Apologys and Thanks (Reila, open)

[Murazar Dauthi]

Murazar frowned and sighed, he had forgotten about Reila. Or had he? He couldn't remember clearly about her too much anymore except she had hired him and put him in position to work for her. He barely remembered about the conflict that had happened earlier. The one he was absent from. The one he should have been at. He checked himself, he wore his normal white suit with neither the lapels of the heads of intelligence nor the north. He didn't wear his major general ranks either or his lord captain-commander cloak. He just had a white suit. He looked normal

Or rather he had, he had his hair dyed and cut shorter. Just above his collar give or take some strands of hair. It was also black now, he grimaced. The new change was something that wouldn't make him stand out so much. The sacrifices of being well-known in the world were sometimes rather painful of his personal image. He checked to make sure at the least he was presentable before he was most likely fired. He knocked on the door a short three times before putting his hands behind his back.

He blanked his face out from all emotion. He was doing his job, he had just forgotten to alert Reila to the fact that he was back. Wherever he had gone. Gurthang was even left behind, the screaming in his mind never wavered for a second. Other than his normalistic appearance he looked ragged. As if he had been trying to do everything himself. As if he hadn't slept for more than an entire day. In effect he looked like hammered shit.

He remembered a message that he had recieved a day late on his computer due to his check-up of his Black Company at the Ebon Citadel. All his access codes and logins were shut down, his access to the majority of areas were already canceled, and his access to the facility more than this one visit revoked. It was all easily possible to revert, but it was obvious and indicative of what this one visit meant. It was over. Two years, nigh three almost. All for nothing apparently. So he waited, if necessary he'd defend himself. If not he'd resign himself to the inevitable. He was almost out of fight already.

He held a small paper packet in his left hand, it was his resignation in full detail which was enclosed inside the packet. Just in case she would give him the chance to resign or be fired. It would be nice if he could at least negotiate a resignation. He didn't even feel like trying to explain himself or defend himself anymore. He was just a mercenary, not even a Amestrian soldier. Just a tool that you had to pay for even if he had made it steadily cheaper and cheaper by discreet amounts.

[Dai]

TEN MINUTES PREVIOUS

It had been quite some time, and one had to think on a few things in this world of ice and snow. His footsteps had clattered through the halls of Briggs, following a familiar path towards the office that he knew so well. A soft look was on his lips, and he was almost completely out of his proper mind. Loud echoes thrust themselves within the room of Briggs, and as he finally reached that pink door, he could only swallow. He had to wonder: why was he so nervous? This was the woman that he adored. This was who he... heh. A hand went up to the door, knocking a familiar pattern. A few seconds, and a muffled voice spoke out to him, "Come in..." He opened the door, and found Reila, sitting at her desk. The man blinked, closing the door behind him, watching her through curious red eyes. The edges of her eyes were red; she appeared to have been up for a long time, wasted pencil upon the desk, lead upon her face. Looking over the desk, he could see hastily scrawled plans. Ah, she was still worried about Drachma, it seemed. "Heh, Reila. It appears I have come at a bad time... should I go?" "You can stay."

From then on, he remembers nothing. All that he could feel was her lips pressed against his, their bodies touching, melding, colliding. That cold of Briggs was slowly fading away from the world, replaced by her. She had instigated the kiss, bringing him in closer, placing her lips against his. He had complied, accepting, wanting, lusting, everything was just Reila. They held themselves into each other, continuing the kiss on for as long as humanly possible--before hearing a door knock. Three times, it happened. And, as soon as she had embraced him, she had escaped, ducking under the desk without a single noise. "Can you get that?" He chuckled softly, standing up from his position and turning towards the door. "Of course." Slowly approaching the door, the man placed his hand onto the knob, turning it slowly and opening it. He was greeted with the face of... someone he didn't know. This mysterious man, though unfamiliar, had an aura around him that seemed like someone he knew... Murazar, maybe? Brown, short hair was upon his head, and a white suit on his body. Turning away, Dai walked over to the desk, sitting upon it and crossing one leg over another. "Ah, if you're looking for Lieutenant General Tsukino, I suppose you'll be waiting with me."

He laughed softly, tilting his head to the side. "So, do I know you? Your face, it appears to be familiar; as does your aura. I would make an assumption, though I have made a fool of myself before." He closed his eyes and smiled softly, making sure as to not to look at the desk. If he did, then he would be possibly giving away the position of his lover. "I am Daigoro Ito, Arms Developer. I can answer all of your questions as best I can, if you have any." He laughed softly. Strange; what had happened before would probably not leave his mind for a little while...

