Zelos Wilder (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
redsnowangel) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
genessia2015-04-11 09:05 pm
redsnowangel) wrote in genessia2015-04-11 09:05 pm
007: And Then The Walls Fell Down [Action/Video]
[Action]
[It was not difficult to notice that the bay had mysteriously disappeared, as he walked past it fairly regularly on his way to work. Normally, Zelos would avoid something odd like this entirely, dismissing it as too much effort to investigate, or just 'someone else's problem'. However...it looked harmless enough, and soon his curiosity got the better of him.
Wandering over to the where the old bay was, he slipped off his shoes and socks, pulled up his trousers past his knees, and headed into the cool water. He wasn't stupid enough to stray into the giant hole in the middle, of course, for now focusing on the small lights glittering around him.
Huh.
Tentatively, he reached into the water and scooped two of them into his hands to get a closer look. Before he could work out what they were, the two stars shattered, one after the other...]
[First Memory, Semi-open*]
A flurry of snow fell steadily past the windows of the Wilder mansion. Zelos - only a young child of 10 or so - bounced on the balls of his feet, staring up with wide eyes at the sky and across the city rooftops, the city square and the trees, all covered in a steadily growing blanket of white. Nothing like this had ever happened before.
Of course, when he finally tore his eyes away from the strange sight, the first person he ran to was his mother, racing past the family butler as he did so. To say the least, the friendly warnings of "Master Zelos, please do not race around the halls in such a manner..." were left entirely unheard by the excited child.
He found her drinking tea in the drawing room, dressed in an ornate, pale red gown fit for the noblewoman she was, long blonde hair done up in a tidy bun. She gave Zelos a tired look, a small, despairing sigh escaping her that he did not notice as he ran to her side, pestering his mother to come out and play in the snow with him.
To his absolute delight and surprise, she finally got to her feet, following her son as he dragged her as fast as he could into the gardens. Zelos was barely able to hide the bright smile filling his face and spring in his step.
The feeling of snow under his feet, the crunching sound that came with it, the little twinges of cold as the flakes melted onto his outstretched hands fascinated him. For a while, his mother just waited by the wide doorway, watching her son play with a bored disinterest. Eventually, though, she walked over to him and crouched down, starting to roll a large ball of snow. Zelos soon got the hint, starting on one of his own until it was big enough to make a snowman's head. Together, they carefully rolled the head onto the body, and Zelos gathered some twigs and stones to give it arms and a face, before standing on his tiptoes to drape his own scarf around it's shoulders.
But then, in a flash, the snowman fell apart. A deep red splatter hit what remained of it's body.
Zelos froze, only able to stare as his mother staggered from the spell's impact. She fell, grabbing onto her son's shoulder to try and support herself. The boy couldn't find his voice, his mouth just forming the word 'Mother' but no words escaped him. With her last, rasping breaths, she spoke to him for the last time:
"You should never have been born,"
Her hand slipped from his shoulder, and she fell to the ground. The snow around them slowly turned red with blood.
[*OOC: Because of how much of an impact this memory has on Zelos, I'd rather not too many people see it. If you're curious though and we haven't discussed it already, feel free to drop me a PM!]
[Second Memory, OPEN]
So, the group were getting ready to fight the angel Yggdrasil once and for all. Despite the tension and drive that filled the air that morning, Zelos felt strangely…empty. He released a long breath, that formed into mist in the cold air. He kept a bit of a distance from the others - just enough so that it wouldn't look suspicious. Knowing them, they'd assume he was mentally preparing himself for the fight.
Despite his efforts, though, Lloyd caught him as they prepared to leave town, brow furrowed as concern wrote itself into his usually kind and sure expresson.
"…Zelos, can I really trust you?"
That was it, then. Of all the people he hoped might, somehow learn to believe in him…in the end, it was all for nothing? Lloyd, the most forgiving, open-hearted person he'd ever met, even he couldn't bring himself to put his faith in him?
"What are you saying?" he replied, a fake smile and lighthearted tone easily slipping into place once again, "Of course you can trust me! I’m the type that responds to people’s trust."
"Really?" Lloyd still wasn't convinced? That only twisted the knife deeper. He really wasn't worthy of anyone's trust, he knew that.
"Really! Really, really, come on, let's go!" Zelos replied. He just wanted out of this talk.
Luckily, Lloyd was soon distracted by the others, and that gave him plenty of time to excuse himself. The journey to the Tower of Salvation was a quiet one, each member of the party lost in their respective thoughts. Soon enough… the massive building grew closer. Their journey was nearly over. Just as they ran to the entrance, it became apparent that the angels - winged beings with expressionless faces, armour and wings, were ready to get in their way. The lifeless beings kept coming, threatening to block both their route in and their route out.
