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 Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 9:57 pm
x x x x x WHO: Lazarus & Zul
x x x x x WHEN: Afternoon
x x x x x WHERE: Lab 305's Gym
x x x x x WEATHER: Indoors
Whump.
The demon's body jarred with the force of the Sigel's hits, the padding on his arms doing little to soften the impact of the Incubus. The forearm pads he wore absorbed most of the shock, but he wasn't watching his sparring partner's swings as keenly as usual, just taking the hits as they came, adjusting the position of his arms only when he felt a punch graze the top of the padding. The last hit had nearly gone over the thick black material, his barely-formed chest in danger of taking a full swing of the Sigel's strength. Zul shook his head inwardly, trying to focus and watch Lazarus swing and meet each motion with the pads.
Inevitably, his attention waned, his eyes losing focus and becoming somewhat glazed over, his body lax and his arms simply held protectively over his chest rather than moving with the punches. His mind was tugged by the discontent state of his 'love life,' two very different visages in his heart, though one was darkly blotted out. Zul sighed, and the next punch nearly knocked him over.
He winced, not because of the pain but because he was being such a damn push over. The demon shook out the crawling tingling feeling in his forearms, flexing his fingers before clenching his hand and holding the padded protector up again, looking over the stitched arm piece with an apologetic touch to his blue eyes. "Sorry," he mumbled, his tone and words hardly a ghost of himself being as distracted as he was. "Good hit." Hoping flattery would win its way with the Incubus and detract from his own fault, he straightened his posture and awaited the next blow.
How funny; it seemed his life lately was just waiting for the next blow to land...
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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 7:00 am
It seemed a little ironic that the room they fought in during the virus outbreak last year turned into a room where they exchange punches frequently. After the renovation Kyou transformed the once bare room into a small gym, equipped with various gym equipments like a treadmill (where Kyou ran on once in a while) and a small boxing ring. It provided the perfect place for Alex's boxing classes.
One swing after another, Lazarus took hits at Zul, or more specifically the paddings on his arm. He did not hold back a lot of his strength as he knew that the baphomet Raevan is rather tough himself, and can take his hits. But having been practicing for so long together, the Sigel could see that the Frei was not concentrating. With keen crimson eyes, Lazarus noticed that Zul wasn't looking at him as he punched the padding, wasn't even looking at the paddings at all. His gaze looked far away, like he was in deep thought thinking about something. The Sigel cocked an eyebrow in curiosity, Zul wasn't normally like this.
Drawing his lips into a thin line, he took an experimental hit, not at the paddings this time, but more towards Zul himself. Normally the baphomet's reflex would be quick enough to use the padding as a shield, but not today as he stumbled a little unsteadily from being hit. He was definitely distracted.
When Zul composed himself and apologized, the next blow did not land as Lazarus relaxed himself, stretching his arms and taking off his gloves. "Let's switch." He figured that, perhaps if Zul was the one doing the punching, it could help him let his frustration out a little. The Sigel would be his temporary punching bag if he needed it.
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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 2:46 pm
His azure gaze found focus on Lazarus' face, his own features mostly neutral save for the slightly lowered curve of his dark brows. "Okay," he replied half-heartedly, lowering his defensive stance slowly. For a moment, Zul simply floated there, eyes flicking between the Sigel and the room as if he was lost, uncertain of where he was. The moment passed and he lifted his arms, deft fingers working around the padding to unfasten it from his tattooed forearm, the other following suit. His motion was somewhat uncoordinated, hesitant, though as the padding finally fell free of his tanned skin, he seemed to take on a breath of clarity with a brief smile to the Incubus. Maybe it would do him some good to swing out some of his turmoil.
The demon floated to retrieve his own boxing gloves, idly rubbing his unusually bare arms in the process. Did Sigels have these thoughts, he wondered? Zul questioned if the Incubus had ever suffered such...such uncertainty of where he 'stood,' so to speak. Despite his raised body temperature, he could have swore he felt goosebumps. "Hey, Laz." The words were slow in his mouth, almost against his will. Zul didn't really want to chat it up with anyone about his 'issues,' but maybe if he could word it right, he could get some help. Some insight. Something...anything to get his brain to shut up already! "Can I ask you something...kinda personal?"
