Ruul's ZRP Party: Thread 6.2

"Well, I know that if it weren't for you I might have ended up with one of Chaos' bullet things in me," Kairo said as he remembered meeting everyone on the beach.

"That might've ruined yer day a bit, eh?" Darem laughed.

"Yeah well, I did make myself kind of a target. Snuck up on everyone then punched Cal in the face, Made kind of a nuisance of myself at first."

"'M sure there was a good reason, huh Calcifer?" He grinned.

"Hm. I thought you slapped me." Calcifer thought, half to himself. He shrugged. "Mmmno. Kairo does a lot of things for stupid reasons, so I don't think so." He chuckled a bit to himself, reaching in his bag and fishing out his book. "And I bet that thing Chaos swings around is just some stupid... Well, I-I dunno what it is, but it looks stupid and harmless enough."

"Well I for one make a point of not getting on the wrong side of a weapon I know nothing about. And I totally punched you, you just thought it was a slap because of the shock. Not that I hit like a girl or anything."

Darem glanced between Kairo and Calcifer. He spoke up after the Chaos comment, "I kinda saw him shoot through a skeletons kneecap and make it collapse. Pretty sure havin' that pointed atcha is not the most pleasant thing."

"Wh--" Calcifer seemed a little taken aback. "Shoot like, shoot an arrow? That thing?"

"That's the only way I could describe it." Darem scratched his head, "Dunno what it shot, but it was loud and fast. Faster then any arrow I've seen."

"..." Calcifer flipped through the pages and looked down at his book while they walked, feeling a little stupid. Though he'd never admit it.

"Haha! Don't worry! I'm sure you'll getta see it in action soon enough! Just don't stand too close. You might not hear fer awhile if ya do.""

Calcifer was quiet for a bit. He was trying to read, scanning hastily over the same paragraph over and over, trying to digest the words to no avail. The book shut with a sharp snap.
"What the hell is up with that guy, anyway? Where did you find him? How does some puffed-up, self-important, know-it-all freak like that get a hold of a weapon so... so...!" He folded his arms across his chest in a huff, groaning in frustration. "He's an idiot. A complete idiot. He... pointed that thing at Aero."

"He's had a rough time," Ruul sighed. "From what I understand, he was raised to trust nobody. Everyone was his enemy. I expected you would see a little of yourself in him." He didn't mean his words as a jab at Calcifer in any way, speaking with complete frankness.

Darem kept his eyes on the ground, "Holdin' onto the past doesn't help anything later on." He looked up at Calcifer, his expression was downcast for a moment, making him look old and worn before looking away again. "Even if you don't understand why or how someone does somethin', it's best to just accept the things that ya can't change." Darem swallowed hard. The past him should've followed that advice.

"I-- th-there's nothing about us that's alike." Calcifer's fingertips turned white with his tight grip on the book, his ears scarlet. He kept his eyes averted for a bit before reading again. "Nothing at--..."
He'd gotten significantly far in during the voyage on the ship, about 5/6 of the way through. It was practically the only thing he could do the entire time except vomit. He just turned a page, and apparently came upon something so shocking he stopped walking in stride with everyone, slowing down to a crawl, then to a stop. The blush on his face drained.

Kairo snickered quietly at Calcifer's blush.

"Uh. Whatcha readin'" Darem stopped as Calcifer did, looking towards him.

"A History of Arien" was printed on the spine, the text unobstructed by Calcifer's hands.
Calcifer's shocked expression melting away, he glowered down at the open pages with pursed lips. He looked as though he wanted to hate something, but he just didn't have the energy to. He started walking again, not raising his eyes.
"My home has been invaded by Gerudo."

((I think Arien is the name of the country? Fuck, I can't even remember my own stuff.))

"That's not a new thing, Cal. Why do you seem so shocked?"

"Gerudo?" Darem asked, before crossing his arms, "Gerudo, gerudo, gerudo...I've heard that somewhere..."

"I've been gone for 3 years. I left in the middle of the War, Kairo, I don't exactly get letters from the old family." He ran a hand through his hair. "How, how long did you know?"

"A while. I left as they were incoming. Figured I'd get my mom out of there and try to find my dad. Instead I found you lot and now I'm fighting another war."

"... Mm."

Kairo looked down at his feet as he walked. "I thought you knew," he said quietly

"We have to focus on the task at hand. We can talk about it later. I don't want to think about it."