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“I will attempt, Joker.” Rave took another step towards the man, kneeling beside the distraught elf. He stroked his hair, knowing better than to force him off the body of the man that had been Kalore’s life for a long time now. Even with all the things from before, he knew that Kalore cared about the other but… he sighed, about to say something before Kalore spoke, his voice barely able to be heard.

“H-He… he wasn’t there…” Rave frowned, looking at his friend, “What?” The blonde was nearly hugging the demon’s lifeless body, wanting to just keep him there for however long he could. “It wasn’t him… th-the fire wasn’t… it… it wasn’t him.” He hiccupped, whimpering as his face was pressed against Monty’s chest, still careful of the wounds as though the demon would feel him. Rave didn’t know what to say, so he let his friend continue to speak.

“I… I know th-that it wasn’t him… W-Whatever he did… whatever th-that b*****d did… I… I can’t believe I was… I was scared… damn it all, I want him back!” He gripped Monty’s shirt tighter, gasping and whimpering. Rave didn’t know what to do. He hadn’t seen Kalore like this… ever. The man didn’t cry in front of others, he didn’t expose himself like this but… here he was. And he truly didn’t know how to help him other than to place a hand on Kalore’s back, just attempting to soothe him, to let him get some form of solace before Monty was taken away.

Dusk glared, trying to lash out before she felt the man’s arms around her. A groan came from her lips as she felt the entrapment that was Kyoshi’s arms. “b*****d…” but then he noticed her hair and she looked away immediately. “Um… not quite…” How did she explain Eri’s little time ability and not being able to completely go back to normal? She hated it… absolutely hated it. “But… it’s not going away, not without dye or whatever…”

Raising a brow, Talon’s hands went up in defense as he looked a bit amused, “I won’t tell a soul… I mean, we are surrounded by elves and it’s not like they can hear or anything…” That comment was going to get him in trouble but he couldn’t help but laugh as the woman stormed out. Fireboy… man, it had been a long time since someone actually called him that as some form of an insult. It brought back some great memories, actually, ones that he had forgotten before just then. Ah, good times.

Dusk grumbled, “I look old…” She didn’t like that. She didn’t like that the man had been able to turn her into some aging woman when she actually wasn’t that old at all; older than Talon and Eldin, but still younger than most of the other non-humans out there. It wasn’t fair! She grumbled again before frowning, hearing the sound of Kit talking to… Joker? She was asking something… “Something’s wrong…” She reached up, touching the knob before she turned off the water, thankful with how close the bathroom was to the main room. Tilting her head to the side, she frowned more as she heard… crying.

“Joker?” Kit frowned, walking towards him before she saw the crying and she went to her knees beside him, hugging him tightly. “What’s wrong? What happened?” All joking stopped as Raul and the others turned towards the crying man. No one said a word, however, and even Eldin had his head tilted, wanting to hear just what it was that was going on as he finished checking on Gambler. Everyone was thinking it, however, but no one would say it. There was no way that the demon was gone… but what else could have the insane man acting like this?

No one moved. The room was silent as Kit hugged Joker tightly, biting her lip. There were no exclamations, no disbelief, just steady eyes on the man.

Dusk nodded, finding a robe as she quickly wrapped the tie around herself, walking out with Kyoshi in time to hear the man’s words. She froze, shocked. The demon was dead? No… but… he was a demon… a badass demon that had so far done nothing but prove just how amazing he was in battle. Now only were they losing Gambler but… they lost him too? She frowned more, taking a step as she was beside Kyoshi, speaking softly. She had noticed that there was someone missing… “Where is Kalore?”

“With Monty.” Rave stepped into focus, frowning more as even he looked distraught, though he wouldn’t show it. This demon… he wouldn’t show anything for him but not because of normal reasons. Everyone would lose it and no one needed another crying fool. He meant no offense to Joker, but it was something that he would never allow himself to do, even if it was one of the only ways to get the pain out without harming either himself or someone else. Taking in a soft breath, he walked in, hesitating beside Joker before he continued moving. Was it heartless? A bit, yes… but he had to see his own love. He refused to find her hurt and dead like what Kalore had seen.

Kit hugged Joker against her again, whispering softly, “Is… is there nothing that we can do? Is he… is he truly…?” If Joker was like this and Kalore braved seeing Monty… s he was terrified to think of what the other was like.

Down in the cell, Kalore lost it, sobbing as he kept over Monty. He muttered things, curses, screams… to lose the one person that had helped him more than anyone else he knew…he couldn’t allow it and he couldn’t face it. His breath came short, too fast, as he whimpered and buried his face against Monty’s chest. He couldn’t look up and see the face that was his dead lover. He just couldn’t do it.

