Isle de Gambino

Isle De Gambino

DESCRIPTION - SECTIONS - PEOPLE

Description

Isle De Gambino is a bustling central of human activity, famous for it's beaches, sights and tourism. Most great events in Gaia have taken place here on Gambino Island.

But once upon a time, it was not known as such, and the Gambino name was unknown until one fateful day on the Isle de Nativ. This luxurious and highly-exclusive resort was once owned and operated by natives of the island. It featured one gigantic hotel and a casino to match it. Life was good for the natives, until one day.

A blonde man with nothing but a coin and a pocket watch came into the casino, hoping all his luck, and perhaps even his life, into a single coin. Two hours later, Gambino walked out with more money than he could imagine and the actual, working deed to the island! Within months, Johnny K. Gambino changed the resort into a residential island paradise where the common man would be able to come live in peceful times.

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Sections

The islands are generally broken into three locations. The shops, The Marketplace, and The District. The Shops are where the average Gaian can go about and find the best clothes available, from sporty swimming clothes to rugged street racing uniforms to tendy hats to even ceremonial garb. There are also other smaller, lesser known shops, specifically a weapon store that carries many old weapons, as well as some new, very classy blades.

The Marketplace is named for the gigantic building in the center of the area where most all of Gaia economy is based. Here, rare items, trinkets and even major businesses are traded and sold and bought between thousands of Gaians. The district even has a building set aside for the very act of online trading, packed with thousands of servers.

The District takes up entertainment on the island, including Gold Mountain Casino, where the rich and decadent can spend their millions, Theatre Of Gambino, where the most influential bands in Gaia can come and preform, as well as a number of powerful dramatic piece of work. Also, Gambino Mansion is placed in the middle of all of the excitement there is to be had here!

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People

Many famous individuals have been born or took up resident on the island. Here are just a few.

Name : Johnny K. Gambino

Title : THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN ALL OF GAIA!

Occupation : Land Owner

Age : Mid Thirties

Quote : For my biggest fans!

Johnny K. Gambino was born and raised on the island by a couple who worked on Isle De Nativ's resort. However, due to some great accident, he became orphaned. Soon, the hotels would not take care of him, and he was forced to live in Barton foster homes. On his eighteenth birthday, with nothing at all, he wandered north until he arrived once more at the resort island that banished him long ago. With a single gold, Gambino over took the resort and the entire island.

Life for Johnny became easy, and he eventually renamed the island after himself. With all that power, he naturally became a magnet for available women, but he had eyes for only one. The two were wed later that year, and it was not long before they had concieved. However, at the birth of the child, the mother recieved serious complications, and did not survive. Johnny, who wanted to name his son Johnny as his father had give to him, conceeded with his own grief and named the boy what the mother desired : Gino.

Gambino's corporation, [ G ] CORP, a genetic testing and weapons handling group has launched into secret experiments multiple times, many times even without Gambino's permission. At this point, there has been no proof to connect him to any crime.

Through his exploits, it has been believed that Johnny was murdered, but through miricles kept out of the public light, he appears to be alive and well as of August, 2006

Name : Gino Gambino

Title : MOST POWERFUL SON IN ALL OF GAIA!

Occupation : Heir

Age : Eighteen

Quote : Gaia needs a HERO!

Gino Gambino was first made a public icon at the First Annual Celebration of Gaia, where he met visitors with G-pins, a small, golden pin that could be tacked to a shirt. He was also picked as a competetor for the Gaian Olympics, and despite some trickery, he failed to even make a naming spot, taking a lowly fifth place, better only than Edmund, whom was disqualified. That Halloween marked the infamous Zombie Incident that first sent the Gambino Family into turmoil, where Gino was lost in the flames. He would remain missing for two months following, where he was found by his father, sans any memory.

In April of the next year, he regained his memory only moments before he saw his father die, falling into the Gambino Sea, inevitably dying on the way down. However, in this moment of chaos, the tower his father had worked so hard to create would collapse and tumble, falling all the way to Dur'em, where it would crush and kill the Von Holson sisters. Gino would remain missing for several months when he would wash up on Gambino, found by Sasha. After some recovery, Gino was able to take his father's place as Most Powerful Man in Gaia. At Halloween of this year, his mansion was torched, and he went missing once more, only to reappear as the MASQUE, a super hero for the common man.

Gino recently challenged a shop owner to a duel to the death for the love of Miss Sasha, but was interupted and has since been reunited with his father, whom was mysteriously hidden within him. It is speculated how this could happen, but the best any one can figure is that Gino had been injected witj a syrum to absorb his father if needbe, and at that time, he would split on cue into both. Gino's age did not regress, and he is now the image of masculine charm.

Name : Sasha Nativ

Title : Shop keeper

Occupation : Opperating the Gambino Outfitters.

Age : Eighteen

Quote : Ian's cat makes me sneeze...

Sasha Nativ's family always opperated the clothing store on Isle De Native, and since she was born, it had become Isle De Gambino. In these years, she has been extremely successful, and a well known figure around Gaia.

Her life took a turn for the weird in 2005, when she and Ian discovered Gino Gambino's body on the shoreline, where they would bring him up and take him to her home. When he recovered, he fell deeply in love with Sasha, despite her obvious misassesment of the situation. When he professed his love some months later, the two would be thrust into a misfortunate situation where the manor was being burnt to the ground.

Sasha has been looked at poorly by many Gaian's for reasons entirely out of her control, calling her a tramp. On the contrary, she has been a very polite young woman through her ordeals. She often finds herself in the middle of pety fueds between men, most often between Gino and Ian, whom both have proclaimed their love.[/align]

Roland had been in the area, and it was not his intention to get into any action. He just needed to pull some money from his Vidunder account. So, without any thought or action, Roland stepped into the bank only seconds before a shout and a raised gun. "...********."

Roland would grip his fingers and sort of barrel roll himself out of the line of vision. Everyone else was hiding. He would be sneaking. At least for a minute or two. Reaching into his expensive looking business suit, Roland plucked out a pair of gauntlets, looking up and around, keeping his eyes on Richard. Lucy would likely not be making much of a look out, aside from cop cars. But even then, it was unlikely.

One man, looks like a gettaway car... Neither look too bright. I doubt there will be too much trouble here. Better give him a moment.

Roland didn't want to send some hair-trigger nut into a tissy, but he needed to keep his guard up in case Richard made a break for the door. As it stood, Richard was infront of the teller and Roland was behind a desk, more or less getting ready for a fight.

A young, nervous woman in an old car? Probably a learner driver.

At least that's what LeJaune thought, and to be fair, it would make sense. This would be all too easy. Lucy would find herself in a bit of a predicament as the seatbelt would tighten rapidly, rendering her both unable to breath and crushing her at the same time.

How? Simple. LeJaune was manipulating the magnetism in the mechanism of the belt, drawing in more of the belt itself whilst keeping the safety-pin in place as if it were a crash. To put it simply, the belt would just get tighter and tighter, and she would be powerless to stop it and would have to just sit there and suffocate. Of course, LJ wouldn't kill her, simply deny her oxygen until she passed out, then he'd calmly throw her in the trunk and dump her in a hotel room later.

This was until he noticed the bank robbery that was occuring inside.

LeJaune sighed, and stepped to the main doors, opening one with a soft creak. The gun would produce a quiet click as the safety snapped into the place, and then Richard would be in for a surprise as the clip fell out and zoomed towards LeJaune. LeJaune grabbed it out the air and smiled. It turned out LeJaune could manipulate the metal in that gun as well. How handy it is to be magnetically gifted. The doors shut and stayed shut behind him.

"Tut tut. That's not very nice."

Lucy was still being suffocated mind, but the tightening had stopped.

LeJaune grinned.

Lucy was caught by surprise. She struggled against the tightening seat belt, trying to pull it away so she could breathe, then trying to unlatch it, but finding the button stuck. She began to choke. Panic rising, she honked the horn several times. Then she saw the man walking up to the doors.

Richard skidded to a stop as he saw the man in front of him, and the bullets from his gun (it's a revolver), flying out and into the man's hand. "Get outta my way!"

He rushed LeJaune and swung one of the sacks of gold, hoping to knock him out or at least knock him out of the way so that he could get outside and to the car.

Chris Custard Wrote:

Grin.

LeJaune simply grinned and ducked, bending his knees slightly and watching the sack sail over.

Roland rushed after Richard, and when he saw him use all his force to swing at LeJaune, he rushed the man, his left elbow aimed for the guy's back, his whole weight going into slamming the robber.

Roland forced the guy to the ground, his hand quickly snapped up to grab the hand with the gun, most specificly grabbing the hammer to the gun to prevent any more shots.

Roland continued to roll around with the guy, his hand shoving the man's hand in an attempt to make him drop the pen before finally smashing his hand into the ground before attempting to pull it back behind his back. If he was just a normal guy, then it was likely he wasn't nearly as strong as the professional fighter.

"You can't do this! I have my rights!" Richard cried as he was wrestled to the floor. Sirens wailed in the distance. Lucy peeled out to get away.

"Still nothing."

A none too gracefully aged book in hardback blue bindings landed with a bang atop an already growing stack of texts. All old, worn books.

Kalis picked out another, and sat down in a spot with some decent light in the musty library backroom. Apparantly, it had been pretty dumb to expect to find anything interesting in just some library picked off the street.

He carefully opened the covers, and flipped through, only glancing at what was inside each page.

Good, old, maps were difficult to come by.

"Wha-"

And the wall blew inward on him.

Sweeping dust from his pale face, he shoved the shattered remains of the flimsy wooden table off, backing up to take hold of a standing bookcase and haul himself to his feet, turning on heels, head spinning like his mind until he identified it.

There, among the hanging dust and fluttering pages of books on the shelfs nearer the wall, or stacked on his table.

"Hrm."

He waved dust out his eyes, squinting at the form coming in from the other side of the wall.

The room was totalled, on that side, plaster filling the air, bricks laying all about in peices or whole. The shelves walled near that wall were collapsed, blown apart by the wall coming in on them and their books and their contents spilled about. His table, and the light, they were both smashed to peices, splinters and shards of glass everywhere, lying by his feet. The room was dark, but the outside light did sillouette the thing by the large whole in the wall for him quite nicely.

A single line of bright red traced its way down the plastery white clinging over his skin and clothes, down from the hairline.

"What the hell is that about?" he drew out the words casually, not interested the least in the answer to that particular question.

The right thumb hooked under a thick strap running down across his chest.

"Huh-"

And the floor fell away under him.

On his back, he pulled his hand away from the sheath's strap, and placed that hand on the book case that had fallen forward on top of him, shoving it off with hand and foot.

Leaving the torso of his coat flutter open, Kalis rolled over in the rubble of the fall, destroying books and case under his heavy boots as he came to stand again in the mess of the upper level fallen in upon a lower. He whipped an arm though the air in an arc, clearing the dust in front of him.

"That so?"

Seemed like he had his answer.

Kalis backed off, silently, as he watched for a moment while the thing slammed itself into the walls repeatedly, the blur moving watching how it seemed to strike them with greater mass than it moved on with.

Which was why he was there, behind it, after it struck a wall and started it's motion again, going from still to motion all at once to step in behind it and slam a guantleted hand into the front of the things face while the leg nearer it used the other, planted firmly, to sweep a leg of the thing forward from behind.

A smooth suprise manuever to stun a foe and take it off it's feet.

There was a bit of an 'oh s**t' moment as this thing fell down, leg swinging around. There wasn't much you could do about that bear handed, unless you thought you were capable of just catching the kick. Not gonna happen.

In a undignified looking turn, Kalis tossed himself sideways early, rolling along the floor, picking up dust and more than a few scrapes and sore spots from where things had jutted up into him, and came to a low crouch a fair distance away, on hand floating to his sword as he took account of what was going on with his eyes before devoting himself to a new course of action.

That was about what Kalis was seeing too. And even if he wanted to look through more of these books, he was less than interested in inspecting the ceiling.

Kalis whipped the sword off his back; sheath and all.

And, holding it by his side in the left hand, just below the crossguard, he ran and lept up through the first hole in the wall, rather than the second where he'd immediately be face to face with the thing, and turned around, taking the weapon by the handle in his right hand instead.

He drew the blade back, keeping it leveled forward at just below shoulder level, and rushed at the creature. If it didn't move, he could simply thrust it forward and smack the thing like some awkward, but rather heavy, punch. More likely he'd end up turning it around into an arc and swing though.

And so there were two walls with large holes in them, and lots of wreckage within, pain given to all the walls.

But there was one thing to do to fell it other than destroy the last wall.

And Kalis was none too amused.

And so, from the outside, he ran at the corner between the two smashed walls, taking the weighted sheath on the weapon, he planted the front foot, and spun full at the waist, an inhuman addition to his strenth adding to it as he smashed off the corner there. And struck more at the wall just beside it.

Hitting that last wall could bring the whole place down, but he didn't need that. He was just smashing this corner and bringing the majority of the ceiling down on the tin man inside.

And so the smoke cleared.

And the thing was gone, the library falling to peices. It was time for him to get away, clean himself up, and figure out what the heck that was all about.

But first, he could take a minute to sulk.

"Frickin' worst damn refridgerator I've ever run into."

Kalis was not in a particularly good mood.

He'd bought an apple, and was eating it, just to give himself something to do while he walked. Only, more than eating it, he was trying to get around to eating without getting any plaster dust on it, while his skin and clothes were all covered with it. Not a particularly simple task.

And so he trudged through the streets, dusty claymore over his back, wondering several things, including how he'd clean himself and his clothes up without getting any weird questions, or looks from people he'd ever see again. Where he'd find a library with books that might have something. And why some walking juke box had destroyed the library then high tailed it out'a there.

