City of Latent

The City of Latent & Surrounding Area

Latent is a merchant town located on the eastern shore not too far from the Leviathan Stadium. Along with Durem and Barton, as well as the newly developing Akea, it is one of the largest cities in the northeastern lands. The city is composed of a large number of people far and wide, including the native Atlanteans, with around 8,000 inhabitants. Over the years, the business within the Stadium became such a necessity for the town, because of the ravaging wars within the lands. Because of this, business has sprouted up within the country, thanks to the Stadium. The town is also the home of the Crimson Hawk, and, by extension, the biggest hub of activity for the Heaven or Hell Tournament. Combatants will sometimes wander around the town to get away from the Crimson Hawk's atmosphere, or to meet up with one another for a friendly chat.

North of town, along the coast, is the Leviathan Stadium. West of town lies the Dead Forest. And to the east is the Sea of Latent (also known as the Lantean Sea).

General - A reasonably quiet seaside town on Gaia's Eastern Coastline.

Weapons - None

Natural Element Resource - None/Water if near the ocean.

Bonus Effects - None.

A ferry leaving from the Latent docks is taking passengers to the Ark.

Man, it was good to have connections, however tenuous to things like this, Gabrielle thought as she set up the equipment. She was finally able to do this, although she'd been wanting to do it for years now. But her mother had finally given the okay. The notices had been sent out to every female in HoH that she or James could think of that might be in the tournament, and they'd gotten a promising start on responses.

"James, don't hang that light too low, I don't want to take the chance and burn the fairer skinned models!" she yelled out to her ginger haired twin even as she balanced precariously on the ladder to hang another light. "You sure all the costumes are ready?"

"Yes, Gabi...for Gaia's sake, they're ready. You've had me and my staff slaving for two months on them." James joke teased back as he settled the light into place. James was young, far too young, that even his already youthful appearance was deceiving, but he'd already started his own fashion design company with the help of his mother and their trust fund. Gabi's passion was the camera though. They made an excellent team, but this was the first time she'd really worked on letting it shine.

"I think it's ready..." Gabi practically squealed as she got off the ladder and looked around the 'studio' they'd rented. A smallish building, but it'd do. The more important thing was the actual studio where all the shoots would take place.

"June and July are coming today. Maybe December, though I'm wondering if she'll show. Her response was..." Gabi tried to figure out the word she wanted to use. "...hesitant."

James laughed. "From what I've heard, she'll have no problem, since it'll help all the little kiddies out if she wins HoH, by making the pot even bigger.."

"JAMES! That's horrible!" Gabi was only half scandalized, but she was supposed to be the good twin. Though twins gingers could only be -so- good. They both puttered around, James loved his sister and was glad to see her really shine and was happy to help her. The two barely adults were fairly calm about it all, but in the back of Gabi's mind was the possibility that the directions they'd given the women weren't good enough to find the ex apartment building. Latent could be a big town after all.

"Gabi, calm down. They're not late yet. Besides, Aunt Cel is never late. Ooh man, I bet she's even hotter now."

"James, she's our mother's friend...that's just...eww..."

"Hey, don't blame me, I'm just the way the god and the devil made me..." and the two twins kept carrying on with each other as they prepared for the arrival of their first visitors. The first chine of the doorbell over the sign that said "Ginger Photography"

"Ooooh, one of them is here!" Gabi practically squealed as she bounced down the stairs to the door to see which one of them it was. What or rather who greeted Raien at the door, was not someone you'd picture doing a pin up calendar for a blood thirsty tournament fight. A tiny girl, of just barely five feet, dark ginger curls practically bouncing off her head, soft gray eyes that looked too big for her body all stuffed into a fluffy green sweater and a skirt that looked like it belonged on a school girl.

She held out her hand...and moved right for Raien's coat. "OMG, I love your coat...maybe we should use that instead of what I'd planned...You're December, right. Raien DeCuir? This coat...if it's just wrapped around you---"

Gabi was then cut off by her twin as he walked down the steps behind her. He was slightly taller, more around Raien's height, with the promise of more height potentially. It was easy to tell they were twins, even if it was only fraternal. But he filled out his stylish clothing very well though his sister was a bit frumpy..or perhaps a bit disorganized. Neither one was over 19. "What she means, is that it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss DeCuir." he even got the accent right on her name. "I'm James, and this is my sister, Gabrielle. She'll be the ---excuse me, please, come in out of the briskness. We only have coffee and tea at the moment, but we have ordered out for you to have a bite after the shoot."

He stepped back, pulling Gabi with him to allow Raien to enter. Gabi kept going on about the coat and how she could work it into the shoot. The hallway was slightly tiny though it was well maintained. But from the door it was just a staircase until you got to the apartment, whose door was open to the 'studio' which looked to be a former living and dining room combo.

Someone else had arrived at the studio as well; though that someone showed absolutely no signs of entering the building that Raien had so casually strolled into, waves of nervousness and tension radiating off the figure like heat from a stove. Tendrils of straight black hair fell loose from underneath a dour-looking black cloak as she fumbled beneath the covering, the cowl pulled so far forward that it shadowed the figure's face underneath. A moment later a pair of petite, manicured hands peeked out from under the fabric, thumbs pressing into a small piece of paper as shadowed eyes scrutinized the message for the millionth time.

Ginger Photography

'It's for the Temple. It's for the children. It's for a good cause! Nothing to get embarrassed or nervous about. People can't tease you about getting purposefully naked over a good cause!'

Standing unobtrusively on the path to the building, the figure remained unmoving, debating furiously in her mind. It seemed that she'd need a bit more time.

Upstairs they went!

Gabi was a sweet girl, if a little more enthusiastic than she had ever expected but sweet. Compliments always made her blush though, despite whether or not she was fully aware of her physical appeal as a female. She also realized she did sort of stand out with her darker complexion. Rai found herself at a loss for response, but graciously accepted the book. At least she would have some vague idea of what she had gotten herself into.

Still, the girl's excitement and jovial attitude made the situation a little less intimidating.

As did hearing the sound of her friend's voice filter in from downstairs and the stairway. Rai greeted Sam once she entered; "Well, I guess it's not so bad with you here too," and followed up with a sheepish half-giggle half chuckle.

Well, Gabi's enthusiasm and relatively innocent demeanor had been more of a comfort, not that she was put off by the thought of posing for a calender, and the recommendation had come from a trusted friend, but she was a little nervous.

The joke even made her laugh, which seemed to help.

"Don't worry about it, and yeah. She's also the one who told me about about this uh, modeling gig I guess I should call it?" She supposed that was an appropriate name for it. "Truth be told I've actually never done anything like this before. Modeling or photoshoots I mean."

Never crossed her mind really. Light conversation was good. Kept her mind off the cameras.

Sam's comment however, did nothing to help. Rai deadpanned. She stammered in response, red as a beet. Okay, so she hadn't exactly de-robed for anyone, male - or female for that matter - in at least a good year and a half. Even then, the situation had been a private affair.

"Ah-I mean-" She clammed up, with pursed lips. Raien knew she was in good hands obviously, James and Gabrielle were good kids, that much she could tell. Once they got her out onto the set, things would probably work themselves out.

Raien was well aware the shoot was for a good cause, not because of the prize money but it all came full circle back to helping a good friend. She wasn't entirely embarrassed, if that wasn't obvious by her posture at least - which was rather casual and loose.

Gabi encouraged and reassured her, moving right along onto complimenting her assets, ala Sam's kind donation of pictures before the shoot, so the 'professionals' - if you would - knew what they were working with. Such flattery worked so well on Raien, if only she knew.

"I-um. Thank you? I think?"

Quote: "Uh oh...Rai...I think you're in for it now..."

With her head cocked to the side, she exchanged curious glances with Sam. "What's that supposed to mean?"

When Gabi returned, having fetched something from a box off to the side, she received her answer.

"Oh. Ohh." After taking a minute to -also- investigate the barely there getup, she mused. "Hell, most swimsuits are skimpier than that anyway." Not to mention she had a fondness for corsetry and the like.

It sounded a lot more glamorous than she had first assumed and, found the idea of really playing with a snowy, winter theme to be particularly, pretty. Once she really thought about it.

Gabi was gleeful, that's for certain.

She snickered, "Remind me to hide these photos from my son for as long as he lives. I'd be afraid of what he might think of his mother. Or worse - his friends. Teenage boys? Oh god."

Her lip curled with a vague recollection of just what sort of ideas might have sprung to mind had she ever posed like this for Jon. Shame she never thought of it. She tsked at her own silliness and laid the book down wherever seemed appropriate enough. Gabi pulled out another piece to the outfit and Raien spied it curiously.

"Mm. I guess either is fine, I mean, you guys're the photographers not me. I'm just here to look nice?" She joked, with an easy sort of laughter and accepted the garment from Gabrielle, who no sooner was back to rummaging around in her magical box of goodies.

Rai actually paused long enough so she could see what Gabi pulled out for Sam to wear. Sure enough, it made the woman, who she took for a little more outgoing and that much more outwardly playful, honestly blush.

"Oho. On second thought, maybe you ought to save a few just for him." Raien teased her friend, but only for a brief stint. They needed to get changed and as much as she enjoyed standing around making light of their situation, there were other girls scheduled after all.

She urged towards their makeshift dressing room. "Come on. I don't know about you but I think I'll be needing some minor assistance here."

MEANWHILE

"What do you mean you don't accept Sub Club cards anymore?!"

The sounds of a heated argument between a rather frustrated-looking man in a business suit and one of Subway's esteemed sandwich artists echoed out of a rather unassuming Subway restaurant and into the streets of Latent. The man arguing seemed pretty average in just about everything. Three days' worth of black stubble covered his face. His hair, in contrast, was cropped short and well-maintained, perhaps even gelled with the front spiked up. While he was certainly animated and spoke loudly, he wasn't red in the face, so it looked like he was just genuinely shocked that his bid for a free sandwich had fallen flat.

"Sir, those cards have been out of print for about six years now. All the print on the back has been rubbed off. And..."

The woman behind the counter paused and tilted the card to the side, taking a good long look at the ten stamps that were stuck to the back of the card.

"Is this...a postage stamp of Harriet Tubman?"

"Well, yeah. I mean I was digging around in my glove compartment for this thing and lost one of the stamps. I figured, y'know, a stamp's a stamp, right?"

"Sir, even if this were the year 2001 we wouldn't accept this card. The fact that this card has turned a disgusting shade of brown and is leaking...what is that?

"Oh, that? That's probably coolant. See, I kinda skimped on repairs after the last MechFest and, well, coolant kinda drains straight into my glove compartment now an-"

The sandwich artist dropped the card then and there, not even wanting to push it back towards the man she was arguing with.

"Look, I don't want to touch that card anymore. If I just give you your food will you promise to never come back here as long as you live?"

"Lady, you've got yourself a deal."

Taking his foot long cold cut combo, his bag of sunchips, and his twenty ounce pink lemonade, Ethan Geiss headed out of the restaurant with a hop in his step. Not only did he get a great meal for free, he also had a short walk to his mech which, as one could imagine, was typically a pain in the a** to park ANYWHERE, let alone a place bustling with pre-Heaven or Hell activity.

Yep, things were pretty good.

KytanaTheThief Wrote:

Robyn strode down the street, occasionally glancing at the paper in her hands before looking back around the area. Her fox ears twitched, and she scowled with annoyance. "Easy-to-find, my a**..." The fox blinked before chuckling, her tail lashing behind her. "Ok, that one was pretty good." With a sigh, the fox girl began looking around some more.

She was dressed pretty casually, just jeans and a white t-shirt. The note had said the outfits would be provided, which was fine by Robyn, although she hoped it wasn't too....frilly, or some such nonsense. Robyn was no girly girl, that was for sure. But, the idea of the shoot had intrigued her. She'd gotten a bit of notoriety for her runner-up placement at the GTB, and this time, was quite a bit more prepared for her HoH debut. The vixen wasn't one for hogging the spotlight, but she certainly didn't mind the attention. And even Selene liked the idea of posing for a "special" calendar, tormenting males everywhere...well, maybe not "everywhere", but certainly some, and that was all the demon cared about.

"You know, I know why I'm doin' it, but what d'you get out of it?" The fox eyed her friend. "I mean, no physical contact or anythang." She smirked, throwing a playful arm around Rosalyn as she laughed. "Unless you think they're plannin' to put in some extra shots or somethin'"

"Oh, I have my reasons."

Rosalyn turned to look to Robyn beside her, a knowing grin having formed across her lips. She responded to the fox's touch by wrapping her arm around Robyn's body to hold her waist. Pulling her in especially close as they walked, she let out chuckle,

"When you're as gorgeous me, why wouldn't you want everybody who possibly could to know about it?"

Her chuckle became louder briefly before she turned to face forward, her eyes peering off into the distance. She was in no rush to find this place. In fact, she didn't any idea where exactly they were going. Robyn seemed to have trying to find out where they should be taken care of. After the momentary pause, Rosalyn turned to look back at Robyn to continue on with her reasoning.

"Most importantly, this kind of exposure can be used as bait. When these photos are published there will be thousands, no...Hundreds of thousands of people gawking at them. Hordes of the lovestruck and lonely will be throwing themselves at us."

She paused again very briefly, her voice taking a more inquisitive tone,

"If your meal was coming to you for the minimal amount of work then why would you make it any harder on yourself, dear?"

COPS is filmed on location with the men and women of law enforcement, all suspects are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.

Latent City Sherriff’s Office.

Flashing his pearly whites for his camera crew entourage was LCPD’s finest:

Officer Dimitrius Bhudasan.

A pair of mirrored aviator sunglasses masked a significant portion of the man’s face. His visible features hinted at the guy being in his late 20s/early 30s and of Southeast-Asian decent. His black hair was incredibly shiny, and incredibly short.

"So yeah, I’ve been on this planet for going on 5 years." As the man spoke to the camera, his nationality was not betrayed by any noticeable accent. "It changes you. Barton is a crazy place! You get all kinds of creeps and weird-Os wandering around this time of day. Sun’s out, it’s bright as hell, but they don’t care! A little U-V Radiation won’t stop the freaks from coming out. Even vampires! They don’t follow the rules! They’ve got no dignity, no respect for tradition! It’s sad man, really sad. In fact-" Dimitri’s ramblings were put on hold as the static-ridden voice of a female dispatcher flooded the squad car.

"Car 244, We have a 1-4-3 in progress, East street at the Subway."

"Are you kidding me?" Bhudasan sighed as he spoke into the small transmitter. "I’m on it." Following the short acknowledgment, his eyes returned to the road. "I’m shocked! Usually the mech pilots don’t start popping up until the Spring. A rowdy bunch those guys are, full of themselves too! They think that just because they’ve been entrusted with a 10 story, bipedal, death-machine they own every parking spot in 200 miles. Luckily there’s guys like me here to bring’em back down to reality."

Cue sirens.

Designated Hero Wrote:

Yep, things were pretty good.

That’s correct, things were good. When Ethan returned to his very massive, very illegally parked mech, he’d notice the officer squatting next to the right leg of the vehicle wielding a large wrench in hand and a camera crew at his side. The price for double parking a mech on Dimitri’s watch was quite severe, as the pilot would soon find out.

He had booted the mech. Ethan would eat fresh, but at what cost?

Day 1 - Raien/Estèe/Sey

It was indeed a small space, but still workable for two people. Three would have been pushing it and probably would have had things poking into places they shouldn't, but for just themselves they were fine. Once she and Raien both was stripped down, she'd admit to a small 'cursory' look but that was all before she got down to business. Raien would likely get a view of a 'healed' tattoo on Estèe's upper backside. A small purple and blue butterfly 'tramp stamp', if you would.

"If you like corsets that much, it is very easy to learn how to tighten them yourself." But she still would have Raien turn around and she gripped the center of each bar from the corset and pulled outward, then wrapping then tightened each strand and pulled again.

"Okay...now stretch your arms up and act like you're doing side stretches." now this was going to be the tricky part. "Now forward towards the wall. And bend back towards me..." And she tried to back up but her head hit the bottom of the stairs and left her close enough that if Raien was flexible at all...her hands would likely run into one or two of Estèe's more generous features that would be sticking out and likely to come to hand...

It was fair to say she had an appreciation of her fellow women and dressing whilst in the presence of one she knew well enough made very little difference to the magess, a funny contrast to her earlier shyness, but there was a big distinction between posing in front of a stranger's camera and changing in front of a friend.

Besides, they were both grown women, not school girls.

Often Raien glimpsed back and forth just to be sure she wasn't stepping on the other woman, or going to accidentally hit her while flailing around in attempts to derobe. At one point she did indeed catch a little peek at the inked butterfly.

"Ooh. Pretty!" She commented, briefly though, as the other woman made short work of those laces with little time wasted. So Rai's attention was found redirected now to the careful instructions being relayed to her.

Oh sure, she could easily just stand straight, face forward and be hassle free but her curiosity got the better of her and several times she tried to turn her head and peer behind her to get a gander of what was being done, almost as if watching would help give her a better idea of how to do this herself.

Unfortunately, the given instructions made it difficult to do so and Raien stretched as told ... then forward ... when she was instructed to bend backwards, Raien attempted to peer behind her, in order to ensure she didn't bend too far and end up flat out running into Sam - but the space provided little room for such stretching and when hands started searching for a level surface to brace oneself, they came across the other person in the room instead.

Raien made a sound something akin to a squeak in surprise, that no sooner devolved into giggling. "Woops. This is working out rather smoothly huh?"

Anyone outside of the dressing room might have questioned the goings on inside, considering how it sounded.

Ethan was wearing some sweet aviators himself, swinging his sandwich back and forth while sipping on his lemonade. The problem was, the moment his mech's foot was in view, he caught sight of a camera crew gathered around the base of his machine. Naturally, as most narcissists would, he assumed that the media was there for an interview. After all, the Mech Fighting League's season was going to start in a few months, and it probably wasn't too often that the people of Latent got any sort of exposure to the world's biggest fighting organization, what with being as obsessed with Heaven or Hell as they were.

"Sorry fellas, not taking interviews right now. Maybe you can talk to my agent about setting one up...hey wait, what th-"

Ethan finally got a good look at the person who the camera crew was actually following. A police officer who was just putting the finishing touches on...was that a boot?

"Heyheyhey! What the hell, man?! I wasn't parked there for more than ten minutes! Aren't you supposed to give me a ticket or a warning or something first?!"

This was an unfortunate start to his visit. Then again, this was nothing that his modest salary couldn't handle. Honestly, a non-moving violation in a town currently overflowing with tourists. How much could one ticket possibly be?

"Yeah, that puppy belonged to last year's champ before he was...err...well it's probably best to not talk about it in front of...err...uhh"

Ethan gestured towards the cameras.

