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001: Audio | un: Graywords

[Unlike everyone who isn't an asocial loner, Zelgadis prefers to keep his face off the network. He doesn't even really want to address the network at all, but he's kind of reached a point where keeping to himself isn't really working out. Sooo this is him stepping outside his comfort bubble, good for him.

Well, kind of stepping out of it. He just goes ahead and skips a proper introduction completely in order to get down to business.]

You'll have to forgive me if this seems like a stupid question, but the sort of technology that you have here doesn't exist where I'm from. To say that everything feels overwhelming is an understatement, but before I get too off track...

[There's a deep sigh, the sigh of a man who is just So Done with all the ridiculous curveballs that life keeps throwing at him.] This... microwave device, I believe is what it's called. It's not supposed to be smoking, right?

[Maybe he should have asked someone for technology tips before almost setting his hotel room on fire. Sorry about the smoke, hotel.]

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Look, the point is, I only acted that way because I've tried to keep what I am hidden for my entire life. I had already lost my family. If anyone knew what I was, my adopted dad would be in big trouble too. And there would be a really solid chance that...you know.

Someone would immediately draw their weapon on me and try and kill me.

[And now Zel feels like a giant asshole. Well, more specifically, he feels like a giant asshole and actually feels bad about it, probably because he's also being a giant hypocrite. He stops in his tracks and heaves a sigh.]

I did apologize for that, to be fair.

[But fuck, fine. If Darin can walk around with his stupid blue hair out after everything he's been through, then Zel can suck it up and stop hiding. He does hesitate for a moment, but eventually pulls his hood back and tugs his mask down. He doesn't look thrilled about it, but hey. Progress!]

I know you did and, honestly? No hard feelings!

[He's surprised to see Zelgadis unmask himself in public like that...but he understands what the gesture means. With a grin, he claps a hand against Zel's back in encouragement.]

There's that handsome mug! Don't worry. Anyone gives you crap, I've got your back. I might not have my super strength anymore, but I've been personally trained by knights! I'm definitely no slouch!

[Well compliments on his appearance are definitely not something Zel is used to, so he just scowls a bit.]

I appreciate it, but I'm perfectly capable of stabbing them on my own.

Sure, just like you're capable of setting fire to your own bed. And exploding your food.

Look, Zel, I get the loner attitude. But we're both in a foreign world and our usual abilities are nowhere to be found. I'm not trying to downplay your prowess?

But maybe 'stabbing' your way out of a bad situation should be, at the least, Plan B.

You know, that's a good point. It would be a far better use of resources to practice my new magic on them.

[He is 100% fucking around, but he says it with such a straight face, man.]

Oooooor, and follow me on this, we don't murder or cook people alive?

I've been keeping logs and notes of everything I've seen in this world. Honestly, our 'demon' troubles are by far and away the least crazy things about this place and the people being brought here.

Now, I never said anything about murder.

[God Darin, jumping to the worst conclusions right off the bat.]

Can we get into all the crazy after we've caught something to eat?

Sure sure, come on.

[There's a small lake not far with a river that feeds into it. Upon arrival, Darin scouts the area, looking for suitable branches he can use to make fishing poles.]

Alright, let's see...this should be a good spot. Just need some supplies...

[hey Drain maybe it would have been a good idea to have maybe just brought a fishing pole??

Whatever its all good. Zel can't really help with fishing line, but he's got hooks covered. He plucks out a couple of his wiry hairs and shapes them into hooks, stabbing himself in the thumb in the process but its all good.]

Ah. I heaver realized how sharp this was before.

[He needs money for that, loser. Besides, he can rough it just fine.]

...Did...Did you just do that with your own hair...?

[Bruh not if you don't get caught]

I sure did. [He sighs and pops his thumbs into his mouth for a second because blood I guess. Ow dude, that was a good stabbin'.] The one thing that didn't get changed or weakened by coming here, and it's my hair. It's like a cruel joke.

...You're kind of a glass half-empty kinda guy, aren't you, Zel.

I mean...it sucks that most of our normal abilities are gone. Back home I could heal from most damage within a day and I could crush an anvil into a small ball with my bare hands but...hey, sometimes life hands you lemons.

[Darin takes those hooks off of Zel's hands before he stabs himself some more and finishes making the lines.]

Instead of making lemonade I tell life to screw off and squirt the lemon juice in its eyes. Then I succeed out of spite.

I--look, I appreciate whatever this is that you're trying to do, but look at this from my perspective. Since my skin is no longer as strong as it was before, I now have to worry about impaling myself on my own hair. This has nothing to do with being negative or my level of success or whatever, and everything to do with my hair being a nightmare.

