13 - PAfH; [Audio // Common]

[oblique_wisdom]

[Zelda graces the top deck, a place she doesn't often visit. Most of the time, she's down below and forgets the beauty of the sky and the never-ending ocean. It serves as a reminder for how far away she is from home, or however far she imagines herself to be

Comments

[shadesofeco]

[Crap. Jak's heard Erol's recording of their fight, and he's not sure exactly what he should say. So after a minute of silence, he disconnects without a word.]

[oblique_wisdom]

[How suspecting can Zelda be? Not... that what she was talking about had anything to do with Jak. She still doesn't know what to think of him either.

...It's disappointment, though. Some very serious disappointment.]

[shadesofeco]

[He should say something. But he doesn't know what.

Apologize? No. He doesn't regret what he did. And being stubborn is one of his less attractive character traits.]

Look, I --

[He grunts.]

Forget it.

[Click. There's the distinct sound of clinking glasses in the background, but none of the sounds of the casino.]

[oblique_wisdom]

[Does this man know how much she worries about him? For his sake, Zelda would likely push people out of her way to go see him. She's never felt the need to do that. It's odd that she does now.]

Jak--

[...Is she blushing because she's frustrated? Or maybe she's just so... Come on. It's Jak. Is there a point if he won't listen to her?

Her ears do catch the sound, however. There's no other background sound. The only place she can even think of is...

Well... It is open now...]

[shadesofeco]

[Jak's sitting in Sergei's, feeling miserable and drowning his sorrows. The lack of Dark Eco has drained his anger somewhat, and he's replaying the previous night over and over in his head.

He should have killed Erol. Should have done more. But then that ... passenger showed up. And Jak wouldn't involve an innocent in his fight.

And despite everything, he feels unsatisfied.]

[oblique_wisdom]

[Maybe he doesn't want to be bothered. By her. Maybe he wants to be left alone.

She wants to see him, doesn't she? Of course she does. Zelda, to say anything other, would be lying. She doesn't lie. The princess does a lot of things, but she does not in any way, shape, or form--lie. She withholds information.

That's the deciding factor it seems. So down to deck 10 she goes. She's been to Sergei's enough to know where it is. And she'd like to see the repairs Meth has done, after all.]

[shadesofeco]

[And there's Jak, sitting alone in a booth, a liberally lightened bottle of rum and a glass in front of him.

He does "brooding" very well.]

[oblique_wisdom]

[No one can miss that wild hair. Or the ears. Come to think of it, Zelda's never really looked at the back of him. It's too bad she can't get a closer look. One day.

She approaches him cautiously, quietly and with a bare hand, she very gently brushes her fingertips over an ear and then gently ruffles his hair.]

There you are.

[She looks... surprisingly casual. Well, minus a tiara anyway. Everything else is likely the same. It's a sign that she's either finally beginning to fit in well, or... she was too distracted to do something about that.]

[shadesofeco]

[As introspective as he was, Jak didn't even notice Zelda approach. His ear twitches and he jerks his head up, then relaxes again.]

Zelda ...

[Despite everything, he is glad to see her, though in his teenage, petulant way, he covers it with a scowl and does his best to look annoyed.]

[oblique_wisdom]

[She's clearly not really upset with him. If she was, she wouldn't be so tender with him.]

May I?

[She won't stay if he doesn't want her to, either. As much as she wants to lift a hand, wag her forefinger at him, and tell him how much of a 'bad boy' he is, the very last thing she wants to do is take her frustration out on him.]

[shadesofeco]

[The urge to push her away and sulk by himself is great, but Jak swallows it back, then shifts over on the seat in silent invitation.]

[oblique_wisdom]

[She pauses for a moment. Next... to him? She assumed he would have her sit across the way. She adjusts the skirts of her apparel and sits down beside him.

For a moment, she says nothing. What to say... What to say...]

I am not angry with you.

[It seems like a good beginning.]

[shadesofeco]

[Jak snorts roughly, reaching up to scrub at his face with one hand. It wouldn't have been a surprise to find out she was, though he wondered if Zelda was even capable of it.]

You heard?

[oblique_wisdom]

[She peers over to him, studying him carefully.]

Of course I did.

I, however, was not there. I have no--

[She interjects. No, no, no. He'll catch onto her if he hears her say that.]

I am not in a position where I can... You understand. I am not a witness, and rather a bystander. Of course, if I wanted to, I could simply go by what I heard. If I did that, however, I would likely hold Sir Erol to a degree where I loathed him.

That is not my intent. Besides, this is you we are talking about.

[shadesofeco]

[He tries to pretend she's not scrutinizing him, instead concentrating on refilling his glass. Getting drunk; his solution to everything.]

It wouldn't be the first time.

[Jak's used to being judged without context, and he's defensive and wary. Unfortunately, this means he's all but expecting Zelda to do the same.]

[oblique_wisdom]

[How much is he going to drink? Zelda wonders how much strength she has to escort him anywhere should she need to. She does have to admit that the bar itself doesn't seem such a bad place. She could see herself coming back.]

No... For you, I suppose it would be that way...

It is not a very fair way to face things, but you do not seem to have much a choice. If one was to look toward you, they would see just how filled the world is with torment. As though you were deliberately picked out.

[She adjusts her position and leans into him, resting her chin against his shoulder.]

You were not hurt, were you?