Re: Um... Here's Your Car.

[Csilla Angelis]

Csilla kept her head resting on her knees as Anouk digested everything she had told her. Her head remained in that position even as Anouk spoke. She even stayed like that shortly after Anouk finished speaking. She was like a blonde statue... mostly because she didn't know what to say. At all. Finally she raised her head up, speaking quietly. “I'm going to go down to the car. I'm guessing it's still unlocked, since I had the keys. Shula and I have some overnight stuff in there... not that I'm expecting us to stay with you guys. I just don't want it left in the car.” She gave Anouk a half-hearted smile, standing somewhat shakily, making sure to put all of her weight on her left leg. “I'll be fine... I won't be too long.” Before Anouk could protest or agree, Csilla had started to move down the stairs. Going down was easy enough on her knee; she just hopped along on each step, occasionally scooting on her butt down some flights. Going up was going to take a whole lot longer. But she needed the time. It was as if in the same instance, her mind was screaming and silent.

Was it sad that Elastor's older sister had to explain how he is to her? Heaven forbid he had been an only child. Elastor being complicated was something that Csilla understood very well. And it's not like she hadn't tried communication before. Or at least, the best that she could under the circumstances. But every time they saw each other, something always managed to go wrong. Anouk had said that things had Elastor had been doing... that was him trying to show he cared... but that Csilla had to meet him halfway? How was she supposed to know any of that? She felt like she'd been racing to catch him since the time they found each other in that trap ditch. And he had been trying all this time? It certainly didn't make any sense to her. Csilla reached the lobby and paused to pull her phone from her pocket. She texted Shula: I am the worst friend ever. I know. I'm getting our stuff. She ignored the stares of the few people in the lobby as she half-hobbled, half-limped out to the parking garage. The white Porsche was easy enough to spot and she made it over there, watching as the driver's door opened easily. Yup. Unlocked. She reached in and popped the trunk, getting ready to lock the door. Then a thought struck her and she crawled in, reaching under and pulling out... yes, as she expected. Shula's handgun. Strange country, bring protection. Csilla locked the driver's door and shut it going around to the trunk. She put the handgun into Shula's bag and then grabbed her own. She opened it, beginning to rummage, even as her thought process continued.

She had thought not so long ago that Elastor and her were poison to each other... that nothing good came of their relationship. Not that she could call it a relationship... Csilla wasn't even sure she could call it a friendship. From the very beginning, everything had been wrong. Yet despite all of that, she still loved him. The way that he threw himself into danger just to keep her safe. The devotion he showed towards his work and his family; not many people would've left a romantic dinner to save their sibling and her family. And... those eyes. Csilla allowed herself a frustrated smile as her hand grabbed at the bottle she had been looking for. Those eyes that had taunted her and teased her since the first time they had met hers, all those years ago. Sometimes there were such clear emotions in them; sometimes it was unreadable. It seemed silly to fall in love just from staring into their eyes... but that's what they wrote about in fairy tales and myths since the dawn of time. Why couldn't it happen in reality? Csilla let out a short, bitter laugh as she popped the lid on her bottle of aloe vera. Because reality did not have the luxury of myth. Sure, there was “magic” in this world, with alchemy. But there was nothing close to the tales of old. She squeezed a couple drops of the aloe vera into her pink palms and snapped the lid shut, before rubbing it across her palms. She breathed a small sigh of happiness as the cooling lotion hit the tender skin.

So what was left for her to do? She couldn't forget that she loved him... although Spade could help with that. But that was a coward's way out. Suddenly, she no longer felt angry... or even sad. Mostly, she just felt tired. Everything about her felt drained... like the streetlamps when she took their light. There was nothing left. Anouk's words fluttered back into her thoughts and a few thoughts began to form themselves in her mind. What was the harm in opening herself one more time? If he hurt her again, then no matter what angrily-tender words he had spoken, she would be finished. She put the aloe vera back into her bag and began rummaging again, finding what she needed. She wrote on the paper with the pen she found and then stuck it in her pocket, before returning the pen to her bag. She then reached for her phone, texting Shula again. Number one. I am teaching you Cretan. Number two. I'm coming back, I promise. Number three. I really am sorry for dragging you through all this.

