Welcome to Gaia! ::

“Have you decided what field you are most interested in?” Lucien asked as they walked, although he was aware enough to take shorter strides so as not to stress Marius out even further.

“You are acquainted with Atrius, correct? Your skills in communication and deception are impressive for your age. There’s no need to hide it, I can tell you are unwell. You still have a paleness to your complexion that cannot be faked,” he explained, although he kept his voice low to make sure it did not carry.

“I admit I only know the basics about what happened with Villefort. You have my sympathy for the losses you’ve suffered. The Council told me I would have to get the rest of the story from Devyn, though. Ah, here we are,” he gestured as they got closer to the hall with the armory. He held the card out for the guards to inspect, although Lucien would have been surprised if they had tried to stop him. He’d only been wearing Alastor’s symbol proudly on his chest for the past several years now.

Although he supposed that was a little arrogant of him to think.

They let them pass, however, and Lucien unlocked the door to let them inside.

“I do care,” Lucien said with a polite nod. “For practical purposes at the very least. Should you become a spy or perhaps a politician, I could possibly put in a good word for you once a spot opens up on the Council,” he said as he made his way inside to start picking out pieces of armor. Mostly he was looking at the leather chest pieces. He would have to force Devyn into one, so he wanted to make sure it was ready once he arrived.

“But forgive me if I’ve offended you. Deception is a skill that not many can master. Would you prefer if I called it… playing pretend? It doesn’t have the same sense of danger and mystery, don’t you think?”

He was not bothered by Marius’s more natural state. He suspected as much from the moment he saw him slumped against the wall in Devyn’s bedroom, but not wanting to worry Celyn he said nothing at the time.

“However, given what I know, I can only assume that your goal would be to provide help to your village in one way shape or form, correct? Although that doesn’t mean you couldn’t be a spy. Food for thought. Here, make a note of this one,” he gestured to a chest piece hanging up. “I believe Dr. Eld would fit into this. I may need to hold him down,” he hummed, and then glanced over to Marius. “I jest. I will do my best to convince him to put it on willingly.”

Lucien chuckled quietly this time, and offered Marius a small smile before holding a finger up to his mouth as if telling a secret.

“I don’t quite get philosophy, either. I’d much prefer something I can hold in my hands and manipulate with known science.” He supposed some philosophy was involved, but most of those conversations left him more exhausted than he’d prefer.

“It is good that you are learning so many things. Madison will be an excellent teacher, whether he knows it or not. Once you see past his demons he purposefully keeps around to torment himself, he is quite charming. But I didn’t say that,” he added with a little wink.

He took note of everything else Marius said, of course. From what he was interested in, to what he thought of Percy and Devyn and how he wanted to devote his life to Alastor. Marius thought he was no one special…? Lucien was interested to see how long that would last.

“Here,” Lucien decided then, reaching to carefully remove a sword from where it was stored on a weapons rack. It was a standard sized sword, but the handle was gold, and the blade was inlaid with gold as well. Something Devyn might appreciate to feel more like it was an extension of himself than something that wasn’t as aesthetically pleasing.

“This should be adequate for fitting through hallways and fight in close quarters. I doubt Dr. Eld would appreciate me picking out a sword for him--”

“You’re right, I wouldn’t,” Madison huffed as he aggressively shooed away one of the guards who was reluctantly trying to get him to show proof of entry. As if he needed proof of entry to anything there.

He looked a little more put together now. Maybe like he’d washed his face or at least screamed into a pillow for a while. He went over to the weapons rack as well and picked up a sword slightly smaller than the one Lucien picked up for Devyn. He inspected it, then tested how it felt in his hand by giving it a spin and swing in the open area of the room, and then huffed and grumbled about how this was going to be a pain in the a** to deal with.

“Dr. Eld??” Madison repeated Marius with an incredulous sneer, before glaring at Lucien because he clearly was a bad influence on Marius.

“Are you making fun of me? You think I’d get people out of my way fast with this? Just wait until you see me with a bone saw,” he scoffed.

While Madison looked like he knew how to handle a sword, he didn’t look entirely comfortable with it. He picked up the matching sheath so he could put it away before anyone got hurt. He already wasn’t looking forward to all the work he was likely going to be doing. He didn’t want to add to that prematurely.

“Devyn doesn’t usually have use of a sword,” Lucien hummed, browsing some of the swords for himself. “His magic as a Senshi is powerful enough to cripple most enemies. But yes, he has trained with swords. Dr. Eld, you should try on this--”

“No, I’m not wearing anything extra. You’re lucky I’ve decided to come with you in the first place!” he barked, clearly becoming agitated again.

