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"A Hard time?" Bix DID get the joke. He was pretty immature after all. He snorted, still slightly pink, and went to punch Davey in the arm. When he realized that particular arm wasn't there, he switched fists and playfully popped him in the intact shoulder.

He was still clinging to Before, of course, and hanging around Madison because it was never bad to be next to a pretty girl. Everyone seemed to be complaining about their weapons but Mina was keeping out for the most part. She never really reacted to what others said and she kept quiet until she felt the need to torture him. Sometimes it was like she was biding her time.

"A dragon? Like what kind? Asian.. european..." Bix was a neeerd. "I did a project on dragons back in grade school. We spent the year focused on medieval times and we had to pick one topic to do a project on." He did dragons, which until recently, he'd thought were just mythology. Though if dragons WERE real that was awesome. .. ... and terrifying.

Mina?
Yes darling?
What are.. err. were you?
Quetzlcoatl. Albino like you, my beauty. Many of your friend's weapons may be a bit off kilter because of their species. Don't you worry about me. We are a royal and proud sssspecies.
REALLY? Well that explains some things...
I told you we were meant to be. She purred sexily in his head and he felt uncomfortable prickles ride up his spine that he shook off as best he could.

Cass then stated that her weapon was a Tonberry. "A TONBERRY? NO s**t! No wonder your weapon thinger looks like it's from Final Fantasy!" He got kind of starry eyed at her. Real life final fantasy? If he was any more of a nerd he'd be wetting himself in excitement.

"My weapon is a Quetzlcoatl.." He screwed up the pronunciation but at least he knew what it was. "And she says she's also albino.. which I guess explains why she picked me." He had a newfound fondness for his weapon with that little detail.

"SO I HEARD THERE WAS A PARTY OF SORTS!"

Jerry was late arriving, but it certainly wasn't due to any nerves or worries slowing him down. It had been a debate.

Well, he HAD brought it with for this sort of occasion, hadn't he? Of the meager possessions he had stupidly and hurriedly packed, it was superfluous and yet... there was something about it he was proud of. It reminded him of home, in part, and of his total naivete in regards to just WHERE he had been recruited to.

In the end, he came bounding down the hall to join the others bearing a wide smile, carefully combed hair, and a rather loud, orange Hawaiian shirt.

There were plenty of people he knew, there was Jordan and Madison! He gave them both a wave, heading their way- but no sign of Candace yet... or Petra and Robert. Ah well, it was time to mingle. There were a few faces he had seen in their target practice, but few he actually knew well.

It was friend making time. Jerry was excited. "Have I missed anything? Will there be games you think?" He babbled to no one in particular as he approached the group brightly.

"Yeah Before.. I just asked mine." Bix gave his Bro a squeeze. He didn't seem to care about the other's social issues. He wanted to encourage meeting friends and talking and any sort of unity they could achieve. They all lived on the same floor and besides reading and training their required activites were few and far between. All they had was each other!

Cass seemed to be super amused that her weapon was a Tonberry. Bix thought it was pretty amazing! "A tonberry is this thing from video games. It's like a..." he glanced at Cass for help describing it, "a turtle with no shell.. that wears a robe.. with a knife.. and a lantern.. and umm walks on 2 legs?" It was accurate but he can only imagine the mental picture the others were getting. "They are actually kind of cute until they kill you with SUPERSTABBING.." He made an angry face and a stab motion, the face of someone who had lost many a character to a tonberry.

The art teacher looking guy came striding down the hall and Bix couldn't help but admire his dressing up for the occasion. He finally unwound his arm from around Before's neck and approached the other hunter.

"Nice shirt!" Bix put his hand out to shake with Jerry. He was the 'host' after all! "I'm Bix. I sent the invitation thing. I like your shirt. Too bad I couldn't pull it off with my, shall we say, complexion?" He smirked in amusement. "We can play some games. If anyone wants to push their desk out in the hall we can play non-alcohol pong.." There were stacked up cups and he could just wad up paper instead of using balls.

"There's always spin the bottle.." He made a kissy face at all the girls. Apparently his confidence was bolstered as more and more men showed up.

Marcus and late were becoming two slowly very interchangeable words. Waking up, finding his weapon, going on their first mission. Homework was even proving to be something he was just…missing. While he couldn’t change the past he could certainly try to make an effort for the future, and the invitation was just that, an invite that was non-obligatory. He knew a few faces, bet that a few might have known him when he’d worn a mask and had- the golem. But the point was moot, he had come to the party and he had the intention of at least formally introducing himself. No shame in that.

There might have been less shame if the party didn’t look like it was already in full swing. Walking into the room, he tried to pick out a few familiar faces. Gale, Madison, Cass…Cass was one face he could probably easiest pick out from a crowd. Before, and Bix…faces he had seen, but never really gotten to know. Marcus was feeling like a stranger.

You should have come without a shirt. Desiderio had been lamenting over the outfit of choice. A plain tee shirt and jeans? How boring! The weapon had been begging him to get something eye catching, something to make him stand out. But Marcus had been adamant and worn just some everyday clothes. So the weapon had changed tactics, saying less was now more and Marcus should have just gone without his shirt.

Something the young man was damn reluctant to even consider. Granted it would have been fun to see someone’s reaction.
So you do have an interest in the opposite gender! Praise be to jack! Now if only I could convince you to try for –
Marcus slammed the breaks on listening to the former vampire right then. Looking at the crowd he leaned on the door frame as Bix suggested games. “You sure a girl would even want to kiss you?” He smirked. “It’s better when it comes naturally. Trust me, seven minutes in heaven could just as easily become seven minutes in awkward hell.” Marcus, so far just kind of chilling in the doorway. Until an idea came into his head, one that even his weapon thought was brilliant. “No, the best kisses are the ones that both parties can enjoy.” Moving from the doorframe, he didn’t pause as he walked over to Cass, lifting her hand and giving it a soft kiss. “Though a touch of spontaneity is good upon occasion.”