Edited 2021-01-21 16:14 (UTC)

I am looking at it from your point of view. It's a learning curve, sure, but don't you think you took your form for granted?

...I want you to know, I really had to stop myself from saying granite there.

Anyway, my point? This is a blessing in disguise. I can't heal from a broken leg in a day anymore. What does that mean? I learn to get good at healing and I learn to dodge better. I learn my limits and then I learn how to break them.

If you go through life complaining about every little thing, you're gonna miss out on all of the great things you coulda learned, Zel.

[And with that, he's casting both lines, propping them up on some rocks, and laying back to lounge.]

[naturally the granite comment earns a glare. Wow, Darin. What a prick.]

For someone as dense as you, I have to admit that I find your talent for motivational speaking impressive.

[that was like half a compliment, half a go fuck yourself. Anyway, after hesitating awkwardly for a few seconds, Zelgadis takes a seat next to Darin and just stares at the water because what else is there to stare at???]

...It's good that you're able to look at all of this in a positive light. I'm obviously not there yet myself, but. Maybe someday.

Edited 2021-01-21 16:50 (UTC)

[Darin points encouragingly at Zel, even though his eyes are closed.]

And just like that, you're well on your way. All it takes is a change in perspective.

That said...you never told me how you wound up like this. What's the story?

[If Zelgadis was the blushing type, this is probably where he'd be doing that. But he's not, so he isn't. Instead he just huffs and stares a little more intently at the water, especially after Darin asks him about his condition.

It takes a few seconds before he even starts to answer, but to his credit, he doesn't just shut the conversation down like he actually wants to.]

There was once a great sage who traveled the world performing miracles, curing disease and giving sight to the blind, spreading hope wherever he went. His name was Rezo the Red Priest, and I admired him more than anyone else in the world. He also happened to be my great grandfather, so I was closer to him than most, and there were few things that I was unwilling to do to assist him as he helped others.

Rezo was blind from birth, and he was unable to cure his own blindness even with the very magic that he used to cure others. He had an obsession with trying to find a way to gain sight, a dangerous one, an obsession that I discovered far too late.

[HEY DARIN you wanted to hear some long, drawn out 'once upon a time' shit, right???? I guess this is the part where Zel paused for dramatic effect.]

[Darin's listening intently, though the fact that his eyes are closed might make it seem like he's asleep. But he does chime in to show that, yes, he is paying attention.]

Family has a bad habit of imposing itself on you, even when you don't realize it.

I've got some experience with that, unfortunately...

Sorry to hear that.

[And he is. It sounds like Darin's family situation is probably just as shitty as his is.]

Since Rezo was helping people with his miracles and such, some companions of mine and I... Well, we didn't necessarily do Rezo's dirty work, but say a village was robbed by bandits, we were the ones to take care of it. I just wasn't very strong, it didn't seem to matter how much time or effort I put into training. One day, Rezo took it upon himself to help me get stronger, and he turned me into this.

[another pause, though this time it's less for dramatic effect and more because Zel is staring at his hands while recalling this serious bullshit.]

At first, I tried to just accept it. I'd technically gotten what I wanted, and my companions were supportive. I thought maybe everything would be okay, but then I discovered that Rezo was just using me as an experiment in his search for a cure for his blindness. I wasn't the only one, either. Everything that he'd ever done had an ulterior motive. Everything.

[Darin makes a nondescript sound, his features unreadable. He knows all about being used, a pawn in some game you had no stake in. It's really unclear who got the worse hand out of the two of them, but at least Darin could empathize.]

This is one of the reasons I have a problem with the clergy. It's really easy to hide behind a sanctimonious front and even easier to sweep your cruelty under the rug of 'being ordained by a higher power.'

[Darin didn't really even know if priests were the same in Zel's world as they were in his, but this Rezo clown seemed to fit every misgiving he'd ever had about the church.]

...So, what did you do then?

[Zel huffs again, nodding his head in agreement. Everyone had thought Rezo was some great sage, someone who could do no wrong, but Zelgadis knew better.]

I turned on him, of course, though the details of that are... yet another long story. The extremely short version is that we killed him twice -- well. Technically three times if you count the clone.

...I just realized how insane my life sounds.

Pft.

Sounds pretty cut and dry to me. Bet I can top it.

Please top it. I want you to top it.

[Darin reels in one of the lines to check it then nonchalantly casts the line once more.]

I was born to end the world.

[The end thanks for coming to my Ted Talk]

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do you like my typos I got them from autcorrect fucking my phone tags :(

you typos are the best my man keep on being the best at being you

What a weirdly uplifting thing to say about typos

I typod on my compliment about typos

Masterful

I am pretty awesome

Well

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