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Jubilee
Aug 17, 2011 3:23:22 GMT -5
Post by NPC: Male on Aug 17, 2011 3:23:22 GMT -5
Hunter had already devoured two whole batches of cupcakes, and that's a total of two dozen. He just finished his 24th one. Magically, there's not even a smudge of cream on his face nor his clothes, Hunter's a man of great caliber if it consists of his appearance, after all.
"Miki! Zero! Good to see you're back~! Had a nice talk?" Hunter greeted cheerfully, throwing away the piece of cupcake paper-cup he just finished from into a small trash bin beside him, which is apparently filled with the cups from Hunter alone.
"Give me another dozen! Ooh, I want that batch with the cream and cherries, please!"
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Jubilee
Aug 17, 2011 3:30:59 GMT -5
Post by Zephel on Aug 17, 2011 3:30:59 GMT -5
Zeph was just pulling another tray filled with cupcakes from a compartment where he stored the pastries he just baked for Hunter's massive order when he heard a familiar voice. Placing the tray in front of Hunter for the man to help himself, Zeph was pleasantly surprised to see Mitsuko greeting him, as well as a young man beside her asking who's Zeph.
"I'm Zeph. It's very like you to pop out of nowhere again, Mitsuko. Good to see you again," he replied to her with a nod of acknowledgment, putting on a mitten before pulling a tray of fresh cupcakes from the oven.
"Wherever there are pastries, I'm there. Up and ready with a whisk and a sword," he mused sarcastically with his usual flat tone of voice. There's not much difference on Zeph, except that he's wearing an apron...and a deeper frown than usual.
He was sent from Rio Nunez Cafe to host a small cupcake stand when they realized a new amusement park was opened in Gradia. So since Zeph was apparently one of the top bakers, he was immediately chosen to represent the small cafe of Evnae. Zeph wasn't glad, nor sad about the fact. It's just that he's been having a little family problem recently.
"Welcome to RNC Cupcake Stand. We offer various types of cupcakes for gifting or to sinfully devoured by yourself," he greeted, and it's quite apparent to see that he's depressed by something. "We also offer a few activities like cupcake decorating and yada yada..." He waved off the last part as he rolled his eyes.
"Sorry. Not in the mood."
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Jubilee
Aug 17, 2011 7:55:08 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2011 7:55:08 GMT -5
"Zeph is my friend. A very good friend actually. We first met back in highschool at the garden of dreams, when he came falling from the sky, and I caught him, to prevent him from being hurt. And he's also the one that helped me feel better when I told him about you. He told me that he would keep a look out for you, and let me know if he found you for me."
"Because he saw how distressed I was. Having no memories... it's frustrating, its almost like losing who you truly are. Zeph understood this, and he listened to my story when I went to visit him. For that I will always be grateful."
Mitsuko nodded at Zero and gently let go of his arm and went over to Zeph. She could tell that something was bothering him, and she could also understand what he's feeling because she recently went through the same thing, and what that thing was: Trying to recover one's memories, and overall recovering from being an amnesiac.
She knew what Zeph was going through even though he didn't say it outloud the angel knew. The feelings were familiar because she was the same way, depressed and not herself.
She stood over to the side, and out of Zeph's way while he put something in the oven, and once she saw the chance she went closer to Zeph and hugged him. Now she knew he wasn't much of a hugger, but sometimes that action does comfort people. It was the angel's turn to do what she could to help Zeph, and since talking about Zero made her memories clearer she figured if she talked to her friend, his memories would become clearer as well.
Mitsuko had talked to two people about Zero when she started to realize who he was to her. Zeph and Syani.Talking about Zero, and what she remembered about him helped her. The last phase in her regaining her memories was seeing Zero himself. That was the missing link. And when she got the link back everything started to fall into place.
"Zeph... I.. I know you are busy and everything but I know what's bothering you... Forgive me for being forward but... I would like to help you, with your memories.."
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Zero
Citizen
Frosty on the outside, that is.
