Children of the Gods: Arc 2 [Game/Closed]

[DarkRawen]

"That's enough, I think they get the message."

Andrew didn't turn to look at Nicole. He doubted people like these would give up that easily, there were more of them, and they were drunk. Not to mention, young and foolish.

Better for them to learn to shut up now than for them to keep acting like mentally challenged manchildren.

That's why he didn't leave, when they stood up, instead preparing a plague in his head. Disorientation, a lack of control of their own bodies, sickness, and a slower, but certainly painful headache, for their troubles.

"A sword!? Are you fucking kidding me!?"

"I'll break you if you open your mouth one more time!"

Andrew was surprised that they sat back down, though, someone among his group showing off a sword probably helped. He didn't want to make assumptions, but it was likely to be Shiro. Regardless, he wasn't done with them, and they certainly weren't done acting like huge dicks.

And they haven't even apologized to Nicole.

Well. That was their mistake, not his.

"Hah," he said, condescendingly, as he picked up a nearby glass of beer, still fairly full and likely to belong to one of the drunks. He put his finger into the drink, changing it into a poison with the same properties as the plague prepared, still speaking as he did. It would work through their skin, seep through their pores and make them ill in no time.

"I'd like to see any of you maggots even try. If you could stop squirming enough to stand up, that is."

With no less than a few seconds having passed, he poured the poison over them, extending his arm to make sure they were all soaked enough for it to have an effect. It was done with a frightening calm, as if he was doing a mundane or boring task.

Then he left, not bothering to look behind, and sat back down with the rest. Andrew was sort of curious about what the others had been talking about, but he still wasn't talking to most of them. Instead, he turned to Nicole.

"Are you okay?" he asked, voice shifting from cold to somewhat worried. It wasn't him pretending, simply Andrew trying to take care of his friend. He looked rather annoyed, but he was clearly making an attempt to be friendly.

"Hopefully they'll shut up now, those rude bastards." He noticed the drinks on the table, but as he hadn't asked for one, there was none for him. Not that he was in the mood for it either way. He turned back to Nicole.

"I doubt they'll apologize, though, but it'd be better to avoid them now regardless."

 

[hiei82]

At Prometheus's question, Hymir frowned. Truthfully, he had no idea. He hadn't spoken with his father since he'd left and was truly terrified to do so. After all, he'd taken his father's sword and horn with him without his permission. He hated thinking about it and the fact of this was evident on his face and in his tone when he finally answered the proto-god. "I'm not sure; we haven't spoken since before the battle. Knowing him, he's still standing watch at the Asgard end of the Bifrost, neutral in all these divine uprisings. I doubt even Zeus would dare interfere with the one god destined to foresee the coming Ragnarok with it so close upon us." he answered, taking another swig of the mead.

Breaking away from the conversation for a moment, Hymir turned to the drunken mortals who had finally risen to annoyance. He placed his keg on the table than put his hands beneath the same table. He waited until no one was reaching for or putting down their drinks before lifting the heavy wooden table just off the ground while glaring at them. "You are acting as fools, but if it's Valhalla you seek I shall be glad to send you there." he said, hoping to cow the puny mortals before their alcohol got the better of them. Truthfully, he didn't care much either way; it had been too long since his last drunken brawl in the feast-rooms of Asgard. Besides, without Thor present, he had a remarkably good chance of winning for once.

 

[Rogue Trooper]

The group had listened to Jonathan as he had told them what he had been up to in the last year. Thankfully none of them had freaked out s at Jonathan for what he had done; Prometheus even spoke up for him. However, Jonathan did notice that some in the group began to look at him in a different way now. It was understandable if some of them found it hard to trust him, but the Celt hoped that it wouldn?t prove a serious handicap to regaining the trust of the group.

However, shortly after a new challenge appeared; the group of fellow paddies that occupied a table not far from the group had begun to throw cat-calls at Nicole. The group was obviously drunk and Jonathan wasn?t really set to make an issue of it, something which he found amusing as the old him would have most likely used it as an excuse to break heads. However, several of the group didn?t see the same way as him. Andrew and Shiro were prepared to make an issue out of the situation and a stand-off had happened. At this point Jonathan was prepared to jump in and aid his comrades if need be, but the stand-off resulted in nothing and both groups returned to their seats.