The demon slipped his gloves on - the type that were fingerless with the padding over the knuckles - his attention kept upon them as he began to fasten them. His posture was defensive in a less obvious way; his back was slightly turned towards the Sigel, his shoulders tense, refusing to look at Lazarus just yet. Bone wings arched and shivered with each stretch, the scales next to the bone spreading and glimmering in the light. Zul didn't know it, but he was quite firmly in the grips of anxiety.
Unable to delay any further when his gloves were set, he did turn to the Sigel, floating towards him with a nearly perfect neutral expression. His eyes were his flaw, however, as the clear blue was slightly dark, betraying his tumultuous thoughts. The demon lifted his hands and settled into his offensive stance, though with his body as wound up as he was, it quickly tapped into his aggression, making his muscles flex in preparation to strike as he bobbed in place. "Don't have to answer if you don't want to," he added as means to sweeten the deal. He didn't want to be shot down before he even got the chance to dispel some of the negativity he was holding onto so tightly.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 3:37 am
With crimson eyes, Lazarus watched the Frei worriedly for a moment, just floating there and doing nothing after he got out of defensive stance. Something is definitely on his mind, although what, the Sigel does not know yet. He felt a little bit more relieved when Zul snapped back into motion, although he still seemed distracted.
Deftly he secured the paddings on his arm, gripping onto the handle a few times to test his grips. Although weaker than him in terms of strength, the baphomet can land quite some hard blows too, and seeing that this may be a frustration venting session, he needed to be sure he doesn't get hurt himself too.
His eyes snapped back to Zul as his name was heard. There was a pause, like the Frei was pondering for a moment if he should say the next words. But Lazarus was glad that he did. He chuckled softly as he got into a defensive stance, holding the padding over his chest and a little over his face, his back hunched as Zul turned around to face him. "Go on ahead. I'll answer you." He said simply, without a second thought. Although Zul looks calm, like his normal self, but Lazarus could sense that there is something not quite right. Unlike some people, he can't or don't have a keen eye to reading people. It was more like a gut feeling or natural instinct than anything else, he just felt that... Zul was troubled by something. The incubus wanted the baphomet to know that he would be willing to be open to him, in hopes that Zul would open up to him as well. Whatever he is keeping holed up inside his mind, it could be eating him away slowly.
Tightening his grip on the handles of the paddle, he waited for the first strike.
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:05 am
Taking a deep breath that seemed to fill more than just his half-formed chest, Zul began to take his turn; one mostly-bare arm swung towards the Sigel, a satisfying sound following the connection of glove to brace. Damn, but that felt good.
For a time, the demon said nothing, letting himself fall into the comfortable silence that came with sharp concentration. It was what Alex called 'the zone,' where everything became focused, time seeming to slow; it felt like he could move with Lazarus even if the Sigel shifted in mid-swing. His gloves beat a resounding tattoo into the braces that the Incubus wore, content for it to be the only sound that filled the room. Zul felt a great deal of peace in the method, though he couldn't help but question if it was the violence that appealed to him or the use of his seemingly endless energy.
The pleasant numbness finally passed, feeling the slight ache in his fingers that brought him back to the present. His swings slowed - just a little - allowing him some ability to gather his thoughts. First thing first...the more pressing of his matters just then. "What would you do," he started, interjecting a few words between swings, "if someone - you cared about - lied to you?" Something passed over Zul's eyes, tilting his chin up and not breaking his set of strikes. "If they lied - about something - you felt strongly - about?"
First question asked. Though he focused on his swings to make sure he wouldn't slip and hit Lazarus, the demon was all ears for his elder's wisdom.
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Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:27 am
Holding the defensive paddles securely, he intercepted every strike of Zul's with great efficiency. At least the baphomet seemed more focused when he was the offensive party, compared with being defensive anyway. He tried shifting and moving a little from his position, as if testing Zul's focus, and was surprised to find that he hit the spot every time.
There was a long silence, the only sound in the room was the sound of padded fists hitting leather paddings, and their breathing. It however, did not make Lazarus feel awkward at all, but instead he felt... at ease. Perhaps Zul just needed to gather his thoughts, he would wait patiently for the question. When Zul spoke in between punches though, he finally realized why he was so upset. Someone he cared about lied to him? The first thought that popped up in his head was... Rivener? Remembering the scene he saw at the beach. But he shouldn't assume, perhaps Zul was talking about someone else. Nevertheless, this was indeed... quite a serious question.