Kalis considered that.

"Actually, the place next door to it. And a rogue dishwasher."

Somewhat frustrated, he turned the apple around in his hand, frowned at the spread plaster, and un-strapped his coat a little more, wiping it off and taking a bite of the crunchy fruit. A little too crunchy. He'd paid too much, and for an apple that wasn't even fully ready yet.

He gave one of those bitterly amused smiles and went to keep on strolling as he chewed intently.

Gold Mountain

The sound of ringing mechanical bells, slot machine levers cranking down, the bustle of a thousand jumbled voices placing bets. That, combined with the pallid odor of tobacco smoke lingering in the air, were the usual sights, smells, and sounds that Kaiser related with the best. He grew up around casinos, around gamblers. He was gambling himself by the time he was a teen. After getting bored of winning against kids his age, he hustled adults. Then Lady Luck decided to turn her back on him, and it all went downhill from there.

Kaiser was addicted to gambling. What was worse than being addicted to gambling, however, was gambling with money one didn't truly have, and then losing it all. As luck would have it though, there was a way for Kaiser to pay off all of his debts at once. There was a Quest posted on the bulletin board about finding a lost treasure. If Kaiser could find that treasure before his creditors found him...

First, Kaiser had to make it off the Isle. He didn't have any money to pay for a ferry to Latent, nor could he just up and walk out, because there were goons keeping a constant watch over the exits to the mainland. Maybe if Kaiser could fly, or had an airship, but he didn't. It was proving to be difficult getting off the Isle with a price on your head and being flat broke. He was running out of options.

Wearing a hooded cloak and clearly brandishing the pistol holstered at his hip, and the gunbelt that came with it, Kaiser decided he would try passing himself off as a gun-for-hire, or a mercenary. He lingered within the local tavern, sitting in the corner with an empty mug. Maybe someone would come along and hire him for a job, and he'd have enough (hopefully) to buy a ticket for the ferry to Latent. Kaiser only hoped he wouldn't be recognized by anyone he didn't want recognizing him before then.

Adventurer's Messageboard Wrote:

Method to Raise the Dead

An adventurer that got the treasure of Pirate Zaken was eaten up by a Water Terror. Dorothy challenges the hero to take on the bizarre hunting task of gathering relics from the Water Terrors and to save the dead people in order to find out where the treasure is. (Locksmith Dorothy of Latent)

A foreigner. Kaiser recognied them easily enough by the way they dressed, though the chains and collar he wasn't sure about. Fashion statement, or a literal slave? Either way, she looked like she had some money about her. He made note of where she placed that money, then rose and approached the bar, bringing his empty mug.

"Barkeep, some ale please," he said softly.

"Eh? You gonna pay for that this time?" the barkeep snapped at him.

"Put it on my tab!" Kaiser retorted.

"You never had a tab!" the barkeep barked.

Kaiser grumbled. Maybe this wasn't a good idea afterall. He had never been that good of a thief, unless it involved cards. He glanced over his shoulder, hoping that he wasn't drawing too much attention to himself. The risk was too much in a place too public. Someone might recognize him. It'd be better off to leave.

"Eh, your drinks are all watered down anyway. You can shove it." Kaiser made his way toward the exit, intentionally bumping into the girl at the bar.

"Ah, I'm sorry," he slurred, feigning drunkeness, while using swift, nimble fingers to quickly cut her purse string with a small knife and stow it away before she could notice, and continue on to the exit.

"Guh!" Kaiser took a step back. The lighting from his corner wasn't very good, and only when he got a nice close look at the woman now did he see her reptilian features, and her blindfold. Damn, of all the people to try pickpocketing, it had to be a damn blind... whatever she was. He wasn't too familiar with many other races, other than those commonly seen around other places.

"Um, alright," he said apprehensibly, wondering why the woman was being so generous despite his attempt to steal her money. He took a stool next to her, leaning on his elbows on the bar.

"I really am sorry. Times have been hard on me, recently," he explained. [color=blue]"My name is Kaiser, I'm a... uh... pilot."[color] At least he was a little honest.

The chains and collars were starting to make sense now. She was a slave, or a former one, seeing as how there was no master by her side. A sharp-witted one too, at that. Maybe that was why she was masterless, or maybe because she was blind. Kaiser wondered how much a blind slave would fetch for on the market. Would it be enough to pay off his debt? Curious of whether her debilitation was genuine or not, he waved his hand in front of her face slowly as a test.

The bartender reluctantly filled Kaiser's mug, which Kaiser would give the man a smug grin as thanks. As long as it was paid for, the barkeep could care less. Kaiser took a sip of his ale, savoring the taste in his mouth. It had been some time since he had had anything to drink, save for dirty water.

"So what brings you here, Adrienne?" he asked after setting his mug down.

"Heat-vision? Interesting indeed," Kaiser remarked. "Who is it that you are looking for? Perhaps I can be of some assistance. Small island, everyone knows everyone, practically." An unfortunate truth, in his case. He only hoped that the person she was looking for wasn't anyone looking for him.

"I see." Kaiser pondered something for a moment. She was certainly better off than he currently was. He wondered if she had any means of transportation. She certainly had money to pay for a ferry. It was time to play the manipulation game.

"I think I may know someone in Latent who may be in need of your, er, services. I'd take you myself, but as you can see, I'm kind of broke and can't afford the ferry. If it's not too much trouble, perhaps you can bring me along with you so that I can introduce you."

He didn't really know anyone in Latent, nor anyone else, in need of a slave girl. He just needed to get to Latent. Badly. Life over death situation.

She didn't seem like one that liked to waste time, Kaiser concluded. He followed Adri to the door, responding to her comment. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Stepping outside, Kaiser wouldn't notice the two buffed up, bounder-looking, business suit-wearing goons waiting for him until one of them threw a punch across his face as soon as he was out through the door, decking him. The second goon made a grab for Adri's arms. "Got yerself a new girlfriend, eh Kaiz?"

((Yay violence! ))

The man cried out, pulling back his bleeding arm and holding it. "b***h bit me!" he cried, raising a hand to strike her, but then stumbled back as she revealed her eyes and used her gaze attack against the other man, whom was turning to see what the commotion was about when he took on her full gaze and almost instantly was turned to stone.

"D-d-demon!" the man stammered, turning and running off in a panic, while holding his bleeding arm.

Kaiser just blinked, laying there on the ground and staring at her. He had no idea what she was capable of, and quite frankly was a little scared of her now. He wondered if she had snakes for hair under that veil, which would explain the scaliness and snake-like attributes. Scary, and at the same time, exciting. Kaiser began to realize that with Adrienne around, The Man's goons wouldn't be able to press him now - at least until they found someone to properly deal with her.

"Whoa."

Kaiser instinctively brought a hand up to block his face from being pelted by bits of stone from the shattering statue. He took Adrienne's hand and pulled himself back to his feet, looking down at the broken pieces of the petrified goon. Looking in the direction the other goon had run off, he expected more of his "friends" to be coming by soon.

"Yeah, I think it would be a good idea to leave soon, especially if he gets back to his gang soon. I'll tell you all about it once we're out of here. You said you were taking the ferry, right?"

"Of course. Follow me," he said, instinctively glancing over his shoulder, as if expecting more goons to pop up shortly. He turned on his heel and began walking toward the south end of the island, where there was a small harbor that the ferry always docked at and received its passengers. They would make it to the docks before more trouble sprang up.

"Goin' somewhere, Kaiz?"

s**t. Balling his fists, Kaiser stopped and turned to look at an inconspicuous looking hobo, wearing dirty peasant clothes and holed socks with slippers, and holding an empty wine bottle in a grimy hand. Maybe it wasn't so much as a disguise than the genuine article. The hobo looked to be in his fifties, skinny and dirty, with a white scruffy beard and sunken sad eyes.

"None of your business, Blue," Kaiser responded.

"Oh ho, but I think it is, seein' as how the Man is payin' me good money fer keepin' my eye on you. Hic!"

"More like an eye on your bottle."

"The Man's boys already know what ya' did to one of 'em. They'll be comin' for ya'."

Speak of the Devil. A gang of thugs were headed their way as they speak. Kaiser gritted his teeth when he saw them, then glared down at the old man, threatening, "If we come out of this alive, you're a dead man."

"Adrienne, more company," Kaiser said disdainfully as he turned to confront them, putting a hand in his coat pocket. There were five thugs, each looking particular roughneck, most likely ex-convicts or just gym jocks. Other than a brass knuckle or two, they didn't look particularly armed. They must not find himself and Adrienne very threatening.

Big mistake there.

Pick a card, any card.

Unfortunately, these men were out for blood. Their mate had croaked after they had finally gotten out of him what happened. As soon as they found out it was Kaiser and this woman, they went out in force to avenge him. They could care less if she was a beautiful, enticing snake woman; they could always have their way with her after beating them both up.

"You killed our mate, b***h," one of the thugs said, pointing a club at Adrienne, "and we mean to pay ya' back. Get 'em!"

The thugs charged toward them, yelling battle cries. Kaiser pulled a deck of cards out of his pocket, shuffling them between his hands. "I'm tired of this game. Let's play a new one."

Stacking the cards in his hand, he held them in his palm with his fingers holding the top and his thumb the bottom of them, applying some pressure and bending them away from his hand. A little more, and the cards would go flying out of his hand, spraying out toward the oncoming thugs, and exploding like fireworks.

"Fifty-two pickup. Adrienne!"

Familiar with how lethal she truly was, Kaiser's attack would stun and dazzle some of the thugs momentarily, while other would be burnt with one element of energy or another, or have some other affliction wrought upon them. For the most part, it would serve as a lengthy distraction for Adrienne to have as much fun as she wanted.

The first thug's neck snapped like a twig, and the second screamed as his throat was torn out in a spray of blood. Kaiser entered the fray, drawing out his rapier and stabbing one of the thugs through the throat while he was stunned. One of the remaining two, the one holding a club, charged at Adrienne and took a swing at her head from behind. The fifth had a change of heart, after seeing how quickly most of his friends had been taken out, and started running away. Kaiser wasn't going to let this one get away though. Taking a pair of dice out of his pocket, he curled his fingers around them, blew on them, and tossed them to the ground.

"Snake eyes?! You've got to be kidding me," Kaiser complained. The thug got lucky with that dice throw, and would probably get away unless Adrienne caught up to him. As for Kaiser, though, he would receive the penalties of such a horrible throw, and get blown back through the air from a fireball exploding right in front of him.

Whoa. Kaiser reminded himself not to catch her in a dark alley when she was in a bad mood. Good thing she was on his side! Getting back to his feet, he dusted himself off then walked over to retrieve his treacherous dice. Afterwards, he held his hand open and the cards that were laying on the ground everywhere found their way back to his palm, and then back into his pocket. Wiping the blood off his sword on the shirts of one of the slain thugs, Kaiser watched Adrienne finish off the one trying to run off, then let the last one go with a message.

"I'm glad you're on my side," Kaiser said with a chuckle, sheathing his sword. "Shall we?" He gestured his hand toward the ferry, which had just made port.

They wouldn't be bothered again for quite some time, and those who had witnessed the bloody melee avoided the dangerous couple. After buying a ticket and boarding the ferry, the rest of the day went by uneventfully. The ferry pulled out of port half an hour later and made its way along the Gaian coast to the town of Latent, taking a little over an hour to make the trip.

Kaiser had changed his mind about abandoning Adrienne once reaching the town, on the fact that a friend like her could come in quite handy, especially if this treasure hunt he planned to go on turned out to be more dangerous than he could handle. Treasure hunts usually were, if the stories the bards always told of them were as true as they made them seem. If not for the vicious fangs and petrifying gaze, he might even find himself to be attracted to her - at least until she tried eating him. Kaiser told Adrienne everything he knew about the quest he saw on the bulletin, and the person who lived in Latent that posted it that he planned on seeing.

"Seeing as how you've saved my life twice now, I guess I owe it to you to tell you the truth. I don't really know anyone in Latent. In fact, the only reason I'm so determined on getting to Latent is to find this person that posted a request on the bulletin board to find some lost pirate's treasure. If I can find that treasure, I could pay off The Man and no longer have to worry about looking over my shoulder, and probably make a good profit off of it as well. You're invited to join me on this quest, if you want. Maybe you'll find what you're looking for as well."

((Posting this in Latent too.))

He sighed, knowing fully where to go, seeing that by now the island was in near plain sight. She had been heckling him like his mother (although he really never had the experience..) and was reminding him of every minute detail possible.

"You know I'm not exactly helpless right? One more time and I'll run us off the road into the murky depths!"

He chuckled a bit after his last dramatic exclamation, knowing he wasn't quite in top shape for running them off of bridges. He turned his head to glance at her, and managed to see her expression after looking at the phone. He turned his head back to the road ahead and questioned,

"Mm, who was it?"

He let his curiosity about the phone call dwindle for a moment as they crossed the bridge, he knew she would tell him eventually. It was moments later when she began to speak again, nearly mirroring what he thought about her. He took a glance at her for what seemed to be the hundredth time, catching her smile.

"Um, my pick?"

He thought a moment, staring ahead at the bridge and noticing its near end.

"Well, there's so much to do ya' know? Maybe we could start off with a small walk or something..and..see what to do from there.."

He took a hand from the wheel to rub the back of his neck, thinking the possibilities over once more.

"Well, we're not exactly dressed for walking hm? And this place is like one huge amusement park..give me a little more time.."

His hand found its way back to the steering wheel, and his eyebrows furrowed in thought.

So much to do..

((It is soo weird to see someone roleplaying a character with my name ))

She rolled the window down and let the wind play with her hair. The air was cool but it was never really cold here, something to do with the ocean.

