The Guardians of London: Third Echelon CHAPTER THREE [6 Slots Open]

[Lord_Ascendant]

Emerging into the scene of an argument, Bastian and Zjar'q appeared. The portal almost seemed to spit them out and they stopped, stared a few moments as they assessed the situation.
Jeffrey was shaking, a look in his eyes made Bastian's insides clench with emotion. He felt bad for Jeff, he had to strongest burden to bear. One of few total masters of Chronomancy, he actually was always one with the time stream. Not like Zjar'q who came and went as he pleased but who was slowly being pulled under, like every chronomancer who eventually masters their art. Sometimes, the undertows and rapids of time sneak up on you.
Zjar'q went over and put a sympathetic hand on Jeff's shoulder and smiled a friendly smile.

Bastian walked up to the small girl with the pink hair and, crouching down to her level said "Hello little one. I am Sebastian Wyre and I am from Earth...could you tell me where the nearest city or township is?" and he smiled.

 

[Daft Sikes]

Hadrian sighed. Rena was a tricky one, reminding him of his time back in his home town, and her... He smiled sadly and backed up so Bastian could speak with her. He decided that he would get an answer out of her later, and try not scare her out of her wits.

 

[Kuroneko Aisha]

Rena gave a sharp glare towards Harper and seemed like she was about to do something when one of the more kinder gentlemen of the group came over and asked where the closest settlement was from their location. That struck a nerve in the small Fae, since there was really only one town left.

Pouting, she shook her head and said. "I'm not going to lead you anywhere! I don't trust you people at all! That person there just admitted that you were all a dangerous group, so why would I take you to Grand Moon, the last free city in Faerie that's standing against the Dark Skull's army?" She let this sink in before continuing. "Grand Moon is the only place that hasn't been captured and destroyed by the Dark Skull and for all I know, you could be trying to trick me into getting you inside so you can kill everyone!"

She crossed her arms and said. "Unless you give me some kind of proof that you won't harm anyone in the city, I won't trust you." She looked at the more violent of the group and said. "I'm not afraid to die, so the whole 'take us and we'll let you live' routine won't work on me. I would rather die at the hands of savages than get killed and have my corpse controlled by the Dark Skull."

Spoiler: OOC

I hope this is okay in terms of what's going on in Faerie. I know you told me that Grand Moon was the last bastion against the Dark Skull so I went with it. If it's inaccurate I'll be happy to re-post. ^^

 

[Daft Sikes]

Rena's words actually stung Hadrian, causing him to flinch. He scratched the back of his head, trying to think of a way to gain her trust. 'Kids like sweet things, right?'
"Maybe some food will change your mind?" He rummaged through his pack and brought out some sweet bread that he purchased from the market. "And no, this stuff isn't poisoned." He ripped off a piece and ate it. "See? I'm not foaming at the mouth or anything." He doubted it would work, but it was worth a try. He never really intended to eat it anyway.

 

[Kuroneko Aisha]

Rena looked to the sweet bread and it truly seemed like she was at a struggle with herself. Finally, it seemed her stronger side won, and she shook her head. "N-no! Just because you have delicious sweet bread doesn't mean I'll trust you!" She crossed her arms and closed her eyes, but one eye soon opened and said. "B-but..if you have more sweets.."

 

[Daft Sikes]

Hadrian grinned triumphantly. "Yep, got some right here." He pulled out a second piece of bread. "I also have a mint or two..." he patted his pocket.
'Ah, this is like the old times.' Hadrian thought happily.

 

[Vesuvius Hetlan]

Jeffery scowled under his gasmask. He did not like this brat one bit. "Not only that but she's openly pandering for sweets. What a brat." He turned to Bastian. "OI! Bastian? Do we really have to rely on this thing? I bet she'd just lead us into a trap and try to kill us."

 

[Daft Sikes]

Hadrian turned his head to Jeffery, still smiling. "I take it that you never dealt with kids before." He shrugged nonchalantly. "Besides, it's my food that I'm giving away here. It's not like she's asking for our souls or anything. Some sweets in exchange for information sounds like a pretty good deal, doesn't it?"

 

[Vesuvius Hetlan]

Jeffery placed his hands on his hips, "I told you. I'm married. So no kids... yet..." He gave Hadrian a knowing look.

 

[Kuroneko Aisha]

Rena seemed to consider this. Sure, most of the people in the group seemed like savages, especially that gas masked weirdo, but if the person in front of her had so many sweets then he couldn't possibly be all that bad. The one who asked for the location of the city also seemed pretty nice too. Thinking this over some, she nodded her head and said. "Deal! I'll take you to the city in exchange for the two sweet breads! You can keep the mints, since I don't have any pockets."

 

[Daft Sikes]

"Great!" Hadrian handed the two loaves of sweet bread to her, and ruffled her hair again. He turned to face the group, but not before returning the knowing look that Jeffery gave to him. "We're heading out guys!"
He moved over to Jeffery and nudged him. "When this mission is over, you should get on that. You've never experienced true happiness until you got yourself some kids to care for." He went quiet for a moment, looking downcast, before coming to his senses and shrugging. "But then again, they may be ungrateful mooches who treat you like garbage. Glad I didn't have to put up with that."

