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"It's not his fault. Mutations can be tricky If I knew there would be drinks, I'd bring some metal cups so that he'd have a easier time - bearing the one to celebrate." He managed as he looked around and then reached into his subspace for a small pencil case. Juggling his drink, he fished out a straw from the case and out it away. Having claws made him aware how useful straws were. Now with something that didn't mean he had to manipulate the cup much further, he took a long drink.

"Beni, you should enjoy a drink when it's offered. I can't imagine something can top the youma alcohol we had at that bar. You nearly won last time." He said with a smile, egging the other on as he took another drink.

To Miyamoto, he smiled. "You could take a poster. A accurate rendition of historic events. Considering how much a energy signature two royals fighting would make, getting a picture might have been a bit hard. He looks worse from wear. It's better he is alive at least." He commented and in the end, a dead royal stripped from the Cauldron was what mattered.

To Valeria, he waved her over and introduced her to the other officers. "A royal has died. That's a win for our side. It also will ripple through both sides. Moral can either make the side of Order angry and hopefully sloppy, or it can sadden them with the loss. Make their convictions waver. If s royal can die, it makes it hard to not worry about your own ability to continue on."

He took a other sip of his drink and looked over to the Mauvian kissing Faustite. He had a small bit of memories about celebrations such as the youma bar and other little gatherings, bit not parties like this. Lost, he whispered. "Do people kiss in these types of events or is the Mauvian his partner?"

Laven would be very upset if he had to kiss someone. He hadn't know that was part of the rules with these celebrations.

"I suppose I could take one." Though he was also certain it didn't depict things well enough, he could have drawn better himself, but it would have to do. "Indeed, it is good that he's alive." Turning off the frost, not wanting to chill the area too much, the corrupt couldn't help but wish he'd been there to see that death.

"It'll certainly help our side in the end. One less royal is a plus for us." And he did find himself nodding to the blonds words. The idea of mounting senshi and knights on spikes wasn't a bad one really. If they were talking about stiking at the moral of order than that would be a nice way to go, he'd even help with it personally.

"Am I going to wind up something like a designated driver for you two?" Glancing from one general to the other. As it seemed some sort of challenge had been posed by one and the other had accepted, things might just get very interesting with these two, he hoped they wouldn't get too drunk if this was what he thought it was.

"Mmm, I don't think they are. I don't know about most peoples lives though so I can't be certain." Shrugging a bit, because he really wassure he didn't care about peoples personal lives. They were personal for a reaso nand he didn't like the idea of people poking their noses into his life either. "I know people kiss at some events, like new years even, and other things but I'm unsure about this. I suppose it's up to each person." But he really did hope no one tried to kiss him.

Hyde saw the text from Wolframite, and when he arrived, he saw the posters along the way too. He had kept a low profile for a time about his business and overall cut a very tidy and relatively normal impression as he arrived. He didn’t know many people to speak to, but he did know the value of networking and showing face to social events. When someone left a door open for you, you showed up and did your best to be agreeable.

He'd spent several hours at work that day, but when Negaverse business called he dragged himself away from his dressing gown and comfortable reruns of old romance movies and slunk out to make himself known to the world at large.

Still, he knew better than to be obnoxious, keeping to the edge of the gathering, aware that at his rank you kept your mouth shut and your head down.

He politely drifted in the direction of Wolframite, the only person he knew off hand, but remained politely distant as he appeared to be entertaining some friends.

There would be no pictures, save the ones Albite was not even a little bit discreetly taking of Tama and Faustites 'first as far as he knew it' kiss! That s**t was getting saved, archived, having cute filters added onto it, being emoji-fied as he stood. He was proud of his boy, he was happy for Tama-gato for indulging in the shared win!

I ********' knew books were the answer!

He hadn't known how long it'd take the pair to mend the rift in their relationship, was sure the passing of time would help, along with Faustites survival and then christening to king-hood. He hadn't begun to imagine that it'd help this much-- but then words always worked eventually, didn't they? All that written, spoken, what-have-you-s!

"For the record, we're not goin full 'Se7en' n snapping pics or leaving clues of our kills, ah'right? Puhlease--and besides! My artwork is ********' impeccable, I'll take all the compliments you can spare! Heh, I had Cerbs help pick out the crayons---if this doesn't depict a warriors dying then I don't know what else would!" And he moved through the room like a large cheery wall toeing along a few others behind him. He'd come gone in slips of aura between aiding and abetting Faustite with bedecking the castle as a whole with messily scrawled invites and massive crayon arrows pointing in only the one direction, then gathering the few people he knew couldn't come on their own---

Who wouldn't've known to come if he hadn't gone out n gathered 'em.

