００４ ☠ video/action;

[jemerite]

[The mirror comes to life to show a pale young woman with long dark hair sitting in a bed of flowers, thin legs splayed awkwardly underneath her. She doesn't not look particularly concerned with her new surroundings, despite the white frock hanging off her skeletal frame marking her as a new arrival

Comments

[action]

[existwithoutme]

Why hello, my dear. [Kuja doesn't seem surprised by Zinc's return (though she is inwardly pleased), floating her way over lightly.]

Your home has stood empty all this time, waiting for your return. [She comes to earth, her feet touching ground nearby.]

I could obtain you some food, perhaps.

[action]

[jemerite]

[She looks up curiously, offering a quiet little smile.]

Kuja. You're here, still.

[She sounds pleased and doesn't try to hide it at all.]

The fridge will be... rancid.

[action]

[existwithoutme]

I remain, just as you see me. Few things have changed here, though people come and go, but that is not much different than any other world, is it? Life is a series of greetings and partings.

[Kuja shrugs.] If so, then destroy it and build anew.

[action]

[jemerite]

It isn't, but I am glad you're here, still.

[Hush and accept it, you silly monster. As for this other proposition, Zinc considers if for a moment... She has incredible zombie strength, why shouldn't she just drag the fridge out and ditch it somewhere?]

Then I will need dirt, for building.

[action]

[existwithoutme]

[Hushing and accepting things have never been Kuja's forté. Yet she pauses. People have seldom been glad to see her, in her lifetime. Perhaps she can attempt to say something nice.]

I am pleased you have returned.

Dirt is easily obtained. That will present no difficulty.

[action]

[jemerite]

[ :D Yay! Zinc beams up at her. Barbet never says nice things to her.]

Will you come with me, back to the house?

[action]

[existwithoutme]

[Kuja smiles vaguely. It's uncommon that she finds people tolerable, even when she is trying to be pleasant.]

I have so few things to occupy my time here, so why not?

[action]

[jemerite]

It can be... boring.

[Zinc definitely hasn't forgotten.]

It is boring, with Barbet too. Boring and painful.

[After experiencing the way that time stopped while she was in the Garden... Zinc is actually incredibly excited to be returned here.]

[action]

[existwithoutme]

It can, can it not? I spend so many idle hours, merely waiting to wink out. [She smiles again.] So tiresome.

Yes, he keeps you captive. Captivity is always wearisome, be it here or elsewhere.

Someday, perhaps, you may be free.

[action]

[jemerite]

[Zinc goes through the awkward motions of getting her legs under her and pushing to her feet. She misses being graceful, all the time, but she tries not to think about it. She glances around, knowing her clothes are around here somewhere.]

Dead is free, he won't let go.

[She says this quietly, before changing the subject to assert,]

I want to try making video games, this time. Not just puzzles.

[action]

[existwithoutme]

[Kuja watches, without offering any help, yet.]

Yes, that was my meaning. Death is a form of freedom.

Video games? Ah, yes, there are some of those here. [Kuja does not regularly visit the arcade.] I have little interest in them.

[action]

[jemerite]

They kill time.

[Zinc answers absentmindedly, peeking around until she spots one of the soft yellow sleeves of her sweater, going to collect it. She didn't really need the swaddling, she was always cold, no matter the weather, but it made her feel better to have her ashy skin covered.

As she turns back to Kuja, she makes a little motion at her head.]

And keep my head busy.

[action]

[existwithoutme]

"Kill time". What a quaint phrase, I've always thought. Isn't it time that does the killing?

I do understand the need to keep one's mind busy. A restless mind is a dangerous thing, is it not? [She knows this only too well.]

I will have to see what kind of games you create. [Zinc did make so many wonderful paintings, after all--Kuja's interested in seeing more of what she might be able to share from her world.]

[action]

[jemerite]

It needs killing.

[Grumble grumble grumble. She hated her continued existence, and she resented herself for not simply ending it. However, she is more than happy to be distracted from these thoughts by what Kuja says.]

I've played many. There will be variety.

[She says that with pride. She had wasted many hours playing video games, all genres, good and bad.]

[action]

[existwithoutme]

Oh, I do understand. I've tried to kill time myself. [She means this quite literally, however.]

Then I look forward to sampling them. [It's not that Kuja has absolutely no taste for games (though she probably wouldn't enjoy playing FFIX, so it's a good thing that won't happen).] It might lessen the tedium.

[action]

[jemerite]

[Zinc... is not surprised by this, and does not doubt in the slightest that Kuja means that in seriousness. She offers a little smile as they walk. Well... she walks. Kuja never did do that walking thing... silly witches...]

What have you been busy with, then?