[Reila Tsukino]

It took time to gather a girl together. She was supposed to be planning out an attack from Drachma. What gave Dai the right to come in and ruin that?! Now, now she was under the desk hiding in her own office while Dai distracted whomever it was. She righted her bra whose straps were too stretched and worn from hours of practicing with the sword. Damn thing always ended up crooked whether Dai was kissing her or not. She nearly stood up, but stopped herself, listening quietly.

"So, do I know you? Your face, it appears to be familiar; as does your aura. I would make an assumption, though I have made a fool of myself before." ...What the hell was Dai rambling about? She nearly stood up again, but found a hole in the old wood and squeeze a golden eye through it. Pants. She saw man legs and man shoes and no face. What good was it? If fate was going to give her a hole to look though, at least make it an efficient hole, dammit! She frowned to herself and, ignoring whatever her redhead was saying, flung herself up triumphantly. "I found it! I found my ehm...special pencil!" Grinning ear to ear like a loser, she attempted to brush the lead off her hands and onto her black jeans. It didn't exactly work, and she couldn't exactly see the charcoal on the tip of her nose, cheeks, forehead and wherever else it was... All well~~

WAITASECOND. She blinked, focusing on the face that matched those pants and shoes. THATFACE. Dai's words came back to her and she nearly snickered. "Long time no see, Murazar Dauthi. I see you...came back from the dead, disappeared, and have come back once more?" Don'trunandhughimDon'trunandhughimDon'trunandhughimDon'trunandhughim.

[Murazar Dauthi]

He blinked and turned his head up and closed his eyes, he sniff once or twice before settling his head back into position and opening his eyes. Just as Reila appeared in sight, he didn't even raise an eyebrow. Despite the blank face he wore he looked ragged and exhausted. He spoke outloud in a dead tired voice, " If you two are busy, I could just come by another time." The envelope switched hads as his fore finger and thumb to massage his forehead for a moment with his eyes closed.

He put his hand down in just a second or two and the envelope switched hands again. He still didn't step inside or move from his spot whatsoever, he seemed despite all else about him... uncomfortable to those that knew him. He spoke again in the same kind of voice," It took alot of effort to come back, I also lost some of my memories. Which might still be left with you." He pointed at her very briefly when he said you to reila. He continued on," So its difficult for me to remember anything correctly. I've also been busy, both as with my old intel network, catching up on what I missed, finding leads on anything connected to RIOTE, and maintaining both my job as Head of the North and the head of my Black Company. So I apologize if I haven't had time for an ice cream social."

He paused a moment, he had sounded very callous and cold. Very calculating, the only exception was the slight sarcastic and ragged nature of how he said everything. It was worse than when he first started. He seemed like he had decided if he couldnt remember anything clearly he couldn't trust anyone. Which put him worse off than when he started. He spoke up again, this time for all intents and purposes that this was murazar. He sounded both a little apologetic and curious."My apologies, its just been a lot of plane and helicopter rides. I've had some very non-stop days. Its no excuse, regardless i'm here because I got an e-mail too late or something like that. Since all my access codes and passwords are frozen or erased i'm guessing this is probably a termination of my contract. Before thats brought up I already made my resignation if its possible to resign before getting fired."

He held up the packet and shook it once lightly before holding it out in front of himself to neither in particular. He seemed like he didn't even expect to have a chance to resign. He didn't even seem to care enough to fight it, he just accepted it like death. He obviously felt isolated, alone, and damaged goods. He seemed at heart to be hiding his own fear, a fear that Reila knew something he had forgotten that was important. The magnitude of what he felt and no longer did. He had a faint rememberance of what he felt for this woman, he knew he was at one point so self-destructively in love with her that he would have gave his life for her. Now he had lost it.

Once he had felt a brotherhood with Dai, now it was just a shadow of that. He mistrusted those feelings greatly. He felt he was just a broken man lying to himself. He didn't know what was true or not anymore. He just seemed to be interpreting things as a worst-case-scenario.