"Anyways, yeah. That's mine, and I'm Ethan Geiss. So, now that we've got that outta the way whaddaya say you get that boot off, I get my ticket, and we both go on our merry little ways before one of my sponsors sees this and I lose out on ten grand."

Ethan was starting to get a little agitated, as evidenced by his voice's slight rise in volume. It wasn't to the point of yelling, but it wasn't very far off from that either.

Quote: "Well, as excellent of a bra as you make, I doubt that's what they had in mind..."

That line just made her laugh harder, though she tried to suppress the actions while being laced up and there being a need to stand still. For the most part anyhow. "What can I say? I'm an innovative kind of gal."

Celeste's hands to be made a pitstop at her own assets, and deliberately at that, her dark cheeks flushed a deeper shade while she blinked back the surprise. The little peck on the ear had totally taken her aback, and Raien's mouth hung agape just a tiny bit. "Wha-oh-" she stammered, at first completely misinterpreting what had just been said, but soon realizing that Cel was referring to her own dressing needs.

She momentarily covered her face with her palm to muffle the oncoming round of laughing. God, if anyone outside could hear what was going on, she wasn't sure what they might think. "Okay. Okay. They're going to start wondering what is going on in here."

There was a brief, humorous moment of adjusting her corset before getting situated behind Celeste to help her out. Of course, even that couldn't go without some clever attempt at being a flirt.

They were good friends, and it was all silly harmless fun, so it didn't bother the mage, just made her gasp ever so slightly and encourage one string of giggling after another. "You're terrible. What will your husband think?" She teased, and fussed with the laces as requested.

"Okay. All set. Now let's scoot on out before they send a search party."

Supreme Jerk Commander Wrote:

"I believe you’re going to lose out on a little more than 10 grand here, pal. Class 7 mechanized robot fighting machines are not permitted to be stored, parked, or displayed in residential areas without a valid permit from the city. And I’m willing to bet that you don’t have one. This is a pretty serious offense, one that carries with it a hefty fine. License, please?" Dimitri continued tapping away the PDA as he waited. At this point, he expected the pilot to either comply, or make a run for it. Deep down, he hoped for the latter. "Residential?! Look around you, man!"

Ethan spun around and lifted his arms, walking back towards the street he had just walked from, unwittingly jaywalking in spite of the fact he had used the crosswalk just a minute earlier. The area was lined by businesses, with no real housing as far as the eye could see in one direction. Ethan, of course, failed to notice the apartment complex and schoolyard that were in the immediate vicinity, conveniently hidden from Ethan's view due to his mech's size. Walking back across the street to where he had originally been, Ethan arrived just in time to be asked for his license.

"This is bullshit, man."

Now Ethan was grumbling to himself as he switched his sandwich over to the hand that was holding his drink before fishing for his wallet. Unfortunately, in the process of pulling out his wallet, a small, previously opened bag of skittles fell out of his pocket and hit the ground, littering the street and sidewalk with little candy pieces.

"Motherfu-!"

Ethan was only cut off because he had to bite into his wallet in order to slide his driver's license out of its little plastic window. Begrudgingly, he handed Officer Bhudasan his identification before taking the wallet out of his mouth.

"Look, how much is this gonna cost me? I'd rather just cut you a check right now and skip all the court crap. I probably won't be back in this region for at least another six months."

"FORTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS?!"

Designated Hero Wrote:

"FORTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS?!"

This guy was getting too rowdy for his tastes.

Supreme Jerk Commander Wrote:

Not even the camera crew was able to catch glimpse of when he used the stamp or where he got it from.

That's because this nice police officer didn't use the stamp at all. Before anyone had noticed, or cared to notice seeing as they were too busy with the drama unfolding before them, the lady with the large afro and gold hoop earrings had joined the crowd starting to surround the two.

When the officer began mentioning the perpetrators other offenses, Aayon was more than happy to help out. It was just lucky that she happened to carry random stamps with her at all times, the one she was carrying now read "REVOKED" in red. Sneaky as a ninja, the woman slid in and stamped the crap out of the license before it was given back to it's owner.

Things seemed to be going well (for the officer at least, not so much for the perp.) until Bhudasan wanted to help accommodate the guy. This was obscene, at her work they were told to do exactly the opposite. You're suppose to choose the day that's worst for him, schedule it ten minutes before his fight, or wedding, or transplant, whatever the case may be. No. no, no, this was all sorts of wrong.

That is until the taser was pulled out. The Geiss guy got even crazier.

Aayon looked towards the person closest to her and snapped her fingers, "You can be shur that white boy ain't gettin' his s**t back. Might as well take the part of his brain out that controls motor functions. Boi won't be needed it."

Edit: GODDAMN IT, DAS--... ME.

Fox was being arrested and taken away earlier, for public indecency and whatever else.

If there was any reason or excuse to justify this cause, it was that Fox was intoxicated.

Cuffed, with his back against the seat, his "head" switching on and off, he realized someone was being sit next to him. Quite forcefully, in fact. s**t, the guy was probably out... Still, it didn't stop Fox from mourning in his drunkenness.

"A-she-rahhhh~

Why!!!?"

And a tear rolled down his cheek.

All of a sudden his body seized up and his world went from a beautiful view of the shoreline to a nice close-up of the pavement. Sure, there was pain somewhere in the transition, but Ethan was a guy who had been hit by a mech-grade weapon and survived. A little trip to the cement wouldn't register too high on his pain scale. The one irritating thing during the quick exchange was that Ethan landed square on his lemonade, covering his clothes with sticky pink sugar water.

Still, everything happened so fast that, before Ethan knew it, he was thrown into the back of a squad car next to a man who looked like he was at least ten drinks past his limit. Worst of all, the man's pants were around his ankles and he refused to stop mumbling somebody's name.

"Fffff...."

Ethan leaned his head way back to stare at the roof of the squad car.

"Can't believe this crap. Didn't even get my sandwich."

No one else in the parking lot gathering showed any interest in stepping up to help the sistah out. No one save for Officer Bhudasan. True, he was leery of DMV workers. Theoretically they were on the same side, but it was an alliance of convenience at most. As long as the cops brought them a steady supply of licenses to revoke, all was good. He put aside his disdain for the woman and made his best attempt at chivalry.

"Well ma’am, I don’t have any cable,s myself." Dimitri paused as he turned to the massive robot besides them and stroked his chin. "But I’m pretty sure this guy does." The officer had no problem with volunteering someone else’s stuff, especially when that “someone else” was a prisoner of his. “Hey, Hot-shot! You wake?” He asked while opening the back door of the police car. “We need to borrow your jumper cables. And don’t try to tell me you don’t have any. They come standard with your mech and it’s practically illegal to walk around without them.” Yeah, he was bullshitting, but so was everyone else in that lot who looked around like they have never heard of jumper cables. Bhudasan was probably the only one amongst them who legitimately didn’t have his. Well, except for maybe Fox. That guy barely even had his pants with him.

Designated Hero Wrote:

"Yeah I've got jumper cables, -

That's all Dimitri needed to hear. Anything Ethan said after that would be to the door as it slammed shut.

"And there you have it, ma'am. Just pop your hood and give me a second to find out where the cables are stored." Dimitri wasen't 100% certain, but given the make of the mech, he had a pretty strong hunch that the jumper cables were stored in the crotch area. Luckily the officer confiscated the keys from Ethan during the take-down so he was able to get into the robot when he needed.

Problem here was, these were not your ordinary jumper cables. These things were comically huge, something you'd use to n****e-torture a titan! Needless to say, this didn't stop Dimitri from rigging up a connection between the mech and the car.

"Alright ma'am. connections look good, now just let me start this baby up-" Bhudasan shouted over the mech's external speakers. He was sitting inside the uncomfortably cramped cockpit, looking over the controls to try and decide which button actually turned the thing on. "Ah, here it is."

He noticed a large button labeled "start". How convenient. He pressed it and-

"s**t."

Tei Kae Wrote:

Day 1- Raien/Estèe/Sey???

"My husband?" At this she couldn't help but laugh. "He'd probably ask to join in." Once everything was set up, she was silent as she attached the garters to the stockings. It was modest by most standards, and yet quite provocative. Like an old film star, a true pin up. She brushed her hair out of her face and opened the door for Raien.

"I'm sure you'd be welcome." She teased again lightly, and even jokingly swatted at Raien's behind as she walked past.

"Alright, ma cherie. We await your orders." To the young girl who was fiddling with dials and turns behind a camera as she stared at the blank space.

"Okay, Miss Raien. You're up first. Just go sit over in that fake snow there. A standing kneel if you would, and wrap your coat around the bodice so it doesn't show. I'll fix it from there."

Rai was quite honestly taken by surprise when Celeste stated very matter of factly that Rayner would be more the type to encourage such behavior if not get involved himself. While she wanted to laugh right along with Cel, what came out instead was a half-hearted and very distracted chuckle. Her mind was elsewhere for that brief minute, reminding Raien of how open and yet intimate her own relationship had been with Jonathan. She almost didn't realize how jealous she was now of her friend's happy little family.

She loved her son more than anything but the loneliness was there, just buried. It would stay buried too, at least until she had privacy. For now, she forced the unpleasant thoughts back and focused on the here and now.

Her smile had already returned by the time Celeste finished with her stockings and opened the door to let them both out. The swat on the behind encouraged a (hopefully) happier looking expression, but it was still forced and faltered just a hair at the implied invitation. "Hah. Well I don't know how I'd feel about fooling around with a good friend, and a married friend no less. But I appreciate the offer?" She joked, or tried to, some more and hopefully lighten the mood.

Fortunately, she was given a reasonable distraction. Gabi called for her to pose and Rai did as instructed, with some slight uncertainty - if only from inexperience. She loved taking photographs of other things and other people but being behind the camera herself was an entirely different concept.

"Okay..." Kneel she did, and of course laugh a little at the fake snow. It was pretty good to say the least, so she was looking forward to seeing how the photos turned out. "Alright. I am officially yours to mold I guess." Raien stated, after getting into what was more or less Gabi's instructed position.

"Tch. You can only lead a horse to water."

Rosalyn decided to end the discussion there, not very pleased with Robyn's rejection of becoming more like her. The fox was going to have a rude awakening one day soon when she woke up an old hag and will regret her mistake. She was like most humans that the succubus had met. Lacking the foresight to take what's being offered to them because they enjoyed the present far too much. It was that kind of mindset that Rosalyn exploited countless times. So it's probably for the best that the fox wasn't much different. Less competition for Rosalyn and more food awaiting to be eat when the babies eventually would come.

Suddenly breaking the silence Robyn excitedly exclaimed she had found the building they were looking for. Rosalyn simply raised an eyebrow at the child like gesture, her eyes following Robyn's hips until she arrived at the doorway. The succubus met the fox's side at the doorway with slow steps. Her hands on her hips, she let her companion handle the door. It seemed like Robyn was enjoying it a lot more than she would have. Even though they hadn't been standing there for very long Rosalyn was already becoming quite impatient. Her eyes scaling up the building as they waited.

Then the door was finally answered and they were greeted by a young man. A young, healthy looking man. Rosalyn's eyes settled down on him and they widened. Her tiny wings fluttered briefly and her tail moved to the other side. All of a sudden she felt one of those urges. All of a sudden she was feeling pretty hungry. Acting on impulse, she didn't allow Robyn the chance to respond to the young man's question before reaching for his face to pinch his cheek.

"My my, aren't you a cutie? What's a naughty boy skipping school doing asking two lovely ladies standing at his door if they have appointments?"

Day 1

"Well, Rayner could join in if you'd like." She teased back, but did not expect an honest answer. After all, it was just in her nature that she was just beginning to discover to be a flirt and a tease. The caterpillar had become a butterfly finally.

But as they approached and Gabi began giving out orders, Estèe slid back against the wall and watched.

Gabi checked the camera, then moved forward, adjusting Raien's coat around her to her satisfaction, brushing feather's back, then pulling Raien's hair free to tumble about her shoulders.

At that point was where Estèe let out a wolf whistle, even done perfectly between her fingers so it was loud and piercing. By this point, James had given up on the stalkerish type woman and climbed back upstairs only to peek in at just that moment. Seeing what had his 'aunt' attention so riveted, he stared just a little. Without even looking, Gabi smiled at Raien. "Stop drooling, James. You just ate."

"But that was only catered food. She looks yummy..."

Gabi rolled her eyes and spoke to Raien. "Ignore him, he's young and full of hormones and used to getting anyone he wants. Besides, he's a good gofer if he wants you enough from what I understand." She teased and went back behind the camera, taking a few shots and giving Raien directions about how to move and occasionally giving directions on other movements she wanted Raien to make.

Photoshoot Day 1 - Raien & Estèe

Rai let Gabi adjust her coat and fix her hair, and tried to hold back the little curl of her lip, indicating that she was most certainly in a better mood. It was also obvious she was far more comfortable with the idea of posing for the camera and kind of enjoyed having someone fuss over her. It was sort of fun, and she was learning rather quickly how to adjust her position or her head just right and felt pretty confident...

Until Celeste whistled and shattered the illusion, causing her to falter - and laugh hysterically.

"You're not helping! You just wait, just wait."

That was when James decided to grace them with his reappearance and make flattering and yet forward commentary. Raien wasn't sure whether to thank him for the compliment or quickly swaddle herself in the coat with red cheeks.

Gabi reassured her that James was harmless, and thus she gathered her composure and fixed her pose to the photographer's liking.

Photoshoot Day 2 - Ryke and Izzy (oh boy)

What was so great about today? Ryke didn't know what she was supposed to be excited for - which was more than could be said for her obnoxiously giddy roommate, happily skipping along just a few paces ahead of her. The woman had obviously either consumed far too many sugary substances in the past 48 hours, or something was going on. Well, no, something was definitely going on, but that went without saying.

Izzy had clearly convinced herself, that she had convinced her they were going to the zoo, or something along those lines. Unfortunately for the shifter, she failed to realize Ryke was always one step ahead of her. Sure, they were best friends, but being hopelessly gullible was not a prerequisite of friendship. Bright Valley Petting Zoo was neither in Latent, nor was there even a zoo to be had in town. Not to mention, she had been the one to drive them, and the address was not even slightly representative of a zoo-like establishment.

Still, Ryke let Izzy lead the way, and lead she did. Right to a fairly inconspicuous looking store-front.

Well, almost inconspicuous - if not for the sign just above the door.

Quote: Ginger Photography

She came to a full hault and stared at the sign with narrowed eyes. "Izzy, is this some kind of prank? Cause I swear..."

Photography studio? What WAS going on here exactly? She certainly had never heard of the place, nor was she really dressed properly for any kind of, shoot. Maybe it had something to do with the tournament? After all, Iz was competing this year, even if she wasn't. Then again, nothing was ever that simple when it came to her friend, not in the slightest.

Ebag The II Wrote:

+++He eventually showed up. His form carrying the chainaxe like it was nothing. Yet, his eyes were saying it all. He was pissed off. He had Khorne screaming at him about this and that or some other groxslith. He probably hadn't had his drugs in a long while. Regardless, he was there and he was quickly closing ground on the fraggin' monk.

+++"Why ya killin' daemons?"

So that's how it is...

Tenkai should have figured it out from the beginning, if it were not for his lapse of judgement through bouts of innocent curiosity. Just as Kong's defection was being quickly retaliated upon, Tenkai's slaying of those two Flesh Hounds must have had the same effect. It was just as the monk had figured. It didn't matter how he hid it. By killing a daemon of Chaos, he had marked himself as their enemy.

And Dzan, being a follower of Chaos, had a problem with it. Tenkai could see it in those burning bronze eyes of his. He could feel that same anger that gave him strength from his god. The punk came closer to the monk as he spoke, but Tenkai wouldn't budge. With his shakujo staff resting on his shoulder, he started rubbing his chin again like he always did.

"Not sure," said Tenkai, smirking. "Why are daemons killing mortals?"

Sokoya found herself propped up against a brick wall, the warm air blowing down the road a soft contrast to the chill that the surface was giving off. She could feel it through her clothing, little more than street clothes. A black and white, long sleeve, baseball shirt. Some tight black leather pants adorned with a belt. Naturally, an over sized belt buckle. Her standard accessories were present. Chuck Taylors, studded braclets.

Her once long silvery hair had been cropped short. Getting back to the look that she'd held for most of her life. A slim and slight tomboy. The girl's hair was little more than chin length, and a tangled mess. Almost as if it were sloppily braided. Eyes that were the color of blood peered out from below those platinum bangs, lazily shifting up and down the street that she lingered on. Her porcelain like skin seemed to glow in the midday's light, giving the woman a definitely surreal appearance.

Sure, one could say that Sokoya was pretty. But behind those pleasant features was a sense of wrongness. The woman gave off a predatory aura that made most men too uneasy around her to try and spit out a pick up line. Those that did would find a warm reception, leading to a messy demise. She was a man eater, in the truest meaning of the word. And tonight, she was on the hunt. Casually waiting for something exciting to cross into her field of vision.

The woman could only hope that her team leader was busying himself with submitting the team information. Edward was a bit of something else, and she wouldn't put it past him to get sidetracked. Or just flat out lose the sheet she'd filled out prior to arriving in Latent. The Crimson Hawk was well within her field of view, however, so she doubted the little cyberpunk could get into that much trouble without her knowing.

A yawn, stifle by a single delicate looking hand, and she was back to idly passing the time, waiting for someone of interest to pass by.

+++The further away from people the more his accent began to drop. "S' wha' ya sayin' is tha' ya killed because?"

+++Dzan had been through Latent for multiple years. Even despite only entering competitively and being hired once it didn't matter. He had come to Heaven or Hell every single year it had ran. Well, every year since his arrival on Gaia Primus. He had won the tournament and come back to become an eliminator and then he had vanished from the tournament circuit completely.

+++"There's something that hasn't been passed down the line now ain't there?" He'd state as he'd pull forth an lho-stick and place it between his pierced lips before offering the monk one of them. He knew it'd most likely be turned down, but he was offering none the less.

+++The axe changed positions. It moved to being held behind his neck and his arms were wrapped on the haft of it. He'd stop walking and merely smoke on his lho-stick for a little while. His tongue flicking the ashes to a degree to allow them to fall to the earth. At this point the bronze eyes of his looked upwards.

+++Ya ya. Ya a fraggin' monk afterall." He looked back down. Eyes of disgust to a certain degree. "A monk killing things now. Aww. Did you meet up with James then? Become a demonhunter?" Oh yes. He was looking into things that weren't really there.

+++Another drag and another release. He wasn't one of Khorne's willing servants. Most people thought he was, but very few knew about the turmoil that rolled about his very soul. He shook his head slowly for a second before chuckling. Maybe it was time to tell someone other than Bianca. Who knew really how people would react to everything that was going down.

+++"Ya know. I'm not really a willing servant. Neither are you. Neither is Kong. Neither is Vahn. None of them are willing and yet...all of them spill blood. They fight do they not. Thus, they are Khorne's. Some more so than other's."

