[Much like Zero, Sora's gift to Axl is met with confusion until he figures out what Christmas is and... to be honest, he's not really sure what these are for. But he can tell that the cacti are pure organic lifeforms.
But what is he supposed to do with them?????
Sora, you might have doomed these poor cacti to death. Rest in pieces.]
[ Hey buddy, you've got an incoming call! ... In terms of how it feels when it's sent out, it's somewhere between an obnoxious doorbell and getting punched in the back of the head. Someone isn't thrilled. ]
Tell me where you are, now. 'Cause if you make me have to look for you ...
[ Because barking at Axl like that is really going to change his mind, of course. The cheekiness is just making an underlying current of irritation pulse in and out. ... Which also doesn't help matters but you know-- ]
[As long as it hasn't reached 'Everything is a literal disaster there is no room for dicking around' levels of irritation it means Axl's still good so--!!]
Maybe after I finish writing down my last words~
[Well at least he acknowledges his impending doom?]
[The only thing Zero gets in return is bright, cheery, obnoxious laughter. He knows Zero will be searching for his signal so he has to move fast to keep the red Hunter from catching up to him.
The chase is on!
And now he'll have a real reason to map out the rest of this city which he still hasn't done yet, shame on him really....]
[ He better be moving fast, because if Zero's not teleporting to various major locations around the city during this search, he's very rapidly moving along the rooftops. ... Probably causing more minor damage than usual, but unfortunately for the rest of the city, he's focused on finding a Certain Lil Shit right now instead of much else.
... So basically, rip the rooftops of Verens. Look what you've caused, Axl. Terrible. ]
[Eh, this city doesn't get enough action anyways. And now the townspeople will have a story about red blips of light appearing all over town for one mysterious day! A sign of impeding doom, or maybe an omen of good luck? Who knows??
Meanwhile, that Certain Lil Shit™ was, for the moment, camping out by the outskirts of the city, waiting for Zero's signal to approach his before moving again. No point in wasting energy running around when he can zip off via teleportation as soon as the elder locked onto him.]
Like I need to hear that from a coward! Come out and face me!
[ ... It's a little hard to tell if he plans on just yelling at Axl face to face or taking a swing at him at this point. Really, Zero's probably not completely sure either.
Still, after bouncing around via teleportation and getting pings that vanish as quickly as they show up, he eventually starts moving between the city and the outskirts of it, to increase his search radius.
... and while he isn't saying a whole bunch, there's a whole lot of irritation over the connection, and boy is it getting worse with each passing second. ]
[ There's nothing but dead silence for a moment or two. Even the constant feed of irritation cuts off for a few seconds. Then-- ]
You'd better hope I don't catch you, Axl, or you'll see just how skilled a Hunter I am.
[ He could probably feel that tone in his robo-DNA for how incredibly aggravated it was. Unfortunately, at the point in time this Zero came from, that largely silent irritation he occasionally has hasn't quite been ... attained completely.
... But Axl's still a Hunter, a kid, and obviously just trying to get to him. And Zero knows this, even as irritated as he is. So at least Axl will likely survive to see tomorrow, regardless of how mad he is right now! ... Likely ... ]
[With that, Axl moves from his stationary position again, intending to start a chase with the elder Maverick Hunter. He's not sure exactly where Zero is, but the moment Zero appears on his own radar (thus allowing himself to appear on Zero's radar, he swerves away from Zero and continues in as straight a line as he possibly can.]
[ Axl you're going to end up living in a shed in someone else's yard if you keep this crap up--
The moment Axl pops up on his radar again, Zero start booking it after him - for a little while, at leqast. It seems like Axl's trying to go in a straight line, so ...
... Zero stops and teleports a yard or so further ahead of where Axl is going. And if Axl doesn't get away fast enough, Zero is absolutely grabbing him the first chance he gets. ]
[Unfortunately for Zero, Axl was expecting that exact action from the red Hunter so Zero misses his grab by a hair's width as Axl boosts to the side and laughs again.]
Missed me!
[And with that he blips off to another location in Verens. Try again Zero!]
[It takes approximately ten minutes before Axl realizes that Zero's not moving. Which is really the opposite of what he wanted, and so he decides to go back to Zero's location. An unwise decision, he knows, and he's well aware Zero's taking the fun out of this on purpose. But sometimes you just have to spring a trap, even if you know it's there.
