voice ✖ un: M0003

[farmerofwrath]

[Under normal conditions, Zen wouldn't bother resorting to the network for this kind of question, often preferring to investigate on his own. But growing impatience pushes him to do this, in a way he assumes will yield quick answers.

When the audio starts, there's a distinctive sound of a lighter, followed by an exhalation. Smokers, and those who have been around one for long enough to recognize this combination of sounds will easily be able to infer that he is, in fact, smoking.]

I guess this has been asked countless and countless of times, so what's one more time, right?

[A small pause as he takes another drag, breathing the smoke out more softly this time. Despite the sharp wording, his tone is somehow controlled.]

Anyone know of a way to stop whatever this moon's doing that's getting on my nerves?

[Because it's hard not to make the connection between the sanguine moon up in the sky and the maddening restlessness.]

Comments

[farmerofwrath]

[Zen can't help but click his tongue in annoyance before answering.]

Look, helping isn't stopping. I want to stop it for good.

[The truth that goes unsaid is that he's not willing to rely on something like intimacy with others, much less have sex with people he doesn't trust.]

[stabbersinyerfambles]

Mn.

[ And with a deeply annoyed breath of his own: ]

You don't have to take my advice, 'know it isn't for everyone, but'f what you're asking for were possible...

Some times life turns sour an' there's no easy fix for it. You have to find a way to deal with it best you can.

[farmerofwrath]

Yeah, yeah, don't worry. I won't.

[He wants to retort what sounds like words of comfort with a snide comeback, but instead what comes is another short silence followed by the sound of him exhaling.]

... In other words, no one's found a way to stop it?

[It's not like him to be optimistic, but part of him wonders if it just hasn't been found yet.]

[stabbersinyerfambles]

Only way I can think's to get away from the moons' light all together, as'n being sent back to the star you came from. The Prismals've no interest in finding any other way and if there are other Moonblessed looking...

[ He starts to shrug but, oh yeah, his camera isn't on. ]

'Don't know of any.

[farmerofwrath]

[All of a sudden, the idea of going back home doesn't sound so bad. Zen knows it's easier said than done, anyway.]

Both of which are impossible, huh.

So it's either find some stranger to get it on with or go crazy. Great.

[Looks like he'll have to find something (dangerously) exciting to do to let off some steam. He'll keep the other option in mind for when he finds likely candidates.]

[stabbersinyerfambles]

Eh, never say never. Found myself sent back once an' I know it's happened to others. 'Was only a temporary stay, but still...I've known a few who go back and stay, too.

[ That's what he has to assume happened to people like Hal and Takame. ]

It has something t'do with how much Chroma we can make. Speakin' of: it need not be a stranger, nor does it have t'actually be swiving.

[farmerofwrath]

Let me guess. Your temporary stay in your world happened at the whim of whatever brought us here?

[Because he certainly never wished to be sent to another world — even if his was in ruins. Especially not when he was trying to avoid having his past literally put on display for his "friends" back home. The mere thought of not knowing what happened after he was sent here is enough to worsen his mood.]

The point is, everyone here is a stranger to me. And there's intimacy involved in making chroma, right?

[He's inferring that from experience (some of which were not so quite pleasant). And perhaps he's sounding a little more exasperated than he'd like.]

[stabbersinyerfambles]

More or less. And most everyone here was a stranger to me too when I first woke. 'Called 'making friends', or is this prickly attitude of yours not solely due to Sanguis?

[farmerofwrath]

[He got emotional for a second there and slipped up. Wonderful. Zen's pretty much glaring at his device now, even though he knows the other can't see his face.]

Who knows? Maybe this Sanguis is making me say things I don't mean. Or maybe I'm just not interested in making friends.

[One is a blatant lie and the other is a lie he tries so hard to convince himself of.]

[stabbersinyerfambles]

[ He can't see Zen's face but Cehd'ra can practically hear it. Maybe Zen takes on serpent traits like he does? Only he's the sort that spits venom.

And maybe Sanguis is influencing him, too; making him more apt to poke at the other than try to soothe. ]

'Should try it! M'sure there's someone out there with enough patience.

[farmerofwrath]

[So this guy is the sort to be deceptively kind just so he can poke fun at others' weaknesses when they let their guard down?

But if he wants to make fun of Zen, two can play this game.]

Even I had enough patience to listen to your blabbering disguised as advice, so yeah, I'm certain there is.

[stabbersinyerfambles]

Ha! An' if you're listening still, may be work on thickening your skin, too.

[farmerofwrath]

Look who's talking. You sound like a brat throwing a tantrum over a failed attempt at "making friends". Guess you're the kind that can't live without the approval of others?

[stabbersinyerfambles]

[ Cehd'ra was doing a fine job at shrugging Zen's barbs off and sounding flippant, he's been told a lot meaner things after all. But that smarmy question at the end finally manages to hit too close to home.

There's a pause. ]

...I know Sanguis can get t'me, same as it does t'you. 'Wasn't trying to hurt you. 'Don't like doing it.

Guess I'll work on that approval thing too, here'n now.

[ Zen gets his quiet hang up, let him take his win. ]

[farmerofwrath]

[When their little game ends abruptly with him as the victor, he stares blankly at his device as though expecting to feel good about winning, but what he feels isn't satisfaction. But a sliver of guilt underneath the layers of anger and restlessness. The latter two which refuse to clear up even after lashing out at someone whose face or name he doesn't even know.

Seems he went a bit too far again.]

(ooc: I'mma have him awkwardly apologize via inbox (´∀｀*) cehd'ra 100% didn't deserve this)