"I'd like to see any of you maggots even try. If you could stop squirming enough to stand up, that is."

Unfortunately Andrew didn?t return to his and Jonathan looked on with a bewildered look as the man threw a drink over most if not all of the drunks. Jonathan knowing the drunks would most likely start a fight from this rose from his seat as Andrew began to return to his, determined to block anything that the drunks would most likely try and also berate Andrew for being an idiot.

Jonathan?s hand shot out and grasped Andrew by the collar in a strong grip, just as he began to sit down ?Why did you do that you bloody eejit?? he said angrily pulling Andrew towards him. Jonathan unfortunately didn?t get to finish what he was saying, as the new guy Hymir lifted the group?s table in a show of force towards the drunks.

"You are acting as fools, but if it's Valhalla you seek I shall be glad to send you there."

By this point the flood of anger which Jonathan had managed to subdue somewhat successfully over the past few months, broke the preverbal banks and for the first time in months Jonathan was consumed with rage.

?Alright!? he roared ?everyone simmer the fuck down, Hymen drop the fucking table and you? Jonathan spat towards Andrew who he still held by the collar ?you every do anything like that again, I?ll throw you through a fucking window. I came in here for a few quiet pints not to see you all act like a bunch of wee bitches?? with that said Jonathan pushed Andrew away and turned towards the drunks ready to see what move they would make.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Rias tighten her own stance as he started to advance again, for now she was assuming his partner was like him and had some kind of metal like under-skin, which meant trying to escape would likely just draw her into a two on one fight against opponents she was currently unsure if she could even harm. She would need to probe for a ***** in the armor. Rias, in an effort to find a weakness in this guys armor to exploit, went on the offensive this time, making a series of carefully aimed claw strikes at his torso, arms, and thighs. If there was a soft spot to exploit, she was going to find it rip it open.

 

[IFS]

"Hopefully nothing too bad. Why? Considering picking a few things up?"

"Depends on what they have," she replied, her attention more focused on the increasingly messy situation unfolding with the drunks.

"I doubt they'll apologize, though, but it'd be better to avoid them now regardless."

"Indeed thanks-," she started to reply, eager to get back to the task at hand, then things got worse.

"you every do anything like that again, I'll throw you through a fucking window. I came in here for a few quiet pints not to see you all act like a bunch of wee bitches..."

"Enough, Jon let go of Andrew and all of your just sit down we have more important things to do," she said, her voice loud and angry "so stop fucking around with drunks and get back here."

The drunks making catcalls had irritated her and while at first she had appreciated the others responses, but things had clearly gone too far. If they were lucky Andrew wouldn't poison Jon as well, though that might just make him angry - well angrier.

She turned back to Prometheus "How soon can we leave?"

 

[DarkRawen]

"Indeed thanks-,"

"Why did you do that you bloody eejit..."

"You are acting as fools, but if it's Valhalla you seek I shall be glad to send you there."

It all happened quickly, from Nicole thanking him, to Jon grabbing him, followed by Hymir lifting the table, drinks and everything still on it. Andrew was too busy glaring at Jon to care about that. Jon wasn't done with him, even though he'd shut up if he knew what was good for him.

"you every do anything like that again, I'll throw you through a fucking window. I came in here for a few quiet pints not to see you all act like a bunch of wee bitches..."

Andrew had to stop himself from acting, he had a much worse poison in mind for someone who was supposed to be on his side assaulting and threatening him. All he had done was to stand up for Nicole, yet this /teammate/ was trying to frighten him into giving in, thinking that he was above Andrew. What a joke. It would certainly not be a deadly poison, just... extremely painful.

But he wouldn't do it. It wasn't worth it, and, while he was very tempted, it reminded him of where he had been psychically a year ago. Too cruel when it was his own sake, with no gain apart from a slight recovery of his wounded pride.

That didn't mean that he couldn't make the other very aware of that he had crossed the line. Andrew thought of the best words to use, the most inulting ones, but then Nicole spoke, she angered as well.

"Enough, Jon let go of Andrew and all of your just sit down we have more important things to do, so stop fucking around with drunks and get back here."