[Dai]

"I found it! I found my ehm...special pencil!" He had to resist sniggering, instead looking forwards at the man that stood before him. "W-well, whaddayaknow, there she is now. I wondered why I heard a muffled noise below the desk." He chuckled softly, shaking his head. Thankfully, he was good at lying, somewhat. Though he would never choose to lie to Reila, and not to lie seriously to anyone else. "Long time no see, Murazar Dauthi. I see you...came back from the dead, disappeared, and have come back once more?" "Ah, hello Mur--" Wait. Waaaait. Hold up. Go back a few steps. Murazar Dauthi, as Dai remembered him, had long white hair, and certainly didn't look like this. He blinked, rubbed his eyes, and slooowly tilted his head to the side. So it was. "If you two are busy, I could just come by another time." His mind flickered back to approximately a minute previous. Hmm. Well, they had just been making out on her desk. He didn't know exactly how far they'd gotten/would've gotten, and then someone had knocked. Sarcasm, on. "Of course not. You're welcome right now." Whoops, said that out loud. Sarcasm, off; quickly, before you make an ass out of yourself, Ito. He chuckled softly, and tilted his head to the side. "It took alot of effort to come back, I also lost some of my memories. Which might still be left with you." Ah, memory loss. Those words were directed towards Reila who, as Daigoro had recently heard, had Murazar stuck in her head temporarily. Waaait. Waitwaitwait. That meant that Murazar was therefore... Shit. "So its difficult for me to remember anything correctly. I've also been busy, both as with my old intel network, catching up on what I missed, finding leads on anything connected to RIOTE, and maintaining both my job as Head of the North and the head of my Black Company. So I apologize if I haven't had time for an ice cream social." Hmm. Busy, huh?

"Since all my access codes and passwords are frozen or erased i'm guessing this is probably a termination of my contract. Before thats brought up I already made my resignation if its possible to resign before getting fired." "..." He was... he was what? "You're... resigning?" That sounded colder than it normally would, though Dai wouldn't be lying if he said that he was slightly excited to hear about that. Not joyous and happy, perse. More... just slightly relieved. Whenever Murazar was around, Dai had always felt uncomfortable, challenged by his mere presence. That power that he exerted, it was frightful. By all rights, Daigoro would wish not to share a room with this powermonger, but he knew that wouldn't be true. Instead, he would smile, and be nice. He still liked Mura, don't get me wrong. It's just... he had always felt uncomfortable around him, ever since he had gained the ability to remove souls from people's bodies.

"Murazar..." His eyes glossed over slightly, and he shook his head to remove any negativity from the back of his mentality. "I suppose that... if you truly feel that resigning is the best... then you are welcome to give that in." He looked over to the side and chuckled. "However... think about it, with whatever remains of your mind and sanity. Know what you're leaving behind, and look at what you expect to gain. Other than that, I really have nothing I can say." A soft and calm smile crossed his lips, and he resisted letting tears brim at the edges of his eyes. "That said, Reila... I wonder. Would she likely refuse you?" He laughed softly and stood up, moving forwards and past Mura, letting her and he look at each other. What would happen from now on was ahead and up to them... he had no longer any part in this dance of emotions. At least, not right now.

[Reila Tsukino]

There was so much unknown in his voice...so much distance that made her breath catch and no words come out. The reason why she had told herself not to run and hug him slowly effortlessly vanished into nothing. She stood over her desk like a rotting building, abandoned for years only to be rediscovered for its acquired beauty. Graffiti lined the broken windows, dripping down the sides in a message no one could possibly understand save for the writer themself. "...it's difficult for me to remember anything correctly. I've also been busy, both as with my old intel network, catching up on what I missed, finding leads on anything connected to RIOTE, and maintaining both my job as Head of the North and the head of my Black Company. So I apologize if I haven't had time for an ice cream social." What...did that even mean? Her hands shook and moved to clutch the desk, holding her up as she stared down Mura for any sign of life. No...No that was just wrong... It didn't fit. It wasn't right. That sarcasm that stabbed right through the air was able to pierce her heart as well. Suddenly, it was as if she couldn't breathe--couldn't think straight. Her existence was denied--no. Mura...whatever he had left inside her...had just been denied. How...how was that possible? Memories? Feelings? Whatever hadn't been intertwined deeply into his soul was now swimming around in hers. It's okay...I'll take care of you...you still exist. He didn't know. He just had no idea. But it was there. It was still there...within her! Even as she thought it had all gone, she had been wrong. So wrong that it had been surprising to see Mura here in her office standing there while pieces of him still remained within her. What...what was this?! How...how the hell was this possible. She felt split--she felt too whole that it was ripping her apart. It was as if her soul was trying to escape her, pulling toward Mura and making her head spin. The room tilted, she dug her nails into the desk, and tears burst from her eyes. Make it stop...

