Zig misunderstands the directions, assumes the mistletoe is a snack, and just eats it on the spot.
─「エデン」─ golden hues widened at the sudden arrival of the ranker, and before she could WARN him against it, he already devoured the said plant she was holding just moment prior. a blink, and then two, watching him chew on what she's pretty sure was —
" um ... i think that's ... poisonous. " another blink. " i'd advice you to spit it out. it's mistletoe. " she paused, tilting her head. " you know ? the plant that you're supposed to kiss people under ? " did that go over his head ?
Well looks like he didn’t have to look too hard to find Zig since the older boy seemed to find him first. Atsuro would go and give Zig a hug telling him how much he missed him but, seeing as Zig is the leader of his country he probably shouldn’t do that with all these peoples around. “I-I wasn’t gawking” he mumbled looking away a bit. Maybe he was a bit but hey this placed looked like it was much bigger than Tokyo.
“Though you are right it has been awhile. You haven’t been to Tokyo in well...I can’t remember since it’s been that long.” That was kind of a lie since he did remember last time they talked Zig had apologized saying he had known about how he felt towards him and just ignored it and, then other stuff was said and hadn’t talked after that. Well he’ll just put those thoughts aside for the moment. “So I’m guessing you’ve been busy here since you haven’t come to visit in a long time.”
"Akane, there's something I need to tell you."
Thanks to a lull in incidents, Zig has enough freedom from his schedule to sit down and talk one-on-one. He would've said something earlier, but this project took a while and he just got done yesterday with Ludger's help. He'll always be a fortune man he recruited a top-tier chef as a temp secretary.
"Ever since our talk about the difference between croissants and other types of bread, I committed to trying all the types that are out there. And I have come to a conclusion."
"All bread does taste the same unless you add butter or sugar to it. And I like the non-sugar versions more. That should settle the argument, right?"
unprompted. || always accepting
|| 茜 || :: how long had it been since she had last seen him ? years, surely. she had already lost count on the exact number itself and while she was absolutely delighted to see him being safe and sound ( and barely changed much if at all from the last time they met ), his CONVERSATION OPENER had the suzaku narrow her eyes with a clear hint of judgement.
" zig ... " his name still sounded familiar on her tongue, fitting right into her voice as though it had never left. there was, however, a tinge of exasperation in the way those vermilion hues landed on him. she stared at him, letting the silence stretch in a wordless way of conveying her EMOTION towards the conclusion he had drawn. again, it was very much like zig to bring this topic back up, but that was also exactly why she was pouting slightly, too.
" we have not seen each others in years, and this is the hill you want to die on ? that all bread taste the same ? " her right brow was twitching as she said it, an unconscious response to repeating something she viewed as utterly absurd. " first of all, they are not the same. there are actually various methods of making and baking bread. croissants and puff pastries with their delicate layers, or sourdough with ... a rather monstrous looking starter that will turn out heavenly if used right. "
ah, ludger, your patience is so commendable, how many loaves and breads had you fed this weed eating idiot ?
" second of all, when someone is going through the trouble of making you different kind of breads, at least give the credit when it's due. ludger is too nice to hit you with bread, but i will throw one at your head despite it being a waste because i know you'd pick it up and eat it. " a long sigh escaped her. seriously. this ? this was her welcome back after half a decade ? THIS ?
" and lastly, if you don't walk over here and give me a hug right now, i'm breaking up with you. " that, of course, implied they were in a relationship to begin with. let's not fret over details on how and when that happened. they're dating. it's been twelve years. of course they're dating.
🧠 + Victor + "Zig really has been a great friend to me."
Send 🧠 + an intrusive thought for my muse to have, and they'll react to having it! || @unborderedreflection
"--And then he won me this!" Elle lifts up her new life-sized Bearcchi plush from that new Bunnykins & Friends "Friends for Life!" collection. A worthy ally of her other life-sized Bunnykins plush in removing any traces of a floor left in her room. "The attendant tried weaseling outta giving us a prize, but Zig kept making him reexplain his reasons why and the guy just gave up. Pretty cool of him, right? Right~?"
