory, except for where he totally does. Anyone who can get along with Genis probably isn't much fun to be around. Or he's like Lloyd, which is kind of disturbing where being engaged to Raine is concerned.
Zelos brightens.] His life was probably a whole lot better with a decent cook around. What did you guys eat before then?
[Raine raises an eyebrow at him. That's an odd reaction. Getting along with Genis rapidly isn't at all a usual thing, after all.]
[That lasts about three seconds before she scowls.]
We weren't without recourse. We were living in the Midnight Hotel at the time; the proprietor often cooked himself, but regardless usually there were meals provided.
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No, that's more or less how it happened. We fought Mithos once more; Lloyd shattered his Cruxis crystal, and then Lloyd reunited the worlds and germinated the Seed. With Colette's help.
[Raine hears that bitterness, Zelos. She gives him a flat look.]
If you try to say it could have been done without you, I can guarantee you won't like the results.
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[How can he be jealous of himself? If everything goes according to plan, he'll eventually be the one who helps them out. The one who makes the decision to stand up and keep going. Keeliai is supposed to be a reprieve, not some consequence of failing.]
There, is that better?
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I can be more inventive than that about punishments.
[But it is better, and she relaxes, offering him a tiny smile in return.]
Yes, that is better. And entirely accurate, as it happens.
[And Zelos should remember how much she doesn't overstate things that don't have to do with ruins.]
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[Wait, isn't he trying not to be bitter? That totally counts as a tease, though, right? Good-natured friendship teasing.
Zelos makes the conscious decision to relax.]
Hey, thanks for letting me know. Something for me to look forward to! ... You know, once the worlds are saved. I'm not looking forward to the fights or anything.
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You acquit yourself admirably in the fighting too, naturally, if that makes any difference.
[It's a genuine compliment.]
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[And technically not even then. It occurs to Zelos that Raine doesn't give out compliments very often -- and definitely not to him. He's not sure whether to be touched or not.]
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There aren't many people who are ahead of Genis in math. It's an accomplishment to be proud of.
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Yeah, well. If he ever shows up and makes that accomplishment useful, let me know.
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You missed him by about a year and a half.
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[Whoops.
A year and a half is a long time, though. Maybe not to a half-elf or an angel, but to most people. How old is Raine, anyway?]
Did he miss your engagement?
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[Raine nods shortly.]
But he knew Solomon; and, after some initial tension, they seemed to... get along. Genis taught Solomon to cook.
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[He doesn't mean to sound derogatory, except for where he totally does. Anyone who can get along with Genis probably isn't much fun to be around. Or he's like Lloyd, which is kind of disturbing where being engaged to Raine is concerned.
Zelos brightens.] His life was probably a whole lot better with a decent cook around. What did you guys eat before then?
no subject
[That lasts about three seconds before she scowls.]
We weren't without recourse. We were living in the Midnight Hotel at the time; the proprietor often cooked himself, but regardless usually there were meals provided.