She took her hair out of the half-ponytail and ran her fingers through it a few times before pulling it back into a high tail. Csilla grimaced a little as the two small overnight bags went over each shoulder and the trunk shut with a “click.” Thank goodness the military had taught them both to pack light, otherwise the trip up the stairs would've been brutal. As she ascended, she started to put more and more weight on her right knee. Oh, it still screamed in pain, but there were a lot of stairs and hopping would take hours. She whispered a quick prayer up to Athena and Artemis to make her strong as she finally reached the top level. Anouk had left the door open a crack, which she appreciated. She pushed on it gently with one shoulder, setting the bags down just inside the door. She gave a tired smile to Anouk, who was sitting at the kitchen table. She was half-focused on the papers strewn there and half-focused on the cartoons on the TV. She almost seemed distracted though, turning a ring on her hand. Csilla glanced over, a small chuckle escaping her lips as “Ehhhhh, what's up doc?” echoed out of the TV. Bugs Bunny... Looney Tunes. One of her favorite cartoons growing up. Shula sat on one corner of the couch while the other corner was occupied by Elastor and two small bodies. She recognized Kitaro and when he looked at her from the TV, she waggled her fingers with a smile. The smaller boy also looked and she waved at him as well. Her smile half-faded as she looked up at Elastor, noticing the bruise forming on his cheek. Just one more reason to feel bad. She looked directly at him and spoke quietly, although just enough to be heard over the television. “Hey, can I talk to you for a minute, please?” She moved down the hall a little so they were just outside the living room, but she chose not to go back to the bedroom. When he joined her, his back to the living room, she sighed. She kept her voice relatively quiet and spoke Amestrian to ensure the children wouldn't overhear or understand. If Shula heard... well, she would've told her this later anyway.

“Look. I'm sorry. About hitting you... about just showing up out of nowhere. I was really worried about you and it's not something I like feeling.” She glanced up at him for a moment, before glancing down to stare off into the distance beyond his shoulder. She didn't want to see his expression right now; she feared it. “I think... I think we need to try this thing over. I can't stop loving you, but we don't understand each other. Eros and Psyche had their marriage poisoned by outside forces... our poison has been each other. But I think we're stronger than that.” She reached into the pocket of her jeans and pulled out the piece of paper. “I think we should move back to step one. I think we should just try talking to each other.” She glanced down at the paper, once at his face and then straight at his chest. The paper was one of her sketches she had done the night before; it was a black leopard. It was stalking out of the paper, tail swinging lazily behind him, as if he was bored with his hunt. Distinct blue ices, the color of ice, stared out of the page. Csilla had signed the bottom, as she did most of her sketches. Underneath it she had written her cellphone number. A little silly to be sure, but with countries separating them, it was the best way to start communication. That is... if he would take it. If he was willing to meet her halfway.

[Shula Brighton]

For all the frustration, confusion, and strings of slurried emotions that were attached to Elastor, as Shula stepped back to look at a larger part of the web that coexisted with his life, he was interesting. On the very long drive there Csilla had talked about him loads, and several other times, even though at the time Shula wasn't sure what her opinion about the man was since she didn't know him. All she knew was what Csilla had told her, and then what Shula had observed in Csilla's moods because of him. But standing here in his little apartment kitchen in London, Shula watched as all previous opinions of him neatly folded themselves and were put away, erasing his score card that had been draining lower and suggesting she singe his butt. Right this moment, Ela stood there quietly listening with a bag of frozen peas pressed to his cheek, the shining look in his eyes one that she knew all too well. It was a look that was connected with that knotted feeling in your stomach, when all of you feels so suddenly cold and that the world's stopped existing, because when the cards were put on the table an ugly truth was laid out and made impossible to cover up, sweeten, or disguise.

He was surprisingly quiet, processing it all; Shula was impressed. She'd half-expected him to have interrupted her, told her she was wrong or lying, picked a fight with her, or done anything possible to negate what she had to say. Truths like that were like hair-fine blades that pricked at you from the inside out, and the more you squirmed to get away, the worse you bled until finally you either thrashed too hard to get away or gave in entirely and kept still, hoping to slow down the edges pressing in as death creeped in. It wasn't something that people could just swallow and walk on, just as calm as if they were going to the store to get eggs; it was frightening, and people would almost always deny what was bigger, scarier, and harder to get away from. But Ela remained there, listening, all traces of that fierce death-glare gone, walls down, and raw fear in its purest form shimmering at his surface. Shula was very impressed, and at the same time, almost regretting each word, knowing that unless he was more than human or knew something about mortality that everyone else wasn't privy to, what she was saying was probably going to hurt or scare him more as time went by. People could recover from the initial shock and cope in their own ways, but words had a nasty habit of lurking in the dark and waiting until you were alone and tried to sleep to eat at you, and made you very aware of the tiny blades all aimed to work their way on in. Shula knew, all too-well.