+++He then stopped and stared. His bronze eyes showing a hint of betrayal in the very core of his being, but then it was snuffed out as if it never existed. He was waiting for an answer. Anything. He wanted to know why he was killing fleshhounds, and he wanted to know when it had happened. For they were tracking something. That's what flesh hounds were done for.

"I've always been a demon hunter."

Indeed, it was strange to picture a monk of nearly any faith killing something. It went against the whole idea of being a monk. There may have been templars and paladins and holy warriors, but they were of a different sort. And yet, there were still monks who were known for their brutal martial arts. What sort of hypocrisy was that?

He listened as Dzan spoke, his words echoing through his mind. It was as Tenkai expected...there was a small speck of doubt lingering in his soul. The cyberpunk had given him a glimpse of the inner turmoil that raged inside of him...

...along with a powerful statement.

Tenkai, Dzan, and all other warriors spilled blood in battle. Was Tenkai really any different from Dzan? If the negative emotions brought about from fighting gave Chaos strength, was it even possible to fight Chaos?

He's right...just like them, I've...

It was small, yet visible in Tenkai's face. The look in his eyes had changed. No doubt Dzan would find pleasure in seeing it if he was paying close attention to how Tenkai reacted to his words. For once in a long time, doubt had crept its way onto Tenkai's soul.

When a man heard words with such gravity as those that Dzan had said, it normally began to shatter their faith like a crack in their mind, steadily growing larger...but...

シー~.......

(sfx. shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii)

Tenkai closed his eyes and, just as Dzan smothered the humanity that betrayed his brazen eyes, his doubts were crushed to oblivion. Memories of Tenkai's past, his history with the youtou Muramasa and all that he had pondered on his journeys, flooded through his mind until it was clear.

From within that nothingness, Tenkai remembered something he had hoped to tell Kong some day soon. If there was still doubt in Dzan's mind, perhaps he could enlighten him to the things that his blood god did not want him to know.

"You are right," said Tenkai, "Like you, I too have shed blood. Many of those who have fought in the past have done so. But..."

"I am not like you," he said as he opened his eyes. "I am not like the others, either. I don't take joy in taking life, or inflicting pain, or spilling blood. I find no glory in battle, no use in the meaningless titles of 'champion' or 'invincible' that everyone touts around. There is no 'sanctity' for your god in the blood I've spilled, no hate or anger in my sword. I've regretted every life I've had to take, and when there's a way to avoid killing, I will take it. The only thing I do not regret, is the path I've chosen..."

Tenkai took his shakujo off of his shoulder and let it stand up like a walking staff.

"I fight not because I want to, but because I must. I fight not for myself, but for others. And to that end, I have purged my blade of hatred."

As much as the daemon inside Dzan told him otherwise, the humanity that still lingered had to understand. Was there not anything important in Dzan's life that he fought for? Was there not anything in this world that Dzan loved?

Thinking of this, Tenkai came up with an idea. It was a heavy gamble, but it was one he was going to take. He wanted to help Kong, and he would continue to do so. But this was a chance worth taking.

"You wanted to know why I slew those beasts?" said Tenkai, "I did it to protect someone. Someone who by their own will has turned away from your master. Regardless of what you've been told, people who have the will to do so can turn their backs on Chaos. And I will fight to protect them from it."

"Now...tell me, Dzan Streea. Do you have anything to protect in this world? Is there anything...anyone that you love?"

Obviously, something in Tenkai's words had riled something out of Dzan. Tenkai picked up on his reluctance as easily as Dzan picked up on Tenkai's momentary doubt. Tenkai wasn't the only one who was hiding something. So as Dzan continued to justify himself by likening Tenkai to other forms of Chaos, the smirk returned to his face.

"Really? How much do you think I know?"

Tenkai knew enough from speaking with James Eredas that he could understand what Dzan was saying about the Chaos gods. He told him of "Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways" and the power of ambition...the power to change the world. As far as Dzan understood it, Tenkai was some unwitting pawn of Tzeentch, fighting simply to change the world.

Ambition...it was the danger that some ambition posed to the world that caused Tenkai to investigate the Noah Foundation to begin with. He knew that there were many forces in the world that wished to change it in a way they saw fit. If anything, Tenkai was figthing against change, not for it. He wasn't the least bit concerned with revolution or political upheaval. He fought for the sake of others...it was not his place to write their destinies.

He had little clue what this "God-Emperor" was supposed to be from wherever he came from, but it was obvious that Dzan wanted to marginalize the monk. That's how he knew that he was digging into something the cyberpunk wanted to keep secret.

"I learned a bit about these 'Chaos Gods'," said Tenkai, pacing slowly to his left in a circle around Dzan, "so I can understand the words you say. I can also see how deep that Chaos grips your soul. But I know very well what I serve, and it goes beyond the base concept of blind devotion to a god..."

"It isn't God or Buddha that gains power through my deeds," he continued, unsmiling "It is I who gain strength through the principles they embody and represent. That's how any mortal gains the power to stand against such overwhelming might."

"But I could feel it in you since that day back in the Yard, Dzan," he said as he stopped his pacing. "That hatred you draw your strength from isn't just directed at the world...it's merely reflected. Even now I could see you struggling with your own humanity. And now you try to deflect it by trying to stray me from my path? Did you think I know nothing about Chaos?"

Even before Tenkai knew "Chaos" as the collective "Ruinous Powers", Tenkai had dealt with the same feeling for all of his life. All of the dark creatures and destructive forces of the world came from some form of chaos or negative emotion, even the Fallen Star of the Morning. He had seen into the depths of it through Muramasa, facing the same hatred and bloodlust. The fact that Dzan was deflecting meant that there was something he couldn't seem to accept within himself.

"Don't lie to me," he said sternly, "Anyone I've ever met whose said there was nothing left for them was just trying to escape from something. If there was nothing but fighting left for you, you'd have never come back here since the last time you left this world. What are you running away from?"

Tenkai had no idea that Dzan was soon to be a father, or that he even had a girlfriend. For all he knew, Dzan didn't even know he had one. All he knew since the moment he met him was that he was at war with his own humanity. The hatred he had for the world...was merely reflected off of the hatred directed towards himself.

But Dzan knew much of hate...he must have known that he hated himself. The question was...why?

+++A laugh. Darkness embodied to a degree. "Gods gain powers despite you thinkin' your the only one my friend." Yes, he had called the monk friend. It was to keep people on edge. To know that they always had the upper hand no matter what, but as his speech ended Dzan would merely laugh some more. He thought the anger was directed at himself and being reflected at the world? No his inhuman like anger was a cause of the world and then reflected upon himself. His anger at the world had created what he was today.

+++"What is there to lie about? Do you know if I have a family? Do you even know what I truly do upon this Warp damned world?"

+++It was a simple question. Such a simple question that most people didn't really know how he survived amongst the ruins of the yard. For that's all people knew of him. They didn't know he was one of the major backers of Heaven or Hell under the guise of The Caduceus Corporation. He was up there with companies like Noah's. Up there with the corporations that created people that were on his team Bloody Pandas; like Gamma.

+++"I'll give you a hint. I'm a major backer of this tournament. Thus, if the only thing I have left is fighting then how could I be a major backer? I am a man of mysteries my friend. Whose humanity is questioned at all turns, but who fights to defend the human against the meta, mutant, xeno, and daemon. Why would a man under the influence of chaos do that? Because that's what caused me to fall in the first place."

+++It was true. His fight against anything inhuman, his anger for them threatening humanity in its entirety, caused him to fall into Khorne's awaiting hands. Caused him to become the champion of Khorne and collector of skulls upon Gaia Primus, but he was still oblivious about everything else going on in the world at large other than his immediate area. The bars, the drinks, the drugs,

+++"To fall is to mean losing my soul. To survive is to mean losing my soul. What is the difference at this point, monk?" He'd spit out the butt of the lho-stick finally as it sizzled into the filter. He'd merely shake his head before shrugging. "To break the holds of Khorne is an impressive thing. Harder the more favored you are. Because...won't I just fall back into Khorne's embrace the second I fight for my life once again? Because I will kill no matter what. I did it even before I fell to his influences."

Sins of an Angel Wrote:

She came to a full hault and stared at the sign with narrowed eyes. "Izzy, is this some kind of prank? Cause I swear..."

“Would I ever do a thing like that to you?” Izette turned and smiled at Ryke rather playfully. But the truth of the matter is she would do something like that. But nevertheless, the two of them were now standing infront of a building with the huge label that sounded something close to a Chinese restaurant. Grabbing Ryke’s hand, the punker looked at her with her cycloptic abilities and smiled ever so slightly. There was indeed something in the mix.

“Okay, lemme be honest with you... You remember that guy that I met at the bar that I was telling you about? Shining Armor?” She had to think about it for a moment, what the hell was it again? The punker placed a hand on her rather torn looking jeans as she began to search through the lack of brain cells that she did have. She really should have written it down or something all things considering... “Well anyways that’s BESIDES the point!” Izette flailed her arms around as though to brush it off. With the mere movement of her arms her large purple and while furred coat to almost fall off her shoulders. It was strange, for the way that it was placed and the top underneath it really didn’t seem that Izzy was wearing a shirt today...which put the girls practically on display for everyone to see already.

“Well...I kinda got a jo-“ Izette fell silent as she noticed the piece of machinery roll up by where they were standing. As the mysterious man removed his helmet it almost seemed to be in slow motion as the two of them watched his long ginger hair (which really wasn’t that long) flow downwards ever so slowly practically forming around his face as though sent from the heavens. The punker could even feel her knees tremble as he moved closer towards where the two of them where standing. However, suddenly it only seemed like it was just Izette and the dark haired ginger boy.

It was love at first sight...

"Looks like I can't be late if I'm here at the same time as the beauties."

That is what he may have said, but in the eye of Izette Prechtl she was only able to hear one thing.

"I want to touch you and share my passion of ducks with you while I feed you hot dogs.”

“I would let you touch me any day...” The words almost seemed like they were in a daze as she spoke. However, she may not have realized that she did say it out loud. It was definitely clear that the hardhearted woman had quite a soft spot for the ginger breed, and this was definitely something Ryke knew better than anyone. But if Izzy wasn’t careful, this obvious fact will be revealed to more than just her Tomboy-like friend.

Tenkai was actually surprised Dzan knew his name for a moment there. Of course, he must have known it somehow if he worked so closely with Heaven or Hell in the past. Nevertheless, the more he spoke, the more Tenkai's earlier feelings became cemented in his mind. Dzan was at war with himself, and he couldn't seem to find a way to retain himself without the help of drugs. It was the oddest of paradoxes to use drugs in order to become more sensible. He was trapped in his own perceived fate, doomed to Khorne's servitude no matter what he chose to do.

Tenkai may have explained why he killed those hounds, but he didn't give any names. Dzan still wanted to know who Tenkai was helping, for whatever reason there could be. The monk had a few ideas as to what that reason was, and that was where his gambit came into play. If Dzan was trying to convey his severity by taking his axe off his shoulder, Tenkai didn't seem to read it at all. It was as if he was completely oblivious to Dzan's willingness to beat the answers out of him if he needed to. Couldn't he at least sense his seriousness?

If he couldn't, wouldn't he continue to withhold the information? Not necessarily.

"As I said before, I came to the aid of someone who wanted to escape from Chaos," said the monk, "Someone just like yourself. You mentioned him before...Kong, remember?"

Tenkai wasn't sure how Dzan would react at that sort of news. Kong was supposedly a devout follower before. For someone like him to rebel against Khorne, how difficult must it have been to even begin doing that?

"Even someone so deeply immersed in Chaos can have the will to break away from it," said Tenkai, "And I will help him do it."

Tenkai wasn't sure if this revelation would put a crack in the logic of Chaos that permeated his soul, or simply fill him with rage and send him after Kong. Regardless, Tenkai was eager to see the reaction.

"I think I know you more than you realize," he said, smiling.

He knew Dzan had been hiding something from him. Did he realize what he just told Tenkai? A girl and an unborn child? Was that not something to protect in this world? If there was anything that could turn someone away from Chaos, it was something like that.

"I had figured you were hiding something amidst that whole Chaos talk," said Tenkai. "Perhaps it's not that I know too little about you, but that you know more than you let on. Does this mean you're turning your back on Chaos as well?"

To be honest, Tenkai couldn't make much sense of what Dzan was saying after that. He wasn't as completely aware of his cybernetic implants to say anything about him being human, and he had no idea what the world, mutants or metas had to do with any of it. Was this the small bit of Dzan's humanity poking its head out, freed from it's daemons by the good graces of his lho-stick? If so, was the cyberpunk just yanking his chain to see if he was just some sort of gullible monk?

And that was when Tenkai's seriousness sank for a moment.

"Just your fists?" he said, blinking, "Didn't you have that hammer? Wait...yes...yes, you did." He began to rub his chin. "And some sort of strange device, too. I think I remember your eliminator, too. I don't think I see what you mean."

He didn't even know enough about Dzan's cyborg parts to add that into the equation. For once, Tenkai sounded rather cheeky. He was still a bit wary as to whether or not he was speaking with the real Dzan or simply some narcotics-induced episode version of him, but he decided to enjoy it the only way he knew how to.

"Hm?"

Tenkai tilted his head in curiosity before Dzan suddenly shoved him against a wall. The broad side of the haft shoved into him and, oddly enough, the monk stumbled back into the wall much like he had done before. Quite a bit of an odd character shift. At least Dzan had drugs to blame for his sudden change in tempo. How did Tenkai go from being all serious to...well...chummy?

He seemed much more curious now than before, slowly figuring that this was the effect the lho sticks had on Dzan. This had to have been the small part of humanity left inside of him that he spoke about. No wonder he kept smoking those unusual cigarettes.

Even with his back up against the wall, not even avoiding Dzan's shove, Tenkai looked completely unlike anyone would expect a peaceful-looking holy man would look when being threatened. Perhaps it was some sort of amusement at the lho-induced high Dzan was under, or how much his comments got under his skin.

Once Dzan backed off of him again, Tenkai started rubbing his chin. Again. Again with the damned chin rubbing.

"Being the best? Stay at the top? Just what is at the top, exactly?" he asked, as if he had absolutely no idea what Dzan was talking about.

"To be honest with you, I don't think you're making much sense at all right now."

Dzan wasn't the only one who sounded like he had become a completely different person. Even Tenkai had his own duality, randomly shifting from the serious, morally-conscious superego to the seemingly daft and almost annoyingly amiable ego.

Gianna Augello Wrote:

"Tch. You can only lead a horse to water."

Rosalyn decided to end the discussion there, not very pleased with Robyn's rejection of becoming more like her. The fox was going to have a rude awakening one day soon when she woke up an old hag and will regret her mistake. She was like most humans that the succubus had met. Lacking the foresight to take what's being offered to them because they enjoyed the present far too much. It was that kind of mindset that Rosalyn exploited countless times. So it's probably for the best that the fox wasn't much different. Less competition for Rosalyn and more food awaiting to be eat when the babies eventually would come.

Suddenly breaking the silence Robyn excitedly exclaimed she had found the building they were looking for. Rosalyn simply raised an eyebrow at the child like gesture, her eyes following Robyn's hips until she arrived at the doorway. The succubus met the fox's side at the doorway with slow steps. Her hands on her hips, she let her companion handle the door. It seemed like Robyn was enjoying it a lot more than she would have. Even though they hadn't been standing there for very long Rosalyn was already becoming quite impatient. Her eyes scaling up the building as they waited.

Then the door was finally answered and they were greeted by a young man. A young, healthy looking man. Rosalyn's eyes settled down on him and they widened. Her tiny wings fluttered briefly and her tail moved to the other side. All of a sudden she felt one of those urges. All of a sudden she was feeling pretty hungry. Acting on impulse, she didn't allow Robyn the chance to respond to the young man's question before reaching for his face to pinch his cheek.

"My my, aren't you a cutie? What's a naughty boy skipping school doing asking two lovely ladies standing at his door if they have appointments?"

Robyn could only shake her head as Rosalyn started up her usual antics. Her eyes were closed though, and she missed the boy grabbing the redhead's wrist. It came as a shock, then, when she looked up again to find the very odd scene. A little nonplussed, she took action before Rosalyn could reply back, throwing her arm around the girl's shoulders (and slightly around her neck). "Just ignore her, she's got no manners. Although, I agree with her on the "cutie" part. The fox girl winked and flashed him a fanged smile. "I'm Robyn Isedan, this is Rosalyn, we were told to come here for the calendar shoot?"

The fact the boy looked like just that- a boy, didn't really faze her. As stated before, Robyn looked younger than she was, so she never really judged anyone based on looks alone. Although, it was intriguing, that he was asking about appointments. She wondered exactly how he was involved in the photography business; the person she'd talked to was a girl.

Tei Kae Wrote:

Day 1 So instead of thinking too heavily about what friendships had changed, she thought about the not so new one that had come into her life. Raien. A sweet, if a bit complex woman, a lot like herself. She believed very strongly in whatever she believed in, but she was not beyond kindness. Estèe was very grateful for the fact. She whistled again in response to Raien's laughter. "Take it off, babeh!!" but not even getting through the entire statement before she lost all control and started laughing hysterically herself.

Celeste could rest assured that her feelings were mutual. It was good to have a friend at all, in a place that she now called home, despite it not being her own. Though she was almost entirely independent for the most part, it was little pleasures like having good people in your life that she still craved.

It certainly helped to keep her together.

The whole room had practically exploded into full-bodied laughter, thanks to the humorous antics of both Cel, James and herself. Rai didn't want to break the pose and thus only caught the goings on from the corner of her eye.

"Sorry! sorry!"

She snickered, and tried to hold still once Gabi started again with the instructions.

"Just lean back a little, tilting your pelvis forward and give me a look of..hmm...promise. as if the camera is your lover and you want him to sample what you've got hidden."

"Do whaaaat?" She mused hesitantly at Gabi, just a little unsure of her instructions. Awkwardly now, she attempted to strike the position, taking care to try and accurately emulate what had just been asked of her. However, after a second of posing, she near collapsed, laughing at herself for actually posing like she had.

An apology was muttered in between breathes, "Sorry," and Rai straightened her posture again, "Okay. One more time."She took another shot at the pose, trying to keep a straight face - and she would so long as there were no more distractions.

---

Day 3 - Izzy-Ryke/Unknown/Unknown

Izzy Wrote:

“Would I ever do a thing like that to you?”

Ryke glanced knowingly at Izzy and responded appropriately. "Do you want me to answer you truthfully or-" but she wasn't given the chance to finish before the woman had grabbed her by the arm and looked ready to deliver some life altering news.

Oh boy.

She wore a face of hesitance and braced herself for what would come out of the shifter's mouth next.

Quote: “Okay, lemme be honest with you..."