"I don't know, I kinda like calling you Zetsu, and you seem to like that too," she said. "Still, it's been so long since anyone's called me anything other than Red. I hated my real name after what happened to me, but when you say it, it sounds... kind of nice. I wondered if maybe you would feel the same way?"

Then she turned to look out the window, her hands clutching the passenger door as she leaned toward the open window to stare at the sea, the island only a short distance away. A massive bridge with peaked towers, cables holding the road from above. Below where boats and yachts, even a few fishing vessels, not for industry but for tourism. Many people in Gaia seemed to be rather fond of fishing. It was nice to enjoy the scenery in leisurely fashion and not be concerned about other matters. All her other thoughts where centered on anticipation of where they would go, it was sort of nice to have the anticipation of a surprise that wasn't pre-planned her way. She continued to watch the scenery dreamily.

Her gaze shifted from the scenery outside to him, as she watched him drive without saying a word. With perfect posture she sat upright, holding her purse on her lap with both hands and tilting her head gently toward the driver to watch him thoughtfully without fully realizing she was doing so.

They were soon in the city, and there were numerous places to stop, but she didn't seem to care where he choose to go. While watching him think about where to go, she slowly developed an affectionate smile that was very slight and extremely subtle.

She looked down at her lap as if startled, blushing slightly as gripped her purse.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, "I didn't realize I was staring. Sooo... have you decided where you want to go yet?"

She took his hand without thinking, lifting it a little before she realized she had it. She held it awkwardly for a moment, wondering if this was the right thing to do. Whatever she thought, she kept her hand with his and looked out the window so it would be harder for him to detect how excited she was, how much her heart was pounding.

"I suppose we should have done the walk before we entered the city," she said, "For some reason I don't mind the crowd today, and we can still go shopping along the boardwalks, look at the ocean, watch the people. Maybe we can go surfing."

She laughed, having never been on a surf board in her life, and this was an inland sea anyhow, not much good for riding the waves.

"There's a spot!" she said, "It's not quite as crowded down this way."

Quote:** Wrote:

"So, are you ready to go? We have tons of surfing up ahead.."

Here on the island it almost 74 degrees, and it wasn't quite noon yet, the sun was out full force. She left her hand slip from his grasp as she exited the vehicle.

"I was only joking," she said, "This is an inland sea, you wouldn't be able to catch a wave much taller than a few feet high silly."

The sun was really beating down on the parking lot, ahead was the boardwalk and the ocean, most of the people were crowded toward the main hub were the rides and main attractions were, but there were a few shops and eateries in which to escape the sun up this way, even a few small casinos.

"I'll have to stay out the sun, I burn fast, extremely fast. I have some stuff on my face, but that's it. I don't like a lot of gunk on my skin. Lock up, I'm going to go look at the ocean."

She walked quickly, albeit a bit awkwardly, before turning around and heading up the ramp to the board walk. She walked to the rail and leaned over it a bit, watching the Sea of Gambino.

That was good, she thought, I avoided that nicely and my excuses were perfect. He did say a walk, not a swim.

The sun was beating down on them, as it was approaching noon. The trench coat was folded in the back of the Land Rover, she felt a little lost without it, like a child whose seccurity blanket is in the wash.

"I don't know, what would you like to do?" she asked, watching the shore as the sun warmed her.

"A walk on the beach, sounds romantic." she said, "Not that I'm into that sort of thing..., well, maybe just a bit more than I ever thought, or since I met you."

I don't sound too sure of myself anymore. This is over, he'll leave once he finds out we're not in the tournament anyway. Red, you are mean, nasty, and unfriendly, you do not let other people affect your emotions. You can not let yourself be hurt. You are cold. You aren't going to let yourself act giddy and stupid anymore. You aren't going to dress pretty. You will regain control of yourself. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Tell, him you did your part and leave him here before he hurts you.

She looked at Zetsumeii, turning his face and staring into his eyes. She attempted to frown, her eyebrows furrowing a bit, but it was laughable. Her look softened into an infatuated glance, and she quickly turned away, a little angry, a little excited, and a little embarrassed. She wrapped her arms under her chest, pushing her shirt tightly against her torso and unwittingly placing emphasis on her breasts. The sea was calm, and along the way was a huge sand castle she wanted to see.

"I have to get a parasol or some lotion first," she sighed, "I don't want to get a burn."

She nodded at his response, pushed herself off the rail and walked to the shop across the walk, coming out with a blue parasol and a small bottle of sun lotion. Which she spread over her exposed arms and legs.

"Okay, let's go," she said.

She kicked off her high high heels, catching the first but losing her balance before the second came of, falling forward.

Such a fool.

"Ehh!"

It was the only sound she could manage as he caugh, her pushing her backwards. Honestly, she felt a bit awkward, and was blushing again, completely unable to get angry with him. Her blood was rushing so fast that she almost fainted, but managed to keep herself concious at the very least.

Quote:** Wrote:

Their faces were inches apart as he looked her in the eye and stated frankly,

"I told you those crazy things could kill you.."

Her mouth was relaxed as her eyes refocused on his own. Another ehh, this time meek instead of exclaimed, was all she could manage until she was standing upright.

"I thought I was a master of stealth and balance and I can't even walk in heels," she said with a big sigh, putting her head down to control her blushing. Her skin tone was almost normal when her mood seemed to change.

"Let's go take a look at the sand castle,"

She ran out onto the sand, holding her heels and parasol with one arm as she ran with her lower arms slightly outwards and looking back to see if he was following. Suddenly her attempts to project a tough image had dissappeared, she seemed to be happy for a change.

Zetsumeii Wrote:

"That castle's huge!"

A huge sand sculpture shaped like the newly rebuilt Gambino towered over her, well actually, she was only a little bit shorter than the tallest spire of compact sand.

"I think I've seen this place before on postcard," she said. "Doesn't some famous guy live there, I never worked for him, so I guess he isn't that important."

She looked at the statue for a while, walking around to examine it from top to bottom.

"I always wondered why people like sand sculpture, they're so temporary, so much hard work only to be so easily destroyed."

She waited a little bit, looking past the sculpture instead of at it before approaching him timidly. Her right arm wrapped arm around Zetsumeii's left and took his hand while her other hand bought the cheaply made parasol up. Being almost a foot shorter than Zetsumeii, she left her head rest against his shoulder.

"Let's go for that walk... together," she said quietly, not looking at him, but keeping herself snuggled against him.

The water looked warm and gentle enough, and she longed for the surf to soak the sand from her feet. It would be a shock how cold the sea was, but she wouldn't care once she got used to it.

She was very quiet, the surf washing the sand from her feet, which were small, thin, and delicate looking for someone who always tried to act so tough. Without her garb, she felt really small, like an insignifigant speck, but she didn't care right now. They were both happy, she could feel it. The only thing she could wish for was that it would last forever. A never ending walk around the shores of this island, or any island. His arm was strong, he had solid muscles. It was also warm, and comfortable. She would continue to walk with him, protecting herself from the sun with her lotion and her parasol. Silence, there was no need to say anything right now, but she was listening. His words, the surf, the shifting sand, people in the background, some squealing gulls, a light wind, it all entered her ears like a panacea. All her problems faded away.

She gently tilted her head upward as he spoke, so she could see his warm smile at the the top of her vision. It thrilled her, made her want to hold him tighter, if he was happy she was happy. Letting her feminine side take control didn't seem so bad anymore, if being herself pleased him so much, maybe she wouldn't to hide behind a facade anymore. There was a part of herself she had mostly neglected her entire life, before expressed only through the time she spent growing and grooming her hair, that was washing over her much as the ocean washed the sand from her feet. If he thought she was beautiful, if he thought she was pretty, and that made him happy, then she wanted to be those things to the best of her ability.

Quote:** Wrote:

"You know," He said, speaking quietly, " When I was just a kid I would wander about near the sea where I was found. I loved it, being alone out there, I can even remember a few times when I would fall asleep to the sounds of the waves."

Though she wouldn't see him unless looking up at him, he smiled warmly, remembering happy instances in his life for a change.

"Sometimes I wish I lived in my original time. It's weird you know, wondering how life could have turned out if certain things didn't happen."

She also wanted to help him find what he needed to know, one thing, she now knew much of what happened to her, both by documentation and memory. Yeshu.... Zetsumeii, had very little memory or knowledge of what happened. But, was it posible Zetsu was held in the same place as her, the temple of Ymir. Their situations were so much alike already, going that far seemed improbable, but who was to say. If so, he would have escaped around the time she did, it almost seemed to make sense, almost.

"I'd only want to live back in my original time if I knew you'd be their to share it with me," she said, "I have alot of good memories of my parents. They were good people, very proud, and quite strict. Do you remember anything from your childhood?"

She looked up at him with an innocent anxiety that was almost childlike, before looking down, blushing slightly at the way she was acting and no longer regretting any of it.

Empathy filled her as she could sense his grief, it was something they both shared.

"It's hard to talk about my parents, when I think about all the good things, I always come to the bad that happened at the end. Still, I shouldn't think like that, I should cherish what they did and who they were, instead of obsessing over what became of them or how I lost them."

A tear ran down her cheek, gently hanging above her neck.

"I know how hard it is to lose so many people you love," she admitted, "It makes it difficult to open up to anybody else, and when you find yourself caring for some one in that way, you become afraid that you'll lose them as well. Maybe that's why I always try to be, so cold, so tough."

She was looking down now, still holding him tightly, and she watched a small tide extend to greet them.

"Zetsu, I want to be with you forever, like this," she said in a barely audible whisper.

Whenever he spoke her name it made her shiver with bliss deep inside. As she was looking down, the only thing he would be capable of was a quick kiss around her forehead after gently brushing away her bangs. She'd turn the color of spilt blood for a moment, then she'd turn herself around so she could press herself against his chest and listen to his heart beat as he held her, though hers was beating twice as fast.

She pushed back after a long moment, not wanting to give way to the passion she was feeling. That would be for another day, if things worked out the way she hoped.

If he would let her go, she would turn to the ocean, holding her hands behind her back and looking upwards.

"Zetsu, I might decide to have a child. It would be nice, to be a mother, I might actually learn something from it. I just need to find the the right father. He needs to be gentle, yet strong and firm. He needs to be loving and caring, but a fair judge. He needs to be perceptive and wise. And he needs to only care for me and his children. I'd have to be the only one, because I'm evil when I'm jealous!"

"Let's play tag......." she laughed, tagging him, "You're it!"

Running away like a little girl, only faster, she still made sure to keep Zetsumeii within range. If she saw he was chasing her too hard she would slow down for him and let him catch her, as she knew his leg was still on the mend, and she was sure he wouldn't attempt anything she wasn't ready for.

"Zetsu, don't over do it, your anke...."

His leg was hurting, she remembered a long time ago she made a bad decision about a game of tag. A lot of bad decisions she had made had hurt people. She slowed down enough to catch him in her arms, but his momentum knocked her back flat against the sand. Their lips met as they went down, and she found herself kissing a man for the first time in her life. She simply kept her lips against his own, as if they were stuck, so even as as they hit the sand they were together. Soon cold water from the sea would wash over her, possibly waking her up, because she fainted as their lips parted.

There was sand everywhere, in between her toes, up her legs and clinging to the back of her skirt, her shirt, and throughout her hair. A small cascade of water slid over them, washing some of it away, but now they were both soaked with cold water. It woke her up, and she sat up immediatly. He clothes were soaked, her shirt clung to her, leaving no curve or indentation to the imagination. She clutched the sand as she sat with her feet snug against her hips, looking down at the way her shirt clung to her torso like a second skin. She didn't bother to adjust anything, just clutched the sand.

"Zetsu," she said coldly, slowly pulling herself up, "The tournament is over for Team Merc, we were rejected for whatever reason. I'm sorry to have dragged you into this faisco. I'm sure you have no reason to be here anymore, and I won't keep you here. I'm going back home, you can keep the hotel room and I'll send cab fare for wherever you wish to go."

With that, cold and wet, she started walking away, leaving her parasol behind.

She looked back briefly, the gentle breeze unable to stir the heavy mess her wet hair had become. A pleading glance at him, and then she walked slowly, her arms wrapped around sandy wet shirt. This day was proving to be a roller coaster ride, and she wondered how Zetsu would feel about her now, now that there was no glory to be obtained, no prize to be won, nothing. She didn't care for herself, but knew she had hurt him, reeled him in with nice bait only to dissapoint his expectations. What did she have to offer anymore, besides her ability to beat him up? And she doubted she could do that anymore. Nothing ever went the way she planned it.

She stopped, digging her feet into the sand, her heart beating out of control again as she looked downwards while facing away from him. The shifting sand in the background told her he was following, it was his step pattern, limp and all.

"I never planned to love so recklessly, to lose control. I wanted to kiss you. I wanted to yield to your touch. You're destroying my power to stand on my own, Zetsu. I'm needing you more every minute I'm with you. Everything you say affects me, there's nothing you could ask of me that I wouldn't do, or try to do. You've seen me as I really am Zetsu, an emotional basket case, a sad, jealous, pathetic, and cowardly girl. I can't pretend to be something I'm not when I'm with you, not anymore. You have that affect on me now. I'm sorry. Would you want to have to suffer together with such a pathetic girl for the rest of your life?"

She brushed sand off her arm as she said this, holding back her tears.

She kicked some sand at nothing in particular, just into the air, away from them. She walked toward him quietly, and when she close.........

"Zetsu, YOU BIG JERK! I LOVE YOU!"

She hugged him tightly, a wet and squishy kind of hug, as they both were wet and exceedingly squishy. The good thing about that, it would be impossible to distinguish her tears from the water.