A towel being squeezed to death in Ela's hand was given a bitter burial in the trash, Ela's face a mixed torrent of emotions swirling together until finally he seemed to have sorted them, putting them away for now and letting a mask of boredom fall over his features. Shu smirked inwardly. Defenses were back online and running, it seemed, as he sounded surprised by her asking about his cheek after the silence had fallen briefly. "Oh. No. She didn't. That's from a wall...alchemic. Not from Csi. It's fine." Ela slipped out of the kitchen, finally recomposing himself, mask once again in place. It wasn't her place to lecture him, and she wouldn't; just a bit of insight might have been helpful, and maybe, hopefully, at least a little of what she'd said would help Ela patch things with Csilla, and if not Csilla, help him consider things more since he had his family around. "TARO."[i] He stood near the hall, calling for presumably the little boy who'd run off in the midst of the fighting. Smart kid. Shu glanced that way as she walked to the dining table and pulled a napkin out from the holder, and helped herself to the pen that was laying on top of the scattered papers. A mobile number and the country code were marked into the pristine white of the napkin and folded; no name, no note or explanation. If he was going to keep things a secret, that was his choice, but leaving a papertrail and clues wouldn't be helpful. She moved closer to the living room as the little boy emerged and met his uncle halfway, unsure about Shula still being there with his mother gone.

And speaking of gone, where had Anouk and Csilla run off to? She dug into her pocket, pulling out her phone as it buzzed three times, a stack of messages pouring through as they had in the garage. Ah, ranging messages. Her bill this month was going to suck, but at least her phone worked in the neighbouring country thanks to the military lines constantly being babysat to make sure communications weren't compromised. The first message was a delayed reply from Spade that she was almost worried to look at, Shula glancing quickly at Kitaro and Ela as they spoke. [i]'though i'd love to say keep it full, id much rather hear ur voice.' ....There was a prickling feeling of going pale while blushing at the same time and your body being conflicted because nobody's got enough blood. She managed to not squeak, at least, or make any sound that would alert attention to herself as Shula mentally growled, trying to force the blush away, admitting that Spade had won this round. Again. Were he here, there would be a flying pillow with his name on it. The letters pressed down in speedy reply as Kitaro went back into the room to get something, Ela coughing lightly before walking around the room to go turn on the TV. You are SO in for it when I get home. I love you, you pervert XD

The other two messages were from Csilla. Yay, she was alive and hadn't been attacked by mutant ninja sewer alligators that lurked under the streets of London! Though those might've just been in Philly from what she'd been told by her coworkers before, along with tales of giant, mutant rats, and cockroaches the size of cats. I am the worst friend ever. I know. I'm getting our stuff. Shula let out a small sigh with a tiny, tired smile. What a day. It needed less drama and more awesome. Or at least calm and enjoyable. But knowing Csilla was getting their stuff meant either A) she was ready to bolt and they'd catch the next train back home, or B) they were sticking around London for the rest of their trip. Number one. I am teaching you Cretan. Number two. I'm coming back, I promise. Number three. I really am sorry for dragging you through all this. Shula chuckled softly, shaking her head as she stepped back into the living room. Kitaro had come back out, escorting a younger boy by the hand, the toddler dragging a stuffed rabbit behind him by the paw. Resisting the urge to go Awww! was oddly tough, but Kitaro already seemed wary about Shula as it was; she didn't want to do anything that'd make him (more) uneasy. Another message was typed out and sent back to Csilla before the phone was shoved back into her pocket. It's okay. I still love you. <3 But I call dibs on next road trip. Tropical with fruity drinks and cabana boys. Moving closer to Ela, she held the folded napkin out to him. "Phone's always on," she said quietly, not caring to press the issue any further, especially not with kids under foot.

