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[namestrees]

Call him on the weird magic medallion heck yeah

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[namestrees]

What kinda talent?

[IS THERE A SHOW?? Did you not invite him? Man, Zelos, what the hell. And look it's fine, even if you wake up the huge dumb dog, he'll just grumble and go sleep elsewhere.]

[meltokio]

The hunnies, hunny.

[ a dramatic wink!

and he'll... lean against the wall and fold his arms behind his head. ]

Oh, and the masons, the carpenters, pretty much anybody who could help with the housing project. Might be able to get the supplies for cheaper than we thought.

[namestrees]

Saying who they are doesn't tell me what they're good at...

[its sucking dicks, lloyd.]

Wait-- really? [That is excellent news, though, and he perks up a bit more. He hadn't forgotten about their plans, but he'd accepted that they'd need more to start with-- and maybe had been focusing more on odd jobs around the towns to try and build up some gold for it.]

That's great! [A grin!] What's the catch?

[meltokio]

No catch. I mean, we'll still need to pay for the stuff. Just the benefits taking the time to scope out the competition.

[ well for lloyd. ]

If the guys back in Tikal won't match their price then we can buy from here and cart it back.

[ and he just has to do a decent display of strength to show it's possible. ]

[namestrees]

[Ohh. Well. Coba is definitely more central, so it makes sense that it would have easier access to materials-- which does make them cheaper. See, Lloyd can understand the basics of economy when it's basic shit like "Wood is cheaper in a forest" and "stone is cheaper at the quarry".]

I guess they don't really count on people able to haul all this stuff through the mist. Not without a few days and possibly someone getting eaten by a monster, at least.

That's great, though! I wouldn't have even thought of doing that.

[meltokio]

That's why you can always count on me and my gorgeous brain!

[ he's so proud of you for picking up what he's putting down on this very basic concept, lloydo. ]

[namestrees]

[UNSURE. But he doesn't know what a brain looks like so like he can't correct him.]

Ahuh. Still, though, that's pretty good. Did they say when they'd want the money? I could see if anyone in Coba needs some jobs done, while we're here... Maybe someone will need something taken back in Tikal?

[meltokio]

Once we give them the cash they'll give us the goods.

[ absently he twirls a lock of hair around his finger. ]

I can start doing deliveries now that I got this flying thing down.

[namestrees]

[Ah, here we are. The serious stuff. He nods, with a short hum, and considers...]

Is it okay to do so often? [He really just-- has no idea. SO he might as well ask.] I guess Colette would sort of hover a lot when we were fighting, but she wouldn't really do big flights a lot...

[His nose scrunches a bit, still thinking. Maybe it's because she was a huge klutz. Or maybe it's because she, like Zelos, didn't have a real key crest for it. That's why Mithos and Kratos and Yuan could do all the angel things on command and not lose their heart, right?]

[meltokio]

It's not like I'm gonna be releasing any seals or making pacts with summon spirits here.

[ he taps the crystal. nothing to be afraid of, see? his smile doesn't falter. ]

Besides, flying's just another form of magic. And lucky for me, I had that [ god what was the stupid barely believable lie he used ] blood transfusion when I was younger, so this whole thing is cake.

[namestrees]

[He frowns a bit, clearly putting all three of those braincells to work and thinking hard. Because Zelos is right-- Colette only advanced with the seals. But regular exspheres didn't, and weren't Cruxis crystals just fancy ones? But also-- Man. It's all scrungled in his brain. If only Raine were here.]

I guess... [UNSURE but also not unsure enough to start a fight over using his wings versus not using them.]

And yeah, flying isn't really hard. I'm just worried we don't know a lot about you having your cruxis crystal without the right kind of key crest, here. I mean... you saw Colette when we first got to Tethe'alla...

[meltokio]

[ ... that's something to file away. lloyd can fly? has flown? it makes sense - that hi-exsphere on his hand was a big deal for a reason. ]

I know.

[ not just colette, either. presea's lifeless eyes. going through the motions of a routine for sixteen long years. not realizing her father was long dead. ]

Wish I'd thought things through a little more before I slapped this thing on.

[namestrees]

[it's ok, just the one time dont worry about it.

He gives a soft sort of sigh, frowning again-- before shaking his head.]

Sorry. I'm sure you don't like me pressing you on it so much. [He's gonna keep doing it anyway, but he can at least be somewhat self aware about that.] And it probably felt like the only choice at the time. Best we can do is just make sure it doesn't get worse for you.

[Well. At least they have a resident Cruxis representative.] I know he's not your favourite, but have you asked Kratos about it? He should know more about how it works.

[meltokio]

I did try to kill you and all, answers are the least I can give.

[ even if they're not completely truthful.

but he knows lloyd. more than he wants to admit, really. that enormous heart, that willingness to lay it all on the line for someone he cares about, and the capacity to believe and trust in people is something he envies... and something that has to be protected. from itself most of all. ]

I got the rundown. We're pretty much in the clear.

[namestrees]

[For a brief moment, there's the half-temptation to check with Kratos sometime. Ask him himself, make sure there's no avenues he needs to be exploring. But he's immediately hit with a wave of guilt for even considering it, and his eyes dip down for a moment.

No. He trusts Zelos. Even if that means it's easy for Zelos to lie to him, he'll trust it's ultimately for the right reasons. And so after that quiet moment, he nods, accepting.]

Okay. Good.

[And then, an easier sort of smile, standing up from the bed to go rummage for one of the non-magical journals he'd picked up to write down... well. Random bullshit, mostly. Lists to remember stuff, half drawn doodles of ideas of things to make, whatever.]

So! Now that you've had some time to look around, do you know what part of Tikal you think is 'nice? I guess we'll have to make sure there's a well nearby...

[exchosen]

Yep. I've got an eye for beauty, y'know. The northwest corner definitely has the most prime real estate.

[ well he picked an area that had a bunch of empty houses and nice resources nearby. nearer to the edge of the village so there'd be room for a paddock if they need some livestock. ]

[namestrees]

[He nods, thinking about that. He'll have to walk around that part of Tikal more to get a good idea, but he's sure Zelos's birds-eye view can be trusted there.]

I'll check it out tomorrow! I don't think there's any rules or anything about where we can build something... And facing North would be good! It usually gets pretty good sun during the day.

Man... It still feels wild that we can even do this.

[exchosen]

[ yeah considering he should be dead and all. ]

Must be kinda nice getting a break and all.

[namestrees]

[Hrrmmm subtle phrasing.]

Is it not for you? A break, I mean.

[exchosen]

[ ah.

well.

he's still not sure how to handle lloyd landing these precision hits. ]

Nah. It's more of a totally undeserved second chance.

[namestrees]

[hey. hey. zelos. guess what.



another fucking pillow thrown at your face!!]

Deserved.

[exchosen]

[ WHUUF RIGHT IN THE FACE.

he grabs it, and that's - another confiscated pillow! ]

Fine, "deserved".

[ your opinion doesn't count lloydo. ]

[namestrees]

[one day he will learn that once thrown they do not return. no boomerang pillows. alas.]

Better. [--Buuut after a moment, he's laughing.] Well, whatever you think about it, I'm glad you have it. It's kinda fun to just... be a nobody again. [Instead of, you know, The Chosen, or "that red kid who stumbled ass backwards into saving the world and also someone built a statue of him in that one town and it's fucking embarrassing??" yeah.]

[exchosen]

[ no kidding. ]

Try to resist taking the weight of this world on your shoulders, m'kay?

[namestrees]

I dunno if I could manage three worlds. Just the two [One?? Now??] Is enough, thanks.