Crimson Hawk Hotel [Page 35]

When she turned back to face him, he could see the flames of rage buried deep in her golden eyes, rooted in her soul. Her gaze alone nearly burned him to cinders. By the time she was removing her earrings and shoes, Jinsoku made it a point to place his arms naturally at his sides. He relaxed best he could as he had already decided he would not lay a finger on her. To further drive the point home of his feelings and thoughts for her which were not one in the same, he refused to resist the repercussions of his sharp tongue. Clearly, he had drawn blood. Somewhere deep down inside, it pleased him to see her so upset. It pleased him to see her have a taste of the emotions she inspires within him.

Rou committed to a shoulder rush into a take down. Jin literally let her do this even though he likely could have endured without budging. As they spilled to the floor, his arms splayed out partially, the back of his head striking the floor as they fell. She moved up him, coming to straddle his chest with her knees digging into the inner joints of his elbows. A barrage of punches assaulted him, in which he took without resistance still. Though curiously enough, he was silently keeping count of just how many hits she had struck him with. With the each repeated blow to his face and the back of his head alike, Jin's hearing became muffled, his sight darkening after each burning white flash of courtesy of the physical trauma.

**"..."

B**roken nose, split lip, bruised and swollen cheek, swollen and split cheek, split eyebrow with corresponding already blackening eye. Blood and saliva coated his teeth as he breathed through the pain, looking at her the same way he had been before she started assaulting him. He stared at where he knew her face to be, though to be honest he still only saw black for the moment. Technical Knockout, except, he was completely conscious. He finally felt the moisture upon the back of his head indicating that it too was bleeding.

Suddenly, and undead presence appeared in close proximity. By now his vision had began to return, though all he could make out was fuzzy shapes for the moment. The mild ringing in his ears proved to compliment the muffled hearing he was experiencing, sparing him of misspoken words she continue to scream at him belligerently. His vision continued to clear, as did his hearing as she was pulled from him. Though his senses had yet to clear, he could still feel her, them, through the electromagnetic spectrum.

**"..."

H**e held his tongue as he was sure she wouldn't hear him for what he said at this moment in time. While having been hit several times, Jinsoku felt satisfied with his results. His face wouldn't say it, but it was true. His words only inspired such a level of rage in her because she felt the shame in them, the truth. If she were not guilty, she would not be so upset. Human nature or not, most people seemed to have an immediate intense and adverse reaction to being accused of something they were guilty of, that or they would try to blame someone close to them for doing something they in fact were doing themselves.

Finally, his vision cleared enough to get a single good look from behind as the man led Rou away from him. Though he didn't see his face, he caught the details of the man's height, approximate weight, the condition of his outer appearance as a whole. Never before had he seen this figure, but between conversations with Raven, and the information gathered prior from Tobruk, he was certain he knew exactly who that man was. Jinsoku got up possibly too fast for his own good before he began to storm off, trailing Rou and whom he presumed was Rafael.

As his pace increased, he turned his head to the side with one quick motion, spitting blood from his mouth haphazardly at others about the dance floor. A brief moment later he used the back of his hand to smear blood from his mouth and nose. The wolf spirit within held its ears erect and barred its fangs, its tail just as straight as its body.

Narcissa Nahara Wrote:

Fierach Wrote:

**Location: Crimson Hawk Hotel [Restaurant](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c9pxhzStnE) Time: *Evening [PRE-MASQUERADE]***

Silver Alexander Wrote:

> Lady Sierra Wrote: > > Lady Sierra Wrote: > > > "CHEERS TO YOU, OTOUTO! And an exciting new beginning!" > > > > > Silver graciously accepted the tankard, though the trepidation was still apparent on his face. He hesitated for a moment, but Sierra's overwhelming concern for his well-being was undeniable. He suddenly felt himself at ease once more, almost having forgotten this feeling, but grateful to have it back. It was nice to have someone looking out for you, even if you didn't think you needed it. > > > > He beamed a smile back at her, big enough to see his pointed canines. He raised the mug to hers, and glanced around the table before giving a sharp nod. > > > > "To old friends, and new beginnings." > > > > They continued to laugh and drink for some time. Silver basked in the pleasant atmosphere, already enjoying his time off much more than he had in a while. He was very polite to their poor waitress as she came around with food for those who had not yet eaten, and refilled the drinks for others. Even if he was still recovering from his meal, the night was still young for good mead, and the flow showed no signs of slowing. > > > > > > Vahn Fah Wrote: > > > "..."

