idealistic | IC INBOX {driftfleet}

That's...true. It's just- I dunno, since it's my hair and...

[He glances down, wringing his hands as he tries to figure out how to explain it in a way that did not make him sound nuts since part of him, as vain as he is, KNOWS it's just hair. But....]

Chosens are expected to have long hair, you know? One of those obscure little Church traditions - probably so we'd look closer to Martel. I mean, I didn't mind it so much since I really liked how my hair looked long anyway, but...

[There's a pause]

...The color's gotten duller, there's more split-ends, it frizzes more than curls, there's never enough shampoo to clean it and I'm not really a Chosen anymore. Haven't been one in over a year. And yet-

[He can't shake the feeling he'd be doing something wrong, even if he can't fully figure out what. There's a humorless, self-deprecating laugh as he shakes his head]

Sorry. This is stupid. It's just hair. Even I know that. [he must be thinking too much]

[ he's quiet as Kaneis struggles to explain, and as he does, his expression softens into one of sympathy and understanding. he had almost forgotten how much of an influence the Chosen system was on Kaneis, since Lloyd himself hasn't had to deal with the proper system for... well over two years, including his time aboard the fleet. he probably should have noticed how the system affected Zelos and Colette even after it was abolished, especially since they both still kept their titles of Chosen.

he has noticed the differences in the hair, though. Kaneis's hair does look duller and matted, rather than having the vibrant red and loose curls that Lloyd was more familiar with. Chosen or not, a proper haircut would definitely benefit him.

he shakes his head. ]

...No, I get it.

To a lot of people it's just hair, but you were always told that it's a really big deal. It's hard to break out of something like that.

[ he leans forward, resting his elbows on the table as he tries to formulate the right words. ]

But it's also not like you have to worry about what you had to follow as a Chosen here. You said it yourself: you haven't been a Chosen for over a year. [ he remembers the reasoning behind that circumstance, but he pushes that thought away before it really gets to him. ] You're you-- you can choose how to live your life. You always have but especially now. You can make your own decisions, even deciding what to do with your hair.

[ there's a pause, but before Kaneis can get a word in, he continues, an understanding smile on his face. ] Dwarven Vow 27: "The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step". You already got this far living your own life-- really far. You just gotta keep moving forward and do what's best for you. You owe yourself that much, Kaneis.

[Kaneis does listen. Even as he regrets saying anything and almost hopes the floor would open up and swallow him- he does listen. The words are cajoling- he truly hopes they're true. Not just about hair but...well, other things. That he was allowed to choose how to live his own life.]

[Though...how he'd go about and do that, he...isn't really sure. His decisions tended to be bad ones, from his experience.]

[Still, he's not the best at responding to emotional moments- especially emotional moments directed towards him. So he shifts a little in his seat and tries to say lightly]

Jeez...did you really have to throw a vow at me?

[No, that didn't come out right. He shakes his head]

Right, okay. I get it. I gotta live my own life. [Second...life...] What...ever that means.

[ he can't help it; at Kaneis's little comment at the vow, he wrinkles his nose. they're valuable lessons, far more agreeable than the stupid church rules! he could stand to know a couple!

but he calms down soon enough, his smile returning. he can only imagine how hard it must be for Kaneis to adjust to a life of real freedom after be stuck in a strict system for so long. even so, he has faith that Kaneis will overcome it and become his own person with his own rules. he's seen it be done countless times, and Kaneis is no exception. ]

You'll figure it out. You just gotta take it one step at a time.

Besides, it's not like you're alone in this. You've got me and everyone on the Wonderduck backing you up. [ i mean unless he WANTS to be alone, but that'd just be depressing. ]

[Sorry Lloyd, those vows are way too cheesy for his liking. Even if he can see the sense in a number of them...so uncool.]

Heh. You might wanna check with the others first before speaking for them there.

[Though okay he probably knows Flora would agree to something like that because...fairies do crap like that. Maybe Cole, who knows]

But...thanks.

[A thought occurs to him, and in an attempt to lighten the mood he'll make a light joke- ready to move on from the heavy stuff]

Jeez though, but if we'd been more mindful of our ratings we could've done this like...on a cliffside at sunset where I slice off my hair. Not...at a diner over a basket of fries. [a beat] I can try some, right?

[He's seen them before, but he's never gotten to try fries. His roommates usually ate them all]

[ if he wad trying to lighten the mood, then he was definitely successful: Lloyd snorts in response to the imagery that popped up in his head. jeez, so cheesy. good thing he wasn't drinking anything then, otherwise it would have been all over their food. ]

You dork. Help yourself, man.