Jordan snorted at Davey's joke, once again thoroughly glad that Ferros was more inclined to ask awkward questions at odd times than tease or rant in his head. "Mine's a dragon too," he offered.

Iron dragon.

"Iron dragon," Jordan corrected himself. "Don't know why he insists on being specific, but apparently I can't just say 'dragon'."

It's a matter of pride. Fleshcreatures will never understand, Ferros huffed.

All right. I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

... That was a really loud shirt. Jordan turned a laugh into a cough, hiding his bemused grin behind his hand. Where had Jerry even gotten that? Or had he brought it with him deliberately? Well, you couldn't say that Jerry wasn't enthusiastic, anyway. Once Jordan had gotten his grin under control, somewhat, he raised a hand to greet his friend. "Hey, Jerry. Nice shirt."

I can't tell if that was sarcastic or sincere, Ferros said, sounding vaguely impressed.

I'm not sure either.

Davey echoed Bix's opinion on the budding romance by heaving a sigh. Great. Here he thought high school and its stupid antics were behind him, but no, yet another couple who felt they had to 'prove' their attachment in public. He rather hoped the two weren't on the same squad, not only because an attachment like that would override orders if half the pair were in danger, but also because he felt sorry for any squadmates who would have to put up with that behaviour on a regular basis.

He turned to the others who were discussing dragons and winged snakes. "So you just ask your weapon what it 'used to be'?" he clarified. It was a mystery to him how something like a dragon ended up being a weapon. Davey wondered if Azrael might be more forthcoming.

'Hey,' he thought loudly at the space in his mind that Azrael occupied. 'Did you used to be something else before you were a sword?'

There was actually a silence. It seemed Azrael was considering whether or not to answer. Eventually there came an, ~Utter lowlifes, pathetically seeking approval to give away such secrets already. Hmph. I had no intention of revealing my magnificence to a mere peon like yourself, but I cannot have you thinking that those... creatures... are superior to myself.~

Davey waited.

~I was a demon.~

"Why am I not surprised?" Davey muttered, shaking his head. To the group, he announced, "Demon."

Azrael wasn't done yet. He wasn't content to be thought of as some average demon, after all. ~A fallen angel. Of death.~ Cold amusement seeped into Davey's head.

"Oh. Of course," Davey managed. Of course he couldn't have a normal normal demon. His 'partner' was not only bitchy, but possibly also bloodthirsty. A few sharp mental prods later, Davey obligingly repeated, "He would like you all to know that he was a fallen angel of death. Fear him in his mighty tag form."

Azrael was not impressed with the deadpan addition. ~I hate you.~

Rolling his eyes, Davey wondered if they could now move to topics that didn't revolve around their egomaniac weapons. As if Azrael needed any further boost to his ego.

"BIX." Cass seemed utterly...offended? Offended might have been the word. She didn't frown, she didn't place her hands on her hip, she just sort of...made this very hurt face at the sun-hunter before she looked away from him, muttering something like 'I thought we were friends'. Apparently being lumped into his jips at Marcus like some sort of placemat had hurt her feelings a little bit.

She looked at Marcus, then at Bix, seeming to debate the hopeless prospect of making the first person she'd really met outside of..well.... yeah.... and the..other.... well. She wanted them to at least get along so she wouldn't have to feel like she was picking and choosing in the end.

But she didn't press it any further than that look, just looking away back at Marcus, then down, her shoulders slumping.

Are you finished with Boy-time now? It's been more than a minute. You should devote your attention to other things. Nicodemus suggested in her head, and Cass seemed to perk up when Davey introduced his own weapon, a distraction from the boy-spat going on.

"A fallen angel of death? That's quite a title!" she commented with a light smile. "I.. think I saw you at that first meeting after pod-time, right? I...can't remember your name." She made a face, a shamed face, but offered Davey a hand. "Nice to meet you when we're not being condemned to silence. I don't know if we'll go on missions together, but I look forward to working with you if we do!"

Yes. Marcus was right. These were comrades, she'd do well to not make any of them hate her when they could save her life later.

"Cassandra." she seemed impressed by his handshake, staring at it for a second. "Man. You're strong. I'm gonna have to work hard to catch up to you." she grinned, seeming genuine enough about it. "I'll do better to remember your name, Davey. That's a pretty tough name, actually. Not like, tough to have, but like, Grr.." she faked a flex, "Tough."

It nothing else, Cassandra had energy to burn. Nicodemus was keeping a timer on how long it took for her to burn out and start feeling exhausted all the time.

"Nicodemus is actually a two-part weapon." Cass tapped the chain around her hips before holding out both of her hands. "In his hand.." she jostled the hand around a bit, "It's a gun. In the other hand," she jostled the other hand around for emphasis, though at this point it was unneeded, "It's a Gunblade - I dunno if it shoots or not, having an actual gun has prevented me from testing that, but he seems pretty multipurpose. I gotta practice a lot if I'm going to make Miss Aria stop giving me so much extra work for failing at things...."

She really was worried Aria was going to kill her if she slacked off. It was possibly one of the few chips in her psychological armor.

"Moon Squad? I guess I might get to join in sometimes - I'm Mist....." So the 'failure' squad as Caelius had labelled it. But Aria was a strong woman and she was in the Mist. Clearly strong women went there. Yes. That was it.

She'd get strong like Aria was and then ... she wasn't sure what else. She had grand dreams, but right now getting to know everybody was better. The island was full of all sorts of fun people.