"Why can't you just tell me you love me?"

The salt air felt like a tonic in her lungs; she breathed it in deeply, which was easy to do because so much of it was evaporating from them. Any plans she had went out the window at the moment. She looked up and drank from his eyes, then closed her own, waiting.

Quote:** Wrote:

He took the chance she had left him with and kissed her again, this time not so much by accident. He maintained it for a few seconds before dislodging hesitantly, he had something to say.

"Mmh, maybe we should go and..you know..get dry before we do anything else today.."

He laughed, imagining how they must have looked to people that might have been watching nearby.

"Get dry?" she said, dreamily, adoring him as he held her, completely oblivious to the fact she was soaking wet in atire not designed for swimming.

"Dry," she said, still in her dream world, still reliving that last short kiss but finally bringing herself back to reality enough to think somewhat, "We're pretty wet, aren't we? We should go back to the hotel and get cleaned up."

"Mmmhmm?" she asked, wanting him to finish his thought.

It's time to be one. As long as you have him to protect you, you will be fine.

But..... No, I see now. I've used you unfairly for too long.

She went in the direction he led without resistance or complaint, happy to see him take the initiative. The meekness ussually reserved in her sister extremely apparant in the way she was acting.

"Zetsu," she said, "I already booked us two rooms at one of the best hotels here. On the island. We can both get cleaned up in time for dinner tonight, I made reservations to a nice place. You didn't think I meant we should go all the way back to stadium, did you?"

It wasn't that cold out, and for as frail as she looked she was used to enduring the elements, so being soaked with cold sea water on a temperate day didn't even phase her. Still, she was wet and sandy, and her clothes were clinging to her.

It was a short walk down the boardwalk from where they parked to their hotel. The place was small, but it looked cozy and nice. By no means a luxury place, it had a decent swimming pool that was somewhat crowded with other patrons. Their rooms were on the top story, meaning the second floor for this place. She went into the lobby soaking wet. The man at the desk looked her over a bit disgustly, as she was dripping and covered in sand which she dragged into a fairly clean office. After confirming her reservations and picking up the keys, she came out and handed one to Zetsumeii. Her face a little red because of the way the man at the desk had looked at her.

Their rooms were buffered by another room. It was the way she had planned it, but now the distance seemed incredible.

"I have to get cleaned up, you too. Oh she said, I borrowed your measurements from the HoH forms to get you something formal for tonight. I hope you like it."

She kissed him on the cheek before retreating into her room and locking the door.

After Adaire finished showering, being the perfectionist she was, she came out of the bathroom without a grain of sand on her. In a long red bath robe, her hair wrapped in a towel, she walked delicately towards her bed like she was walking on air, twirled around, fell on the matress, and left out high pitched 'Squee.' as she balled her fists under her chin.

Zetsu actually thought she was beautiful, he actually loved her, his voice whenever he said her real name made her tingle, they couldn't stop looking in each others eyes, and whenever she kissed him she lost complete touch with the rest of the world. Who could ask for a better man, a better boyfriend? She was already determined to never let him go, to protect him, to help him, to be his partner. It was a wonderful dream, but right now she knew it was still a dream. Despite everything, it wasn't reality. Not that she cared, but she needed to tell Zetsu to tell no one about this day. Maybe on the day he became her husband those few people in her life would know, until then, she had to keep it secret. But that didn't mean they couldn't be together, she wasn't going to let her Zetsu get too far from her now.

When I'm with him I can be a frail as a flower, a butterfly, it doesn't matter.

Once finished dressing, she was in a white evening gown. The top was sleeveless and shoulderless, ending as it gently wrapped the center of her chest. There was a slit up the left side of the dress that ended at a point high on her thigh. She was wearing matching stockings and heels. In her her hair was a single white bow to accent the outfit. Crystal chandelier earings hung from her ear, and crystal hung from a neckless just above the gentle curve of her subdued cleavage.

She twirled around on the tip of her right heel, approving of the outfit she had selected for herself. It almost looked like she could fit into high society, except for one thing. A pair of contacts to change the color of her eyes. It took her a while to get them in, but once she did her eyes looked green instead of red, so she could actually pass herself off as a normal person. She worried what Zetsu might think, but she didn't want to be stared at because of her eyes, not tonight.

Then, she decided to leave her revolver inside the hotel room, for the first time in her life, she felt it would get in the way. There was a small, compact pistol in her pistol in her purse though, because old habits die hard. Deep inside, she knew she was a better fighter than a lover, and she felt the same way about Zetsu. He had been very awkward with her, but now she found it amusing, loveable even.

"Tee!"

She laughed at her reflection in the mirror, she couldn't believe how happy she was to be wearing this! Off she went, outside her room, to find Zetsu standing on the balcony waiting. It must have taken her considerably longer to get ready, even though she had no make-up except for a slight accent of lipstick to darken her pale lips. She pulled a comb out of her purse, holding it between her pointer and middle fingers as she hid her mouth with her right hand. She giggled happilly at his sloppy hair, just to see him amused her.

"You're hair is a mess, silly."

She sighed hapily as she reached up to comb it, not caring that she was pressed against him for a moment.

"All done! You should see how incredibly handsome you are when you neaten up that hair!"

When she stepped back his hair was parted neatly to the left. The comb went quickly back into her petite white purse. Then she twirled around in her new dress, demonstrating a growing mastery of her heels.

"What do you think?" she asked, confidently.

After his answer, she would extend her hand to him, waiting for him to take it and walk her to the front of the building, as a gentleman should. There would be a limo waiting for the two of them, to take them to the most overpriced restauraunt on the island. All paid by her R.I. expense account.

Zetsu Wrote:

"This suit by the way is beautiful, believe me..I'll most likely be wearing this every time I have the urge to join the mob! I don't think I've ever worn anything so nice."

She turned her head aside dissaprovingly for a moment, speaking out of the side of her mouth, "It's just formal attire, I didn't think it looked like a mob suit."

She was actually pouting as she spoke, extending her lower lip, because she thought he looked like someone classy and businesslike in the black sport coat, white collar shirt, dress pants, and black leather shoes with matching socks.

Zetsu Wrote:

He answered her question nearly instantly, having no need to think of an answer or hesitate. He knew what he thought as he approached her and reached out for both of her hands.

"I think you look like an angel, despite how weird that might sound..There's no other way to describe you. You're perfect!"

He didn't need to apologize, from him there was no way possible that could sound weird, anyone else would get punched, but from him it was a compliment, a gift.

"You really think so!" she said excitedly, "I'm glad. Tee hee!"

She left him take her hand, but made sure he wrapped his arm around her own before taking it so they could be intertwined together. There was no blushing or confusion any more, she simply smiled, enjoying his attention.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of mobsters, they were eating at Club Gambino, the most expensive restauraunt on the gambling strip, and strictly by reservation only. Being one to plan ahead, those reservations had been made a long time ago.

The inside of the Restaurant was furnished in mahogany, gold chandeliers and expensive artistics objects adorned the inside. Their were signed portraits of Gambino and other high ranking island personalities on the walls. The silverware was actually silver, the napkins were silk lined with gold, ice cold spring water was served in crystal chalices. The first thing they would see is the wine menu, but Adaire knew little about good wine, and left it sit on the table. She supposed a bottle of their finest champaigne would do, at least for Zetsu, she didn't intend to have anymore than a sip anyway. She kept looking up toward Zetsumeii, each time her smile was a little less subtle.

"I know what you're thinking, Zetsu," Adaire said, "This place is really posh. I'm thinking the same thing."

She pulled out her purse, no make-up or feminine items to be found, just a very compact picture, some folded documents, and a few pictures. One of the pictures came out of her purse and she handed it to Zetsu. It was a picture of the temple in West Fall.

"You see that building?" she asked, "That's where I was kept and experimented on. My personality was changed by that event, they really messed me up. I was an experiment much like you. I was wondering if you might recognize it."

Quote:** Wrote:

"All because of that guy too, I really did never hear how he got so rich. Family or something most likely hm?"

"I heard he started gambling with a single piece of gold and won the whole island. Just about everything here is owned by him."

Zetsu Wrote:

"All because of that guy too, I really did never hear how he got so rich. Family or something most likely hm?"

As he looked on, she opened up her purse and retrieved..a photo? His eyes brightened with curiosity as she handed him the photo, and looking at the building captured on it caused him to look back up at her questioningly."

Ohh, I always wondered what..where it all happened."

"That night you carried me and I walked in on you," she said, reddening visibly, "You might have seen a spiral scar on my left hip, that was caused by what they did to me there, as was my aversion to concentrated elemental energy. They made me into a vessel some creature known as Ymir, who was supposed to be a god or some very powerful being."

Zetsu Wrote:

His eyes visibly darkened, any mention of situations paralleling his own were prone to make him quite angry, yet he subdued himself, hoping nothing had shown.

"An experiment..like..me? I've never seen the place though. All I remember is snow..lots of it at that."

"Snow," she said in a low whisper, almost talking to herself, "It does snow at times in Western Gaia, sometimes pretty heavily, but the temple borders Barthovos, and it would be unlikely for a heavy snow to fall. The day I escaped, everyone was long gone, when I first made it outside it was sunny. I hadn't seen the sun in such a long time, it hurt my eyes, I could barely get myself outside the gate."

"I just thought," she said, a little louder, reaching for his hand from across the table, "That maybe if you were from my time, that you were held in the same place I was. I'm sorry to bring this up tonight, I shouldn't have, I just........ I just wanted to help you put these things behind you. I thought maybe we could find out what happened to you, together. But you have the right not to know, Zetsu, it's your decision."

As neither seemed interested in the wine menu, and Adaire had forgotten about it, they took it and brought the dinner menu.

Quote:** Wrote:

His heart twinged, causing him to do no more than blink in astonishment, he had the weird urge to begin crying.

"Soo..rry about not telling you much, do you have any other photos? I might recognize something maybe!"

"It's okay Zetsu, I shouldn't have dug this up tonight of all times," she said, knowing he was hurt, suddenly feeling in tune with his sense and his emotions, almost ready to cry for him.

She took the hated picture back and tore it in half before stuffing it in her purse, it was only for his sake she had it in the first place. She took his hand again if he'd let her, and cleverly changed the subject.

"Zetsu, after supper tonight, can we go out and get a few pictures taken, of us, together?" she asked, "I'd really like that. I may never get to see you in suit again, and who knows how long it'll be before I wear this again."

In all honesty, she never wanted to forget this night, it would be a picture she could actually cherish instead of hate.

And then soon, it would be time to actually order.

Zetsu Wrote:

"But that's the thing, I do want to find out what happened, I do wonder what happened that made me the way I am! It just seems so difficult, without returning to the past it seems like it's impossible to ever find out what really happened. I guess that's why I've given up by now.."

"I'm going to help you find out," Adaire said, "This time I have good friend who knows how to find things. You met him at the wedding awhile back. His name is Evan White. Zetsu, you should really try your best to get hired by R.I. They have great pay and benifits. I admit I want to keep you close to me, that's my selfish reason, but I think Evan would make good use of your talents. You should try to stay on his good side if you can."

Zetsu Wrote:

"Photos of us? Sounds..

his face broke into a smile, genuine and most unlike his emotional state a minute ago.

..great! It would be nice having something like that to have, I really don't think I've had a picture taken with anybody before.."

"It would be a lot of firsts, for me too," Adaire said, almost sadly, as if she opened a door that could never be closed, "Today was the first time I ever wore a dress because I wanted to, it was also the day of my first kiss. Zetsu, have you ever kissed a girl you liked, before today?"

Write down their names and address so I can hunt them down mercilessly for elimination.

The waiter came.

"A fine couple, may I take your orders?"

Adaire ordered something off the menu, a grilled fikan steak topped with a light garnish.

He looked up at her with a strange expression on his face, one that seemingly radiated embarrassment.

"Well, when I was around twelve years old or something, I did kiss a girl..but it was mostly a dare..I didn't really like her at all, and afterwards I was a couple coins richer..I think the reason I did it was to keep her from telling on us. We were pretty troublesome kids back then.."

He laughed, having never remembered that certain incident until Adaire had brought it up. It was strange, if she asked him questions like this maybe he could regain memories he lost awhile back. He thought this over as he relayed his order to the waiter, their prime steak dish, cooked rare.

He thought back to what she mentioned earlier, and went on to talk about the possibility of help.

"Evan? I remember him..still have his card too. He looked like a nice enough guy, but I was never really given details on how to apply for a job. I guess I'm just supposed to show up one day. "

Using his free hand he thoughtfully felt his pockets, suddenly remembering he had left the card back at the stadium. He'd have to call that number sometime soon.

"Mabye when I get in, you and I could..

He paused, having no idea what the R.I. was all about.

"..um..what does Evan employ people for..exactly? I never asked.."

"Adaire!"

He was crestfallen, he hadn't meant to upset her..he was merely telling the truth.

'I was twelve then..I didn't understand what love even really was.'

The tone of her voice was what brought him to think she was upset, and he had not a clue of what he had said to cause her to act the way she did.

'She's right though, you did feel something.'

Zetsu stared at the surface of the table, suddenly remembering something important about that kiss.

'I felt scared.'

In truth, he was scared even when kissing Adaire. It was the most frightful thing; he could look into the eyes of a dying man, he could act collected and cool during a fight, he could remain stolid in the face of death, yet everything brought along with a kiss frightened him more than death itself.

In his entire life he had only truly loved two women, one being far from alive and the other being in the same building as he was. In the ladies room to be exact.

Having been betrayed once by the woman was something Zetsu could never forget. In truth, Adaire was the only woman he really believed in. The only one he trusted in.

