chosen_gigolo | Voicemail

[It had been a few days since Sunday, but Lloyd's mind is still in whirl over what happened. All these feelings are so unfamiliar. What does he DO? Dammit, why are things like this so easy for everyone else? Well, maybe not EVERYONE else, but Zelos never has any problems figuring out how he feels about girls!
Zelos. That... Actually, maybe that's a good idea. If he talks to Zelos, maybe his friend can help him figure this whole thing out. He grabs his starfish, already heading out. He'll just call ahead to make sure the redhead is home.]
Uh, hey, Zelos? Can I stop by your house?

[What's this? A call from Lloyd? Well he's never one to ignore his bud even if he is getting ready for work. The club can wait a bit. Plus Lloyd stopping by is still something of a novelty to Zelos.]
Sure! You don't have to ask Bud, just come on over.
[He's always pleased that Lloyd doesn't have to ask~]

[Lloyd smiles just a little. It means something to him that Zelos doesn't even ask any questions, just welcomes Lloyd to come over anytime he wants.]
I know. I just wanted to make sure you'd be there. I'm already on my way, so it'll only be a few minutes. I'll... see you in a bit, okay?
[He turns the SFC off. He'll be true to his word, though, knocking on the door to Zelos's home within a few minutes of the call.]

[And the door opens almost immediately. He totally wasn't waiting right there, nope]
Hey! What's shakin?

[Normally Lloyd would have smiled and greeted Zelos just as happily as Zelos is greeting him. Today, though, he feels too awkward and uncertain to pull his usual cheerfulness off. He still manages a smile, though.]
Hey. Can we... talk in your room? I mean, you live with other people right? It's kind of personal.

[Well that rings all kinds of alarms in Zelos' head. Something's wrong? Time to drop everything and talk it out.]
Sure, no problem. Zelda's still pretty much in hiding and Dhaos is... who even cares, but we shouldn't be bothered.
[He holds the door open for Lloyd to step in then leads his friend up to the somewhat messy bedroom. Try as he might, Zelos still can't quite get the hang of not having a butler.]

[Lloyd's not about to criticize Zelos for the state of his room. His own room isn't any better. Cleanliness is the last thing on his mind, though. Even the mention of Zelda hiding only makes him pause for a moment. But it doesn't sound urgent - Zelos would take care of his roommates, right?- so Lloyd puts off asking about it for now.
Feeling increasingly flustered, he drops unceremoniously onto the edge of Zelos's bed. Where does he even begin?]
Zelos, you... You know a lot about liking girls, right?

[Zelos flops himself in the overstuffed deskchair and turns it to face the bed and his friend, though he sort of freezes at the question and raises an eyebrow.]
I'm pretty much the expert~
[A slow grin spreads over Zelos' face. Had Lloyd finally noticed Colette in more than a friendly light? It's pretty obvious to everyone but them it seemed.]
Got someone in mind?

[If Zelos had been trying to make Lloyd blush, the results burn brightly on the brunette's cheeks. The teen ducks his head, and almost, almost considers just backing out and leaving so he won't have to admit what happened. He feels embarrassed even thinking about what he did.]
W-well, yes, sort of. I just...
[He swallows.]
I- I kissed Sheena!
[Oh god, he just blurted it out.]

Good for you, Lloyd! You finally kis-
[And then his ears catch up with his brain.]
...
[Wait, Sheena?]
......
[Sheena?!]
...................when was this?

[Can he just die now? That would be so convenient.]
On... on Sunday. I... I forgot she was in my bed and I walked in and she was there and... [The words come spilling out now, until he's almost babbling.] And I don't know what happened. We were in bed and I was worried about her bruise, and then... and then... It just happened!