[ he pushes the basket forward, leaving it at the center of the table so that they could share. ]

I'm pretty sure they'll agree with me, anyway. You're a big deal to all of us.

[ at least, that's what he believes. there's no doubt in it, though: Lloyd knows that the Wonderduck's been pretty tightly knit, even with Cole's recent arrival. if anything, there isn't any strain between the crew, none that he can immediately recognize, and that's good enough for Lloyd.

he reaches over to grab a fry, biting a piece off before speaking up again. ]

If it makes you feel better, though, we can look for a cliff after we're done and you can do that hair-slicing thing then.

[oh good. He reaches over to the fries to grab one.]

Heh...well, I guess you guys do kinda need me to make sure the ship doesn't crash.

[He's not really sure he's ready to accept the idea they are just all friends or whatever. TOO MUCH TOO SOON. But he was halfway into biting into a fry when Lloyd says that last bit]

- Wait. You serious?

[ he is dead serious. ]

You said you wanted to cut your hair, right?

[ he's not trying to put words in his mouth; Lloyd knows that Kaneis had asked the question in a hypothetical sense. but a change would be good for him, especially if it helps him to move forward and live his new life. Lloyd's not trying to force him into anything. he's just giving him a little push in the right direction. ]

Yeah, I did...

[His tone is a bit on the cautious side. Not that he thinks Lloyd is forcing him. Just because you know- it was a cheesy, half-joking suggestion. One he didn't think Lloyd would actually go along with]

So why not? It's kind of a weird way to do it, but if it works, then do it.

[ please stop him, he didn't catch onto the "half-joking" bit and he's taking this all too literally. ]

....You know what? You're right, why not? [There's an amused sound as he shakes his head] It'll take years for my hair to grow this long again. If I'm gonna cut it, I might as well go all out and be dramatic about it! Right?

Right! [ THAT'S THE SPIRIT.

though he has no idea why he needs to be so dramatic about it, but w/e. ]

So we've got our plan, right: finish up here and then we'll find a good enough cliff for the haircut of a lifetime!

[The short answer is that your crewmate is a nerd that's read one too many books with this dramatic moments like this. Plus hey, yeah, a way to move on. Might as well go all out]

[He laughs. Yes. That's an actual laugh.]

I don't know about the haircut of a lifetime, Lloyd. We are just doing it with a knife.

But hey, whatever. If it looks like crap, there's that salon that opened up on the Three Twins.

[ WELL he's glad that he got an actual laugh out of Kaneis, though he doesn't say anything and just rolls with it. ]

Someone opened a salon?

[ talk about convenient. guess who's been keeping up with the times (NOT THIS GUY). ] I guess that could help. Cutting your hair with a knife and making it look good's kinda hard.

[ it sounds as though he speaks from experience... ]

Yeah. There's a tailor too. Do you check the network?

[WAY TO KEEP UP WITH THINGS MAN]

...Lloyd- have you cut your hair with a knife before?

Of course! I just... didn't really check it 'til now.

[ there's a small moment where he gets a little huffy, but that disappears soon enough as Lloyd reaches over for another fry as he answers Kaneis's second question a little too easily. ]

But yeah, a few times. I usually used the sharpest one I could find if I couldn't find the shears.

[ THAT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING... ]

Edited 2015-02-17 07:08 (UTC)

Which means you normally don't check it.

[Who are you even fooling Lloyd, gosh. And wow Lloyd...wow]

That...explains a lot about your hair.

What's that supposed to mean?

[ first his clothes and now his hair, are you trying to say something Kaneis ]

[Well he's not sure there's an even lock on that head of yours for instance]

Ahaha- nothing, nothing!

[Reaching for another fry!]

[ pulls the basket away from his reach

TAKE THAT PUNK ]

[!!!]

Whoa- hey! C'mon! Don't be like that!

Then quit making fun of my hair!

[ is he pouting

he is totally pouting. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HIS HAIR GOD ]

[He groans]

Okay, okay! Your hair is fine! Happy?

[ he doesn't say or do anything in response for a moment, but eventually he will slooooowly push the basket back towards the center. ]

Edited (the icon wasn't pouty enough) 2015-02-17 19:58 (UTC)

[Oh thank goodness. He gives a relieved sound before he reaches over to grab a fry] Thank you.

[And then of course he mutters to himself as he bites into another fry] And here I thought you didn't care about your appearance.

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