Day 35: Bus 3 (Return Trip)

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

Armand wearily climbed the steps of the bus. He was less tired than cold, but it made his limbs ache. He hoped they'd actually make it back to the Institute before dark this time. He hadn't seen either Citan or Morrison in town, so he kept an eye out for either one climbing back  into the bus. He still wondered if Morrison had been able to rest today instead of coming to town. Other than a lunch that he hadn't liked and meeting a new face or two, he wasn't sure at all what he'd gained by the day. Oh well, he was more than used to disappointment and failure.

[waiting for Citan if Fey is backish]

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[enigmaticmedium.livejournal.com]

Xelloss blinked once, still looking out the window, before turning with his usual closed eyes to look at Zelgadis. "Really, Zelgadis, this is becoming a habit." The man had some strange way of gravitating towards him, didn't he? Even though he didn't seem to want to.

Zelgadis seemed more off than usual, however, blank, despair tinting him rather tastefully. Usually the chimera was stronger than this. Had he been refused free ice cream with his tickets? Or had the man come here because of something that had happened? It would be nice to imagine it was a friendly warning about a potential danger or problem from a fellow prisoner, but Xelloss knew the odds of that were low and instead braced himself to be accused of a new crime. Honestly, it was the worst part of all, being accused so often while not actually getting to perform the cruel acts he was credited for. "Do you need to talk to me about something?" But his tone, as always, was perfectly polite.

[accursed-rock.livejournal.com]

Why was this always happening to him? Xelloss always appeared at the worse possible moment, and there Zelgadis was, sauntering leisurely into his trap.

He looked around the bus, ready to find another seat. No luck.

Zelgadis turned to the mazoku, ready to defend himself should Xelloss attack him outright. The trickster priest didn't movie. Instead, Zelgadis was taken by surprise at the seemingly innocent question.

Do he need to talk to him about something?

...Was that a hint? Should he keep the mazoku talking? Why would he be so obscure about it?

When was Xelloss not obscure, though?

"Y-yes." He stuttered, hoping to buy himself time.

[enigmaticmedium.livejournal.com]

Well, Zelgadis seemed eloquent today, at least. Xelloss paused for another moment, before offering in a more inviting tone, "Yes?"

What had happened to the man? He was glancing around, acting like a nervous wreck. True, he'd behaved like this alone with Xelloss a few other times in the Institute, but it had been slowly developing into a more comfortably mutually hostile but non-violent relationship. This was something else entirely.

More was going on, if Zelgadis would just offer a hint. He's seen him. That was the first thought, or first possible disaster, to come to mind. Zelgadis would be weeping or bloodthirsty if Amelia had been injured in front of him, but there was one other person here who could shake Zelgadis's stony interior without trouble. Anyone's, if they only knew what the 'child' was. Yet if Xelloss were incorrect, he couldn't risk giving it away without permission. Perhaps this had been inevitable from the start, even with the crowds at the Institute...

"... It may sound strange, but I need to hear you tell me what's happened." A serious voice unlike his flippant first 'yes,' to test out what reaction it would earn.

[accursed-rock.livejournal.com]

Zelgadis was entirely taken aback by Xelloss' response. What was he getting at? Was someone watching them?

Or was he threatening that he should forget the events of last night?

Zelgadis looked at him, confused by unwilling to back away from a fight-- even a battle of wits.

"What happened last night?" He asked doggedly.

[enigmaticmedium.livejournal.com]

Xelloss continued to watch Zelgadis's responses. Nervous, and not speaking clearly, and now there was an echo. Lovely.

"I am asking that, yes. Did something happen?" Almost paternal patience, in an even tone unlike his usual lightness or casually callous voice, and Xelloss had stopped smiling. "If you can tell me about something which happened... it wouldn't be a secret at all, would it?"

[accursed-rock.livejournal.com]

Zelgadis looked at the mazoku, determined to win. Yet he was entirely unsure what the battle was...

When Xelloss stopped smiling, he knew the game was over.

So he wanted last night to be a secret, then? Was his life in danger if he told?

"And what if it's not a secret?" He responded, worrying over the answer.

[enigmaticmedium.livejournal.com]

Xelloss's expression split again, smiling, bright and cheerful as though the man he was speaking to had no idea of his real nature. His momentary serious tone was flung aside like nothing.

"Why, then we could talk about it politely, of course!" In a slightly worried and completely false tone, he added, "Isn't that obvious, Zelgadis?"

Had Hellmaster left this much of an impression? Or was it something else entirely, unexpected? Obviously not Amelia, at this point. Barring Martin Landel wandering up and announcing himself to be a fifth of Lord RubyEye, Xelloss wasn't sure what could deserve this sort of shocked reaction.