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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2017 11:54 pm
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2017 11:57 pm
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A dark-haired man stood silently just outside the doorway, his back against the wall holding the door frame, his eyes closed as he listened to the Rocket shift nervously in the room just beyond. He had been avoiding Zacharie lately; brooding on how best to deal with him. Nothing he had tried so far seemed to have worked, and he couldn't push too hard because he was on a tight leash, so doing so would likely just end up choking him.
At the end of the day, regardless of whatever else they might have been, Zacharie was a Rocket Agent and Izaya was a Rocket experiment, completely at the younger man's mercy. At the very least, he had to treat him with respect. Maybe it would have been more to his benefit to take advantage of the purple-haired agent's fondness of him, but with all that had been on his mind the past few months, he'd had enough of his own emotions to even want to consider manipulating others'.
With a heavy sigh, he finally opened his eyes and bent down to pick up a potted present before knocking lightly to draw Zacharie’s attention. “Hello, Agent Zacharie. To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting?” he asked, voice bright as he smiled cheerfully.
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:01 am
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Zacharie immediately stood from his seat, the tissue paper wrapped carefully around the bouquet in his arms crinkling. “Izaya!” He smiled brightly, realised he was being eager, frowned, then fidgeted. “A-Ah...hello.”
Once again he was struck with a heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach at the formal greeting, but he tried not to let it show. “I...I don't know as much about you as I would like…” He started slowly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “So I wasn't sure what you would like for Christmas...I...I got you these instead.” He thrust the flowers out for the older man to take. “P-Please accept them.” The bouquet consisted of a prettily arranged assortment of white daisies, Forget-me-nots, Hyacinth, Lilacs, Roses, and Sweetpeas of white, pink, and purple.
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:01 am
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The only change in Izaya’s features was the rise of his brows at Zacharie’s admission. “Eh? Isn’t your brother an information broker? I wouldn’t have thought it’d be all that difficult for him to find out for you whatever you wanted to know about me. At least if he was an informer ‘worth his salt’, as they say.” Though his voice was light and carried a tone of amusement, his gaze glittered with derision.
Regarding the tissue-wrapped bouquet he was offered, the ex-Rocket’s merciless smile relented. A flicker of remorse briefly flitted across his features at the sight of the pink and white flowers, reminding him sorely of a pokemon he’d recently had to relinquish ownership of.
Naturally, Izaya didn't expect Zacharie to have reminded him of Delic on purpose, but it was biting just the same. It was also very unlikely the young agent would have known that 'Bouquet' was the name given to Aila when she'd been a thief and Izaya had aided her prior to either of them joining Team Rocket.
He frowned, accepting the bouquet while simultaneously pushing a festively-wrapped potted plant into Zacharie's arms. Though the pot itself was wrapped, the poinsettias were quite visible, their broad, mottled leaves splayed for maximum viewing pleasure.
"Of course, Agent. I only ask that you do me the favor of accepting these in return. There are only so many plants I can care for at once, you see."
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:02 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:02 am
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“...Right,” Izaya conceded, appearing slightly crestfallen. “Well, there are some things that can only be learned about another by putting oneself in rather difficult situations. As you are an Agent, I thought it might be in your best interests not to risk compromising yourself. But who am I to say what’s best for you?”
He continued smiling merrily until he caught sight of the troubled look on Zacharie’s face as he thanked him. “Do you…?” he murmured almost inaudibly, watching him sidelong. Then, clearing his throat, he added louder, “You surely know about them already, given that they’re so popular this time of year, but I thought it intriguing how poinsettias could pretend to be flowers by merely changing the color of some of their leaves.”
The informant stared at them almost melancholily. “Not that they don’t have their own blooms, but the actual things are so small, they have to deceive others to draw attention to them at all. Even then...I wonder how many ultimately realize what part of it is really a flower and what part is a lie.” He raised his shoulders in a half-hearted shrug. “I guess for all the intents and purposes of us humans, it doesn’t matter.”