"For it to be 'cool' would require him to work beyond basic expectations; I'd have words for him if he let some smooth talker swindle him out of your good time."
Bad answer; the stink eye and puffed cheeks come out. "Do you always gotta be such a sourpuss? Just say it was cool; Zig's not here to 'let it go to his head' or whatever other excuse you've got ready."
Victor has half a mind to remind her that Zig's never truly "gone" when she has every opportunity to text him and say Victor said something nice about him. But he knows his partner-- trying to out-stubborn her always turns into a five day battleground where the one who looks at the other first loses. He'll let the literal farm boy have one win.
"Fine. It was cool of Zig to win the biggest prize at the festival for you," He makes a point to bury the usual cynicism baked into his voice. Although to his own surprise, he doesn't feel a bitter aftertaste after the fact. Or any bitterness in realizing he lacked bitterness.
I suppose lately Zig has been a great friend to me--
...Wait. That word. Why did he use that word? He doesn't use that words anymore.
Especially not for someone as dumb and stupid and lacking basic etiquette and posing the greatest question of if humans can be born with smooth brains--
"Victor?" Elle's seemingly teleported across the room to snap her fingers in his face until their eyes met. "You okay...? You looked like you were gonna throw up for a second."
Were his emotions becoming so obvious? Damn, something's not right with him today. Even so, he'll have to swallow this down before it ruins Elle's fun day.
"I'm fine-- I bit my tongue is all," Elle likely won't buy that lie, but no further harm in trying. "Do you want help carrying Bearcchi upstairs? He'll build up static if you let his legs drag on the carpet."
"Oh no, I got him! He's not heavy, I just didn't wanna accidentally bump a light or something holding him over my head. Go make sure you didn't hurt yourself, okay? I'll get Bearcchi upstairs one way or another!"
Like a good partner, Elle doesn't prod him for answers and hoists her oversized bear above her head as she marches up the stairs. He keeps watch for long enough to make sure gravity doesn't have her tumbling down, then it's off to the bathroom to throw a burst of cold water on his face.
"A friend... Do I really think of him that way...?" He should be upset there's even a chance the answer is yes, and yet... he's not.
OutOfCanonShips;;
Nowhere Xillia was on the brain, and I wanted to do cute Victor/Zig stuff, so enjoy Victor being Zig's nagging not-wife.
"Curse you..." The forest guardian said between shaky breaths, her wings and body dropping close to the ground. "You and that outsider will regret your meddling...!" Her form dissipated into a purple shimmer. No doubt she'd return eventually, but Powell only asked they stall her until he returned. Mission accomplished.
"Seems we--" Zig's sword hit the grass, followed shortly by its owner. In all the commotion, he only now noticed a patch of Zig's coat near his hip was sliced off, the skin dyed an unpleasant red. Damn, can't ever trust this man to self-report injuries before it killed him.
"Zig, we discussed this!" Victor lectured him as he knelt down to his side, "You're not allowed to die unless I say so!"
"No need to yell. I'm fine," Lifting his shirt and wiping the blood away, Zig's body lacked any wounds. "See? I just had a dizzy spell; Chakring works gradually."
And what if this skill of yours acted too slow and you bled out? Victor knew debating this idiot was a waste of time, so he'd let that thought go in favor of offering a hand to prop Zig back on his feet. Once he steadied himself, he didn't wince or stumble. Good enough, for now.
"Okay, let's catch up with Powell," But of course, Zig's first instinct was to seek another avenue for a quick death. "He can't be too far--"
Before Zig could even take the first step, Victor grabbed his arm. Zig gave it a small tug, though his grip didn't budge. "What?"
'What'? That's all you have to say? The better question is what's wrong with you? Don't you have a sense for your limits? "You're going back home."
"Why? Powell might need backup."
He wished Zig wouldn't question his decisions; the answers, while true, pained him to say out loud. But if it'd drill the point into Zig's thick skull, he'd speak his mind just this once.