The Sigel needed to think for a bit before he spoke, careful not to fall out of focus too as his body moved naturally meeting every punch. He was never in such a situation before, so he couldn't begin to imagine how Zul would feel like now. "I guess... I would find out the reason why they lied." He spoke after a long moment. "There is always two sides to one story, there must be some reason - aside from not wanting to let you know, that they lied to you right?" At the moment, he assumed that the person Zul is talking about is Rivener, and even if it weren't him, whoever the person that the baphomet cared about couldn't be anyone too bad right? "And... if you really cared about them, if it was me... I would forgive them, even if it would... maybe take some time to do so." Although he wasn't sure if he himself would do the same if he was in the same situation, he felt like that was the right thing to say. If you really cared about someone, having genuine feelings for them, he couldn't imagine being mad and hate them forever.
Now that the question was answered, he focused back onto being defensive and waited a tad bit nervously for Zul's reaction.
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Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:35 am
A deep exhale followed the words, mulling them over. The punching finally stopped, Zul unable to smoother the distraction that flit over his features. "I know why they did it," he said quietly, looking down to his padded hands with something very near helpless in his eyes. "I know why and...I'm not mad, Laz'rus." The demon lifted his sky-blue eyes and fixed them upon the Sigel's brilliant red ones that were so reminiscent of the Scorpion's. In fact, the Incubus shared many of Rivener's finer points. Maybe that was why he was so at ease around him...or was it the other way around? He didn't really have much time to think on it, feeling as heavy as he did by his own convoluted thoughts. "I was never angry for it, I just..." Don't understand. "...am not sure how to feel."
The honesty he shared felt both striking and refreshing. It was perhaps the most truthful he'd been about the whole situation, out loud and to himself. Zul wasn't angry, he was just at a loss. Everything he'd been told about how he should feel and why had been shaken by the confession Rivener had given him. The demon wasn't yet adept at expressiong emotions that weren't passive contentment, and while he should have realized that his confusion had been misunderstood to the dark Sigel, he was wholly unaware. Zul shook his tri-horned head, holding his fists back up in striking position. "But you're right. Maybe...it doesn't matter." Even if he felt strongly about what had been lied about...what did he really know...?
Which brought him to his second, more pressing problem. Picking up the striking motions again, he tried to think of how to approach the issue with his tutor. This was...much harder, because he could easily see that he had no grasp on how he felt in this situation. "What if..." Ugh. Zul really disdained 'what ifs.' He liked things that were more concrete, more black-and-white without these shades of grey. "Someone you knew - was going to make - a mistake," he said between punches, "and they didn't - care? That maybe - maybe they - wanted it for - the wrong reasons?"
Perhaps 'mistake' was a grave understatement, but he couldn't really say more without incriminating himself. He knew Jezebelle was doing things she didn't really want to in order to impress someone else, and quite frankly, he was worried about her. How far would she go for approval? Would she compromise her morals just for that douchebag to look at her? Zul frowned, one of his swings striking a touch harder than before. He wasn't so blind as to think he could rescue everyone who meant anything to him, but this...he didn't know what to do. He couldn't just watch someone he cared about circle the drain.
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Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 12:40 am
When Zul stopped punching, Lazarus lowered the braces as well. For the first time, he saw a different side of the baphomet. The steady calm rippled and fell apart, revealing the confusion and sadness within. This made him realized that no matter how strong one is, emotionally or physically, the heart can still be fragile at times. And to a certain level, he was glad that Zul respect and trust him enough to show this side of himself to him.
His gaze was one of concern as Zul's bright blue eyes met with his. "You are upset." He said simply, the emotion was apparent enough to be recognized. "Emotions... just comes naturally. There isn't a correct occasion for any certain emotions. They just... come. Sometimes they can be mixed together, angry and sad, happy and worried just to name a few. Maybe you should try and express your emotions more, especially to people that you feel strongly about. If you don't know how to show it, try describing it." The incubus suggested helpfully.
Emotions are a finicky thing. Even after living for five years, he still have problems expressing it sometimes. Hell, maybe even Kyou has his moments. He couldn't possibly know how Zul felt like right now, but the very least is that he could help the baphomet understand his emotions better.
