[It was an absolutely horrific time and Zulius still has nightmares about it, he expect he always will at this point. At Kni's comment he arches an eyebrow. ]
Okay, Kni? Honey? Sweetie? I super do not like talking about this so if I'm gonna open up a door I usually keep extremely closed, I'm gonna have to need you to stop the BS train at this station and work with me here.
[ In other words: he's not buying it. ]
I get you've got a whole different thang going on, but you are still a sixteen-year-old-kid and you're obviously going through it, or you wouldn't be hiding in the woods, avoiding everyone, would you? You'd just be going through your day-to-day like normal. But you're not which shows that, well, a, you're not a sociopath and also b, something there freaked you out.
[he snaps back, frustration underlining his tone. how does he put into words that he's still haunted by that rotting hallucination, afraid that if he looks at wolfwood now he'll see it again. he feels surrounded by tragedy, helpless to stop any of it.
but he owes it to vash not to cause him more trouble. maybe he can't help what he does back in his own world, but here he can't keep falling into those old habits.] Wolfwood died, but Vash... he suffered so much. If I was there they'd just... fret. [his hands tighten into fists over his lap, eyes fixated on the scuffed up grass between his boots.] I know they're worried, but this is- it's better.
[Zulius doesn't react to the outburst, just examining his fingernails as if Kni was just telling him how his day went. He waits until the teenager is done, before heaving out a sigh. ]
Oh, honey, no. It's not better. Not for you. Not for them. They're gonna fret either way, and I promise you that they are fretting a lot more not knowing where you are. Not knowing how to reach out and help you while you're hurting because you're not there. Because they suffered a lot, but so did you.
[He reaches out to put a hand on Kni's shoulder, to give it a little squeeze.]
What you all need right now is to be together, because that's what family does. You kinda need to stick together through this mess - it's the only way you're gonna heal. Aren't you tired, Kiddo? Don't you wanna go home? I know they want you to.
[he really needs to keep a tighter lid on his emotions, knowing any further breaking down would just make zulius dig his heels-- hooves in harder. even after a year and some change, he doesn't know how to handle the support and care given to him over and over and despite zulius' sincerity, kni still feels undeserving of it. the little squeeze has him finally looking up at zules.]
[Kni is correct that Zulius will dig his hooves in. What he doesn't know is there doesn't need to be a breakdown for that. Zulius will care unconditionally for him regardless. Welcome to being loved, you stubborn little shite. He nods, heaving out a sigh. ]
Yeah, that's fair. You've not exactly had it easy, and this place is doing everything it can to stop you from just having a regular childhood.
[Which it can stop at anytime now, thanks! He considers. ]
Only if you check in with them. Just a little message to your family so they know you're safe. They'll feel WAY better hearing it from me than you.
[He examines his fingernails. ]
Aaaaand if you don't go home in a few days, I'm gonna come for you. Zero mercy.
Zulius, my school teachers and classmates all thought I was part of a cult. They still do, actually. There's nothing regular about anything here.
[but he's had more here than he would have had anywhere else, too. kni could never discount the view of the summer sun rising and setting from that back porch, the sounds of conversation floating through the open kitchen window. those little moments were fleeting and precious.]
You really don't need to do that.
[kni folds the scarf up, setting it back in the bag zules gave him.]
Okay, fair point, how about instead: as regular a childhood as you can have in all the chaos? Will that work, Grouchy Pants?
[Work with him here, Kiddo! Zulius flaps his hand, dismissively. Because Zulius Bunter doesn't make threats, he makes promises, and he plans to stand by that one. ]
Good, you better or you'll find I SO need to do that. Because I worry about you, and that's just how I show my affection.
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ornamentals) wrote2030-07-01 11:44 am
no subject
Okay, Kni? Honey? Sweetie? I super do not like talking about this so if I'm gonna open up a door I usually keep extremely closed, I'm gonna have to need you to stop the BS train at this station and work with me here.
[ In other words: he's not buying it. ]
I get you've got a whole different thang going on, but you are still a sixteen-year-old-kid and you're obviously going through it, or you wouldn't be hiding in the woods, avoiding everyone, would you? You'd just be going through your day-to-day like normal. But you're not which shows that, well, a, you're not a sociopath and also b, something there freaked you out.
no subject
[he snaps back, frustration underlining his tone. how does he put into words that he's still haunted by that rotting hallucination, afraid that if he looks at wolfwood now he'll see it again. he feels surrounded by tragedy, helpless to stop any of it.
but he owes it to vash not to cause him more trouble. maybe he can't help what he does back in his own world, but here he can't keep falling into those old habits.] Wolfwood died, but Vash... he suffered so much. If I was there they'd just... fret. [his hands tighten into fists over his lap, eyes fixated on the scuffed up grass between his boots.] I know they're worried, but this is- it's better.
no subject
Oh, honey, no. It's not better. Not for you. Not for them. They're gonna fret either way, and I promise you that they are fretting a lot more not knowing where you are. Not knowing how to reach out and help you while you're hurting because you're not there. Because they suffered a lot, but so did you.
[He reaches out to put a hand on Kni's shoulder, to give it a little squeeze.]
What you all need right now is to be together, because that's what family does. You kinda need to stick together through this mess - it's the only way you're gonna heal. Aren't you tired, Kiddo? Don't you wanna go home? I know they want you to.
no subject
I've been tired since I first came to this city.
[which isn't a lie, so that's something.]
... I'll go back in a few days. Is that better?
no subject
Yeah, that's fair. You've not exactly had it easy, and this place is doing everything it can to stop you from just having a regular childhood.
[Which it can stop at anytime now, thanks! He considers. ]
Only if you check in with them. Just a little message to your family so they know you're safe. They'll feel WAY better hearing it from me than you.
[He examines his fingernails. ]
Aaaaand if you don't go home in a few days, I'm gonna come for you. Zero mercy.
no subject
[but he's had more here than he would have had anywhere else, too. kni could never discount the view of the summer sun rising and setting from that back porch, the sounds of conversation floating through the open kitchen window. those little moments were fleeting and precious.]
You really don't need to do that.
[kni folds the scarf up, setting it back in the bag zules gave him.]
... I'll talk to Vash.
no subject
[Work with him here, Kiddo! Zulius flaps his hand, dismissively. Because Zulius Bunter doesn't make threats, he makes promises, and he plans to stand by that one. ]
Good, you better or you'll find I SO need to do that. Because I worry about you, and that's just how I show my affection.