Ryke snorted. "Hey, there's a novel concept. Alright then - enlighten me." Though Izzy's story was anything but enlightening, nor was it even really a story considering she had no idea how to express herself and forgotten halfway through the name of both the fellow and location that apparently had some level of importance and relevance to their outing today.

Izzy started flailing her arms, coming to terms with the concept of obliviousness, and revealed to the world her clearly conscious decision not to wear anything under her coat this afternoon. Ryke caught a brief glimpse of her roommate's breasts and quite literally balked.

"Oi. Woman, put your damn arms down, your flashing the whole street for Gaia sake. And why the hell are you topless to beg-no. You know what? I dun'wanna know." She turned away to face the street. "Just finish your story."

At least, she would have until they were interrupted by the roar of a street bike pulling up along the curb where they stood.

Quote: Dark ginger hair fell perfectly from his helmet as it lifted, but his gray eyes roamed over both Izzy and Ryke in a way that was more predatory than surveying before he cracked a smile that never quite reached his eyes. With long practiced ease, he checked his brown leather jacket for his key and brandished it before them. "Looks like I can't be late if I'm here at the same time as the beauties."

At first, Ryke had simply assumed this guy had taken notice to Izzy's wanton display of skin and then some - until he stepped off the bike and sized them both up with the eyes of a man who knew exactly what he wanted. Which thusly made Ryke fold her arms across her, albeit smaller, chest, as if he could see right through her clothing.

His commentary was no better, but she just rolled her eyes. Ryke hardly considered herself a "beauty" and she wondered briefly if this guy was just lumping her in with Izzy so as not to make her feel bad. She was true-blue ginger herself, with only halfway brushed, rusty red-orange hair that fell to her shoulders and a light smattering of freckles across her cheeks and nose. Her complexion was ruddy, uneven and while free of blemishes, it was far from perfect. She was tall, and lean - but cut just enough to indicate the potential to ruin someone's day. Her boyish style and behavior sure didn't help the stereotype that she played for the other team - when she really did like boys, just, not all of them.

When Izzy opened her mouth, looking positively starstruck, Ryke quite literally face-palmed.

"Ignore her. She's a bit of a loon. " She grabbed the punker by the arm and lured her back to reality. Or attempted to at least.

Somewhere, someone was cackling at the scene unfolding with Izzy and Ryke.

As Officer Bhudasan drove by, some bystanders on the street were wondering what the hell a black woman was doing in the front seat of a cop car.

Just Naota Wrote:

Sidetracked? Ye of little faith...

"...Personally, I've always loved watching Heaven or Hell on the TV, but it always left something to be desired...you know what I mean?"

"No, are you you buying tickets, sir? There's a whole line of people waiting behind you."

The lady at the box office was telling the truth, Edward surmised as he turned to spot a whole line made up of very impatient people. A bunch of people who didn't recognize him, which was more of a blessing that a curse. Last thing the cyborg needed was a following. "Me?" Ed asked as he turned back towards the Box Office, pointing the index finger of his right hand directly at his chest. He leaned in towards the glass before adding, "No, not really."

With that, the cyberpunk walked away from the Stadium to the annoyance of the Box Office lady and to the relief of everyone in the line behind him. It didn't take much time to walk back into Latent proper, and it was a good thing too. A few seconds more and HoH's loyal spectators and fans would have formed a lynch mob. Which begged the question. Why was the cyberpunk wasting his time in a line to NOT buy a ticket?

Anything to get out of doing something productive. Of course, he already got Tournament Entry out of the way, but that wasn't the end of his responsibilities as El Capitan. There were pep talks, making sure the team was in attendence, possibly interviews, exercise, trash talk, scouting the competition, subsequently calling them batty boys, and a lot of other things worth mentioning.

Oh right, and making sure Sokoya Ramak didn't eat half the town, or anyone for that matter. The punk visibly cringed at the thought, and actually contemplated getting back in line for an HoH ticket. However, Edward continued walking despite the thought of sharp teeth and full bellies plaguing his mind. He'd just have to be a strong leader and crap. Piece of cake. Piece of crumb cake.

There she is..

The cyborg played it cool as he walked on over; his last known memory of Sokoya (aside from the phone call he made to recruit her) still fresh in his mind. Why was his peck hurting? Today, being Winter and all, Ed was sporting a black shirt with the Alkaline Trio logo, a navy blue bomber, blue jeans, and ratty sneakers. His trademark spectacles, the over-sized horn-rimmed glasses, were perched on to the top of his messy head. Piercings and gauges adorned their usual spots. s**t was groovy but unimportant.

He took a spot on the wall with her, albeit a few feet away. "Come here often?" Ed gave her an infectious grin.

Sokoya had a little bit of time to herself before El Capitan found his way into her presence. The few minutes spent idling against the wall, dreaming up the first thoughts that managed to pop in her head. It was pleasant to simply live life in the moment. The girl used to have dreams and ambitions. All gone now, of course, left with a revitalizing sort of freedom. She had no concerns or cares anymore. No family. No job. Nothing she was hoping to amount do. The girl literally did as she pleased.

It was around this time that Edward's hipster a** showed up wandering down the street, seemingly aimlessly. He was mostly right about their friendship. The two barely kept in contact. The last time either one spoke really was when he'd offered her a spot on his newly formed team. No doubt an attempt to make up for the fiasco that was The Dark Tournament. Then there was their 'date', which ended with a not so loving bite. The rest before that was no better. The two of them had quite the odd sort of relationship.

"Come here often?"

Ha. "Hey there, boss man. You're looking especially delicious." Sokoya would purr out to the man as he made himself comfortable beside her. Ok ok, enough with the eating people jokes. Sokoya's scarlet gaze took in her cyborg buddy for a moment, and seeing that he was ok, she'd let it wander once more. Still nothing exciting happening in the streets, but she could certainly hope. "You know, you totally lucked out getting me on your team this year. For free that is." She would comment offhandedly, not bothering to glance over at the cyberpunk. "Thankfully, there is no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness."

And yes, she was indeed awesome. She was so awesome, in fact, that her enemies would go blind from over-exposure to pure awesomeness!

Deadpan.

"Anyway, who else is on the team?" She would ask rather nonchalantly, trying to kill time.

Rosalyn fought the sudden impulse to overpower the young man after he grasped her wrist. That wasn't something that happened very often. She had a good reason for it though. As she explained to Robyn earlier, this was a good opportunity to attract hordes of foolish fans too caught up in their fantasies to spot the trap that had been set. So the succubus decided to back down offering no resistance against the boy's hold. She even managed to not let her face show that she was bothered. She flashed him a pretty smile, albeit an unsettling one. To be honest, she was slightly more annoyed with her companion who felt compelled to jump in right as Rosalyn was ready to give him her own retort. She waited until the fox finished and that gave her enough time to think over her reply, which admittedly was a lot nicer now than what it had been with out brief intervention,

"I'm sure he's not stupid, dear. Why else would we be here?"

Her eyes slowly moved from Robyn to the young man. They narrowed a bit, her smile forming more into a smirk. Her expression looked as if she were challenging the boy and the tone of her voice followed suit,

"Let's just hope he's not one of those guys who gets nervous seeing a little skin and ruins the whole shoot."

Photoshoot Day 1 - Raien & Estèe

It seemed the humor had the chance to settle and simmer down to a dull chuckle or two from Raien as she put her full focus back into posing for Gabi and keeping form. She was fairly good at following directions so long as there was nothing to distract her.

Tei Kae Wrote:

"Lean back, resting your weight on the one hand, holding the coat closed with the other. Just...see the camera as your lover...does he have a name, what do his eyes look like...visualize him. Invite him to you."

Gabi's instructions weren't hard and Rai only needed a moment to find just the right position, without changing the given pose, to balance herself and not fall over. She liked to think she had some grace, despite never ever having posed for a professional shoot before. Raien looked to Gabi for confirmation on the position of her body first, before she mulled over her suggestion about visualization and hesitated for a second.

"I--hmm." There was nothing wrong with the idea, it wasn't like she couldn't conjure up something. "Okay." Raien didn't give the details on what she was visualizing, but instead let her mind wander back to some of the more pleasant days, focus on the many ways she used to entice her significant other and how much fun it was to turn him red as a cherry just by doing things like this. Rai had always enjoyed said methods to turn up the heat a little when say, she felt he needed a break from whatever work he'd brought home. It was harmless reminiscing, and nothing that would put a damper on her mood. She knew how to be a little tease, to be desirable, if at least to someone she loved, so hopefully it translated well to the cameras.

Photoshoot Day 2 - Robyn/Rosalyn

Robyn caught the card, her other arm still around Rosalyn's shoulders, although not quite as pressing as it had been a moment ago. She knew her companion well enough, that was precisely why she'd interrupted the redhead. James was piquing her interest; she liked people who gave as well as they got, and most people were quite intimidated by Rosalyn, so the fact he barely batted an eye made the fox girl smile.

She glanced at the card, mainly to confirm what he had just said, not that it would make any difference to her. She hadn't even been on Gaia for two years, and even then, she wasn't very fashion-inclined. The photoshoot was a bit of a lark; the vixen was amused by even the little notoriety she had gotten from the GTB, and just wanted to see how far she could take it.

Robyn tilted her head to the side, along with her ears. Although she knew it wasn't unheard of, and indeed, almost prevalent, the idea of a guy designing outfits still surprised her, especially when she was going to be wearing them.

"That sounds like a mouthful." Was all she said, however, flashing her own fanged grin at the youth. Finally removing her arm from around Rosalyn's shoulders (almost unconsciously trailing it down the redhead's back as she did so), the vixen motioned behind James into the building. "So, we just follow you, or what?" She really had no idea how the whole thing worked.

Rosalyn slowly pulled her hand away as James had let it go, paying no mind to his flirtatious gesture. She wasn't very impressed by the young man. It wasn't that he lacked charm or that he didn't have a glamorous job. The succubus had already parlayed with the smoothest and collected crafts from the most brilliant. While the boy may very well had been talented in his own right, most likely there was nothing he could provide that would simply blow the succubus away. So her companion may have been easily impressed by the act but Rosalyn hardly shared that enthusiasm. In fact, the succubus had grown quite impatient with the ordeal.

She had no doubt in her mind that at any moment of her pleasing she could have taken the boy and satisfied her hunger. The struggle came from the fact that she knew if she had acted on that impulse then it would have likely ruined the long-term goal that she had. Just as she had asked Robyn while the fox searched for address, why make things harder for herself? Don't be mistaken, it was no difficult task for the succubus to find a snack. However, time was always better spent indulging in herself than hunting for prey. It was a simple economics. But now as time moved along and Rosalyn had to withstand this internal struggle she became more irritable by the second.

Rosalyn didn't move feeling the fox's familiar touch trace along her back. She didn't speak, for now. Instead she let Robyn satisfy her curiosity with her questions. But the questions and comments were dumb and circular, ultimately leading to nowhere. They were passive and went in a slow and round about way of gathering information. She liked looking at Robyn, who didn't, but she had to admit that the fox was a little less than sophisticated. Why was the fox sitting there and being so polite? Rosalyn mentally tapped her foot waiting for her companion to finally get to the point. What do you mean or what...Like a flame kindled by her impatience, the succubus spoke out quickly after Robyn nearly cutting off her question before it could finish,

"Yes, take us where we need to be. Don't you have deadlines to meet?"

Just Naota Wrote:

"How sweet of you to notice, darling." The punk replied in a playful tone, taking the teasing for what it was. At this point, he was by far less afraid for himself than he was for everyone else that came into contact with the Bone Mistress. Edward was currently thoroughly convinced that she wouldn't hurt him. She had her chance back in Sigil after all. She did bite the cyberpunk and it hurt quite a bit, but the bite could have been a lot worse. A lot, lot worse. Open-heart surgery came to mind.... minus the surgery and multiply the open-heart. The cyborg took heart at the fact she hadn't tried eating him alive. There was full-on friendship all around.

The cyberpunk chuckled at what she said next, but didn't really have a reply for it. It didn't really require one, so Ed left it there. Instead, his right hand reached into his jean's pocket and retrieved something that Sokoya would recognized almost immediately. It was an eye-patch. A heart-shaped eye-patch the girl probably hadn't seen since the 2nd round of the Gaian Tenkaichi Budokai when it was borrowed. The article had garnered him a plethora of fond memories, aside from kicking small fairies into the ocean of course. These memories included a lot of "arghs", annoyed people, and swords made out of cardboard. But they were neither here nor there.

"Here you go," Ed uttered as he tossed Soak's eye-patch back to it's owner before adding, "Sorry I had it for so long. I was just having too much fun and I forgot I borrowed it." He smiled disarmingly, hoping that it was left at that, and that the other things that were stolen weren't brought up. That part hadn't been the punk's idea to begin with, but speaking of the person who's plan it was...

"You already know Wigi," he paused for a moment to let that sink in, revealing the close similarities between this new team and their HoH team and allowed the suspense to build. Edward wanted to see her reaction to prospectively teaming up with the Darkened Devil once more. "And you know the other person too," because who doesn't, "You've met Omi Barsait, right?"

"Oh goodie!"

Sokoya's once passive demeanor would visibly brighten at the sight of the small accessory. While the eyepatch certainly didn't have any sort of sentimental value, the woman had grown quite fond of the little thing. And to think that she'd gone without it since the Gaian Tenkaichi Budoukai. Now....had she actually liked Ed enough to have lent it to him, or was it stolen.

And speaking of...

"Wigi? The panty pirate?" She'd say, with a bemused smile. The ogre had made quite the first impression. The two met under a flag composed of stolen underwear. All the same, it seemed like he was a good fit for the crew that Eduardo was forming. She could only guess as to who the final man would be. Crossing her slender fingers, Sokoya hoped. Prayed. Wished that the name would be one that wouldn't be one that'd force her into hair pulling.

And when her captain revealed the final teammate, Soak gave a little bit of a double take. Certainly not a name she'd ever expect. Mister Omi Barsait, she knew the name well. He was an all star for sure, from the big leagues. The two had met of course, under strange circumstances. Seemed like that was the case for everyone that Sokoya had come to count on as a 'friend'. The memory of their hospital encounter brought a touch of color to the girl's face, if only for an instant.

"Sounds like you're going for the gold." She'd finally comment, tossing a smile the punk's way. She was glad to have some heavy hitters on the team. Better than trying to carry dead weight. Shifting some on the wall, Sokoya would turn to face Ed, eyeing him over. "So what are the plans until the tournament actually starts?"

Day 3

James was quick on the pick up and as he looked at Ryke, he realized she would not be one likely to drop any clothing for something like this. "It should be. Half of the proceeds are going back to the tournament to be added to the prize pool"

He turned for the moment and opened the door. "Gabrielle, the photographer is running a little late this morning, but you can go through the costumes and see if anything strikes your fancy. "I believe that she was thinking of going out one of the fountains in Latent for your shoot. So it'll probably be a little cold. Hope you don't mind. I have a leather jacket chosen just for you to show off your figure."

A smile, very nonthreatening, was given to Ryke. "I have to say I'm impressed with how well you hold your own in the tournament, Ms Zandra.." the wattage on the smile went up just ever so slightly. "If I may call you that." Polite and respectful, but still pleasant. Fancy words and all.

Sins of an Angel Wrote:

Photoshoot Day 1 - Raien & Estèe

It seemed the humor had the chance to settle and simmer down to a dull chuckle or two from Raien as she put her full focus back into posing for Gabi and keeping form. She was fairly good at following directions so long as there was nothing to distract her.

Gabi took several shoots, but she was waiting for one face. And after Raien let herself get lost in the reminiscing, it was there!

Snap,flash

"Perfect!" Gabi declared from behind the camera "You can get dressed now if you'd like." Then a glance over at Estée. "Your turn, auntie..." her grin turned positively wicked as she padded over to a white box and pulled out a large bouquet of purple orchids and handed them to her.

"James, the prop!" She yelled at her brother who was quick enough to move and help rearrange things as they moved over to a slightly different area of the room and she began readjusting her cameras.

Day 3

A spaz was definitely one way to describe Izzy, especially with all the excitement and thrills. With the opening of the door, the punker happily made her way inside the building without any concern dragging the lovely Zandra behind her. It seemed no matter what, the punker intended to bring the lovely ginger haired tomboy with her.

"I believe that she was thinking of going out one of the fountains in Latent for your shoot. So it'll probably be a little cold. Hope you don't mind. I have a leather jacket chosen just for you to show off your figure."

“I totally dig the leather.” Izette stood in the middle of the entrance way slyly. She really wanted to take a look at the costumes! Not for her really, but she was really curious to see if she could find something for Zandy. Perhaps a naughty maid’s outfit or even a cowgirl with buttless chaps and a rhinestone top? Or maybe even something more ridiculous like a saucy hotdog outfit! The choices were pretty much endless! As the two gingers seemed to get acquainted the punker had let go and began her quest for hilarity. Wandering down the hall slightly Izette began to poke her head into each door way ahead of her, perhaps at any rate there was going to be a chance to find something that would tickle her fancy.

With a quick open of one of the first doors it seemed Izette had struck gold! There were possibly hundreds upon hundreds of costumes. Some of them were decent, while others were HIGHLY suggestive. Like a fat kid in a candy store, Izette began to shuffle through the large collections of outfits on the racks in search of the perfect one. But it wasn’t long till the punker seemed to find something that made her lips turned into something that would only be seen on a joker card.

“ZANDY! ZANDY!” At that moment the dark haired cyclops left the room she had been raiding to interrupt whatever conversation those two were having. Clearly her information was more important! Rushing out of the room Izette met up with them holding three very different outfits in her hands, this could never exactly be a good idea.

“Okay so I think you should wear either this...” At that moment the punker held up the hanger to show what appeared to be a sleek, white, and suggestive nurse costume. The amount of fabric provided on the hanger clearly would show that there was not going to be any room for breathing or covering up some important bits. But before there was even an answer the woman had placed it in Ryke’s arms and moved onto the next hanger. “Or this...” Now this wasn’t any better, it seemed to be what Izette would wear for fun with the amount of leather and buckles there were. It was the equivalent of a dominatrix outfit, with a small riding crop included. This little number seemed to even provide a corset to cause some internal damage of her organs. And yet there was more! Tossing the outfit into the arms, the punker held up another very “cute” number. “Or this one!” Possibly having an even SHORTER skirt than the others, this outfit was nothing more than a small blue sailor suit with a matching hat to sit perfectly upon her head. But instead of looking like a suit, it more appeared to be a shirt instead.

“Personally, I like the one with the horse crop, but it’s really up to you! But I really think it would bring out your badassness. Plus ALL of the boys would melt in their pants.” Izette gave both James and Zandy a little wink before letting out a loud laughter.

She was having fun, and the shoot hadn’t even started yet.