Elastor was unwrapping the plastic from a new DVD that sported Bugs Bunny on the cover. "How about some cartoons?" Zanfos havb Bugs Bunny ir DVD en, Ken. Remnas ir Shula." Shula smiled, walking slowly to the couch and giving a small wave to the toddler who opened and closed his hand in return, half-ducking behind his rabbit and the side of the couch as Ela popped the disc in, plopping into the couch. "Bear with it." She took a seat in the far corner of the sofa, Ela seated with two young and rediculously adorable boys climbing over him and getting comfortable. Looney Toons. Heh, why not. The goofiness and just watching cartoons with kids was a nice change of pace from far too much drama that was souring perfectly good leave days. And WOW did their voices sound weird. Yes, Cretan was the original language and seeing the mouths actually match the words was strange, but actually seeing them in Cretan was strange. The subtitles helped, thankfully, but it was a good thing Shu had seen so many of these cartoons growing up and knew them pretty well. The door opened as the cartoon was under way, Anouk walking into the apartment and leaving the door opened slightly. Csilla wasn't behind her, but she'd promised she was coming back... so she was on her way then? Hopefully? Anouk said nothing, but gave her brother a tired smile and a nod, pausing to kiss her sons as she walked to the table, messing with papers scattered around. Well, Csilla would be back up any minute, and hopefully, HOPEFULLY, this trip would be salvageable. In the mean time.... damn Bugs sounded weird!

[Anouk Ueda]

The light had fully dispersed from Csilla's hand, and from Csilla, the blonde's head pulled down over her knees all the while Nu had tried to shed some light on how to act around her little brother. Ela was a complicated guy, there were no two ways about it, and there was no Elastor Ito For Dummies operation manual. If there were, dinnertime battles could have been avoided, glaring matches subdued, and peace would have settled throughout the land... or at least in the house, for a few hours, maybe. Anouk sighed inwardly, looking tired and a bit glum, discarding the initial physical urge to lean her head back against the wall; knowing her luck she'd bonk too hard and bug the neighbours, or just come off as more pissed than she really was. Dammit. Good job, Nu. Yes, she was frustrated. Very frustrated. Some girl she'd never heard of just shows up at the door, flips out, and decked Ela. Anouk was doing a good job to hold back her emotions and not tell the girl off, make her cry even more than she had been already, or do anything that would just cause more heartache. For Ela's sake, she could hold back being angry that some stranger had dared touch her little brother, especially since Anouk knew she'd killed for far less than that.

When Csilla finally did lift her head and manage to look at Anouk, the Major honestly looked like she really was just ready to go home, her voice soft and her smile half gone, just ghosting across her pretty face. “I'm going to go down to the car. I'm guessing it's still unlocked, since I had the keys. Shula and I have some overnight stuff in there... not that I'm expecting us to stay with you guys. I just don't want it left in the car. I'll be fine... I won't be too long.” Csilla stood up shakily, obviously trying to not put weight on her knee she'd landed on, her face pale, and her eyelids puffy. A need for brandied cherries covered in chocolate came to mind. She'd be back- Anouk believed her there. Her friend was still upstairs with Ela... God only knew how well that was going over, but it couldn't have been much worse than this. Just hopefully nothing was being broken, and there was no screaming; right now, the cops were the last people Anouk wanted to deal with for anything. She nodded as Csilla started to hobble away toward the next set of stairs.

"Elevator's fixed, so you can use that, too." But Csilla was already heading toward the stairs. It'd take longer to get all the way down and back up, but the girl probably wasn't in a massive hurry to get back up to the apartment. She watched for a moment as Csilla vanished around the bend, Anouk letting her eyes slide shut. So this was Csilla. The first girl she'd heard anything about Ela likingin any sense. It made Anouk wonder just how deep the well actually ran and just how much more there was to learn about the scowly brother she loved more than life itself. He knew Csilla from saving her, working with her, and giving her a chance that so many take for granted and so few would have been given in the circumstances. He really was surprising, wasn't he. Nu sighed gently, the tiredness from the paperwork and headaches and phonecalls coupling with trying to sort out this... whatever it was, all beginning to set in and attack the front of her head. It demanded a few pills, the rest of that sandwich Kitaro had made for her, and maybe later tonight after the boys went to bed, a beer. Or something to unwind with.

