IC contact

[bebest]

Zulius

You got Zulius. I'm busy being fabulous. Deposit hot goss here.

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

FROM: SUBJECT: MAXIMA Zulius...would you have time to talk... JUN Actually... I might have an idea... LYCAON Present LYNEY Hello! This is the owner/operator of the Vogue, right? ZEVRAN Your highness. DIARMUID Zulius, my friend. GILGAMESH Once again, I grace you with my sparkling presence. EDWARD Happy 21st! SAMPO Yoooo-hooo. House-visit! GIL Dearest Zulius, best of all the best... VERGIL I do wonder how you can go to sleep and... LYCAON Happy 21st birthday to you yet again. ROSE Zulius, we need to talk. ROSE Fancy a girl’s night? TAKAME Zulius, were you and Vittore still curious as to Gilgamesh's whereabouts? VERGIL & GIL Amor. I felt of all people who needed a message... VENTI Queen Bestie, I'm gonna need some mercy from... GIL Good morning, o shining beacon of Kaisou's culture and sophistication~ EDWARD Do you have one of those blue-and-purple flags... JUN Edward Kenway intended to take on the... ROSE Zulius, are you there? ZHONGLI Zulius, I'm checking in to make sure... VERGIL I have two questions for you. GIL zulius, there's no rest for the wicked... LAPIS hi, sorry that this is a bit out of the blue but DANG HENG Secret Santa TAKAME Zulius? Would it be alright if I brought you something? SHROUD Zulius, owner of the Vogue. ELLIOT & VENTI Zulius, I got a lead on a new actor to fill... EDWARD Mate, you’re good at accessories... VERGIL mi dispiace ZERO Zulius? Are you here today? VERGIL/WOLFWOOD ...Before you say anything... ZERO Something important has come up... VENTI Hey, Zules! I've got some news for you... ASH turnabout's fair play TAKAME unable to work tonight my apologies ROSE Zulius, do you have a moment? TAKAME There is something I wish to ask... RYOUTA zulius! i got some freshly brewed T E A to spill for you!

TO: SUBJECT: AIDES Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay darlings! LYCAON I, your dear sweet Papa... VENTI So hey Bestie, you can now add... VENTI BEST BESTIE??? Please tell me you're okay! VENTI Bestie forever and forever please confirm or deny. WOLFWOOD Happy B-Day Nick! VERGIL Notable day in HISTORY! KNI Hey Sweetie. I know you've been going through it... VASH Hey Sweetie. I know you've been going through it... DANTE Ding dong, this is your local fabulous zebrataur... GIL Soooooooo. What's the game plan here, Pumpkin? VASH Happy B-Day, Bestie! VERGIL Happy B-Day, Boo! DANTE Happy B-DAY Sugar Tits!!! VENTI Happy B-Day Queen Bestie!! VERGIL Baby can I come sleep with you? :( VERGIL Hey Handsome. Nick's worried that... EDWARD EDWARD KENWAY?!!!!!! ROSE Rosey this is NOT funny! VENTI SHOW 👏 ME 👏 THE 👏 RING!! VERGIL Hey so you know how they told us we REEEAAALLY shouldn't make the fae mad at us? ELLIOT Happy B-Day, Elliot! FURINA Hey Sweetie. I haven't seen you at work for a while... VERGIL Happy Valentines Day, Boo! ELLIOT Hey El. Would you do me a favour for three thousand dollars? VERGIL My turn to send you flowers VENTI OMG, Bestie! I have SO much tea... ROSE Ding dong. This is your check-up call... VERGIL H-hey, Vergil. You busy tonight? ZHONGLI & VENTI So hey, FUNNY, FUNNY thing happens to me today! VERGIL Okay, I have been SUPER nice and given you... MOXXIE Hey, Moxx! They've got OUR production of Cats... VENTI Girl, are you Shakespeare??!!!! DANTE So, is your brother just SUPER into painting or... VERGIL New Zhongli tits out statue dropped. xoxo ZHONGLI Hey, Zhongli. Can you do me a solid? ZHONGLI "Dear Zulius, my hottest and most..." ZHONGLI Ding dong Avon calling. ZHONGLI Oh look, it's ME again! ZHONGLI Heeeyyy Gorgeous. You're good at contracts and paperwork... VERGIL Hey Handsome, Madama Butterfly is on tonight VERGIL A gift!! AUGUST Haaaaaay! Takame hit me up... RYOUTA Now I've got some prime tea for YOU! TAKAME Hey you. How're you feeling?

code by cawaii

Comments

[bebest]

[He lets out a soft little 'heh' noise. He tries to make his tone sound like his usual nary-a-care-in-the-world patter, but it's not quite right. There's an undertone of worry and grief he can't really mask. ]

Well, obvi! You ARE a person, even if you're like. A weird leggy gremlin who lives in the ceiling and doesn't know what a colour palette is. [Ah. His voice catches a bit there. He closes his eyes, and sucks in a breath. Getting his shit together.] And of course you deserved a chance. And got my fabulous self as a friend, but still, you're totes welcome.

