The idea of ZEX addicted to a drug was mildly absurd, and Zelnick found himself almost laughing over that. "While I suppose withdrawal could make someone see giant arthropods, I don't think it could take a bite out of you, too." And at the next bit, he quoted, "'We're all mad here'... heh. I think I read someplace that wondering if you're crazy is proof enough that you're not." The words didn't mean much, but they were comforting to Zelnick, in their own way.
He sobered at the mention of diverging fantasies, though. "I don't know what to tell you, Admiral. What happened happened, though, even if it seems implausible. Though, if it did turn out to be a delusion..." He grinned at ZEX, trying to brighten the mood. "Either I'm far more imaginative than I thought to come up with all the things that happened, or I'm far duller than I'd like to believe to come up with several years of trying to stave off boredom between fights." He didn't comment on ZEX's death; he'd seen it with his own two eyes, but he liked ZEX too much to want to think about it. (Not that his reasoning was that articulate in his head, or he might have noticed that he liked ZEX.)
Briefly, he thought about Caleb, what he knew of him. "Yeah, he agreed, quietly, "it sounds like Caleb had a really pleasant life." His voice became almost wistful as he added, "Not that it matters, since it's not real... and neither is Max, no matter what our visitors say."
Argh, he'd said he'd do it, and he did it, solving the problem of ZEX's bouncing hand by covering ZEX's eye himself. It was kinda annoying, watching that hand twitch up and down like that-- by which he meant really annoying, though his irritation was faint and almost fond-- and if ZEX was twitching because his eye wasn't covered, Zelnick would fix the problem.
"I don't mind," he said, honestly. "I was just going to stay in here anyway, and if I could help an ally while doing that, well, it's a productive night." He smiled at ZEX. "And you still are you. I promise. Even if you doubt yourself, you're Admiral ZEX, and you're far too smart to let this place mess with your head for long-- right?"
But not foiled~ yet. >.> XD
He sobered at the mention of diverging fantasies, though. "I don't know what to tell you, Admiral. What happened happened, though, even if it seems implausible. Though, if it did turn out to be a delusion..." He grinned at ZEX, trying to brighten the mood. "Either I'm far more imaginative than I thought to come up with all the things that happened, or I'm far duller than I'd like to believe to come up with several years of trying to stave off boredom between fights." He didn't comment on ZEX's death; he'd seen it with his own two eyes, but he liked ZEX too much to want to think about it. (Not that his reasoning was that articulate in his head, or he might have noticed that he liked ZEX.)
Briefly, he thought about Caleb, what he knew of him. "Yeah, he agreed, quietly, "it sounds like Caleb had a really pleasant life." His voice became almost wistful as he added, "Not that it matters, since it's not real... and neither is Max, no matter what our visitors say."
Argh, he'd said he'd do it, and he did it, solving the problem of ZEX's bouncing hand by covering ZEX's eye himself. It was kinda annoying, watching that hand twitch up and down like that-- by which he meant really annoying, though his irritation was faint and almost fond-- and if ZEX was twitching because his eye wasn't covered, Zelnick would fix the problem.
"I don't mind," he said, honestly. "I was just going to stay in here anyway, and if I could help an ally while doing that, well, it's a productive night." He smiled at ZEX. "And you still are you. I promise. Even if you doubt yourself, you're Admiral ZEX, and you're far too smart to let this place mess with your head for long-- right?"