Andrew decided to keep quiet, and not make the situation worse. If Nicole wanted the group to calm down, let that be it. Jon let go of him, and, rather than addressing him, Andrew turned to Nicole, frowning. He spoke with regret, though most of it was forced -not that she could hear that- due to him not thinking he was in the wrong at all.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make him mad," he said. "I'll be nice."

Then he turned to Prometheus, and repeated the apology, before adding;

"I think it would be a good idea to get done planning quickly. People are tired, angry and probably worried sick about the ones they've left behind," he started, still looking regretful, but also letting the worry and tiredness he had hid until now surface. It was a trick, of course it was, but most of it wasn't really deceit.

"I'd rather we rest, or eat, or go anywhere that's not here. I'm sorry if I'm stepping out of line, but I haven't slept since I left the US, sleeping on planes are difficult, especially since..." he trailed off, making sure the other got what he was talking about. Then he realized that the other may not approve of the venom -because surely the titan had understood why he had poured the beer like that- and continued.

"I didn't do anything bad to those drunks either, nothing that they weren't doing to themselves, at least, I promise. I just couldn't take the way they were being to Nicole." He frowned again. "I know it was immature and petty, but I didn't harm them. They'll only feel a bit unwell."

 

[hiei82]

Being from Asgard as he was and having spent remarkably little time on Midgard, Jon's attempt to insult him went completely over his head. His anger however did not.

"Ha ha! With anger like they, you'd make a fine Berserkr Jon! One destined for much glory in the afterlife!" Hymir said as he put the table back on the ground and grabbed his keg for another swig. "And you can relax; I'd not chose to do battle with some drunken mortals; there's no honor or glory to be found there. I merely hoped to cow them before their mead outweighed their good sense." Though all this was true, he didn't mention that it WOULD have been fun; feeling the admission would undermine his own point.

"But yes-" Hymir said, changing pace, "-we do still need to discuss our hunt for Loki is no easy prey and many of you are prey yourselves for much larger beasts." he said, taking another gulp of mead thereafter. "I personally feel we should avoid those gods you have ties with. They're like the rivers and streams; they're the first place our predators will look for us and by visiting them we put those prospective allies in danger. Better in my mind to wait until we have some measure of protection from Zeus's wrath while reaching out to them from a distance for now."

His point made, he decided to make one admission. "I can however see how that may be a necessary risk; the reason they'll hunt us there is because those allies offer what we need; information."

He took another swig before finishing his point. "Are there any gods or goddesses with whom you hold debts but do not truly care for? I heard tales one of your number killed the Persian devil at the behest of Lord Hades and I'm certain Vidarr owes you a debt for granting him vengeance for his son. Surely you have more unpaid debts such as these?" he said, more a question than an actual point.

 

[Green Shoes]

"How soon can we leave?"

Nicole's question faded into memory as Prometheus watched the situation went from bad to worse. The young drunks began shaking and shivering in their illness, both terrified and confused. The echoing silence left after the hyper-masculine yelling was filled with the somewhat quietened mutterings of the group, before the bartender motioned towards the door, one hand on a phone.

"Out, now!"

The Titan raised his eyebrows at Nicole, as if to answer her question. Folding his map back into his pocket, he finished his drink before leaving a small courtesy tip - anything to lessen the chance of the police becoming involved. Ignoring Andrew for the moment, he addressed the more serious questions as the group left the pub. The sun had set and an autumn chill whistled down the streets of London - these parts of town being sparsely populated.

"They have anything and everything, Nicole. The market is awash with stolen and unclaimed goods at the moment. As long as we can keep a low profile..."

His glance flicked to Andrew, and then to Jon. It would have rested on Hymir, but he felt a twinge of empathy for the man. Adjusting to a new culture can be difficult.

"We should be alright. Hymir raises a good point - Hades is playing hard and fast with everyone, but might meet with us. Vidarr is still mad with grief though..."

Prometheus paused briefly to reflect upon the journeys losses. Rolling his shoulders, he finally acknowledged Andrew's input. To say he was disappointed in the man was a severe understatement.