The crimson haired elf's smile beamed as she clanked tankards with them. She sensed some apprehension from Silver, but it seemed to dissipate for the moment. She couldn't wait to share her plan with him later. She was fairly confident that once he heard the full scope of her offer, any lingering doubts would be banished, and the silver spark she had seen rekindled tonight would be fueled into blazing glory.

Until then, she soaked up the joy of the moment. It had been so long since all these friends had been brought together, and she realized that she herself, like Silver, had missed the company gathered here.

Her tail swished behind her with a subconscious happiness as she ate her meal between peals of laughter and swigs of mead.

It stopped however, as the far off sounds seized her attention, setting her at unease. She seemed to miss Anson's relief as his jokes went over her head entirely, distracted by the monstrous noise.

Psychofish Wrote:

> A long, slow breath, and he settled back into laconic poise, scar tugging the the left half of his lazy smile into a small smirk as he sauntered across the room. All of the sudden, a couple of table’s occupants started perking up, looking on edge- not a great sign when approaching living weapons of mass destruction, but too late to back off now- Kael stepped up to the table as they looked around, planting an elbow on the back of Silver’s chair, arm hanging over past him- letting a small folded piece of paper fall most of the way into his shirt pocket as he leaned in and spoke up- > > > > “ ‘Ey folks. Sorry ta’ cut-in-” > > > > He let his eyes slide around the table briefly, pushing questions out of his mind, giving a small nod in greeting as his extended hand rolled over, extending one finger lazily in the direction of their one particular guest. > > > > “Gonna need to borrow th’ blonde bruiser here.”

themightyjello Wrote:

> Vahn's confusion was mirrored, and not as well hidden, by the young man that was asked for. Certainly the two of them, Anson and Kael, were familiar with each other but he hadn't been expecting to run into the scarred man so suddenly in this bistro. > > > > No matter, though... it was a good opportunity, and he couldn't very well pass it up after nearly putting his own boot in his mouth so many times. > > > > "So he says," added the blonde boy calmly and politely, placing his napkin onto his plate and sliding back his chair. His eyes turned to the Lady Sierra who still seemed to be straining her ears towards whatever thing it was that had her on edge, but whatever that happened to be it was not his place to be the one to step in right now. > > > > "Thank you once again for the invitation, my Lady. Sir Fah, sir Alexander, and... I'm sorry but I still don't think we've been formally introduced so I hope to take the time for that when we next meet." The last statement, of course, was directed to Miranda with a pleasant, practiced smile that seemed entirely too political for the moment.

Silver Alexander Wrote:

> Silver weakly waved, not quite sure what to make of the situation. He spoke aloud, but not loudly enough as to be heard over the sounds of the restaurant. > > > > "Oh, uh... it was good to see you... when we meet again, bring your trading cards. I'd like to see them..."

She had been so focused on trying to make sense of the chilling noise she'd heard, that she startled slightly when Rayner spoke. The man was unknown to her, though she had some sense from Vahn, and Silver that they knew him; though it didn't seem to be a friendly recollection, which caused her to wonder further about Anson's interest in her teammates.

Sierra's golden eyes met the young blond's for a moment, her cheeks lightly flushed from the alcohol. She smiled brightly, butter eyes held a piercing, serious clarity as she took him in once more before he left with his acquaintance. It was as if she was saying, 'Remember our discussion.'.

Outwardly she waved and said, "Take care Mr. Brent! Thank you so much for joining us. I'm sure we'll see you again soon."

Silver Alexander Wrote:

> As the two guests wandered off, Silver would slowly turn back to the table, still looking bewildered. He started to open his mouth to ask what the meaning of that just was.

Miranda Ecks Wrote:

> "Okay, I heard that one. None in my pack sound like that." > > > > Miranda recalled the year Fracture (or Rage, to be specific) brought a polar bear to stay in the room with them. Her eyes narrowed as she considered a repeat event or something such... a dire-something, a yearling dragon, et cetera. > > > > "You look really concerned," she noted. Miranda didn't question Sierra's ability to hear, nor did she question much her danger sense. "Are you interested in checking it out, or do you want me to ask Twitch to look into it?" > > > > Miranda wasn't too keen on pulling too many strings with Twitch, because she didn't like seeming like a total moocher and annoying the busy woman, but... y'know, if something like a small black dragon was in the place, or something pointedly more dangerous, D' would likely want to know ASAP.

