dear_mun | (no subject)

[He's not going to get a break here, is he? As if in answer, the buried part of him cringes. Unlike with some, it's much harder to tell when and where he'd last seen Kallen; that she doesn't regard him with animosity immediately suggests a few things, at least... Some of which are better, others worse. How does he answer her? The question cycles through his mind, turning and turning over possibilities and reactions, until he decides that really? He has nothing to gain or lose either way. This space is, after all, largely irrelevant.]

Indeed it has.

[He can only hope that for now, this is the "right" answer. He can't imagine how badly this could turn if she picked him out as someone other than Lelouch and the right events had already come about.]

[No, he's definitely not, especially not when Kallen is the kind of woman who seeks answers at any given cause, recklessly or otherwise. This case, however, she really isn't sure about the "proper" reaction to seeing Zero again. Is she happy? No, she's certainly not, because there's nothing else besides sharp uncertainty lingering within her thoughts.

Should she be happy? Maybe, but...]

That's it?

[Arms folded over her chest, she quirks an eyebrow at his direction, tone laced with firmness.]

That's all you have to say to me?

[It's an admirable trait, really, that sort of relentless--ah, unyielding personality. And it occurs to him that clearly she's from far enough along to know Zero better, and... This could get a little more complicated than he'd hoped. A quiet breath to steady himself because he's still learning this role little by little, and he continues to regard her head-on. No extravagant gestures yet, the conversation isn't involved enough for that. Really, Lelouch...]

Should there be more?

[A distant tone, though not quite as lording as Lelouch's might have been. Kallen, you're the one who really makes a situation like this hard to work. It could only be worse if C.C. was around, because both women know... basically everything, in varying degrees.]

[She can't help but let out a snort, fighting back the urge to roll her eyes at this symbol. To think that she used to be so blindly loyal to Zero (crossing at the point of near obsession) that she didn't care what he actually looked like. Just as long as he continued to fight for the Japanese and defeat Britannia, that was all that mattered to her — her brother's life-long dream of freeing Japan.

That said, the blind loyalty within Kallen is not quite blind anymore, but it's now towards the man behind the mask, whose face she eventually became accustomed to. She's too used to seeing a pair of violet eyes and black hair, which is why her brows tense as she picks up the distant tone in Zero's voice. No, way too distant to be Lelouch's.

He's not Lelouch, she tells herself. He'll never be Lelouch. Regardless of who's behind the mask, Zero is Zero, and that is how it should be. Right?]

Gee, I expected to hear grand speeches of how we should fight against our muns or, I don't know, words of encouragement.

[Sarcastic much, Kallen? Yup.]

[Look, he's... really more the silent version, okay? He can't really get around the fact that he's doomed to foul up around Kallen because of how familiar she is (or... was, or will be--it's a little muddied, here) with Lelouch, but at least there'll be the attempts to pick himself up whenever she knocks him down. Like right now. He should've thought of that... Quick, think--! Ah. There's a way to recover from this! Drawing himself straighter, he holds his chin a bit higher.]

I'm sure you're hardly in such a state to require the words of another to spur you into action in this place.

[...Yeah, that--well, it's worth a shot... And this Zero would agree with her: he isn't Lelouch, nor will he ever be. That's not what he's doing or even trying to do, dressed in ridiculous royal hues and a mask he never thought he'd understand, much less don.]

[If Zero didn't immediately bounce back, Kallen would be displeased to say the least. Anyway, she listens to his words, lips pursed in thought while still retaining some of her strained facial expression, then sighs. At least he's trying, which is good. Still, she can't help but feel a little nitpicky with some of his gestures. Oh, Kallen...]

I'd spring myself into action already if a few circumstances weren't in my way.

[She snorts at her own answer, crinkling her nose when she realizes the admittance she just mentioned.]

Everyone in here goes through this.

[Really, if she knew who it is behind the mask, could she blame him? Suzaku was passionate, but hardly theatrical. As Zero, he's... With people who didn't know Lelouch's Zero personally, this is so much more effective. Not that he's going to call it quits, yet.

