~- Brotherly Love -~
"Truth be told, I haven't, although Asuna has. Is it any good?"
Andrew smiled as Sevastian talked, finding it comforting with the words that flowed from his brother's lips. A sheepish grin spreading across his face, Andy answered, "Yeah, or at least I think it's good. I adore the dynamic with the boys, especially Ronan and Adam's relationship. Ronan might be a little rough around the edges but he clearly cares for others." Andy smiled, clearly happy by the chance to talk about the book. Eyes shining he chatted, "Oh yeah, and Ronan is able to pull things from his dreams. Haha, and the way he jumped to Adam's defense near the end of the book and he proceeded to look after him afterwards? I love it, and Declan's protectiveness of his younger brothers? It's adorable!"
Fidgeting slightly in his spot, Andy was vaguely away of the sigil on his hand was growing warm. It drew his attention to it, looking down at his hand, he traced the symbol again as his mind hurriedly went over the last time to times it'd grown warm. He wasn't in trouble, he was fine.
His breathing hitched as his stomach twisted itself into knots. Topsy was in trouble, he knew it. After all that was the only time he'd noticed it'd activity. Shaking his head despite the fact it made the world spin, Andy clenched his fists and closed his eyes, trying to keep his distress under control. "I think maybe you should read it, I know personally I identify with Adam a tad too much. Especially where...." Andy shook his head, cutting himself off.
He saw the way Henry had disappeared from the conversation, seeming to be searching for something. Leaning his head against the tree as he tried to think, he confessed softly, "He's the first crush I've had since I was a kid. I think that's why I'm foolishly fallen for him so hard. I don't count Ronan, even though if he was real I totally would." Andy gave a sad laugh, his heart aching from the confession. Another thought coming to his mind, a more geninune laugh slipped free as he leaned against Andy, laughing he added, "Are we honestly having our very first brother-to-brother talk under a tree? Haha, I'm willing to admit I thought it'd be different, maybe on a beach?"
Andy caught the look Jack sent them, a puzzled look on the skeleton's face as he tried to figure out what was happening between them, before the skeleton returned his attention to the others and said, "I have a list of missing people back at the lab. Huh, Zero? What's wrong boy?" Jack commented, getting distracted by a ghostly dog that had suddenly appeared.
A strangled cry of happiness escaping him, Andy wiggled a bit in his seat as he noticed the canine. Feeling something brush his ankle, it being warm and fuzzy, he looked down to see one of his tails (the one on the opposite side that he attacked earlier) and his eyes widened in surprise. Pouncing on it, he bit the tip of it as he started batting at it with his feet again. Pausing, he glanced at Sevastian and chirped, "This one has a flavor too!" He returned his attention to attacking the furry member as he tried to ignore the warmth radiating from his hand.
Stopping in the assault against his tail, he rose to his feet and looked around him, trying to figure out what he wanted to do. He was pretty sure it had been at least half an hour since they started talking, it was a struggle not to fall asleep even though he really wanted to. Looking at Savy, he held his hand out for the older warrior to use to pull himself to his feet.
~- Hm, hi? -~
Henry heard the chatter around him, the explanation of what was going on in town. He could tell that another soul had just entered the world, and he was getting ready to go off and explore it, especially since it was close to town square. It was on the other of the square from where they were, so that was why he hadn't caught it before hand. Glancing towards Sevastian, he nodded at Sevastian and held up a finger, alerting the monk that he'd be back in just a moment. Henry slipped away from the group, ignoring the ghostly dog that went flying past him after he was a few feet away from the group.
It only took a few moments for him to reach the center of the square. There he saw a young man there, who seemed to be lost in his thoughts. Walking up to him, Henry pointedly ignored the ghosts that materialized around the square, many of them reaching forward toward him. Reaching the guy, he carefully reached out a hand and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, you okay?" he asked softly, his eyes guarded as he sized the guy up.
~-Wait a Minute -~
Nana pet the heartless that was in his lap. Joy unfolded through him at Cal's name choice for him, and even choosing to trust him with her own name. Nodding his head, he smiled at Cal and said, "Thank you."
He heard her retort, and it made him laugh, temporarily stopping in the affection given he was giving Sparky. It was warm and musical, a sound that wasn't anything like had been heard from him so far. Looking at Cal with grey eyes, an easy smile spread across his face. "Even so, it was still nice of you."
Nana looked at Sparky, who'd been headbutting him. Petting the dog's head, he said softly, "You're a really good boy, aren't you Sparky? Your mother must be so proud of you." He glanced at Cal, a smile on his face, he took in the owl that was on her shoulder. All of a sudden he wondered when it got there, he couldn't remember seeing it before than. Shit, my mind's slipping. he thought to himself.
Before he knew what had happened, Cal and the owl was gone. Sparky was still in his arm, and he wasn't sure if the dog was struggling to break free. Relaxing his grip on the dog, he didn't know if the dog ran off after Cal, but he knew that if he was he would have went after his human companion. Looking down at the ground, he tried to figure out what he should do next. It would probably do good to check on Krampus to make sure the hybrid wasn't doing anything too disastrous.
Calling a portal, he walked into the hybrid's lair to see that the hybrid was tending to its current prey. Walking up to the creature, he placed his hand on its shoulder and ordered, "Be gentle with this one, you don't want to the fun to end too soon, do you?" Sensing a trace of magic on the prey, Nana took a step forward and sniffed at the hybrid in front of him. There was the sent of wind magic and water magic clinging to him, a look of intrigue flickering in grey eyes, Nana ordered Krampus, "Have at it, but don't kill him. I'm curious to know who he's with and what they'll do toward him." Stepping away from the hybrid, he looked at Krampus and nodded his head before he called another portal and left the area.
