Welcome to Gaia! ::

(ENTERING CAFETERIA)
Though he hadn't been back here for a long time, his feet blazed the halls slowly as he sought his intended target. This place was still as familiar as the coat he wore, or his multi-colored hair that was currently tied back in a high ponytail. Golden eyes gazed fondly about the halls as he finally found his way to the cafeteria. Just the SMELL of food made Alexi's stomach grumble, and the rather distant young man easily made his way into the area. His loose shirt draped around a thin form, and his pants rustled softly, though the movements were small, and he moved as though to attract as little attention as possible from the gathered crowd. He didn't like people. It was as simple as that. Even if he may have known some of them at one point, they weren't worth his time...or his attentions.

The only thing worth his gaze right now was the lovely array of food before him. Food that he'd missed...that he'd been wanting for the last few days of crappy snack, and terribly inconsistent small bits of....what was considered 'food', but as Alexi had called it, 'a pathetic excuse for sustenance'. This reprieve was godly to the Hunter, and he immediately moved to get his food, loading his tray up, and then moving to eat. In his own lonely corner of the cafeteria, he was happy to be here...finally. Alone...No one would bother him. Or so he thought.

"I was recommended actually," he nudged Andy so that she would stop stalling the line and pay for her food. While the cashier was busy checking out her items, the Sun Hunter added three more pieces to Andy's lunch budget, including a Snickers Bar and two packs of Mentos, as a very subtle hint, "It's nice to know that some people actually work hard to earn the positions, your last mission must have been so difficult, I heard that gathering information on a potential yeti sighting is very dangerous these days."

"That will be fifty-six dollars and thirty-three cents," intoned the cashier lady. Caelius didn't skip a beat and handed her his card as he continued talking.

"Nice slip-up by the way Andy, I always knew you were interested in the ladies. Maybe we have something in common after all."

To back Isaac up, she gave Cliff an arm-shove, which was to say her hand attempted to displace it and failed. "Be nice, you."

Aaah, this was probably what a family sit-down dinner really was supposed to be: discord within even the most tight-knit of divisions, and even groups within said divisions that didn't necessarily correlate to the design on one's Hunter coat. Granted, families weren't normally out to combat the sinister forces of those that preyed on their fears, but when this became the norm, all other thresholds of what was considered "regular" had to adjust accordingly.

Okay, names. Lucas, Amy, and . . . Mia? There was an odd emphasis that made Zoey wonder, but considering the volume in the cafeteria at the moment, she probably heard wrong. Either way, she nodded to each in turn and even managed a cordial little smile (though the one at "Mia" was . . . tentative, her cold expression more than disconcerting), nibbling more salad as she pondered over adding her age like Lucas had. Would the others treat her differently if they knew how young she was (at least in comparison to most of the current Hunters)? Hmm. Deciding to stick to "a lady never reveals her age" by the time she swallowed, the Death Hunter decided to throw another ice breaker-like question to the table. "So, um . . . Where'd you guys get called from to get here?"

Billie blinked when Warden made a comment about their deaths. She slapped his hand on the table. "What did I tell you about being so negative?" She was of a much rosier disposition. Even if the world turned to s**t she'd find that single flower to sprout from the mound.

"I'll get us a tray. Don't go anywhere." Dekina grumbled happily as she rose to go through the buffet line. Her weapon had been a troll in her former life and while not very bright, Dekina was a female and she understood her bond. She didn't have to be verbose to know that a woman needed to eat, mate and fight for her family. The two of them had an understanding.

She slipped in line behind a man and woman, younger than her, who were bickering and teasing. Billie was loading her plate enough for two: two milks, two different types of sandwich halves, an apple and a banana, a slab of some sort of meat in gravy, a salad. But all the while she was eavesdropping on the pair who continued to badmouth one another.

By the time they got to the register the pair in front had racked up quite a tab and Billie was grinning in amusement at their conversation. She wouldn't say anything, or interject, but she thought it was all pretty hysterical. By the time the girl, Andy, said, "He's pregnant." Billie had let out a delicate, snorting laugh. The laugh of a lady who was trying to keep her eavesdropping a secret and failing.

She wasn't sure if they'd noticed her but they quickly had found a seat on their own, not far from Warden, and she used the time to pay for the grub and wander back to her man.

"Those two over there.." She put the tray between her and Ward. "HILARIOUS."

After dropping his bags off into his room, Julio went on towards the cafeteria to see if he could grab a bite to eat. After snagging a bit of food, he looked around the tables to see where he could sit. Before long, he spotted Caelius with a hunter girl.

Grinning, he made his way over.

"Caelito! Popular with the girls as usual I see," he grinned before turning towards the lady. He couldn't just ignore her after all. With a little bow, he greeted, "And hola there, senorita. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Julio Perez. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

After a short pause, the mist hunter looked to them both, "I hope you do not mind me sitting here for lunch as well?"

"I am not being negative," grunted Warden indignantly, giving Billie a look that clearly resembled a wounded puppy. He gave her a small, wry smile, however - being disgruntled at Billie was something he could almost never accomplish for too long. He'd gotten frustrated with her at times; times like when she purposefully put herself in danger to protect him, or times when she hadn't thought first before leaping to action, but for someone who was as cheerful and level-headed as Billie McNamara, it was difficult for Warden to actually stay mad at her.

"And where, exactly, would I go?" he called after her, amusement in his voice, but then he sighed and leaned back in his seat, idly tapping one finger against his now room temperature cup of coffee. He lifted the mug, took a sip, and grimaced again.

Nope. Still just as bad.

-- But it's still coffee. --

Always the optimist, Tee, thought Warden dryly, but there was a clear note of affection in his thoughts. The voice in his head was as it ever was; sometimes he wished she were something other than a weapon, that she was a tangible person that could move and breathe, but he had long since grown used to just having her voice in his head.

Billie returned with a tray laden with food and Warden lifted a brow, cocking his head curiously.

"Who?" he asked her, helping himself to one of the sandwich halves. He followed her gaze to the pair at the table near his and Billie's, and Warden gave a small, amused snort, shaking his head."

"I think that one kid's a sun hunter," Warden said, indicating the guy. "He looks familiar, but I can't be sure."

Clearly Warden paid close attention to whoever was in his division.

"Or I might just be mistaking him for someone else, since I've been away for so long. I think that's more likely it."

"Discounts are only for people who I deem competent enough to deserve them. You aren't special. You just aren't stupid Gabby dear." He wiggled his fingers again for the bottle, but all the joking was gone from Gabby.

Suddenly his hand was on the table drumming his fingers slowly, he wasn't getting the bottle, she knew he had nothing this time actually. "Actually, your right. I don't know a damn thing and that bothers the hell out of me to be honest." His fingers continued to drum before stopping as his eyes caught a certain son of a certain division leader.

"But... I have an idea who might. Pardon me a moment will you? Gabby treat the new boy to one of your harrowing love stories while I have a word with someone..."

Slipping from his seat Jamisson adjusted his coat marching over towards Caelius. "Hey boy," he shouted moving over, "Your old man makes the missions around her doesn't he? He hasn't even given the Death hunters a clue whats up. Any chance you know what your old man has planned pulling all us hunters off our jobs to come back here for a little meet'n'greet?"