It takes another five minutes before Axl shows up again on Zero's radar, and then appears visually, staying a fair distance from Zero as he calls out.]
Hey, giving up already? What happened to your S-rank hunting skills?
[Okay, it's one thing knowing what was going on, it's another not to rise to the bait. Sadly, when his pride is being hit like this he not going to sit back and let Zero rip on him like that.
C for 'child' is going to fly right over him.]
Alright, fine! I'll give you a little handicap and get a biiiiit closer.
[And even though he knows doing so is absolutely foolish, he hops off the roof he was perched on and comes within a few metres of Zero.]
[ And yet ...! Zero still doesn't budge. Not yet, anyway ... just a biiit more. But hey, good, the kid has some amount of pride in himself as far as rank goes. Zero will ease off that for now, if only to make sure he doesn't rile Axl up TOO much. Not really his goal here. ]
A handicap for what? You really think I'm gonna chase you around all day? ... I'm not so desperate for something to do that I'd sink to that level.
[ Axl might notice a small flicker of electricity run up one of Zero's legs at that, but otherwise he doesn't so much as twitch. He knows what Axl's trying to do here, he can't screw up when he's this close-- ]
If you're that interested in making things worse for yourself, go ahead. I'm sure X would love to hear about your bizarre fantasies involving us.
[Notice he does, but as usual, Zero's will is strong. Not that he expected anything less.
Mentioning X makes Axl falter a little -- he didn't really want to upset X, and in this state he wasn't sure if X would take his usual jesting calmly.]
Aw, c'mon, you don't have to involve X in this! It's just a joke man!
[ Hmm, he really doesn't seem to want X to know for some reason ... ]
You should've thought of that before spreading rumors involving him. Little too late now ... He's gonna hear about it whether I tell him or someone else does.
[ Oh he wants to. Boy does Zero want to. But at this point, it feels like just telling X about this whole thing will be a better form of punishment than anything he could physically deal out. You are so grounded young man--
So, after a brief, hard stare - as if Zero's considering making a move of some kind on Axl - he looks away, moves off the wall, and turns away to walk off. ]
Save your regrets for after you hear from X about all this.
[ Though really Zero's sure X might, at most, be flustered or annoyed when he hears about this - hell, he might not even bring it up to Axl at all. But hey, he just had to explain to someone that he's not robo-married to his partner, so think whatever you want Axl! ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
12/25
Merry Christmas, Axl!
-Sora
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But what is he supposed to do with them?????
Sora, you might have doomed these poor cacti to death. Rest in pieces.]
[ voice ]
Axl.
Voice
It doesn't stop him from flinching from the pure force of emotion hurled at him like a goddamn punch to his head.]
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyy there Zero.... what's up?
[He knows what's up. His voice says it all. And he doesn't seem the least bit apologetic about it.]
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Well, in that case-- ]
Where are you.
[ That came out more like a direct order than a question. Buddy, do you really want him to have to look. ]
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Somewhere on this island. Maybe.
[No saying he didn't run off to Sharnaath or any of the other Arehtei's cities to hide.
Yep, it's gonna be like this.]
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[ Because barking at Axl like that is really going to change his mind, of course. The cheekiness is just making an underlying current of irritation pulse in and out. ... Which also doesn't help matters but you know-- ]
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Maybe after I finish writing down my last words~
[Well at least he acknowledges his impending doom?]
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I'll give you five minutes.
[ To write his last words? To reveal his location? Both? He's apparently decided to leave it a mystery.
It's both. ]no subject
Cool, I'll go hide while you count down!
[And suddenly it's hide and seek--]
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[ ... Did you miss his overdramatic one-liners, Axl. Look what you're doing, making him pull one of those out.
... He is absolutely searching the entirety of Verens for any reploid signal he can find while this goes on, starting ... now. ]
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The chase is on!
And now he'll have a real reason to map out the rest of this city which he still hasn't done yet, shame on him really....]no subject
[ He better be moving fast, because if Zero's not teleporting to various major locations around the city during this search, he's very rapidly moving along the rooftops. ... Probably causing more minor damage than usual, but unfortunately for the rest of the city, he's focused on finding a Certain Lil Shit right now instead of much else.
... So basically, rip the rooftops of Verens. Look what you've caused, Axl. Terrible. ]
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Meanwhile, that Certain Lil Shit™ was, for the moment, camping out by the outskirts of the city, waiting for Zero's signal to approach his before moving again. No point in wasting energy running around when he can zip off via teleportation as soon as the elder locked onto him.]