"Andrew's right. Some of us are tired. As I said - I have a safe place at the moment, though you're welcome to go as you please. Then again, safety in numbers...Whatever the case. We can meet back at Paddington tomorrow, say 10?"

Assuming Andrew and Nicole would probably saunter off due to his issue with trust, the Titan elaborated to Hymir, Jon and Shiro. His attention constantly switched between the group and the distance, always watching.

"I have a spare bed as well as a couch. Shower. Plenty of food as well, if you don't mind cooking it. Maybe even enough for you, Hymir."

----------------

Rias struck nothing but hard metal save for her last swipe - the back of his thigh split open, revealing what looked to be a bronze vein running to his ankle. Slight tremors indicated it was live, though it had proved impervious to her weapons. The vein appeared to end at both his ankle and neck, revealed by a small but abnormal lump, pulsing.

Her curiosity, however, got the best of her, and the man was quick to catch her by the wrist and hurl her, hard. Reflexes kicking in, she managed to brace herself against the wall, suffering a hard knock but nothing else.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Shiro soon realized that showing his sword might not have been the best option, as the punks just kept on going. Moments later they began freaking out. Apparently one of their group had something to do with it. Normally he'd feel bad for the punks... but at the moment, he honestly couldn't care.

All the same, he was glad to get out of there before the cops showed up.

Shiro kept quiet as the others talked about various things. His thoughts drifted back to his mother and how she was holding up. He hoped nothing bad would happen to her while he was out... all the same, it was hard for him not to worry.

"I have a spare bed as well as a couch. Shower. Plenty of food as well, if you don't mind cooking it. Maybe even enough for you, Hymir."

"Thank you, Prometheus-sama," he said, "I really appreciate it."

After a long, tiring and restless trip, he could use a good sleep at the moment...

 

[Lunar Templar]

As Rias righted her self she was already plotting how she'd attack from here on out. This vein seemed important, and severing it would probably help her immensely, though it seemed to be as immune to her weapons as the rest of him. Still, she would try and 'cut' it, and her new tactic would be 'hit and run' and only striking when she could deliver a full strength strike form her claws in the form of a straight punch or 'cross' to apply as much force she could to as small an area, other wise she would bide her time and keep her movements to a minimum while evading his attacks.

 

[IFS]

"I know it was immature and petty, but I didn't harm them. They'll only feel a bit unwell."

"Yeah alright," Nicole said, taking a deep breath to calm down "We're all tired, so long as its nothing serious it doesn't matter, just... don't do it again. I appreciate the support but I can handle a bunch of drunks."

How quickly Andrew's poison had set in certainly seemed to have freaked out the drunks, something Nicole couldn't help smile slightly at out of schadenfreude, though she trusted that he was being honest that they would recover. Still the attention that would cause was more than enough reason to leave the bar.

"Are there any gods or goddesses with whom you hold debts but do not truly care for? I heard tales one of your number killed the Persian devil at the behest of Lord Hades and I'm certain Vidarr owes you a debt for granting him vengeance for his son. Surely you have more unpaid debts such as these?"

Nicole considered this, he might be right that others might use the gods we're friendly with to hunt us down, but I'd think they'd go for those gods themselves first, why wait for us small fry when they could nab a big one after all? Still seeking out unlikely allies could work in their favor, though with that said she wasn't sure about either of the ones Hymir proposed.

"I doubt we can trust Hades, he probably considers his debt to us paid after he helped us in our previous quest," she said, "As for Vidarr I'm not sure, but he's certainly a better option than Hades."

Prometheus spoke up soon after though, recommending Hades over Vidarr. I suppose he would know more about how things stand, but we'll definitely need to be cautious if we meet with Hades.

"Andrew's right. Some of us are tired. As I said - I have a safe place at the moment, though you're welcome to go as you please. Then again, safety in numbers...Whatever the case. We can meet back at Paddington tomorrow, say 10?"

"Sounds good to me," she said, glancing over at Andrew and remembering his comment about trusting her "I'm sure there are a number of hotels in the area, Andrew and I will find one for ourselves, I don't know about you guys but I think splitting up might help avoid drawing attention some, though we should probably stay at least in pairs so we've got some backup if we need it."

