Welcome to Gaia! ::

"I..." Vahn wasn't much for words, at least when it came to the real gist of them. He was as crude as the next guy often times, not wanting to waste time with subtext.

Yet he couldn't help but feel deepened right now. This was one of those moments in his life where he actually had to stop being the child, and just stare up... and be the man that people saw.

All his life had revolved around conflict, and the for all the heartache endured, he had never been as wrought over a matter of the heart as this.

He caused this pain.

There was no one else to lay the blame on, try as Shin might be with his words.

Just like he had let his brother go on and get into the position he was right now...pitting the world itself at stake on a perilous level unlike any that the Murmillion had faced before.

"I need her.

I am nothing without her.

Just the dying embers on the end of a matchstick...I didn't want to lose her--- I thought I was protecting her-- but all I ended up doing was making it worse!"

His thoughts were on the children now. How was he to explain to them on why they had no mother?

"I owed her more....than that. I swear...by the fire in my body...I will not lose her again."

"By that I can only assume you mean I'm happy to let the world pass me by. In a sense though your right, I'm not all that concerned about most of the things that go on around me. It does get a tad lonely at times though. Old friendships grow older and yet do not grow deeper, its as if Instead of letting the world pass me by Ive taken a giant step off its edge. "

Dante frowned seriously, perhaps a bit more seriously than he should have in the situation.

"You cant always expect the status quo in these times, far too many people take it for granted and that just furthers the deviance. Those that have connections, nurtured do not tend to them as they should and they become complacent. Old things, remembered things become to distant to rely on and it makes life hard for those who still need those connections.

I suppose my age is just making me sentimental but Ive honestly fallen a lot over the last few years. My skills have deteriorated and Im not exactly the protector I once was. I suppose thats the lament of all 'old' men though..."

Dante smiled a thin frail little smile but a smile none-the-less before taking a drink, the liquid seemingly refreshing his spirit a tad.

"Im sorry, you really should stop me before I get into such depressing topics..."

"I suppose."

he responded flatly, shed never know just how right she was though concerning comparing notes on how they had failed. Dante knew the feeling all to well. He took another sip of his wine and stopped to stare into the crimson red alcohol that swirled int he glass. As much as he may have looked somber he was merely trying to recollect himself and banish his rambling thoughts.

"But you're correct in that the youngin's are free to make all the mistakes they wish. Though its a dangerous time for anyone to fall these days."

Dante remembered the stories he'd heard on the road here, of families being slaughtered, young boys barely up to his waist being forced to take up the sword to defend their very lives, and the merciless men, fully mortal that sought to abuse their situation for their own personal gain.

"Dangerous times indeed."

Though Dante somberness had faded he seemed to become almost angered by staring into his drink, though he was known occasionally for his mood swings they were infrequent and often times saved for times when he truly was fighting for something, now he just seemed to have become unhinged this mood having come from joy to sadness to downright anger. He had never been a completely adjusted mind but in the wake of all the suffering he had seen take place in such a short time it still hit him like a sack of angry cats and he almost felt the glas begin to tremble in his hands as he squeezed it too tightly.

"Oh my..."

His mind realized just what he was doing a tad to late, and his hand closed around the glass setting it to shatter within his hand the red wine falling almost straight down onto the table cloth as the glass fragmented in his hands, even the sting of alcohol burning the small gash the glass had made in his palm was obfuscated by the adrenaline in his system, and that -like adrenaline was known to do- brought him back to the peak of his awareness, first to his surroundings, then inwards as he finally realized the mess he had made. The wound on his hand was of minor concern to him a mere gash, one that would heal well in time, and certainly nothing that would require stitches but it seemed to bleed as if a rive had rushed forth from his palm. The mix of crimson on his napkin and table cloth was almost hypnotic but even in his state he was able to realize just how much of a social faux pa he had made.

"Oh Im sorry, I guess I dont know my own strength."

He tried to smile to play it off as if he'd done it on accident but he could still feel his heart beating in his chest, a hatred for those foul evil things that had been reawakened after all the distractions since he'd arrive. He closed his eyes for a second to regain himself and opened them to look down at his palm , and pluck the crystal out of his hand, the feeling of his heart throbbing and the now increased blood flow almost felt surreal to him as the adrenaline began to fade from his system, the dull pain for the first time reaching his brain. His face didn't change when the pain reached him it was a minor wound, but he still followed his basic first aide and pressed down with his thumb on his wrist to slow the blood flow. It had only been a few seconds in real time since the glass had exploded him his hand but it felt much longer to Dante. Hate was a strong emotion and it had completely blind sided him in this instance, now that he'd returned from his little internal romp he remembered he still had a guest in front of him.

"Im sorry again Nedy, but may I borrow your napkin...?"

Dante let her work without much of a protest beyond the initial shock to find her there in front of him. She was fast, a lot faster than Dante felt at this point in time. It wasn't that Dante didn't remember that she was the person who for so long was the rock of Leviathan's endlessly busy infirmary, it was simply that it had been so long it took time for his full recollection to return to him, and now I his still somewhat dazed state it was even harder.

He tried to interject but before he could say anything he was 'tsk'ed in response forcing him to shut his mouth and follow her directions. He stretched his fingers back as far as they would go , forcing the wound to protest a gush a bit more into the napkin. The smell of sulfur began to permeate the table and napkin, apparent to anyone whose sense of smell was more acute than normal.

"Thank you, I-" He whispered

"I don't know what came over me..."

Dante watched as she began to place the bandage and tried to smile, but he felt so heavy headed. He knew why he had done it now, the short respite of innocence his mind had immediately after wards had faded and he felt the emotion deep and raw inside him and it was all so very clear. Dangerous, rash, and fool hearty but still there. There wasn't much else he could say to Nedy, he knew she would understand but he didn't need to burden her with that, he'd be fine in a minute.

