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Vyn waited tensely, prepared for when the phone was picked up.. Half hoping that her older brother would be on the other end, half hoping she could avoid the whole situation altogether by finding that nobody was home..

Riv sighs tersely as he's the only one left in the house, forced to go all the way downstairs to pick up the damned phone. His irritation is clear when he answers. "Yeah, what?"

Pausing at the sound of Rivener's voice. Vyn noted that he sounded annoyed already and when she spoke it was clear that she was anxious. Perhaps some of her croaky voice even gave away how she had sobbed to Ethan.. "Hello... Rivener.. It's Vyn."

There was a moment of silence as Rivener blinked. Never before had Vyn called! She wasn't the chatty type... "Uh. Hi." The Sigel was suddenly anxious as well, recalling how they'd left last time...

Not sure what to make of Rivener's short response the shadow frei looked to Ethan nearby who nodded with encouragement. She had to apologise and make amends. A few crude words and a misunderstanding weren't big enough to ruin her good relationship with the scorpion. "I've phoned... to... to say sorry.." A lump formed in her throat as she recalled the dreadful feeling she had been left with after they had last met.

Rivener's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and a similar knot formed in his throat. "Ah... Really? Well, I-... I'm uh. S-sorry, it's just unexpected. I'm sorry too... I shouldn't have spoken to you like that." The Scorpion blushed profusely, ashamed of his rudeness and his stupid sissy tears

The rose is also fairly choked up and a tear or two roll down her cheeks. She couldn't stop the guilty emotions from seeping out. "It was wrong of me to make excuses for Thorn..." She sniffed heavily, rubbing her face and muffling the phone a bit. "Is Beau ok now?"

Aww, Rivener's heart twinged. He could hear her sniffling and he hated it, she was too far for him to be able to reassure! Still, they were mending things now and the tears wouldn't last very long. He smiled sheepishly. "Beau's okay. He was in shock for a few days and wouldn't sing... But lately he's hummed a few bars. ...Don't be sad, okay?"

Vyn was glad that Rivener seemed to be accepting her apology and her little muffled sobs blossomed into choked hiccups of happiness. "I'm so glad... I couldn't..." She formed her words better after pausing a moment to collect her thoughts and emotions. "I would feel so bad if he was hurt badly."

"Well, you don't need to feel bad, Vyn. Everything's okay now, Beau's fine and... Uhm, I'm really really glad you called. I'm glad we're good again. ...We are, right?"

"Yes... Thank you." She paused, realising that she didn't say it last time they met. "Merry Christmas Rivener."

Riv chuckled breathlessly, feeling relief flood over him. "Merry Christmas to you too, Vyn. We should go somewhere together to really celebrate, no pets this time. Okay? Think about where you'd like to go, and then let me know what you decide. It'll be my treat, as a gift, ok?"

Smiling through watery eyes Vyn nodded despite the fact that Rivener wouldn’t see her. “Yes, that’d be wondrous... Thank you.” Hesitating she sighed happily, a great weight off her chest. “Bye Rivener.”

Aphismet sat alone on his bed, letting out a long, drawn-out breath for the millionth time today. He'd taken a day off from work so he could stay at home and relax on his birthday, secretly hoping he'd be able to spend some time with Alex... But she'd been busy with work, of course. He hadn't told her it was his birthday, finding it a little embarrassing to just mention it out of the blue and ask for her time. He'd just kind of... hoped it would work out.

And now, to boot, he was all alone in the house. Absolutely everyone was out working. Eiry and Isi were at the lab, Riv was out heavens knew where, Zul was working at some place Aphi couldn't recall, and Alex was out on a field job of some kind. Such a big house, so very big, empty apart for the white-haired man. Well, him and the veritable zoo of pets, not that they mattered in this situation.

Wallowing for a moment, Aphi headed downstairs and took a bottle of wine from the fridge, carting it upstairs along with a box of crackers. He sat on his bed again and turned on the television. He'd just drink that whole bottle by himself, eat crackers all day, and wait until someone came back, that's all. Isi had told him happy birthday this morning, and he'd probably be coming back home around 5... Maybe he and Aphi could go do something together? Like watch a movie at the theatres, or maybe a play... Isi liked plays, right? Then by the time they got back, Alex might be home too, and Aphi could just curl up with her on the sofa and watch more of that documentary series they hadn't finished yet. She liked documentaries, right? If Riv came back and wasn't too distracted by Zul, maybe Aphi and he could go out for coffee. Riv liked coffee, right?