Standing slowly, Nu made her way back upstairs, quiet and lost in thought. She wouldn't mind getting to know the girl, or seeing her take the time to get to know Ela. But Anouk wasn't sure how Ela would handle heartbreak. He'd been on his own for so long and trying to hunt down the man who got his kicks from screwing with their family seemed to have been his main priority. Did Ela even ever have any other girlfriends? Nu couldn't say much. She'd only dated one other person, briefly, before she became friends with Ryosuke. And looking back, she could see that he really was a jerk, and she figured that her being dumped so abruptly by him probably only set her further into her studies and martial arts anything but having to deal with it and.... God she hoped Ela had a healthier coping mechanism than she did, though she rather doubted that. They were too similar sometimes. She smiled wryly, opening the door to the apartment and walking in, leaving it still open for Csilla. Kitaro and Kenta were cuddled up on Ela as they all watched cartoons. Her smile warmed, unable to deny the sweetness of that moment, and if company hadn't been sitting on the sofa Anouk might've snapped a picture of that moment to treasure its sweetness. A smile and a soft nod were given to Ela before kisses were pressed to her kids, Anouk walking then past the living room and back to the table. The papers wouldn't do themselves, and there weren't magical work gnomes coming to do it for her, as much as she wished they would.

When the door pushed open again and shut, Anouk didn't need to look up; she knew who it was, but she was a bit relieved that Csilla hadn't changed her mind about leaving so far. Anouk wasn't really there at the moment, though, distracting herself from paperwork with turning to watch snippets of Bugs Bunny, and distracting herself from cartoons with the endless forms, her wedding band being idly turned on her handas her brain spread out and tried to settle and orgainize itself again. Paperwork needed to be done to secure their future. Release forms needed to be signed and faxed so she could retrieve the urn with Ryo's remains and bring them from Vegas to London. The ring rotated slowly with her thoughts that drifted between her individual worries like a hummingbird in a hanging garden. the happiness she wished for her brother so badly; was the bar a good idea and would the boys be okay with it; echoes from long-ago fights mixing with echoes of loving words she'd never hear again. Anouk's mind was a mixing bowl that only whirred faster as Csilla asked to speak with Ela privately, Nu glancing up at them before turning back to her paperwork, wondering just how much more the day could take and if it'd get better.

[Elastor Ito]

He wanted to disappear just as much as he didn't want to disappear, sapping in the moment through each chastising intake of breath, sometimes holding it to avoid sharing the truth. What was he doing--what was he even doing here? Just living; right now, accomplishing nothing. He did not understand this feeling, relearning how to live without a vengeful ghoul possessing his thoughts constantly. Just living? How could it be such a complicated thing? Somehow, he was sure that question would never be answered. He could strive to find out, but he would never truly understand what it was like to go a day without finding stains he couldn't scrub out. That wasn't life, but his life. There was a difference. He saw that. He saw that when Csilla yelled at him, he saw that when Nu shot him looks she thought he wouldn't see, and he saw that when he walked down the dirty London sidewalks...because his hand was always on the hilt of a weapon, his eyes always trained ahead, his steps never faltering in the face of...demise. Tired, lacking blue eyes listlessly stared at the flickering lights on the television screen, his hand clutching a napkin scrawled with numbers that could speak. Demise, huh? What would it be like...to disappear? A bitter smile curled onto his lips in response, his head turning to watch Nu stoop down and kiss her children so avidly using him as a pillow. Used to it by now, Ela wondered if he would ever grow accustomed to a life without need for revenge.

...Probably not. But somewhere he'd like to think so. Trying was a difficult thing when one could so easily slip back into the normalcy of their past lives. How Ela saw the world was no longer needed; he didn't have to watch his back--he didn't have to guard his family like a rabid night hunter. Yet...he did. Paranoia was his crime, stuck in his ways to the bitter end and a punch to the face. Even now, was it possible...to change? Could he turn his back on all that happened to face today instead of yesterday? Yesterday, baked in rain and the blood of so many who defiled his family, lost in the scorches of fire and faraway yelps of their last moment. A blade which branded him a killer, the eyes of his King filled with mislead trust buried in failure. Again and again, he failed to open the closet door, gripping a mop as if the trailed ends of dirt would answer the questions in a child's mind. Raised by security guards in a juvenile prison who thought he had been the one to kill his parents, learning of the world through library books. Fighting--always fighting for a chance to realize the path, leaving a trail of blood behind for none to follow. Dawn came. The rain stopped falling. There was nothing--nothing to hide anymore. Nothing came abruptly--the sour taste of success. Were they smiling, he wondered, were they smiling in their graves, knowing their children had become killers? That's what they were. Even the most justified death was still manslaughter...even if the man could hardly be called a man, but a beast. The Royal Guard had taken that unto himself, nullifying what would have destroyed his sister. For that, Elastor Ito had become something he was not. Call him whatever: a murderer, a demon, a monster. He was all of those. But it was okay. It was okay becoming that, peering through the darkness in his own soul at the languid smile his sister managed to form and grow stronger each saved day. Before he knew it, he had a family again. What was temporary became hope that they wouldn't leave. But when did he start caring so much not about her smile, but about returning his own? When had he gotten so far lost that there was nothing else to look for but his own reflection? No, it wasn't that. It was... "...it doesn't get any easier." His eyes slid closed, a sharp intake of breath silent against the loud cheery music of the cartoon. Something solid. At the same time, something so malleable it molded to his shape, knowing viciously how to dismantle the wall he built inside himself to keep going. There was no other way--no other way to face death. To look into that mirror...was a mistake.