 

[DarkRawen]

"We're all tired, so long as its nothing serious it doesn't matter, just... don't do it again. I appreciate the support but I can handle a bunch of drunks."

Andrew felt a sting of guilt when he saw how frightened the drunks became when his poison started taking effect. He'd expected a more subtle difference in them, but, as he had never used his poison on normal human beings before, he realized that it might have had more of an effect than he had expected.

It is still better than them getting beaten up by the brute, though.

So he reasoned. Prometheus outright ignored both his apologize and suggestion, not having changed the habit of his that included acting as if he was morally above Andrew. Andrew blocked his voice out completely, the tone, the words, anything. Not like the titan would say anything remotely useful, after all.

The group had to leave rather quickly, and Andrew tagged along, following close to Nicole. When Prometheus looked over at Andrew, his reply was a look full of disdain.

"Sounds good to me. I'm sure there are a number of hotels in the area, Andrew and I will find one for ourselves, I don't know about you guys but I think splitting up might help avoid drawing attention some, though we should probably stay at least in pairs so we've got some backup if we need it."



Andrew nodded, and let her get her replies, before he left, waiting for Nicole to follow behind.

Andrew was quiet for most of the walk to the closest reasonable hotel. He kept himself polite, though, without the messages from his mother and Kirsten having arrived, he doubted that he'd stay civil for that long. He was tired. Eventually, they got a hotel-room with two single beds and an accompanying bathroom, and as soon as the door was closed, Andrew stopped smiling.

He dropped his backpack, removed his jacket and shoes, and laid down in one of the beds, staring at the ceiling. "Nicole," he started. "We can't trust the others. Prometheus is incompetent, and very possibly luring us into a trap. He's just some moron, he doesn't have a goddamn clue, and he'll get us all killed." His tone was vicious and hateful. "Jon is dangerous, he'll likely kill us himself, should he get the chance. He returns after a year, having murdered people for his own sake, then gives us this sob-story about how he's had nightmares because he's too much of an ijeet to know what a psychologist is. Screw them,"

Andrew crossed his arms, there he laid in the bed. "Screw them both, we don't need them, Nicole. I'd hate to rely on dad, but he'll help me, and I'm sure he'll help you too. Heck, I bet that if I sell out Prometheus and Jon to him, he'll be very happy to do so. The two others aren't on the list, so they don't matter." He sat up, arms still crossed. Andrew felt odd as he said it, but he was still furious.

"I'd feel bad for them, but they brought it upon themselves, for being such imbeciles, for being so goddamn judgemental, for..."

For insulting me.

Andrew trailed off. Was that really it? He felt as if they were ready to stab him in the back, to harm him and Nicole, but it was just that. A feeling. His mind running loose, distrust building up from nowhere. No evidence had brought it on, just anger. They'd hurt his feelings, and Andrew was ranting, ready to betray them all and bring Nicole with him. It hadn't struck him for one moment, until now, that the so-called threat of Prometheus and Jon was simply... in his head. All because he didn't want to be regarded the way they regarded him.

Andrew frowned -it was a sad, regretful frown- and looked at Nicole.

"Why can't I be myself without getting disliked?" he asked her. "I've... I've tried to do something about how I am, Kirsten, she... she's trying too. But it's all the same. If I lie, force my smiles and pretend to be someone I'm not, people like me. But then I'm fake, I'm a lie, nothing but the lies I tell everyone else. If they find out, I'm a horrible, morally corrupt human being. And no one ever likes that." His voice was calm, he had not raised it once despite his rant.

"It's so... tiring to lie, yet it's the only thing I can do. The only thing I have done, for almost twenty years. I just want to give it a rest sometimes. Not all of it, of course not. That wouldn't be possible. Everything would fall apart then. But at least now, when we're relying on each other for survival.

However, that's not any better, because I can't do anything without making people dislike me. Why do I do that? How should I act? People are never pleased either way, whenever I do something I think is right, it's not. Whenever I try to be honest, people's feelings are hurt. Is my personality just that rotten? Why am I wrong for thinking that I'm superior when objective results, be it tests, competitions or my appearance, proves that I'm better than most people? I'm pretty much perfect compared to them. More clever, talented..."