As Zul got into position again, he raised his arms as well, holding his defensive stance as the other began to strike. The current topic of conversation though, he had a feeling that it wasn't about Rivener anymore, or at least about whoever Zul was talking about before. Someone else? Alex? Or someone he didn't know? He wondered quietly, settling on the latter choice as he didn't notice any problems between Zul and his guardian. The mental image of someone falling into a drug addiction came into mind as Zul described in between punches. That's not good, not good at all.
"I think, in times like that." Lazarus started, but needing to pause for a moment as a particular hard swing hit the padding, throwing him a few inches backward. He quickly recovered though and tighten his grip on the braces. "If they don't care about their own well being, I think that is the time where you should butt in, slap some sense into them." Of course, his words were based on the idea that the person Zul was referring to is in a drug addiction, or an addiction of any kind.
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Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 11:06 pm
Emotions. Those strange, spontaneous things that came as a reaction to what happened around him. Zul had seen humans, Raevans and questionables alike react with them. It was a natural thing - to feel, to react appropriately. In all his life, until that very moment, the demon had not once thought about his own emotions outside of how he was supposed to react or in a considering capacity, questioning why he felt a certain way or why another acted as they did. Now, with Lazarus so candidly expressing (with concern, he noted) that he needed to get in touch with his own emotions, Zul was wondering if maybe the problem truly was on his end. Was he emotionally stunted? Did he just go through the motions of how he thought things should be?
As they sparred, he realized that before he'd met Jezebelle, he would not have opened like this to anyone. Not to Alex, not to Rivener...not to the Incubus with whom he had shared both triumph and failure with almost a year ago. The demon had never really thought to think that how he acted might have influence on the emotions of others - he helped Lucia, he loved Rivener and he protected the others out of a strong sense of doing what he was supposed to. That's what friends did, right? So he'd do it. That's what lovers did, right? Then he could, too.
That's how things were supposed to be...but what happened when he didn't know? What happened when his hands were tied and things weren't going as he assumed they should? How was he supposed to think when his reactions were no longer in the norm, even by his standards?
Zul listened because he didn't have the answers anymore. His expression was grim and devoid of the pleasant neutrality he oft wore, instead focused on the Sigel's words and taking them to heart. Reaching outside of himself, his ideals, and for once understanding that there might have been some other route to take. Laz's suggestion broke that neutral look, instead earning one of a soft scoff and faint laughter after it. "Slap some sense into them," he repeated with a vaguely amused glint in his eyes. "Even if - the cost..."
The demon hesitated, though his strikes did not. What would she do, if he intervened? Zul couldn't judge his tutor's actions, he'd never been able to. Maybe that was why... "Even if the cost - would be - steep?" Though he could not predict her actions, he could conjecture that her reaction to his display of unfettered emotion...would not end in his favor.
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Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 6:30 am
Lazarus was surprised, glad, and at the same time embarrassed when Zul laughed at his notion of slapping some sense into them. Surprised because he managed to draw out a smile, more so a faint laugh from the otherwise generally frustrated demon. Zul had not even a peek of a smile all day today, and normally he had one very casually plastered on his face all the time too. Come to think of it, Zul had not been smiling much recently. So he was glad too, to be able to infuse some sort of amusement into the heavy atmosphere in the gym room. Embarrassed however, that his suggestion seemed kind of stupid now.
The topic of discussion quickly turned serious again, as Zul discussed about the cost of his possible actions, the light amused air that had appeared so suddenly, disappeared just as fast. As he pondered the words while intercepting all of Zul's punches. The only cost that would come to Lazarus's conclusion was the ending of said relationship. He understood why the tri-horned demon was so troubled by this, perhaps the relationship is precious to him in some way, and he did not want it to end. Like how Lazarus would not ever want to end his relationship with a certain someone...
However... "You should... do whatever you feel that is right, even if the cost is steep." He knew he would as well, if the person he loved was in that situation. "Before you worry about someone else, you must first be honest to yourself. You already knew what they are doing is wrong, and if you stand by and do nothing about it, you are an accomplice. You contributed to their downfall by standing by and doing nothing. And if something happened, something bad... you would blame yourself." Oh he knew that feeling well, and he had sworn to never want to feel like that again. His expression too turned grim as he spoke. He did not want Zul to feel that way, that feeling of dread and self-loathing.