"Lloyd! This way!" Huh. So Yuan had come to help them after all. Before the angels could make their strike, their former enemy ushered the small party into a secret passage.
"Why are you helping us?" Lloyd asked.
Yuan shrugged off the question, focusing on the path ahead. "Now that the truth about me is known to Yggdrasil, the only way left to save Martel is to work with you. Don’t think that I want to be your friend or anything."
Wow, talk about sour, but at least he was honest.
"You have a real negative attitude, you know that?" Lloyd said with a sigh, "Well, whatever. Thanks for helping us. Let’s go everyone!"
It wouldn't be long now. As Lloyd and Yuan chatted, Zelos hung at the back of the party, focusing on Colette. This shouldn't be too hard. At least he'd finally, finally get out of this nightmare.
[The betrayal, part 1]
[The betrayal, part 2 - if you want to skip the fight, jump to 8:15]
[Zelos staggered back, hand clasped over his mouth as all the colour drained from his face. For now, he just focused on swallowing back the nausea rising up his throat, he had to make sure he didn't throw up right in the middle of this place. Don't be sick. Don't be sick.
His other hand clutched at his stomach and his side, just to make sure the wounds hadn't somehow returned. It was all so painfully real. As if he was right there, fighting his former friends again, dying a second time.
And his mother...That memory was somehow worst of all.]
[Video, a few hours after the memory-sharing mess, OPEN]
[Zelos wouldn't normally give a PSA to help everyone else in town, but for now…he really didn't want to chance anyone else finding out about his history.
Those who had spoken to Zelos before might notice that he looked a little agitated - something he tried to mask with a bored expression.]
…Guys, quick word of advice. Might want to avoid where the Bay used to be. It's pulling some really screwy stuff right now.
[With the message out the way, the feed abruptly ends.]
[It was not difficult to notice that the bay had mysteriously disappeared, as he walked past it fairly regularly on his way to work. Normally, Zelos would avoid something odd like this entirely, dismissing it as too much effort to investigate, or just 'someone else's problem'. However...it looked harmless enough, and soon his curiosity got the better of him.
Wandering over to the where the old bay was, he slipped off his shoes and socks, pulled up his trousers past his knees, and headed into the cool water. He wasn't stupid enough to stray into the giant hole in the middle, of course, for now focusing on the small lights glittering around him.
Huh.
Tentatively, he reached into the water and scooped two of them into his hands to get a closer look. Before he could work out what they were, the two stars shattered, one after the other...]
[First Memory, Semi-open*]
A flurry of snow fell steadily past the windows of the Wilder mansion. Zelos - only a young child of 10 or so - bounced on the balls of his feet, staring up with wide eyes at the sky and across the city rooftops, the city square and the trees, all covered in a steadily growing blanket of white. Nothing like this had ever happened before.
Of course, when he finally tore his eyes away from the strange sight, the first person he ran to was his mother, racing past the family butler as he did so. To say the least, the friendly warnings of "Master Zelos, please do not race around the halls in such a manner..." were left entirely unheard by the excited child.
He found her drinking tea in the drawing room, dressed in an ornate, pale red gown fit for the noblewoman she was, long blonde hair done up in a tidy bun. She gave Zelos a tired look, a small, despairing sigh escaping her that he did not notice as he ran to her side, pestering his mother to come out and play in the snow with him.
To his absolute delight and surprise, she finally got to her feet, following her son as he dragged her as fast as he could into the gardens. Zelos was barely able to hide the bright smile filling his face and spring in his step.
The feeling of snow under his feet, the crunching sound that came with it, the little twinges of cold as the flakes melted onto his outstretched hands fascinated him. For a while, his mother just waited by the wide doorway, watching her son play with a bored disinterest. Eventually, though, she walked over to him and crouched down, starting to roll a large ball of snow. Zelos soon got the hint, starting on one of his own until it was big enough to make a snowman's head. Together, they carefully rolled the head onto the body, and Zelos gathered some twigs and stones to give it arms and a face, before standing on his tiptoes to drape his own scarf around it's shoulders.
But then, in a flash, the snowman fell apart. A deep red splatter hit what remained of it's body.
Zelos froze, only able to stare as his mother staggered from the spell's impact. She fell, grabbing onto her son's shoulder to try and support herself. The boy couldn't find his voice, his mouth just forming the word 'Mother' but no words escaped him. With her last, rasping breaths, she spoke to him for the last time:
"You should never have been born,"
Her hand slipped from his shoulder, and she fell to the ground. The snow around them slowly turned red with blood.