...Aphismet frowned. Why was he thinking of things that other people liked? It was HIS birthday, he could get away with being a little more selfish and asking if THEY could do things that HE liked, couldn't he? Taking a deep swig of wine, Aphismet nodded to himself curtly. Yes, he'd ask to do things HE liked.

...

What did Aphismet like? The chocolate-colored eyes nearly crossed as he thought about it, frowning. What did Aphismet like? Plays? Coffee? Documentaries? Aphi always did things because he wanted to please the others, but what about his own likes, what were they? H-he didn't know! Let's see, he liked painting, movies... H-he does like plays, coffee and documentaries, too. But most of all he liked not being alone. So, all he really wanted to ask for was... Was to not be alone. Like right now.

Aphi sighed, taking another deep drink of wine. "Someone, please come home soon..." This was getting to be rather depressing. "I'll do whatever you guys want, just come home."

A heavenly sound reached the chef's ears then, like an answer to his prayers: the front door clicking open, someone stepping inside. Alex's voice drifting through the house: "I'm home!"

Aphismet beamed with pure happiness. This was going to be a good birthday!

Wednesday. Middle of the night.

I’d only just gotten to bed, having just returned from work. Thankfully I didn’t need to stay up feeding on starshine, having gotten my fill on the way back. There’s not much to eat in Durem, the sky’s blotted out by all the city lights. Anyway, work was hard tonight so I was really exhausted and looking forward to rest. I shouldn’t have to say it, but when that stupid cell phone rang, I was in a horrid mood.

“WHAT?!…-Boss.” I added the respectful word after my irate bark: Felix paid me well enough and treated me nicely, he deserved some measure of respect in return.

“Riv, sorry to wake ya. Things are going to get a little hairy here, I need you to come in.” As usual, Felix didn’t sound in any way concerned or worried, so it was hard to tell how serious the situation really was. I sighed and rubbed at my eyes.

“Alright, I’m comin’. Where do I go?”

“Pier five. You know the place?”

“Yeah, I know it. Be there in a flash.” I clapped the cell shut and groaned, flopping onto my stomach and wilfully prying myself out of bed. This sucked, but it could have been worse. Zul might have been here, and I’d have to come up with some excuse for my leaving, again. It was hard enough that one time he’d caught me getting that call. I doubt the same excuse would work again. Or maybe it didn’t even work the first time and Zul’s just too sweet to ask any questions when it’s obvious I won’t answer.

Well whatever the case, it didn’t matter tonight. With a firm, annoyed frown fixed on my face I slipped on my leather jacket and snuck out the balcony door. My wings were sore from flying back just a few minutes ago, but I had to make good time and taking a cab would be too long. With a loud snap of leather I beat my wings as quick as I could, shooting through the night sky like a bullet. I have to admit it feels good, this wind in my hair, cold and crisp… Not spring just yet, so the winter’s bite was enough to wake me up properly. I’d need all my senses to be sharp tonight.

As I flew, just as always, the stars were yapping my ear off. I paid attention this time, figuring I might perhaps get a hint about tonight’s troubles… I must be dumb or something, because nothing of it made any sense. As always. They like to talk and talk and not really say anything at all-

Ah! Perhaps this little tidbit was relevant: By the waterside in the great big house, the Scorpion’s foes bite with many fangs. Safety in the Three. The Scorpion falls with red in the Four. I WAS going to a big house by the waterside, and “the Scorpion” has always referred to me before. Although I-I didn’t much like the sound of “the scorpion falling with red”… That sounds a little dire.

It took me fifteen minutes to make it to Durem’s Pierside, but nothing had started yet by the looks of things. I easily spotted the Boss, along with James and Rick, near the warehouse on Pier Five. Mindful of making a suitable entrance, I sped up as my body angled down, aiming right for their midst. Just before I slammed into them I spread my wings wide and snapped down, stopping my momentum with a spectacular burst of wind that set their hair to flipping. I settled into a proper height and folded my wings back, smirking at Felix. James and Rick never got used to it, seeing as we rarely worked together: they blinked at me like I’d turned stones into gold. Hn. I’m pretty sure I must have looked smug then.