“Joker… Joker!” Kit took his chin in her hand, shaking her head, “Listen to me, Joker… it’s not your fault, alright?” She rested their foreheads against one another, watching him closely as she stroked his cheek slowly. Kit couldn’t believe it…Red was gone but… no, surely not. He seemed like someone that would be nearly impossible to kill. Watching Joker look at Gambler’s room, however, she bit her lip before she stood up, offering her hand. “Come on… let’s get you cleaned up…” She didn’t want him to continue wallowing in pity. This was horrible, painful even for her so it was hell for him and Kalore but… “Eldin said that Gambler was responsive… Help her, Joker… please?” For now… what else could they do?

The sobs began to subside as Kalore’s voice gave out again but he didn’t care. Mouthing out pleas and curses, he continued to shake his head, unwilling to believe that the man was truly gone. He wasn’t going to lose him… he just couldn’t. Looking up at the Monty, Kalore’s eyes were red as he whimpered softly again, stroking the demon’s hair before he leaned up, pressing a kiss softly to his lips before collapsing against his chest again, the tears burning his eyes as he found he could still cry. No sounds came from him, however, as he just gripped Monty’s shirt, keeping him close. He wouldn’t let go.

Kit watched the man, reaching out to him as she leaned over, placing a soft kiss to his cheek, “Joker… please… just… just come up here after you’re done checking on him alright? You need to rest.” She wasn’t a doctor, but she cared about her friends and she didn’t want to have all of them losing themselves. Kit wanted to go down and check on Kalore but… with Joker here? No, she wanted to with on him first, maybe get some progress. Kalore was… Kalore. She couldn’t do anything until the man came up because by the body of the demon, there was nothing that could be done to ease his guilt and pain, as horrible as it sounded.

Nodding, Rave went into the room where Gambler was, resting beside her as he looked at the woman, frowning. “Do not leave me, Gambler…” He reached out, stroking her cheek slowly, lovingly. “Do not… please.” Eldin watched with sad eyes, unable to take much more of any of this. He didn’t like Monty but he still felt bad about this, but he adored Gambler… and Sir Rave… and both were in danger and hurt; just in different ways. He backed away a bit, sinking down to just reorganize his bag. He couldn’t leave the room for risk of Gambler going down or something drastic, but… he wanted to give Rave the privacy he deserved.

Biting her lip, Kit touched his cheek, “Then… then rest, Joker. I hate saying this but… Monty isn’t going to go anywhere, okay?” She placed her other hand on his shoulder before she sighed softly. “We’ll find you a room, okay? The Chess’ and their family are staying in the other room but... maybe there’s another place that we could use?” She didn’t want Joker alone but… if he wanted to push her away then so be it. It wasn’t like she could stop him but Kit wanted to do anything that she could to at least help, even if she couldn’t do much.

Rave watched Gambler, looking confused for a moment before he let off a slow, soft chuckle. “You will never change…” And that was a good thing. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he continued, “Come back to me, Gambler…” He was being demanding, yes, but it wasn’t like he was himself if he wasn’t. The elf was used to being able to command hundreds, expecting them to obey what he commanded; Gambler was the curveball in his life. She did what she wanted and he had no say over it. He loved that about her. But sometimes… sometimes he wanted her to just listen. This was one of those times. “The view here… it is marvelous… I am sure that you wish me harm, however, but there is a lovely cliff overlooking the lake… Wonderful for disposing of people.” So, Rave did have a sense of humor…

Rave did notice, however, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “I did not know that my pain was so… enjoyable.” But he didn’t sound disgusted or angry or anything like that. When it came to this, the man was humble, accepting of anything that the woman wished of him. Reaching out, he touched her cheek again, wiping off the small bit of saliva. “Gambler, could you possibly take something to drink?” It wasn’t good for someone to stay dehydrated, right? Eldin didn’t complain and say no so… it would probably be best and might even help her body somehow. Water was a good thing… typically.

Surprise was on her face as she nodded slowly, smiling sadly, “Yeah… I think that we should do that.” She placed a soft kiss on his cheek before she took his hand, beginning to lead them out to one of the few spare rooms that were around on the floor. Entering the small room, she took in another breath, gesturing for him to sit down on the bed or the chair or wherever it was that he wanted to go. Kit just wanted to do whatever she could to help the man.

Sinking down, Kit held him as he rocked, shaking her head, “No, he didn’t deserve it.” She pressed a kiss against his temple, leaning close to him. Kit didn’t want Joker to be upset, didn’t want him to beat himself up for this, but none of them saw it coming. She couldn’t imagine any of them that would think that Monty would be killed before any of them; he was the warrior, he was the one that had all the damn weapons… but he was the one to die? Kit didn’t understand it… she didn’t understand anything about this. Kalore was in pain, Rave was in pain, Gambler was in pain, Joker was in pain… there was just too much death and pain, but none of them could do a damn thing about it other than survive.

Rave nodded, standing up as he went to get her the water, sitting down on the bed once more, a bendy straw even there. Eldin blinked, “Where did you…?” He got no reply. The barest of smiles was on Rave’s face as he offered it to Gambler, “Here. It’s not poisoned, Gambler.” The man was a mind reader.