~- The Contract -~
Assassin's Keep
Larxen crouched on the branch, pale green flecked brown eyes tracking the target below. The deader moved through the woods, unaware of the pack of hunters that hung around him. Larxen’s eyes flicked to the Nobody that wore green, who was in the brushes on the ground. Raising his hand, he signaled for the green one to hold his position.
He heard the voice that crackled through his intercom, a question of when to strike. “Hold your position, don’t rush this.â€
“But….â€
“Remember our code, we strike when it’s least expected.†Larxen reprimanded, ignoring the low foreboding snarl that came across the communication device.
Flexing his wrist, he heard the soft shinck sound of the blade sliding out of its hiding place before it slid back in.
“Even so Master Larxen, we must strike soon. Or else our target will get away.â€
The voice was soft, only the faintest hint of uncertainty lacing the normally playful voice. Larxen chewed his lower lip, thinking about what to do. “Hold position for a moment longer, Rixue.†He ordered, only to notice that the target had started to move away from them. A soft curse escaping him, he carefully ran along the tree branches, making sure not to draw attention to himself.
He could hear the rest of his team moving alongside him. He heard it when Rixue gave a soft cry of pain, and it didn’t take long for his green clad teammate to run off to check on the youngest of them. Dropping down to the ground, Larxen rolled across the ground before he sprang back to his feet. Waving his hand in the air as he ran, he heard the softest of “thuds†as two more bodies joined him on the ground.
He was breaking protocol, there was a chance that this mission would be botched but he didn’t care. One of his kids was in trouble, so he’d be damned if he allowed it to continue.
“Templars hybrids!†Rixue shouted across the communicator.
A snarl escaping Larxen, he jumped into the air and grabbed a tree branch. Flipping himself into the air, he ran along the branch and found the group of three that was proving to be a challenge for Rixue and her fighting companion. Leaping from the tree, he unsheathed his hidden blades and buried them in the neck of two of the hyrbids. Rolling across the ground, Larxen sprang back to his feet and parried a strike from a hybrid that came up on his left side. Shoving them backwards, he felt the two he’d left behind catch up to him.
“Do you care not to ditch us again?†The older female teammate snapped, her eyes flashing in annoyance despite rage being their red clad friend’s single emotion.
Shrugging his shoulders, Larxen dodged the blow that was meant for his head even as he used one of his hidden blades to deflect the shot. Remembering the original intention of the mission and the one they had planned next, Larxen glanced to his green clad ally and ordered, “Proceed to the next mission, we’ll get this taken care of. We’ll rejoin you in a bit, just get things set up. Rixue, over here.†Larxen commanded, his voice levels even as the purple haired girl rolled over to him.
Putting his back to hers, he continued parrying strikes even as his white and red clad allies fell into formation beside him, forming a box. Flipping his hood, up, Larxen peered beneath the cowl as one of the Templar-hybrids muttered, “Assassin, how many of you are here?â€
A secretive smirk coming to his face, Larxen lunged forward and buried his blade into the templar’s neck.
~- The Snake's Next Move -~
Hel tumbled out of the portal, the ground scrapping against her stomach. Springing to her feet, she spun around in a circle. Dark grey, almost black eyes stared back where the portal had disappeared, a snarl of frustration escaping her she felt the weight of her weapon in her hand. Trembling where she stood, she shivered in answer to a male voice that slid through her mind.
"Honestly, you may as well show yourself Artemis. We both know you can." She shouted at the overhead night sky, ignoring the stinging sensation on her stomach.
The war hammer in her hand disappeared now that Hel was out of danger. Exhaling in frustration, she turned back in the direction she'd been spat out, her eyes quickly finding the dark-haired man that stood behind her. A slight smile on her face, Hel trodded over to him and placed a hand on his chest, looking up at the man she asked him, "Where are we? You were the one that called the portal after all!"
She shook her head, trying to hide her frustration from him, even though it wouldn't work. Artemis had been by her side since she was a child, they knew each other in such a fashion that rarely did they actually need to talk. Hearing a rustling in the woods, she almost thought about calling the hammer back but she didn't. She knew that if need be Artemis would protect her, but she rarely let it come to that.
A man walked out of the woods, causing the tiny girl to cock her head to the side. The man didn't seem to be a threat to her on a quick glance, but a look at him had her bristling regardless. Something about this man seemed like Artemis, but not quite as friendly. Catching his gaze, dark grey met lighter grey eyes as the white-haired man sized her up. "You're not a hybrid, but you're a powerful mage. Could it be because of your friend?"
A sharp intake of breath was her answer, her eyes darting to Artemis for an idea of what to do. Her eyes darted back to him, analyzing him closer, she could just see the snake coiled around him. "What's your name?" She asked instead of answering him.
He gave a knowing smile, as if he knew that he'd unsettled her. Eyes narrowing in suspicion, Hel clenched her fists as she waited for an answer. "Ari, but that's not important. Who's your friend?"
"That's not important, what do you want with us?" Hel shot back, something about this guy screamed snake to her. Was it because of her experience with Artemis? She self-consciously reached a hand back, taking the demon's hand into her own and gave it a quick squeeze, taking a great deal of comfort from her fighting partner. Yeah sure, it'd leave her open to ridicule from the sassy spirit, but that didn't matter to her. She just wanted to make sure he was there.