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Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 2:16 pm
Again, the demon listened. More than feeling like he had no where to turn, he felt that Lazarus understood - and Zul hadn't said anything beyond the very base of the issue. There were no unnecessary comments, inquisitive questions or pressure to feel some predetermined way. The Incubus simply took what the Frei gave him and formulated an objective, forward answer. For the first time in his existence, Zul found that he was looking up to someone else - and part of him felt both relieved and proud that it was to the Sigel he was sparring with.
"Break." Zul floated backwards, finished with the offensive for that moment. Rubbing his hands together and feeling the tingling sensation in his knuckles, he looked pointedly at Lazarus in silence. So far, he was told to forgive - and step in. But more importantly, he'd been told to be honest to himself. That alone would change everything. It wasn't that he'd never been truthful with himself, but he'd never asked himself first when reacting or considering options for others - just what he'd assumed. It seemed to be a bad habit he had created.
"That's a blurry line," he commented, but it wasn't in defiance or malice, merely an observation. Doing what he felt was right while being honest to himself. Thinking outside himself. Doing what was best for someone even if it didn't benefit him in any way, shape or form. Zul stared off at the wall for a moment, his eyes seeing his tutor's smile and the way Brandon the Gutter Troll looked at her. She was worth the risk, wasn't she?
But why?
Sighing, the Frei tore his gaze away from his memories and rested upon the Sigel. "Thank you, Laz'rus," Zul said with a bow of his head. "You've given me a lot to think about, and I..." Oh, he felt so lost. He had the answers, but now...how to act upon them? "...I hope I can remember all you've said when the time comes." The demon was certain that time would come sooner than later...
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Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 9:34 pm
"Break."
As Zul relaxed and fall out of offensive stance, so did Lazarus as he lowered the paddings, unsnapping the velcro loudly. That noise always annoyed him, but it was a necessary evil as the extra strong velcro holds the paddings secure to his arms. Having removed the paddings, he was massaging his forearms and flexing his fingers when Zul spoke again.
Crimson red eyes raised to look at the baphomet's, but the other's bright blue gaze seems far away, unfocused, seeming to be lost in thought. Although Zul still seemed confused, but there is a certain clarity in his eyes now, and not muddled and frustrated like before. That means he did managed to help him in some way right?
When the thanks came, the incubus couldn't help but c**k a smile, feeling a sense of accomplishment and happy that he was able to help a friend in need. When the time comes. Lazarus wondered, when the time comes for Zul to slap some sense into the person he's talking about? He couldn't help but frown slightly at the thought, it still sounded kind of silly even in his head now. "Don't worry about it." A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he floated towards Zul. "Whatever you're going to do, good luck with it." He said as he extended a warm and slightly sweaty hand, gently patting the baphomet's shoulder. 'You'll be fine' seems like the usual line that will follow, but the both of them know that they couldn't know for sure right now if that is really certain. So Lazarus just kept quiet as he withdrawn his hand and floated back a few inches.
"So... let's call it a day?" The incubus asked, they had been at it for a bit and it felt like the right time to quit. Plus he is really in need of a cooling shower. But... if Zul wants to continue...
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Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 2:28 am
Zul nodded, beginning to unstrap the gloves from his hands. "Let's," he agreed, feeling tired in more ways than one, which said a lot for a Raevan that never slept. Picking up the other gear that was discarded from earlier, he carried it to the proper racks and put them away. He'd need to make a stop by the ice machine in the kitchen, as he was feeling a bit hungry from the enthusiastic sparring session. It was one of the few things that got his blood pumping and really made him feel like he was working every part of him.
He turned his clear eyes to the Incubus, smiling easier now, dipping his tri-horned head. "Thank you. I'll need a pinch of luck, I think." And a lot of courage, understanding and patience, but those were things he'd have to deal with in himself before he could ask them of the others. With the items secured and the room devoid of other inhabitants, Zul floated over to Lazarus and rested an arm around his back in his version of a one-armed 'bro-hug.' "Let's get something to eat?" he ventured to ask, smiling at the 'taller' Sigel with significantly less weight on his shoulders.
Now, all the weight was on his heart, and only he could be the one to remove it.
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