driftfleet | ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ/ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ

Who: Dezel and you
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Crowley's bar or the Huntress, whichever you prefer.
When: Now

[audio]

[Someone is definitely growling. You'd think he was a dog, but then he seems to form words. Every consonant sounds like a knife against stone.]

I'm staying away from the planet for a while. If anyone needs me—

[He hesitates.]

—too bad. [And he hangs up.]

[action]

[Despite his grumpy broadcast, Dezel can be found in certain places. One of them is Crowley's bar. He's invisible, but that doesn't stop him from cleaning glasses and making tiny, pretentious food. If you can't see him, it's like some invisible Christmas elf keeps leaving tarts everywhere.

Alternatively, he can be seen (or not seen) sulking in the Huntress' cargo bay, sitting on some boxes beside a window. In his lap is a fuzzy happy little slug that he strokes with due diligence.]

[ooc: If you're meeting Dezel in person and haven't done so, please fill out his seraph permissions!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm sure you can, but... you shouldn't have to. It's not fair.

[If they need to wrestle him and Zaveid on opposite ends of the planet, then so be it. Hiding away like this just to avoid fighting with an ally is just... dumb.]

[He hmphs, but doesn't argue. It sucks and it's stupid but that's his decision and he's sticking with it. Honestly, he wants Zaveid to have some space, too; Zaveid can get his own brand of avoidant, so he ought to run the planet as free as Dezel did before.]

Did he tell you anything?

Nothing specific. It didn't seem like he was any more inclined to talk about it than you are.

[You can only attribute so much of that to Zaveid being- well, Zaveid. His whimsical nature is well known, but he keeps his secrets hidden through it, too.]

[He doesn't say anything for a long moment. Finally, he shifts his position and looks down at Mikleo.]

... Do you want to know the truth?

[Oh geez. That's not a question he'd ever expected to hear from Dezel. And while he's not as kind as Sorey when it comes to learning secrets, he has no desire to be cruel about it, either.]

I... do, but not so desperately that you need to force yourself. If you'd rather not say, then it's fine.

[Dezel makes an amused noise and leans back against the crate.]

There's nothing to tell. [That's his answer.] I don't know who he is.

[THAT'S

SO ANTI-CLIMACTIC]

[Yet, at the same time, not actually a surprise.]

...Do you want to know? Because he does.

Of course I do! [It comes out as more of a growl than he intends, but he doesn't take it back or soften his tone at all.] He fought us almost to the death and then changed his mind, and you don't think it deserves an explanation?

[He knows now that they were desperate for someone to replace Dezel after he died, but that's not what this is about.]

He wants something-- something from me-- but he won't say it. He's a coward.

...So you refuse to talk to him, and he refuses to tell you... you're both being idiots.

[FUCKING

WIND

SERAPHIM]

[Dezel bristles, as is expected when he's being called an idiot.]

I gave him a chance already. Don't lump me in with him.

And yet you're hiding here to avoid fighting with him. Is it so impossible for the two of you to meet without fighting?

[Dezel growls under his breath and looks away again, shoulders hunched.]

I don't know why he affects me so much. He just does, all right?

It's... not related to your revenge, is it?

[He can't imagine how Zaveid would be involved in that, but he'd been so infuriated with Symonne without realizing what her direct involvement had been, so Mikleo can't help but wonder just how many holes are in his memory, even after regaining a handful prior to his death.]

[Dezel is pretty sure he can remember all the things connected to his revenge. He would've had a bad feeling about Zaveid if so-- a feeling besides total indifference.]

No. He wasn't there.

[He rests his chin on the back of his hand, which is braced on his knee.]

If anything, I was the one who did something to him. [That seems logical, sure.]

You don't know that. It could be a misunderstanding.

[He's still too clueless about the whole situation, but what he is aware of makes him seriously doubt that it was a bad experience for either of them. Surely it's the lack of memories that are causing the conflict, and not any lingering feelings.]

A misunderstanding.

[He doesn't sound like he believes it.]

I won't know for sure until he says it.

[He'd really like to offer up a more certain alternative, but he's not sure Dezel will believe his wishful thinking. His self-loathing is understandable but honestly not deserved. Mistakes were made but he regrets them- there's no need to continue with the punishment.]

You won't know anything unless you talk to him.

[Nah, he's going to continue flogging himself until the cows come home. It's his fault, after all.]

Not right now.

[He's firm on this.]

He can have some time on the planet without... this. [He makes a vague gesture, and doesn't remark on how considerate this makes him sound.]

[...Oof. While that is unexpectedly kind of him, it also seems misguided.]

You know... even if he doesn't want to tell you about the past, whatever his reasons... I get the feeling Zaveid still wants to spend time with you.

[There was a sadness to him that really couldn't have come from someone who'd only met them those brief times they'd fought, and while he'd shown reluctance in chasing after Dezel, it hadn't been for his own sake.]

[There's a palpable silence. And then, very disbelieving:]

-- what?

[Lords help them both.]

[Dezel......]

Had you honestly never considered the idea that he might be as bad at making friends as you are?

[Judging by Dezel's face, that's a no. The backhanded remark makes him look away sharply and tuck his hat down, as if he doesn't want Mikleo to see his embarrassment. Which is true.]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[/SWEATS NERVOUSLY]

[~~okay seriously fucking wind seraphim~~

Mikleo sees that awkward avoidance, but he figures Dezel will just get annoyed if he points it out, and they're already sort of toeing that line. Lucky you.]

It's not that far-fetched. He didn't treat you that differently than he treated the rest of us- you just aggravated each other more. He's always acted nonchalant but he wouldn't try if it wasn't important.

Edited 2016-07-25 01:13 (UTC)

[Dezel is very tempted to just ollie out of this conversation, but he doesn't want to upset another friend today. He has a very limited amount.]

... Maybe. [He's still not looking at Mikleo. He doesn't really believe him, but some things Dezel has to see for himself. That's-- just how he is.]

action;

nerdeology - 2016-07-25 02:34 (UTC) - Expand

ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ/ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ | too bad, so sad

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