Returning his scrutiny to the purple, pink, and white blossoms, he smirked at Zacharie’s explanation regarding the flowers he himself had engineered. “Very clever,” Izaya said, turning the bouquet over in his hand to look this way and that. “I’m sure a great many people could benefit from flowers like these. It’s a shame you can’t sell them and I doubt Team Rocket would be interested in making a profit using such means. Inigo would be delighted, though, I’m sure. Perhaps Faleen and Tambrey, too. Did you show them?” He paused. “Inigo and Tambrey, I mean.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:03 am
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“I appreciate the consideration.” The Agent said softly, not lifting his gaze from the flowers in his arms. He really did appreciate that Izaya was concerned with his safety but it seemed like everyone around him was deciding this for him. Andre and Izaya...older and experience worn...he didn't want to be babied. Especially not by Izaya.
Finally returning his gaze to the trainee, Zacharie really couldn't help but smile. What? He may feel like s**t on the inside but he could never say no to plant talk; But as he listened he couldn't help but look back down to the plant in question. A look of understanding dawned on his face. “It's just doing what it thinks is best for survival.” He said, gaze softening as he tightened his grip on the pot. “Beneath the exterior it hides behind...a poinsettia is still a poinsettia.” He looked to Izaya then, really looked at him, and smiled. “It matters to me...and other people that take the time to really see what's in front of them.”
He let his gaze drop to the bundle in Izaya’s arm, watching as the older man shifted them about. “I think it'd be nice to distribute them so everyone can enjoy...even those that aren't particularly talented at tending to plants.” Full, healthy gardens at every home, filling parks, flourishing in fields...the thought made him feel warm inside. “But I'm not entirely sure what they would do to the ecosystem if planted, I need to run more tests. I'd like to get some more data before spreading them amongst the populace.” He glanced between the bouquet and the trainee, he thought that the flowers suited Izaya rather well. “But I wanted to share them with you so...I hope you enjoy them.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:03 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:03 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:04 am
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“Decide what’s best for you?” With the wrapped bouquet on one hand, he spread his arms. “I may give some advice, but that decision is ultimately yours. After all, look where my own decisions got me compared to where yours got you. Who do you think has the better sense of judgement?”
Izaya watched Zacharie stroke a lily’s petals. “So for those who have no interest in gardening as well as those who wish to learn. Heh...how paradoxical.” The older male lightly nodded in acknowledgement of the answer to his question. Then he took a deep breath and clapped both his hands about his bouquet.
“Thank you very much for your thoughtfulness, kindness, and generosity. If that’s all, though, Agent Zacharie, I should probably let you get back to your work and return to my own. I’m sure you’re a great deal busier than I am and I’d hate to take up so much of your personal time, being the lowly experiment I am.” He gave a deep bow at the waist with a magnanimous smile and pivoted on his foot with a flourish, headed toward the door.
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:05 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:05 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:14 am
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Zacharie shrugged, “Just because I’m an Agent doesn’t mean I can’t express my gratitude when gratitude is due.” He pointed out, turning to set his plant on a nearby table for further inspection. What kind of dirt was it in, had it been watered recently, should he-
He blinked owlishly and turned to Izaya when it became apparent that the older man wasn’t actually going to leave the room.
“You can ask whatever you want.” He blurted, twisting his fingers together anxiously. “Uhm...I only got presents for Jerome, Andre, Louis, and you.” The Agent turned his gaze to the floor, “I’m sure that Andre put my name on a few gifts to give to our mutual acquaintances but…” He shrugged again. “I only got presents for my...my most important people.” The purple-haired male paused. “Well, I would have gotten Faleen a present as well but I thought I would give her something when we bring her back.”
The boy cocked his slightly as he thought about the others question. “What Christmas means to me…” He repeated slowly, eyebrows furrowed. “I guess it’s a day that I show my appreciation for the people I care about. I suppose I could do that any day I choose but since people put a lot of stock into the holiday…” He huffed a laugh. “I grew up thinking Christmas was an important day to spend with your loved ones so I guess it just stuck.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:14 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:15 am
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