Silver Alexander Wrote:

> Lady Sierra Wrote: > As the two guests wandered off, Silver would slowly turn back to the table, still looking bewildered. He started to open his mouth to ask what the meaning of that just was. > > > > > > Lady Sierra Wrote: > > > "What in Gaia's name?!--" > > > > > Miranda Ecks Wrote: > > > "Okay, I heard that one. None in my pack sound like that." > > > > > But he got distracted. Did he miss something exciting? Whipping his head about the restaurant, he still came up with nothing. It had to be big right? Or loud? Nothing he could perceive beyond their table struck him as particularly interesting. > > > > "WHAT?"

Sierra's attention was redirected back to the noise as the second roar spread goosebumps across her pale skin. She looked at Miranda with some relief at having the sound confirmed by a second set of ears. And then looked to Vahn and Silver.

"Something is definitely not right, I've never heard anything that sounds like that, and it was considerably closer that time..."

Looking back to Miranda she nodded solemnly. "I don't know who or what is responsible for that sound, but if it decides to get out of hand, I think it's probably best that Lady Twitch and her employees be prepared."

Supreme Jerk Commander Wrote:

> Glacier Table Wrote: > The details of what happened afterwards were a little unclear, but at some point Rox, cameraman Steve and 9 ****** liters (slightly more than regular liters) of the bubbly ended up at GLACIER TABLE. > > > > "OH. MY. GOD. STREAM-FAM DO YOU ****** KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE!?" > > > > They knew. > > > > show spoilerhide spoiler > > Glacier Table Wrote: > > > gaia_angelleft emotion_bigheart gaia_angelright C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER! gaia_angelleft emotion_bigheart gaia_angelright

She looked like she was trying to decide what to do next, when a very bubbly and excited young woman plopped down at their table surrounded by some strange contraptions, and seemingly talking to-- Well Sierra wasn't sure who she was talking to, maybe the man holding the strange box? 'Fam'? Was that his name?

Her wide almond shaped eyes turned to the rest of her group with uncertainty as she clearly didn't know what was happening now.

"?!!"

**Location: Gambino Galleria - Latent Proper Time: *Afternoon; The Day After [PRE-MASQUERADE]***

An hour or so later, they emerged from *Heads, You Win! Salon*, leaving a bounty of silver locks on the floor behind them, as a couple of stylists grabbed at the young fighter's arms flirtatiously and somewhat star struck.

"Promise you'll come see us again Mr. Alexander?" said one girl, a blonde, with pleading blue eyes. The beauty on his other arm had lucious lavender hair and grey eyes veiled through long lashes, which she batted at him as she spoke. "We promise to take good care of you and help you look your best! Just like your posters!"

Their shears and scissors had seen to it, that the platinum hair that he was known for, were cut and styled expertly into his favourite spiky style, shedding it's unruly and overgrown shaggy appearance. They had also wrapped up a small bag of their top suggested products for his own quick and easy maintenance.

While she had been paying, Sierra thought she'd heard one of the assistants in the back say something about selling some of the hair on g-bay, whatever that was!

But as they left the salon, she smiled with some satisfaction. Stage one was clear, and already Silver looked more like his old self. Hopefully as their day went on, he would feel more like his old self too!

"Do you like it?"

She asked as they stopped to check another directory. After some scrutiny she pulled him off in the direction of some menswear stores.

===

The elven woman would drag him in and out of several stores, until they were carrying an excessive number of bags. She had made a large dent in the task of buying Silver a new wardrobe. He'd have plenty of his favourite staples now including his preferred t-shirts, and black pants. But she also made sure that he had some good dress shirts and slacks, an assortment of jackets, both casual and dressy, as well as a proper overcoat. She'd bullied him into being fitted for three suits. And made sure to round out the shopping with some comfy street clothes and warmer layers. As well as footwear.

She steered him and their burden to a cute cafe that offered both food, drinks and cute desserts. The window full of cute cakes having clearly caught her eyes.

As they sat down and waited to order, she pulled a box out of one of the bags and passed it across to Silver with a knowing smile. When he opened it, he would find a signature item required to rekindle his image.

A red leather jacket.

She had been sure to make sure he didn't see her purchase it. He had been so exhausted of shopping and ready to leave, that he hadn't ventured to deeply into the store and instead resigned him to the redhead's unending selections and orders-- so it hadn't been too difficult to get it past him.

"I thought you might need this."

She said as she picked up a menu and discreetly studied his face from behind it.