Photoshoot Day 3 - Ryke and Izzy

Quote: James was quick on the pick up and as he looked at Ryke, he realized she would not be one likely to drop any clothing for something like this. "It should be. Half of the proceeds are going back to the tournament to be added to the prize pool"

Boy he had no idea how right he was on that one, but then, she didn't suspect that was the intention and had surprisingly mistaken Izzy as telling the truth for a change. James' comment about the proceeds seemed to please her though. Who might have thought Ryke for a charitable gal? "I like the sound of that. More for you to take home eh' Iz?" She joked, about the potentiality of Izzy and her teammates sweeping the competition. Ryke had fought her as well as alongside her, and appreciated both her ferocity and her ability to enjoy the fight even when getting torn to shreds.

Maybe that was part of why they got along so well?

Izzy Wrote:

“I totally dig the leather.”

"Of course you do." Ryke commented, jokingly, then let her toddle off elsewhere once they were inside. With Izzy gone, she was left in the company of James, and raised an eyebrow just slightly with his smile. Sure, it was innocent enough, and polite, but now she wasn't so quick to let his charms roll right off of her like he was speaking a different language. No, this time she met his glance curiously.

Quote: "I have to say I'm impressed with how well you hold your own in the tournament, Ms Zandra.." the wattage on the smile went up just ever so slightly. "If I may call you that."

Oh boy.

For some reason, blatant and sincere compliments always seemed to throw her off, throw her whole hard-nosed attitude off track and turn the no-nonsense merc into an actual woman, complete with feelings. Even if he was talking about her act in the ring. She looked on at James like a deer caught in headlights, with a mild, barely there blush. "Uh, yeah sure. And thanks. I'd 've liked to enter this year but I've got a bit too much on my plate right now." Her primary form of work hadn't been delivering for a while and Ryke had since been spending most of her time helping her family run their business in Aekea.

Quote: “ZANDY! ZANDY!”

Izzy was back and seemingly excited about something - enough to interrupt her conversation with James entirely. Ryke knew that if she didn't acknowledge the woman, she wouldn't let up on the pestering. So she turned to look just as Izzy presented some kind of unusual getup, proclaiming for all to hear that she felt it most appropriate for Ryke to wear it. She was just confused. "What? Don't go messing with that stuff it's not yours!" It didn't click yet, and Izzy produced more and equally embarrassing costumes until it sunk in. "Woah woah, what kind of photoshoot is this going to be exactly? You're kidding if you think I'll be caught dead prancing around in anything like that. I didn't sign up for this!"

Quote: "Plus ALL of the boys would melt in their pants.”

She balked, now sufficiently red-faced. "IZZY!"

Cruising over Latent, low altitude...

"Weird place for a meeting." KB said, nodding to the man sitting across from him in the nearly empty cargo plane. A couple of tightly wrapped skits of Grapple wobbled to and fro as the plane made its way through the night.

"Nothing about this is normal when you stop to think about it." the stranger replied with an apologetic smile. He was young, had brown hair, wore a nondescript black suit and matching tie. KB found him strangely familiar in spite of his easily forgettable appearance. Something about his face. "You said the last thing you remembered was just waking up in a field somewhere right? That's a kicker."

The relatively dark interior of the cargo area flickered, the young man sparking up a cigarette. KB couldn't help but raise a brow and turn his attention to a neglected sign in the corner. No smoking.

"Hey, you know you're really not supposed to---" KB started before being cut off by 'one minute' hand motion. It seemed the young man had received a pretty urgent phone call, one that went on for a couple of minutes. There were yeahs and uh huhs, but the vampire couldn't really make out what was being talked about. Supernatural hearing my a**.

"Well, that was the board." the man said, closing his phone and stuffing it into his pocket. He stood from the small seat built into the side of the plane, his hand waving out in a way that left a trail of smoke. "It seems that after you went missing they made some executive decisions. Wanted the company to go in a new direction... and they didn't really expect you to die in their lifetime. Needed to act fast if you know what I mean. Anyway. They're expecting your resignation, effective immediately." ssfffwwooooop, casual drag.

KB made a fist and rose to the challenge, his fangs gnashing as his teeth clenched. "Tell them they can blow me!" he shouted, his anger punctuated with a jump of the plane. As if he'd willed the turbulence.

The man smiled mischievously. "They said you'd say that. You really can't teach an old dog new tricks."

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" KB yelled, charging the kid low. His arms wrapped around the punk's middle tight and lifted. Pushing and carrying him at the same time, KB drove the young man's back into the opposing wall of the plane. The normally dark interior came alight with red strobes as an alarm sounded, a switch flipped by the kid sliding down. The vampire got a couple of elbows to the back for his efforts before disengaging.

KRRRRRRRNNNNNNNK.

The two looked to the end of the plane. Then they looked at each other. Then they looked back at the end of the plane. A sudden gust of wind told them they weren't imagining things, the suction threatening to suck them out into the night sky as the loading ramp lowered.

KB was first to act this time, grabbing the stranger and throwing him towards the front of the cargo hold. The young man fell onto his back, light gleaming in the darkness as a small knife appeared. With a sadistic smile he swept his hand out to the side, slashing free a restraint on the skit. It jerked under the turbulence of the plane once or twice before starting to slide towards KB, picking up speed as it went.

It would have been so easy to dodge, but then it would have spilled out over Latent. A few hundred pound brick of Grapple on some unsuspecting innocents? With a knowing sign the vampire ducked his head down and shouldered into the precious cargo, his formidable bones splintering audibly as the crate careened into the side of the plane. The craft dipped under the sudden shift in weight, spilling the occupants towards one another.

"Are you ******** crazy?!" KB accused, scrambling over to the young man. The maniac smile he got was enough of an answer, and grabbing the punk by the collar he slammed his head down against the metal floor. Once. Twice. Third times the charm.

The agent's head lolled back as his eyes rolled, some would-be assassin or henchmen. Well, s**t, KB didn't know. The guy could have just been an intern or something with a couple of karate classes under his belt. With an impatient shake of his head the vampire lifted the punk to his feet, and dragged him towards the back of the plane. He had the sense to grab a parachute at least, and buckle it onto the man who could barely stand.

"Now..." KB began, taking a step back.

"Get the ******** off my plane."

The vampire shoved the man nonchalantly, smiling all the while. All in a day's wo-

"---HUH!" he exclaimed, feeling first a sudden jerk on his tie, then weightlessness as he tumbled out of the GRAPPLE CO cargo plane and into freefall. The next feeling was his nose shattering wetly, his eyes stuck on those of the kid who had just pulled him facefirst out the back of a plane and into a headbutt.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF-

The punk gave her a serious look. It wasn't that he didn't believe her, it was just that he didn't believe her. Plus, she hadn't really answered the question. Punching puppies (which she'd never do since she likes puppies) and stealing candy from a baby which was just another way of saying 'bad things and how she likes to do them' wasn't Sokoya being busy. Doing bad things was Sokoya being Sokoya! Now, the punk didn't really care (ultimately) what the Bone Mistress does with her time unless it was eating a civilian of Latent. Frankly, it was none of Edward's business. But he wasn't particularly fond of being lied to, at least not lied to really poorly. That was rude. If it was secret, she could have just said so.

His musings were so dragged on that he didn't notice the Bone Mistress was leaving until she actually started walking away. Instantly, his eyes darted over to Soak, bringing his horn-rimmed glasses over his eyes as she spoke. Edward even pushed himself off the wall, just about ready to leave the opposite way when Soak spoke her last bit. Hold on! He hadn't said much about it, and he hadn't thought about it much either. But some things were just obvious. "Wait!" the cyberpunk would call after her in what might have seemed like last-minute desperation, "I was going to ask you!"

((Let's see if I can remember everyone))

Day 1

James laughed and began moving things around and quickly brought over and even bigger veil and began working it into Estée's hair until it was suited to his liking. Once he'd given his aunt a quick peck on the cheek and making her blush, he stood back and admired her. "Your husband is a lucky man."

Estée chuckled, and laid her hand on James' arm. "Thank you, James. But you know the rules. No feeding on me or my friends without permission." And was rewarded with a little pout that had absolutely no hard feelings behind it. "Of course not, Aunt! I'm shocked that you would even think such a thing!" But Estée just rolled her eyes. She'd watched the twins grow up and while she was proud of what they'd accomplished so far in their short lives, she was their godmother and responsible for their moral/ethical upbringing.

"You're lucky I know you're not like a lot of men who think the world revolves around them."

"You wound me, aunt. I dress the most beautiful wom--", but he couldn't even finish the statement before snorting and laughing, which got Estée and Gabi to join in the laughter. It was a good thing he didn't believe his own hype. But it put on a good show. People were less on their guard if they thought less of him.

"James, you dress the most beautiful women in the world because you can see inside them and bring that beauty out. It's your skills as yourself that bring out the true nature of the womanly beast. I mean, remember that shoot with that courtesan from Gaisa? She was so superior that nothing we could do could bring out anything but a hollow image. There was no true life to her. Yet, her sister who was her servant, just by paying attention to her and dressing her well for the shoot with her sister was so radiant that when the courtesan's lover saw it, made her the servant and her sister the courtesan."

James chuckled at the memory. "She still sends me a letter every month or so thanking me." And just the faintest hint of a blush crept into his cheeks, although he would never admit it, nor would Gabi or Estée point it out.

"Anyways, it's your turn, Aunt!"

Estée glared at her 'nephew' but walked with him over to the other scene, letting him pose her as he'd like against the small column. They weren't about to let her figure out how exactly she was being posed or what she'd look like, but she trusted her godchildren and hoped that Rayner would like whatever they did. Not that she had much in the way of doubts.

Day 2

James let the women pass with little more than a smile on his lips. Sometimes, it was too easy. He didn't feel guilty at all since neither of them were family, family friends or even just friends. They were just another 'client' so to speak. And he did get a say in whether they got into the calendar and if they weren't polite, well, it was no skin off his back if their photo's didn't turn out right.

But he played pleasantly enough as he guided them up the stairs. "First door on the left, ladies." The door would open easily enough at their touch, revealing a small apartment that had been adjusted to be made into a studio.

Behind a camera was a petite ginger haired woman who looked well, almost frumpy, hiding her body behind a thick sweater, what looked like yoga pants, and a thick pair of glasses, even the thick mass of hair was bundled up on top of her hair, and had a pen stuck through it. She glanced up as the door opened however and gave them a welcoming smile.

"Miss Robyn and Miss Rosalyn?" She of course, knew them from the research that had been done for this photo shoot, but was rather surprised by James' lack of interest in them as he'd headed into the kitchen for another bite to eat. Looking back at them, she puzzled over it for a second as she debated costume choices. They were both attractive even in very different ways. She could see the appeal in both, but it was Robyn's pointed ears that caught her attention, and for just a flash of a moment, Gabi's eyes glittered with hunger.

"Sis, you okay?" A second later, James' head was poking out the door, dripping with concern and worry. Like most twins, they were on sync in a borderline creepy way.

Gabi coughed and nodded her head, a little out of sorts. "Yeah, I'm fine." and purposely looked over at Rosalyn. "Miss Rosalyn, I'm thinking that a gypsy outfit would suit you, how do you feel about that?" Though her mind was still on Robyn. Robyn -needed- to be January; she -knew- that. The matter was just how to work it.

Day 3

James watched in amusement as Izzy picked out some of the more ridiculous costumes they'd had in store. Most of them were there just because they'd had some silly extreme clients before who had some of the, even James would call it, weirdest fetishes possible. The nurse one was nice, the dominatrix was a bit much, and the hot dog sailor outfit was just too much and had James stifling a laugh.

While Ryke was busy freaking out, James headed over to the hang line of real outfits for the shoot and came back holding one.. "Actually, Gabi had more something like this in mind. You're being asked to be part of the LEGENDARY aspect of the calendar. To pay tribute to those who have brought HoH to what it is." James smiled at Ryke. "A human woman who kicked metahuman a** and took names is perfect for it." He turned and gave a grin to Izzy. "As much as I do agree that any boys would melt in their pants." A chuckle as he looked Ryke over. "I know I would." But for some reason, despite the teasing tone, he meant it. There was something attractive about a woman who knew her own mind but wasn't egotistical about what she thought she knew. It was also refreshing.

Just Naota Wrote:

The punk gave her a serious look. It wasn't that he didn't believe her, it was just that he didn't believe her. Plus, she hadn't really answered the question. Punching puppies (which she'd never do since she likes puppies) and stealing candy from a baby which was just another way of saying 'bad things and how she likes to do them' wasn't Sokoya being busy. Doing bad things was Sokoya being Sokoya! Now, the punk didn't really care (ultimately) what the Bone Mistress does with her time unless it was eating a civilian of Latent. Frankly, it was none of Edward's business. But he wasn't particularly fond of being lied to, at least not lied to really poorly. That was rude. If it was secret, she could have just said so.

His musings were so dragged on that he didn't notice the Bone Mistress was leaving until she actually started walking away. Instantly, his eyes darted over to Soak, bringing his horn-rimmed glasses over his eyes as she spoke. Edward even pushed himself off the wall, just about ready to leave the opposite way when Soak spoke her last bit. Hold on! He hadn't said much about it, and he hadn't thought about it much either. But some things were just obvious. "Wait!" the cyberpunk would call after her in what might have seemed like last-minute desperation, "I was going to ask you!"

Ed knew Sokoya far better than she'd ever expected. She faintly recalled possibly writing down her love for cute little animals on her Heaven or Hell profile stub, when prompted for things she liked, but she certainly hadn't credited the cyborg with actually reading them. Or remembering something like that. Chalk it up to his over sized robo-brain. Still, credit to where credit was owed.

Still, the actions were the same. Sokoya would turn away while Ed was off musing in his own little dream world. Strides taking her out of the alley and into the street. But it was here that she would give pause, hearing him shout after her. Asking her to the dance. And while the girl hadn't turned back to look at him yet, she hung her head and smirked to herself. That was awfully sweet of him. Every pretty girl deserves to go to a ball, after all.

"Yea, sure. I'll see you there then." Soak would finally call back to him, taking a moment to glance over her shoulder at the punk. A flash of a smile, just for effect, then she was off to find something to do. Sticking around too much longer after that would have ensured awkwardness.

For sure.

en route to Latent... FAST!

Blood streamed through the night sky as the vampire and his assailant spun towards the earth. KB's nose had been mangled, his broken bones lending sluggish reactions to following blows. Even in freefall and slightly dazed the punk was able to smash the CEO a few solid times, earning himself some broken knuckles for the effort. Neither of them could afford to quit though, even as the cold wind lashed at their faces.

Somersaulting through the air the two continued punching one another, their legs flailing wildly. Their attacks were haphazard and awkward, the spots of light on the ground below quickly getting closer. With little time left to settle their dispute KB opted for the safest route, a plume of negative energy bursting around his person as he drove his elbow into the young man's chest. As if hitting a switch the guy went slack, his body sagging unconsciously. It would have been hard to say whether or KB had killed him by smashing him so close to vital organs with his soul-sapping strike.

Sighing, he opted for the safe choice and yanked a cord attached to the harness. The chute seemed to appear from nowhere, billowing out of the pack before bursting like a bloomed flower. KB smiled to himself as the silhouette shot up and away from him, his arms and legs trailing in front of him as he fell back-first towards the rooftops of Latent.

"No good deed..."

Time seemed to slow when he spoke, then accelerate to right itself when he finished. The short distance between him and a rooftop loomed in slow motion, then seemed to shoot up towards him. With a spine-crunching crash the vampire impacted the rooftop and went through it. Like a bunker-busting missile his body drove through several floors, forming a multi-leveled skylight in the small building.

Alarms went off, dogs started barking. The small office building itself was buzzing with the sound of its activated security system, and the telltale yelling of the graveyard shift janitors. Papers were scattered everywhere, several desks were broken, and at least one cheating businessman had gone off earlier out of pure shock - his mistress was similarly scrambling to cover herself in a fit of reflex.

It took several minutes, but eventually KB got to his feet and made his way out of the building. He was a bit of a mess of course, but the cold night air seemed to invigorate him. Taking in a deep breath that caused his ribs to crack loudly, the vampire flashed the moonlit world a fanged smile.

That time of year again.

Tei Kae Wrote:

((Let's see if I can remember everyone))

Day 1

James laughed and began moving things around and quickly brought over and even bigger veil and began working it into Estée's hair until it was suited to his liking. Once he'd given his aunt a quick peck on the cheek and making her blush, he stood back and admired her. "Your husband is a lucky man."

Estée chuckled, and laid her hand on James' arm. "Thank you, James. But you know the rules. No feeding on me or my friends without permission." And was rewarded with a little pout that had absolutely no hard feelings behind it. "Of course not, Aunt! I'm shocked that you would even think such a thing!" But Estée just rolled her eyes. She'd watched the twins grow up and while she was proud of what they'd accomplished so far in their short lives, she was their godmother and responsible for their moral/ethical upbringing.

"You're lucky I know you're not like a lot of men who think the world revolves around them."

"You wound me, aunt. I dress the most beautiful wom--", but he couldn't even finish the statement before snorting and laughing, which got Estée and Gabi to join in the laughter. It was a good thing he didn't believe his own hype. But it put on a good show. People were less on their guard if they thought less of him.

"James, you dress the most beautiful women in the world because you can see inside them and bring that beauty out. It's your skills as yourself that bring out the true nature of the womanly beast. I mean, remember that shoot with that courtesan from Gaisa? She was so superior that nothing we could do could bring out anything but a hollow image. There was no true life to her. Yet, her sister who was her servant, just by paying attention to her and dressing her well for the shoot with her sister was so radiant that when the courtesan's lover saw it, made her the servant and her sister the courtesan."

James chuckled at the memory. "She still sends me a letter every month or so thanking me." And just the faintest hint of a blush crept into his cheeks, although he would never admit it, nor would Gabi or Estée point it out.

"Anyways, it's your turn, Aunt!"

Estée glared at her 'nephew' but walked with him over to the other scene, letting him pose her as he'd like against the small column. They weren't about to let her figure out how exactly she was being posed or what she'd look like, but she trusted her godchildren and hoped that Rayner would like whatever they did. Not that she had much in the way of doubts.

After several antagonizing moments in which the cleric fought between her sense of propriety and her duty to the betterment of impoverished Gaian children, Sey pressed the send button on the little phone in her pocket and finally took the last few steps toward the entrance of the studio and opened the door.

'It's for a good cause, it's for a good cause, it's for a good cause...'

Pulling back her hood and blinking in surprise at the apparent lack of the impropriety and nakedness she'd been expecting, Sey snuck (as best as a beacon of goodness could) to the sidelines of the shoot and watched the duo work their magic, her fingers playing anxiously with a loose lock of hair. The woman that was posing was absolutely gorgeous, Sey thought enviously. Her body practically glowing under the photographer's lighting, their banter and laughter making her impossibly more attractive.

What would they want with me boring up the pages of their calender?

