Welcome to Gaia! ::

Axel had been concerned about Rio ever since he'd had to bring him back to camp. He'd not been himself, not that he'd ever admit it. That wound to his chest had caused him pain, even days after the incident, especially when overexerting himself. Finally, he couldn't take anymore of it, and spoke up. "Rio? I think... we need to talk."

Riorden was not happy. He had a scar over his heart now. Not that he cared about the scar. However, he did not like what was under it. A slight consistant pain that grew stronger the more active he became. If he ran, if he got excited, even if he was startled! His heart would beat faster, and the pain would grow. He rubbed his chest even as Axel would talk to him. He stiffened at the sound of his voice and braced himself for what was to come. "Yeah?"

Axel swallowed a little, and nodded. "Yeah..." He sits down on the cot and tries to get Rio to sit down with him. "And..I think you know why."

Rio looked at Axel warily as he slowly lowered himself into the seat. He was quiet, then he simply said the bitter words. "Your dumping me."

Axel watched him, and then as he said that, he blinked, shock obvious on his face. "What? No! What in the world would give you that idea?"

Riorden rubbed at his chest again, the bitterness he felt seeping into his scowling features. "Because. I'm...broken..."

Axel snorts. "We're both broken, in our own ways, numbnut. But..yeah, I know you've been having problems. And I know you don't wanna admit it. But, I don't wanna dump you, or leave you, I just wanna get you fixed."

Riorden gave a cold snort. "I don't think you can get this fixed Axel. It's kinda permanant. If it was going to get better it would have by now."

Axel sighs. "I ..know. But.. I had an idea..." he kind of eye-darts, fidgeting, which is rare for him.

Riorden eyed Axel, he watched him squirming and allowed a half smile to pull at his lips. "You gunna catch the priest, cut his heart out, and swap it out for mine maybe?"

"Oh hell no, then you might suddenly get a conscience...." *makes a face* But.. no, and I know this might cut into any sort of future plans we had, but. He swallows again. "I thought.. we might see if one of the Cursed gods could do anything... "

Riorden felt his back stiffen when Axel would mention the Cursed Gods. His expression tightened and he had to force himself not to lash out and smack the stupid idea out of Axel's head. "Listen....joining up with a General is one thing. When the war is over we can walk away and be ourselves again. That's not how it works with these so called Cursed Gods. How do you know they wouldn't put a end to our plans?"

Axel had honestly expected to be smacked for even thinking the idea. He braces himself before saying what came next. "...what kind of plans would we have if you don't get better?"

Riorden shifted his narrowed eyes to glower at Axel. "Since when did you start making freakin sense?" He snapped before placeing a hand between his eyes and rubbing at his forehead.

Axel took the rebuke in stride. "Look, I don't wanna leave you. I never will. Nobody else has come close to getting along with me, let alone having the same interests. But even sado-masochostic bastards can have concerns, can't they?" He smirks a bit at that.

Riorden heard Axel's words. He was secretly relieved to hear his determination for them to stick together. He dropped his hand from his forehead, and finally murmured softly. "We can..talk to one. I guess. I don't want to be the one to blame for things falling apart just because I didn't try something." He turned to Axel and pointed a finger at him. "But I'm only agreeing to talk. Nothing more."

Axel nodded. "I just want us to try. I was thinking maybe.. the Warrior.. since we're more the violent type...?" He has a slight hopeful look. He hoped it would be easy, but he had a feeling it wouldn't be.

Riorden eyed Axel and took a few moments of silence to think. He slowly took a breath, then nodded his head. "I'm only willing to consider it cause you're the one asking." He muttered under his breath.

Axel sighed a little. "I think she's the best option. The others.. they scare me a little more than her. I'm glad you'll at least consider it, Rio...I want you to be better again. So we can hunt down that priest and return the favor." He tried to smirk to alleviate the complete depression in the room right now.

Riorden shook his head some. He just couldn't enjoy the light jesting attempt right now. He took a slow breath, then pushed himself to his feet. "I just don't like the idea of asking them for anything..but..let's go get this over with. For all we know she won't be able to do anything."

Axel frowned. "Okay. Well, I suppose if she can't, we'll know they won't be worth our time following, eh?" He gets to his feet too, and gives Rio a rare gentle hug. "Yeah, let's go."

Riorden allowed himself a rare moment of being...vulnerable. He hugged Axel back, then stepped away and brushed his shirt off. "Yeah." He murmured before ushuring Axel out ahead of him.

Riorden began the trek with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders hunched. Only because Axel asked. That was the only reason why he was even trying this. Only because he still felt Axel would dump his crippled a** and find some other violence lover to torture and torment the followers of the uncursed. By the time they made their way through the city and to the stronghold itself, Riorden's chest was on fire. Sweat dappled his temples and dampened the bangs hanging over his face. He refused to slow his stride, or hunch, or even rub at the pained place on his chest. He came to a stop, and turned his red eyes to watch Axel beseeching a god for aid. A God...a Cursed God... He was still unsure if he believed it. His head shook slightly and reached his hand out to rest it on Axel's shoulder. "If this doesn't work, least we tried." He murmured to Axel. Since his partner had done the beseeching he decided to stand quietly now.