Felix, on the other hand, wasn’t as impressed. He frowned and set his hat back into place, huffing. “Took you long enough.”

“Sorry Boss, you know how far my house is.”

“We gotta get you a place in the city one of these days, takes too damned long…”

He’d often threaten like that, but I knew he’d not follow through with it. Felix was a good guy, and he knew how I enjoyed my family. Big reason why he’d never asked to meet them, and never offered to have any protection given to them. They were not to be involved in this life, and Felix understood that. I just let it drop, focusing instead on the business at hand. “What’s up, anyway?”

“Amos from the West district has some business to discuss with me… Seeing as they’ve been sneakily encroaching onto our Northern district for a while now, I suspect this business discussion is a coup in disguise.” The mood turned serious, all three of us bodyguards settling into fight mode. Felix continued. “They think I don’t know what’s been going on, so we’re going to play dumb for now. This will be our best hidden ace. Riv, they made sure to call this meeting when they knew you were out for the night, so I don’t think they’ll expect you here. Climb up to the Fourth floor Supervisor’s office and wait there. I‘ll send the rest of the gang when they make it here: you’ll flank the enemy with them when the time comes.”

“Sure thing, Boss.”

“We’re going to strike when they’re within range, probably when he offers me the briefcase. Keep a keen eye, you two.”

Felix kept talking to James and Rick, but I wasn’t needed anymore so I took to the sky again, heading for warehouse five. Something was itching at me, and I couldn’t help the frown that pulled my features down. Fourth floor… Would I be falling with the red there? Was that what it meant? I wasn’t normally the type to disobey orders, but, well…

“Tch!” I tilted to the left and veered off-course. I wasn’t about to tempt things by going into the Fourth floor office. Third floor’s office would be closer, they might spot me in the windows from below, but the stars had said Safety in the Three… All I could do was hope I was right, and follow my guts. One of these days I should try to talk to someone about learning to understand this damned star-speak better. For tonight though, I circled to the other side of the building and landed on the third floor’s outside stairs. It was a simple matter to force the door open with the lock picks they’d taught me how to use, and I slipped inside quietly.

The warehouse was a large open area, of course. Stacks of shipping containers created a makeshift maze in the back of the place but the front half was completely open. I snuck closer to the edge of the window, from where I could look down… Across from the overhanging office I now occupied, I could see the fourth-floor supervisor’s office. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary there, and I began wondering if I’d misunderstood the stars’ warning? Was I going to get in trouble for disobeying?

My own thoughts would have to wait. The front door opened, letting in a stream of light from the outside, and Felix stepped in flanked by Rick and James. Almost immediately after, a spot of light began moving in from the back, between the shipping containers… Amos had come in from the back door, apparently. He stepped into the open area and walked forward, flanked by two of his own bodyguards. A flicker of movement caught my eye across the building: ah, movement in the fourth floor office. Must be the backups Felix had mentioned. I bit my lip, frowning… I might very well get in trouble now, not there to tell these guys when to attack… Ah well, they’ll know when, not like they really need me to give them orders.

My eyes returned to the scene below. A small folding table was brought about from the sides of the warehouse and set up in the middle. A briefcase was placed down on it, Amos motioning to it and obviously talking Felix up… The Boss didn’t look very impressed. Wished I could hear what was going on, so I could know what Felix said to make Amos scowl like that. I smirked, rather enjoying the way Boss could out-talk most other people.

This went on for about ten minutes. Long-a** talk, for a pair of men who were trying to get the other to play his hand… Eventually Felix began walking forward, and I tensed. That was the cue. He’d reach the briefcase and before the others could react, we were supposed to attack. I saw Rick and James subtly reaching for their guns while everyone’s attention was on Felix.

Boss reached a hand towards the case, turned it, opened it…

And all hell broke loose. James and Rick drew their guns a split second before the other two bodyguards did, and shot. One of the enemy got hit and fell but the other dove onto Amos to protect him , aiming and shooting at Felix, missing the Boss by a hair. Felix grabbed the briefcase and dodged behind Rick, drawing a gun of his own.

