he's a baby

[airily]

Who: Zaveid and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Huntress
When: Today!

What the hell--

[ There's a clunk as the communication device is dropped down onto the ground - and the room is one that's filled with greenery, plants here and there with grass where the floor should be. There's another crash as someone wobbly seems to slip and hit the wall. Even though there's a voice, there's no actual person on screen.

Anyone on the Huntress who peeks in will notice that it's definitely Zaveid... But a little bit different.

Kind of rather a lot different, actually.

Bending down, there's the sound of someone who is incredibly frustrated - a man who has no idea what is going on who wants to throw the device halfway across the room again, but...

Then he pokes it. Hard. If the device wasn't a touch bit of machinery it might crack, but luckily it's a bit tougher than his finger. ]

Who the hell...

[ Eventually, Zaveid makes his way through the Huntress, storming through the ship. There's an awful, sinking feeling inside of him - since he can feel the connection he shares with Sorey he's desperately on edge, almost snarling like a wild animal as he makes his way through. ]

Comments

[tsunergy]

[There's no decrease in Zaveid's aggression, which isn't a surprise, but Mikleo still feels the beginnings of a slight panic, fighting to remain calm. If he gambles poorly in this, they might not be able to prevent a fight. And Sorey... he can't trust Sorey to fight back or defend himself. Not from Zaveid, not when he hasn't surpassed the lingering guilt from the hurt he caused in the past (and may never surpass at all). And while Mikleo isn't so arrogant to assume he could win a fight against the Zaveid he knows, maybe against a Zaveid from a thousand years ago, without Siegfried, he could hold him off a while.]

Because he's mine, [is at last his answer, his staff appearing in both hands with a flash of light. His feet are firmly planted, keeping himself between the two, and his eyes never leave Zaveid's gaze. He makes no move to attack, still, but if the wind seraph uses the pendulums he can't defend with bare hands.] He's my vessel, and one I chose gladly. We don't know what happened to you or why you're bound to us, but he didn't tether you against your will.

[Which isn't a lie, so that at least gives Sorey some deniability.]

[monolike]

Mikleo, [Sorey whispers urgently, trying to step around him and reach for his staff. Brandishing weapons against him, even if it's to protect him- it's not the right way, it can't be the right way. Zaveid is afraid.]

[oather]

[ The only thing keeping Zaveid from lashing out is the realisation that there's something going on here - and it makes him think of little Laphicet and Eleanor, their bond and connection, the knowledge that she might have started out confused and lost but had been brought together through a mutual need to take care of each other. He doesn't trust the Exorcists, but seeing a Malek standing in front of one, protecting one...

He doesn't lower his weapon and the wind still swirls around him, but some of the tension seeps away. His anger prickles under the surface with an intensity, but he shifts, adjusting his stance, digging his feet into the ground. It's more defensive now than aggressive, and he presses his thumbs into the weight of his pendulums.

Even now, despite the hurt he feeling, the horror that colours his body, he still doesn't want to kill. There has to be another option, even if it looks like he's more than ready to lash out. ]

Then who did? [ His eyes narrow as he glares. ] What the hell is happening here?

[tsunergy]

[Mikleo can hear the worried disapproval in Sorey's voice, but he can't back down yet. Not until it's safe to do so. Zaveid may be scared, but they don't have to fight, and he knows that once this stupid glitch is over he'd feel badly if he hurt Sorey. Best to avoid that sort of confrontation.

He does relax his poise much the same way as Zaveid when the other does, however. Even slight progress is better than none, and he doesn't want to be the aggressor here.]

A group called the Atroma brought all of us here against our will. I'm sure that they did this to you, too.

[monolike]

[That's better than nothing, though Mikleo's still refusing to back down. Sorey can't really say he's surprised; he'd absolutely let Zaveid hit him at this point.]

I know you don't have a reason to believe me, but if I could release you from this pact I would. I swear.

[oather]

[ His eyes dart between Sorey and Mikleo with an intensity he can't even begin to hide, watching before he breathes out a sharp noise and shifts back. He doesn't put his pendulums away - and it's probably a good thing that he hasn't spent too long looking at them just yet - but he feels his hands gripping onto them tightly, enough that it almost hurts.

He's here, tethered because of some phantom being that he doesn't know with another Malek protecting the person that's bound them. It doesn't make sense, but he feels as though he's missing something, somehow, as if there's something obvious dangling in front of him that he can't grasp. ]

So I've just gotta sit here and be chained to some human?

[tsunergy]

[That's as good a sign as any. Mikleo's shoulders slump slightly, releasing a bit of the tension. He lets go of the staff with one hand to rest it vertically against the floor, reaching for Sorey with the other and pushing him backwards as he steps away from Zaveid as well. If they move slowly, if they get some distance between them, maybe...]

You don't have to do anything. We can't get rid of the link, but you're free to come and go as you please. We won't stop you or force you to stay. And you might find people more trustworthy around who can verify what we told you.