He always was, or at least he always tried Emotions in his race where quick, acute and fiery, and hate was one of the few that drove better men than Dante to madness. He had always told himself he could control such things, but like that piece of glass that had pierced his hand it became clear he was not immune to it.

He smiled at Nedy and waited until she was done before drawing his hand back and flexed it a bit to make sure the band aid would stay on the mound, before signaling the waiter for some more napkins as he stood up from the now dirty table.

"Perhaps we should move to another Table."

A Friendship?

Maximos said the word as if it was new. As if he had to be tasted for the first time again. It wasnt the word, but the concept that was new. The enemy of your enemy is your friend. But what if your friend was by technical standards one of the enemy, though still an enemy of your enemy and still your friend for reasons other than the conflict at hand? Max didnt know. But at the same time it didnt matter.

Yes. Yes indeed.

He smiled, gently, nodding slowly as the idea found a home in his head. It fit perfectly. Omikron was right, each of his words struck a chord of truth, Maximos could feel resonate within. He did have his memories, good and bad. He envied that Omikron had a mostly blank slate to look back upon. He wondered if the being before him did not feel the same, only opposite. Did he wonder what it might be like to know all that was with held?

The similarities between the two could not be denied. One a man who believed himself a monster, though a man outside. The other outside, what some might call monstrous, but inside pure as if not purer than most any man. Maximos' smile grew.

I should think that, I'd like that.

In this moment, Fate felt so very tangible. Just as the Shadelord had said, the sheer elements that had to align to bring about this sort of meeting, simply could not be passed off as co-incidence. Even more so, when one took into consideration the nature of the individuals involved. There was an emotion here, a sentiment made this such an easy thing to accept.

I'd like that very much infact, Omikron.

His smile grew even wider.

Trust. Maximos was not quick to give it out, but he most definitely felt it. Above all else there was a sincere honesty to the Shadelord's hollow voice. An understanding lie unspoken between both men. He believed, honestly, that Omikron could stop him should his inner monster be freed. And he, likewise. Though not out of some need to vindicate or save the world as a whole, but out of concern care, and a desire to free the individual beneath the horror. He would not slay the monster, he would protect his friend.

Yes. They would be able to keep an--His thoughts paused. His eyes moved to the large yellow eye before him. An eye on...He didnt laugh. It took alot of effort but he held it. But There was no way Omikron could have meant that pun.

But either way in the gloom that started the day and that faced the world Maximos found a reason to hold his spirits high and smile bright. Idly his tongue slipped out across his lip, feeling fresh healed flesh. He noted his arm was no longer tingling, the warm sensation had passed. He curled his fingers up into a ball, then loosened them feeling no sharp pains. That meant there was only one thing left to do.

He reached forward, with his newly healed arm, grabbing the teapot from the center of the table and held it up, thumb on the lid. It had weight and warmth, there was still usable water inside. He noted directly that there were no teabags or leaves in Omikron's cup. And it was because of this that he said.

More tea?

If Omikron enjoyed the ritual surrounding the steaming liquid, then thats exactly what they would share.

There simply is nothing quite like sharing a cup of tea with a friend after all.

The elf lord nodded, squeezing Vahn's shoulder briefly before taking a step back for his own comfort if nothing else. When it came to this kind of thing, he was way out of his element.

"I'll let you see to it's contents later then. I haven't read it-- but I uh, recognize what she gave you. I recommend hearing the letter before you wear it. It's something rather uhh... significant to our kind."

He smiled awkwardly, noting that normally seeing such an item in Vahn's possession would have made him furious beyond words. The tug of jealousy was still there, but the resentment had lessened. Whatever feelings were present here, anger wasn't one of them.

His ears twitched as footsteps approached behind, but his focus was still on Vahn. His face was like an open book to some extent, the war within himself visible for all to see.

His hand went to his throat, and Shin watched as Vahn broke one of the many chains that bound him.


"Am I interrupting anything?"


Shin turned to face Athan, and to give Vahn a moment to himself as best he could. Nodding a greeting to the giant,

"No, I was just waiting for you before we started discussing business, since I don't see the need to repeat what needs only be spoken once.

Besides, If I understand correctly... of all those opposing Victor and Ra'kar and Alpha, You have the deepest connection to the Shade Lord? "

Athan didn't look like he regretted breaking up the conversation at hand as the elf turned around. He was as straight-faced as ever, and to those that had known him before Eden rose again, this was a testament to just how much the current situation was weighing on the big guy.

All semblance of 'joy' had been forsaken when Athan learned of Alpha's ties to his ancestry. Much like an addict, Athan had forsaken damn near everything for little more than a chance at doting out revenge. Strained relationships, forsaken contracts, a Heaven or Hell victory, all tossed aside for the sake of getting just one swing at the red-eyed Shade Lord. Two times now Athan has had the opportunity, and twice he had failed miserably. Resolve, it seemed, was not the only thing missing from his first encounter.

"That's a nice way of putting it."

Athan's 'connection' to Alpha was hardly something the swordsman could have put into words. In fact, were it not for his dreams, Athan would have no reason for hating the Shade as much as he did. True, Alpha had been responsible for driving a wedge between his ancestors and, ultimately, became the catalyst for their genocidal cival war, but in some odd, roundabout way, Athan had to owe his existence to the Shade.

It was sickening to think of it that way, and so in typical fashion, Athan just buried that doubt beneath hatred. After all, Rage was far simpler and more familiar to the swordsman than any other feeling.

"But all I want is to see that thing dead."