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Shun couldn't help but tense a little as Nick gave him a hug. It wasn't anything against her. He just really was not the hugging sorts. He liked his personal space. Once released, he relaxed once more, nodding to her in turn as she had lightened up from that dark laugh she gave. At the mention of her being released from her leash, he peered at the pendants she procured.

Good, so they wouldn't need to worry about the Iron Judge so much here then. He was curious on how she managed to break free, but that was not important at the moment. Besides, he was soon surprised as she mentioned marriage. His brows lifted, not expecting that sort of announcement. Furthermore, it seemed that her fiance was nearby as well.

Taking the one pendant that was held out to him, he looked it over briefly, then turned to see the new Bandit king. This was quite the group they had gathered here to go against the Judge. Not only that, but it looked like the Sergeant's story had some stock to it after all, regarding Riot and Nick. Granted, the main difference was that Nick was still alive and as far as he was concerned, Riot was not out to kill him. Not now at least.

"If I survive through this whole ordeal, I'd be glad to see it," he said in response to the sudden invitation. That was all he had to say for it, as they needed to get to business soon enough. Turning towards Talon, he furrowed his brow as the man began to rant through the things he had been through recently. That.. was certainly more than he expected to hear.

"You're free to walk away," Shun said lowly before watching as the other pilot went on towards his zoid. Perhaps he wasn't done just yet then. Though, that didn't stop him from being a little concerned. If Talon was really that stretched thin, something may end up snapping in the middle of this mission. And that.. could potentially be hazardous for the rest of them, depending. Perhaps the man should sit out of this mission. He was right in that there were a lot of crazy things going on lately, though. Shun had his doubts that Rish was playing mastermind to all of this but...

Anything was possible.

Shaking his head, he looked at the other three in the area. Before heading towards his own Zoid so that they could move on, he had one more question.

"What is this exactly?" he asked, motioning to the pendant. His guess was that it had something to do with perhaps warding off the fog, but he couldn't be sure.

As Talon approached, Riot's eyes returned their placement on the tattered male. The vary outspoken male. As Talon went on about his poor happens, Riot slipped a hand in his jacket to pull out another one of those shinny red apples. His hand tucked as it was cradled to his chest, nodding emphatically riot listened the whole time as the male ranted. Though the Whitebane's attention remained solely on the apple, his hand rotated along it's circumference, taking away all the outwardly blemishes. Feeling it, the apple was firm, and strong. Tilting his head down, his head drew just close enough to the fruit to take in the crisp sweet smell.

Oh. It was going to be a amazing tasting that was for sure. Rudolf almost found himself a bit jealous that he hadn't eaten it first.

As their was a pause in Talon's understanding ramble, Riot tilted his head and looked back to the male. A soft breath released from his lips, as a calm smile rested on his features. Azure eyes blinked, as his stance took a lazy lean back. Yes, Talon had been though a lot. His body was torn, broken, he had been scared half to life, and thought he had had lost dear and new friends. Though a simple repeated phase left the fallen kings lips:

"That's nice."

A human could only go through so much, Nick and himself had found out that much. Though they did have each other, and Riot wasn't about to share what Nikita had been though. It was described simply on her features, though she looked far better now. Talon would know what she had looked like before and only at her second form.

As the Soldier continued on his way, Riot raised a hand and waved back to the little MRZ, and shared just as pleasant of a smile. The hand that tucked the apple on his chest, folded out to his side as he offered it for Talon to take as he passed. Riot turned his head to fallow Talon's sight beside him.

A amused smile slipped across his lips. "Something like that..." Riot couldn't suppress a chuckle from leaving him. He had done so well to keep back the burst of laughter he felt rising in his chest....

Something like that.....indeed.

Eyes moved from Talon weither he had taken the apple or not, it remained offered to him as Riot found himself looking to Shun.

"My Friend, we would all count ourselves lucky to be able to just 'walk away'." Riot chuckled once more, before turning his sight to look back at Ander.

His hand merrily swept under his chest as the top part of his stance bent in a bow to Anders lifted nose. The dark over coat that fell over his body made the arrogant gesture all the more show worthy.

After all the world was his stage and the people his audience.

Though admittedly he did kinda look like some sort of ascentric hobo, with his unshaven blond features and lengthy blond hair. Unmatching cloths, odd garb and though being that he did take things. He could be described as poor pirate as well....

Fancy ascentric pirate hobo....

Shun shrugged lightly at Talon's response but then looked towards Nick with a sense of puzzlement. The Jury? The way she worded that made it seem like it was sentient, much more so than most zoids. Then again, considering how old that zoid was... he supposed that was quite possible.

"I suppose," he replied to Riot. Technically any of them could physically walk away from this whole ordeal. It was more of a matter of if they should be doing that given that the amount of people who could deal with the trouble was incredibly few. He was one to believe that there was always a choice. The alternative choices could be incredibly poor and should not be taken given the consequences, but they were still there regardless.

He then looked over the pendant as Nick explained what had happened regarding herself and the fog. Well that was pleasant to hear. Now the fog had more murderous intent than before. They certainly had their work cut out before them. With luck, they wouldn't need to expend the use of the pendants. If they had to crack it, he doubted it could be used more than once. They had come away from the black fog at least once before without any ill effects, but he wouldn't want to push their luck as far as that went.

"Understood, and I agree with Talon," he murmured before moving over towards the other pilot to hand over the second pendant. As he was mulling things over, he turned back and started to head in the direction of his own zoid.

"Hopefully the fog isn't capable of taking form of organics," he muttered. It being able to take form of the court or an organoid wasn't as much of an issue compared to if it could become a doppleganger to one of the pilots.