Madison bristled when Marius turned on him. He bared his teeth and hissed through them, eyes narrowed on the young man in front of him.

He was absolutely going to refuse. Wearing armor brought bad memories. It was bad enough that he was going to be in the thick of things, bad enough that he was even picking out a sword to carry. <********>,” he finally growled. He was already anticipating Devyn to not stop until he collapsed, and even then he would probably figure out a way to get up again. He would put himself into an early grave at this rate, so Marius was unfortunately right in that he’d need to be there to take care of everyone.

He supposed there were less nightmares to worry about if everyone got out alive, at least.

Not without sympathy, Lucien held up a set of chest armor and bracers for Madison, to which Madison turned and snatched out of his hands. <******** both of you,” he snarled. “******** Devyn. ******** all of this-- <******** off I don’t need your help!” he snapped when Lucien attempted to adjust the armor to make it easier to get on.

“You will not be protected as well if you do not have it on correctly,” Lucien sighed and took a step back for a moment until it looked like the doctor was going to relent. It just took a bit of struggling from Dr. Eld before he conceded.

“Marius, there are greaves as well. They shouldn’t be uncomfortable if you loosen up the straps for a better fit when they’re put on,” he directed, already working on the bracers while Dr. Eld hissed and snarled like a wet cat.

“You ******** better make it up to me,” Madison hissed, his hands already shaking as he tightened the sleek black breastplace cross his chest, his usually very dexterous fingers fumbling a little with the ******** Devyn. If he didn’t act so rashly all the time--”

Madison knew that wasn’t the issue. He knew Devyn was doing his best to get there and help as quickly as possible. Madison was just already feeling completely separated from everything. This wasn’t like being on the battlefield when he and Virgil and Tieran were younger. This would likely literally be just following Devyn around and making sure he didn’t get into too much trouble.

He didn’t have to suddenly think about how much he regretted not saying anything to Atrius or Virgil that morning when he left on the urgent summons to the Hall. Or how much he wished he stayed longer the night before, instead of insisting that he go home to review some lab results he’d been waiting on to finish.

As much as he hated it, he held still as Lucien worked on putting the vambraces on his forearms. He wanted to fuss with the buckles again, but he instead just shifted uncomfortably on the spot.

This was okay. They would get in and out.

The doctor’s reaction to getting his armor fitted almost made Lucien pause, but now wasn’t the time to feel guilty. Dr. Eld already decided he would be going with them. It was now his responsibility to make sure he was as protected as possible. And Marius was right -- if Devyn didn’t see them wearing armor, he wouldn’t even stop to think about it.

He would have to apologize later, but for now it was important they got ready as much as possible.

“Once you are done with helping Dr. Eld with those, would you assist me with mine as well, Marius?” Lucien requested, selecting his own armor to start preparing.

As soon as Marius stood up to take hold of Madison’s hands, Lucien very nonchalantly turned away to give them some privacy. Lucien likely didn’t expect Madison to appreciate being watched when he was clearly not feeling that wonderful about everything.

Madison stared at Marius with confusion and concern when he’d taken hold of his hands, but then sucked in a breath to tense when arms went around his shoulders.

“Of course I’ll be okay,” he huffed and clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth in protest. After a few moments he eventually put his arms around Marius in return, but he made sure it looked very reluctant. In case Lucien turned around.

“You carry around good luck charms?” he snorted, trying not to sound touched by the offer. Not while they were in mixed company. “Sure, it couldn’t hurt,” he shrugged, although as reluctant as he tried to make it seem like he was hugging Marius back, he certainly didn’t seem to want to release him so soon.

He should have said goodbye to Atrius and Virgil. Not that he expected anything to happen to him! He was just with a bunch of worrywarts and over thinking things. But he hadn’t gone into actual combat without Virgil by his side before.

Madison couldn’t say if he was superstitious or not. If he was, he had his own quirks and thoughts that followed him from when he was young. Nothing that he cared to share or make a big deal about.

But Marius giving him his necklace to wear was too sweet of a gesture for him to ignore or make any comments about. Instead, he just watched as Marius removed it from his own neck, and then ducked his head a little when it was put over his.

It was a beautiful, old necklace and pendant, and he sighed out some of the tension he’d had once it was under his shirt.

For his own good luck, he took advantage of their proximity, and Lucien looking away, so he could press a kiss on Marius’s forehead.

“Alright. I’ll make sure to bring this back,” he promised.

Reluctantly, he let go of Marius so he could go help Lucien or whatever he was going to do. Madison placed a hand over his chest to verify where the pendant was and then sighed. He would be glad once all this was over with.