[*OOC: Because of how much of an impact this memory has on Zelos, I'd rather not too many people see it. If you're curious though and we haven't discussed it already, feel free to drop me a PM!]
[Second Memory, OPEN]
So, the group were getting ready to fight the angel Yggdrasil once and for all. Despite the tension and drive that filled the air that morning, Zelos felt strangely…empty. He released a long breath, that formed into mist in the cold air. He kept a bit of a distance from the others - just enough so that it wouldn't look suspicious. Knowing them, they'd assume he was mentally preparing himself for the fight.
Despite his efforts, though, Lloyd caught him as they prepared to leave town, brow furrowed as concern wrote itself into his usually kind and sure expresson.
"…Zelos, can I really trust you?"
That was it, then. Of all the people he hoped might, somehow learn to believe in him…in the end, it was all for nothing? Lloyd, the most forgiving, open-hearted person he'd ever met, even he couldn't bring himself to put his faith in him?
"What are you saying?" he replied, a fake smile and lighthearted tone easily slipping into place once again, "Of course you can trust me! I’m the type that responds to people’s trust."
"Really?" Lloyd still wasn't convinced? That only twisted the knife deeper. He really wasn't worthy of anyone's trust, he knew that.
"Really! Really, really, come on, let's go!" Zelos replied. He just wanted out of this talk.
Luckily, Lloyd was soon distracted by the others, and that gave him plenty of time to excuse himself. The journey to the Tower of Salvation was a quiet one, each member of the party lost in their respective thoughts. Soon enough… the massive building grew closer. Their journey was nearly over. Just as they ran to the entrance, it became apparent that the angels - winged beings with expressionless faces, armour and wings, were ready to get in their way. The lifeless beings kept coming, threatening to block both their route in and their route out.
"Lloyd! This way!" Huh. So Yuan had come to help them after all. Before the angels could make their strike, their former enemy ushered the small party into a secret passage.
"Why are you helping us?" Lloyd asked.
Yuan shrugged off the question, focusing on the path ahead. "Now that the truth about me is known to Yggdrasil, the only way left to save Martel is to work with you. Don’t think that I want to be your friend or anything."
Wow, talk about sour, but at least he was honest.
"You have a real negative attitude, you know that?" Lloyd said with a sigh, "Well, whatever. Thanks for helping us. Let’s go everyone!"
It wouldn't be long now. As Lloyd and Yuan chatted, Zelos hung at the back of the party, focusing on Colette. This shouldn't be too hard. At least he'd finally, finally get out of this nightmare.
[The betrayal, part 1]
[The betrayal, part 2 - if you want to skip the fight, jump to 8:15]
[Zelos staggered back, hand clasped over his mouth as all the colour drained from his face. For now, he just focused on swallowing back the nausea rising up his throat, he had to make sure he didn't throw up right in the middle of this place. Don't be sick. Don't be sick.
His other hand clutched at his stomach and his side, just to make sure the wounds hadn't somehow returned. It was all so painfully real. As if he was right there, fighting his former friends again, dying a second time.
And his mother...That memory was somehow worst of all.]
[Video, a few hours after the memory-sharing mess, OPEN]
[Zelos wouldn't normally give a PSA to help everyone else in town, but for now…he really didn't want to chance anyone else finding out about his history.
Those who had spoken to Zelos before might notice that he looked a little agitated - something he tried to mask with a bored expression.]
…Guys, quick word of advice. Might want to avoid where the Bay used to be. It's pulling some really screwy stuff right now.
[With the message out the way, the feed abruptly ends.]
[video, filtered to Zelos]
[She feels bad for pushing him like this, but she isn't doing him any favors if she lets him run from everything again.]
I... I went to the old bay today, and... I relived when you betrayed us. Both from my point of view... and yours. I felt what you felt, and...
[video, filtered to Colette]
You too, huh...? Yeah, I pretty much saw all of it.
[She experienced how he felt, then? Those crushing feelings of despair and self-loathing and...wait. Did that mean she saw him die?]
...Guessing you saw what happened afterwards?
[video, filtered to Zelos]
[She doesn't understand how that can be. Zelos is talking to her right now, how could he have died? She still doesn't want to believe that part, just like she didn't want to believe that Zelos betrayed them in the first place.]
I know it wasn't mine to see... I'm sorry, Zelos.