[Zelos simply stares for a very long minute while the gears turn. Sunday. So. Sheena's in the bubble. Not only is she in the bubble but she was in Lloyd's bed. Not only was she in Lloyd's bed, but they were in bed together. Not only that, but he kissed her.
He keeps staring.
He knows Sheena's held a torch for Lloyd for a long time. Of course, they'd both seperately come to the conclusion that Lloyd was too derp to realize it, especially considering that fiasco in Altamira (granted Zelos had enjoyed himself immensely despite every insecurity in the book, but he felt it was borrowed time when he knew Sheena was thinking of Lloyd the entire time). But now he'd kissed her.
The staring continues.
So what does that mean, then? Or is that what Lloyd's asking? Does he not know? Does he even feel that way?! It was a curse, right?! But Zelda had only seemed to flirt with people she liked to begin with so if that's the case with this too, then...
Shit. He has to say something.
He shifts in his seat, making a show of getting more comfortable even when he's pretty certain that comfortable isn't something he can achieve at the moment.]
Well~ Good job!

[Lloyd stares. He isn't sure what he'd expected from Zelos after the other man had been quiet for so long, but... good job? His cheeks turn a brighter shade of red.]
I- I don't need to be congratulated, Zelos! I didn't do anything! I just kissed her, and- and touched her, and... and I don't know what I'm supposed to do. There were other girls, and- I mean, I didn't kiss them, but I liked looking at them, and I touched some of them, too, and... Zelos, I've never felt like this before!

[Jealousy, surprisingly, is not something Zelos feels often, but right now it's rearing it's ugly green head. He kissed her and he doesn't- How can Lloyd even-?! No nonono, it was a curse. Calm down, calm down.... touched how? Noooo calm down.
Okay. Right.
Breathe.
Lloyd's obviously in distress about this, gotta stay calm. Gotta keep a level head. He came to you for help, not... whatever the hell you're feeling.]
It was a curse Lloyd, don't worry so much! Buncha people's hormones got all out of wack. Still, though, that sounds to me like sexual attraction. Didn't the professor do any sex ed classes?
[He rests his chin on his hand, achieving a benign expression only to mask the frustration he'd really rather not be feeling.]

[Is Zelos trying to mortify Lloyd? Lloyd can feel the heat literally creeping down his neck!]
I know what sex is! You don't have to bring that up!
[That's totally irrelevant! He doesn't want sex!]
If it was a curse, then why do I still feel that way when I think about... about what I did? Oh god, Zelos, I'm even thinking about the Professor like that! And I still... And Sheena... I can't stop thinking about it.

[He's not trying but apparently he's doing a rather good job of it anyway. He leans back in the chair again, waving a hand dismissively.]
Hey, the Professor's a lady too. Didn't know older women were your taste~
[He smirks, mouth curling a little cruelly before reigning it in, ashamed of himself. Damnit, he needs to help, not deride. A sigh escapes him and he brings that hand to the back of his head to ruffle his hair in thought.]
I get it, it's really complicated feelings, right? Just... y'know, take a minute and a deep breath to try and figure out how you really feel. Do you wish you hadn't? Are you kinda glad you did? Do you wanna kiss her again?
[Not that he wants to know but this is helping, isn't it? And... well, if it turns out that Lloyd really does like Sheena then... she'd be quite happy, and there's no way Lloyd would treat her poorly outside of being dumb about things like that, but he'd learn. Really it'd be for the best...]

[Zelos, you're not helping. Lloyd still feels like he wants to melt right into the earth. He's pretty sure he's flushing enough to put his jacket to shame. He probably looks like a tomato.]
Well, I...
[How can he admit something like what Zelos is asking him to say?]
I... I don't think I regret it. W-well, except maybe Professor Raine. But... I... [He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.] I think I liked... kissing Sheena. It made me feel...
[How does he even describe it?]

[...yeah. Okay. This is good, isn't it? Sheena'll be happy, and Lloyd'll be happy, and everyone'll be happy and... yeah. Happy. Right.]
So what's the problem, then?

How do I know if I like her like that, though? You've kissed lots of girls.
[Somehow this becomes slightly less embarrassing when he turns the topic onto Zelos. Only slightly, though.]
You don't like all of them like that, do you? [Right?] So... How do I know if... if Sheena's the one I like?

