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Katie was quite surprised when Maximos decided to invite the vampire into the party. Her eyes narrowed, watching the man closely. She felt a presence come up close to her. She didn't need to look to figure out that it was Quinn.

Her arms dropped to her sides as Maximos went back to providing the scene for them. She could tell by his movements that this was taxing for him. It made her appreciate his ability to hold himself until the scene was done.

As the scene appeared, giving them a full glimpse of what had happened earlier, Katie had clenched her hands into tight fists at some point.

There were so many fighters she didn't recognize, except Rage, and she knew they were all fighting to save this one girl, a girl she didn't even know. How many people were now fighting to save this woman? This woman had been taken hostage by a demoness and another man, the man with yellow eyes.

Her knuckles were white by the time the scene abated.

Her turquoise eyes fell back into the present time, staring at Maximos as the man then began to fall forward. She was about to interject the fall, but Quinn had beaten her to the punch.

The cat changed into a nurse and picked up Maximos, but at this point Katie was shifting her attention elsewhere, thinking of something or possibly someone. Her eyes held a distant look as the people around her spoke.

"Not just at the moment dear... I'm in a touchy~feely kind of mood at the moment!" Rae actually managed a wink and a little nod before she returned her focus to Maximos, frowning at all the damage he had managed to sustain in the last few weeks.

Dirty bandages aside her friend appeared to be held together by sheer force of will, and it said a lot about how strong that will really was that he didn't just find a nice cave to hide in for a year or two sweatdrop

It is not his way... Rae frowned at that voice, even though she knew Maddick was right he usually kept his opinions to himself.. she couldn't help but to glance at Anuksu to wonder if it was the proximity of one of his own kind that had her house guest so attentive to circumstances surrounding them once more...

Watching the others in the past few moments had proved rather amusing indeed, for of all the other members of the party, the man with the gun proved to be the most intelligent, for he seemed to be the only one taking him for what he was. This earned the man an inkling of respect from the vampire for acting in such a way and seeing the situation for exactly what is was. The healer also gained a bit of respect from him for rushing to Maximos's side so quickly. Such an action touched whatever piece of paladin was left in his black little heart. Other than that, no one else rose above his usual term for the living... cattle. They would indeed still have time to prove themselves, but for the moment, they still lingered beneath the food chain. What he also found hard to believe was that even though Maximos had ordered him along, he was still one of the twelve door criminals, yet everyone simply brushed that off due to Maximo's invite. For a moment he toyed with the idea of slowly picking them off one by one throughout their travels to teach them lessons that they might carry to the next life, but he still did need them for the trials ahead.

... What an effective group to huddle around the wounded. Casualties are a part of war, I only hope that they won't stop fighting the moment someone falls.

From what pieces of the vision he had managed to get a glimpse of, Anuksu was pretty sure where they would be headed next. Now that everyone's attention was elsewhere, he took the opportunity to move unmolested towards the chopper. Walking at a slow pace, he passed right by Maximos and the others, knowing that Maximos had about a 50/50 chance of living through that. Either the "nurse" would take care of him, or the overcrowding of the others would smother him. He thought for a moment if he should offer his own healing skills, but the thought was quickly banished from his mind, for not only would the others not let him get near Maximos, but anyone who would exhaust themself so was not worthy of such attention in the first place.

... They will come to trust me in time. Though such feelings will remain slightly misplaced, they will.

Upon reaching the metal contraption, he sat nice and proper on the edge of the doorway looking back at everyone else and waiting to see if any of them got the same impression from the vision Maximos had conjured. Despite their attention to Maximos, he was forced to adress the group as a whole.

"Well, are you coming?" We have a tavern to get to.

stare Who the Frell put him in charge?...ah the typical reaction to having to get along with someone that had all the little alarm bells in the back of her head ringing...anger!

I would not precisely say that he is in charge just yet My Lady, but by trusting him not to immediately turn on you, Maximos has placed him in a position of potential power...It was likely a good thing that looks really could not kill, because Rae would have happily starred daggers into Anuksu's back by now even as she resisted the urge to mentally kick Maddick in the shins for answering a rhetorical question xp Wow, you are so full of useful information today Mad Martigen! But you are wrong to think that I trust Tall Dark and Anemic there any further than I could throw him, and since my hands are kind of full just now it is safe to say that I do not trust him at all!

"Maxi showed us a few of the players on the other side of the board as well as the next stop on this carnival trip Mr. Quin, but I could have told you guys that we should head for the Firebrand if I had realized that we were just planning on meeting up with Sunstrike and a few of the other Heaven or Hell participants...but perhaps Fate needed us to pick up a new player before we could move on." Rae really didn't want to get back in the chopper just yet, not being in control of the flying was defiantly going to make her loose her lunch one of these times.

She couldn't help but to smile at Katie's reaction and how it managed to mirror her own but in a more verbal manner "Ms. Twitch, would your company mind shuttling us to our next stop?" When in doubt... stall!


At least I do not have to worry about you just yet My Lady... Maddick's voice whispered in the back of her head as she wondered how much worse this day could get. Give it another hour or two and I am certain that we will both be very worried about me Maddick... sweatdrop

Quinn wanted to be the last on the craft so that he could keep an eye on everything. As he walked up to it, he crossed to the side until the last person was on board, resting his foot against the thing.. He pulled out his pistol again and pointed it back at the vampire as he waited. Without words, he glued every single bit of his concentration to it, itchy to blast the creature to little bits. While he imagined killing this one, Quinn forced himself not to think of his own daughter. His jaw clenched and his blood began to boil in anguish- and rage.