Posts: 354
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Jubilee
Aug 20, 2011 9:58:56 GMT -5
Post by Zero on Aug 20, 2011 9:58:56 GMT -5
Zero cornered his eyes, "WHAT friend? What KIND of friend..?" This is probably what people would depict as his 'husband mode', though he's in no way related to Miki romantically. Either way, he's confident to admit that their bond is strong enough that he feels as though he's responsible to keep her safe and away from harm.
Overprotective is the right word, actually.
Her story of meeting him sounded way too suspicious, but Zero's frown ceased when he learns that this Zeph guy is somehow aware of his(Zero's) existence. It kind of bothers the bounty hunter that Miki shares such a close relationship with this strange silver-haired man, so when the angel lets go of his arm to go towards this guy, it activated a blaring alarm in Zero's head.
"M-Miki!" 'But... But it was supposed to be our day together.....'
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Jubilee
Aug 20, 2011 9:59:56 GMT -5
Post by NPC: Male on Aug 20, 2011 9:59:56 GMT -5
Hunter munched in another cupcake, cream and cherries with one bite then smiled at the heavenly deliciousness inside his mouth. This guy, though seem kind of boring and a bit scary, actually bakes killer cupcakes! So Hunter pulled out the leaflet that was put up in a box there for the customers to take.
"Mmn... Rio Nunez Cafe, eh? I'll definitely stop by some time.." Hunter mused by himself, currently having his mind on surprising Grace and how he could just leave a cake on her doorstep since she lives pretty close to this cafe.
"C'mon Zero, you hugged Miki enough just now, you big baby~" Hunter stopped Zero when the boy wanted to reach for Miki. "Let her do her thing, she can sense something's wrong with the man. Now you sit here beside me and enjoy these cupcakes with me~"
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Jubilee
Aug 20, 2011 10:01:03 GMT -5
Post by Zephel on Aug 20, 2011 10:01:03 GMT -5
Zephel really isn't the type that talks much, nor is he very open. So whenever he has something that bothers him, he just wears a sour (and bitter) face all day until he gets a good night sleep. And then it'll continue like that day by day until he figured it out himself.
Safe to say, he's not the type to seek help from others. Though as he grows more mature, when help is offered, he learns to be more willing to accept.
After he has put a tray filled with cups of pastry dough inside the heated oven, Zeph was about to turn around to wash his hands, but then was surprised by a sudden hug from behind him. Zephel froze on the spot, his hands partly in mid-air.
It took him a moment, but then the silver-haired turned his head over his shoulder, "Mitsuko?" He could see a bit of her blonde hair in his limited view, so he paused a bit to construct words in his mind. "Is... Is everything alright?"
It didn't occurred to him in the slightest that she saw how troubled he is, so he assumed it's the other way around...or random hugs are normal in winter. She didn't say anything for a moment, so Zephel just stayed that way awkwardly until one of them says something. "Uh--"
That's when Mitsuko stated that she would like to assist him with his memories. Zeph widened his eyes at how observant she is of his moods, and then internally asked himself if it's that obvious. His shoulders dropped at the topic and he sighed. So that's what the awkward hug is about.
Slowly, he tries to move away a bit so Mitsuko would release him from her embrace, just so he can turn around to face her properly. "Look, Mitsuko, that's nice of you, but this isn't the right time. I have customers now.." He gestured his hands to the two men sitting on the stool provided right in front of his stall.
One's busy eating happily while the other is glaring daggers onto him. "Uhm... Well, one customer and one...jealous..boyfriend, but don't worry. It's something that I have to figure out alone..." He tried to nod at her with a faint smile, but he can't even curve his lips upwards with how agitated he is.
So Zeph tries to distract himself by turning to the boy glaring at him, "So you must be Zero, huh? The one she talks about?" He gestured his head to the angel, and then looked back at Mitsuko almost sadly, "I'm glad you found him. Also, congratulations on regaining back your memory.."
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Jubilee
Aug 20, 2011 11:26:45 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2011 11:26:45 GMT -5
"I don't mean to sound such a nag but you helped me remember when I tried to regain my memory all on my own I couldn't. I had to seek help. It's Christmas Zeph, do you really REALLY think I want to see you this unhappy? especially on this holiday that is supposed to be joyous? You're saddened Zeph. I can't bear to see my friend sad. I'm not trying to say I can save the day, but... everything is a chain link in our lives Zephel."