"My apologies...non-stop days...e-mail too late...access codes...passwords...frozen...erased...termination of my contract...resignation...before...fired." ...What? She sucked in a shuddering breath, trying to hear--to listen--to become human again, but only fragments reached her, nagging at her entire being and threatening to dismantle it before her very eyes. ...What...why? No! It wasn't right. He had the wrong idea. He was confused! He didn't know...he didn't know... "You're... resigning?" NO. Another deep breath. If he resigned, what would he do? What would he do!? Go back to killing--go back to not believing in life while understanding death better? What would that prove about herself--that she failed? She really would be the cold-hearted bitch of Fort Briggs. She would fit that role to a Q. Then what of Mura? He'd get jobs, he'd complete them. Maybe...maybe he wouldn't be as tired, but he would be broken--a fragment of who he once was. He would suffer--possibly suffer knowing that he had lost something that had once made him happy--happy? She had seen him smile. She had. She loved his smile. She loved it. Was it selfish of her to not want to give that up? In the fleeting moments she had time to think about it, having Mura disappear was a shock that made her sick. Having him not in Drachma could have been very well the reason why they had lost. Without Mura, she was at a loss. LOSS. Loss like Houka, like Ilona, like so many before him. To let him go now would be just the same. She just had to say it--just had to...

"That said, Reila... I wonder. Would she likely refuse you?" ...Refuse...? "...if you truly feel that resigning is the best... then you are welcome to give that in." NO. Dai...what are you saying!? Voice...come to me dammit!!! She found herself walking around the desk somehow, swaying as if she were to fall down at any moment. Swallowing tears that were already falling, she quickly wound her arms around Mura's waist and buried her head in his chest just as she had when she learned that the rose by her beside was just that: a rose--that Dai no longer existed.

"No, I won't let go. For your sake, Mura, I won't let you go." Her voice shook near the end and she sniffed, shutting her eyes as warmth soaked into Mura's clothes. "Your hair is short...and it's brown, but you're still my Murazar--you're still Briggs. You belong here and nowhere else more. The codes were all changed because we're at war...with Drachma, with RIOTE... only a few people know those codes. I...you weren't here for me to tell you." She felt it leaving her, breaking through her skin however invisible and draining into him now, the memories, the smiles, the snow, everything left her and crashed violently out and back where it belonged inside of him. "Dai is afraid of what he can't fight. Souls...are something that even I...can't ever touch with these hands, but... I can feel it right now. I don't know how, but...Mura you feel it too, right? Do you understand my feelings too?" What...was this? It was like...their souls were connected. She pulled away before she lost the rest of herself and crumpled onto the floor on her knees. Staring blankly at his shoes, she held herself up with just her hands, nails digging into the soft Persian rug under her. "Don't go," she whispered, "be my Head of intel like always, be Mura."

[Murazar Dauthi]

Murazar barely noticed Dai and heard his words. He caught them, that was sure. It was being muddled, he was confused, tired, and very much sad. Wait...She just went from happy to depressed. Extremely depressed at that....How? Why? His thoughts raced as he listened to her words and suddenly was embraced by her. It surprised him so suddenly his thoughts cracked and shattered just as he realized what and why and how.

He gasped when she pulled away and his memories and feelings returned all at once, he held his head with one hand. His eyes were going blurry and he had an enormous headache. He could feel her emotions like the clear sunshine of the day at a beach or looking through pure crystal glass. He also knew that she felt his emotions, the confusion was gone and was replaced with a strong remorse, a anger at himself, joy about her,a great lonliness that had seemed to never fade, this odd lingering immensively powerful sadness that seemed to just stay with him. It was everything he carried on his shoulders, it was his own problems. Lastly, there was this hidden feeling of a rabid madness that seemed to be growing. It was chained safely to the back of all his feelings, but it was still there...and growing with a smile on its face.

He never let any of it go, not from day one. The screaming in his head was now accompanied by her feelings. Gurthangs voice echoed in his head just a bare whisper in the dark. He had no idea if she could hear those things like he did, he hoped not. Those were just for him. His own madness. He felt what she felt as well, it was in comparison completely understanable and by no means feeble. It however was a reminder to Murazar of someone with some normality or sanity. Someone not tainted... He didn't even step forward as he picked her straight up into his arms in a great hug.

