Harpuia's Condo - [ locked to those who would be there ]

[denied_destiny]

Zero had been wanting to check up on Harpuia since he saw him last. Not having seen Harpuia around the town house since then, Zero felt he would have to search the man out.

There was some guilt in looking up Harpuia's place of residence. And while there was always the option of calling Harpuia, Zero felt it would be better to see how his fellow

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[jadewinds]

For a brief moment, Harpuia thought his visitor might be Fafnir (though hadn't he moved?); he'd expected any Hunter communication to be via telecom or private comm, if anything.

Which explained the slightly surprised expression when he answered the door.

"Zero --?"

Within a moment or two, he shook it off and waved his fellow Hunter inside, a smiles beginning to replace the expression of confusion.

"Come on in --"

[denied_destiny]

"Harpuia." Zero gave a soft smile and nodded as he stepped inside.

"I hope you don't mind me coming by, but I wanted to see how you were doing. Better?"

[jadewinds]

Harpuia's living room was mainly couch, loveseats and small tables, assorted houseplants and over-packed bookshelves. A few datapads and a book were scattered on a chrome-frame coffee table, and paired antique short-swords were mounted above the couch. Lacy drapes fluttered, where the glass door to a balcony was slightly ajar.

"Well enough, at least. It wasn't as much to have to knit together as everyone else's injuries ..."

Shaking his head, Harpuia headed towards the couch and gestured for Zero to make himself comfortable.

"What about you? You seemed shaken over the whole thing."

[denied_destiny]

"Still. I rather come see for myself." Zero gave a smile and took a seat on one of the love seats.

"Ah, well." He scratched the side of his head, "I did lose control of myself there for a moment. I thought I heard Axl's voice mixed in with the other voice. I tried telling myself I was only hearing things, but then to see how he reacted and that it was Axl. . .it was a bit much for me."

"But I am doing better now." There was a pause before Zero nodded a little to himself.

[denied_destiny]

"I bet it is."

Zero tried to force a smile but failed at it.

"I don't mind." He looked to the side and tried to remember it carefully, "I found him after he had been with Nightmare. I guess he was. . .feeding him. Either way, X looked to be in bad shape and I helped fix him up.

"I asked if he would do it again and he answered so quickly. Like he didn't have to think about it. Maybe he had considered it before hand but it still seemed so careless.

"I did snap. So I initiated the argument you could say. But I tried to back down and just get X to see how doing these things will only cost you later on. While I was trying to get him to think long term, he just kept telling me how he had thought about it. How he wasn't being careless and doing what he had to for a friend."

Zero blinked, seeming a bit surprised about something. He rubbed the back of his head and looked to the side.

[jadewinds]

Harpuia listened quietly, with no sign of judgement or anger while he did so. Neither did he interrupt; instead, he paid quiet attention until Zero was finished speaking.

Once the explanation was in the air, so to speak, he spoke up.

"I see. Do you mind if I ask a few questions about what you just told me?"

[denied_destiny]

Slowly he brought his hand down and took a deep breath. He had said so much already. What would a few questions hurt?

"No." Zero looked up at Harpuia, "Go ahead. And I will do my best to answer."

[jadewinds]

"I have an observation or two regarding Nightmare; those can wait. My question is --"

"You say that you were trying to 'just get X to see how doing these things will only cost him later on'."

"Why do you think that there will be a cost, later on? What cost?"

[denied_destiny]

Zero nodded, "Yes. I'll see you around, take care!"

With a wave, Zero headed off down the hall and on his way back. He glanced back to Harpuia's door before turning to his communicator. He sent a quick transmission to X.

[ X? Are you awake? ]

[palerthansky]

There was a long, slightly fuzzy-with-static pause, before something reasonably identifiable as a response filtered back to Zero.

[ ... maybe?]

[denied_destiny]

[ I wanted to apologize with the way I acted. I see now how I was out of line. ]

[palerthansky]

There was another pause; and then a sleepy and very confused-sounding reply.

[apologize? ... for what?]