**Location: En Route to the [Cloistered Oyster Strip Club](https://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/invitation-only-rp/h-r-u-round-2-the-club/t.105430974/) Time: *A Second Closer to Midnight - After the Events of Round 1*** [Just Another Drive](https://youtu.be/pJ6kqlSbF2Y)

It was just another late night, or at least that's what he told himself. Letting out a breath of air, he trudged along, making his way from the convenience store to the corner of the street. Paper bag held against his chest, his single eye stared at the pavement as he moved along at a steady pace.

"..." He glanced up and around every now and then, wondering if he was late, or maybe too early. One of these days he would have to get himself a watch. His body was still sore, recovering from the last fight and the travel time in the car wasn't exactly helping. It was always the same long days and brief nights as they made their way across the land to their next destination. Pulling his jacket closer to his body, he stopped, long enough to remove an apple from the paper bag, biting into it without a second thought.

"Well, that was quite the experience." The voice drifted out from behind him, and normally he would have been wary at someone sneaking up on him, but he recognized that voice. Only one person could have it after all, let alone get the drop on him.

"Hah, I'm sure it was, especially if you tried to pay with those damned coins of yours." He said with gruffness, as he turned around, bits of apple decorating his chin. Maximos was seated in the driver's seat of a black, five-seat convertible with an interior made of dark leather. The vehicle seemed to be very reminiscent of something else...a quickly receding thought in Vahn's mind.

"Damned? They are one of a kind you know, it's not my fault they're cursed." Both men laughed softly before Vahn walked around to the passenger side of the vehicle. The initial drive was silent, for the most part, only the sounds of the road beneath them heard every now and then until the silence was broken.

"I want to die, did you know?" Maximos said, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone, his head turning to the side to look at Vahn, even as the car drifted and narrowly avoided oncoming traffic with all the deftness of purpose.

"Say what?" he replied, with genuine surprise as he was witness to the near casual brushes with death the car was subject to, which ended in a tired tone. This wasn't the first time he'd heard something like this anyway. "This again..."

Vahn merely kept staring forward as everything outside the car was passed by, silent for a moment. Maybe he didn't want to talk about it. Maybe he couldn't believe it himself. Maybe it just hurt too much to even answer a man he considered more of a brother than... ...Victor "Chih..."

"..." Pushing up his glasses, Maximos didn't say anything for a while. The sound of tires on pavement continued along the road. "I'll be damned myself, otherwise. I don't know how much you talked to Walter back in the day, but I stand by what I said a while back. I'll help the people I've been helping, like assisting our silver-haired compatriot. And then I'm leaving, no show, I'm just hitting the proverbial quit button and walking out."

The stretch of silence continued on, only the dull yellow of his right eye showing in the gloom of the late night. Finally, without another breath, he said, "What the hell, I'll go too."

Soft laughter, as both men decided the moment was too awkward or painful to fill with anything else. The laughter came to a draw, as Maximos was pushing up his glasses with one hand and idly drumming his fingers against the steering wheel with the other. Resting against the headrest of his seat, Vahn tilted his head to the side, blowing out a held breath. He listened as his brother spoke to him.

"I honestly don't have any reason to stay, don't get me wrong, I'd rather be in the old home with the children. But this dream is dead, I owe a few people things and it would be wrong of me to leave them hanging, but I have no home anywhere anymore." He said, in a solemn tone, while staring straight ahead, as he drove.

"I've been trying to find what home is for the longest." was all Vahn replied with, his eyes staring at whatever was ahead of them both, the stretch of highway neverending at this point.

"I'll ask that man first before I go back to where it all started," Maximos stated flatly, pushing up his glasses yet again; it was quite the habit. A good one compared to his brother's habit. "I'll ask if I'm meant to go away, and if he says yes, I will."

With a snort of laughter, Vahn stared at him, shaking his head. "You know damn well he won't say yes" taking hold of the apple core between his fingertips, he lowered the window down, tossing it out even as the onrush of wind made a mess of his hair. The moon dominated the night sky. "Why do you think people want you gone? Why are you the one who gets to pack up and go?" he shook his head, from side to side, frowning even. "It's not a matter of just you dying." Turning his gaze back to Maximos his brow furrowed "when are you gonna realize that already?"

Without skipping a beat, he added quietly, "If there's no place for those that actually matter, there's no place for me."