The thought brought her to her well-tread path of self depreciation and one of the many questions she'd been asking herself since slinking away from the presence of a certain dashing man.

What... does he even see when he looks at me?

Waiting for her turn and loosing herself to her thoughts, Sey fell to her typical daydreams as she stared blankly at the shoot, her overactive imagination taking the chance to not just run, but sprint – right smack dab into the gutter.

---

She's a proper, well-bred woman, a dedicated professional and not given to stampeding into a man's room when she hears something out of the ordinary. What else did one hear from such a rough hewn rogue? But such a commotion merited a closer look. She would be failing her duty and her oath if she didn't keep him out of trouble.

She's a proper, well-bred woman, not given to staring at a half-dressed man in his own room.

Did this villain have no shame? The nerve of this self proclaimed consultant, showing off his body, as if she weren't there—

Impossible. Impossible, to have something like that as a torso and not know pain with every movement. Scar tissue and steel. How he must suffer, even now.

He allows her to approach, his face neutral but full of intent. She plunges her hand through inhibition and doubt, grazes the valley between the muscled planes of his chest.

Her hand wanders, and where it passes the scars vanish. He is all that remains: unmarred, perfect.

Can you forget my scars? He asks the cleric as he passes through the walls of her dream like a mist and surrounds her with arms of warm, tangible flesh.

Can you forget? He asks as he lowers her to the floor and onto the growing pile of discarded clothing.

Can you forget, Seyumi Kaikou of the Falician Clergy, what you see on the outside; all the horrors and insults my enemies have left on my body?

Born within time, can you forget that someday you will die?

Please say yes.

Yes, she answers. Yes, James, I can forget. I can forget that for some, you're the most wanted man alive. I can forget that somewhere inside of you is a killer, some part of you I'll never understand or reach.

I can forget everything, she gasps as her mind flashes blank with sensation. I can forget if you help me. I can forget the pain and it's gone, nothing left but heat and hands and oh Falis-

“Yes.”

I can forget, make me forget, please

“James.”

I'm lost, lost in the light

“James…”

Your eyes and heart afire

“James…!”

In the light fading dissolving dying-

“JAMES!”

Oh, how her overactive imagination loved to run off on it's own. Except that her last, not so quiet dream exclamation was actually exclaimed. Loudly. And in the middle of the gorgeous lady's photo shoot.

...Maybe there was some sort of basis in the rumors that Sey was a pervert.

"Here they come."

The voice had a light, lithe, breeze-like quality to it, though saturated with a rasp like many dead leaves being blown across a field of stone. The antlered figure, almost a silhouette, with hair like a brushfire took a few steps toward the vampire, spear on his shoulder and jug in hand, and spoke again in the same neutral tone.

"I can't fly either." He admitted, looking up at the sky above the building that was summoning the guard. "That might seem strange to bring up, but in the last year I've seen some that can. ...Evokes some jealousy."

Now the sound of the police sirens were starting to match the alarm from the building next to them in volume. The streets, though not nearly as busy as they would be in a matter of weeks, still had plenty of people on them and more and more attention was being given the two of them by the second. From the smallest village to the largest metropolis, the feeling of rousing the populace was always the same. Having been run out of more than a dozen towns, Jex Thoth was no stranger to that feeling and, not one to assume that the man, or creature, before him could simply vanish, he was concerned for KB.

His head slowly turned back from the sky to finally meet eye-to-eye with the vampire.

"Gonna hide?"

Headlights brightly illuminated KB as the first car came hauling around the corner, covering the walls around it with flashing red and blue. Pedestrians began to slink far enough away from the scene to feel removed, but still able to watch what sort of madness would be springing up out of the night.

The second, third and fourth car were just screeching around the corner, coming in the opposite direction and now the sirens echoing off the sides of the street were starting to be very annoying. Jex grimaced and popped the cork from his big jug before taking one long pull, acknowledging that he'd accepted his part in whatever was about to play out the moment he spoke to the man who couldn't fly either.

He stepped out into the street, studying the man's spotlit face. Now the guards were using their vehicles for cover, one of them was shouting something. The man who couldn't fly either had a look in his eye that told Jex one thing that was ringing loud and clear.

"I'm not entirely sure where you're coming from..."

He turned in the direction of the spotlights and the voice of the commanding officer (who was doing his damndest to get Jex to drop the 'spear') and snapped into a cool pose, signaling that Jex Thoth had joined the party!

"...but I'm gonna stick with you for a bit."

Was this good or bad? Picking a fight with the cops in Latent, of all places.

...Probably bad, but it didn't matter.

This was [Story Mode - You've selected: Jex Thoth!] Heaven or Hell.

Enki wanders his way through the main thoroughfare of the city of Latent, just taking in the sights, sounds, people and smells that waft about the air. Things have changed in Latent quite a bit since he first started coming here to very many years ago and it seems to him there's always something new to see in the city. He's wearing his traditional black slacks and blue, silk shirt but this time with the addition of a deep blue half-cloak over his shoulders. Stopping, he looks up at the sky and smiles as the sun beats down on his face, the distant sound of the train growing closer as the sea birds call along the waters edge. A nice day.

Enki snaps out of his blissful, happy, Zen-like thing when he gets that feeling that you get when you swear someone was burrowing a hole into the back of your head with their eyes... only this one was in his face. Glancing down a bit, his ocean-like "eyes" glance around before spotting a blue-haired boy staring at him as if he'd just seen a ghost. Curious sight indeed, once would assume. Enki slowly starts making his way toward the you man that was apparently also lost in a trance just looking at him. "Can I help you with something or are you just enjoying the sight a bit more than I'd feel comfortable with?" Enki asks as he gets close enough that the person can hear him without having to be too loud.

This is definitely not the first time someone has asked if he is who he is, but this one is very much different. This one doesn't seem to be looking for him, per say, or trying to kill him for that matter, which is of rather great relief. Enki looks back at the boy, his eyes not so much eyes as they are deep pools of water that seem to be lacking pupils, just a round spot of deeper water. If one were to look close enough, they'd even see the ripples and waves shifting about as his eyes move. "There's a very good possibility of that," he says as he sizes the young man up just in case. "But I suppose that would really depend on who's asking."

Enki took the young mans hand in his own in a firm hand shake, smiling politely. "Enki. Enki Leviathan. A pleasure to meet you, Zig," he says in a soft voice as he glances at the boys forehead jewel. It reminds him a lot of Asherah's, and it makes Zig even more obviously some sort of magic user. Even the feel of him seems to state, "Hey! I use nifty abra kadabra stuff!" Releasing the man's hand, he stands upright and looks at him as Zig speaks, sighing just a bit. "It's been a long time since I've been famous, kid, but I guess it's always nice to find someone who still thinks highly of you." Enki could tell there was something different about this young man, not necessarily something he's hiding, but not something he's openly saying either. "Come, let's get out of this busy street," he says as he turns and starts heading back toward the main market. "So, tell me, what brings you to Latent?"

Enki walks beside the young man as Zig tells his tale of where he was from and where he was going. It seems his hunch was correct. The Dur'em Acadamy of Arcana. A young wizard indeed. He looks around a moment as they walk, listening to him speak before pointing toward the old market section of Latent."Well, if it's knowledge and information you're looking for, I can think of no better place to start than Feimurgen," he says, gesturing toward some of the old building surrounding a square with a fountain off to the side of the marketplace. "Tons of old books and many of the old magic ways. Place used to be owned by an old bibliophile by the name of Lucind, though I'm not sure what's become of her these days." He continues walking with Zig in the direction of the courtyard that the many buildings and small businesses surround, looking around for the hole-in-the-wall shop before noticing the wooden sign and pointing toward it. "Right there. It's got some great coffee and I dare-say the best bread in town, too."

He raises an eyebrow at mention of the Crimson Hawk. Not many shops make him do that; Crimson Hawk is one of them simply because of the people associated with it. They are about to walk into the second one. He does find it curious how Zig cut off, but a man is entitled to keep his past to himself if he pleases. He turns and looks at the young wizard, almost as if he was taken aback at the words and scoffs a bit. "I wouldn't dream of it! You're young and fresh out of school, I'll cover it," he states as he opens the door and holds it for Zig, waiting for the man to enter before following himself. "It's so rare these days I have a chance to sit in peace and have a scholarly conversation. It'd be my pleasure."

Walking up to the cafe section of the bookstore, he glances at the menu for a moment before dinging a little bell on the counter. A small, mousy brunette scampers up quickly and does a little half bow to the two blue-haired men, doing a double take when she notices the odd hue of their hair. "H-Hello, sirs. How may I help you?" she asks quickly.

Enki smiles and glances at the menu very quickly one last time before looking back at the girl. His mannerisms quickly change from that of a laid back man-of-the-world to an almost royal-like appearance. "Greetings, young miss. If it wouldn't inconvenience you terribly, I would like a cup of fresh brewed coffee with cream and sugar, a roast beast sandwich and whatever my companion would enjoy, when you find the time." He then turns back to Zig and gestures toward the girl.

Resting his elbows on the table, he weaves his fingers in an intricate pattern under his chin as Zig orders and asks for a strange... whatever the hell Pitaya is. Enki watched the young woman rush off to the kitchen area to prepare the food as the young wizard asks him a question. "Hmm?" he asks as if not hearing him at first. "Oh, I often come to Latent. It's kind of like home to me..." he says plainly, but the last few words carry a sort of nostalgic tone to them, as well as possibly a bit of longing. "It's the closest thing I have to a place to belong."

Not moments later, the waitress returns with their drinks, setting down a steaming cup of coffee in front of Enki along with a boat of cream and a tin of sugar. Then then reaches over and sets a white tea in front of Zig and smiles before rushing back off to finish making their food. Enki begins preparing his coffee in what seems like a well practiced routine before looking back up at Zig, "So, I'm curious... what has a young sorcerer's apprentice heard about me that makes him so enamored?"

From inside the mage's pocket of his robe, the quiet tinkling of a bell. And in an instant, as if his feet were ties to the tracks but he was forced to stand and face it as the train came barreling down toward him. He knew of Enki Leviathan, and he knew that once, not long ago, Asherah and Enki were more than mere acquaintances. But he'd hoped to breach the topic of Asherah with a mite bit more subtlety and grace.

This was neither.

This was the train.

She'd recognize the look on his face. Though he'd done better than he might normally have to hide it. He was terrified of what was about to happen. What he imagined happening. And he had a very good feeling that the sudden spike in tension would tip Enki off. He swallowed, and he tensed his stomach. He had always heard it hurts less if you tense your muscles before getting punched.

Asherah trembled when Enki spoke. It was as if only the sound of his voice could cause her pain. Her face contorted as he turned and left, it was all so typical. Looking up at Zig for a split second, Ash whipped around and rushed at Enki a bit, stopping half way.

"Is that all you ever do?" She spat, her hands clinging angrily at the shawls adorning her shoulders. "Tuck your sorry ******** tail between your legs and run away?"

Hands falling to her sides, she clenched them into tight fists.

"What's the story this time hmm? Why did you decide to up and leave me again, huh? Six whole months without a word.." Asherah snarled, her body shook. "You PROMISED you'd never do that again!"

He stops at the doorway to the cafe as he hears Asherah's voice, hears her yelling. It was then that it hit him: this is no projection from a magical device... she's really there. s**t. Little flashes of blue and white light spark in his eyes as he turns and looks back at her. He stands tall and tries to regain his composure, but anyone looking can quite easily tell that she knocks down any walls he may have. "I have no answer for you, Asherah. I will offer no excuse, but it involves Alexander. I left to..."" He pauses far longer than he should have, as if trying to find a suitable word. "... find him and it wasn't until deep in my journey that I realized I had left you for FAR too long. I made haste back to the island, but you were gone. I know I should have told you before I left. I apologize, but do not beg forgiveness. Not this time. I was wrong, despite my reasons for leaving." He stops again, just looking at her. He seems calm, relatively composed, but his eyes are the dead give away that he is beyond shaken.

He stood, silent as a stone. He was ready, should things go south in a hurry, but he didn't suspect Enki would do that. Truth be told, he was shocked when Ash did. But all the same, he stood unmoving. He wanted to make a break for it, to run to her side and be her rock. But she didn't need a rock. She didn't need anything, it seemed.

Regret hit him at that moment, concern that this was all his fault for having frozen at the sight of Leviathan. Had he just swallowed it, pushed past and just ignored him, maybe this calamity could have been avoided. There would be no such luck to that effect. Instead, he stood as the third wheel, or perhaps the second, given one's perspective.

His ears poked out of his hair, like a dog's, gone alert. The same squarish edges as Asherah's. He just watched, just waited.

Asherah didn't want to hear it anymore, but she forced herself to, god knows why. As he walked away to the fountain, Ash followed him with her eyes, her hands found her waist. A scowl wrinkled her face as she saw him look at Zig.

"Don't look at him like that." She barked. "He's done nothing wrong."

She refrained from spiting him. She could have easily rubbed his nose in the fact that she had moved on, and had even found a potential lover. No, she was above that.

"In the short time I've known him, he's made me feel appreciated again. Like I'm worth something." She turned her body towards Enki, stomping her foot on the ground with a little more force than she wanted, the earth beneath her heel indented. "To even have lost my self esteem is a disgrace. I've cried so much, just waiting for you to return." Ash shrugged. "But you didn't. Not in time. And when you did, you didn't even come to find me."

Biting the inside of her lip, Asherah shook her head and turned to walk towards Zig, but she stopped herself. Right now, she just wanted to be held. It was exhausting to act so strong.

"I don't know what to say anymore.. I'm..just so tired of crying."

"I didn't look at him in any ill manner, Asherah," he says as he looks back at Zig again before returning his gaze to Asherah. "he's a good kid." He reaches into the fountain and swirls the water,his eyes glowing a bit as he traces a line in the air with the liquid. With his other hand, he pulls out his small flute-like instrument and the water snakes through the air before filling it, not leaking out despite the holes. "I know you are, Asherah,which is why I am letting you chose without hindering you. I'm sorry you're tired of crying for fear and sadness. I'm tired of worrying in fear as well. Worrying if you'll be there if I ever leave, worrying if you are hurt, worrying that something bad will happen to you or someone will take you like my daughter and now my son." He shuts his eyes again and shakes his head.

He stands back up and places the small instrument back into his pocket, simply looking at her, his features very serious but still filled with care. He looks back to Zig as the young man steps a bit closer, making his presence more known in this. Enki can't help bit smirk just a tiny bit. "I'm not going to sway you from your choice, Asherah. Not this time." It then dawns on him that he's never actually told Asherah what happened to his real family... his past wives and his daughter. The reason he's so worried and why he left. Seems it's too late for that now.

And then the guilt. The worst part was, he really didn't come with any sort of ill will, or plan on meeting Enki in Latent. It wound up being something of an odd coincidence, but all the same, it had happened. He let her touch his hand, but didn't take her to his arms. He simply watched. He didn't know what to say. He wasn't terribly eloquent. Should he apologize, should he go to her side, should he just hang back? He stood his ground and merely waited.

Third wheel indeed.

When Enki turned away, Asherah squeezed her eyes shut, the welled tears wetting her cheeks. She stayed like this for some time, her eyes didn't want to seem to open, instead, her face remained contorted as her hands moved to hug herself. But she knew standing in public, crying, wouldn't get her anywhere. Asherah needed to get out of the public's eye, away from this sad place.

Straightening herself up, she sniffled a bit, her hands working to wipe away what tears she had shed. It was no use alarming strangers to her condition, instead, she decided to suffer it alone. Turning, Asherah looked to Zig, but she couldn't even looked him in the eyes. Her eyes stared at his chest before they moved to the ground. If it were any other case, one might have said she looked pretty. Her golden eyes glistened, her cheeks a simple rouge, her normally poised lips gently pouting.

"I.." She cleared her throat politely, her voice a little shaky. "I'll.. be at the Hawk, if you feel like finding me..."

Bringing her hands to her arms once more, fixing her shawls, she meekly cleared her throat once more before walking towards Zig. Standing in front of him, she looked up, barely catching his match eyes as she reached out, hesitating to touch his chest with her petite hand. But she did, though, she spoke no words. Instead she looked down, brushing past him as her eyebrows started to furrow.

He knew where she would be.

Enki continues walking toward the market, quietly passing all of the people going about their daily business. He doesn't bother to stop and look at any of them as he tends to do, but continues walking toward the ocean and the pier. "So that was it..." he says quietly to himself as he passed the crowds and makes it to the dock. At least this one didn't leave him for his brother or get kidnapped and turned into a sex slave along with his daughter. Fae was nothing to him compared to Asherah, as sad as it is to say... and Hawk... who knows what became of her aside from being an empty shell of a person last he checked. Things seem to keep going wrong in his life and he wonders if it's some sort of retribution from Gaea, despite the fact she allowed him to do what he did.

He won't give up, though. In the end, it will be her final decision, but he doesn't want to lose this one... but his son's life comes first. He still has to ask around. Alexander was the mayor of Latent once, long ago, so there must be something he can find here of his oldest son's whereabouts. He just has no clue where to start...

Sins of an Angel Wrote:

After the ice cream was had, she decided against returning the child to his stroller and let him the rest of the bench to explore with interest while she watched carefully, but relaxed.

"Excuse me, Miss DeCuir?"

The oddly-quiet voice seemed to come before the shadow, which glided over the woman's form like the shade of a monolith in a dying sun. This was an oddity, as it was just past noon, and beforehand, there had been little in the way of activity to announce the presence of such an individual. Upon righting oneself and observing the owner, there would be an even odder sense of contradiction. The man that stood stiffly behind Raien could almost be considered wraith-like in stature, if it were not for the clear fact he was entirely made of flesh and bone. The shadow that the man cast almost seemed diminutive to the height he physically possessed, close to seven feet. Though the figure wore a crisp, grey suit, the edges of the shoulders seemed inconsequential to the unnatural thinness that seemed to define him - an observation further influenced by the faint pinstripes that lined the outfit. The man's face mirrored his body in thinness and angularity - his nose was long, sharp and cheeks high, and his thinning, pepper-colored hair possessed a pointed widow's peak.

All in all, it would be a rather unnerving sight - if not for his expression. Aged brown eyes softly regarded the woman and her infant with curious anticipation, and the faint smile upon his dry lips seemed almost gentle in regard. The man's hands were clasped neatly in front of him in waiting.

"I do apologize for interrupting you. My name is Harold; I come on the behalf of another to deliver you an invitation."

Past the market and to the east were the docks, where Jex Thoth stood at the end of a long, empty pier, staring at a ship anchored not far off shore. He seemed only slightly concerned with the vessel - one with an origin that Thoth happened to be familiar with - and even less so when a seasonably cool sigh swept in from the sea and filled his clothes. The Sage closed his eyes and breathed deep inwards, more slowly than molasses in comparison to the feathers dancing beside the blade of Nagayina and below his headdress.

