XI

[wilder]

[Backdated to this morning]

[After this discussion? Zelos is heading straight to the house, since he can guess that's the most likely spot for Colette to be. ]

[Stepping inside, he instantly starts kicking off the snow from his boots on the doormat. Ugh how much longer is winter supposed to last anyway?]

Yo! Colette! You in?

Comments

[selfless]

[aaaaaaand that uncomfortable look is back. She fidgets with her hands for a moment as she figures out how to say it best]

He... threatened to hurt some people [well... pretty much mostly her, BUT DETAILS] and he was part of a giant attack where a group tried to take over the castle. It's not all his fault... people were manipulating and using him, but... [yeah, can't lie to him] he knew what he was doing.

[wilder]

And you still see him as a friend after all that?

[His tone or expression isn't accusatory. Not like he can talk considering ahem, what he's done]

[selfless]

[she looks... actually relieved by the question, and she nods]

He... I don't know all the details of what happened, but when he was young, he was very sick. A man named Aion gave him demon horns. [she reaches up and taps the area on the side of her head] They... changed him. He became healthy, but now he's not... [she shakes her head, it's obvious she's having a hard time coming up with the words to describe what she wants to say]

For a while, his horns were gone and he was his old self. Now they're back, and I don't think they can be removed again in the same way. But even still, I want to find a way for him to be happy here... I don't know how- [or even if a happy ending can exist] but I want to try.

[wilder]

[He listens, his posture relaxing a bit as she goes. There are definitely things about this that are worrying but...the whole making Bad Life Choices to get out of a life you thought was shit? That story's kinda familiar]

Got it. You're really nice, Colette. As always.

Why didn't you say anything about this before?

[selfless]

[asdgkhasd that makes her blush and she shakes her head] There are other people who are trying to help him too! We're working together.

[a lot of it is out of habit from the old days of 'hey Colette, GONNA KILL YOUR FRIENDS'... makes a girl want to avoid letting the two meet] Ah... when he last met a friend of mine named Adachi they didn't... get along well. Then because we were friends he tried to make Adachi nervous by-

[adlgah fidget. THERE AREN'T WAYS TO MAKE THIS SOUND GOOD] threatening me. N-Nothing happened, but... I just don't want anyone to think badly of him.

[wilder]

[a dry scoffing sound; seriously?] You thought I'd hate the guy because he made an empty threat about you?

He's influential, but I'm not our hotheaded friend. I'm not going to get into a rage every time someone looks at you funny, you can handle yourself. [NOW IF YOU WERE SELES ON THE OTHER HAND...]

[selfless]

[ZELOS that is music to her hears. She sighs and smiles]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to underestimate you. I just get nervous... when he meets people that I really care about. But I'll try to be better!

[wilder]

It's fine, I can get it. You're a sweet little angel that's as cute as a button, so people often are overcome with the urge to protect you from any sort of harm. They mean well, but I can imagine it's downright suffocating sometimes, especially when you don't want them to worry about you.

And me being the Great Zelos Wilder, savior of damsels and someone you haven't traveled with in a few years since coming here so your memory might be a bit hazy - it's no surprise you'd worry I'd fall to the same urge.

[selfless]

[aslkdhasldghasdg okay.... feeling embarrassed right about now. She shakes her head]

N-No, I mean... [not sure what she means, brb collecting thoughts]

If anything bad happened... and for some reason he decided he wanted to hurt you- [she pauses... the unspoken ending there is 'she wouldn't forgive herself'. That statement feels selfish, making it about her again. Honestly, everything he said is making her feel selfish. Does she assume that people would worry about her?]

But, I should have trusted you more and introduced you to him sooner. I'm sorry.

1/2

[wilder]

'For some reason'? Colette, I'm pretty sure you're the only person in any of the worlds that's met me and hasn't wanted to hurt me at some point. If you're gonna worry yourself about that, just lock me in my bedroom now and throw out my journal.

[He even finds himself annoying okay?]