He kept his head beside her ear, his face hidden from dai. The reason why? As soon as he picked her up he was crying. He was doing something he had never done before, he was crying as he held her lightweight form up. He had a smile on his face as well. He was truly joyful to not having been fired, he also felt some small part of his lonliness fade. While it was still there he actually felt like he wasn't alone. He hoped whatever this gift was they recieved, it was something good. The innner workings of his mind were already working to see if he could unravel what he had done and see if he could recreate it.

Whilst at the same time he spoke so softly only Dai and Reila would hear his words. His voice seemed to break a little with the crying and smiling. " Head of Intel, Head of the North. Whatever you need. I remember those words now, I'll always be here Reila. If all else fails I wont leave forever. I make that an oath."

[Xan]

A shadow of a man seemed to pass through the halls of Fort Briggs. As he walked by, he passed by men and women whom were considered to be his subordinates. Some stopped what they were doing and went to attention, others saluted briefly, and yet some others simply uttered words of greeting. However, all acknowledged him. Upon acknowledgement, the man would simply respond in kind to whomever it was that had greeted him, and then keep walking. Every few minutes he would sigh, musing to himself about subjects that he would rather not even think about at all. Yet he couldn't help himself...

His white hair flowed freely, on occasion flowing directly in front of his eyes and subsequently being brushed away. He had let it grow out to far past its usual length, but that was fine. He hadn't had an opportunity to do anything to, with, or for it in quite some time. What was not fine however, was the condition of his uniform: his usually spotless black uniform was covered in holes, scratches, marks of many kinds and had large tears in it. In short, it looked as though it had been through hell and back. Xan decided that it was ironic that his uniform looked like he had been through a large-scale battle when in reality, he was one of the few personnel of Briggs who had not been present for the Amestris/Drachma confrontation. That thought in itself made the Homunculus wince even as he brought himself in front of the door that led to the office of the only person in Amestris whom he actually answered to. To his slight surprise, he found that the door was open and that there was apparently something happening inside.

Taking a deep breath and clearing his face of all emotion save for the entirely calm confidence that he was known for, Xan stepped into the office, knocking three times on the door as he passed by, hoping that by knocking quietly, he wouldn't interrupt whatever was going on too badly. "Hey bro, sorry I'm so late in getting back." He said to Daigoro as he entered into the office, not entirely sure about how to address his superior or Mura. Then he simply stood there, waiting to be acknowledged yet again, this time not by his subordinates, but by his friends.

[Dai]

"No, I won't let go. For your sake, Mura, I won't let you go." He didn't need to look. The man already knew the scene that sat to his side; Reila would be buried within Murazar's chest, hugging him tightly. "Perfect." Honest words from a man who was trying his hardest to be truly honest with himself. He had known that Reila would never let him go; he himself wouldn't have let him go if he didn't have that fear. A worry, that Murazar would finally stray from the path of light and delve into the deepest darkness. But... that was a digression that he had no need to follow. "Your hair is short...and it's brown, but you're still my Murazar--you're still Briggs. You belong here and nowhere else more. The codes were all changed because we're at war...with Drachma, with RIOTE... only a few people know those codes. I...you weren't here for me to tell you." A slight disturbance in the air caused him to turn slightly towards the pair. He had heard souls speak to him before; he felt a strange connection with them. He... he could only smile at that. From what it felt like, everything that was "Murazar" was returning to the rightful owner. "Dai is afraid of what he can't fight." He twitched slightly, looking away from the pair and staring at the door once more. "..." She was right. That's why he'd always been so... no, no, no need to digress that badly. "Souls...are something that even I...can't ever touch with these hands, but... I can feel it right now. I don't know how, but...Mura you feel it too, right? Do you understand my feelings too?" Strange. That comment... was strange. Strange...