It was an impromptu celebration of his loves power, because they could throw parties now without asking! Because this -- this here -- was for him -- just as big as unveiling a hospital, or gaining ownership of an entire bank, it was a cauterization of perceived loss. A surefire win! But also, for Albite personally? It was a moment to give a quasi-private toast to Cybele. All the parts of himself that were joyous, that were ecstatic, were also tinged with somber sobriety. He felt the urge to mourn her passing just as much as he did to praise Faustite for being the cause of it! She was his vicious deer of an eternal enemy; she was meant for this! To be order, to fight them, to spread her wings on the other side and beckon every last one of her perceived enemies to come at her without any bullshit, to take their chances as she took hers. This wasn't the first time she'd lost to them, just another one of many sun chasing moon moments, and one more of many fiery rooftop debacles. The kind where Albite stayed up late unknowing of which person he'd see again later-- but it would be the last.

Her last.

For real this time. He realized he'd miss her, her clarity, her sharpness. He was maybe even jealous of the fact that he hadn't been able to be there to see in person how she went down.

That he hadn't been the one to kill her himself.

He had loved her in his own way, and now she was gone. Now he'd have to wait again to see her rise up outta the ashes, phoenix like in fresh new glory of a new life. Maybe the next Praxidike would tell the next Cybele the most interesting sort of stories? Maybe Faustite would still be sitting where he was now--surrounded, looking less wounded and beat into the earth; but still resplendent and firey and existing only in the way timeless creatures could.

Heh--I've never had a waaaay older boyfriend before! Not a husband either, could be cool!

His own winding thoughts proceeded him as he slipped through the crowd, dog whistled for Tama and Faustites benefit, as he found himself passing Jada and Borax, while also passing up the drinks on tap -- Not that he'd ever needed a drink to have a good time! Oh no, he could've gotten high off the win alone, seeing everyone else a little bit sloshed and trying their cups through sober eyes was another private joy to savor all on his own!

"Hey J'bird--" and he was warm with her as he ever was, squeezed her shoulder gently. Only letting go to adjust his own tiniest of top hat party hats, the kind that looked ridiculously glittery gold where the wire of it would definitely tangle up in his dreads. "Been missing you--isn't this amazing? A little well deserved retribution on your end, right?"

What else did he say--how did he console ******** but he wanted her to have fun, no? More than that? He wanted her to be happy. He missed her daggered little smiles n the way she lit up with thoughts he couldn't begin to fathom--always smarter--always a red edge with her. Then Borax caught his eye and he had to wave at the man, because he wasn't about to steal Tama's shine by interrupting Faustites hard ******** months n years (it felt like it!) won moment!

"Oh, Borax! Lookin sharp~" All sorts of tease for the business-banker-bro, shared joke with private edge. "I managed to drag Cry' n some others along, Aramis, the plant man---Cry's been meaning to apologize for missing out on the celebratory pre-bank-banquet. The way his actual job fucnk' steals him sometimes...n'he had idunno, some study thing? S'important--" and Albite's tone implied it wasn't important as this, right here, right now, that he was growing weary of certain absences, that if planned things couldn't be planned for? Then the impromptu would have to do.

Deaths, births, weddings, those were things not to be missed ever in his mind.

When Wolframite approached, Faustite's attention went to the cup in his palm, then lit on the Captain's features. Seemed he wasn't just inconveniencing himself with the cheap plastic cups; it might be worth looking into a better alternative for hands that weren't quite the usual human ones.

His compliment was taken with a wry smile. "Not this time." Maybe there would be a time where he was sloppy enough to be divested of his weapon and attacked with it, or he'd wind up with an arm crushed or something. That felt like an inevitability, what with the war being so dependent on skirmishes. There would be a day, he was sure. in the interim, he was lucky enough to escape with his arms and legs still attached, though they often felt like they didn't want to be.

But Wolframite had his own social circle with whom to intermingle, what with Miyamoto there, and he assumed Wolfy must have had some old history with Benitoite, as they were both longstanding officers. Faustite didn't blame him for dipping out, considering Tama was brazen enough to follow up on that request.

With ******** flourish.

He didn't expect the boy to say anything but no, with a sassy and offensive demeanor on full display. Instead, what he got was exactly what he asked for, and Faustite was sufficiently drunk and surprised that he lagged in responding to that kiss and couldn't figure out what to do with his hands. He knew what he wanted to do with them, but Tama wasn't like the other boys — he'd catch fire. They didn't need an accompaniment of burning hair with burning plastic.

But the worst was yet to come — that familiar fluttering feeling that assured him that the kiss would linger much longer in his mind than it would on his lips. He remembered enough of himself to return that kiss, to keep it shorter than he would have liked for the sake of present company as well as his own sake, though for separate reasons. It did not stop the flush from flooding his features, however.

But he would mulishly pretend it wasn't there.

Albite's booming presence provided a welcome distraction from being stuck in his feelings. He was the artist for the posters; it would have been a shame if Albite decided he couldn't make it to the actual event. He was part of the inspiration behind the surfeit of alcohol on tap. Albite was such a marvelous drunk that he'd take the show away from how badly Faustite needed a ******** drink. Seemed he had other engagements, however; he was already off talking with Jadarite and Borax, who likely could have used some boosting up after their op got blown.