Mitsuko called Zeph by his full name only when it's a serious situation it would bother her to leave a person in distress. She is a healer after all. Not just with physical wounds but emotionally as well. If she couldn't help a person physically due to certain circumstances depending on the person she could help someone emotionally.
Right now though Zeph's emotions are all over the place, since he doesn't know how to handle or how to figure this out quite yet.
"Once we lose that chain link it becomes forgotten for years... I know its not any of my business but I do truly care about you as a friend. I heal people. I see people. I see things for what it is. And you Zeph... is very sad. So no everything is not okay. See this charm bracelet that I have, that has snowflakes, and snowballs, and how everything is connected to each other? Because of that connection things are held together but when the charm bracelet breaks it falls apart. You are falling apart..."
Mitsuko was very gentle with her words.
"It's never too late to regain back your memories... From your past to those that you care about. Just never lose hope. Your mind may have forgotten but your heart never forgets. You know... When I forgot Zero.. I always saw him as a character in my dreams... I didn't know his name or who he was... but I looked at him as this strong character that I am connected to in my dreams.... Like a story. When you read stories characters come to life."
Mitsuko then took out her sketch book and showed him all the pictures in there besides the one Zeph already saw when she visited his home.
"See...? All these pages create a story."
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Jubilee
Aug 20, 2011 15:49:35 GMT -5
Post by Zephel on Aug 20, 2011 15:49:35 GMT -5
"Now who said I'm unhappy?" Zeph tried to masked it, "I'm just very tired from all the work and it made my mood foul, that's all. You don't have to worry," He then washed his hands at the back of the stall. The water is extremely freezing and it stung the insides of his skin, but with the buzzing in his mind, he's too distracted by the sting internally than physically.
It's Christmas. That's one of the major reasons he didn't want to trouble the angel from her holidays, and he noticed that Zero guy is giving him glares of death for stealing his girlfriend's attention too. He tried to distract himself from her, mixing up flour with yeast and kneading the dough nimbly. Anything to keep his hands moving and his mind from giving in.
As he knead, he stayed quiet. His eyes are completely focused on the work at hand, but for manner's sake, he kept his ears open to at least hear her out. His kneading slows down during some parts of her speech, but he kept on continuing to play with the flour.
"......I told him that," he sighed, eyes down to the dough as his arms went to and fro, kneading still. "I told him he's like a character came to life, I've only heard stories from Hikaru. ...I think..he's angry..that I said that. No. He's definitely angry. He's angry because I don't remember him as he is."
The force he puts on the dough multiplies, even the table shakes a bit by his strength. He didn't turn to see the sketchbooks Mitsuko tried to show him, eyes keeping low on the dough against his hands. "Connections are important, I get it."
There was a deep sigh from him, and the kneading paused. It's like Zeph's whole body froze, still with his arms stretched down, his fingers against the flour mixture. "...I don't think mine is...forgotten. Or lost. Or misplaced. .....I think mine is...permanently erased."
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Jubilee
Aug 20, 2011 16:48:34 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2011 16:48:34 GMT -5
"I felt that way too. I lost my identity in a way since I had no memories. It was if I was this an angel that had never experienced anything in her entire life. Had no experiences to grow from.. but eventuallly I found the missing link. it was Zero all along. Your family... They miss you. That's all, that doesn't mean they hate you. They just miss you. I know we aren't the closest Zeph but we are friends. I considered you a friend the first day you fell from the sky. Like a falling star! ^_^"
Mitsuko went over to the cupcake making station and decorated a cupcake to look like Zeph bu with Zeph smiling, and she brought it over to him to show him.
"Have you heard this saying? It takes more muscles to frown then it does to smile. I know its really hard for you to smile during this time, but please remember you are never alone. I'll always watch over you. This isn't much but here...."
She took out a small gift from her coat pocket, and she placed it on a table.
"I sure hope this makes you feel better Zeph. a gift of friendship.
Inside the small box was a chibi collection of Zeph and Hikaru. She was working on this gift for weeks, but never told anyone.