For the time being, the Latent docks were calm. Calm enough, at least, so that the mariners and their partners didn't all have to shout over each-other; so that audible, soft lapping of water against wood and stone might reach their ears and discourage extra noise. With such a lull in activity, there was space for many times more ships. The one that was slowly drawing back Jex's attention was not anchored for lack of other mooring, but because it was too quiet a day for whatever shady business it's crew was conducting.

Thoth's eyes centered on the freshly hoisted and still dripping lifeboat from which had climbed three men, one of which had not left with the other two on the row to port. "Hm."

A single gull echoed Jex's apparent indifference in it's own obnoxious way.

It would be minutes into the song before Jex would look over his shoulder to find the man who's playing was the source of what could have been the ocean itself singing to the enigmatic Sage. As the suspicious ship began to pull their anchor up from the floor of the bay Jex turned and made his way towards the elegant, blue-haired bard. After the final notes of the song danced their way from the instrument, then across the docks and into the sea, there would be before Enki Jex Thoth, silent and serene.

His yellow, feral eyes fell upon the blue-haired man unlike those of a stranger. There was no reproach or concern in his gaze; not a care for what he did or did not know about the being who played like the voice of the sea.

Again, when he spoke, it was like Jex had known Enki for all of time- his tone completely devoid of anything that would suggest otherwise. "Did the sea teach you that herself?"

"Jex Thoth does," He answered, gazing across the port after giving the blue-haired man a half-smile to signify that the name belonged to him, "and so do they, if I didn't know any better. Those who've just arrived seem reluctant now, and the men about to set sail have hastened their steps."

There was a pause where the breeze kicked up again, this time coming from the west, out to sea.

"Fascinating." At that moment, Thoth had just begun to consider the possibility that this man had indeed been taught a song that had been sung since Gaia's beginning. "The tune is calling them back, tugging at their very being."

Then it was as if the tail end of that breeze caught hold of Thoth's right index finger and swept it up towards the gnarly looking ship with the hungry sails. There was a marking on the side of it, large, painted over almost the entire hull. It was faded, mostly, but after nearly an hour of standing at the edge of the pier it had only now just brought itself to Thoth's attention and given.

"Too beautiful a sending for the Khargad's, though." The wonder and fascination he'd been brimming with moments ago quickly faded from the air, replaced by something comparable to the hair down the spine of an animal slowly standing up. "Strange to see just one of them in a place like this - a place they haven't claimed for their own."

It was a normal first day of the year. Beer bottles and cans were being swept off the streets, confetti was being cleaned from the gutters, and the massive light tower and ball atop the town square was being taken down and put away until the new new year came around. However, the excitement was just beginning. A new year brought with it new promises, new chances, and of course, new resolutions. As the people of Latent cleaned up their city from the celebration the night prior, a new celebration was taking place in a man's heart as he stared at the city from a few hundred feet up.

"Are you sure about this sir? This is incredibly dangerous. The city of Lament won't be held responsible for damages incurred to yourse--"

What kind of question is that? Of course I'm sure! I've never been so sure of something in my entire life.

Just who the hell do you think I am!?

The sound of roaring began to wash over the city of Latent and move towards the Crimson Hawk Hotel, even as a thunderous blast of music accompanied it. It was loud, and as the patrons of the hotel and citizens of the city would look up from their daily routines, they would spy a massive black airship, easily a full kilometer in length, shadow blotting out the sun over a large portion of the city, bursting through the clouds, and atop it, scarf blowing in the wind behind him in the most dramatic fashion possible, rode the Vice-Captain of Team UNBREAKABLE RESOLVE.

The airship's engines burned and dropped it lower to the ground as Vice-Captain Ryugi Kazamaru stood on the nose, arms crossed in front of his chest, his trusty sword Ragnarok on his back glinting in the morning sunshine, as his smile glinted with pure manly resolve, and in his right hand he held none other than a huge megaphone with the words "SOUND BLASTER 9001" across its side in bold green letters. With a flourish, spinning the megaphone like a western gunman would twirl his pistol, the Vice-Captain held it to his mouth and spoke.

Alright! Listen up all you Heaven or Hell participants and fans!

From this moment on, when the lore spinners of Heaven or Hell History talk of that team who fought with pure and unbridled determination and willpower, battled against all odds and never looked back, and battled their way up the ranks from underdog to champion, they'll be talking about us!

We are TEAM UNBREAKABLE RESOLVE!!

As the man spoke, a massive banner unfurled on each side of the mighty airship, flapping wildly in the wind and displaying one of the team's TWO banners. Most teams only had one, but this team had two.

Our power of will knows no limits!

Our spirit knows no bounds!

And nothing and no one will stand in our way!

If they do, we'll tear right through them and keep on going!

For too long this great and grand Heaven or Hell Tournament has been a cesspool of people and fighters only wanting to win at any cost! But where's the heart!! Where's the spirit!! Where's the love and respect for your fellow fighters and spectators!! That very destructive trend is what we are here to shatter! With our burning hearts combined and beating in unison we'll smash through the old ways and burst through to a future filled with awesome fights, mighty clashes, and a mutual respect for fighters far and wide!

So, if you manage to come up against us, know we are rooting for you as much as we're rooting for ourselves! But we won't let you take the easy way out! We'll fight with everything we have and show you the might of our burning passion!

Because that's the way TEAM UNBREAKABLE RESOLVE rolls!!

Then, with his mighty speech complete, the Vice-Captain, and Chief Morale Officer, of UNBREAKABLE RESOLVE hurled himself into the air, diving off the nose of the mighty airship as the missile ports opened and fired dozens and dozens of green, white, and gold fireworks into the sky above Latent, and just as the fireworks exploded with color and light, the Vice-Captain struck the ground, his feet digging into the ground outside the Crimson Hawk Hotel where he picked himself up and stood, arms crossed and eyes determined.

This year, this time, it would be theirs.

The Phoenix had risen again, its resolve unbreakable.

And nothing could stop them from reaching the heavens they so sought. Only fate itself could intervene this time, for nothing could triumph over their indomitable willpower.

Enki nods at Thoth's words, taking in the mans rather serious and pondering expression. He's unable to help but wonder just what kinds of things the man has seen at the hands of these Khargads and just what kinds of people they are. "As a man with a rather close relationship to the sea, I would agree with you on many aspects of that statement, though some things awesome and terrifying are not beautiful," he says rather quietly. Again, he starts studying the mans expression, trying to make out just what is going on until Thoth suddenly looks toward the town, an echo of something on the breeze, but what, exactly, is difficult to tell.

"Like the Khargads," The Great Horned Sage said with a smile, "who would surprise me to have come so far without the intention of bringing something back with them." Though the Khargads were quickly moving to the back of his mind as he scanned the horizon, looking for a brewing storm of some evidence of the seas retribution, which would indicate (if what this blue-haired man was saying was truth) that the Khargads had indeed stolen.

"...Close relationship to the sea?" The words would have seemed absent minded if not for his tone, which suggested he had begun to catch onto the fact that this blue-haired man was no mere man at all.

The music had faded as suddenly as it had been carried in on the warm breeze. Somewhere in the pit of her soul that longed to be mortal once more did she mourn it's loss.Even still, with a direction pegged it was only self preservation's instinct that forged her will to move on. Other than the cover that the crowded city provided there was little meaning to the silicate's visit after all. Intended path only the product of a passing whim she spotted two solitary figures standing on a pier partitioned off from the rest of the boardwalk.

Four pint's down from her personal stock since leaving the cave Triste dreaded the visit to the next clinic she could find. Stealing from the sick was horrible enough without the weight of lives on her conscious. Inwardly, she placed all her little wrong doings in neat little piles to be sorted out later. Even with infinity stretching out before her, she could feel the tick of time crumbling her will against the nature of a leech.

Physically, the catiff was now up to acceptable levels, but every sip made her die a little inside.

Had she not been spending all her time mentally punishing herself, the silicate might have noted a fair sized chunk of drift wood in her path. The men on the pier where versed enough in society to politely tip toe around each others words. The only thing that could steam the flow of their pleasantry was the loud vulgar comment erupting out of the waif of a woman's mouth as she face planted into the sand a few dozen meters away towards the beach.

The oceans in Enki's eyes grow darker as Thoths demeanor and voice changes a little bit, making Enki slightly on edge. His body keeps perfect composure as though the conversation were about what bread is the freshest in the bakery... except for his eyes. AND SUDDENLY... as Enki is about to answer right when Thoth finishes comes a word so vulgar he barely heard such things from his ex wife... in bed...

Rushing over to the creature, he kneels down and offers a hand to her while checking for serious injuries beyond a severely wounded ego. "You ok down there? Seemed like quite a tumble." He then looks at Thoth and quirks an eyebrow. Amazing how ones entire manner of speaking and composure can change so drastically. "The hell do you mean 'as it would appear?' You know her or something?"

The docks near the city of Latent was at its low peak when the swordsman arrived, having returned from one of his lengthy travels throughout Gaia. Inhaling the thick odor of salt in the air, it was a nice change in environment compared to the occasional wide open plains he traveled across, or the sandy dunes that robbed him of his water and moisture. Plopping down onto the edge of the docks, the swordsman withdrew the scabbard from his hip as he jury-rigged it with a bit of strings and some bait he'd purchased from the store nearby, turning it into a temporary makeshift fishing rod for use.

While the purpose of his arrival wasn't of any significant importance, he wasn't in a rush to leave this place anytime soon. Taking the time to sit and patiently wait for a fish to take the bait, he watched the waves lap lazily in low tide, the sleepy sea rolling back and forth in no particular hurry...

Just like him.

Enki stands back up and looks between the woman and "man," raising a single eyebrow just a bit. It suddenly occurs to him what interesting company he has found himself in. A lithe, waif creature that looks like it could have been a statue built by Greeks and a deep-sea skinned creature with antlers who looks like a druid hobo. Odd, indeed. Then the words sank in. '...you were so clumsy...' He really hopes the woman isn't like some of the other women he's known in his life, or Thoth may just regret saying them. A slight smirk appears on his lips at this thought before glancing back down at the woman. "Well, are you all right Miss...?" he asks, cutting off the end in a question in hopes to catch a name... maybe a species.

A light breeze blows through the beach at that question, Enki's blue hair and flowing, azure garb flitting and waving about in it as a strong ocean scent fills their lungs. His eyes glance about a bit as if checking the breeze, or listening to it, then looks back down at the woman in front of them who was rather ungracefully finding her composure in a rather interesting coat.

He retrieved the jug of water and repeated her name as she handed it to him, sounding pleased. "I," He began, casting glances between the man who looked like the sea and the woman who looked like death, "am Jex Thoth."

Jex then leaned his head back and took a few large gulps of the water, spitting little bits of sand down onto the dock between his feet and wiping both his and the bottles lips before replacing the cork- he didn't think to offer the man any, as being thirsty or dry did not become him in Jex's mind, for whatever reason. "And, you-" There was a pause where he stared at the blue-haired man, waiting for the name to come out.

"I think you 'ought to check that ship before they go sailing off."

Nodding to the men after each respective name drop, Triste took one last attempt to dust herself off before catching Jex's words.

"A ship?"

Curiosity peeked, her slight form recoiled slightly before she nimbly jumped from the sandy shore to the dock above. Another effortless bound let her perch on one of the high protruding beams so she might get a better look at the vessel sailing just out of port. She may have fallen flat on her face, but appearances about her ability to be graceful where deceiving at times. Her body was tiny and feminine like that of a dancer, any weakness perceived was betrayed by the apparent strength the silicate calmed in slender limbs.

"What makes a boat full of looters so interesting?"

Enki cocks an eyebrow at the way Triste suddenly bounds up and flits up to the pier as if it was nothing more than a cat post. Nodding a bit, though unknown as to what, he looks back to Thoth with a rather curious look. "So you propose we saunter onto a ship full of raiders and question them as to their suspicious behavior while in our nice little port town?" He glances back at the rather large but not overly intimidating vessel as his eyes flit between it at the nimble little creature curiously looking at it from the top of the pier. "If you have a plan a little better than that, I wouldn't be too opposed."

He took a step towards the ocean; enough to put himself beside the wraith of a girl perched upon the large beam. The butt end of Nagayina thumped against the dock as a stronger breeze kicked up which took the sash around his waist, his hair, and open juban and caused them all to dance a little bit.

"I did not." He answered as he drank in the sight of the Khargad ship preparing to set sail, noting the skeleton crew and confirming his assumption. "Enki," Jex began, "there is no reason to fear these Khargad. There should only be enough to sail the ship and no more."

It was a poor attempt at skirting away from having an actual plan, but Thoth didn't plan for much of anything - he never did.

Triste let out a small 'hm' when Jex revealed he'd had no luck of seeing the 'passenger' in question. it was a shame since she could have cross referenced the majority of the high ranking fighters with her medical database, thus giving them suspects as to the identity of the extra man, assuming it was even a man at all.

"Hey, Miss Wulf, you have any bright ideas on how to board a pirate ship without things getting... 'complicated?'"

"Well the ship is a way off, if you where to approach in broad daylight in a boat without cover they might shoot you guys as soon as you get in range. So unless you guys can swim like fish, approaching it right now is out of the question. I suggest waiting till dark when they have only the light of their ship to see."

Crossing her arms the silicate thumbed her chin thoughtfully.

"That is if they actually stay, but the sun is going down, the ship might be anchored for the night. It doesn't exactly look like they're sailing off into the sunset."

Working in the dark didn't bother her much, in fact she preferred it.

Thoth nodded in approval - he certainly didn't want to face attack before getting a chance to board the ship. A gull honked from a ways away. "They should be well into their cups by the time the sun sets. Should there be confrontation," He looked over his shoulder to Enki and then up at Triste, "it will be hard to avoid a fight. Probably the case anyways..."

The waves lapped hungrily against the docks, urging the passing of time over which the reflection of the evening sun grew darker, the star beginning its descent into the horizon.

Triste nodded in affirmation of Jex's words. Stoically she stood upon the pillar looking off at the floating object of their collective interests. She, however did not expect the next line of words from the man known as Enki.

"So what's the plan of attack? Walk right up the gangplank? I know I'm the best swimmer here, and Triste there is obviously the most nimble."

"Wait...what? You want ME to help? You don't even know who I am!"

Triste balked not really comprehending the situation. She hardly knew these men for the past ten minutes and they wanted her to help them raid a pirate ship. The silicate had assumed that the men had a prior engagement, which is why they had met on the dock. Curiosity, and curiosity alone had driven her to inquire about the ship as well as offer her own two sense. She descended down from the pillar with a flutter of her coat before staring pointedly up at the two men. Triste was shorter and much smaller, but damn if she could ever look intimidating when she wanted to be.

"You two want to board an unknown ship, on a hunch you might find this extra passenger interesting with a person you just met as of five minutes ago by way of face planting in the sand. Yes, that makes so much sense, do you two even KNOW one another or is this another chance meeting?"

Good damn that logic thing, god damn it to hell and back.

Enki watches as the sun slowly starts to set, the vivid oranges and reds blanketing the land in its glow. "If you don't want to come with, Miss Wulf," Enki says to Triste as his eyes glance back at her standing now right in front of them, looking up at the two men before her,"that's your choice entirely. I feel an obligation to make sure all is well with these raiders here and acting so oddly." He looks back toward the boat that seems oddly quiet. Not many walking around the ship save for a couple going about standard tasks and what looks like a look out or two trailing the edge of the ship. He can't really see anyone that would look "important" either to the town or the ship but he figures most will be down getting ready to eat by now. "So what is your plan then, Jex? Two, possibly three, people boarding a pirate ship without a set plan probably isn't the best idea."

"Tch. Been almost four years and this place hasn't changed one bit."

Athan Cole should have been in better spirits. He was still alive, the world had yet to end, and for all he knew the threat of the Forgotten One had been dealt with permanently. The problem, however, was that he did not know if the threat still existed or not. That doubt, the very existence of it, soured Athan's mood a great deal. Because of the potential presence of an unseen threat, Athan's lifestyle had actually taken a turn for the mellow. There was very little danger, absolutely no excitement, and an absence of targets to swing his sword at. The vast majority of his income now came from "safe" security contracts like escorting celebrities or political figures. To say life was stale would be an understatement.

Athan had briefly entertained the idea of joining Heaven or Hell after taking a year off from the tournament. The problem was he had never captained a team before and the threat of massive injury (like the loss of his arm four years prior at the same tournament) was too great. Instead Athan would come to Latent to spectate and, if luck was on his side, meet up with some old friends.

Which brings us to Athan's current predicament. Having checked in at a nearby hotel, (Athan couldn't afford to stay at the Crimson Hawk) Gaia's most famous two handed swordsman hit the town in search of a place to eat. His six foot, six inch frame didn't really blend into crowds too well, in spite of the fact that he did his best to dress casual so as to not attract too much attention to himself. Unfortunately a pair of jeans and a slightly torn "Fracture" t-shirt did nothing to hide the scars on his face, which almost immediately triggered responses from any and all tourists within a ten foot radius. Pretty soon Athan was at the heart of a media storm, in spite of the fact he had done nothing to stir it up.

"I've been here before, haven't I?"

A bad feeling and several bus rides later, Lu was in Latent with the package from the Zoo for Lady Sey in one hand and a map in the other. She wasn't supposed to leave the Farmhouse without telling anyone, but that bad feeling... well. She knew her hunches were right when they came up. And Ien would know where she was.

Glancing down at her map and fingering her location in relation to the docks and the Hawk, the girl looked up at her surroundings once, twice, in an effort to reconcile the street she was on and the map's directions. As she pondered her next course of action, her thoughts were shattered by a feminine scream.

"Ohmygod, he's here! He's here~!"

"I need something for him to sign it with! Ohmygod, I NEED A PEN~~"

A cluster of girls not much older then herself sprinted past her and around the corner, mitten clad hands clutching cameras and sheets of paper.

"IT'S ATHAAAAAAAAAAAAN~!!!!"

"Like ohmygod... Is he participating this year?"

"I totally looooooooove seeing him fight. Have you seen how big his sword is?!" They twittered in unison as Lu approached, blending in with the crowd and becoming engulfed as the fangirls pressed through to the center.

They were nearly past the reporters and cameramen when they started squealing.

"Athan! I'm your biggest fan! Sign my boobs!"

"What are you doing later? Let's go get some drinks!"

"Let's go out on the town!"

"I'd love to polish your sword~"

The little White Mage struggled fruitlessly to free herself from the throng of fangirls to no avail, crying out as she was elbowed and squished by the girls trying to get at some famous guy's weapon.

Time-skip!