He smirked, bitterly. "Some superior human I am, if I can't even figure out these kinds of things myself, right? I can't even rely on myself, like some weakling. I don't know how to explain it better, Nicole, I'm just... tired of making people dislike me. I just want to be myself without doing that, but it seems impossible." Andrew looked at Nicole again, gauging her reaction in an almost fragile way.

"Is it really? Impossible, I mean? We're friends, but... That's different. I don't deserve that, I... I just want to be myself. Am I really so cruel, that people feel the need to distrust, dislike, and insult me?"

Andrew stopped talking, his chest felt tight, and he wasn't sure how Nicole would react.

Spoiler: Clarifications

Guide to Andrew's Thinking in This.

1. Anything with Prometheus is because Andrew is upset/sad/annoyed over that Prometheus is disappointed and that he ignored him.

2. Anything involving Jon is because of the grabbing/insult, and he doesn't actually think of it like that, nor does he loathe him.

3. Andrew thinks he's better because he only knows of one way of deciding that kind of thing, and that's through results. He's also biased in what he believes matter, as these are the things he has an interest in, and because his thinking has always been in a way that favors him, like most other humans.

4. He would actually be sad if anyone died.

5. He wants to be accepted for who he is, but doesn't see that there's more to that Andrew than what he normally shows the group, as he's noticably kinder/affectionate towards people he trusts/likes.

6. Poor Nicole, having to be there for the ranting part.

7. If Andrew had been the king, everyone'd lost their heads by now.

8. IFS agreed to me moving them ahead to the hotel room.

 

[IFS]

Nicole listened through Andrew's ranting, at several points she started to speak up only to stop herself and let him continue. She knew he didn't really want to sell out the others, he was angry and tired and frustrated, though it was still uncomfortable and even frightening hearing him talk about doing such a thing. Just try to remember what you've talked about on the phone this last year, he's talked about this stuff before, though its never been this bad...

"Is it really? Impossible, I mean? We're friends, but... That's different. I don't deserve that, I... I just want to be myself. Am I really so cruel, that people feel the need to distrust, dislike, and insult me?"

"No, no it's... its more complicated than that," she started, trying to figure out what to say "You know Prometheus is doing his best to help, and I don't know if we can trust Jon but he's been open with us so far so we owe him at least the benefit of the doubt."

She sighed, that was just addressing his initial rant though, giving her more time to think of how to handle the real problem.

"Everyone is different Andrew, you know that much, just because you think one way doesn't mean other people do," she smiled briefly "and I bet you know how annoying it can be to have someone act differently from how you think they should act, its the same thing for some of the others with you, you don't always do things how they think they should be done and that aggravates them."

Ok I think that was a good start, I should probably figure out where I'm going with all this though. She moved over and sat down next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder reassuringly.

"Its worse when you lie, for everyone involved," she said after a pause "you said it yourself its tiring trying to pretend to be something you aren't, and people hate being wrong especially about other people so lying to others is just setting yourself up for trouble later. Just be yourself, and I know that doesn't always help, some people are never going to get along with you but that's fine, don't lie about yourself just to try and make those people happy you'll just end up hurting yourself and others, worry less about others liking you and worry more about being sure that you like who you are."

God I sound like an after school special or something. I hope what I'm saying helps though...

"So long as you act like yourself you'll win some people over eventually, people will at least respect you for who you are, but if you lie then they can't even do that because they don't know who you are," she continued, then smiled before giving him a brief hug "Friends aren't something you earn or deserve, you find them and when you do you do your best to keep them. Some people find friends better than others sure, but that doesn't mean you're any less deserving of them than anyone else."

Was that nonsense or something meaningful? Hopefully the latter...

She smirked though "You could stand to dial the superiority complex back a bit though," she said, poking him in the stomach and speaking with a friendly joking tone "I mean what kind of superior human lets himself get this chubby?"

 

[DarkRawen]

It was Andrew's turn to listen to the other in silence. What Nicole was saying was making him think, not only about himself, but also about how he affected others. It made him feel better too, to hear that it wasn't because he was horrible. People were different, he did indeed know that, but he had a harder time remembering that they were not only different from him, but from each other. Not everyone would dislike him, even if he didn't lie. It was a comforting though. It wasn't until she pulled him in for hug, however, that he smiled visibly, most of his doubts having vanished by the time she was done talking.

