TLV Inbox

[withintenfeet]

{ Artist Credit }

Text ✶ Audio ✶ Video ✶ Action

Comments

Re: Video

[hippie_ninja]

[He turns up in five minutes, knocking quickly on the door, balancing a pot of stew on one hip]

Re: Video

[withintenfeet]

[ Zerxus opens it immediately. He does not look any better in person, but he still leans forward to grab that pot. ]

Here, let me -

[hippie_ninja]

I can-

[But Zerxus takes the weight of the pot and Jesus lets him]

I just wanted to make sure you had enough. And I'm here to make sure you don't eat just like, a little cup full. You need your nutrients.

[withintenfeet]

[ He handles it easily, at least, even seeming to relax a bit as he steps back. The gentle warmth is - it's a welcome change, because it still feels like he spent decades as a raging inferno and a frigid shadow all at once. ]

...I want to argue about my self preservation skills, but -

[ Yeah he's just gonna smile crookedly and step back to let Jesus enter properly, before leading them to the kitchenette. ]

How were you, in all that?

[hippie_ninja]

[he likes that smile on Zerxus, feels good own smile turn warmer because of it

Then he has to duck his head, guilty]

Will it make me sound like an ass if I tell you I had fun?

[withintenfeet]

It really won't.

[ He does look a bit jealous, though, as he puts the pot down on the counter. A sigil flares to life beneath it, keeping it hot as he reaches up to grab some bowels. ]

I might have, too, if I was myself.

[ He does sound wistfully envious, as he imagines the two of them fighting side by side. ]

[hippie_ninja]

One of these days, you and I are going to get real time together out there in some wild Port.

[He reaches to help but doesn't know where anything is so he stands and waits patiently]

How...bad was it for you?

[withintenfeet]

Careful, the Admiral will hear you and decide to be funny.

[ It doesn't take long, at least; it's all organised with spartan efficiency, and Zerxus knows it like the back of his hand. There don't seem to be any personal touches in here, not until he actually sets the bowls down on the table. They're both deep blue, painted with glimmering silver constellations.

He's focused on those, as he answers the question, rather than meeting Jesus's gaze. ]

It was - worse than the breaches.

[hippie_ninja]

[He likes them. Blue is his favorite color anyway, but the bowls are beautiful. Very unlike the simple white porcelain ones Jesus has--everything he has was scavenged rather than really chosen. The personal touches he leans towards are whimsical but easily discarded.

These bowls, though. He'd keep them safe and he's glad Zerxus has them.]

I'm sorry.... What happened?

[withintenfeet]

Well. I was dead, first of all.

[ That's so, so far from the worst part; in fact, his offended grimace is almost theatrical. ]

That's an awful thing to do to a paladin and I bet he knows it.

[ Zerxus isn't actually sure how much, if any, control the Admiral has over their borrowed lives.

But if there's an excuse to bitch about a god he's going to take it, even if he actually kind of likes them. ]

[hippie_ninja]

[He chuckles] I don't know, I think the Admiral was booted out of control in this world.

What makes death so hard on a Paladin?

[withintenfeet]

Right, yes, because he can't drive.

[ He sounds more fond than annoyed, but don't tell anyone.

Besides, his expression turns grim again very quickly. ]

Divine magic can harm anyone, or protect anyone. But it's most effective against two things: fiends... [ And he gestures up at his own horns with his spoon. ] And the undead.

[ Not a bucket list he really wanted to finish. ]

[hippie_ninja]

[He winces in empathy but he doesn't fully understand it.]

So you were without your magic entirely?

[withintenfeet]

...My magic, yes.

[ He swallows hard, then remembers he should probably be eating right now so -

Well, he only meant to take a spoonful before continuing but he finishes three. ]

This is amazing.

[hippie_ninja]

[Jesus grins at him]

It's meant to pack in calories. Lots of energy for fighting walkers and building a new society. But since we're here on the Barge maybe we could just burn it all off in the Enclosure together...?

[withintenfeet]

Less satisfying but much safer.

[ It feels strange, to be smiling like this after a life that ended so horribly and a death that he made everyone else's problem and all of the deeply unfortunate echoes in there. ]

[hippie_ninja]

That's not a no. [He's chuckling] All right. Come explore with me. We'll hunt dragons and demons and walkers.

[withintenfeet]

All at once? [ There's a glint in his eyes. ]

[hippie_ninja]

All at once! A...banquet!

Like a date.

[A pause, a nervous grin]

Could we call this a date?

[withintenfeet]

[ His eyes widen, and for a moment he looks -

Well, like a ram in headlights. ]

I -

[ He can't help but imagine it even as he blanches from the idea, and his expression turns wistfully strained. ]

I haven't...done that, for a while.

[ It isn't a refusal, and there's more yearning than he'd like in how he says it. ]

[hippie_ninja]

[A soft, nervous laugh]

I haven't either. And I think in the old world I wouldn't ask for a date out hunting monsters. But-

That seems right now. It seems fun. I want to have fun with you. That's what makes this trip...special.

So- is that a yes?

[withintenfeet]

[ He doesn't actually realise it, because it's been such a long time since it even happened and he runs hotter these days to begin with.

But he is definitely blushing. ]

That - does sound like what I'd want a date to be.

[ It's not like he doesn't remember. Of course, that's part of why he's floundering right now, anxious and awkward and painfully uncertain.

May as well just take the plunge. ]

Is it - strange. To say that I know that Evandrin would like you?

[hippie_ninja]

[He feels victorious but dammit he's blushing, too. He can feel his ears burning]

Only if it's strange to say I really hope that's true.

[withintenfeet]

[ He did not expect the relief he feels seeing that, strained and delicate as it is. ]

Well. [ His mouth has gone dry, just gonna...lick his lips and try again. ] You're kind, and stubborn, and you can laugh at yourself. You kept a community going after the world crumbled. You aren't intimidated by mystical nonsense. You didn't let me starve myself in self-indulgent melodrama.

[ Oh hey! That stew is still here. It's not going cold, the bowls see to that, but it is suddenly very important that he focuses very hard on eating some more of it. ]

[hippie_ninja]

[A soft laugh] I like you and your melodrama. It reminds me how much things matter. But no, I won't let you drowned in it. At least, I'll try to help you out of it.

Tell the truth--does it need more salt? I think it needs more salt.