[The smile fades. This is hard. He folds his arms.]

Look. I'm not gonna say I love this, because I super don't. But I get why you've gotta. Just- there's always a place for you here, okay? If you ever get to the point where you feel like you can... come home.

[Right, smile back on, he waves his hand airily.]

At least let me set you up with some sort of fun while you're out there razing buildings to the ground, 'kay? So you don't have to sleep in a cardboard box and eat actual food while you're out there.

[scryption]

[Zero watches him patiently. Expressing emotions isn't her strong suit, but even so, there's something... vaguely sad in her expression. She doesn't want to leave either, but she must. It will haunt her until she does.]

Home. Somehow I like the sound of that. [She looks down for a moment, looks at her hands. When her gray-eyed gaze finds Zulius again, she is smiling. It's faint but it's there.] I will return. I don't know when, but I intend to, when I have had my fill of the world.

[She used to be an adventurer in that other life. Perhaps this was always going to happen.]

I would not turn away the help. I will also write you and Jusis letters periodically, so you know I am not dead.

[DO YOU HAVE TO PUT IT THAT WAY ZERO]

[bebest]

[The smile is a nice surprise, and it does take the sting out of this a little bit. ]

You've not had the chance to check it out, and it's a whole ass big world out there. Now's the time to do it, right?

[She's earned that much. And she can give herself closure at the same time.]

You better! I need to know all the tea. Also that you're- not dead.

[Seriously Zero, why do you have to put it like that? He considers for a moment, before opening his arms- he's going to give her an option instead of just going for it, because he knows she's not the touchiest person alive.]

Can I get a goodbye hug?

[scryption]

[She nods.] I find myself looking forward to it. That is... a strange feeling to have... but I do not dislike it.

[She looks at his open arms for a second, confused. Then he follows it up with a request for a hug. She knows what one is in theory, and steps closer, but with her arms held out unsteadily.]

I will try, but I do not remember such affections... I may be bad at it.

[ZULIUS SHE'S NEVER BEEN HUGGED THIS IS AN EMERGENCY]

[bebest]

Makes sense! You get to do something you've never had the chance before. Like, you can go out there and make a mark on the world that's ALL yours.

[And he's glad for that! He'll miss her, but she's well overdue in finding her own place in the world. He does have to laugh at her attempts to engage with this hug. Oh, honey. ]

Well, lucky for you, I'm not bad at this. I'm a pro. It's easy.

[He'll step forward to put his arms around her, pulling her into a hug. He gives her a gentle squeeze.]

See? Like this.

[scryption]

[She is stiff in the hug at first, which is to be expected. But the longer she dwells in it, the nicer it feels. She wraps her arms around him, too, but not too tight.]

It's warm...

[She blinks rapidly as she realizes her eyes are starting to feel funny.]

My eyes are... stinging... Is this...?

[She can't remember the last time she cried. When she speaks again, her voice is rough at the edges, even a little wobbly.]

How is it that I don't want to leave when I know I must?

[bebest]

[Aww, he'll just keep her hug going as she goes through a whole new life experience. He's glad he could give this to her before she went on her world tour of revenge and destruction. Though the fact she's getting emotional means he hasn't got a single hope. ]

Awww, no. Don't you start crying, because then I'm gonna start crying.

[Tears are definitely prickling his eyes, it would be on a day he didn't wear waterproof eyeliner too. He'll give her another little squeeze. ]

Yeah, Honey, that's what happens when you're leaving people behind. But I get it, and hey, I'll still be here once you're all done, okay? Promise. I won't be going anywhere.

[scryption]

I am sorry. [It's genuine, if not awkward... Everything about her is awkward. She wants to get out of the hug but she isn't sure if she should squirm or not. What if he gets mad? Aaaahhhh she sucks at this.]

Good... I would not know where to find you in another city. I know this one well.

[She wipes at the corners of her eyes and looks at her fingertips. Yep, that's tears.]

I will tell you all about what I have seen when I return.

... Thank you again for everything.

[bebest]

[At least Zulius understand she's an awkward duck, so he does eventually let her go, patting her arm gently.]

Zero, Sweetie, you've got nothing to be sorry for. And right? Luckily I've made my MARK here. Nowhere else is fabulous enough for me.

[Nowhere!!!]

I'm looking forward to it!! [Genuinely. He wants to know how she did, out there in the big wide world. Finally finding herself now that she's got a 'herself' to find. He offers her a smile, not as big and obnoxious as usual. A little more gentle, genuine. ] Literally anytime. You go out there and have ALL the adventures. I'm rooting for you.

[scryption]

[She's grateful at being released, and surreptitiously rubs her face on her sleeve. Definitely not tearing up, not at all.]

I should go. [She starts toward the door, hesitates, and adds:] This place... and the people in it... are precious. I will not forget what you have done for me.

Farewell for now, Zulius.

[She smiles at him, a more tangible and soft thing, and then tucks her hat as goodbye.

Things will certainly be interesting in Europe the next few months.]