But really, being nitpicky? He'd like to see her pull this kind of thing off! ...Not that he'd ever actually say something like that, not at this point. Maybe a year and some ago, but not now.

He makes a thoughtful noise, maybe just faintly amused even as it's assessing, at her confession.]

I see. Other than the obvious "circumstances" concerning players, what is it that stands in your way?

[Hey, she dressed up as Zero once! Granted that was only one time when Zero gathered one million people to dress up as him so they could go to the Chinese Federation, but hey, it totally counts. She unfolds her arms so she can rest her hands on her hips, sounding a little indignant. No, she can't let the urge to rip that mask off of him take over her, even if it's tempting.]

Not having any other way out of that game I'm stuck in, but you know what? I won't complain that much because it won't do any good.

Edited 2012-10-30 03:38 (UTC)

[That had been a clever move. But it's not exactly carrying out being Zero. So no, it doesn't count, Kallen. There's standing around in the costume and actually trying to pass as the symbol. Especially in front of people who know the original so well, gah--]

Which game is that?

[It can't be any worse than the one his player was considering, before.]

[Hey, she knows there's a burden attached to the mask, even if C.C. told her upfront about it... welp. Kallen's lips morph into a scowl as a sour expression mars her features. It's only a matter of time before she brings it up anyway.]

Zodion, that planet run by a bunch of perverts.

Edited 2012-10-30 20:48 (UTC)

[Then she understands to an extent. He isn't surprised by the way her expression turns upon being questioned, already expecting it to at least be an unpleasant answer.

But not quite that, for some reason.

Behind the mask, Zero's own displeasure settles on his face and in his voice.]

If it was possible to help you escape from that place, I would do so.

[It's on par with with that prior consideration, as far as he's concerned.]

Are you at least...

[Talks he never wanted to have with Kallen! How awkward this would be in any other circumstance--not that it isn't awkward, already.]

...There's no good way to phrase "alright" in this case, is there?

[Kallen would comment something along the lines of "I don't need your help", being the indignant woman that she can be at times, but what he says next catches her attention immediately. It causes her to gape her mouth and shake her head briskly with her gaze averted. No way is she having that conversation with him!]

I'm fine!

[She'll forgo certain aspects of Zodion in favor of mentioning her general thoughts about that place instead.]

I've been there for over five months. Sometimes it's okay, other times it's aggravating. Right now, it's tolerable.

[Of course she doesn't need his help, she's certainly strong enough to handle herself! But he still has a role to fill, and he's on better terms with his moral compass now. Not that his moral compass would have ever let him not find a need to assist or at least offer assistance to someone in the position Kallen's in at Zodion. "Trapped somewhere run by perverts" is less than an ideal setting in many senses.

Following her reaction, Zero's just not going to push the topic. Especially not when she changes it to something broader.]

I suppose that's better than the alternative.

[No, really?]

[This look, Zerosuzy.]

Anything is better than the alternative.

[Otherwise there would be a lot of angry retorts towards her mun, who would no doubt place her elsewhere. Then again...]

[Keywords, too?]

Aside from leaving, I'd imagine.

[It's... difficult talking to someone you've rarely seen eye-to-eye with, even when operating under the (possibly erroneous) assumption they don't know who you are. And the topic doesn't help, considering neither of them really want to talk about it.]

..And you're sure you're alright there.

[Out of respect for her well-being.]

[Not this time.]

Several people have attempted to blow up the Luminar to see if an exit is possible.

[Kallen is among those people who joined in, but she doesn't mention it aside from the implied tone she uses. At his statement, she nods with reassurance.]

You're talking to someone who's been through a lot worse than this. Like I said, I'll be fine.

[Well, that's fortunate.]

I take it there's not been much headway made in that direction.

[Given the use of "attempted". And though she's reassuring on that other point... For a second, his shoulders sag slightly, resigning himself to the fact that she'll probably always answer like that.]

Alright.

[But that doesn't mean she's fine yet.]