"Eh." Riot answered softly with a week shrug of the hand that relinquished the apple as it was taken. What was he going to do, leave the poor man to starve?

It was just as he started to straighten. He was boarded! Riot feel the slight change of weight on his body as he felt the little MRZ swaddle up his back and rest proudly on his head.

What a personality. Amusingly he was reminded of another loved red dino, and the flexing war that happened with the beast of a dragon. He still had yet to fully teach Kagi about what it meant to be a 'man'.

"Welcome aboard." Riot chuckled as his sharp blue eyes found the corner of his upper gaze to see the strange little mechanical creature.

As the sky rumbled with more then thunder, Riot's eyes turned his head slightly as he stopped his head from tilting up too far back. He wouldn't want to disrupt his little new found friend, now would he?

He found himself more uncomfortable by the familiar blasts. Far more then usual. After all, more was at stake now...

Though all worry was taken, as he felt Nick's finger tips awake his tightly curled fist. Unknowingly it had tightened but her soft touch coxed his own to gently but firmly hold back. Azure eyes turned his head to look back at the woman beside him, her soft touch and presence caused his lips to stretch in more of a smile. Pulling his thoughts from oblivion.

Eyes were where they should be.

Releasing a sigh, Riot turned his eyes back upon Ander before looking at shun.

"I suppose?" The Male pulled a smirk on his lips, with admittedly a bit more trouble then usual. A weak chuckle left him once more, as his free hand moved in his jacket and he pulled free the last apple he had. He was saving it for later, but...


"Now, Shun. Luck, be a lady, but after all the dealer is a man...." Riot tossed the apple at the male with a warning bob of his hand. (Just to make sure he was paying attention.)

"You better be all in, and hope he doesn't call your bluff." The youngest Whitebane released the apple in the air in Shun's walking direction.

"That's for the 'rode'." The fallen King pointed at the moving male. "After all, can't play hero with a empty stomach." He then winked.

Attention turned back to Talon. His point turned acute to the dino on his head. "Hey." Rudolf spoke with a grand slue of amusement.

"Can I keep him?" he asked, partly in joke and gesture to kind with how amusing the creature was.

To Nick's words, Shun nodded grimly in understanding. The illusion aspect of the fog was going to be trouble; he could tell that much right now. Something also told him that the success rate of this particular mission wasn't all too high. But, they were going to have to try and pull through it, one way or another. After all, Talon and himself had already survived through a few temple runs... among other things in Talon's case.

Hearing Riot respond to him, he turned and saw the nod briefly before an apple was tossed in his direction. The soldier managed to catch the fruit, and he paused to look it over.

"I doubt I'd be here right now if I didn't plan on giving my all," he stated. Looking between Riot and Talon, he shrugged somewhat impassively at the various casino references. Though, he couldn't help but give somewhat of a flat expression towards the bandit as he brought up hero business. He was just getting that everywhere he went, didn't he? He was just doing what was needed of him, even if they were somewhat unsavory things. And he still considered heroes to be those that you would want to look up towards. He wasn't really sure if anyone in this group would quite fit that bill.

"..Thanks," he said a little flatly, keeping a hold of the apple.

Riot's own grin grew to Talon's words, to his own reference. Oh, he liked this one.

Chuckling to the comment of bring Moe, back before his bed time. Well, if that was the case, it would be best for the little Dino to stay with his main friend. After all, there was no telling when or if they would be comming back.

As his gaze focused to Shun and his 'thanks', Riot only raised a hand with a shrug. Well, at least he got a 'thanks'. Though his expression seemed to say otherwise. Had Nick not nuzzled his shoulder, he might have asked for his apple back.


"Ah, Damn..." Riot sighed as Nick warned his thoughts. Right. "best, you return to Mr. T, little buddy." Riot's blue eyes looked up to the little Dino and it's snug little perch. His hand raised to offer Moe a little bit of assistance.


"May the wind, be at all of your back's..." The Whitebane offered in a sigh, as he look to the other giving a little nod to the three males. He really did wish the best for them as It looked like they would be parting ways so soon. Sad, though he was hunted, Riot was actually found of people and being around others. It was a missed luxury as of late, but nothing he regretted in his actions.

Looking to Nick, Riot gave a little smile.

Back to Work.

The oncoming storm was ominous to say in the very least, but Shun wasn't expecting this mission to be easy anyway. As Nick addressed him, he regarded her silently, then let out a sigh. He just nodded to her, hen looked over to where the dark clouds were in the distance.

Not disagreeing with Ander, he made his way to his own Zoid, pausing once as he heard Riot gave well wishes. Holding onto the apple that had been tossed at him moments ago, he nodded to the bandit, then climbed up into the cockpit, getting his machine ready for what was to come shortly.

"Bent, Zutnic. Hope you guys are ready," he murmured before letting out a slow breath. He took some time to try and clear his head while he awaited further orders.

As Nick's hand released from Riot, his attention shot from his 'farewell' to the sky. Sharp eyes darted to the shadows, his step slid back and he quarter turned himself tightly to be at Nick's back.

Quickly his hand shifted passed his coat and he pulled out a 'borrowed' pistol. it wasn't his .55 magnum, but it would have to do. His stance spread to be able to move with Nick, as well as have her back.

-Love! A barrier?!- Riot quickly suggested, his thoughts quicker then lightening to Nick. He knew she wanted her friends to be safe, but he wanted her safe...more.

s**t.

A growl rattled though his throat.

There was far too meany...and still just one.

Wait...

no...

Quickly his eyes tried to keep with the movements. He fired off a few quick shots if not to hinder the shadows' trajectory. The Male wasn't about to wait for a counter attack.

Though...

It was too late.