"Don't get dragged down with me" the words cut into each other as if they were two different blades being wielded by the both of them. Each blade biting into one another, but never able to truly wound the other. "It doesn't always have to involve you, the fact is true that if there's no place for you I won't feel completely guilt-free. But don't go super-heroic. Be realistic, even the best part of me is dead. That man you know, got used to dying, and we were sad, we promised worlds of change, but we sat on our asses and it fell apart. It's all dead now, the island, Walter and no one can bring it back." He said matter-of-factly, with another push of his glasses.

It always had bothered Vahn how real his words would sound as if he always saw the truth in things regardless of circumstance. Were his own eyes always clouded then? Was he a blind old man then?

His train of thought was broken, as Maximos spoke once more. "I always get creeped out in graveyards. Believe it or not."

Closing his eyes, Vahn banged the back of his head against the headrest taking a deep breath, before speaking out. "You're not dead yet." His right eye opened, the yellow in it dull under the moonlight. "I swear, I'll make everything right." He was annoyed, maybe just a bit tired. "Don't even question my conviction. My blood can grow the most beautiful of flowers; you'll see." A grumble in his tone maybe.

Maximos continued driving quietly, not saying anything right away. "..." Pushing up his glasses, he let out a sigh. Discontentment? Tiredness? Disbelief maybe? "Brother, this is me..." He patted the wheel even as the car nonchalantly went in and out of both lanes. "I'm very, very simple." He leaned in close to the wheel, readjusting his position in the seat before stretching back. "I don't get anything out of the epic lines beside desperation."

He cast a glance towards Vahn, even as he took both hands off the wheel to clean his glasses suddenly. "And desperation doesn't suit you well." He blew hot air against the lens of his glasses, even as Vahn deftly took control of the wheel with one hand, trying not to let the alarm show on his face. "Drastic measures do nothing beyond proving their point." Taking the ends of his jacket, he cleaned out the lens, before putting his glasses back on.

With a low growl, he took Maximos' hands and placed them back on the wheel. "There's nothing epic behind a dying man's last words." He pushed back into his seat, momentarily wondering if he should have refused Maximos' offer to drive. "And if these feelings come out as ridiculous then I'm sorry, but it is how it is." He frowned again. "It's probably best if I drove the rest of the way maybe..."

"Blah blah blah."

He momentarily felt a rise of laughter try to break free of him at Maximos' reply.

"Giving up." Vahn turned his head to the side slightly, but all he saw was the sheen from his those glasses in the dark. Like a looming shadow, the other man sat in the driver's seat, as if he were at home.. and would never leave. His heart skipped several beats... it was...not comforting.

"It's not you, brother, and it looks terrible on you." Staring ahead at the road, lips slightly pursed, Maximos was smiling. "The only thing that looks worse, is stubbornness."

Sitting there, almost seemingly dumb-struck, Vahn just clenched his fists. "So what do you want me to do then?" His eyes shut tightly, as he refused to watch the same dead scenery pass by anymore. "I can't please everyone!"

"Give up, explode and kill yourself. You want action, you want someone to notice, you want to actually have something to do. And day after day, after day, of constant boredom has made you angsty, has made you cranky, has made you snap at people. I know, because I feel it too, the exact same thing." Maximo's words cut like daggers into unprotected flesh, repeatedly and without feeling in that moment.

Vahn remained silent.

"Don't please everyone, your not a savior, or god." A hand came up and rested firmly upon Vahn's shoulder.

"Why do you hate them so much?" Was his only reply even as he finally looked out the passenger side window again, not willing to look at Maximos.

"Please the one person you have for sure, find yourself a purpose, a person and please them. [********] everyone else." Maximos continued on as if purposely bypassing the question, to get to a more pressing destination. "It's funny---"

Vahn glanced towards him, a questioning look on his face.

"You are the one who acts mean to every one of them, but you love them." That haunting smile decorated the lower half of Maximos face again.. as if it were piercing right into his soul, ripping out all the infidelities, and taking hold of everything that mattered.

"I put on this smile and kindness, but besides those, whom I did consider my family, or those I called a friend in private...I hate them all. You're a brother true and true, not by blood but it's undeniable. I could never hate you" he said even as he nodded to himself. " But besides that, I am disappointed by every sign and action those children do. They refuse to grow up, they refuse to fix their problem even when the answer is too simple."

"I'm one of those children." Vahn retorted, rolling his head to the side as he started to stretch out in the seat again.

"Heh, no you are not." The smile brightened considerably, as he let his hand push those glasses up once more. "That's the problem." He cleared his throat. "You are not. But you want to oh so desperately be."