Maddick just followed behind ever so quietly, it wasnt that any of this made him uncomfortable, he just wanted to say Raven do her thing. A beautiful woman that knows how to work her beauty is a magnificent thing indeed.

And then she entered the club. They look in her eyes, the look of a predator, a hunter, a vixen ready to strike.

Have you ever been in a crowded room when a loud sound went off? Like perhaps a gunshot, a glass shattering or something of that nature? With the thunderous pound of the music no sound like that would have any effect. But Raven's presence acted as that loud sound should of, one by one within a few seconds almost every eye was on her. Not disgustingly, or longingly, but admiringly. As if a top notch celebrity had just graced there presence. People hit her with every look from utter amazement to downright speechless shock.

Even the guys were too impressed to just throw cheezy or sleezy pick up lines. They were on there best behavior, immediately.

Maddick had that mischevious grin about him, and a slow expectant nod. He had neglected to mention, when a creature such as Raven or Maddick is hungering there body natural emits an aura of "Presence", its makes them noticed, even wanted. All for the sake of attracting prey. Depending on the willpower of the targets, they will have any reaction from following in awe, or madly falling in love with the hungry being. Considering this was a room fool of drunks, there will wasnt doing very well right now. Although Raven was beautiful, to them, there simply was none more. Men partying with there wives still found there eyes obviously drawn, as did the wives!

Raven. Had just become the life of the party.

His eyes rolled back as a look of total bliss came over his face...she was touching him. It might as well have been god herself. The man hit the table like a sack of potatoes. A thump, and he was wearing his drink on his pants, normally that would be a mess and there would be alot of cleaning going on, but no one noticed the thumping they noticed her, and she was giving someone attention! A woman in the back of the bar nearly fainted.

The drunk, despite the slight headache he was going to have in a few hours was out like a light. A ridiculously goofy grin across his face. She touched him...he he he...he was in for some sweet dreams. He wasnt a meta, so there was no new powers at her immediate disposal, but she woudl be able to feel a tad bit of his buzz.

Normally a single soul like that would have been enough, but that poor man had just gotten off a long annoying shift, he was tired, and he was currently beating his soul with booze. He gave her a jolt thats for sure, like a caffienated kick to the soul, if she was tired before, she was sure awake now. But it wouldnt last long enough to fill her, she had taken a major energy kick earlier today. She needed a more, something more substantial. But at least she didnt feel like she had just run a marathon.

Maddick, was enjoying, the sights, the sounds, the people, and most of all, seeing Lady Raven at work. She was a natural.

The bartender was all but too excited to jump at the idea of getting Raven anything she wanted. Water, Rum, money, anything! He handed her the glass with glee. That smile...oh Maddick knew smiles like that, they were trouble, always the best kind of trouble. He was definately not going to get in the middle of this one. He had to see how this played out.

HonoRaven Wrote:

Is this a party, or did I miss my invitation to the staring contest?

This was apparently the funniest joke since "Knock, knock", there wasnt a soul in the house that wasnt laughing. But they got the idea, they were so awe inspired they didnt even realize they were staring...or in some cases drooling, and in other cases pointing in shock. But as it would suit her best if they stopped, they did.

Raven was a true lady, no simple choice would do. The music began pumping as people tried to focus there eyes back on the matters at hand, or the companions beside them.

This was dangerous water, where all the the bravest dare not tread. Those bravest took the chance to make themselves known now. A few eyes that dared meet Ravens to give passing glances and smiles, a few guys, a girl or two.

Raven had the pick of the liter. One, all, a general soiree through the dance floor. The night was hers!

Oh anytime...

The bartender said with a wink.

Though a being of the night, Raven was still to a degree very pure.

And it was exactly that feeling that drove the result she recieved. This new gift, this energy vampirism was very much based on the person in question being able to have the absolute most enjoyment out of it as possible. For those to whom the condition was passed things were less...satisfactory. But Raven had a born vampire fused to her soul, an elder at that.

This should have been a curse, but it was play do in her wishes. She did not want to hurt, and no longer was her body craving immediate sustinance. It needed more to keep the pep for over an hour, but it was not nearing a frenzy.

She pushed the man back, not really wanting to hurt him, while still enjoying herself and thats exactly what happened. He was pushed back with a disappointed look on his face, and seemed a little tired as he went to sit down for a moment with a drink. The moment her hand touched his she would get that blissful tingle across her skin, up her arm and down her spine. That pleasurable feeling beyond words, a thrill like no other. A charge like no beverage or drug can ever give. It seemed it felt all the better when the prey was willing, not attacked. And the energy given was that much more potent.

Oh no, she didnt have to play keep away if she didnt want too. Not at all. Such limitations belonged to neonates.

Raven could quite honestly have riverdanced across the dancefloor and gotten the crowd to join her in what had to be the "coolest" and sexiest dance ever. Thankfully...Raven did not Riverdance. Though Maddick could have shown her a few steps.

With each touch came a bliss beyond reason. A thrill across her body. And as she danced she would have more, and more, and more...

The thrill would be enough to keep her from leaving the crowd. If no one was being harmed and she was being invited into this pleasure without consequence...why deny it?

That was the pull. That was the darker side of a vampires indulgence. In about an hours time, Raven might notice that a few less people were on the dancefloor, alot of them had taken to sittng down on the bar. Still enthralled by her, but feeling a bit to....drained [Dont mind the pun.], to dance. She was brimming with energy, her body coursing with enough gusto to make her feel like she could take on the world all by herself, like she was invincible, unstoppable!

Hunger, didnt seem to be an issue. However...there would be a pull in the corner of her mind...a craving if you will, not an all encompassing one, but one none the less. Like looking at a mouth watering desert after you just ate. Was this the starts of an addiction? Or was this just a body hungering for a few extra bits?

With the slamming beat of the music pulsing across the room, no one seemed to be piping up with answers..

Raven was positively glowing. To anyone with a fraction of soul sight, she was a miniature sun of spiritual lumination. A well fed kindred was a beautiful sight to Maddick. The better fed someone is, is the more power they wield. And seeing his kind at there best gives him some pride.

Maddick smiled brightly.

Of course m'Lady.

He said with a bow. And a grin, the sort of toothy fanged grin that usually means trouble.

Though there is something you should know...

He gestured to the worn out club behind her.

You've heard the legends of the vampires embrace correct?...The passing on of ones "curse"?

I see...I see...well then m'Lady allowed me to provide a measure of enlightenment.

He took a bow and gestured to the denizens of the part. The mind processes thoughts at over 13,000 miles a second. Its faster then sound, and yet slower than light. Thus daydreaming the events of years, and it all falls into one slow boring lunch. By the process time slowed to a halt. The people in the bar were shown at a fraction of there speed while Maddick and his movements moved at normal pace.

It allowed one to take a pause and completely analyze a situation in the safety of there mind. Maddick moved to a single person slumped over the bar, believedly asleep. He placed two of his thin fingers on the base of there neck, as this was an imagined mindscape, his fingers pulled away to reveal two little puncture wounds.

Maddick cannot really touch individuals, but while in the Ladies mind...she could imagine it so. In actuality, the man was never touched.

But ignoring that last fact for a moment, Maddick continued. The two puncture wounds very reminscent of any hollywood movie set of vampire bites.

I'm sure m'Lady would recognize these? Modern lore hath made this marks more famed than they ever were in my day.

He wouldnt insult her intellegence by then spelling out what they were, Raven was much wiser than that. He rolled on.

It is said that the fangs of a vampire are able to...embrace victims with their curse. The vampire bites....and feeds...

Maddicks hand clasped around the puncture wound. A red streak can be seen passing from the hand, into the man. Raven would be able to see the soul seeping from the man's neck through Maddicks hand into Maddick soul enlarging it. It looked as if the mans soul was being drawn through this red streak like a straw. Until there was nothing left. Again, this was all just an imagined scene, no real people were being fed on.

Maddick broke the connection lifting his hand, Raven would see as the connection is broken, a bit of the red energy floated in the mans soul, swirling about before overtaking it.

...And the victim awakens as a vampire.

The man peeled himself from the table, eyes glowing red, fangs dripping hungrily. He lunges at Raven! But the simulation stops in mid air.

According to that lore...everyone you've fed on today...has inherited your curse....

One by one the scene displays every denizen of the club that Raven danced, and the one drunk she did not, rising from there chairs. Eyes fierce and red,and fangs protuding...A nightmare...and yet a very real possibilty. Raven wielded some dangerous, although enjoyable, powers.

The nightmarish scene faded away, as reality faded back in. Everyone was back to normal, sitting in there chairs, giving Raven's passing glances weak smiles because they were tired. As the faux simuation was pulled back like a curtain from before Raven's eyes Maddick was smiling one of those "Got you!" type smiles.

But thankfully those lores are all lies.

He grin from ear to ear.

In truth, if you drain a victim until he has nothing but death. And then in those waning moments between the souls departure and the bodies failing, you feed him some of your own essence...you create one of our own.

He shook his head, taking a more solemn appearance.

Those with this curse forced upon them are not as wise...as controlled...or nearly as humane are yourself and myself m'Lady. They are vicious, and mindless yet the same rules for feeding apply to them. A myriad could blanket the globe, constantly devouring and then devouring each other leaving one ridiculously powered super...monster...

He visibly shivered at very thought.

I had no intention of bringing down your eve m'lady. But...I feel 'tis better to be informed than to be apologetic...no?

Not only did she understand, but she understood the concept driving the idea. Her mind already set on the proper mindset. She planned to use it for the betterment of those she cared about. It really was a gift for the woman...beautiful. Perfect even...

Maddicks mind tried instinctually to warp his point of view. Perhaps she could be tricked....mislead..NO! It straightened as broke the evil habits into the rear of his mind and smiled, answering with a simple, and yet all encompassing...

Most excellent.

Evil was contained, innocence remained.

My deep apologies m'Lady for interupting your tour. Shall we embark?

Strangely it was amazingly easy. In Raven's subconcious Maddick was a real person. So instinctually her arm bent around his, his lifted over hers, and bent in cue. And he felt real, he felt like he had wieght and substance. To anyone watching, she had just looped the thin air.

Maddick paused, he was given an offer to see the world. But any world he imagined likely didnt exist anymore. In thousands of years the world had become reshaped rather drastically. But there was something he would like to see, something Raven could imagine though Maddick could not.

If it would so please you, m'Lady...

His thin finger tapped his chin before pointing straight towards the sky as the idea struck him.

...I would like to see your home.

Hmmm...

He remembered that part of the conversation earlier, when Maximos and Raven were talking, and both named the Stadium as sort of a home for them. Perhaps that was were she was more comfortable, and after the years he had spent trapped there, he had no real intention of going back 'lest they need to.

It just didnt feel like the right time to meet her children...Something about the idea of there other walking in and introducing the empty patch of air beside her as Maddick seemed...uncouth.

A finger tapped his chin.

HonoRaven Wrote:

It also give me someplace to stay when I am on call with the GSF

Now this one was interesting. He had never heard of this place, or country before. It sounded so formal, so official...so mysterious. There were just so many things he didnt know like....

Who?

As soon as she was visible, he nearly stood so as to explain to her what he had been thinking while she was away, yet her words reached him first, causing him to stay in his seat with a strange look on his face. He had thought this night to be for just him and Adaire, a night without having to be reminded of...her.

His heart began to physically throb, the tissues themselves remembering the catastrophic event several years past. It seemed not even his own body let him forget things like this. He resisted the urge to clutch his chest and looked back into Adaire's beautiful eyes, a dark look in his own.

"I..I don't know what to say.."

He closed his eyes briefly and sighed. He knew exactly what to say. He hoped that in the act of telling her his story, maybe he could become healed in the way that he had only ever felt when telling her anything about himself.

"She..was the girl who found me to begin with, the one who first saw me washed up on the shore."

He paused briefly, attempting to make his next words coherent..to himself for the most part.

"The strange thing about the girl is that I remember nothing about her besides the fact that she had violet eyes. The only other thing I can recall were the moments we spoke..It's strange thinking about it now, I can't even remember her name. It's almost like there's this strange barrier in my mind; one I can see perfectly through yet not understand. She happened to be one of the few people in our town to not despise me. That's the reason I felt the way I did about her..It was a sense of her being the only person who understood me."

The look in his eyes radiated its way towards Adaire's eyes, what he had said he now felt no longer true.

"Not much happened when I was with the girl and her grandfather anyways. After running away to join the Military and spending several years there, it wasn't long until I came upon her once more."

He looked down at the table, his eyes becoming glassy.

"After that siege which ended up in the deaths of many of our men, and my near demise, I was found comatose by the very same girl I had grown up with. Later on I assumed she had not recognized me, for she was the one who called upon the researchers to retrieve my body for testing. Everything from that time to my escape is a blur, I can't recall any of it."

He took a deep breath, knowing that this was not what Adaire had been expecting. If she had expected a love-stricken story of his first love, she would have already been shaken from that expectance. His story was one that brought great pain to his already ruined spirit. He murmured his next words quietly, almost forgetting who sat across from him.

"The day I and another tried to escape we were not without pursuers, and in the course of our flight my fellow escapee was injured fatally by a bullet. In his last moments he passed on to me the only weapon he had managed to find; an autorevolver with two bullets left in its chambers. It was then I realized we were both going to die. Before I had the chance to turn and face the ones who were to kill me, I felt a sharp pain pierce my chest.."

His next movement was involuntary. A hand moved to his heart.

"..and withdraw. In a dying rage I spun to face my killer and pulled the trigger of my weapon, only then realizing that her face was the face of a girl with violet eyes. Her face bore the same recognition, and for that split second our eyes told each other what we had no time to say."