Oddly, the couch he had hated so much felt comfortable. His limbs were relaxed, his thoughts droning on and on like a faulty mp4 downloaded from iTunes. Bugs Bunny was peeling a carrot and Ela was peeling his mind. If only he could strip away the fog suffocating him--the lesions of waves disfiguring the only way he knew how to live. Why undo what was happening? Maybe it was for the best... He didn't fear death; however, fresh fear in the moment was something unavoidable. Why resist something inevitable? He released his fervent grasp on the napkin, taking notice that his hands were still shaking in anger, in terror, in resistance. He stared at the number and then back at the colorful screen. I didn't have a childhood. Or much of one. Maybe that was why he could take a few minutes of indulging in them without wanting to throw the TV out the window. He leaned into Taro and poked Ken in the side where he knew he was ticklish. They saw just enough to understand the world was dangerous. They wouldn't be scarred, but they would be just aware enough to protect what needed to be protected. They wouldn't...they wouldn't turn out as he had.

His head lolled sideways to see the door open again, his sight going in and out of focus momentarily. It wasn't Nu. No, she was lost somewhere under the pile of papers invading his table, twisting a wedding ring around in her hands as if she could rewind time and twist fate to her favor. What would have happened if he had died in that fire with their parents? A cold smile lacerated his lips, eyes glued to the ring even as Csilla returned through the door, closing it, and placing bags down in the kitchen. His eyes caught the movement of her waving to Taro, but he still could not rip his eyes free. I'm sorry. He did it to her. The reason that rings was not on a finger was due to his mistakes. There was never any way to be perfect; it all failed in contrast to suffering. Hahaha, what a cruel world. He couldn't fix it. There was no way to undo it. He could try, but forever in the corner of his eye he would see that lost expression on his sister's face reflected in the gold no longer worn.

“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute, please?” Ela looked up, pupils drowning in an icy hue. She came back. Stepping away, her feet slid along the carpet towards the hall, but he didn't follow right away. She wasn't here just to collect her friend. He stared blankly at her retreating figure. It was unbelievable. He found his own feet, tracing her steps without looking back. Silent as the grave, he held his breath in places before reaching her towards the end. Against his back was the rest of the world, but right now, was only her. “Look. I'm sorry. About hitting you... about just showing up out of nowhere. I was really worried about you and it's not something I like feeling.” Amestrian. He stared at her coyly, eyes narrowing in analytical calibrations. The children. Her face moved to look up at him, and he immediately tensed, expression full of so much remorse. She looked away, beyond him at the other world. He didn't turn to see, looking only at the eyes of a rusty blade. "I think... I think we need to try this thing over." Still trailing after her eyes, Ela felt himself lean into the wall slightly, forcing his eyes to give none of the fear--none of the pain away that the Ishvallan had torn out of him. "I can't stop loving you, but we don't understand each other." He nodded, barely acknowledging the 'we' in that statement. But maybe she was right; maybe he didn't understand her either...maybe she could--maybe she could handle it? "Eros and Psyche had their marriage poisoned by outside forces... our poison has been each other. But I think we're stronger than that.” Hah, there was more poison than that. Who was Eros and Psyche? He looked at her funny, raising an eyebrow, but shaking it off as unimportant to the issue. Stronger than that, hm? He missed her pulling out the paper, looking instead at a cobweb that dared gather in the corner of the hallway ceiling. The look became piercing, bridging on glare, but the instant he looked away upon hearing the crinkle of something in her hands, his eyes melted into lucid puddles, concealing ripples. “I think we should move back to step one. I think we should just try talking to each other.” He took the paper instantly in three steps, scanning over it a moment before looking back at her, but she didn't meet his eyes. He felt a smile softly simmer onto his face, reaching out to place a heavy hand atop her head.