[wilder]

[But he'll quit the joking around for now. He hadn't really meant anything mean by his previous analysis, he just...lacks tact really. To be honest, everyone treating him like glass would have probably driven him up a wall]

Stop apologizing about not trusting me, okay? I'm not mad at that...there's a lot of reasons why someone shouldn't trust me, that Adachi guy would probably hate me too. But that's my problem, not yours. I'll earn trust by my own merit.

[Sure, he would love nothing more than complete trust from his friends but...he can take getting it piece at a time, as long as Lloyd trusts him. He knows he screwed things up by leaving Paradisa so many times - as Yuan LOVES to remind him.]

But trust me or not trust me, that doesn't matter with this. You're not responsible for Joshua's actions- so you shouldn't be trying to cover for him if he's actually hurting people. And if he's not and you truly believe he's someone worth calling a friend...well...trust him enough to win over your friends by his own merit. Even if that means he's going to have to put up with a lot of hate for awhile.

You get what I'm saying?

[selfless]

[ah..... Zelos. She listens quietly to everything that he says. It's... honestly, hard to wrap her head around. She's not responsible for what Joshua does? It's so against Colette's nature, to not take the blame for something. But if she does trust him the way Zelos is describing- what would happen?]

I... understand. But I still-

[she looks down at her hands for a moment as she tries to formulate her thoughts] When I spent time with Joshua without his horns... he was in so much pain because he had hurt so many people. If we can't stop him from having these horns and thinking the way he does... I feel like the only way I can help him is to stop him from doing something that he would regret.

But doing that... you're right, that's not trusting him.

[wilder]

[He sighs and leans back in his chair, putting his arms behind his head. Back to the chill tone]

If he's a good person without the horns and he's still Joshua with them, there must be some sort of way to convince him to be good on his own... [Everyone has something. Some small little thing that can stop even the worst from misbehaving.]

[selfless]

[hm... she nods slowly, thoughtfully. Yes, talking with him today... was good. Maybe he'll keep going, keep changing. If she trusts him, maybe a lot of good will come of it. She nods again, more firmly this time, and goes back to smiling]

You're right. [baw, zelos... now she thinks about what he just said. Even if his tone is back to normal...] Thank you, Zelos.

[wilder]

[A shrug]

Eh, it's nothing. [He's sure lots of people could've said the same..or better]

[selfless]

[she shakes her head] You're always good at telling people things they need to hear!

And... you're a really good friend... What you said earlier, I don't think Adachi would hate you. I think a lot of people like you more than you think.

[wilder]

[He chuckles very lightly- he's joking around again]

Well I suppose I do have a good amount of fans and hunnies back home. It's not right to discount them!

[selfless]

[aaaaaaand she can see that]

N-No, here too!

[wilder]

Hmm?

[He looks over at Colette, curiously. Did she mean her and Lloyd or what...?]

[selfless]

Your friend Katara.... Lloyd and I, and I'm sure other people who I haven't met.

And then you'll keep meeting more people! [aaaand she giggles sheepishly as she realizes that she's kind of... rambling without direction] I'm sorry, I don't know exactly what I'm trying to say...

[wilder]

[You're so nice, Colette. Kinda naive, but so nice. ]

It's okay, I'm getting what you mean. I'll make friends.

[Somehow...Subject change!]

Are you still hungry?

[selfless]

[she nods! whew] I'm glad! And if you'd like, I can introduce you to some of my other friends too, I'm sure they'd be excited to meet you.

Oh, yes! I almost forgot again...

[wilder]

Who wouldn't be? If they're your friends, I'm sure I'd like them. [Maybe. You tend to make friends with EVERYONE]

[He laughs] Never change, darling Angel. I'll grab it.

[selfless]

[ahaha, SHE JUST HAS A LOT OF LOVE FOR EVERYONE, OKAY. Anyway, she'll make plans for that later]

Okay, I'll get plates and utensils!

[wilder]

[YES HE IS VERY PAINFULLY AWARE OF THAT. Though he'd never want her to change despite frustrations. ]

Okay~! ♥

[He jumps up from his chair and seems to be about to go into the kitchen, but he stops and reaches over to give Colette an affectionate headpat with a grin]