He strangely showed little emotion as he paused for the last time, one would expect something more of a reaction along the lines of immense grief, yet he had nothing to remember. All he had to remember that last moment by was the color of two violet orbs.

"We died there together in the snow. So physically close yet so infinitely far. I still can't tell whether I hate her for what she did. I don't think I can feel anything about her anymore."

The look on her face after he had finished talking made him wonder. Maybe he had reminded her of a similar experience she may have had? Maybe his story was just plain depressing. Talking about another woman might have also contributed..

'No! She should know that she's the only one I love, the only one who I could trust to keep my heart..whole.'

Either way, he felt somewhat guilty of making their night somber. He knew there was nothing he could possibly feel towards the violet-eyed girl anymore. He only felt that their story was one which had no proper ending. The only thing Zetsu felt he needed was an end to their story, something he wholeheartedly knew Adaire could help bring about. Her whispered oath only reaffirmed his belief in her.

Adaire Wrote:

"We're going to find that place, and we're going to punish those people that played with you like some kind of toy. If they're still operating, we'll make sure they get shut down. I swear it," she whispered

.

'I would rather just forget everything from all those years ago and start over again with you then go and punish people who might never leave me alone.'

It was then he decided to make his mistake up to her anyway he could. With a start, he suddenly remembered what he had in his pocket for her and he began to search himself, dimly noticing his uneaten food in front of him. Her sudden yell kept him from continuing his search and caused him to realize his own dislike of the pampered gentlefolk around them. He stood nearly the same time she did and was about to suggest leaving when she took hold of his hand and led him out, leaving bewildered and confused people behind. One enraged and mustached man seemed to project curses with his stare, to which Zetsu found quite amusing. He managed to keep his delight at her behavior hidden for the moment. As they headed outside, he answered her earlier question with a subdued enthusiasm.

"Yeah, sounds good! I saw a booth nearby back along the walk. We might have to do a bit of running though, I though I saw a waiter dialing for the..

The words cut off, for in his enthusiasm to leave the restaurant behind, he nearly began to lead, catching sight of Adaire's face momentarily. The brief sight of her hand being swept across her face was a big clue for him. He slowed his footsteps, hoping she would explain what was going on.

"Adaire? Is something wrong?"

Though he was concerned, he knew they would most likely need to hide soon. People who ran places like that restaurant were often just a bit..touchy. He was sure someone had been sending out for some sort of security or law enforcement. Looking out, he could see the nearest booth about a hundred or so feet away. After a moment, he turned his eyes back to her own, searching for answers that at present weren't revealing themselves to him.

He smiled at her laughter, glad to hear her response.

"Alright, you have me convinced..sounds like a good plan."

He was quickly pulled by her towards the booth, put at ease now that they were moving. They soon reached the smallish booth and without a hint of her intentions, he felt himself pushed into booth as she spoke her one second leave. He was only slightly confused, though only for a second. When she squeezed up in the booth next to him a moment later, he managed to catch a glimpse of her new eyes, glad to recognize their unique hue. In response to her own movements, he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her towards himself as close as possible and slightly leaning his own head over hers.

"I see something's changed..

He adjusted his head to better see into her eyes before smiling again,

.. love the new color."

The bright tinkling of coins disappearing into a slot was strangely pleasant to him, acting on his mind as he answered her question near-immediately.

"Yeah, sounds perfect..but uhm..how do these things work exactly?"

He would have read some instructions, but the remaining words left in the machine were of a foreign language. Whatever was familiar had long since been scratched or torn away.

He had not a clue what to say. The last of the coins clinked their merry way into the machine and he was there, their faces nearly touching. Ever so subtly his face would move closer to hers, attracted both by the luminous glow of her eyes and the movement of her lips as she spoke to him. His own mouth nearly murmured its own quiet "Okay" until it was cut off by what had himself been longing to do for the last few seconds.

He was incinerated. He was burning now. For the first few milliseconds his own lips were unable to respond to the feral touch of hers. He awoke from the daze, and a pressure was loosed, causing him to become lost in their kiss nearly as much as she was.

At first his ears chose not to register the initial small click, yet as she broke away a second click sounded simultaneously and he too was jarred from their strange eternity. His wide eyes would be seen clearly in the once-developed second photo. Their expressions were perfect.

He later realized how short an amount of time had passed in the booth in comparison to how he felt things were going. It was strange, time. The third photo would turn out to be one of his favorites; a black outline of Adaire's hand with his face about to break into a smile. Classic.

Back to the present time, he ran a hand through his hair, now smiling after the last photo had been taken. The look on her face at present was just so..for lack of a better word..sexy.

Adaire Wrote:

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen. I guess those pictures are worthless now? Let's just do separate pictures, kay?"

"No, no...it's okay..I..

He rubbed the back of his neck, still trying his best not to smile too widely.

..I actually found that pretty fun."

He pulled the warm photos from the slot, his eyes scanning them intently. He couldn't help but laugh at the third. His focus was once again focused on her, a hint of amazement in his voice and eyes.

"These are so not worthless! Come back in and check them out! We can do the separate ones in a bit, and ah..I'll go first if that's alright with you? I have a surprise."

*Raven was not simple minded... but she was defiantly a wise a** at times and so as she looked up at Maddick her eyes were clear and ever so innocent, if not for their color she would have had the look of a tiny child right about then* Big words....

She laughed softly and shook her head with a grin at her own little joke Certainly sir, we shall find ourselves a nice little nest to settle down in for the night... oh and my leader calls himself Enki now... I once knew him as Latent though... Latent Leviathan, my first crush

She was feeling rather tired not that he had mentioned it as well, and actually knew of someplace very nice to rest time for a nap...

She bounced them a few blocks away to the Gambino Sheraton Hotel.. a quiet 4 star affair that just happened to have suites...Raven checked them into a nice little room with it's own kitchen and living room, the night clerk even recognized Raven and joked with the little red head about her apparent lack of an entourage this late in the evening. Raven winked at the young man and simply tucked her credit card back away before she flounced off to the elevators and up to the eleventh floor This should do quite nicely

Raven pulled the heavy drapes closed in the bedroom and turned the TV on in the living room area the thought that Maddick might be interested in the only bit of technology, besides the microwave, that didn't tend to annoy her. She wished him a good night before turning off the lights and sprawling across the soft bedspread, visions of shadows and dancing club lights dancing behind her closed eyes as she drifted off to sleep without even bothering to take off her jewelry

Then I should like to meet him even more!

Maddick followed, smiling brightly. Though a bit dimmer, when Raven was tired so was he. She layed down and so did, his form fading and fizzling into little more than a glow on the floor.

Sleep came quick...too quick.

Raven's eyes would open.

But this wasnt the Gambino Sheraton...it was something else. Somewhere else, she could see and feel her body but she wasnt in control...something moved her like a puppet but, forced her to see through her own eyes.

She was dressed in her clubbing outfit, clean and proper, and she floated through a crowd of people. There backs were all turned to her each and every one. From the back someone of them seemed familiar. There was Enki, Sunstrike, Nedyfay, Maximos...and many other random people just filling this room. All of them stood like a solid and still army, and as she stepped forward they turned keep their backs turned.

She called out a few times.

"Guys? Hello!"

But no responce. This room seemed more impossible by the second, it had no solid walls, or windows, just an endless white, and a crowd of people with there backs turned, all leading toward a light in the distance. She called out again.

"GUYS! This isnt funny..."

A gust of wind blew out, but no one fell. No one answered, no one budged. She was nearing someone, Sunstrike...someone so familar. And she stopped.

Sun...come on Sun stop playing...Sun...

And hand grabbed Sunstrikes shoulders, though the man didnt move.

SUN!

With both arms she jerked Sun around...if he wasnt going to look at her...she was going to MAKE him. As Sun turned around everyone turned around, all in unison there eyes stared at her...but at the same time, they didnt...

No one had any eyes, just empty sockets gushing crimson. There skin was death pale and horrifically thin, black viens visibly crawling beneath the thin visible. There lips stained black as the viens converged, and there mouths gushed the same crimson liquid which spilled down there front.

In unison...they all screamed with the pain they felt. Sunstrike tried to reach out and grab her but...fear...fear was to powerful. Every part of her wanted to stay and help, but something deeper told her it was impossible...

In the end her feet won out, carrying her as fast and as far as they could. The crowds of millions of people tried to reach in some might scratch, some might have torn at her hair, but she wouldnt stop. As there numb feet shuffled an unstead gait toward her, the pathway in front of her closed as they closed in. Her clothes were torn by hands that reached out try and taste her, touch her, for just a moment, a second, a breathes time.

These hands...they wanted her life. And in return they would give her nothing but pain...

That light grew ever closer, as did they hungering beasts. The floor and walls had been stains a sicking red by the creatures dripping maws, and eyes.

They eyes...they would never look at her....those mouths...they would never speak. but still...they wanted her everything.

-Thunk-

It wasnt just a light, it was a door, a glowing door, and the door was shut. The bodies moved in, these werent her loved ones, they were hollow shells with nothing left but pain. And they wanted her...they wanted her to appease there pain, to "make it better", though even her death would fail to make them any better.

Thats when the recognition would hit...these were not random people...they were all, each and every one, someone she had healed...her patients...and they were after her...

Closer and closer they got, and more franticly would she beat at the door, until she just fell down, her arms pulling her legs in close to her chest, as the tears rolled down her face, ready to give in...ready to let them win...what was the point of fighting in a hollow existance, where the people closest to her only wanted to hurt her....?

Tears swirled with blood as her back deftly pressed against the warm glowing door. It felt so perfect...so pure. Even despite the stinging of claw marks from the hungry crowd on her pressed skin. And the few chunks of her hair that littered the round behind her. It felt like everything she ever needed but could never have all behind one door...so close and yet so far.

All she had here was shambles, and torn bits of cloth from her lovely garb now scattered on the floor before her...and here they were...about to close in. She could feel herself instinctually bracing for the pain of being torn to shreds.

Something churned, a twist of a lever perhaps, the door behind her was opened, unlocked at the least. It gave, just a little under her wieght, a knob visible just above her head. The choice to open the door was hers, and hers alone...her body was returned to her. Now would she stay and surely die...or would she find the strength to continue on through the door? The choice was entirely hers.

Light.

An all encompassing light, and the warmth there in.

This light held everything she would need, everything she could ever have desired. Peace, happiness, love, kindness, friendship, family....everything.

As she turned the knob, the door slid open and the light enraptured her, pulling her into it. It felt like a pair of warm arms, tugging her into safety.

She could hear the moans and groans from behind her, as the beasts were repelled by the light, and then with a slam the door sealed them out.

Those you live for...

Raven found herself floating in beautiful white, floating up toward a glowing white fountain of purity. The light passed over her in waves. With each wave a wound felt, better, her clothes seemed cleaner.

Those you would die for...

This voice, it seemed niether male nor female, perhaps both. It came from inside her, and yet also from all around her. Another warm wave washed over her body.

Those who's eyes never grace you...

As she reached closer to the glowing fountain of light, she would be able to see a silouhette within it. A figure...something deep within her said it was someone, or something important...and yet someone she had forgotten years ago. A single person...but who...who had she forgotten? Hadnt she always looked out for her friends? Cared for them? Loved them?

Those who's mouths to never speak to you...

Closer and closer she came, the warmth bathing over her, the light blinding all but the sight of one figure in the distance. One mystery left...

Those who have forgotten you...

All that remained was a light, and a single shaded figure, growing clearer b y the second.

Oh child most forgotten...

A final wave, and the mystery was revealed. This was it, the poor pitiful soul Raven had left behind in the dark so many years ago. The sad being she had accidentally ignored while caring for so many others. A being that deserved to be loved, to be held, to be pampered and cared for...

Meet the one you have forgotten most...

It was all too clear now. The light, was a mirror. And it showed she who Raven had neglected while caring for her friends...it showed herself. She had lost meaning to herself while those she cared for took it all. She would die for these people, but like the zombies below they would never look at her...never speak to her. Her life would have been tossed away for a people that would never give her the time of day? No.

In loving so many, she had forgotten to love herself...the mirror faded, leaving her standing directly before a crying, lonely version of herself. Legs broken, unable to stand on her own. A poor girl alone in the world...would the lovely Raven go to her?

Adaire Wrote:

"How embarrassing! I'm never going to live this down! But that kiss Zetsu, it was worth it, I feel tingly all over."

He took a final look at the three photos before directing his eyes towards her, a curious look on his face.

"I know what you mean, but there's no reason to be embarrassed. I won't be showing these to anyone anytime soon."

He held her close, enjoying her company and listening intently as she began speaking. Throughout, he responded to her words with gentle squeezes meant to reassure her hopes. In fact he felt the exact same for her, however he had no words to describe how he felt. He spoke only in answering her last question, a serene look upon his face as he answered as truthfully as possible.

"I couldn't

Click!

tell you, Adaire. I love you regardless."

--=--

His photos went by quickly, his first one taking him completely off guard. The next ones came out perfect. Simple photos of him wearing his unique smile, true and not hiding anything. As soon as he was done retrieving the photos and Adaire began to take her pictures, Zetsu readied his gift behind his back and waited for her to come out from behind the curtain, speaking as soon as he saw her.

"I know that you never really wore jewelry, but ah.. awhile before meeting you in Lament I came across this..

He revealed to her a beautiful silver chain, quite delicate in appearance yet much stronger than it looked. The links themselves were intricate, giving the illusion of engravings on the metal. The chain itself wasn't of focus however, for strung on the chain was a ring of a similar material. The silvery ring was near-unadorned besides a single ruby embedded into the band itself. He unclasped it and continued,

..I never thought there would be anyone to give it to, so selling it was my main approach to benefiting from it. Weirdly enough my luck started getting better..this was after being imprisoned at Heaven's Gate you know. And after finding this..I happened to meet you, the last person I would have expected all the way out there.."

