Love and Conflict
Margaret: WILL YOU PLEEEEEASE STOP FOLLOWING ME ALREADY?!
Humanoid Zodiark: Alas, I promised your father that I would watch over you.
This trouble began a short time ago.
Zodiark's journey eventually lead him to a city whose lord, Cedric, was well-known for doting on his daughter, Margaret.
Zodiark took an interest in the lord, and put his past experience to use by taking on a job as a servant, allowing him to observe the lord and his daughter up close. But once he was in place, he learned something surprising...
Margaret: I'm all out of money again, Daddy! Rupies, pleeeeease!
Cedric: W-well, if you need it, my dear...
Margaret would constantly beg her father for money, then waste it making merry with a gang of her good-for-nothing friends.
Cedric was at his wits' end for what to do, but as he had come to trust Zodiark as a reliable servant, he turned to the dragon for advice.
Cedric: I've given her everything she ever wanted! Raised her with nothing but love and care! Do you think perhaps I...spoiled her?
Humanoid Zodiark: Hmm...
Humanoid Zodiark: (I was once like this: I gave humans any power they desired and asked for nothing in return.)
Humanoid Zodiark: If I may, sir, is scolding a child not also a part of loving them?
Humanoid Zodiark: If a child is on the wrong path, it is a parent's duty to guide them to the light.
Cedric: *sigh* You're right. I KNOW you're right. And yet, when she flashes those adorable puppy-dog eyes at me I just...
Cedric: Oh, I can't do it! I can't bring myself to say anything that might upset my lump muffin!
Cedric: ...Which is why YOU should go scold her in my place, Solf!
Humanoid Zodiark: I do not believe your daughter would pay any mind to the words of a mere servant.
Cedric: No, probably not. Well, can you at least look after her, then?
Cedric: I can rest easy knowing you're by her side. You must keep her safe, no matter what!
Humanoid Zodiark: Of course, sir.
Margaret: ...So yeaaaaah, that's why the butler is following me around and stuff.
Margaret's Friend 1: Oh my gosh, that's HILARIOUS! So he's, like, your guardian or something? Your dad is MEGA overprotective, girl!
Margaret's Friend 2: So where IS this guardian butler, anyway? I don't see the dude anywhere.
Margaret: Duh! He's right there! ...Isn't he?
Humanoid Zodiark: You called, madam?
Margaret and Friends: EEEK!
Margaret's Friend 2: YOUR BUTLER JUST MATERIALIZED OUT OF THIN AIR, DUDE!
Humanoid Zodiark: I am your shadow, and will be ever at your side.
Humanoid Zodiark: I have no intention of interfering with your activities; I merely watch and wait for any dangers which might arise. And with that...
Margaret and Friends: ......
Margaret's Friend 1: Okay, can we all maybe pretend that Creepy Jeeves just isn't actually here?
Margaret: I mean, he SAID he wasn't gonna get in our way or whatever, so...
Margaret's Friend 2: Yeah, forget that chump! Let's go get some grub and paaaar-tay!
Humanoid Zodiark: If you desire sustenance, I am your man.
Margaret's Friend 2: DUDE, YOU GOTTA STOP DOING THAT! ...Also, you're supposed to be staying out of our way.
Humanoid Zodiark: I am merely fulfilling my duties as a servant. Now please permit me to prepare a most exquisite banquet for you all.
Margaret and Friends: Okay, this is SERIOUSLY good.
Margaret's Friend 1: What the hell, bud?! You took that crap we always get at the food stands and turned it into a feast for kings!
Humanoid Zodiark: After the harsh training I sustained to become a servant, nothing is impossible. Even the blandest of food can easily be transformed to a gourmet meal.
Margaret: Daddy's always talking about what a great servant you are, but I seriously had no idea you were THIS good.
Humanoid Zodiark: I thank you for the praise. Now then, if you will permit me, I would like to partake of a meal myself.
Margaret: Like, help yourself to whatever you— OH MY GODDESS THAT'S RAW MEAT!
Humanoid Zodiark: Yes, and it is my favorite. *chomp* *munch* *slobber*
Margaret's Friend 1: Ohmigosh, WHAT?! Your butler eats raw meat off the bone like some kinda animal! I cannot even with this dude.
Margaret's Friend 2: Ha ha! This old butler dude's funny as hell! You gotta start totally hanging with us for real and stuff, butler dude.
Humanoid Zodiark: If that is indeed your wish, then I shall "totally hang with you for real and stuff."
???: Sounds like someone's havin' fun! Mind if we crash the party? Bwa ha ha!
Margaret's Friend 2: Oh no—it's THEM! The gang that rules this town with an iron fist!
Ruffian 1: And you pipsqueaks are the little brats what been makin' a mess of our turf!
Ruffian 2: Say, that's the lord's daughter, yeah? I hear she's got coin spilling outta her ears! Better hand her over to us.
Margaret's Friends: YES, SIR! ANYTHING YOU SAY, SIR!
Margaret: OH, REAL COOL, GUYS!
Ruffian 1: Bwaaa ha ha! Poor widdle baby! Your friends all abandoned you! Now you can be OUR rich friend!
Margaret: Let GO of me, jerkface!
Ruffian 2: You better split unless you wanna get hurt, Gramps.
Humanoid Zodiark: Run? Never. Now is the time for action.
Humanoid Zodiark: I made a promise to protect Margaret were any harm to ever befall her.
Ruffian 2: EEEK! Wh-what's with this guy?! He's strong as hell!
Humanoid Zodiark: Stand down. If you do not...
Ruffian 2: YES, SIR! SORRY FOR THE TROUBLE, SIR!
Humanoid Zodiark: Are you unharmed, Miss Margaret? If so, we should return to the mansion.
Humanoid Zodiark: ...And that is what happened today.
Cedric: THEY DID WHAT TO MY DAUGHTER?!
Margaret: Are you okay, Daddy?!
Cedric: The thought of you being in such danger is making me... Rrrrgh...
Margaret: You were...worried about me?
Cedric: OF COURSE I WAS! I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to you!
Cedric: I'll give you whatever you want, my dear, but you must promise to never put yourself in danger again!
Cedric: And I also INSIST that you stop hanging around with that unsavory pack of ruffians you call friends!
Margaret: Daddy, you're...angry with me. I'M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!
Cedric: You're... Wait, what?
Margaret: I thought that doing bad things would make you angry, but it never worked.
Cedric: But why do you want me to be angry?
Margaret: Because you're always so busy with work and we don't, like, have any memories together and junk!
Margaret: I mean, yeah, you give me wheelbarrows full of money, but you don't ever seem to... I dunno. Care about me?
Cedric: But I love you with all my heart!
Cedric: ...No, you're right. I was never able to convey my love to you properly, which is why you were trying to make me upset.
Cedric: I'm so sorry, Margaret. I gave you what I THOUGHT you wanted because I felt it was the right way to love you, but I never actually asked what you REALLY wanted.
Margaret: Oh, I'm sorry too, Daddy! I just wanted you to care about me and love me and stuff, and I ended up hurting you because of it.
Humanoid Zodiark: (It seems this miscommunication has been resolved.)
Humanoid Zodiark: (And I have learned something new today: Even if you love someone in your own way, such love cannot be conveyed if you do not understand what they truly want.)
Humanoid Zodiark: (If you do not give them the love they desire, it may even hurt them.)
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