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Asher blinked up, having been so lost in his own world the voice almost startled him. Why did this woman insist on talking with him? Cool grey eyes regarded her with less fear than confusion. They were both annoying in their own way, so perhaps a comraderie was expected of the annoyances?

He was reminded then that he hadn't spoken a response to Enya's question, but had been staring at her for some time. The light breeze toyed at his hair, the strands caressing his face, but it brought no softness to the somber ferocity Asher carried about with him. His very essence seemed in some way malicious, as though his every thought lingered and concluded with death.

Haku patted Asher's head in a way that subtly commanded he answer her.
"It's well made." He offered at legnth, staring at the wounds his teeth had caused in the soft cookie flesh. A very high quality cookie indeed. He finished it off.

That was the trick, it seemed. Asher did indeed like his older brothers, and her steering the topic toward them was a wise move, at least in Asher's own opinion. Haku preferred not to become the topic of conversation, but decided to not comment. If it brought his brother from the stoic shell, he didn't mind.

A look that could almost pass for a smile found Asher's face as he shot his look up to Haku, to the green and blue of his brother's hair, and the clear cerulean of his eyes. It was really no wonder he was so fond of Haku, for despite being unknowingly handsome, he was patient, kind and polite. His lack of vanity was also endearing. Asher nodded at Enya, yes, he did like following in his brother to work.

As he watched Enya, a slightly possessive wave overtook him. He didn't want her to like Haku as much as he did. Love was for romantic fools, and only led to spending time and energy on things unimportant. At least, Asher mused, Haku seemed dedicated to the book.

Haku folded his hands and quietly watched Enya eat, unaware that it might make her nervous.
"...Do you like the soup?" he queried at legnth.

"Glad you think so, and I'd love to meet your family and show them around." Haku said, listening to the comparison with interest. Ranger, what a facinating name. Then, rangers usually weren't known for being chatterboxes, whether in fiction, traditional literature, or otherwise.

"Flame sounds very wise." He added almost as an afterthought. From his pocket Haku fished out a small tin, and from it withdrew a piece of preserved fish. He chewed it thoughtfully as he replaced the tin within the confines of his pocket, listening to it clink as it touched another metallic object.

"Do you have any friends Asher?" Enya queried of the malevolent boy. His right eyebrow dropped into an ireful expression. This red Hououza continued to speak through her bites of food!

"Certainly not." Asher replied, dropping his gaze from her to where his brown arms casually folded. He eyed his morbid markings through lowered lids. Haku piped up,
"I'm sure such an amiable lady as yourself has plenty of friends, correct?" He asked to Enya.

Haku nodded wordlessly in appreciation of Flames open mindedness. It was a trait few expressed, but one he was always happy to see. Gasping softly, he grasped the empty bowl before Enya had a chance to throw it away. The bowl was ceramic, and thus needed to be washed, not disposed of. He set it on the tray and left Enya with her remains of cookie, glass of milk and a few napkins as he gave the tray to Delia.
"Thank you." He said quietly, smiling as Delia broke out in blushes.

"Twins?" Haku piped when he returned, "Were their names Kuroi and Shiro? One boy who wears black clothes and has dark hair, and a girl with a white dress and blonde hair?" If these were the twins he had known, well! He hadn't seen them since childhood!

Asher thought carefully on it. Perhaps the question wasn't so much why he didn't have friends, but why he seemed so insistant on never aquiring any. Had Enya not noted his behavior? Only his brothers tolerated him, and not even very frequently at that.
"I like no one, and no one likes me. Besides, the mindless persuit of company is an infantile distraction." He noted with confidence. He liked himself just fine, and since he was the one he had to deal with most often, that suited him. If he managed somehow to get friends, he wouldn't object, but he wasn't about to go out of his way.

Haku smiled slightly and nodded as he took his seat.
"Hikaro and I used to play with them at the park, but that was a very long time ago."

Asher looked cross. She said his opinion was stupid? How absurd!
"First of all, you reworded my sentance. I said the thoughtless persuit was infantle, I didn't say friendship itself was mindless. Some people can only justify their personality through the existance of others who put up the front of caring for them. If one has friends, it is fine. Plus, if your friends are the only reasons you get up in the morning, you're a dependant person who cannot serve to stand on your own. I certainly do not ever want anyone to depend on me so much that I would be a reason to get up in the morning or go down at night, and I certainly do not need or want your pity! If anything, I should feel sorry for you, the way you grasp at others so, as though you're floundering in everything you do; but I don't, because I feel you're smarter than that."

Asher finished coldly, eyeing her in suspicion. She was passionate, but naive. He was actually looking forward to seeing what she would look like in a heated discussion, trying to restrain her passion to not seem volitile or unruly. Haku seemed at a loss, but was curious to learn more of Asher's viewpoints.

Had Asher known happiness? That question in itself seemed absurd, but the more he thought about it, the closer to home she struck, with her infuriatingly calm smile. It was almost as though she were hiding something, but the wasn't the truth, she just knew something. Asher recalled his first days reemerged. The solitary peace he knew, and the drifting calm of sitting in Hikaro's lap, his mind engrossed with thoughts of death. Yes, Asher had known his own warped happiness.

The moody phoenix's eyebrows remained fixed in a scowl. Surely this woman knew anger as well? Asher was most definately displeased by this point. He thought he had one over her, but her smile proved either she hadn't listened to a word he said, or didn't care.

"Not at the moment, no." Asher said simply, icily. "And you're in no position to pity me."

Asher wanted to stand, to turn and leave. To do that would be conceeding defeat, and he would not bow before Enya in such a way. So he folded his fingers and watched her.

Haku became nervous in the heightened tension. He checked his watch, and smiled.
"How about we close early today Delia? You deserve it." He said, to which was replied a muffled response and a giggle. Haku stood and thrust a hand into a pocket to jangle the keys.
"I'm going to close the Mezzanine early, I do want to meet your family...Ah, would you like Asher to come along, or shall I take him home?"

Asher snorted. She did have a point, but rather missed his.
"I'm enjoying life, but i'm not particularly happy at this moment." He said, standing up sharply. He'd had the unfortunat experience of knowing fear, suspicion, smugness, suprise and finally irritation when dealing with the short time he'd known Enya. And Haku...?

Asher cast his eyes on his perpetually chipper brother. Did anything ever get Haku down? Was he just so objective, things had no real tangible value to his life? He seemed to be enjoying things just fine. Perhaps Asher was letting something get the better of him. Jealousy? Perhaps. He was a smidge envious of Haku- his dedication, his thirst for knowlege and his standings in life, and jealous of Enya's affect on him. Asher knew better than to sunder that out of petty jealousy.

And so, the small hououza took another sharp and unexpected emotional flip flop from bitterness to calm resignation.
"I probably should not. Evan needs me at home. Haku, don't stay out too late."

And with that, the dark skinned hououza spun on his heel and walked to the furthest edge of the balcony, taking no time to leap over the edge and float to the floor. He hit the ground running, and was soon out of sight.