He smiled fondly and clasped the necklace again, offering it to her.

"You don't have to wear it if it suits you better that way, I'm pretty sure it brought me some good luck that day in Lament, and I think one day it might help you out, or save you or something.. I could swear it saved my hide a couple of times. Besides all of that..I thought it matched your eyes!"

--=--

Throughout the remainder of the night on the boardwalk, Zetsu had been wide-eyed and giddy, never before seeing anything like this island in his life. Even he, after awhile, had limited endurance after a whole days worth of one heck of a date. 'Perfect timing' was exactly what he thought as Adaire managed to get them both back to the hotel. The place was a shell, no people to be seen. It wasn't long until they reached the hall where their rooms were located. Time for what he thought to be the most difficult part, separating after all that time together. Zetsu really never was good at saying goodbyes, including brief ones. He managed to kiss her back goodnight. One sided deals were never too fun. Though he was tired as hell he tried not to show it, murmuring a goodnight and giving her his rapt attention until the last of her disappeared behind the door.

His feet remained unmoving even after the door had closed behind her. It wasn't until several moments later until he approached the door, quietly resting his head and hands upon the painted wood. He remained there for nearly a minute before sighing and making his way towards his own room. There was no way to stay awake, he was beat. The only article of clothing to come off was his jacket, seconds later he hit the bed sleeping, shoes and all.

He would dream for the first time in months - large red eyes and the smell of the sea and expensive food mixed together in the strangest forms, pervading him in all manners - never before had he slept so well.

-=-=-=-=-

The floating was almost enough to startle her out of the strange feelings that were still left from the dream, or vision, or whatever the heck had happened to her that day while she sleep, but the tapping was important...she didn't have a clue how to get down right now though and so Raven used a power that she hadn't had the strength for more recently. She reached out towards the curtains and a breath of air stirred the long drapes... a bit more concentration and a wind built to pull the material away from the window so she could see what was making that noise

hush, hush now...Her voice dropped instinctively as she rushed towards the window at the recognition of the birds still broken wings.

There now, just stay calm, I already promised I would help, didn't I?She knew, or at least hopped, this was the same raven from her dream, but even if it wasn't she still needed to help a kindred... the old saying about a bird in need was more than just an old wives tale when it came to someone like Hono. It took her a minute to figure out how to get the window open but then she reached through with both hands to gently help the bird in out of the cold

Some moments after she had settled besides the bed, Zetsu woke, not without a plan in store. Still a bit tired, he decided to leave his eyes shut and keep his breathing steady in order to see what she was up to. He let about a minute pass, immensely enjoying her unseen brushes against his hair and the heavenly scent of coffee she brought with her. After he had grown impatient of not interacting with her, he allowed a single eye to lazily open in her direction and take in her simple yet stunning appearance.

'Beautiful.'

Though now awake he was still quite sleepy, and with a groggy smile he mumbled his greeting to her.

"Good morning..I see you're an early bird hm?"

He uncontrollably yawned and afterwards adjusted himself to better talk to her. Both blue eyes were now open and cast into her own, blinking occasionally to rid the sleep from his eyes. He paused a moment before continuing, surprised at his own waking. He had developed a reaction to defend himself instantaneously when waking, and yet this morning was the most peaceful waking he had ever experienced. Mabye he was becoming rusty..

'Nah, you're just tired from yesterday. No worries.'

"Mm, how did you sleep? I couldn't even begin to tell you that tonight was heavenly."

Partly due to his precarious position on the edge of the bed and partly due to his own unconscious (or conscious..?) will , Zetsu suddenly fell off the bed and practically landed in her lap with a surprised "Oof!". He remained still for a few seconds before guiltily looking up at her with an awkward smile. He then continued once more as if nothing had happened.

"Well, one thing's for sure, it's definitely more comfortable down here than up there. How's it going?"

Despite his easy-going attitude at the moment, the tiny squirm deep in his stomach began to kick in, something which had occurred since spending time back at the Stadium.

He had waited to ask a simple question of Adaire with not such simple consequences, not knowing when or how he could possibly ask such a thing from her. Their feelings for each other were totally and obviously shared, there was no visible barrier preventing his move, it was something.. something within himself which caused him such hesitation, a vague sense of ineptness if anything.

Zetsu needed to know for a fact that he would make a good partner, a good friend,

a good husband.

Raven very slowly noticed her change in attire, but the nails caught her attention even as she gently stroked a finger along the back of the raven perched on her arm. She sat on the open window ledge looking out at her flockWell now, I'm sorry that I haven't been in touch more my friends

This was all a little more difficult to wrap her mind around, she had always felt that she was just another member of the flock before now, and yet all the ravens around her obviously thought of her as more

I'm not really sure what you all expect of me my dears... I'm a little new to this

Raven laughed happily as the bird took off once more, always overjoyed to help someone who really needed the help. Raven shifted to her natural form as easily as ever, replacing rams with wings that eagerly beat at the sky... they wanted to fly, well she would give her flock a bit of exercise then!

they soared through the sky across the island, dipping low and then soaring high again with all of her children, the lot of them calling out to the heavens, their wings showing that the night sky was not as black as most people assumed as the flock truly darkened the sky. Raven's heart soared even as she soared into the sky with the others

"I.."

He faltered, nearly unable to answer with the sound of her heart on his mind. If he wasn't the only one thinking what could easily be accomplished at that moment, he was pretty sure she was thinking the exact same thing. Before possibly losing it, he recalled what she just said, about not being wounded for the first time in years. Whether she meant it physically or mentally, he was determined to not potentially do something to screw up what they had.

He adjusted himself to kiss her on the cheek as long as he dared, and upon separating he quietly said,

"Mm, we can't go and let that happen can we..?

He quickly continued, fixing a potentially awkward situation.

..Let our breakfast go cold I mean..I couldn't let that coffee go cold.."

Zetsu hoped his decision was the right one, and he hugged her right there. He sincerely hoped she would understand. At the moment he wasn't bothered to move, she was cozy.

As soon as she stood, Zetsu hastily followed suit and ended up sitting on the side of the bed. He sat there watching her place everything only a minute before he stood up again, realizing that he could help set up the meal. He groaned inwardly, seeing that she finished before he could do anything.

Adaire Wrote:

"I wanted to actually cook you something," she said, blushing, "I never cooked for anyone besides myself before, but I'm actually a fairly decent cook. You'd be surprised."

His eyebrows raised in a manner which signaled his genuine interest. He would never have guessed that she was able to cook. But then again, she most likely had no idea he was an excellent juggler, for example. They probably had a lot to discover about each other.

He walked towards the table and ended up standing next to her, first looking at the welcoming breakfast set out on the table before looking at her in awe.

"I am surprised..actually. I had no idea you cook! Did you learn on your own?"

He stood for a moment looking at her before realizing she meant for him to sit down. He did so while his attention flickered back and forth between the food and her nearby presence. He was much more hungrier than he had expected.

Adaire Wrote:

"Yep, I started with worms, grubs, berries, and edible plants you can find in the wild like watercress and dandilions. I'm great with wild caught fish too. But recently I've learned to cook some normal things, mostly plain breakfast stuff. I hope you like pancakes, waffles & french toast. Otherwise, I cooked more like Davy Crocket than Betty Crocker."

His eyes widened at the strange list. There was a time long ago where he was in a situation which required such strange food, though he never learned to do anything with it.

"I'd love to try one of your salads sometime.."

As soon as she sat herself down he began to sip at the coffee, enjoying the wonderful flavor he hadn't been able to taste in months. He would look up at her between sips and bites, noticing the change taking place on her face. Hopefully it wasn't something bad in any way..

Adaire Wrote:

"This afternoon I have to head back to Durem and catch up on all the paperwork and office stuff I've been leaving undone for the longest time. I have to clean up my apartment, I left it a mess. Zetsu, I understand you have no place to go. What are you going to do?"

"Oh! For a second there I was expecting something worse....but I understand, I mean, you have a lot to do back there."

He smiled at her mention of his recent homelessness, realizing he was quite the freebird with the tournament out of the picture.

'I was going to go ask White about a possible job..'

He would have spoken his intentions to her, but as he was thinking she had spoken again, suddenly causing him to become alert.

"Change us? What..

He thought carefully, sorting out possible causes in his mind.

..In what way? I mean..it isn't anything bad is it?"

He searched out a possible answer in her face before she spoke, hoping for the best and dreading the worst.

The entire time she spoke he listened intently, eyes widening when she divulged the 'something' he had vaguely suspected ever since the wedding. Quite contrary to how she might have expected him to react, a subtle smile played at his lips. Now he could see their picture much more clearly. He placed down his cup and extended his arm over the table, no specific intention given.

"No, no, I'm not scared at all, and I don't think you're nuts or anything! I'm actually...content now that I know why you acted the way you did. At the wedding, you couldn't even to begin to imagine how confused I was, it was like you were possessed or something.."

His face took on a more serious look, intensified by his piercing eyes as they searched her own.

"I'm sorry though..about the both of you. I couldn't imagine how it would be living with..two people up there, you know?"

A sudden revelation struck him, slightly shocking him. All the times they kissed, maybe Yetrish was..

"I...I don't see how this could stop us in any way, I still love you for who you are, it's just that..well..I'd like to know when your sister is um..present..It would make me not have to guess about anything right?"

He smiled, made a little awkward by his sudden thoughts. He was confident nothing would change though.

Ever since the wedding he had known something different registered in her, he fully realized she was somehow different than the Red he had known when the Leauge was still intact. It wasn't until now that he realized how much his presence had changed her. It was was by far the most passionate he had ever seen Adaire, and by the time she had finished he was left in wonder at who the woman before him had become. The old Red had seemingly gone. Gone were some of her traits which attracted him to her in the first place, her love of battle, her independent nature, her need to win. His heart ached at the fact that he may never see her fight again. But here, here was the woman he knew he could spend his life with, a woman no longer broken by the divide of two minds. Adaire, who in his mind was the utmost representation of all the love he had ever felt in his broken life. If possible, Zetsu needed her far more than even he knew, without her he'd be nothing but a shell, worse than dead.She would be able to feel his hands tremble, unable to restrain his need to radiate the immense feelings he had for her. He could feel his heart pounding, set aflame and ready to burst from his chest. He could feel himself drowning in her bright red eyes, a feeling he wished could last eternity.

"Adaire..I would do everything possible to protect you, I would die to keep you safe, no one could comprehend my love for you, the love I'll always feel for you. Anything you ask I would do, regardless of my own self, before today I had no idea if I would be able to make you comfortable, I had no idea whether or not I would always be able to be there for you, I didn't even know how to approach you...

He then adjusted his hands to squeeze her own, a gesture made to reassure himself.

..but I know now that there could be no other alternative, not for me anyways...and...Adaire, I have nothing to ask of you besides your hand in marriage, nothing would make me happier."

Deep, deep within his mind a shapeless figure cringed, waiting for what seemed eternity. He had no ring to give, all he had was his heart.

A boat sat to the north of the island, tied to the northern docks, simply bobbing over the water. On the edge of the dock sat a crew of four men, the smallest of them looking to the biggest. "...Isn't that charter guy supposed to be here?"

A good number of the men just nodded at Enki. Only one person didn't seem pleased. "You understand, sir..." He started, a hand going through his shaggy black hair, a pair of shades tucked into his pocket. "...that we have a pretty tight schedule? We have our ship put together, and we need to get out of here and the back before next Saturday so that we can get not only our own supplies, but the supplies for the next charter?" It was a bit rude, but probably understandable, being a rented ship and crew. "Now. Have you got all your luggage?"

He shrugged, whistling. "Alright, everybody. Get the hell on board, we got work to do!"

The crew would spring up, prepping the ship for launch. The captain, the loud mouthed one, headed up the the Leviathan. "I assume you have the coordinates?"

"Yeah. Your crewmen seem to have run off. Which means that I'll have to be the one going on the island with you." The captain stated, extending his hand. "Name is Griff Morivan."

Now, it's unlikely, because Enki owned a gigantic arena, but he may have recognized the name from Leviathan, because he was a registered fighter for a while.

Griff nodded. "No introduction needed. Now, let me get our beginning bearings and we can be off within the hour." He stated very clearly, stepping back to see that one of the men failed to properly fuel the engine, because there was still a big a** red light on the control panel.

It was a small ship, not designed for a whole s**t load of people to be on board at the same time. Actually, a crew of four was probably the very best for that ship. It looked like a pretty fast little boat, and it looked like that was the plan, as far this particular trip. "So, Bossman. What exactly are we going to this little spit of land for?"

.....Stretching his entire body to the point where his back was inverted and his arms had been forced to either side to an extreme, the waking figure of a certain Adam was coming alive to the whirring drive of his computer. Once more, it seemed that he had spent another late night at the keyboard of his bran-new Macintosh iMac. Evans Blue's "Cold" blaring through his headphones, his bleary eyes retraced what he had read and taken notes on only thirty minutes before, his entire night rushing back to him.

.....Carefully closing down all the unneeded tabs that he had already wrestled any and all useful information from, and leaving only those most necessary to his most recent cause open, he saved his Word document for the tenth time that night and, finding himself sufficiently rested for still a little while longer, noted that the outer, darkened world was beckoning him. Switching his state-of-the-art computer into 'Sleep' mode, he stood up, grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, and made his way to his door.

.....With a last glance that hinted almost at a paranoid mentality, Adam flipped off the lights to his condominium and exited the building. Once out into the fresh air of the Marketplace, he began his aimless journey about the famed Isle de Gambino.