"My two friends. Even though you lost your memories you know what I realized... your soul is still the same. Your family will help you remember too. Think of this as a story. Zero is my hero.... And your family... I can tell they mean the world to you even though you can't remember them. When you are with members of your family how do you feel around them? Warm? When I am with Zero I feel like I can do anything."
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Jubilee
Aug 22, 2011 0:58:30 GMT -5
Post by Zephel on Aug 22, 2011 0:58:30 GMT -5
That made him feel a bit better. Zeph doesn't know why, perhaps the thought of his siblings not really hating him. Or just Mitsuko's existence. She has a knack in brightening up the atmosphere as well as the darkest of moods, pretty much similar to how Hikaru does it.
Zeph stared down at the flour dough under his hands blankly for a while, lost in his thoughts, but then up came the view of a cupcake out of nowhere. The silver-haired pulled himself away from surprise, then found out that the cupcake is from Mitsuko, who made it look like a smiling person. He didn't seem to notice that it was supposed to be him smiling there.
Zephel just tiredly shook his head sideways of her words, meaning that he haven't heard of such a saying before. When the angel took out something for him and puts it on his kneading table, it seems to be a box. The elementalist just blinked at it for a moment, "...Did you perhaps expected to find me here for you to bring this gift around?"
It's so curious how she managed to pull out surprises from nowhere every now and then. He nodded at her words grimly, somehow finding it hard to care about people that just doesn't seem to exist in his memory, but responded with a nod to Mitsuko anyway. He rather not tell what he 'feels' around his family, since the correct answer to that is nothing at all.
He did realized however that he and Mitsuko are the same in a way, they're both stuck in a junction once, and there are two paths ahead. Mitsuko had gone up one of the paths, in which she had successfully remembered her lost memories by how strong her heart is. Zephel is on the other one, that is the complete opposite of Mitsuko's.
"Hey, kid.." He suddenly turned to Zero with a glance, "I've a question for you. What would you feel if say Mitsuko here doesn't remember you at all when you bumped into her?" Perhaps asking this boy would clear things up with how his brother must have felt right now.
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Zero
Citizen
Frosty on the outside, that is.
Posts: 354
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Jubilee
Aug 22, 2011 1:04:49 GMT -5
Post by Zero on Aug 22, 2011 1:04:49 GMT -5
Zero refused to eat any of the cupcakes this man baked no matter how many times Hunter said it's to die for. He has his glare fixed to Miki and this strange guy with a frown. In fact, that frown will stay permanent around any guy who's close to his angel. Call it his EH (envious-husband) lour.
Zero can definitely hear what they're talking about though while glaring at this guy, and bit by bit, he managed to catch the pieces of the puzzle on what's the problem. It definitely impacted the young bounty hunter when Miki kept on bringing his name up, and calling him a hero in front of another man, so that EH lour was replaced with an ecstatic grin.
Zero was caught off-guard however when this guy asked him such a dreadful question. It killed his smile in an instant. He glared up at this man as if he could burn holes through the guy's body. Zero internally refused to answer the question, but when he thought about it, back at the time when he was so lost and this beautiful girl hiding behind a tree glanced at him without the least bit of recollection.....
His frown got even deeper and his eyebrows creased lower. His blue eyes are casted sideways, refusing to let anybody see his despair, but it's pretty much apparent by how heartbroken his expression is. The fact that Zero was actually trained to hide his emotion but it still shows when the topic concerns about Miki, shows how much she really truly means to him.
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Jubilee
Aug 22, 2011 1:07:31 GMT -5
Post by NPC: Male on Aug 22, 2011 1:07:31 GMT -5
Hunter, while eating the cupcakes happily, did had his ears perked to the situation at hand. In fact, he munched ever so quietly just so he can hear Miki's conversation with this albino guy. Seems the man is in quite a pinch and has every right to be depressed, but like always, Miki's sunshine filled of hope emits just the right aura to possibly cheer up the guy.
She even gave him a present. Hunter glanced at Zero beside him, wondering if the boy's jealous yet.
Though, when Zephel asked Zero an alarming question, Hunter stopped eating, now turning fully to Zero. The boy looked fierce at first, but then was drawn in with the scary thought of loosing his own ray of hope. The older bounty hunter immediately patted Zero on the back, as if to pull the boy out from the thought and it's not really happening.