[video, filtered to Colette]
[Other than Nanana, that theory was something he'd never really told anyone about until now. Once his theory had been proved wrong, he never saw a reason to admit it. No one still in Genessia, other than the couple of people who saw his memory, anyway, even knew he'd died back home.]
I think...apologising's a moot point when we both saw each other's.
[He hesitated, ignoring the tightening in his chest.]
Did they get their acts together and find you in the end?
[Why did he even care whether they saved her or not? It wasn't even his problem anymore. What did it matter to him if they did?
...Perhaps it was just that an inevitable failure would leave a bad taste in his mouth.]
[video, filtered to Zelos]
[Though, that would mean she's dead, right? No. She can't give up hope.]
Oh, that's right. I guess you're right. I'm sorry.
[She's still the same as ever, isn't she? At his question, she can feel her own chest tighten. It makes her wonder again, just like she did moments ago--is she dead?]
Um... ah. While they were taking me to... to be fused with Martel, I woke up here. So you see, I... don't know if they succeeded.
[No. Even with Zelos' theory, she's sure they succeeded. Lloyd's always saved her in the past, so why would it be any different now? She believes in Lloyd.
...she just wishes Lloyd had believed in Zelos.]
[video, filtered to Colette]
[Apologising as always. It would've felt like old times if there wasn't a horrible, suffocating atmosphere looming around them like a weight.]
...They've still got time, then. Right.
[video, filtered to Zelos]
[It does to her, anyway. She doesn't understand it at all. She doesn't understand any of this at all.]
Yes... it does look like they do. And... that means I might have time, too. But Zelos, you don't have time. Not back home. That's...
[A long, tense pause, before she continues.]
I wanted to make sure... that no one made the same mistake I did. That no one felt like they had to sacrifice their life. I... I couldn't even help you, and you're my dear friend. I guess I really am a bad Chosen, after all... I'm sorry, Zelos.
[video, filtered to Colette]
If anything it was...]
Look, say what you want, but my life was a mistake. What happened with you, or with Sylvarant, had nothing to do with it.
You heard what I said when I handed you over to Pronyma, didn't you?
[video, filtered to Zelos]
[She sighs.]
So please. Please, stop lying to me. We're both here now, so... we can help each other. We don't have to fight, or be enemies. We can still be friends, Zelos!
[video, filtered to Colette]
His reply came out colder than intended, as his own frustration mounted.]
I wasn't lying. My life was a mistake. I never should have been born. None of you ever trusted me. Why, exactly, was there any point in keeping my life?
[Why? Why couldn't he just let go of everything that happened and start again?]
...fuck...
[He shut his eyes tightly, feeling the tears welling up behind them. Why was she being so stubborn about this? It hurt, it hurt so much and he couldn't understand why. He desperately wanted to shut the communicator off and forget this talk even happened, but the emotions he'd been ignoring were welling up like a tidal wave.]
[video, filtered to Zelos]
[Now it just sounds like she's about to cry.]
I'm sorry. I just... you mustn't say things like that about yourself, Zelos. Please. You're still my friend, no matter what.
[video, filtered to Colette]
Zelos could hear the tears in her voice as she assured him that he was still her friend, that is life was worth it, why did she never say any of this to him back home?
He held his hand over the communicator, trying to muffle the small, angry little sob that escaped him. Words, what the hell were these words and why wouldn't she listen? Why wouldn't she just assure him what a wretched, worthless, untrustworthy waste of space he really was?
He couldn't speak, couldn't handle this anymore.]
[video, filtered to Colette]
Zelos...? [Now she wants to cry even more.] I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you so upset...
[video, filtered to Colette]
Hot, angry tears trickled down his cheeks. He hated their world, all the memories that came with it and he hated her for dragging all that pain to the surface when he'd so carefully buried it all away.
But he didn't really hate her, did he? Perhaps in a more rational mindset he'd realise he was pinning all the pain and anger, the feelings of worthlessness, of selfloathing--all of that he was pinning on her as the one reminder of everything that had happened, everything she'd talked about and forced him to talk about.]
Stop... look, enough. Please. I get it already.
[He sounded pathetic. He knew he sounded pathetic and that the tears would be heard in his voice but he just wanted out, now.]
...I want...a fun, easy life...people don't know anything here. Don't know me, or-- anything.
[What was he even saying? He didn't know anymore.]
[video, filtered to Colette]
[Her voice is small, soft, with a small hint of hope to it.]
I won't say anything about our world, Zelos. We can keep it between us! [It's not lying. It's just making sure people don't worry. Colette understands things like this.] No one needs to know, so I promise I won't say anything!