[He's not sure if they should name anyone directly - who knows what time Zaveid's even coming from here? - but if there's even a chance, they can make sure Eizen and Velvet see him.]

[monolike]

[Mikleo would you Stop pushing him back there. Sorey doesn't try to duck around him again, but whatever he's taller anyhow. Maybe he can beam some I'm So Sorry eyes at Zaveid over his head (though Mikleo's idea of sending him off to seek out corroborating stories is...a really good idea). It hurts, but right now the best thing might be for him to stay put and let Zaveid get as far away from him as possible.]

[oather]

[ Frankly, he doesn't know what to do. The tension is rolling through him, along with the fear and dread, and when he stares at Mikleo it's between flickering glances over at the person at his side - the human that he's linked to. This water malek is just accepting it, and Zaveid is meant to go with it? There are very few people in the world he'd trust enough to verify anything like this, and what he wants most is his goddamn gun.

Breathing out, he puts his pendulums away. For now. ]

My stuff is missing. Where is it?

[tsunergy]

[Okay. OKAY. Mikleo will just call that progress and dismiss his staff, glancing over his shoulder briefly at Sorey, then back to Zaveid. He can recognize the feeling- it hurts to see Zaveid looking at them with such anger and distrust- but at least as a seraph he has the more common ground, here. He feels badly for Sorey; it'll be a hard week, if not more.]

Our gear was taken when we arrived, so it must be the same for you.

[They do have Siegfried, granted, but thankfully it's hidden away and has no bullets. That would complicate matters far too much.]

In case you didn't catch it, I'm Mikleo, and this is Sorey.

[monolike]

[Mikleo, Sorey is like 1000000% sure Zaveid doesn't care about this dumb human's name] There are other s- malakhim onboard too. [Oh shit, and Eleanor. Sorey might need to warn her.]

[oather]

[ Zaveid's eyes flick between the two of them and he breathes in and out before he nods his head. There's still tension, still a frustration that settles around him, and he feels as though something is tight around his neck, but he manages to bring himself together. Eyes closed, he breathes out. ]

Then they've got it.

[ They've got his gun, but not his pendulums. It doesn't make sense, and he feels it burn down inside his stomach. He needs it back. ]

You already know my name.

[ If they have a pact... ]

[tsunergy]

We're captain and first mate of this vessel, for what little that's worth. We know the names of everyone on board.

[Which is... not a lie, but a weak explanation, he knows. He has no illusions about the real truth being something Zaveid will accept however... he just doesn't know what else to say yet.]

[monolike]

No, [Sorey murmurs, touching Mikleo's shoulder ever so lightly but not stepping out from behind him this time,] he means his True Name.

[Painfully, Sorey raises his eyes to Zaveid, and he can feel the tension in that thread connecting him though he doesn't dare to probe it further.] I know it.

[oather]

[ Zaveid's eyes flick back to Sorey and he stares him down, agitated and angry, but not vicious enough to come close to actually hurting him. It's the reaction of an animal backed into a corner, not someone who'd really take a life.

Eventually, he squeezes his eyes shut and hisses out a sigh. ]

Be damn careful with it.

[tsunergy]

[Oof. Yeah, there's not really an easy way to recover from this one. Tethering is bad enough, but the true name issue is on a whole new level. Mikleo glances between them, feeling helpless and frustrated by it. There must be something else they can do...]

...He won't use it. No matter what- he won't say it, or force you to fight for him, or do anything you don't want. He's not that kind of human.

[He offers a hand out, not expecting Zaveid to take it, but wanting to nonetheless.]

I swear on my name- Luzrov Rulay.

[The enforcer- a promise not made lightly. It's only fair that they both know. And even if he's younger, even if he doesn't remember, he trusts Zaveid.]

[monolike]

[Yeah Sorey can't help a wince at that -be damn careful with it, too late for that- but he keeps his mouth shut and lets Mikleo handle this. Especially after he hands over his own True Name, easy and confident as he is. His own way of brandishing as both a shield for Sorey as his dearest friend, his partner, and a promise to Zaveid, a fellow seraph.]

[oather]

They're all that kinda human. That's how the whole damn thing works.

[ His arms cross and he stares them down, flicking his gaze from Mikleo to Sorey before he closes his eyes and shrugs his shoulders. What is there for him to do? He can't break the bond alone and he can't do anything other than suffer it, with the word of an unknown Malek to soothe him. It's all he has, at least until he can find the others and learn from them about whatever the hell is going on.

Shaking his head, he manages something like a smirk. ]

Guess this is just how it's gotta be, huh?

[tsunergy]

[Mikleo opens his mouth to protest - because they're not, he's not - but stops himself, though he looks visibly annoyed about it. It's not like Zaveid will believe him, even if he insists.

Whatever, they'll either proof it to be true through their actions, or Zaveid will just get over it when he returns to normal. Sorey's his main concern until then.]

We can't do anything about it, unfortunately, so yeah.