It wouldn't kill him. But god dammit, it would feel good...

Maximos was not asleep.

He was at a place skirting the edge of unconsciousness and death.

It was a beautiful place, and marked by grayish overtones and a sort of stillness live robs you of. He was sitting on a hill, top hat atop his head. And across from him sat an army, of one million soldiers, and four kings.

Maximos knew this day. It was a memory filled with carnage and pain and death. And it was one of Nocturne's favorite scenes to force him to re-inact. On this day the Destroyer, killed those men. Brutally. And Maximos was the Destroyer in another lifetime. Maximos lost countless years of sleep to it. He tossed and turned, kicked and thrashed enough to equal a thousand fights. But in these later years, he was used to it. He chose to yawn and lay back in the grass as the army rushed in.

They circled him. He placed his hands behind his head. They thrust weapons. He yawned.

And then the scene froze weapons glistening in the sunlight, soldiers froze in place, faces screaming and contorting with rage.

Its no fun if you dont play along.

The voice said, Nocturne. Lord of Nightmares, in jet black armor wielding a sword the size of a man, and a cape that looked like shadow given form and blowing in invisible wind. He parted through the soldiers sliding them aside like cardboard cutouts. Maximos knew him well. He shook his head, and said.

This dream is old. Let me rest.

The Shadow God shook his head and threw up his arm, in faux offense.

What kind of attitude is that? You know thats entirely imp --

I'm sorry sir, I don't remember asking for your opinion.

The god stopped in his sentence finding himself rudely interrupted. His face contorted in displeasure as he looked side to side.

Do you hear that?

Maximos grunted, and rolled over onto his side, away from the Father of Shadow.

I am not your prisoner, and I am not attempting to take the lead.

Maximos let out an annoyed sigh and leaned over, showing absolutely no fear in the sight of the thing that hounded him for so very long.

In your name Nocturne, really now? Cant I have a moments rest?

Its not me. But it is quite annoying. I simply cannot concentrate with this buzzing.

Well, I dont have the time or strength to deal with it or you. Go away.

The sky darkened a bit, the soldiers growing more grotesque and vicious looking.

Go away?! - Maximos! You are being quite rude!

He said in a threatening cacophonous voice, standing tall and lifting his sword high! Maximos swirled his finger, as if completely uninterested. Both sighed accidentally identically. And both seemed offended by that notion.

The last thing I want is...

Wait...I know that voice....he was so funny back behind the door. Almost cute! Look at him act all tough with the mortals! Oh, Ah....em....whatever his name is...once you get him started he goes forever! This'll never end!

Oh my, we'll never get any nightmaring done!

I kno--

Max said sardonically in witty retort. Nocturne frowned catching himself before falling into the slip. He took his art seriously and this was quite frustrating. A ring came, through the still scene, like a phone. And Nocturne simply reached into the grass and produced a phone, Max reached for it, only to be beaten by the dark gods larger, faster, armored hand.



Maximos knew who it was, this was his mind after all. But he knew he coudnt reach it in time. At this he seemed even more annoyed at the god before him. To which Nocturne grinned and spoke in his smoothest, kindest voice.

We're sorry, all shadows are currently busy. Please stay on the line and a representative will be with you shortly. Your call is important to us.

Click. He snickered for a bit, turning to face Maximos like an amused child. Max had already grumbled and rolled over again, head resting on his bundled up scarf asleep. Nocturne, utterly frustrated rose and swirled a hand dispelling the army in a swirling tuft of black, a tuft which he used just as easily to remove himself.

Well fine...

---

Outside Rae would feel Maximos' right arm twitch twice, as his gentle, nearly non-existent breathing continued yet not before something that sounded like a very weak sigh of relief.

"Cut the pompous, indignant tone. In fact, shut up. I don't care what your motives are, I don't care if you aren't going to take the lead, I don't care if you're an angel in disguise. I don't care who you are or where you've been, I don't care in general. Just shut up and follow unless your god damn opinion is asked for."

Turning his eyes, but not his attention, to Damion very briefly, he was concise. "I'm about as lost as you are, I would ask Katie or the healer, Rae."

He turned his eyes back to the vampire.

"Everyone on board?"

Amused by Quinn's reaction, Anuksu just had to throw one more. At least this way he was learning the emotional capacity of this new... companions.

"Bravado of course... your kind grow tiresome and predictable."

He then took the time to address the amazon, for he had pushed her far enough for one day.

Oh...forgive me madam, my eyes aren't what they used to be, I must have been mistaken.

He was now completely proud of himself. Now not only did he know which of these people were the easiest to get a rise out of, but he had some insight on what type of buttons needed pushing to make it happen again. This could be most valuable information if given the right situation.

As Anuksu took the time to get comfortable for the ride, he allowed an ever so slight grin to cross his face. Anuksu gave those riding in the chopper one last glance before leaning his head back and closing his eyes. This, of course, didn't stop him from talking.

"By the way, you know my name, but I haven't the slightest clue as to most of yours."

He was forced to open his eyes again and look around at those before him. His gaze running over each of them, coming to a slight stop over the woman tending to Maximos and then back to moving. Then he spoke to the group as a whole, putting the elitism on a back burner for a moment.

"Is there any title you would grace me with that I might put a name to your faces should I have need to address you? After all hey you and the like just isn't proper where I come from."