Come on, old man, you're getting slow~
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[ ... It's a little hard to tell if he plans on just yelling at Axl face to face or taking a swing at him at this point. Really, Zero's probably not completely sure either.
Still, after bouncing around via teleportation and getting pings that vanish as quickly as they show up, he eventually starts moving between the city and the outskirts of it, to increase his search radius.
... and while he isn't saying a whole bunch, there's a whole lot of irritation over the connection, and boy is it getting worse with each passing second. ]
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[And for extra measure he sends Zero a text that's just--]
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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You'd better hope I don't catch you, Axl, or you'll see just how skilled a Hunter I am.
[ He could probably feel that tone in his robo-DNA for how incredibly aggravated it was. Unfortunately, at the point in time this Zero came from, that largely silent irritation he occasionally has hasn't quite been ... attained completely.
... But Axl's still a Hunter, a kid, and obviously just trying to get to him. And Zero knows this, even as irritated as he is. So at least Axl will likely survive to see tomorrow, regardless of how mad he is right now! ... Likely ... ]
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[With that, Axl moves from his stationary position again, intending to start a chase with the elder Maverick Hunter. He's not sure exactly where Zero is, but the moment Zero appears on his own radar (thus allowing himself to appear on Zero's radar, he swerves away from Zero and continues in as straight a line as he possibly can.]
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The moment Axl pops up on his radar again, Zero start booking it after him - for a little while, at leqast. It seems like Axl's trying to go in a straight line, so ...
... Zero stops and teleports a yard or so further ahead of where Axl is going. And if Axl doesn't get away fast enough, Zero is absolutely grabbing him the first chance he gets. ]
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Missed me!
[And with that he blips off to another location in Verens. Try again Zero!]
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That's it. If he catches Axl, he's strangling him. Forget the actual transgression, THIS is what's really setting him off now.
Running after him like this over and over is a gigantic waste of energy, so instead, he decides to try something completely different.
Staying right where he is, and doing absolutely nothing. Just leaning against the wall. ]
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It takes another five minutes before Axl shows up again on Zero's radar, and then appears visually, staying a fair distance from Zero as he calls out.]
Hey, giving up already? What happened to your S-rank hunting skills?
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I only use them on opponents that prove themselves to be worth my time and effort.
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Sounds like you're just throwing the towel in to me. Hah, the legendary Hunter can't catch a lower ranking Hunter like me!
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That's what this looks like you to? Hmph. I guess you really are a lower rank. C, maybe.
[ For "child", but he'll leave that for Axl to figure out on his own. ]
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[Okay, it's one thing knowing what was going on, it's another not to rise to the bait. Sadly, when his pride is being hit like this he not going to sit back and let Zero rip on him like that.
C for 'child' is going to fly right over him.]
Alright, fine! I'll give you a little handicap and get a biiiiit closer.
[And even though he knows doing so is absolutely foolish, he hops off the roof he was perched on and comes within a few metres of Zero.]
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A handicap for what? You really think I'm gonna chase you around all day? ... I'm not so desperate for something to do that I'd sink to that level.
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[Besides the fact that exercise doesn't really do anything for Reploids like it does humans, but mentally! Good for the mind. Or something like that.
He takes a few steps closer, hoping to incite Zero into action.]
I mean, I guess if you're not gonna chase me I'll just go tell more people about your 'relationship' with X~
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If you're that interested in making things worse for yourself, go ahead. I'm sure X would love to hear about your bizarre fantasies involving us.
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Mentioning X makes Axl falter a little -- he didn't really want to upset X, and in this state he wasn't sure if X would take his usual jesting calmly.]
Aw, c'mon, you don't have to involve X in this! It's just a joke man!
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You should've thought of that before spreading rumors involving him. Little too late now ... He's gonna hear about it whether I tell him or someone else does.
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Aw man... that sucks.
[Now would be Zero's chance if he still wants to enact some sort of punishment by his own hands.]
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You are so grounded young man--So, after a brief, hard stare - as if Zero's considering making a move of some kind on Axl - he looks away, moves off the wall, and turns away to walk off. ]
Save your regrets for after you hear from X about all this.
[ Though really Zero's sure X might, at most, be flustered or annoyed when he hears about this - hell, he might not even bring it up to Axl at all. But hey, he just had to explain to someone that he's not robo-married to his partner, so think whatever you want Axl! ]
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