"Let me answer it for him, since I've known this kid for a decade now," Hunter flashes that ever so cheerful grin to the baker. "See, Mitsuko is everything to him. And I literally mean EVERYTHING. So loosing her...or her forgetting about him, will most likely thaw his heart right out into tiny non-existent little pieces."
Though it's pretty obvious what Hunter said just by looking at Zero's expression, he wanted to make it verbally obvious too. "I mean, in his condition at least, he spent the only happy childhood moments he had with this angel here. And that's only for a month. The rest of his childhood went kaboom."
Hunter smiled, totally unfitting with the tale he's going with, "That's why he's being such a child right now, hogging Miki like this. Because he doesn't have a proper childhood, he decided to be childish now to make up for lost times. Makes sense why he's such a kid around Miki, right?"
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Jubilee
Aug 22, 2011 10:35:44 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2011 10:35:44 GMT -5
"And if I didn't remember him... I would be just like you Zeph stuck and unsure of what to feel logically while my heart says otherwise. You are not alone in this even though you wish to handle it alone... I won't let you.
You know why? Because friends are there for each other. What your family must be experiencing... is..The heartbreak. Even though your emotions are most likely telling you how can you care about someone that you can't even remember.... I'm sure part of you feels like you must protect them as a big brother. I have respect for you Zeph. I mean you may not smile often but you are a good person. I am sure your family doesn't blame you for losing your memories."
Mitsuko placed a hand on Zeph's shoulder and went back to Zero holding his hand as she usually does. But she wasn't going to leave just yet.
"People are stronger when they are together. Zero and I are strong both physically, emotionally and spiritually. I talk about him more then once whenever I see my friends I always mention him. I know you will get through this Zeph... because I believe in you. I always have believed in you, that belief that I have in you has never ever faltered. Your head's a mess, I understand, but I would like to see you smile just once."
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Jubilee
Aug 25, 2011 18:29:35 GMT -5
Post by Zephel on Aug 25, 2011 18:29:35 GMT -5
Though he's currently stuck in such a deep pit of self-guilt and confusion, Zeph was reminded by Mitsuko that there's someone behind him, cheering for him to go on. He blinked in realization; isn't he still breathing? Then that means he can still keep moving. What would his family think (especially Hikaru) to see him halting and depressed like this?
"You're right," a small smile snuck on his lips faintly, finally. "I forgot...to go forward." He's still dissapointed in forgetting the most vital part of his whole being, but Zeph reminded himself that there's still time to find what he lost. Even permanently.
That smile of his disappeared just as quickly as it came, "I'm still...angry at myself. But thank you, Mitsuko." Actually, a huge part of himself believed that everyone in his family blames him for loosing his memories, for being unable to protect what's important to him, for loosing something as precious as memories so easily.
"I'm at fault. But I know I'm the only one that can fix this, so as long as I'm alive, I'll keep looking for it.." That's the only thing he can do, after all. Even if it means going back to the only person who's capable of...sneaking into his mind. Zeph's eyebrows immediately twitched at the thought.
"You want to try cupcake-decorating?" Zeph suggested a little too quickly, in order to forget something he didn't want to remember. He then shoved a few creams, fruits and sprinkles to the trio's direction before getting out a tray filled with plain baked cupcakes from under the table.
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Zero
Citizen
Frosty on the outside, that is.
Posts: 354
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Jubilee
Aug 25, 2011 18:33:11 GMT -5
Post by Zero on Aug 25, 2011 18:33:11 GMT -5
Zero still held his frown firmly even after Hunter had patted his back and explain for his sake. He was forgotten for the most part of his life, either that or simply being insignificant, so if the only person in the world that's important to him would somehow forgotten all about him, then Zero would be beyond devastated.
Miki held his hand a while after that, and this comforted him. She always managed to impact him by such small gestures, he can't bring himself to ever let go of her. So Zero closed his fingers around the angel's small hand, both to remind himself that this is the real thing and to let Miki know that he's there.
"Is it over? Because I want my Miki back."
Zero's frown was still there though, and he's feeling too bitter to do something such as decorating cupcakes.
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