"Don't go, be my Head of intel like always, be Mura." Hmm. Turning towards the pair once more, Daigoro almost spoke. He opened his mouth. The words were almost about to break loose into the air, and then he stopped. What could he say in this situation? He was a stranger, locked away by some invisible barrier. He couldn't be a part of this, for it was not his moment to speak. He had been an intruder from the start of this discussion; for it was Reila and Murazar to speak over, and nobody else. "Head of Intel, Head of the North. Whatever you need. I remember those words now, I'll always be here Reila. If all else fails I wont leave forever. I make that an oath." A weak smile crossed his lips. He wasn't sad. He wasn't disappointed. So... why was he feeling like this? "Hey bro, sorry I'm so late in getting back." A voice broke the silence in his mind, and his eyes moved slowly towards the door. "Xan...thus..." What...? Everything was the same, as it had always been. It had been over a year, almost two. Almost two years of happiness, sadness, tears. Almost two years of death, betrayal, new faces coming and leaving. Almost two years as Soldiers of Fort Briggs, the Original Four. Xanthus Icarus, the embodiment of Pride. Murazar Dauthi, the embodiment of Power. Daigoro Ito, the embodiment of Patience. Reila Tsukino, the embodiment of Passion. Almost two years had passed. They had all grown, changed, matured, lost, laughed, loved. Strange occurrences had passed through them all, and it had brought them all closer together.

...why were his cheeks wet? He looked up at the three, feeling the wetness slide down his face and drip onto the ground. He lowered his gaze and chuckled dryly, shaking his head is soft disbelief. "It has been too long..." A soft voice. "Too long since we four stood here as proper brothers--and sisters--in arms." He'd bite his lip softly and chuckle once more. "I believe a celebration is in order..." Raising his gaze again, he wiped his face with his sleeve and nodded. "What say we... go play Truth and Dare in the mountains?" He gave a laugh at that, reminiscing further, but delving no deeper. "Or... just have a drink in the cafeteria. For old times' sake..."

[Reila Tsukino]

"Head of Intel, Head of the North. Whatever you need. I remember those words now, I'll always be here Reila. If all else fails I wont leave forever. I make that an oath." Suddenly, she was back where she was the day she woke up and Dai was gone. Tear spring anew in her eyes, soaking her hair and making it curl around her face and stick to her cheeks and Mura's. It was all she could do to swallow the sobs that were rising in her and making her want to disappear in a good way if that was possible. Both so tired, both so close... Mura would always be a part of her--that broken, shattered, needy part of her that had been scattered at his feet when he bent to pick it up. Even now...even now. This was something Dai could never feel: that feeling of overwhelming loneliness and as it was whisked away in tearful smiles.

"That's good enough...Mura...it's good enough." She let go, stepping back and wiping the tears off of her face. "I'll always be here Reila." She'd hold him to that, and clapped him on the back with that cocky smirk of hers. That was more like it dammit. None of the resigning...it really hurt, you know? She wiped more moisture off her face and sniffed, looking over to Dai with glimmering golden eyes. What...What was he doing just standing there!? He could have helped! Daigoro Ito...being useless?! She gave him a frustrated, puzzled expression and held her forehead with her hand...dizzy. No, okay. She blinked a few times and refocused her eyes on him in dismay. What are you doing? She mouthed.

Knockknockknock. She whipped her head around and nearly lunged for her tachi before realizing that whoever was there had to get through Mura first... She felt bad if it just so happened to be an enemy. But an enemy in Briggs, no way. She was just jumpy. Why? Well, she hadn't just spent hours upon hours outlining battle plans or anythin--

"Jdsh dhf, khdf dfa sf lefe rtew fkjdasfhk kdfhas."

"..." Mouth agape.

"Xan...thus..." No...Dai was hallucinating too? Breathe, Reila, breathe! Dai was crying. Dai was WHAT. Dai? THEE Dai crying? She blinked, lungs nearly full to capacity. Now breathe out...do it... AHHHH!? She let it out slowly, gripping something and not even realizing that she had made it half way across the room to Dai and was now squeezing the life out of his hand. You see that too? Who is that because it's not Xan!? WHAT. "I believe a celebration is in order..." Reila dropped Dai's hand, his voice penetrating into her core and giving her chills. That...that was Xan? She felt paralyzed...still...muscles not responding... She could only stare blankly ahead in awe at the fact that there was an Ishvallan homunculus named Pride, her best friend, standing right there looking like he had been through the blender. Who the fuck blended him?! She'd fuck them up. D< "What say we... go play Truth and Dare in the mountains? Or... just have a drink in the cafeteria. For old times' sake..."

"I...I want chocolate milk..." And then she was flying at Xan's into the best bear hug a small woman could give.

[Murazar Dauthi]

Murazar nodded and as Reila backed off and popped him on the back he cracked a small smile with her words that it was good enough. He just nodded softly, he completely forgot the resignation packet that laid on the floor uselessly. He snapped his fingers as he suddenly remember and the interior of the packet burnt without so much as a crackle. Now there was only ash inside the yellow envelope. Not even a smell of smoke or burning exuded since it was held in there.