Vahn, closed his eyes, finding himself back in the ruined dregs of a stage. On the ground, on his knees, breathing hard. A shadow that would not recede even in front of his flame. He blinked the memory away. "And like little kids when they get old enough, they laugh at the old man, he's not cool anymore." Maximos went on.

"Let me help clean it all up." Was all Vahn could say, staring down at his hands.

"It's the way they find these huge problems in tiny things, then they look back and say how stupid all the problems were...only to do it all over again." The Shadow continued on, attention focused on the road for once.

"Let me help clean it all up dammit," Vahn said again, the tone more firm now.

Maximos shook his head, speaking softly as he replied, "As a quite incredible man once said, I'm like the maid, 'I just fixed this mess can't you people keep it clean, for FIVE MINUTES!?!" A soft chuckle escaped the spectacled man's lips. "But it has been a long time since I had help with anything."

"Please," Vahn replied curtly, annoyed. "I'm not...ready."

Maximos actually quirked an eyebrow, stealing a glance towards him. "Not ready for what?"

"I don't know. I just know I'm not ready."

Shaking his head, Maximos spoke again. "I'm not part of the solution any more brother. I'm part of the problem. In a year I've gone from helper, savior, rescuer, and declined through that place to a murderer If I were me, I'd take my sword to my own neck. In fact, there is already someone who has come close enough to it."

Soft laughter echoed out, as Vahn shook, his laughs echoing out against the interior of the car. "So we're all just a bunch of pitiful has-beens then. Nothing to do but whine and watch things pass us by." His hand thumped along the console of the car.

"I'm tired of it. Tired of myself."

Maximos could only smile, as he pushed up his glasses once more. "Decided to open your eyes?" He smiled, perhaps even genuinely at this moment. "I've never heard purer truth from you before in my life. I can't speak for anyone else, but I know that's what I've become."

Eyes narrowed as Vahn merely shook his head to the side, a finger absently tracing against that eyepatch of his. "Forward.. move forward.. nothing to do but move forward. I want to be standing atop the world with Sierra, Silver and you, laughing at every other goddamned fool; with my jacket billowing out behind me of course."

The silence stretched on.

"I want to move forward and reach that goal."

"And you will."

Another stretch of silence. "Do you think any less of me?" Vahn finally asked, breaking the silence as if he were unsure he wanted to do so in the first place.

"Less?" Maximos scoffed, as he smoothed a hand over the front of his jacket. "Let me ask you something, it's off topic, but stick with me... have you read any type of scripture?"

"It's....been a while."

Maximos nodded to himself and pushed his glasses up once more. "Quite fascinating really, in my time I've amassed quite the collection from just about everywhere... But, did you ever love god? A god, any god at some point? It relates I promise, just stick with me."

Taking hold of another apple, Vahn responded. "Yea, I did."

"Did you love them even after you read about the awful things they did? How despite all the supposed benevolence, there was just as much injustice happening?"

"I did." He bit into the apple.

"Then how can I act any less, after these tiny things you see as so bad?" Like a hammer-fall, the resound pounding of his words echoed.

"Hehehehehe." Soft laughter escaped Vahn's throat.

"Why are you laughing at me?" Maximos questioned, eyebrow arching. "Is it that hard to believe?" He let go of the wheel, before turning his head to the side and staring at Vahn. "If you can't believe the answer, why ask the question? I've lied to a lot of people in my life brother, but not to you."

The silence that stretched on was deafening, almost frightening. The laughter had long since subsided even as Vahn let go of the wheel; there was no point in panicking about crashing, his response was just automatic at this point. Both men sat there quietly, for a good twelve minutes, before the coda was broken.

"I'm laughing because I always feel so damn dumb next to you, like a kid looking at a big wall. And he never realizes where the door is." Another bite of that apple.

Maximos suddenly burst into laughter as well, throwing his head back slightly. "Funny--- Because I always feel like the kid waiting in line for an autograph, shaky hands, sweaty brow. Memories that just let him be awestruck by what this person is."

Vahn merely shook his head. "You should be past all that now.. the real thing can't live up to the legend. Or so the saying goes."

He added after a bit, "not that its a bad thing. Because I often wonder who admires who more."

Shaking his head, Maximos grinned ear to ear. "Now, now, it's not like that. See, that kid waits in line, then he walks up, his hands sweaty and he hands the guy the notebook, and the guy goes Brother, you didn't have to wait in line, I could have signed it when we got home a hundred times. And instantly you feel cool, just for knowing that person, at all."