"Don't encourage him," he complained to Tama concerning the debauchery comments. "At least make it an afterparty so I don't get eviscerated by the Queen."

He was going to need more alcohol for this. Especially with Prehnite adding more fuel to the fire.

His flush deepened to a bruise-mottled red with that sly bit of tease, and Faustite had half a mind to toss the remainder of his drink on Prehnite's uniform. But he shared custody of Mizuki, and it was only for her that he'd refrain (or that was what he told himself in the moment). "You're an a*****e," he commented flatly. "But you didn't have to bring anything." He was already feeling like he'd gone too far with it.

"Have a drink. You'll be less boring after a few rounds."

A nod was given to Prehnite as the other passed by, as he really wasn't aquainted with the other, as his attention shifted right back to Wolframite. "Mmm, I'm willing to bet your memory is that bad as I'm fairly sure I drank you under the table...and myself for that matter." He still didn't remember how he'd gotten home from that mission, and he was fairly certain he never wanted to know, he'd been lucky he'd gotten down to the basement to get the youma piece. He could remember falling, and flopping, behind the bar and quite possibly falling out of his chair and onto the floor.

"Oh what a shame that we can't acess that bar any longer. I never did get to visit again." And right now, with Wolframite here, he very much might like that idea. That not only brought back good memories, of a time long gone by, but it was in a way freeing. He'd been young, a lot younger than he was now, and he had been all too happy to jump right into things without much thought or care to the possible outcome. All he knew was that they were going to bring the fight to the senshi and deal them a hell of a blow, and they had, but those times were gone and many who had been there were gone. Some dead perhaps and others vanished, perhaps back to civilian life. But Wolframite was still here and while he looked vastly different he was still here and alive.

"What say you to a redo of that night?" He questioned as the other pulled a thermos out of subspace. "I'm fairly certain I spotted mixers as well." Normally he did not drink, he kept his cool and calm, but tonight he wouldn't mind a rehashing of the past and drink himself under the table if at all possible. For the times long past and those who were no longer here to celebrate with them - who coould not witness things like this.

"For those who cannot celebrate with us we should celebrate for them instead." And see which of them could drink more. Yup, not likely a good diea for the tiny General who could not hold his liquor at all. This would not go well for him but he also didn't care. He could, and would most certainly, have his cousin pick him up once this was all over.

If they thought he didn't hear them they were wrong, though he supposed they were trying to be heard, and in return the dark haired eternal raised a brow at the other. "Leaving clues? A single picture sitting on an office desk, framed, is a clue. I'm not asking to litter the city with flyers depicting what happened. I happen to have wanted her dead, wanted to assist in it, so I just wanted that bit of pleasure that seeing her body would have provided." Since he wasn't there himself, since he hadn't dealt the final blow to her, he had wanted to take her down and he'd made that clear to the General King once in the not so distant past.

"Your artwork..." Trailing off, tone dripping with doubt, he shook his head slowly. "I make a living doing art." So he was a critic, of sorts, and would be with this. He was trusted by peopple to leave his art on their bodies for life, something that they had to live with, it was a lot of trust put into him and a lot of preasure to be good and to not ******** up. He did have a harsh eye when it came to looking at art, and he likely always would. As he stood at Wolframite's side his dark eyes drifted away from the one who tried to call him out. Was it really so wrong to want to enjoy the death over and over again in the form of a picture to look at?

He obviously had no compliments to give and was instead eyeing the two generals who were, in all likelihood, planning to drink themselves under the table. A glance to the pink haired female and he nodded his head once. "We'll get the hang over food for them, once they're done." That was, as far as he was concerned, a done deal. They'd just need to figure out what food to get once the two were done.

Watching Wolframite go off to mix himself a drink, suspecting he didn't like the strength of pure alcohol, the eternal senshi nodded once at the others request when he'd returned. It was with little thought that the air about him chilldren and frost crept out from under his feet and spread. it trailed along the floor following the trail of dark hair, and he nodded once to Wolframite. "Better?" He questioned, already knowing the answer.

“Nice to meet you all.” Hyde said with a warm smile as he was introduced to Benitoite, Valeria and Miyamoto, making note in turn of their names as best he could. That was one of the more difficult parts of the Negaverse, he found. In the real world people tended to have names that rolled off the tongue quite comfortably, the Negaverse tended to set him more in mind of med school and the vast arrays of drug nomenclature he’d been forced to memorise and even his own full name was quite a mouthful. “I do hope that everyone is having a most pleasant evening.”

He did find himself eyeing Faustite with curiosity. Half-youma were very much in his interest sphere and his only regret was that it was difficult to get a closer look without coming across as unsetting.

He investigated the alcohol on display and carefully picked out a wine that he knew he enjoyed. Hydroxyapatite was a consummate lightweight who hadn’t had anything to eat today, so this was a gamble, but not to drink anything would be rude and not encouraging of the hospitality shown.

He took a small sip, but mostly just observed and listened, trying to get a handle on who knew who and the ebb and flow of social interaction.