Think of it as a not entirely unfriendly [pfft] spar. We were encouraged to be more aware of each other's abilities [sure, just let him see any weakness I have], correct?
[Then again better to get it out of the way NOW.]
I don't trust this creature, but I do trust your judgment. And you are you. So what you're saying is...
Or... maybe he is. I'm not really sure what to call him, come to think of it. Well! That's part of the point of all this. And I don't think he'll-- but it just...
I'm not being rational.
Mrmph! Maybe it's just... strange with all the different... worlds. Coming together!
[If you could see her, you would see flailing. Hand gestures are fun.]
[Are... are you really sure you wanted a drunk dial? I mean, it's totally too late to back out now; the Forge has gone to voicemail, and Zack's slurred and half-conscious voice filters in before he can clearly re-evaluate this idea. Oops.]
Hey, can I ask a favor?
[Yeah, he's not waiting for an answer.]
If you ever...ever get to go home, take me with you. A world with hot chicks and swords sooooo beats mine.
Especially hot chicks in skimpy armor.
[Too bad he doesn't know the extent of it.]
Sooooo, what brings a girl like you to a place like this?
[Wait. Is that. She recognizes the voice. This is cause for celebration! The floor is still moving a little, and speech is difficult. BUT SHE KNOWS THAT VOICE]
ZACK.
[Well, that was a little more enthusiastic than she intended.]
[...]
Swords. [This word makes sense. BUT. Now there is confusion.] Hot. Chicks. [There is some confusion there! Which is best cleared up by more alcohol. Glug.]
[...]
I have a sword.
[...]
[She's looking at her armor. Buckles are suddenly confusing. And shiny!] Oh, yes. I have armor. It buckles.
Mist. And a Door.
[...]
[Helen said something. What was it. Something about his arms? Or was that the other one? Oh. wait.]
Your ass. 'sposed to be nice, but I forgot to look. Abyssals in the patrol and I forgot to...
It's not hot at all, it's... [She gets it. He's another one of those funny talkers.]
[...]
Of course it unbuckles. [Pause.] I see where you're going with this. Good. Idea. [Why so many buckles?]
[Okay. So there's like a moment of deliberating silence, and then the fastest whir or unbuckling ever possible. Quicksword is useful! Also, have a tiny crash.]
That's better.
[...]
It's not for ME, it's for Priscilla.
[...]
But I. Should see. Cast my vote and all that.
[Have a failed attempt at suppressing a laugh. It's a snicker. And now a snort. MORE LIKE ASSHOLE ON THE PATROL AMIRITE?]
[Funny talker? Noooo. Not at all.] Sure, it is! Way hotter than chicks with guns. Overrated, you know.
[Wow. That was….Dammit, why wasn’t this on video? WHY!?]
Bet it’s lighter now. [What the—So STUPID. ] And… and cooler.
[Blink.]
PrisMiss? What about her? My ass is--what?
[Huh? What? Huh?] Vote? What? I thought you were—Is there a Perfect Ass Anatole contest or something? [And no, he doesn’t even notice the double meaning of that sentence.
[And, for the record? I totally died.]
I’m trying! Cheers! [And there’s more drinking than necessary.]
[Agreeing with the funny talkers is the easiest thing to do, really.]
Much cooler. Not practical for fighting. But. More comfortable. Bit lighter, yes.
[It comes out correctly, but it's slurry.]
Do you often walk around without clothes?
Ah, Prili-- [Ahem. I can speak. Really.] Priscilla. Contest to find her a date. There have to be standards.
I volunteered you, also Angeal. But then there was. Helen pointed out your ass. Not literally.
I can't cast my vote if I've never it.
[Drink!]
Now seems like as good a time as any.
[Have an accidental flash of video. See, thinking about seeing Zack switch to video made her switch to ---yeah. Have a naked claymore side view from about the waist up. Is that an apple slice in her hair?]
*click*
[And it's voice again. She's going to pretend that never happened.]
[...]
[If there were a contest based on the OTHER meaning, Zack wouldn't even be in the running!]
[Agreeing with Zack is usually just the safest way to go anyway, and when he's drunk, it's extra secure. The topic's forgotten, lost, and he moves onto the next.
[Which, in his opinion, is a much more fun subject.]
I don't wear armor, not really. Just the shoulder guards, and the stomach wrap. Not reeeeal armor.
But--but you can regen--gren--grow your stuff back! You don't need to worry 'bout armor, right?
[And he blinks. Huh?]
Uh, no? Well, I mean, when Angeal's not home and I forgot my clothes on the bed when I take a shower and then I have to walk around, but I usually have my towel on still so I don't think it coun--
Why?
[Date. Date Priscilla. Volunteered him? AND Angeal?]
How-how many people are in this contest?! She's not dating them all! She's--She's my sis--she's LIKE my sister!
...
But...But I wanna have a say in who, too. Soneome--someone who doesn't cut off her arms. Definitely. Right?
[And then he just stares. Side view or not, but damn. Damn. His throat clicks as he swallows, and his face is turning a beautiful and alarming shade of red.]
When--when are you having a contest, huh? Can...can I volunteer for that instead?
[So, Zack takes this moment to give tit for tat...or ass for tit as the case may be. The video clicks on, and have a picture of Zack's tight boxer-clad ass. And, as if there was any doubt of whose ass it might be, his boxers are decorated with cactuar.
Mmm. Some are better at it. Faster. [Hey there brain to mouth filter, where you goin'?] I was missing an arm when I arrived.
[Conspiratorially]
I may have con---[This word. That I am searching for. Right in the middle of the sentence - poof! She remembers the concept, though. OKAY THEN, INNATE THESAURUS GO.]
---hidden that a little bit.
You seemed fond of the idea of being naked. When you. Suggested it.
[Aaaaaand he sounds excitable. It's so amusing when they flail. Is that the sound of flailing?]
Have to ask Helen. But three or four at least. Haven't seen their asses either. Hn.
Like a sister? [Have a momentary soberish thought!] Well, we've something in common, then. She's like a sister. Maybe a daughter. To me.
[This is good information. You care for Priscilla. You don't eat guts or try and kill her friends - you don't even have an awakened form. You say I CARE FOR YOU with words and maybe flowers or strawberries, not lies and piles of bodies or freshly beating hearts. What she means to say is:]
I like you.
[...]
Of course you can have a say. [Yeah, she heard about that guy. Still miles ahead of Isley. And again, no filter...]
Right. I was about to cut off my arm before I awoke here. Last arm, too.
[Sadly, she can't see that pretty shade of red, and she's a little oblivious to the click in his throat, too - aaaaand she's still pretending that nipple videoslip never happened.]
I'm having a contest? [drink] What for?
[Have a very pleased but very drunk hrm of approval, Zack. Helen was right. Perhaps she should verify this in person. She's suddenly picturing him in tight, black women's panties. What the hell, subconscious?]
[A snort at 'stop going so fast'. It is incredibly funny at this moment.]
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