"You could stand to dial the superiority complex back a bit though. I mean what kind of superior human lets himself get this chubby?"

Andrew was baffled by the sudden joke, but he nodded, seeing the humor in it.

"Well, I suppose I'm slightly deluded when it comes to that," he replied, joking as well. There was some truth in it, though. "I mean, I didn't notice before Kirsten commented on it, and even then I had to hear it twice to even consider it." He looked down at the remaining stomach fat. "If only that was all I had to rid myself of to be perfect, right? That'd be pretty great."

Andrew looked back at Nicole, his expression more serious now.

"Thanks. Really, I needed to hear that. To be honest, I do like who I am. I don't really agree with some of what I've done, though. Deceit..."

He trailed of, briefly, before picking up where he had left.

"Deceit is like a venom, Nicole. Some people use it like a way of keeping others away, to protect themselves from others, and to feel safe. It protects them from rejection, by rejecting everyone else from the start. It keeps people away from who the deceiver really is, hurting others in the process. Even the ones they love."

He remembered not only the past shared with Kirsten, but also others. Some, especially the first girl he had ever been with, came to his mind. Andrew continued.

"And the deceiver thinks that the venom won't harm them, because it's their venom, they are the ones using it. However, it seeps through the skin, into the veins, and makes you numb and cold, it poisons your thoughts and makes you believe that your close ones will harm and discard you, the same way you have done with others. And you become worried that the ones you want to let in will see you for what you are, and leave because someone like that is... simply not worth it. I was... so worried that Kirsten would leave me that I ignored the fact that she knew and still didn't want to abandon me. And I lashed out, and hurt both of us.

Lies are an useful tool, though. I don't think I can abandon them completely. I'll try not to do anything I will regret later. But I might need a little help understanding and letting people close."

He sighed. "I'll ask them myself, though, to go a little easy on me. Do you think I should... I don't know. Talk to Prometheus to start with? I'm sort of... hesitant to ask why he reacts like he does, but if I do find out it might help me understand what I'm doing wrong, and if I should change it."

As he waited for her reply, Andrew stood up and stretched. A familiar sound from his stomach reminded him of that it'd been a while since he had eaten, and using his powers had only made it worse. While he certainly wanted to sleep, he doubted he'd be able to before having at least had a snack.

After making sure that there was a shower in the bathroom, he looked to Nicole.

"I was thinking about taking a shower and heading out to eat," he started, as he went through his backpack. "Would you like to come along? I saw a pretty decent-looking restaurant close to the hotel. It's on me, since I'm inviting you and all." Finding a sort of fancy shirt, and a dark pair of jeans to wear, he realized what it might sound like, and added;

"As friends, of course. I might have had... a number of girlfriends, but I've never cheated."

 

[Green Shoes]

Prometheus couldn't help but sigh as Andrew and Nicole left - while it certainly was to their benefit to be aware of the state of things, he considered that perhaps it was a mistake to try and shelter someone who was going to actively fight against them the whole time.

Turning to those remaining, he shrugged and led the way. Pacing briskly through the sodden streets, they quickly left the hyper-developed concrete jungle and emerged into a rather suburban row of brick-houses. Built wall-to-wall, the Titan led them up an external flight of stairs to a second-floor unit. The door to his current lodging had a long, red-stripe down the pale blue door - ending neatly on the brass lock. Twisting the key hard, he shouldered the old door open.

The unit had a combined kitchen-lounge, one bedroom and one bathroom. Opposite the door was a large window overlooking the opposite street. Warmly lit and sparsely furnished with mismatching tables, chairs, couches and drawers, all elevated surfaces were covered with an amalgamation of papers, clothes, and trinkets. Several blades of various make and origin were hidden amongst the piles. Prometheus closed the door behind them and turned a multitude of heavy locks, before hanging his coat over a chair and putting the kettle on. The TV nestled amongst cardboard boxes full of clothes was on, showing a documentary about glaciers.