"You promised you wouldn't die on me again. I don't trust you'll uphold it today. We fulfilled our end; rest at home before you worry me further."
What Victor wouldn't give for a swig of bleach to clean his mouth out. Zig wouldn't stop staring at him either, likely questioning if he actually heard his filthy, disgusting speech. Though once reality hit him, his smirk of certain defeat
"Alright, I'll head back. Tell Powell I'll make it up to him another day."
Satisfied, Victor let Zig go, watching his every step to make sure he didn't fake him out and run deeper into the forest. At this point, Victor should consider the matter concluded and back up Powell. Zig could walk back on his own. It's not that far. He's not bleeding out.
It's fine.
It's fine.
It's perfectly fine.
--But just in case it wasn't fine, he ought to keep watch.
Against his better judgment, he didn't run after Zig. He walked. He wasn't concerned. No one with dignity would care if Zig Kraft found himself in another mess created by his own hubris, especially not himself.
The man wasn't much farther ahead, his attention split between where he was walking and inspecting his weapons. A nagging something spiked in Victor when Zig checked his revolver's cylinder, all too aware he could rub a bare finger on those idiotic poisoned rounds he concocted and end his life if he didn't wash his hand clean enough.
Although he'd also deserve it for turning his kitchen into a makeshift chem lab without his consent. All the precautions in the world mattered not when he involved his beloved kitchen.
His footsteps must've been too careless, Zig stopping to check behind him and spotting Victor. The lecture or odd look he expected didn't come; rather, he perked up a bit.
"Walking back with me?"
"Would you trust yourself not to chase the first sight of danger?"
The idiot laughed, "Probably not," He waited for Victor to catch up before continuing further, "It's nice seeing you care about me."
Damn Zig's insistence on speaking his mind. "I don't care about you," Victor spat. "You dying is an inconvenience and a betrayal of my trust."
"So you care about me betraying your trust."
"Don't make me kill you, Kraft."
"You say that but never act on it."
If Zig's smart alack routine said one more word, Victor'd follow through in a few seconds, "By all means, dig your grave. Replacing you wouldn't take longer than an hour."
Zig didn't apologize, but he at least zipped his trap and let him enjoy some peace and quiet. From there, the only moronic thing he did the rest of the way home is side eye each and every weed growing along the road and in the unkempt yards of the abandoned houses.
He swore, if those weeds disappeared overnight, he'd move Zig's bed to a miniature barn outside so he'd live entirely like the farm animal he is.
So. Lin (@unborderedreflection) and I were talking xMAs, and with Zig being the closest thing Victor will ever have to a friend...
Let's just say I'm easy to tempt. lol
▸▸ [ @marginalfighter || cha hae-in starter call ]
─「차해인」─ “ so the rumors are true, there really is a false ranker who sneaked into higher ranked gates to help with the raid without revealing himself. ” being a S-RANK HUNTER, she had her fair share of connections and ways to get information on what she wanted. it wasn’t difficult to get details about him, however, given that most FALSE RANKERS were actually committing crimes of hurting and killing other lower ranked hunters, he sticks out among the bad blood.
a hand placed to her hip, head tilting to the side. “ is that why you’re wandering around the gate before it’s opened ? you’re going to accompany a lower ranked party in case something went wrong ? ”
▸▸ [ @marginalfighter || main muses starter call ]
|| 茜 || :: the FROST started to nip at the skin as the weather slowly turned into that of WINTER. the suzaku wasn’t quite a fan of the cold atmosphere, however, that wouldn’t stop her from coming to visit a CERTAIN SOMEONE whom she hadn’t seen in a while. being the one who traveled around, from one world to another, she still found herself at home returning to this very land. though, she would argue it was the person than the location that made her feel AT EASE.
the FAMILIAR figure of the dark haired brought that warm smile upon her lips, and the moment he turned around, she lifted a hand to greet him, accompanied by that smile he knew her for.
“ it’s been a while, hasn’t it ? do you think you have some time to spare for an unannounced visitor or do i have to make an appointment ? ”
