❷ IC Character Contact

[velvet_zealot]

[ Ring-ring. Ring-ring. Ring-ring. Ring-ring...!

The familiar victory fanfare can be heard, and carries on for a couple of moments before it abruptly cuts off and Yazoo's voice interjects. It is a smooth drawl, with an undertone of superiority...]

Hm...? Whatever it is you want... it had better be important.

Comments

Voice

[i_love_squats]

[Even you get a drunk dial, Yazoo, because you’re on his mind way too often to be normal. Guilt does that. Now, the question is, are you magically drunk off free alcohol too?

[Either way, it’s probably not as drunk as Zack is right now, quiet and sullen, pouty. Angry. Hurt. Guilty. When he speaks, it’s got that telltale intoxicated slur that comes with not knowing when to say no, dammit.]

I was just trying to help. Why couldn’t you just let me help, dammit?

[Short and sweet and to the point. And he wants it to be over, and he thinks it is, until he says one final thing…]

Gimme Cloud back.

Voice

[velvet_zealot]

[ As a matter of fact, Yazoo has had some of that sweetened alcohol. Not nearly as much as Zack, but enough to fill him with a warmth that is peculiar, and a fuzziness that teeters precariously on the edge of being annoying as well as unnerving. ]

......I didn't need your help. All I wanted was... to be with Mother.

But you took Her away from me.

[ A low snort... and a sigh. ]

Yeah, sure... I'll give back big brother. Like you gave Mother back when I asked.

Re: Voice

[i_love_squats]

[Well, that explained the not-screaming, the not-throwing-things, the not-hissy-fit. Some part of Zack was surprised he answered; he’d figure Yazoo would’ve just come hunting him down. Might’ve been what he deserved.]

You-your mom wants to kill us! ‘Course I can’t let that happen. I had to take her. I had to! You guys wanted to hurt us; what, you just thought-thought we’d sit there and take it?

[Jerk.]

You started it.

Voice

[velvet_zealot]

And... are you also going to finish it, SOLDIER...?

Should I be scared?

[ A long, drawn out sigh... the hiss and whisper of shifting leather. ]

Will you kill me again? Well... go right ahead. I will always return. As long as Mother exists... so shall I.

And as long as you humans exist to kill her... I will exist to stop you from hurting her again. Whatever it takes.

Even if it takes... everything.

Voice

[i_love_squats]

If you make me.

[And yeah, he's not even going to go there about the being scared. Moot point. But hey, you managed to make him feel guilty again, even through the drunken haze.]

Sounds like all you do is live for her. Maybe you should start living for yourself for once. Mom's usually want that for their kids.

My mom did. 'Cept for the whole SOLDIER thing. Don't blame her, looking back--

[And he stops. Said too much. Oops.]

Voice

[velvet_zealot]

...See?

[ And the angry haze dissipates, replaced by something distinctly infatuated and overawed, instead. ]

Mothers know what's best.

[ A beat... and then, more to himself than Zack-- ]

--I miss Her.

Voice

[i_love_squats]

She loved me. She didn't want me hurt. That's all.

[He's not buying it, Yazoo. At least, not from your mom. Knows best on how to kill folks, maybe. How to make them zealots and puppets, sure. She's got the market cornered on it. But anything else? Anything maternal? Hell no.

[But Zack can sympathize. A little.]

I miss mine, too.

Voice

[velvet_zealot]

......give her back...

She needs me...

Voice

[i_love_squats]

No. You need her. Get it right.

Voice

[velvet_zealot]

...What else do I have?

Voice

[i_love_squats]

Whatever you want. Get a pet. Get a hobby. Make friends. Do something for you!

Voice

[velvet_zealot]

So you... can take that away, too...? Like you take away everything?

Voice

[i_love_squats]

I don't-- It's not like--

I was just trying to keep us safe! I don't want to take everything away.

Voice

[velvet_zealot]

...but I do.

[ Footsteps.

And... voices. Natives... townspeople. Murmuring amongst themselves, and then gasping, a few raising their voices, choking out words like, gun and watch out, but it's too late.

Yazoo snaps the trigger back. The barrel of Velvet Nightmare screams. The townspeople scream, too. ]

Voice

[i_love_squats]

[Zack hates you some days. Sure, he pities you, feels bad for you, empathizes for you, but hates you, too.]

How could you?!

[And he's going for his sword, trying to hear, trying to hear where the s.o.b. is. Dammit, don't ruin his buzz, Yazoo. It's so rare that he's happy.]

Voice

[velvet_zealot]

Mm...?

No one is dead... yet.

[ And it's true. It was really more of a warning shot... or a shot that was made to make people move, keep things lively and interesting. That and get Zack's heart pounding. Afraid yet, SOLDIER boy? ]