.....His eyes roaming the area before him as he picked his way through the dark, Adam caught glimpse of another solitary figure. This other figure, who sported black hair, a leather top, and black jeans, seemed to have just gotten off one of the many tourist-geared Gambino boats. Seeing as the many was walking from the docks, and one such boat was making its way back out to sea, Adam had no reason to believe anything other that was he had already deduced.

.....For but a pair of seconds, his eyes locked on the figure, and then moved on. Feeling a bit cautious for the time of the night and the setting of his current adventure, Adam was not feeling like approaching this particular stranger, nor any others he may later come upon.

.....Apparently, this black-clad man opposite Adam need a matching eyepatch for his right eye, for Adam was an athletically built young man of what would appear twenty years old. His hair was almost a luminescent white, dyed from its original state of red since as long as he could remember, and he wore an odd sort of arrangement of clothing. His chest was covered by a white sleeveless cotton-based shirt, the neck of which started high in the back and then angled downwards toward the front to end in a V-neck, sliding gracefully into the path of a zipper. However, over his right shoulder there lay a pauldron with the crest of a lion's head, and from it sprouted an extra bit of black cloth, seeming to be a high-class silk, which fell down to cover his entire arm. Both hands appeared to be covered by a metal-laced gauntlet each, both sporting the same crest that was welded into his pauldron.

.....Below this, a white pair of unusually baggy pants, paralleling completely the tightness of the shirt, hung from his waist. Again, the black silk made its appearance, wrapped this time about the waist and left to trial in two long tails into the night's lazy breeze. The cuffs of his pants were buckled into the white boots that adorned his feet.

.....His piercing blue eyes, matching that of the stranger and doubling it, darted over the Jack as he spoke. His right brow was quirked in an odd fashion, and look that showed his displeasure at this rather rude introduction took hold of his face. "Come again?"

.....[OoC]: "Yeah, I'm not sure Jayden exists anymore." xDD "I sorta' got tired of 'im."

.....[IC]: His neck craning back slightly in order to view the giant who had placed himself before Adam, Adam guessed the man was most likely in the upper portions of six feet tall. 'How odd.'

.....Though there may be some hidden reason, Jack should have no feeling of oddity around this Adam character. For all tenses and purposes, Adam was a normal human, much unlike the large majority of the Gaian population. "What do you wish with me?" Adam asked in a demanding tone, giving off an arrogant and bored style at once.

'Andi checked Grace into a fairly posh hotel and told the elf that she would be back in a while.

Grace was more than happy to check herself into the hotel's spa and soak away the grime from Barton.. as well as find the time to organise her thoughts on what had happened.

Verdandi stepped into the street and disappeared through another fold.

A bell-hop knocked at the door to Evan's room, he had a silver tray with a business card for a restaurant a few blocks away and a little gold satin bag with a blank rune stone within, a symbol that Hugin would likely recognise as the Unknowable

On the back of the card was a table number and 7pm...Verdandi had found him, and was looking for a very public first meeting apparently.

6:50pm, Table 13 overlooking the ocean.

The sea was painted a brilliant mix of orange and dark blue as the waves rolled off in the distance.

A tall woman sat alone at the table, her long red hair was coiled up on her head in an elaborate weaving of thin braids that all appeared to be held in place by a single silver hair pin with a large opal at the top. Her attention was on the landscape outside and she had her back to the room revealing the twin serpents twined around the winged staff tattoo across her back, the bottom of the staff disappearing below the curved back of the dark green satin gown she was wearing.

There were opal drops in her long pointed ears and a thin silver chain was draped around her long neck with another opal resting against her lightly tanned skin. Grace absently traced the gold Ankh tattoo on the back of her right hand as she waited, 'Andi had disappeared on her again saying something about being back soon... but there was a third seat at the table, and that had the elf quite worried.

Grace blinked Green-gray eyes and looked up at the man with a smile. "Most likely...My friend has a very bad habit of throwing people together without bothering to make proper introductions..." She held out her hand as she mentally cursed 'Andi again.

"I am Grace Brigid Sirona..." It was not an elven name, and yet that was quite obviously what the woman was...

" 'Andi is incapable of being late..." Grace chuckled softly and sipped at a glass of wine. "At least in the way that she views things...whenever she chooses to appear it will be at exactly the right time as far as she is concerned!"

"We could likely order and expect her to show up for desert..."

Grace placed her order as well before she replied "I am a healer in the ways of my people, and the Ankh is mostly a reminder... or so 'Andi keeps telling me." Grace blushed slightly.

"And what do you do Mr. White?" She couldn't help but to wonder why Verdandi had decided to throw them both together.

Grace thought that over for a moment, and read quite a bit between the lines..."That sounds a bit like what I always thought 'Andi did, now I am not so certain about what she does.. besides annoy the hell out of people!"

"That is uncharitable of you Grace..." The blond woman did not bother to walk into the room, she simply appeared in the open seat. Verdandi was dressed all in white again, an elegant cocktail style gown with tiny gold vines embroidered all along the light silk.

There were white gold combs holding the soft curls of her short golden blond hair back from her face, an old fashioned gold torque around her neck and a matching armband on her left arm, her nails were painted a bright white with ting gold vines tracing along the edges...the only blemish in her gold and white color scheme was a pair of dark glasses... "You know that I always try to be the comic relief in a situation... not annoying!"

"Verandi....it is nice to meet you at long last!" She held out a manicured hand in his direction as she introduced herself.

"I'll just have a water for now, thank you."

Grace shook her head as 'Andi pulled her favorite prank and appeared out of nowhere. "Why are you wearing those old things 'Andi? they look completely out of place!"

"Because they keep the poor ordinary people from asking me silly questions.. like if I would like to see a menu, or if I can see the boat out on the water.. it tends to get a little boring to explain that I can not!" 'Andi smiled sardonically towards her companion and simply shrugged.

"Hum.. why we are here... Well Mr. White, you are here because I overestimated and Lady Raven caught wind of my presence..." the blond smiled again and sat back in her chair, absently tapping her nails on the table.

"Grace is here because she is Eir and between the both of us we can heal Hugin..." That part 'Andi actual attempted to fly past.. seeing as how it was not her primary reason for being there.

"And I am here... to reacquaint myself with old souls before all hell breaks loose!"

"I am not... My name is Grace." Now her manner turned all aloof, Grace was proud of who she was, and she still did not really believe all of Verandi's talk about the souls of ancient gods being reborn over the generations after their deaths.

She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the Ankh tattoo on the back of her hand like it was a blemish.

'Andi smiled apologetically and shrugged slightly. "I am certain of my assessment...but I have no physical proof to belay what the good lady was taught all her life, she believes wholeheartedly in the gods of her people!"

"Hum, seeing you do it like that... I think I understand better what is wrong, but we should still be able to fix it!" Verandi smiled again as Hugin stepped out to join them.

Grace raised one brow as she glance back and forth between the two of them, this was another moment when she wondered what she had done to merit the company of so many whack jobs

As far as Grace could see, there was nothing different about the man, except perhaps that there was a different sort of confidence to him, and his eyes had changed color?...

Grace coolly looked down her nose at him...but there was something in his eyes that was almost recognisable, something that struck a cord in her of truth. She could not openly refute what he had said, but she was in no way ready to agree with him yet... She had been fighting Verandi on the matter for the last 30 years, and she would continue to fight in her quiet way until she could no longer find good reasons to argue the point. In Grace's mind, she did not think she would ever run out of points to argue the possibility of her even once being some lost goddess, it was just such a silly claim!

"No, my kind makes certain that they is no such thing!" Verandi smile was not condescending, only friendly and yet somehow supportive, Hugin would likely see that she had some reason for not forcing Grace to see what she really was. "Everything happens for a reason, and always in just the right time!"

"Now, time is in fact why I arranged this little meeting. It is time that you get yourself all sorted out!" That was a definite change of topics as 'Andi pointed at Hugin and turned her smile on him.

That quickly her priorities had apparently changed for a few moments before she had seen him as a secondary agendas, but now he was apparently at the top of her list... then again despite the fact that she appeared to be fairly normal the Norns of the past had often been erratic and overwhelmed by the things that they saw approaching and would do almost anything to make certain that something important happened exactly when it was supposed to!

Verandi sat back with a smirk of her own and settled her hands in her lap.

Grace sighed and sipped at her wine again. "I have a feeling that it will be more of what I can do than anything else...all I will need from you, is trust and patience."

"I am a healer after all!" Grace had a feeling that this was going to be a project that was likely to be very touchy.

"It will not fail.. I will be there to help as well!" Verandi obviously had some sort of plan in mind.

Grace dug into her meal and mulled over what would likely be needed to fix this new little problem that 'Andi had dropped in her lap. "See, now you sound as if you do not really believe that I am Eir either.. after all, if you knew what this Eir could do, would not you have brought this problem to her in the first place...?" That was a sly little way of both convincing Hugin that she could do the job and at the same time reaffirming the fact that she did not believe herself to be Eir.

Grace knew she could help, and one of the best ways to gain Hugin's confidence was to remind him of who he thought she was, for to have confidence in Eir's abilities was to have confidence in Grace's abilities!

Grace actually grinned, she wasn't set back by his rebuttal. "How could you have possibly have known that Eir was reborn? From what I understand the gods who chose to be reborn did so because they chose to lead normal lives...do you think that Eir would have been happy with you if you had suddenly shown up in my life and demanded my aid?"

"Eir was only a human myth to me for a very long time... in fact, the only reason I knew her myth at all is because healers and doctors alike still pray to her for aid and wisdom." Grace still used that as one of her personal points as to why she could not possibly be the reincarnation of Eir.

"And I think that is enough on that topic.. next point of interest." 'Andi cut in suddenly, seeing a huge argument in the brewing. She turned her attention towards Hugin and changed the subject again "Have you ever heard of the Isle of Eden?"

"We were recently in Barton...as it fell, and I noticed something very interesting. Now normally Eden is beyond my sight for it is beyond time...but now the fates of most of the inhabitants of Gaia appear to be tied to Eden!" Verandi wondered again how something that was outside of time could have managed to change so many fates, and yet still keep itself off the radar of every seer on the planet

Grace shuddered as 'Andi mentioned Barton and couldn't help but to look over her shoulder as a chill crept up her spine, that land of the walking dead would take a long time to leave her memory...

Grace dug into her meal to separate herself from the conversation, even though she could not really extract herself so easily... nor could she truly afford to not keep track of what was being said, especially not since she hung around with 'Andi so much

"I can not see Eden, or anyone on that cursed isle of betrayers...but I can see someone who can find her way to Eden, she has been there twice already, and her ability to return to that place is tied to the lye lines themselves for they are how she traverses Gaia so easily!" Verandi could not keep the smirk off her face as Hugin started to connect himself to this strange puzzle...and she knew he was going to love the next little bit.

"Would you like to know who that is and how you are connected to her?"

"I hate to disappoint you, but I am not exactly welcome where the little bird has flown at the moment.. there is one there with the same sort of abilities as I have." Verandi did not worry over the order, she did not have to take orders from Hugin unless she wanted to...all through the past the Norns has very carefully manipulated Odin and his sons into doing exactly what they wanted.

She was only one third of the Weird Sisters, but she was still more than capable of handling herself and her puzzles against only one of the Asir..."She will be fine where she is at the moment, every day she becomes more a true child of Gaia, like her mother... Not to mention that they are capable of teaching her to use her new abilities... and we are not!"

Grace looked from one to the other with a raised brow, she accepted 'Andi's cryptic orders at times because deep down she knew that Verdandi was her friend and she would not order her around unless it was an emergency, or in her best interests...Hugin she had only just met, and she was not about to start taking orders from him just yet, her elven pride would not stand for it!

"I think we will have to take a little trip inside your head... get the two of you to talk face to face!" Grace spoke up at last, since they were on a subject that she had some knowledge of.

"From what I can see you have created a rift within yourself, the other one has become another person instead of becoming more of an extension of yourself as an avatar created from within should. It is almost like looking at someone who has been possessed or with multiple personalities that are working against each other." Grace bit at her nail for a moment as she speculated on it, she couldn't see it all from outside...but the apparent pain that he had experienced when Evan had first tried to bring Hugin to the forefront had looked more like a fight than a simple switching of places.

"The two of you should be able to co-exist, especially since it appears that you both have the same morals and goals...at least in general." 'Andi, had wondered over over that herself, normally a being like Hugin should not have had so much trouble creating a second personality to take care of the day to day matters.

"You will both talk to me..." Now Grace had a note of both smug confidence and command. "and honestly sir I think you need to just listen to me and let me do my job... that is unless you would like remain with your fractured personality?"

'Andi leaned forwards and held out a hand to each of them with her perfect smile still in place. "Have a little faith in fate, I know what I am doing here!"

Grace rolled her eyes but she smiled softly and placed her hand in 'Andi's as a show of confidence as she looked across the table at Hugin.

The circle closed and Verandi gently slid her consciousness and Graces past his shields and into his mind.

Once within those shields Grace took over once more, with 'Andi to back her she knew she could do this...hell she could force them to reconcile if she had to because of the simple fact that she had enough power to literally change Evan's mind and make him see Hugin as a partner instead of a force that he occasionally listened to but mostly fought against!

Grace however planned to simply let them talk it out while she actually poked around in his brain to find the physical problems and healed them. To that end she created a null space in his mind, and decorated it as a empty field.. tall grass as far as the eye could see and an endless blue sky above them, she was dressed once more in her plain leather bodice and pants with a light green cotton shirt and her long orange-red curls falling down her back.

Once in place she gently pulled Hugin and Evan into the bubble and locked it behind them so they couldn't leave until she was done