Axel refused to look around nervously even as he felt like they were being watched, doing his best to stand up tall and wait patiently. And when she appeared, her voice made his blood run cold, but he refused to shake even as he listened to her words. He looked at her in the eyes, even as she questioned his words and watched as calmly as he could as she then roamed her eyes over Rio. "In my opinion, ma'am...humbled does not mean defeated. It means one has realized they are not as invincible as once believed. I believe it makes one a smarter and stronger fighter." He sighs, though. "But yes, wounded is quite accurate as well. And we are hoping that he can be healed, and that he can be stronger than ever before."

Folding her arms over her chest, she'd look down at Riorden, this was what this was all about, where all the hesitancy lain... "You...." She'd whisper at Riorden... her dark lips pressing into a thin line of displeasure... "are indeed correct, if it is healed you could become stronger...through your own struggles, efforts...Nothing is given, it must be earned." her eyes, finally shifting to Axel... "Wisdom through humility? Never would I have thought one so.... suited to your passions, would come to that conclusion..." she was pleased with Axel for now... and yet... returning her gaze to Riorden, her frown returning, "what is on your mind? I can see it working there, the conflict... I am, if anything... apt in picking that up quickly."

Riorden was aware of Axel's eyes on him. He was also very aware of the frowns he was getting from not one, but both of them. Riorden slowly took his hand from his pocket and carefully pushed his bangs back from his eyes. What was on his mind? Did he dare share his thoughts? He'd probably insult her. He'd ruin the efforts Axel had gone through to get them this far. he didn't want to knowingly sabotage his hopes.

"Your a god." He finally stated with the least amount of sourness to his voice that he could manage. "Since the moment I was created, I've looked down upon those who turned to the gods for help and guidance. I have mocked, belittled, and disdained them for being weak and mindless sheep dancing to the tune of these supposed greater beings. It doesn't set well in me that I am becoming something I have ridiculed. Seeking a God for some hand out and begging for favors." He finished his bit and glanced towards Axel out of the corner of his eye. If he had ruined Axels hope of being healed... then so be it. But Riorden couldn't just outright lie to get what they wanted. It was better to just spit it out and deal with the repercussions.

Axel wondered if she was trying to divide them. Divide and conquer. Were they just brainless idiots to these new gods? Never mind that, did they truly -summon- these beings, or were they there all along? The reason why all the cursed were here? He shook his head of the thoughts. Dammit, he was not the type to get caught in these stupid webs of intrigue, who did she think she was, the Mastermind? He grits his teeth and lets his eyes narrow just a smidge, before replying. "We aren't here to try and claim to know the whole 'why are we here' question, ma'am. We are here to heal a wounded warrior, and repay you if necessary. If you do not want to help us, please say so, and we will be on our way and not waste any more of your valuable time."

He wondered if HE'd now ruined their chances, but he was growing tired of this. All the patience he'd built up was starting to unravel. If this lasted any longer, he might snap at her before Rio did.

Frowning darkly, she'd stand at her full height and glower down upon Axel... her hand balling into a fist that would surely knock the mouthy Pockettu into the next world.... though Riorden spoke and... that placated her near lost of temper... "To even the field, to give you the same advantages that they have, or drawbacks as it has been seen in the past... and yes, of course, that is what we, The Cursed Gods...." her words emphasized as she spoke them down to Axel, with a flash in her crimson eyes... "to kick the Uncursed Gods asses, to put it bluntly, and apparently heal insolent little wretches lovers as well it would seem..." she'd stalk over to Riorden... her hand planting firmly over his heart, the other would strike with a pair of fingers on a pressure point on his body... cutting off the pain in his chest, "He is not 'healed' merely without pain for a short time for -you-" looking back to Axel, "to retrieve part of the payment... Take him to the barracks, they are against the east and west walls, whichever you like, I care not... but come back here when he is resting so I can tell you what I want and you can see to a true fix for your partner here.... then of course, when I have that, you will both swear yourselves as loyal followers of me..." there was much more to it, but she wanted them out of her sight now... all she knew, was Axel had best fix his attitude, the both of them, truly needed to when dealing with her.... but, there was time and they did both show, much promise as fighters in her army.

Riorden stiffened when Warrior approached him. His eyes lifted up towards her face, then he gave a small grunt of surprise. His hand lifted and he pressed his palm to the area she had swiftly jabbed. Almost immediately the pain seemed to melt off him. Riorden took a slow testing breath and released it. Nothing... Was that all that they had needed to do? Smack his chest? Riorden was about to feel pissed off over such a simple means of fixing his heart. Hell! All he had to do was get into a fight, someone would be bound to punch him and then...

No. Apparently not. His red eyes blinked at Warrior when she would reveal it was only temporary. Rio glanced at Axel. He turned with Axel and walked with him towards the barracks position. It felt good not to have to hold back his pace out of concern of straining his heart. He did not glance behind him, nor did he speak until they found the barracks and he was glaring at a bed. "I'm being put to bed like a naughty child." He complained, but he turned and sat himself down. He glanced up at Axel, and lifted a hand to lightly tap his lover on his chest. "I swear. If she tells you that you have to sleep with her the answer is no. Got it?" His jealousy was likely unfounded...but he wasn't going to risk it. Axel was -his- and he wasn't losing another lover for anything. With a sigh, Rio flopped down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. "Don't take too long...you know I can't sleep well unless your with me."