Welcome to Gaia! ::

(( I could, to be honest. He really ain't going to whoop their asses; just going to give 'em a couple of love bonks. 3nodding ))

(( Aye aye. 3nodding

...and you're the coolest one on my list. xd ))

((Maybe Rigel can kill one for fun. And Max, Ollie and Croix have to meet. xd ))

Rigel had been leaning against the wall just beside the open door. What a wondeful conversation. Children could be so cruel to each other... Its a pitty most adults grow out of enjoying it for the sake of enjoying it.

"And why do you just take it?" Rigel's opiated voice came from outside of her veiw, "Maybe its was just now, but I can't see that this was the first time those two ever mocked you."

Rigel stepped through the door, perching his back on a new wall on the inside.

"You have quite a collection of strangers now." Rigel put on his best "Not a sadistic murderer" act, "We can't be much worse than the people you know."

This could keep Rigel entertained for a bit.

*Yuri spoke up* Well, of course I don't look like one. I am not your typical healer. I am a Geomancer, and I rely on the earth's powers to be mine. *clears his throat* Well, Tiel, I just came to check on you, but, I am honestly interested in your plight, and, from what I overheard, you seem to be a mage of some sort. Let me know if you ever need a traveling companion. But, first, are you physically injured? I can't help you if your injuries or pains aren't bodily. *He gives her a concerned look*

Lao had arrived at the place for the meeting before anyone else. He was definitely not in a very good mood lately, seeing as everything about his defense of Sey was pretty much accurate. Perhaps he loved his freedom too much- he would have to sacrifice it so that others could be free. He knew that. But somewhere deep within, he did not want to let it go just yet.

Still he was definitely willing to prove himself to the kunoichi, seeing as he didn't have a chance to before- not really, anyway. Then he shook those thoughts off. Pride had no place in this scenario. He figured that it was time to clear his mind of such things. He sat down on his knees and cupped his hands in his lap, left one on top of the right. Then he closed his eyes and began taking slow, deep breaths, as he started to meditate...

And things began to come to the surface almost immediately, passing before him as if on parade. The first thing to go was the one on the top of his head- the icy stare of Alcyone. He somehow felt uneasy at that stare- not fearful, just unsettled. The reasons for this unease were unclear, though he did not want to know exactly why. He let it drift away, like a common leaf on the wind.

Then there was Seyumi. She had asked for him to come along in the first place, though he did not deserve such an invitation, now that he thought about it. She was being benevolent, simply because she knew nothing about malice or hate. Hikaru, on the other hand, was definitely displeased at him. That was the last thing he needed right now. Almost greatfully, he let it pass, not wanting to dwell on what else would've happened.

He began to clear his mind of the deeper things, such as concern for his family. The last time a messenger had been sent was news of his father's old age and rapidly deteriorating health. It was only a matter of time before he died... He had to restrain himself from taking one of the horses home right then, seeing as he was on duty. But the knowledge made him question the beauty of life and the neccesity for death. However, he held it in until his next leave, when he would be able to see him again. At that point, he forced the thoughts out of his mind... the sight of him was something that he did not want to remember.

Another thought surfaced- something that was so long ago, that he was somewhat surprised that he still remembered. It was a specific visit to the water temple, to bid his friends farewell before he left for his demonstration before the shogun. A quiet little girl with his family's eyes and hair... thinking that it was just a coincidence, he smiled and waved to her, friendly as always. He spoke in his usual eastern dialect, "Hi there! I don't think I've seen you around before."

As she turned to him, her eyes seemed to look through him. What they found, none would know, save for her. But she simply nodded without a word, and continued walking along. Lao was a tad confused, so he followed, his friends in tow. "Um... I don't want to be intrusive, but would you give me your name? Just so I know, you know?" She continued walking.. he shrugged and walked back to his friends. "Aw, shoot. Now I don't know everyone here anymore."

They responded with laughs and playful wagging of their heads. But Lao was secretly disturbed... he knew of no one in his family who studied at the Water Temple. The eyes and hair haunted him... when he asked his father about it, there was a grave expression on his face for a moment. then he smiled and said, "This is quite a coincidence. But you already know that your sister died before she was born. Please do not dwell on it any further."

He could not clear this thought from his mind.. it seemed to freeze there, as if it could not... no, would not be ignored. Something was odd... it was too much of a coincidence. There was something about her- the same aura as his mother. But he figured that there were many people who had the same traits and personalties, so he shrugged it off.

But these days, it was becoming stronger somehow... more pronounced, as if something were to happen soon. He took one last breath, to lock the thoughts within his mind again, then slowly exhaled, finally breaking from his meditation. When he opened his eyes again, they had a sheen to them that not even the sun could give them, as if shining with their own inner light. A sign that his mind was clear and at the ready for whatever was to come.

He stood, and entered the building for a look around.

((Finally making the post I promised Vahn...I'll have a follow up to this if it's needed.))

Legacy Dullahan pushed open the doors of the small cafe, descending down the rotting wooden staircase until he stood in the stagnant air of the place. His brother Destiny and a dirty old man who seemed to be nursing a glass of water were the only two patrons. Legacy sighed. What in the blazes made his brother choose a place like this to spend his leave from the academy?

Destiny looked up at the sound of his brother's footfalls as Legacy strode across the cafe towards him. He furtively tried to hide a handcrafted hair decoration, only to realize that the only place to hide it was under his food. He spent a few precious moments staring at it. He couldn't very well get a gift dirty...

"And who's that for?" Legacy asked, leaning over Destiny now. "Has my brother finally won the heart of some fair maid?"

"No...no," Destiny stammered, shaking his head and putting a hand over the present. "It's for Leiko. As a gift. As..."

"The halfbreed?" Legacy responded, disdain evident in his voice. Leiko had grown up in this city, her father western, her mother eastern. Why the girl had chosen to join the knight academy rather than another path was unkown to him.

"Well, yes. If you must put it that way."

"So...why aren't you with her? Seems a better way to spend your time than dawdling about here."

"She's...with her parents," Destiny answered sheepishly.

"Come now, have some courage. Oughtn't you to meet them if you're foolish enough to want to woo her?"

"I would..." Destiny sighed. "But her father's a blacksmith."

Legacy rolled his eyes. "What difference does that make?"

"Think of every stereotype you've ever associated with a blacksmith, and roll them into one. That's him," Destiny explained. "He looks like he eats potential boyfriends for breakfast...maybe lunch, too, if there's enough left over."

"..." Legacy was silent for a moment, then sat down beside Destiny. "...let me buy you a drink."

Mercedes had drifted away from the tavern for a few moments, forgetting her new acquiantances but not entirely. She merely drifted into a jewelry shop that was beside the tavern. 'This is a surely odd location for a jewelry shop,' she thought,' it's just begging to be robbed.'

Eitherway, she browsed the shop all the same. A silver bracelet on a red velvet pillow caught her eye. It was a simple but beautiful bracelet of a delicate and intricate knotwork with small pearl beads to accent. As soon as she saw it, she was determined to have it. Her avarice swelled to the surface and she went for her purse.

-------------------------

20 minutes later, Mercedes found herself back at the Laburnum Tavern with a glass of wine and admiring her new bracelet in a corner booth that had old purple velvet drapes that could conceal it's occupants if need be. She had the drapes up simply so she could signal the barmaid for more wine if she needed to.

Extending a jewelled hand gracefully, she lifted the wine glass and sipped. The sweet rose wine that she had ordered went down easily.