"I'd shake your hand if I didn't already have a problem with your driving right now."

"Just remember you said that when we get to this place in one piece."

Maximos drummed his fingers against the wheel again. "That's what I'm doing anyway. As for everything else...Walter, Shadow Island, brother, I'm sorry. You don't have the power to change anything in it anymore, and the only person who maybe did doesn't care. Even thinking that joining this tournament would..." He stretched out an arm in front of him. "The children in it now have no concept of what they really want. Even you don't know what you want out of this, do you?"

Vahn shook his head, not wanting to concede the point. It wasn't just the damn sword that old man wanted me to get fixed, now was it? He kept the thought to himself.

Both men continued to stare forward, as the headlights of cars passed them by, like streaming stars, swallowed into the black hole that was this endless highway.

"But neither of us has the power to change anything. The age that we might have seen different paths is dead, there's no going back. Everyone is already on the path they are meant to be. I could kill everyone, but it's useless. Everyone's already dead."

"I guess all that's left is to have fun," Vahn replied.

"Heh, ahahahahahaha." Maximos broke into genuine laughter, as they continued driving along. Turning his head to the side, he motioned at Vahn "Optimism, when did you learn that?"

"About 50 seconds ago."

"Unfortunate. Late in the game brother, too late." Maximos shook his head. "You can't play everything close to the chest when you have no cards whatsoever left and you know they have a stack on hand."

Smiling, Vahn spoke quietly. "I always pull the card I need when I'm in trouble."

Maximos responded solemnly, "Sorry, we don't have any genies stuck in bottles around here either..."

The stretch of silence took place once more, as the vehicle came to a slow halt before a railway crossing, the sounds of the lumbering train screeching into the dark. They waited in the darkness. One staring straight ahead, and the other out to the side. The stark difference between both men...apparent in even their actions.

"Listen."

Vahn turned his head, broken out of whatever memory he had been getting lost in.

"There is no turning back. I’m going to keep my promise. That man is still waiting for me, and I’m going to die by his blade. A true death." The train was long gone, and it was safe to cross. Vahn cleared his throat...

"No need for a coffin, won’t be much of a funeral."

Silence.

"I hope you won’t be there."

Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Vahn curtly said, "There'll have to be two coffins then."

"It'll prove the point brother." Vahn fully turned to face Maximos now, listening. "It'll prove it finally, the only way I know how" he exclaimed, raising both hands off the wheel again. "I WILL fight to my fullest and best. But it will be a human that does the deed in the end."

It started out slow. Drop by drop...bit by bit, the skies darkened, the clouds amassed and it finally broke free, with the rolling thunder.

The rain pattered against the windows even as they drove onward.

"Maybe I’ll go and get dead too. Maybe people will then see that this life has become a place of Ego, Pride, and Power, not skill. Certainly not for a purpose." The rain poured on down, even as Vahn finally looked away.

"Your death will just give them what they want. Don't do that." Maximos said as he pushed his glasses up.

"I'm one of those kids you hate" Vahn replied.

"No. No, you’re really not." Maximos shot back, smiling.

"You think death is what you want" Vahn ran a hand through his hair, as the sound of the wipers threatened to overtake the interior of the car.

"Which is why you shouldn't have it." Frowning, Maximos silently willed the rain to cease already. "My death is what they DON'T want. So they should get it."

He tapped the steering wheel for emphasis, "you’re not some kid, you are a legend, sitting in the temple his people built for him, and shoved him in. And wondering, why don't they come around anymore. We are like the old people yelling because the rules of the game have changed when we weren’t looking. I’m simply tired of pretending otherwise."

He could feel his fist clenching even as he bit down a much harsher reply... "We don’t want you gone, idiot."

A soft smile, as Maximos, pushed his glasses up yet again. "It's ok. I really haven't been there much anyway. Not for a long time."

The stillness of the silence was broken, by the beeping and buzzing of something. After a moment, Vahn fished out a cell phone. There was only one person who had the number.

"Tell her I said 'Hi'."

He glanced up at Maximos and nodded. "She says hi back..."

"And that's about as far as any of my conversations with women go." The spectacled man said, laughing softly, as he focused on the drive again.

"I just listen a lot." Vahn said softly, as he hung up, “or least pretend to.”

"Good man."

"I wish."

