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"Alright, Gabriel's got this now. If he dies here, it's his own fault," Avio stated to both himself and Sithe now that he saw the fight escalate into something a bit more personal; towards Gabriel at least. It had no longer become Avio's business to try and make sure Gabriel lived now that the 'sparring' part was over. "No matter, I've still finished my part of the job and he, well, I'm not sure what his was in the first place," he said, letting his nerves calm down so he'd quit looking like a mobile bit of earth. "So, what was it that you needed of me?" Avio asked from over his shoulder to Sithe, finally looking normal again, or at least as normal as a guy in a black trench coat would look.

((Though my reasoning for abandoning the covering of Gabriel may be a bit stale, since the fight had become personal once it began, I still needed to find some excuse so that I may actually do something.))

As his foot connected with a satisfying thud, Gabriel almost smiled. Would it not be for the mental energy sent out by the girl, he would have laughed. Instead, he landed just to the side of her, hand clutched to his head in momentary pain before she lost conciousness. Clearing his head, he growled, a simmering sound coming from his skin as it closed slowly over his wounds. It would only heal the outside and stop the bleeding, but the inside would take a bit longer to heal.

Straightening slowly and with a deep breath, he stretched, looking around for his own naginata. Spying it on the ground a few yards away, he walked to it slowly, eyeing the blood on it keenly before sliding it to it's previous place on his back. Reaching out with his mind back to the encampment, Gabriel contacted the head of the council. 'Lazerous, I ran into some trouble on my scouting run. Some girl was training out in the open, and she spotted me. I had no choice but to take her down before she warned someone. Any plan of action you'd like me to take?' He knew Lazerous wouldn't believe him, but there was nothing to be done. Gabriel smirked as he heard the exasperated, annoyed tone.

'Just happened to see you, right? Just clean up and bring her back here. You know very well that we can't risk it. Hell, just kill her if you want and destroy the body. We're attacking tomorrow anyway, and I know you don't have any problems killing.' Lazerous' voice growled.

Shaking his head with another smirk, Gabriel switched his mind to Avio. 'Hey, Avio. I finished with this girl, and I'm going to be bringing her back. She was rather fiesty, and I must say a little fun. I'll meet you back at camp.' With that, he shut off his mental connection.

Walking slowly back over to the girl, he leaned down, rolling her over onto her back. He studied her closely, from her leather clothing to her unkept hair. Gabriel smirked slightly. 'Well, I guess she's kinda cute. I'll keep her, for a while at least.' Reaching down to her hand to take hold of her weapon, he gave it a tug, blinking as she held on even in her state. 'Almost like a death grip.' he joked with himself, prying her fingers off of the weapon effortlessly. Stowing his on his back in the leather strap with his own naginata, Gabriel lifted the girl easily, putting her lightly over his left shoulder so that she wouldn't get hurt by the weapons.

'I'm on my way.' he relayed to both Lazerous and Avio at the same time, bounding into the forest once again. He tried to keep the girl as steady as possible, his steps slightly heavier than usual with the extra weight. Nevertheless, he vaulted into a tree, commencing his unorthodox way of traveling. He could feel Avio and another presence up ahead, probably the man who had distracted him earlier. He smiled slightly, the cuts on his face from the girls' nails finally healing completely. His shoulder, though, was taking quite longer, prikling in pain every few odd seconds. 'Well, that's what I get for picking a fight...But I must say, it was rather worth it...'

{{Everyone else is invloved in this fight, and here we are eating soup. xd That's really funny to me.

Disclaimer: Do not, ever, under any circumstances, share soup with a bird. Two things will happen. The bird will suffocate and you will come down with a questionable disease. Trust me, I've seen it happen. Benvolio, however,is smart enough to not die and Mercutio's been living with the bird for some six years. He be immunised! Mercutio's also a mushroom whore. So, he'll take the risk.}}

Mercutio watched with well masked glee as the tiny dot of red on Benvolio's chest stopped expanding. The albino boy smirked inwardly, making a mental note of this house as the place to run to if there was ever a major injury in his home. Not that the chances were huge of that happening. He lived alone, and if her were massively injured, how on earth would he run? Still, it was a good place to make note of nonetheless.

