wilder | driftfleet ☼ IC Contact

[He knows better than to do this in text, but he's still not brave enough to do it in video, either. But here it is... He had to do it before he talked himself out of it.]

Yo, you got a minute? And before you say anything, I know I'm the one bugging you here. I just want to clear up a few things I said.

[Da fuq? When he saw that he had a message on this thing- he thought it would be from someone on his crew. Not...this guy.]

Uh- How'd you get my personal frequency?

[Mostly, his tone is confused. He hasn't even given it out to anyone yet- so there's no one he can even blame for handing out.]

...That's not important right now, so let's not talk about that.

[Waving that off completely.] I'm calling to apologize.

[He frowns because dude he feels it's kind of important! Don't evade the question!! he's even about to open his mouth to argue but-]

[wait. what.]

You are...?

[If he sounds slightly skeptical, it's because he is]

...Yeah.

[As much as he hated the idea of it, and as embarrassing as it is... He knows the feeling of being disliked and insulted and it's not a nice one. So.]

It's pretty easy to aim all my frustration at myself to a guy who conveniently appears and just happens to be some version of me. ...The more I thought about it, the more I realized you probably do enough of that all on your own. [If he's anything like him-- and well, he'd think he would be. Right?? This is weird.]

Uhh... So basically, sorry for being a selfish asshole.

[There is a definite surprised pause at that. Even if Zelos had said he was calling to apologize, Kaneis hadn't really believed it. He had been preparing for more insults, more threats, more suspicion- maybe some interrogation too. He was used to those things, after all. Not just from Zelos, but from most of his life - especially if they knew anything about him. And so, he had already readied himself before Zelos began- even prepping possible come backs to what he felt was inevitable.]

[But- none of those things he was expecting came. Instead of insults and excuses, there was an actual apology - admittance that he had done wrong. And instead of an interrogation, there was...empathy. Which frankly, he has no idea how to respond to.]

[So when the pause ends, Kaneis is still at a loss of any comebacks since he's thrown way too off guard and he's flustered- so]

T- That's...that's not fair!

[Yeah. Maybe he has spent too much time around Sheena]

[Similarly, he was expecting rejection of some sort from Kaneis. Anger, lack of forgiveness, something upset-- but the flustered response he gets (while still kind of rejection) is not exactly what he was picturing.

It's actually pretty cute.

The thought comes automatically along with his response, which starts with an amused laugh.]

Not fair? It's okay if you're moved by my touching words. Am I embarrassing you? Did your heart stop for a second?

[It's way easier to joke around like this than deal with any embarrassment himself. But the apology still stands, and he doesn't mind waiting for it to be acknowledged.]

[Oh my god. Don't flirt with him Zelos he's your double. He had already been kicking himself for having such a stupid outburst. Zelos is not helping in the slightest.]

Ugh- knock that off or I'll cut the connection!

[he's pinching the bridge of his nose- trying to collect himself while feeling completely embarrassed that he acted so...Sheena like]

[HE DOES WHAT HE WANTS. At that, he laughs, still amused.]

Sorry, sorry! You're just sounding pretty flustered, there... I can't help myself when you end up sounding like a girl.

[He's quick to add after that, though, in hopes of saving the feed:] But I'll stop, I'll stop!

[DUDE. There is an annoyed sound on his end- before he slams the mute button on his communicator about halfway through Zelos's last sentence- because seriously boy. Seriously. Just stop.]

[Now if you'll excuse him, he needs to actually collect himself and think about this shit. Hope you're somewhere comfortable Zelly.]

[THAT'S RUDE AS HECK??? He's reclining in his chair and waiting. WAITING AND WAITING.]

[RUDE IS HOW HE ROLLS. And it's a good amount of time before that mute button gets switched off- maybe a good ten to twenty minutes later. Frankly, he had even considered just cutting out the call altogether and running from the situation a little bit longer but....that probably wouldn't solve anything, would it?]

[At least, he sounds more collected when he speaks up again]

Yo. You still there?

Uh, yeah, even if you just left me there. I was beginning to think you just didn't know how to hang up!

[It was super cruel, too cruel. He makes a face at the station even if it can't be seen, eventually sighing.]

So?

What can I say? With the way you were going, I was sure I wouldn't miss anything of value.

[Just you shooting yourself in the foot really! And there's a pause.]

Can't say I like you, but...I'll accept your apology. [no that's not right-] Appreciate it...even.

I know it probably took a lot of courage to do it. [More than he has? Probably, he thinks]

Haha, I don't know about 'courage', but...

[It was hard not to automatically talk down on himself. But if he himself was saying this... Well, if he was being nice to himself on both sides in any fashion, that was improvement of some kind, right?]

I guess it would take that to reply, too, right? [Ugh, this is gross and sappy.] Nevermind, that sounds lame. Forget I said that.

The point is, it's fine. You don't have to like me or anything like that, but I don't want to give us one more thing to deal with.

[Yeah damn, that's way too sappy for him. You can probably imagine the face he's making at it.] ...Gladly.

[And honestly...he's not sure quite what to make of that point. So no hostilities- or at least taking out frustration on each other- but he can still dislike him? Can he still avoid his friends? Pretend he doesn't exist?]

[So, excuse him as he tries to figure out wtf he's supposed to do with this point]

So...does this mean we just leave each other alone?

[He laughs a little weakly at that.]

It sounds pretty tempting, I'll admit. ...But I don't think it should be that easy.

[There was always going to be someone he didn't want to see or speak to, but why was he going to be a coward about that? Especially when that someone is just some version of himself. It speaks volumes if he runs even from that.]

It's not like I'm expecting us to be buddy buddy or anything like that. It's just, I doubt things are going to work out that smoothly. And maybe we should just deal with it a bit better than ignoring each other out of spite.

So, you're just going to have to deal with putting up with my mug once in a while. ...But I won't tell you how to live. Sound fair?

[There's a pause. He wants to argue, and find some reason to avoid Zelos- buuut he knows with his luck that actually happening is pretty unlikely. Ugh.]

[And so, sounding closer to a sullen teen than anything else]

Fine.

You free to talk?

[Fortunately, Kaneis doesn't have the slightest clue what Halloween is, so he's around to answer]

Sure. What's up?

I think I finally know how to tell you.
About the problem with my element. If it still matters.

Yeah?

[He can't see it, but Kaneis straightens up in his pilot seat some]

If it matters to you, then it matters. So what is it?

[ it's strange to read that, and he's resistant to internalize it. no, it doesn't. since when was that true? jeez, what a dork... he doesn't understand what he's saying. ]

I'll call instead. I don't know if I could type it all out.
It's not the shortest story.

[Shut up and take it Riku, goddess]

Alright. I think my crew's out doing...whatever. Should be alright.

[ nnnever

after a moment or two, riku does call, though he sounds a little hesitant; ]

Hey. [ deep breath in. ] For the record... I haven't really told anyone about this.

[ aka i'm trusting you you douchelord ]

driftfleet ☼ IC Contact

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