He wiped his tears from his cheeks and eyes and cleared his throat deeply to prevent any undue complacent talking from happening. In an instant he heard Xan speak, then he realized it was directed to Dai as if he was unsure of how to address Mura or Reila. He replied as he walked over and hugged him he exclaimed in a rough joking manner,” You look like hammered shit Bro!” He chuckled as he gave him a strong man hug. This man who was his cousin in blood and a brother by bonds and war and their two unique powers of souls were reunited. Damn it was a good day.

He pushed off him for a moment to get a look at his face while grinning, ”Guess you missed alot of things, need any catching up or did you raid my office already?” He kept records of just about everything, and at the top of the stack would be the records of the last conflict. He figured Xan either read through them already, would later, or would rather hear it in person.

Suddenly Reila went up and bear hugged him, or rather like a cute little cub as she wasn’t exactly as huge as a bear. He smiled and clasped Xans and Dais shoulders with each of his hands and agreed with Reila,” Hell yea, lets cause some trouble and ruckus in the cafeteria.”

[Xan]

It did not take long for Xanthus' presence to be noticed among the group of Briggs' top command. Unsurprisingly, it took even less time than that for several things to happen at once that the human/Homunculus did not see coming. Firstly, Daigoro began to shed tears, presumably happy tears but still tears nonetheless. Secondly, Reila saying something about chocolate milk before barreling straight into his chest, which wasn't all that unexpected nor all that bad. And finally, Murazar, his cousin and brother in blood and arms respectively walked over and joined the forming group hug telling him that he looked like...

"Yeah, I'll bet I do look terrible. You try going to every territory on the map without getting shot at a few times, among other things. Granted I could have been more stealthy about my business but ah well, I can afford a few bullet-holes you know? And about that catching up...I've already heard about some things, but it would be good to hear it from a trusted source. Although, let's handle that later. I feel like bugging the cafeteria staff a bit!"

Although he was curious about the events that had taken place in his absence, Xan had to admit that he was all for causing a good ole fashioned hell-raise in the cafeteria. It would be just like old times! Grand feast in the secret spaces of Briggs and everything! In fact...

"Should we give fair warning first, or just waltz in unannounced like every other time. Hmm..?"

A little light of mischief was quite evident in Xan's eyes; clearly he could foresee entertainment occurring in the very near future...and knowing him, he would be either in the center of it, the cause of it, or somehow related to whichever parts were the most...catastrophic. Yep, there was bound to be entertainment.

[Dai]

"I...I want chocolate milk..." Whoosh. Reila rushed past Dai, and straight into Xan's arms. Couldn't say he was surprised; it had been god-knows-HOW -long since they'd last seen him? "Hah..." Ishvallan. How long had it been since he'd had to speak that damnable language? It was a nice language; eloquent, well-spoken, easy to think of, translate, all the same. "Good to have y'back, Icarus. Let's go fuck shit up, hmm?" He grinned, laughed softly, and then joined the hug that the trio were now in. Screw the rules, they were Briggs. Pulling away from the hug, Murazar spoke, and Dai felt a hand on his shoulder. "Hell yea, lets cause some trouble and ruckus in the cafeteria." He grinned, and nodded. "Yeah, I'll bet I do look terrible. You try going to every territory on the map without getting shot at a few times, among other things. Granted I could have been more stealthy about my business but ah well, I can afford a few bullet-holes you know? And about that catching up...I've already heard about some things, but it would be good to hear it from a trusted source. Although, let's handle that later. I feel like bugging the cafeteria staff a bit!" Been around, had he?

So, off they went. Through the main corridors of Briggs, approaching the double doors of the cafeteria. Lots of memories in this place. "Should we give fair warning first, or just waltz in unannounced like every other time. Hmm..?" He chuckled. A chuckled that, as time continued on, slowly grew louder and more sinister. "Well, I've publicly embarrassed myself before. Might as well do it again." Slowly walking forwards, the man placed his hands onto the doors and grinned, suddenly pushing forwards with a loud shout. "BITCHES, MY NAME IS DAIGORO ITO, AND I REQUIRE SUSTE--HAH!" Suddenly doubling over, the redhead started to laugh uncontrollably. "Hahaha... S-sorry, I can't do it!" Sitting down, with weird looks directed at him from the cafeteria staff. How... to explain... this one. Hehehehehe....