He turned his eyes to the steaming bowl of stew placed before him and found himself contemplating whether to actually eat it or not. True, it smelled good, but so had a number of things he'd cooked himself when he was younger, before he'd gotten used to making edible meals. Benvolio, however, had no such scruples and hopped along the table, doing a rather nice impression of a common chicken, before poking his beak into the bowl greedily.

"Well, I suppose that's as much of a testimony I'll ever get..." Mercutio muttered, watching the avian swallow the thick liquid as best as he could, tilting his head upards every once in a while to swallow more properly. Still, the albino didn't touch the stew just yet, wondering idly if Benvolio was utterly insane or if it really was as delicious as the small bird seemed to be thinking.

The random appearance of a mushroom cap floating upward in the brother changed his mind and he finally moved to pick up the spoon resting on the table.

It turned out the stew was, actually, better than most liquid-based food he'd ever even considered making. Mercutio had the unique skill of burning water. Frying he could do. Fire cooking, fine. Baking? Easy. But boiling things had gotten him nearly killed countless times, until he'd just given it up.

"You are a talented soup-maker, then." he said, finally replying to Aaron's comment about making the meal himself and expertly hiding the fact that he truly did like the stew behind an utterly uncaring and bored tone. Benvolio chirruped in agreement, showing his master's emotions much moreso than Mercutio ever would through his high, excited trill.

Aaron chuckled softly at Benvolio's love toward his soup. "I'm only as talented as some, less talented than others." Aaron caught a potato cube with his spoon, and ate it. "But your friend seems to love it. If you need anymore, there's plenty in the pot." The blonde swallowed another few spoonfuls, before looking at the man sitting across from him. "Funny, you like mushrooms too? They're my favorite, next to tomatoes." Aaron chuckled. "I'm a little compulsive about my mushrooms and tomatoes. I always have to have 2 parts mushroom to 1 part tomato in my stew. But like you need to hear the ramblings of a silly old fool, eh?" Aaron took another few spoonfuls into his mouth, swallowing them down.

"So, would you mind telling me about yourself? I love to hear other people's stories. I can go first, if you like." Aaron smiled. "I at least want to know a little more about the man I invited in for stew." He smiled at Mercutio, and then at the bird. "Oh, I think I have some seeds for the feathered one..." He got up and rummaged in his cabinet, and pulled out a bag of sunflower seeds, with the shells pulled off. He gently grabbed a saucer and poured out a bit for Benvolio, placing it on the table in front of him. "I hope he likes them." The blonde gave him signature smile again. "So anyway, about ourselves... I'd love to hear about you."

((Aww, do you not like soup? xd ))

~{Only where no trust can be found...}~

Sithe idly waved a hand in Avio's direction as he walked away, signalling that he understood what he had said. I think I'll take my time getting back to the camp, I'm in no hurry to do anything else. Sithe thought, shoving one hand into his pocket, the other one removing the cigar so he could let out some smoke, before putting the cigar back in his mouth.

Letting out a sigh, Sithe looked around. I really wish I could fight someone from the village. It's been a good long while since I have. Sithe shrugged off the thought, as the outpost that he had received the assignment from came into view.

Walking into the outpost, he relayed the information about the sniping position. Telling the person at the outpost that there was nothing else to report, Sithe left, heading for his squad of elites.

Putting out his cigar along the way, Sithe saundered into the encampment. Sitting down against some random tree, Sithe set his daito off to the side. Damnit all. I want this war to start so I can see some action. It has been way too long since I, or anyone else in my squad, has had a proper fight. I fear that we are out of practice. Sithe thought, looking at most of his soldiers either sitting around, or doing some light, uneffective training.

"You're sadly mistaken if you believe that merely letting me live deserves my respect. I never asked you to spare me, now did I? To be taken pity on by someone like you is far from favorable." The usual edge to her words was evident, tone steady and even though her voice suggested an iciness that few could melt. "It was rather foolish of your to do so. This bounds can't confine me forever, I'm not an amateur. Ah, but I suppose for now you are safe, due to the fact you have the upper hand."

Messiah glanced down at the various ropes that held her in place, well aware that struggling would not only be useless, but foolish as well. The restraints were tight and every time she moved, they pressed into any wounds she might have had, such as her broken ribs. She made it a point to keep generally still, determined to uphold her integrity and remain just as sophisticated as if her current situation wasn't at all unnerving.

"Oh how knowingly you speak of respect. Heh, my respect for you is only what is necessarily. To take prisoners is a natural aspect of battle, is it not? The fact you hold me here means little because it is to be expected. However, the reorganization of the normality of this predicament is as far as any reverence for you will go, excluding any that might have been gained by your fighting capabilities." Despite her words, it was rather obvious Messiah's fiery disposition was still firmly in place. She was no idiot, therefore knew of her chances at the moment. She'd play the role of the semi-civil enemy for the time being, but as soon as she got the chance, the woman would retaliate. Indeed, deception and scheming were often needed and Messiah would not hesitate using any skills she may have had in either.

She glared softly out at him from behind her wispy bangs, keeping her expression generally unreadable. At the mention of possibly acquiring something to eat or drink, Messiah answered promptly. "Water would be appreciated." Had it not been for the fact that she was extremely thirsty, the sixteen year old would have refused the vampire's offer out of stubbornness. However, she'd never escape if she were to let herself get weak due to the lack of nutrition.

Messiah resisted the urge to scowl, or perhaps even roll her eyes, though otherwise didn't seem bothered when he moved closer. "Yes, I'm sixteen. But it'd be rather unwise of you to judge me based on that. I know more than most of those idiot adults back at the village." She did not intend to be smug, nor brag about her knowledge. She was merely stating a fact- That her intelligence did indeed tend to be as advanced, if not more so, than most people she had met. "My hardships are none of your concern and I do not believe that my life has been any more difficult than then the rest of the souls who were effected by the nuclear results of the war."

She found herself forced to meet his gaze, her eyes smoldering with controlled rebellion and certainty. "Well, that's obvious. Considering the fact I am in a defenseless position, you have nothing to fear. Even if I could fight back, I'm quite sure that you would think nothing of killing me- Just as I would feel no reluctance in taking your own life if given the chance." She didn't fear death, though she didn't particularly want to die. The young girl had enough self-assurance that she could keep herself alive. Or, if she did die young, it'd no doubt be in a battle against a competent rival.

The teenager watched his reaction to the blood he was causing to trickle, a knowing smirk gracing her features. "You're not human at all. I had thought you were a simply another mutant, but I assume that you're someone quite different." The realization didn't cause her to act any differently, due to the fact race had never meant much to her. Ingrates were still ingrates and the wise were still the wise, regardless of whether they were human or otherwise. His words earned a laugh from the prisoner, despite the weapon that was so dangerously close to her throat. "Since when has anything like this gone beyond captive and capturer? Attacking or defending the village has been what this war has been about- Not evaluating the others' skills. Or at least, that has how it has been for most who have fought m. It matters not whether my skills attract any of your respect, nor does it matter if that feeling is mutual. In reality, I cannot bestow any more admiration than what I already feel based on the fact you made a fight worthy of my time and effort. You are a commendable fighter, but still just another enemy nonetheless."

Attention shifted to the canteen that was tossed in her direction, though she didn't bother trying to reach it. According to her earlier tugging, she wouldn't be able to slip her wrists free in order to snatch it.

(That's alright. ^^ I haven't been liking my posts, to be honest. Sorry for the delays in my responses.. The end of the school year has kept me really busy. But now, since it's summer, I'll be able to post a lot more. n.n)