"Sorry about the mess. Make yourselves at home - mind anything sharp. There's lamb and vegetables in the fridge if you hungry."

Removing his boots, he poured himself a strong tea before taking a seat at the kitchen table. Wary of probing Jon for anything but light conversation, he spoke to anyone who cared to listen.

"So, save Jon's questionable antics, has anyone done anything productive over the year?"

It was a poor conversation starter, but Prometheus wanted to establish some form of kinship with the group. If it came to a choice between turning him in or fighting by him, he wanted the odds in his favour.

----------------

The officer quickly rounded the building, talking quickly into his shoulder-radio, passing straight by the red-door as if it didn't exist, and entering the closest door - a set of doors that entered into a rather high-class bar; a building adjoining Prail's target. The guard at the red door quickly peeled off and followed the officer, sliding a thin blade up his sleeve.

Prail quickly found a skylight entering into the building - however, the frame had long since rotted, and she quickly fell through. Dropping onto dimly lit grey, slightly-rotted planks, she could hear the low thumps of combat below her; brief flickers of movement could be seen through the rafters. There was no set of stairs or ladder below - the attic seemed to be unused and annexed for some time. The hum of a dangerously live fluorescent bulb sounded from below.

---------------

Rias' strikes proved to be ineffective, until nicking a small patch of skin at the base of the mans neck. This revealed, strangely, a large metal nail. Dislodging it slightly, blood began to trickle from the wound, and the powerful figure began to slow.

Both of their attention was then drawn upwards - Prail's soft-foot fall above them caused no small alarm to the colossal man, who now eyed the stairs leading out - guarded only by Rias.

"Move."

 

[hiei82]

Hymir smirked at the Titan's statement about him and food and replied "We'll see Shield-Brother, we'll see." From there, he followed the titan to his "home"

Hymir had little experience with mortal dwellings outside the motels he'd been living in for nearly a year. Still, it was an interesting place. Hymir followed Prometheus inside and made his way directly to the fridge to stow the rest of his keg. While there, he saw the food Prometheus had - lamb and vegetables indeed - and decided to use one of his older skills; cooking. Though he was much more used to the consumption end of making food for Asgard and Valhalla had no lack of servants, he'd taken the time in his youth to learn the finer arts of food preparation. Thus began the roasting of lamb in whatever combination of sauces he could scrounge from the fridge and cabinets.

"...has anyone done anything productive over the last year?" Prometheus asked before an awkward silence could settle in. Hymir was quick to respond. "You know what I've been up to and how non-productive it was." he said, referencing his poor luck in catching Loki's trail. He remained quiet for a few seconds before remembering that wasn't all he'd done. "Oh, and I also took a class on "computers" to aid me in my search for Loki during which I slew a "Computer Wyrm" which was much less exciting than the name would suggest. It didn't even breath fire." he added.

Once the lamb was done, he placed it on the table for the others to partake of and grabbed a fairly large cut of the meat for himself before settling in on the couch to learn of "glaciers".

 

[Lunar Templar]

Rias took note of both the foot steps above them and her opponents reaction. Was some one hunting the hunters? That'd be nice. She also took note of how he'd slowed after she'd struck and loosened something on the back of his neck.

"Move"

He said while she pondered how to proceed. Rias finally decided on making a go at finishing the fight, and aimed to hit the same spot she'd hit before that caused him to bleed a little and slow. Though given he was more interested in leaving then fighting she wasn't sure if she'd be able to put him down before he could get away.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Shiro was quiet on the way to the apartment. Things certainly were getting complicated, but he couldn't back out now, not with so much at stake.

"Sorry about the mess. Make yourselves at home - mind anything sharp. There's lamb and vegetables in the fridge if you hungry."

Shiro nodded gratefully, and seeing that of the others was already cooking up some lamb and vegetables, s he resigned himself to waiting patiently.

"So, save Jon's questionable antics, has anyone done anything productive over the year?"

"Not much," he admitted, "Just some training and doing some research." Up until the reveal of his parentage, the closest Shiro had gotten to any sort of mythology was in some of his video games. He'd spend the last few days looking up various different mythologies. It had been... interesting, to say the least.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

[Damn, double post. Please ignore.]