A slight pause...before Vahn spoke again, as the car cut through the rain. "Sometimes I look at my children sleeping... And I see innocence. No realization of the world they are coming into. No level of understanding. I see pure unhindered joy at seeing the world that's around them, with no concept of it being bad. And I find myself envious. I find myself glad."

He raised a hand, rubbing at that eyepatch again.

"I want to make it a place that my children can grow up in without fighting. So they can both always keep that smile...unhindered."

"You’re a good person." Maximos scratched at his nose idly, before continuing. "I see the same world and I see pain. I see suffering. I see person after person broadcasting with pride the stupidity of this race, and all that it stands for. I see a race given everything and destroying everything. Hell, I see myself as one of them. I see a child and I see them cry begging for what they want, only what they want or else....you want to see peace."

He raised a hand to his chin absently. "I don't think we deserve to infect this world anymore. The good is so far and in-between they couldn't help if they tried. Unfortunately, I know, that honestly, I am not one of the good. I'm just a bad person. I don't deserve life either, but I'll leech it. For just a while longer of course."

"Are we all devils then." The gruff response left Vahn’s lips.

After a short pause, Maximos smiled gently and spoke tentatively. "No, there are people like you, saints hidden in the guise and belief that their purity is a curse. And that they SHOULD be devils. No, you’re honestly a good and nice person. And you think you’re a monster."

Maximos laughed lightly as he pointed to his own chest. "I AM a monster. But for some reason, they see me as good."

"We see the world through a kaleidoscope of dreams. I guess..."

"I see it in shades of gray." Maximos curtly corrected.

Another long stretch of silence... before it was broken by Maximos. "If you had it to take into your own hands, to save everything, would you do it?"

Vahn’s right eye narrowed slightly, as he raised his left arm. He clenched his fist slightly. "I'm not some kind of god, so I can't say anything big like I'll protect everyone on the planet." He relaxed his fist. "I'm not a modest guy who will say it's enough if I can protect as many people as my two hands can handle either. I just want to protect and save... A mountain-load of people."

"And if you could start with the people closest to you, taking it into your own hands, would you?"

Vahn smiled brightly, for that brief moment. "I would."

"Even despite what they say?"

"I kinda proved that when I died for the Stadium, didn’t I?."

Rolling his eyes, Maximos scoffed as he grinned and spoke with sarcasm. "Oh you just HAD to bring that into this..." a short pause.. and he spoke in a serious tone. "You know if I were there, I wouldn't have let you waste your life like that."

A slight hand-motion, as he waved Maximos off, shaking his head. "That guy...he died thinking it wasn't a waste.. he died at peace with himself I think."

"I'd hate to know what he thinks now."

"Its obvious by now."

"Is it? What do you think he would think now?"

Smiling yet again, Vahn turned towards Maximos. "He would think there's still hope."

Maximos snorted slightly and shook his head. "Hmph."

"What would you expect from someone who gave his life?"

Another stretch of silence, as the rain started to ease up, the sun beginning its steady climb from its slumber. Vahn closed his eyes for a bit. "I assume you’re aware of Pandora's Box?"

"Opened and caused thousand years of darkness?" Maximos responded idly...

"Even in that, Hope was there."

"Where, exactly?"

"That's right... you might not have seen it. Anyone would just about drop the box at seeing all that terror. But it was there. The last to come out, small and weak. But it was there; Hope." Vahn nodded as he spoke.

Maximos laughed gently. "Why don't I remember that part of the story?"

"Because you were like me... we dropped the box from fear. Fear at the awful truth of it all."

A short pause and Vahn shook his head. "I sound stupid, I know. Sorry. I'm not as good with words as you."

"No, that's not why I was silent."

"..."

"I was thinking."

Vahn nodded silently.

"That and I just realized this was my first time driving."

"I would have never guessed..."

They stopped and stared ahead, the both of them quiet and in their own thoughts until Maximos broke the silence.

"So this random person-- completely random, must have been in the studio audience, a stranger you understand? Approaches me, and tells me how much I've helped them, and how me, you, and a few others were like unbeatable masters but now he looks forward to trying to fight each one of us and learning to be better. And actually thanks me, and all of us, for the help we gave him, with or without knowing."

Soft laughter escaped Vahn’s throat as he tilted his head back. "Hope."

Maximos stared at him for a moment, before drumming his fingers along the steering wheel again. ".....you made him say that didn't you?"

"Don't be an idiot."

The drive continued on…and they would eventually reach their destination.

One always did, in the end.

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In summary: Nothing is forgotten. Everything comes full circle.

Maximos Wrote: