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Granted Walter had believed that putting soil in ones mouth was an odd pastime, but he was there to serve not to judge.

Maximos however ignored that entirely. His black and white eyes looked directly into Tomorrow's. He had no where near the senses of his butler, but he did indeed have senses. Sincerity, realism, or even mind control each had a different hue and form on a mans soul. And as the saying goes, the eyes are the window to the soul.

He would not interrupt Tomorrow. The man had come a very long distance and to do such a thing would be completely pointless. If he didnt want to hear the man out, he could have just stood inside and instructed Walter to send him away. The look on his face did not falter however, he stared directly into Tomorrow's face, a calm flatness on his own. His right arm twitched twice.

But...Tomorrow wasnt done. A "but", meant an opposition. It meant that perhaps something that was going to follow would possibly cross and counter over something that had already said. He would let Tomorrow continue.

Walter nodded. He really did not understand what the significance or meaning of an erect thumb was. He had seen that symbol in his few ventures down to the surface, but he could tell it was not an attack. And so he returned a nod, and a smile.

There was nothing strange about it. He had accepted his fate, there was no need for hostility. Maximos was his friend after all. It seemed he wanted to have the friendship again, for just a while longer as he said goodbye to world. Or maybe, just maybe, he wanted a chance to prove his worth before giving him, hoping to stay the proverbial scythe.

At first, in all honesty. Maximos had no idea what to say, or how to say it. How do you explain the "rules" of life and death. The creed a Reaper. Without explaining the rules of life and death, and exposing the existence of the Reapers. His eyes shut, for a moment as he took in a deep breath, holding it, before slowly letting it out. His eyes opened again, still locked on old friends.

There was a pause, for just a few seconds.

As you wish...

He said simply in return. There was something on his tone, something off, something other than the flat clam of earlier. But it seemed deep enough to remain hidden. Departure plans, the like, those were left for Tomorrow to reveal or make. Maximos was simply coming along for the ride, still slightly cautious of the situation as a whole.

When do we leave?

Maximos looked back to the house, and the back to Walter. The butler simply nodded before being winked at by Tomorrow. Maybe Tomorrow had something in his eye, he was certainly an odd fellow.

No, it can wait. I'll pack and get changed. I believe, Walter would like to hear your opinions about his garden.

And with that Maximos turned and made his way back into the house, leaving Walter and Tomorrow to talk.

~- About 30 Minutes Later -~

Maximos emerged from the wooden door, peeling it open with his right hand. A small back pack tossed over his right shoulder. He wore more formal attire for the situation. A long black hooded jacket, its buttons were tied from the neck down to about the waist, the rest was left open for the wind to take. He wore a set of black boots, beneath his long black dress pants.

His hand were visible slipping from the long sleeves of his jacket. His right swayed beside him, entirely covered in a black leather glove. His left, held onto the strap of his backpack, covered in a fingerless black glove.

It was very similar to the outfit he wore in HoH. He walked directly up to Tomorrow, his disposition seemed to have lightened a bit. His voice seemed right, it held a hint of its old friendly nature. But the smile was still missing.

Shall we?

He said, to the giant before him.

Walter nodded, surprised by the "Barbarian's" knowledge of horticulture. He would definitely have to put those tips into effect. Into effect, indeed using life leaf to help keep the garden healthy was cheating. And this would give him a bit more to do on those busy afternoons when the chores were finished early.

Maximos quirked an eyebrow. That pause, it made it sound a bit like Tomorrow was making this up as he went along. But some of the greatest plans were formed that way. He seemed otherwise agreeable. His smile and usual demeanor would return in time. And time was something they certainly had.

The Thunder God leaped from the island, nearly tipping it off its axis. And Maximos followed closely after. He simply stepped off the edge of the island, the streaks of rich violet overcoming the lunoc runes in his boots and expelling that liquid substance from beneath the soles of his feet rocketing him through the air like a black blur. It took him a second or two to catch up to Tomorrow, but very soon he was directly beside his old friend. Walter would take care of the home, he had done it for years before, and he would do it again.

She melded the two so easily. Perhaps that was the scariest part. It was the easy at which she did, how natural it seemed to flow for her. She had no defined control, no real methodology it was instinct. And with such natural control, and with such instinct...

...The damage she could do was beyond measure.

Fire...darkness...it was destruction given form. And until she had absolute control, there was a threat of everything and anything she touched becoming the same as that five foot circle in the Lunching Room. It would never be her intention but...it had a chance of destroying her from the inside out.

Walter could see it, though he adjusted his monocle he could see it even without the small lens. Her had been through something horrible, what he say deep insider her was very small, and very weak. Like a shard, or a half torn away from his home, that managed just barely to survive on its own. The stress of two conflicting personalities was just something she would not be able to withstand. And the strain of the Soul Lock he had placed on her would soon be too much.

She had a cut, she didnt need a cast. She needed stitches, and a bandage.

Very good, Lady Teira!

He said with a smile to her bandage. Teira, something to cover the pain beneath. He needed to be careful, he needed to give her something that would help her, and yet not halt her from growing when the time was right. Stitches...a binding.

We'll come back to this later...alright?

There was no to explain to her what he needed to do. Though hopefully, she would understand when the day came. He gently flipped his right hand, showing Teira his open palm. And on it, lay a small black ring. It was a simple loop of metal with a red and black stone on its top. The shiny metal sparkling ever so gently in the glimmer of the water.

This is for you, a reward for you excellent work!

She was like a small girl! So very happy, so very giddy over such a small thing. It was truly something to behold, and it placed an honest smile on Walter's aged face. Few things made the Butler truly smile, true simple happiness was one.

He felt a bit bad for what had to be done. But he knew he was doing it for her honest survival.

Indeed it is, Lady Teira.

He tilted his hand letting the ring roll forward into his finger tips, and then scooped it up in between his index finger and thumb. The two stones glinting in the dim light of the cavernous basement.

Would the Lady like to try it on?

But of course!

He said, ever so gently grasping her hand with his left. His fingers very softly holding hers in place, and then with a smooth delicate motion of his right hand, he placed the ring on her finger. Of the two stones, a faint glow over come the black one.

And the deed was done.

It was such a simple deed. But when you reach Walter's age most things once viewed as complex take on a much simpler overtone than they once had. This binding was extremely simple. Teira had been placed in the forefront, and her elder persona was placed firmly beneath the bandage. It was all entirely painless.

Unfortunately, the memories which she had most recently gained from her recent fracture would be lost. The last few moments would likely only be recalled through most childish eyes.

The ring would remain, until such time as Teira's older self was ready to awaken. At that fateful time, the red stone would glow. And the ring would take on a new purpose, keeping that mind in place. Which is to say, once her older self had returned she would find that her mind was very much her own. Attempts at control, replacement, or possession would most often be met with complete failure.

Walter had just bestowed upon her quite the trinket. But for the time being, to Teira, it would probably simply be a very pretty shiny ring.