[Reila Tsukino]

While the others stampeded down Fort Briggs' halls, Reila stood in her office stark-skill. ...so whatever happened to their make out session? She sighed, realizing with morbid humor that they hadn't even noticed she wasn't following. Someone bring me back chocolate milk... She needed that comfort liquid or she'd lose her mind...if she wasn't already. Xan's words were strong like always, infiltrated her mind like always, but all the same, she felt as if her heart was being played with. Hugging Xan was like hugging a toothless, declawed lion from a circus act gone haywire. Ripples of the past rippled onward to now, and she knew so very clearly that it was because of Danny that she thought this way. Her paranoia ruined their friendship, smearing black ink across the bright smiles that could very well be fake. When Dietrich invaded...she had felt the same then too, and she didn't like it. Not at all. Mura would reclaim his position as Head of Intelligence, but Xanthus as her second? Where had he been? He didn't even bother to tell them before the boys all romped off to 'play'. Did they not realize there were more important things before smiling could be resumed? At least for her, she needed some sort of ground to stand on. Lives depended on her, and if Xanthus hadn't realized that, then he most definitely didn't belong as her second in command. That thought hurt. It hurt her so much that she suddenly realized that she was standing in her office alone, crying. But...why? She should be happy. But...how many more times did she have to lose them before they returned again? Again and again, the same gashes were made over the same scars and it was all she could take to keep looking at them the same way.

She poured over the battle plans, waiting...waiting for Drachma and RIOTE to attack and drag down what she had been building up her entire life. This was all she had. This and if Danny hadn't died and betrayed her trust, she wouldn't be here. That was what kept her smiling, but the fear--the paranoia never truly faded into the background. Not when one's second in command vanishes without a word for so long. She had told him to "Go. Go kill that bastard. Kill Aurelius and Hild Schwarz. That is an order...first and last.", but... He didn't. So what... what?! She was so angry that she was crying, so happy that it hurt, so...so sick of being fucking played with. She was done...so done. No more. How much would the people she cared about toy with her? If...if they wanted to leave, then they should fucking properly leave already!! Mura...Mura had died. Well, technically...but then his soul was sucked out of her, leaving traces inside. But he woke up and left without even telling her? Then one day he just shows up!? What the fuck was she!? Did they even know how she felt?! She told them over and over again how much they meant to her. She loved Mura. She loved him. Xan was her best friend that she respected as the only homunculus she would ever let that close to her after Danny destroyed her trust. They were IRREPLACEABLE. So why... Dai bounced back as he always did. He was like a fucking bouncy ball, but her heart was done. Duct tape only did so much to repair damage after damage. She fought to protect the people she cared about. ...so what were they doing other than stomping all over it? Mura cried. He cried, but did he realize...exactly what he had done to her? Did he!? She wasn't going to even start with Pride--too prideful to even notice that other people had feelings too. It hurt. It hurt so much she wanted to make it all go away by parading down the hallway after them, but... all she seemed to be able to do was curl up in a ball in the corner of her office and sob her eyes out.

[EXIT THREAD]

[Murazar Dauthi]

Murazar grinned as he walked side-by-side with them, as Daigoro became suddenly rowdy and unafraid of stares with his bold statement Murazar noticed that Reila was suddenly absent. Murazar glanced at Xan and jerked his head back to down the hall where reila obviously stayed and simply said,"We can grab something real quick and bring her some milk back. Although for now i'd rather enjoy this moment." He smiled genuinely in how long? It seemed forever, he rarely ever smiled anymore and it only seemed to be on the best of occasions. He wasn't being fired, Xan was probably getting his old position back, and he could get an update on his intel and the annals.

Since ya'know Xan was still the annalist after all, he did need to record that information. Plus he had to let Xan know what was going on in the world from when Xan left and returned. Murazar in the meantime put a smile on his face and went over to order pretty much everything as much as the cook would allow. Before picking up some of the food and chunking it around at the various people while yelling out,"Food Fight!" Which considering when a Major General orders a food fight, especially from one who was known to be crazy. You better damn well follow the order as food was being flung all over the room. It was about to get ridiculous, although hilariously to Murazar he had already grabbed some milk and snuck out the room under the cover of the food fight whilst dodging only a few of the thrown chicken and mashed potatoes among other various food items. I should at least get this to reila before she gets upset, hopefully she isn't already. Were his only thoughts as he saundered down the long hallway.

{EXIT THREAD}

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