 

[Vesuvius Hetlan]

Jeffery playfully pinched Hadrian's cheek. His eyes were both mildly annoyed and incredibly amused, "I do know my kids. They're delightful, well behaved and very talented in Chronomancy. That brat is none of the above." He let go and patted him on the back and pointed to himself. "Chronomancer... remember?"

 

[Daft Sikes]

"Right, right," He smiled. "You know your future and past, and whatever."
He smirked. "Kind of spoils the surprise though, don't you think?"
Then he pulled at his ear. "Who's a brat now?"

 

[Vesuvius Hetlan]

Jeffery laughed and pulled off his gasmask. "I don't know my future and the pasts... I know all of the possible futures and pasts that involve me. But you have a point I suppose I'm being just as much of a brat as I think she is. I don't appreciate the lying about the age though." He pulled out a candy bar and tossed it to her, "There you go. Sorry about before. I was having a bad day." He turned to Zjar'q and gave a grin to him mouth speaking through the timestream at him, "Thanks."

 

[Daft Sikes]

He chuckled. "Yeah, that's the thing with kids. Most of them are terrible liars." Hadrian scratched his chin in contemplation. "I suppose it does makes them more endearing though."

 

[MrJKapowey]

Harper shook his head in mock disgust and worry: "Fellas, we'll be out of a job soon... If it becomes this easy to do our jobs: just give kids candy - it'll be done by creepy men with creepy moustaches operating from vans..."

 

[Vesuvius Hetlan]

Jeffery grinned, " I don't know. I don't much care for liars." He turned to Harper, "Spoken like someone without any children of their own."

 

[MrJKapowey]

"Hey, I'm 25: I've got my life ahead of me. And, at least, I don't know if I've got any kids. Might do, most girlfriends don't last long around me, wonder why..."

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

"I know the moment that I am going to die, Hadrian. Do you envy me that?" said Zjar'q, smiling.

Bastian took a deep breath of the summer air. Wherever Grand Moon was, he hoped it was just as lovely. The child was feisty and strong-willed, much like he himself had been as a child. He smiled, knowingly and said, as they walked. "I can prove we mean you no harm, I carry something that I am sure you recognize." he produced a small, shiny gold shield shape which bore the symbol of The Light and an inscription "Semper Patiens" and his name "Sebastian Chevalier Wyre"
"I serve the Light and fight on its side, and no idle creature of darkness can touch that without burning and cringing. I'm sure your mother has told you about what the Avengers were like, long ago."
Some stories told to Bastian back in the Guardians, when he was becoming a Guardian, by an older Fae about the Avengers. The elite Fae warriors of the light who brandished shining shields and blades, cutting through evil wherever it appeared. Always female, these warriors were harsh and true to their faith. They fell to protect the Fae, their last breaths given to weaken the dark force that had driven their from their ancestral homeland. Only one city stood, fighting back...even after the ancient warriors who had once defended their lands had perished and most had fled. They stayed, resolute and strong. Their faith bolstered by the noble sacrifice of the Avengers, plunging their blades into the soil and trapping the dark force it its lands never to leave itself. Only those Fae it could corrupt could strike out beyond the barrier, but they could not touch the blades that made up the barrier itself. To touch one was to embrace the sun itself, no darkness could stand being within a mile of it without cringing.
The little Fae would, hopefully, know of the Avengers and trust them a little more. There was only so much trust some sweetbread could buy them. And whoever led these Fae would be disinclined to take sweetbread as a symbol of their benevolence.

Bastian knew little of the Fae, this Fae seemed more like the Fae of old. Down to the horn on its head, like the ancient ancestors of the Faeries. Bastian kicked himself for forgetting to bring an old ring given to an ancient Guardian, a ring of fire only a true Faerie could craft. Only a true Faerie who had given it freely could have given the ring, and it would have been easier. Could'a, should's, would'a though Bastian as they walked.

Spoiler: OOC

I'm reminded of Secret of the Kells here...

 

[Kuroneko Aisha]

Rena was more than surprised by the shield that the man had produced. It was an authentic Avengers shield! She almost wanted to touch it, but the young Fae innocently thought that her little pranks had put her a little away from the side of good, despite her pure heart. Smiling, she said. "I've definitely heard of the Avengers! They're the greatest of the great! Slaying darkness wherever it spawned!" She made it seem like she was swinging a sword heroically as she talked. "All evil perished at the hands of the Avengers!" She then frowned and said. "Though..that was until SHE came..The Dark Skull..T-they fought so hard and yet they still fell. Now there's almost none left, if any. I want to be an Avenger myself! Then I'll defeat all of the evils in this world, including the Dark Skull!" There was a pain in her eyes which showed that she truly wanted to avenge her fallen heroes. Trying not to think about it though, she started to bite on some of the sweet bread. Squeaking in happiness, she seemed to float with happiness, but if one were to feel the winds, she was actually manipulating the wind to allow herself to float in the air.