From across the room, the backup erupted like an explosion. Glass rained down from all the windows as the guys shot them out, raining bullets below. Not to be outdone, Amos jumped into the maze of stacking containers, a stream of his own guys filing out to cover his escape, trading bullet fire with our own fourth-floor guys. I swore. I’d been wrong. Nothing was going to happen here, the stars hadn’t been talking about that at all. Now I was going to be in trouble! Gritting my teeth, I pulled my own gun out of my jacket’s inner pocket. I hated using this thing, much preferring the hand-to-hand approach, but in a gunfight like this it’d be suicide to approach the enemy. I’d be likely to accidentally get shot by our own guys! I snuck closer to the inner door and opened it just a crack, enough to let my gun’s neck through, enough for me to aim. I took a few shots, the sound of my gun lost in the racket. I hit a few times, not all (I’m no good with guns damnit), but thankfully no one knew there was another person shooting from my side. I wasn’t getting any return fire. …Maybe that’s what the stars had meant?

Just as I was wondering about it, the meaning became all too clear. I saw something small and dark, about the size of a baseball, flying through the air towards the fourth floor office. My eyes widened so much they almost fell out of my head. That couldn’t be-

A REAL explosion rocked the fourth floor office. Debris, broken guns and pieces of folk rained down, the office itself creaking in protest as its integrity was compromised. I stopped shooting of course, staring at the carnage with mouth agape. I-I… I WOULD have been “falling with red” if I’d been in there! The red was in fact painting the floor below. That could have been me.

I finally remembered to breathe, and found enough brains to look around the main floor again: Felix and the guys were gone, probably ran out the front door sometime during the gunfight. Amos was gone too, towards the back door… It’d take a while to navigate that maze, he was probably only just getting out. I could find him if I hurried. I could find him and make him pay for all that death.

I put my useless gun away and hurried outside, flying up to the roof facing the back of the warehouse… Ah, I was right! There was Amos, leaving the building and heading for his car. There were five or six guards around that car. He’d be hard to get ahold of… I grinned, a plan hatching. Maybe not so hard to get ahold of after all.

I waited until everyone got in the car and it began pulling away. It was too simple to follow from above, even when more guys with guns emptied out of the warehouse, heading for their own cars with a grin. They’d been successful. So far. None of them thought to look up to make sure no one was following. Amos’ car turned the corner, out of view of the other gun-toting West district guys, and that was my chance. I dove down and quietly followed from just a few inches over the car. I peeked, spotted where Amos was sitting (passenger side front seat), and snickered. How easy was that!

I’d have to act fast. With one hand I grabbed onto the door handle and yanked with all my strength, grunting with the effort: the door popped open despite being locked, and I ducked down to grin inside. The bodyguards were floundering for their guns but it would be too late. I grabbed Amos by the collar and yanked him out. I wobbled from the sudden weight, but adjusted quickly. I drifted upwards and shifted my grip to his wrists, preventing him from punching me, then with a strong beat of wings I made my way back into the sky. I could hear the car screeching to a halt below, but it was too late: I veered over a block of buildings and quickly headed back towards the warehouses. Felix wouldn’t have gone far.

When I landed in front of Felix and the boys, I could tell they were all surprised to see me alive, without a single scratch. Like I’d come back from the dead. Couldn’t blame them, they thought I’d been in the fourth floor office! And now here I was like some indestructible god, bearing a gift to boot! I grinned like a Cheshire cat. I’d never tell them I was NOT in the fourth floor office… It was much too ego-boosting having them think I was some kind of god. “I believe you had some business with this guy, Boss?” I may have sounded much too arrogant as I said that, holding Amos’ wrists as I plopped him onto the ground.



Felix didn’t take too long “discussing” things with Amos. The Western Boss escaped the meeting alive, but bearing more than a few new scars. Felix and us quickly high-tailed it out of there, escaping the cops and the other West-boys by retreating to the safe zones in our own turf. We all sat in the Dalton Hotel’s bar, the usual hangout, and Felix handed me a thick envelope. “For you, kid. You’re something else.” He clapped me on the back while I peeked into the letter…

Holy s**t, there was like… close to 2000$ in there! With this, I’d be done paying pack the debt to Aphi and then some! “Boss-!”

“Take it. You deserve it, surviving all that and on top of it all delivering the a*****e I’d thought had escaped. But tell me, how DID you survive that explosion?”

I smirked mysteriously, tucking the money into my pocket. “Ask the stars.”

[[solo]] Discussing things / Meeting the Boss