Uh, well...
[That's... not something he wants to explain to Lloyd.]
I like all of them in different ways but... I'd imagine you'd know because of things like not being able to get her off your mind, or seeing things and thinking 'oh, she'd like that' right away, wondering what she'd think of things... stuff like that.

[Lloyd goes quiet for a moment, really trying to think about that despite his mortification. When he finally speaks, though, his voice is small.]

What if... What if there's more than one girl I think about like that?

[Nope. Nope. Not getting mad. Lloyd's not experienced with this stuff. He doesn't know that if Sheena heard that she'd be crushed, he probably doesn't even know how much Sheena likes him; Zelos can't imagine the proud kunoichi telling Lloyd that even after a kiss. Hell, she probably ran off or hit him.

Or, well, no. He doubts she hit Lloyd. The beatdowns are usually reserved for the idiot Chosen.

Still, Zelos is in an incredibly awkward position. He doesn't want to have to explain this to Lloyd. He knows what he does isn't right for his bud any more than monogamy would work for himself, and both Colette and Sheena (he's assuming the other girl is Colette because seriously, who else could it be?) deserve to be the center of whoever their with's universe.

Lloyd could do that for either of them. The question is, which? After a kiss, well... things tend to get complicated. Sheena would be pretty devastated if Lloyd did that then back-peddled, but she'd be worse off if Lloyd lead her on. Unless he really does love her...?

Some little, selfish, vindictive part of Zelos hopes he doesn't. And besides, what about Colette? So obviously adoring of Lloyd, just waiting for him to realize she's been there all along. That's what he sees, anyway.

Zelos doesn't envy Lloyd's conundrum, though he does have his own thoughts on who he'd like Lloyd to pick.]

It happens. It's not always cut and dry like in the fairy tales, y'know? But I think I know you pretty well Bud and you'd want to concentrate on one person the most, am I right?

[Guilt makes Lloyd's conscience twinge. Zelos is right and he knows it. He shouldn't be having feelings like this for more than one person. He doesn't want to. He generally prefers to throw his whole heart into it when he decides he likes something (or someone).

But his heart beats just as fast when he thinks of kissing Colette as it did when he kissed Sheena. What is he supposed to do with that?]

I do. Of course I do. But... I don't know how to decide. It's not like I can just... just ask Colette to kiss me so I can compare.

[Even he's not that clueless.

Also, Zelos was totally right that it's Colette he was thinking about along with Sheena. And Lloyd's turning bright red again.]

It wouldn't be fair to do that. To... to either of them. So... should I go with Sheena because I kissed her first?

No!

[The word is out of his mouth before he can catch it, but he tries to cover the vehemence of it by forging onward quickly.]

Lloyd, look, you gotta think about who you'd actually want to be with. Colette and Sheena aren't just any hunnies, they're special, unique in different ways, not to mention your friends. You gotta compare the two, how you feel about each of them and who you want to be with carefully before making any kind of decision you tell them about or you'll hurt one or the other's feelings. I mean, if you decide to date Sheena just because you kissed her but you're not serious, you're gonna end up hurting her. Same with Colette, and I know that's the last thing you wanna do.

[He leans back, folding his arms in an affected nonchalance.]

Hell, you might have already hurt her feelings.

[Okay that.. was a little vindictive. He's sorry he said it, but if he apologizes for it he'll have to explain why he apologized and... no no forget it if Lloyd's serious than Sheena'll be better off. If he chooses her. It's why he's tempted to push Lloyd in that direction. But then what about Colette..?

No, it's better if Lloyd figures it out without meddling. Yeah. Exactly. Not gonna meddle.]

You've know Colette forever though, right?

[Damnit.]

[Lloyd's head jerks up, his eyes wide with surprise and sudden worry.]

Wait, I might have hurt her already? How?!