Edward rapped on the door with the side of his fist a couple of times; back facing the door and eyes staring at nothing in particular. He didn't look down at a piece of paper to make sure for the umpteenth time that he was at the right place. Nope. The punk didn't have such a piece of paper on him, having memorized and pin-pointed the address of where Sokoya was staying hours prior. Uncharacteristically, the cyberpunk was actually there when he was supposed to be/what was agreed on. He wasn't early but on time, so some congrats were in order. Figuratively, Ed patted himself on his back for not ******** this up at the earliest possible moment of their date. He had been a couple of hours late or had not shown up at all in some instances (which was rude and Ed was terribly sorry for them) for all manner of things which weren't important. What was important was that Edward was here now and on time so not at fault for anything.

Tonight, Edward wore something straight out of Roen Jaeger's closet if the ******** wasn't still in his Ye Olde English stage and wore something other than the color red. The cyberpunk wore a navy blue bomber (which wasn't apart of the actual ensemble but was only worn because it was cold out) zipped up almost to the top. It revealed the upper parts of a black dress shirt, a black vest with gray pinstripes and a silver necktie. A pair of Dickies pants covered his lower regions and black Chucks were strapped to his mechanical feet. Aside from that, the punk's usual piercings were in place. The three in his ears that included the blue plugs in his earlobes, and the piercing in his tongue which had blue beads at each end. His hair was combed pretty well for once and he wore contacts which negated a need for his "hipster glasses."

Oh, and he also shaved, leaving only two sideburns which grew a few centimeters past the ears. Edward waited, shoving his hands into his pants' pockets and listened to the music coming out of his ear buds.

The punk didn't hear the door open or notice the girl for that matter, eyes admiring the sky/stars above and the music playing directly into his ears impairing his audition senses. It wasn't until she stepped out onto the sidewalk and began speaking that Ed found her in his peripherals. Promptly turning to face her, removing the earphones from his ears and pocketing them, the cyberpunk gave her a rather surprised look. Mouth ajar and eyes slightly wide. The whole package. Of course, he was quick to recover by looking up again momentarily and whispered, "Nice sky," inaudibly.

Fact was.... Sokoya looked really, really good tonight. Now, he'd seen her in a dress before so it wasn't exactly the rarest of moments for him, though said moments weren't very common so it was rare enough to be considered as such. On the other hand, Ed wasn't exactly crazy over Soak's hair, but her face was pretty enough to pull off short hair in ways that most women found nearly impossible. So it worked. "Yeah, let's go," Ed replied with a grin, jerking his head in a gesture towards the vague direction of the ballroom. He'd start to walk (obviously waiting for Soak to catch in order to walk side-by-side) and was totally unsure as to why Sokoya looked nervous. One was obviously out doing the other, and said person's name didn't start with an 'E'.

"You look nice, by the way." Ed would say without really thinking about it.

"Alright, well...just be more careful next time, eh? Few too many starstruck fans wandering around when Heaven or Hell comes calling."

Athan would never be good at talking people, whether it was giving advice or just simple conversation. It didn't help that the entire time that Athan was addressing the girl he didn't really attempt to adopt a smile, fake or otherwise. The moment the girl attempted to step away, Athan did the same in the opposite direction.

Things probably would have ended right there had the girl's package not fallen apart in her hands, sending a surprising amount of gear out onto the Latent streets. Athan wouldn't have noticed, either, had the girl not cursed loudly behind him.

Falis? Isn't that the place where-

He turned, now probably about ten feet away from the teenager, just in time for a pair of lace panties to smack him directly in the face, temporarily blinding Athan and striking him with the realization that, if there was a God, it was a God that surely hated him.

"...Are these yours?"

Athan spoke as he plucked the panties from his face and held them out for the frustrated white mage to grab.

"Good question," He'd say with a nervous laugh, falling in step with the bone mistress and taking her arm. The question was posed before when all of Kehr's Sign had met for lunch, but instead of saying that he would never tell he just told her to ask later. Which admittedly was likely a terrible mistake. Sokoya would probably hound him the whole night if he didn't say something now, so the cyberpunk did the practical did and began to form the words in his brain. "I was looking for someone..important to me," Edward answered finally, using the most satisfactory yet vague response he could think of on the fly before adding chummily, "Let's keep it at that, Ramak."

The cyberpunk grinned at her, hoping that was enough to satisfy her curiosity. Normally, he wouldn't have had a problem being upfront and telling the whole story. But frankly, Edward didn't want Sokoya mixed up in that mess. A few more weeks and neither of them would ever have to worry about it again. Back to the present. "Why so interested?"

There was vagueness afoot!

Sokoya listened to Edwards brief comment on their meeting in Sigil, and nodded along as if she understood completely. While in truth, she hadn't a clue what he was going on about. Sure, the fact that he was in Sigil looking for someone important made sense, but it just didn't fit right. Not with the police involvement. Not with Wigi helping him. Not with the sort of attitude he had when they ran into each other.

But just like that, she let it go. Honestly, she only cared to the extent that it wasn't going to be causing them trouble down the lines. And it was up to his discretion as to whether he needed her involvement. Leaving it at that, Miss Ramak would occupy herself for a moment with making sure not to step on any of the cracks in the sidewalk, or else she'd break her mama's back.

Through this, she overheard the punk's questioning as to her motives, to which she could only shrug. "Dunno, just idle curiosity, I suppose. Are we almost there?" She'd respond, rapidly changing the subject to something different.

Two weeks ago...

Tomrrow walked down the boardwalk of the docks, taking in the smell of the ocean, his hands buried deep in his pockets and the collar of his jacket pulled up high to cover his neck from the sea wind which was coming in fresh.

It was early morning, the docks barely beginning to stir. Merchants were pulling open their stores, fishermen were coming out to alight their boats for a day's fishing, and the occasional bahcelor was brushing his teeth aboard the deck of his houseboat, wondering what to do today.

He looked up at the Staidum perched on the cliff far above him. He would need to visit that place soon. He would need to bring himself to do it...only then could he face himself and the darkness that was within.

But he had baulked this morning. Fear had gotten the better of him during the night, and he had stayed awake for most of it, sitting with his back to his Thunderbird, watching the flames of his fire leap as he fed log after log onto it, trying to make the light it emitted spread far and wide. He had no choice but to camp out in the darkness, and although he had had a good days travel, the darkness had been waiting for him, containing the hidden monstrosities which plagued his mind...

...But when the darkness began to recede, he had kicked his fire dead and alighted onto his chopper, the Triumph roaring into life as he'd rode straight for the rising sun. Now he'd come to the ocean, the stadium looming above him, and as the sky grew more blue he figured to catch his breath and pay his respects.

Now he was walking upon the jetties, following the winding paths out into the deeper waters, walking past boats of all different shapes and sizes, before finally coming to a stop at the very end of the pier. The railing was old and rusted, seagull poo covering the wooden edge, and he shooed one of the flying sea-rats away before leaning upon it, not really caring about what it did to his jacket.

He didn't really know how this worked....they had always met in passing, or butted heads in passing...but he figured it would be much like talking to his brother. "...Enki Leviathan." He said to the water as it saltily lapped up against the wooden pylons of the pier.

John smirked as the smaller man leapt over the edge of the pier to stand before him, standing up to his full height to look down to him.

He knew that had worked. Elementals were one thing, but when you had the whole sea behind you, magic happens.

"...Enki Leviathan."The Tribal echoed, smiling warmly down to the man. What do you say after almost half a decade of absence to the man who you'd torn apart half of Durem's underworld in a lover's tantrum over his daughter?

To be honest, he didn't really know. So he stuck his big mitt out, the right hand warm and inviting opposed to the metallic left he kept in his pocket, the right open for the smaller man to shake. The wind blew his long blond hair around behind him as his smile broadened a little.

"...Dont worry, its not loaded." John said cheekily about his hand, reassuring the old acquiaintence that he wasn't going to jolt him joy-buzzer style. John always knew that Enki had the upper hand on him powers-wise.

Enki would see a few changes in John as well - his eyes seemed less carefree, less happy. Darkness now reined in them, storm clouds that threatened to drag his soul down. There were bags under his eyes, evidence of sleepless nights and jittery nerves, and as the wind changed to blow his hair in his face, he raised his metallic hand to brush them back behind his ears, using the prosthesis as if it were his own hand. Fresh scars were evident upon his face and hand, one thing that had not changed.

"Well, thats how people find you right? They just got to say your name and 'poof', you appear in the water. Like a mermaid. Or a dolphin. Or something..."

John shook the man's hand warmly. He had lost weight. He looked like he was now part of the world, part of the ocean itself. Perhaps that was how his people evolved? John's fractured memory dug out an old snippet of information - that Enki was obstensibly immortal. Perhaps.

Releasing his hand, John moved to lean against the rail again, looking out to the wide expanse and the sky beyond it, growing brighter and brighter as the day prepared to break. "I've...been travelling, and I found myself coming back here, and I thought that it would be nice to see a...familiar face."

One that didn't haunt me. He thought to himself. Enki and him had always seen eye-to-eye, at least he thought they did - he was unsure to say the least.

"...Figured it would be nice to catch up, see whats been happening while i've been...away."

John actually looked a little crestfallen when Enki said that his name didn't call him forth from the briny deep, interrupting his conversations with a sea cucumber or whatever it was he did down there. It saddened him even more that Enki wasn't as up to date as he'd hoped.

"Oh...well...perhaps we can just shoot the breeze then."

He stood on the peir and sighed. What to talk about? The fact that he had lost his mind and gone feral? That he had inadvertently killed a family with a freak spark of power? That the man he called brother took his arm and sent him wild?

He stood for a moment at a loss. Then he perked up. "Er, how are your children? And...and how is...erm..." He paused for a moment, thinking hard, forcing his brain to work. "Tellus! How is Tellus?"

"...I'm sorry to hear that." John muttered, clasping his hands together over the water as he leant his elbows onto the railing, watching the water lap up under the pier. Tellus...

Juuni... John wondered out loud, frowning as his tortured brain wracked his mind -

• An innocent purple haired little girl, cute as a button with a twitching tail -

He lifted his hand to rub his eyes, the headaches beginning once more. They had become more frequent the more he had thought about going back to the Stadium, and become more vicious the closer he'd come. They got worse during the night, during the panic attacks...and when he woke, sometimes he swore he'd see blood on his hands and feel it on his face....

"Alexander?" He asked, squeezing the bridge of his nose before putting his hand back down, looking to Enki, dodging the other questions expertly. "Who is he again. Have I met him?"

"What d'you mean, girls like me?"

The tone of voice that the girl used spoke of some sort of hostility, but her face was a different story. Hopefully Edward would be able to understand the sarcasm. Oh right, he was nervous. Knowing just how that was, Sokoya did her best to comfort him. "Don't worry, I don't really go out....at all..." She'd comment, tacking on the last bit as something of an afterthought.

Blank stare.

"I should warn you...I don't have a clue how to dance." She'd finally say, glancing over towards Edward as they continued to walk, halfway to cringing from his reaction. But who could blame her, the girl was out on the streets since she before she was a teenager. Pretty sure most guys don't invite street rats to their high school dances.

Designated Hero Wrote:

"Alright, well...just be more careful next time, eh? Few too many starstruck fans wandering around when Heaven or Hell comes calling."

Athan would never be good at talking people, whether it was giving advice or just simple conversation. It didn't help that the entire time that Athan was addressing the girl he didn't really attempt to adopt a smile, fake or otherwise. The moment the girl attempted to step away, Athan did the same in the opposite direction.

Things probably would have ended right there had the girl's package not fallen apart in her hands, sending a surprising amount of gear out onto the Latent streets. Athan wouldn't have noticed, either, had the girl not cursed loudly behind him.

Falis? Isn't that the place where-

He turned, now probably about ten feet away from the teenager, just in time for a pair of lace panties to smack him directly in the face, temporarily blinding Athan and striking him with the realization that, if there was a God, it was a God that surely hated him.

"...Are these yours?"

Athan spoke as he plucked the panties from his face and held them out for the frustrated white mage to grab.

"N-No way!" She exclaimed, snatching the undergarment from Athan's hand before dodging past him to gather a wayward brassiere. Cursing as she scampered this way and that across the street as the clothes were caught in the wind, the girl leveled a frustrated blue glare on Athan as her hands grew full with lace and linen.

"They're not mine. They're my..."

Don't let anyone know who you're associated with!

"... cousins. I'm delivering them to her. She's staying at the Crimson Hawk."

She was calm as she fabricated her reply and approached Athan all the while, stopping in front of him and stooping forward to snatch a lacy little thong that the wind had blown against his shoe.

"That mob destroyed my map though. Do you know how to get there from here?" L'uazia gave him a look that made it clear that it was his responsibility to lead her, as it was his flash mob that got her into this predicament in the first place.

Well, she did give him credit for the compliments, and the apparent honesty in them. But hey, maybe he was a good liar or Soaks wasn't very good at sensing lies. Either way, she took them sincerely, and it certainly helped lighten her mood. And then, he mentioned he was from New Jersey. This, naturally, changed her perception of him to something more along the lines of fake tans and greased up hair.

You know, despite the evidence to the contrary.

Stiil, it was an image she found amusing enough to keep stuck to him. Smiling now, the girl's gaze caught the brightly lit entrance to the hotel. They'd rolled out the red carpet and everything. Despite the walking pair being two blocks away, she could tell this last one was going to take a bit, simply due to the crowd that was forming.

Heaven or Hell was certainly bigger than anything she'd done previously.....and there were those nerves again.

Enki continues to look up at the blond man standing over him, crying his heart out, quite literally. Sighing softly, he listens intently to Tomorrows story, paying attention to details, but there is one thing that always makes him shiver a bit every time it's mentioned. Maximos. The Yang to their Ying. The "Godling Police." He's had a close encounter with the man once called his brother as well... it's not exactly a comforting encounter when Maximos considers you "too God-like."

He also remembers the time he, too, flipped out once, killed people he didn't mean to kill, then ran into hiding.

Sighing softly again, he stands up straight from the railing as Tomorrow did, though standing not nearly as tall as the gargantuan. "Sounds like you need to relax, John. Come on, Feimurgen should be open by now," he says softly with a little smile, turning toward the beach and waiting for Tomorrow to follow.

"But I'm curious..." he says with a short pause, "what made you remember me?"

The waterfall-haired man walks slowly along the large pier, listening to both Tomorrow and the sound of their feet on the wood, Johnathan's sounding obviously bigger and heavier. Gazing up every one in a while, he nods as the larger man recounts what memories he can, Enki remembering each and every one of people and faces recounted, though he doesn't know a thing about where they are now.

The two make it up the beach and onto the sidewalks, Enki leading them in the direction of the small little courtyard that houses Feimurgen cafe. As they head towards it, Enki finally speaks up, "So you're hoping that visiting here, Latent and Leviathan Stadium, will bring back your memories?" he asks as he holds the door open for Tomorrow. "What if there is a reason you can't remember exactly what happened...?"

Enki nods in return and finds them a seat before sitting down in a booth. "You know, I'm actually not sure if you've been here, specifically. Feimurgen used to be located in the Stadium before is was blown up... again... and the cafe moved here." He looks up at the tall man, taking in the sad, lost features. "There are lots of books here, though, about the land and probably couple containing records of the Stadium."

"Greetings, Sirs, can I get you anything?" says a short, mousy girl as she comes up to their table.

"Yes, I'll have a regular bagel with cream cheese and a green tea with honey as well as anything my friend here would like," he says to her, gesturing to Tomorrow.

Enki can't help but laugh a bit as he nods both to Tomorrow and to the girl who then heads back to the kitchen to put the order in. "Figured an oversized Pikachu would have to eat quite a bit."

The waitress quickly returns with Enki's hot water and a ball of green tea leaves as well as Tomorrows fruit juice in an extra-large glass, then wanders back to the kitchen area.

Dipping the steel ball into the water,his eyes begin to glow a soft blue hue as the water begins swirling just a bit in the glass, the green of the tea mixing into it and dispersing through the water. "So... all you can remember is having a very unfortunate run-in with Maximos, hmm? After that, just bits and pieces. Well, the stadium may or may not be the greatest place to go memory hunting with Heaven or Hell only a couple weeks away...the place will be packed with media and onlookers as well as probably a number of people looking for a pre-tournament fight..."

Well, Sokoya was being awfully ******** quiet there. The punk prayed to all the Gods he didn't believe in it wasn't something he said, or that if it was something he said that it was something positive that made her speechless. Edward complimented the way she looked. Nothing. Called her pretty. Nothing again. Frankly, the cyborg was running out of things to say, and he wasn't going to break out 'pickuplines.com.' Surely, that would be a disaster. He wanted to turn to her, grab both of her arms, shake her a bit, and yell, 'DON'T DO THIS TO ME!' But he refrained, thankfully. Instead, he just turned to look at her, noticing the smile and feeling vindicated almost immediately. Phew!

However, Ed would also notice her unsure expression as they approached the hotel and the crowded ballroom. Their arms would brush against one another a bit, the cyborg reaching down with his organic arm to give the bone mistress's hand a comforting squeeze. Giving her a reassuring smile if she managed to look up at him, Edward would lead her across the street (watching for cars obviously) and towards the Crimson Hawk. "It's not even half as bad as you're probably thinking." The cyberpunk tried to alleviate Soak's nerves, using his prior attendence at HoH as the basis for his reasoning. "More people show up and watch the Super Bowl. You'll be fine once they put someone to tear apart in front of you."

"Ya, I kinda know what you mean," he says softly, the hue of his eyes dieing away as he lifts the cup of tea to his lips and sips softly, nodding a bit before pouring a bit of honey into it. "It's been some while since I've fought, myself."

The waitress returns a few minutes later, bringing all of the food on a large platter. She sets down Enki's first before putting all of John's plates in front of him, barely leaving room on the table for anything else, then bows slightly before scampering off again to go about her business.

"Heaven or Hell? Ya... I don't know if you remember the Leviathan Tournament, many years ago." Enki states as he starts putting cream cheese on the bagel, kinda wishing he'd gotten a little more food seeing all that Tomorrow is eating. "Heaven or Hell took over after that. It's a huge media event with some of the best fighters in all of Gaia attending. Alas, there's no more room and it's a team event anyways. I'm sure there are people at the Stadium right now wanting a fight, though."

"It rings a bell...but no." John said, frowning as he wracked his brain, trying to remember something about a tournament...but nothing came except a headache, so he dismissed it quickly as something that wasn't too important.

"I'll definately have to check that out...any new blood you could point out for me?

John made a point to not comment on Enki's lack of recent fights...each man had their own problems, and sometimes smashing someone in the face with your fist just doesn't work.

John was busy shovelling the food before him into his face, mixing the bacon and eggs up and cramming out into his gob as fast as decency allowed, as Enki proposed to him their mutual viewing of the tournament.

John slowed his feeding frenzy to a slow chew as he lifted his glass to his lips. "You asking me out on a date, Leviathan?" He asked, that cheeky glint back in his eye mirrored by the smirk on his face before he took a big draw of juice.