[He never wants to hurt Colette. Or Sheena, for that matter.]

[He can't just baldly tell Lloyd that Sheena likes him. That's not fair to Sheena, who should tell him in her own time, but if he doesn't then he won't be able to explain to Lloyd and she might actually get hurt...]

Well you kissed her but you're not sure about her. You'd be confused if someone did that to you, wouldn't you?

[Of course women do that to Zelos all the time and it's not confusing but he never likes them back. Well. Almost never. Even if he does, he knows they're better off keeping things all in good fun and he doesn't ever pursue, not for anything serious anyway.

He thinks of Estelle briefly before shaking the thought away.]

You gotta talk to 'em, but not until you figure out what you're going to do...

[Wait... he should have asked this right away. It was a curse, after all, so...]

Did you kiss Colette too?

I haven't seen Colette yet. Not since... since all this started.

[And now he's just as glad he hadn't, because if he's this confused when it's just Sheena he kissed, kissing Colette would make it two hundred percent!

But as Zelos's advice begins to sink in, Lloyd's hopes dip as he realizes what exactly it means.]

...this isn't going to be easy to fix, is it?

Feelings never are.

[The redhead moves to plunk himself down next to Lloyd, more able to shove his own misgivings aside now that Lloyd obviously understand the gravity of the situation.]

Both of 'em know you mean well though, so you've got that going for you.

[He grins encouragingly.]

Besides, if you mess it up you can just tell 'em I gave you bad advice~

[He's used to being the pariah. For Lloyd, he'll do it happily.]

[Lloyd laughs at that, shoving Zelos in the side with his elbow.]

I'm not going to lie and blame you, Zelos. If I messed up, I need to fix my own mistakes.

[He's grateful, though, for the laugh and the advice. He really needed both.]

Thanks, Zelos. For talking to me about all this.

[Lloyd's laugh turns Zelos' grin a little more genuine, though he's still not sure if he's done the right thing here.

Well, that's not true. He knows he's done the right thing but he still isn't pleased about it. He doesn't envy Lloyd, figuring between two of the sweetest girls in the world? No way. But either would be lucky to have Lloyd and Lloyd would be lucky to have either so what is there left to say? He just knows someone should try and be there to comfort who he doesn't choose.

Not that Zelos should really be comforting anyone about that sort of thing... He should just stay out of it. But he knows he won't.

Damnit, when did he start to care so much?]

Hey, far be it from me to leave my Bud hanging when I can help! I'm the expert on all things romantic, after all~

I dunno about expert...

[Lloyd can't help but tease his friend. That's part of what he and Zelos do, give each other a hard time sometimes. They both know they don't mean it. It's just something fun.]

But yeah, that's why I came to you. You do know more than me about all this stuff. I guess now I just need to think about it.

Totally an expert. I have a fanclub to prove it~

[He drapes an arm over Lloyd's shoulder in a gesture of comfort and camaraderie disguised as brotherly teasing.]

I'm sure you'll make the right choice. You've got a knack for that.

You mean if I get fans, I can be an expert, too?

[He shoves Zelos again, though not hard enough to actually dislodge the redhead's arm on his shoulder. He likes the reassurance and the camaraderie, even if he won't admit to it.]

I hope you're right.

[But now he's had enough of serious talk. There will be plenty of time to think about how he feels later. For now...]

Hey, you wanna go get something to eat? My treat!

Sure thing! Sounds great~ Let's go get some sushi or something, if you're buying.

[He'd never suggest it if they were actually going to have to pay since that's expensive and Lloyd isn't exactly made of glad like Zelos is, but here in Vatheon they can pretty much do as they please in that regard.

Despite his frustration with Lloyd's situation and all his internal questions and worries and feelings, he'd rather just ignore everything they just talked about and go on like nothing had been brought up. He doesn't care. Nope.

He may be late for work at this rate, but... forget that too. It's still brotime.]

Voicemail

backdated to 9/5; Lloyd in red, Zelos in pink

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