"Questions," he murmured quietly, "ask them, and I'll answer." With sudden realization, Ela grasped something. What if all this time--all the bleeding years gone by--he was not simply trying to kill Takatori, but with each felled man in pursuit of evil, he was running away from himself...

[Csilla Angelis]

The moment between when she stopped speaking and Elastor moved seemed like some of the longest period of time in Csilla's life. He took the paper from her hand but she was still afraid to look at him. Then there was a steady pressure on the top of her head, shaped like a hand. Elastor's hand, even. It was a strange thing but it was physical contact! She took the risk of looking at him, seeing a smile gracing his face.

“Questions, ask them, and I'll answer.” Csilla let out a small relieved chuckle. For all of the mess this day had started out to be, it was starting to get better. She lifted her hand up, taking his hand off her head and giving it a gentle squeeze before releasing. “I think that sounds like a good idea. We can play twenty questions. But I think we'll save that for a little later. I believe there are two small boys missing their uncle.” She had been watching the living room and noticed how the little boy had clambered off the couch and toddled over to Elastor. He was now reaching for Ela's leg, clearly annoyed that his human pillow had left Looney Tunes.

She gave Elastor a lopsided smile before glancing down at Kenta. “Sorry I stole your uncle.” She didn't want to scare the toddler, clearly being a stranger. She chose to step around the two, sitting herself down on the couch between Kitaro and Shula. She leaned her head down on Shula's shoulder for a minute, heaving a sigh. She then sat up and looked over at Kitaro. “My friend Shula doesn't know much Cretan. Do you want to help me teach her some words? We can teach her something that Bugs Bunny says.”

[Shula Brighton]

This sofa, not unlike other sofas, had that springyness that came from it net being very-well broken-in, the springs and fabric still stiff and upholding their shape, which was odd to Shula, considering there were small children living here. Was the sofa just new and hadn't been worn in yet? Or was the sofa not used that often and the kids were a new addition? She wouldn't bother asking, really; none of her business, and it was an odd thing to observe. But when Csilla had popped back into the apartment with their overnight bags and Ela stepped off the sofa to speak with her in the hall, Shu couldn't help but notice the distinct sproing of the sofa since it reminded her of hers after Uncle Pasha brought it to her.

Csilla was in the hallway behind them to talk to Ela, and they'd switched to Amestrian... and Shu was doing her damndest to not eavesdrop. She'd already given Ela something to think about, and hopefully he'd take it into consideration, but she'd bug Csilla for details later. Right now, Shula was content to let herself be distracted by Daffy Duck arguing with Elmer Fudd, part of her mind still choking on just how freaking weird they all sounded. Her phone had gone quiet, too, Spade probably just grinning like the cat that ate the canary since he won that round. Again. As usual. One of these days she'd win and totally catch him off-guard. But for now, there were cartoons and a distinct lack of sounds that Shula was keeping an ear out form. No muffled sniffling. Nothing that sounded like someone getting hit. That was a good sign.

The toddler clambered off the sofa and took clunky steps out of the living room to seek his wayward uncle. How dare his pillow leave Shula thought, chuckling to herself. It had been a weird-ass day so far, but things seemed to be calming down at least a little, and right now the kids were really cute. Finally Csilla resurfaced, plopping into the sofa and leaning her head onto Shu's shoulder, her hand coming up to scritch the blonde's hair in that loving, wordless motion that meant both Yes, I love you and You totally owe me a milkshake later. Smiling softly, she let out her own small sigh, glad to see that whatever was going on, at least Csilla wasn't upset and crying this round.

Mir friara Shula daran oh nüche Cretan. Ro ne vara na halfe me tzche er zun worrs? Wii kar tzche er zontarank at Bugs Bunny neisc." She looked over, blinking. They were speaking Cretan, but her name came up, and Bugs Bunny's. Ooookaaaaay? Looking from Csilla to Kitaro, the little boy pointed at the tv as Bugs chatted to the camera.

"Rabbit," the child said slowly, brown eyes locked on Shula firmly, demanding her attention. Hm? "Rabbit," Kitaro repeated, the end of his finger pointing again at Bugs.

"....Rrah-vvit?" Sigh. Why didn't life have subtitles?

[Anouk Ueda]

An odd sort of quiet had settled in the apartment as Nu sat at the table, only looking half-heartedly though her paperwork. They boys were still sitting on the sofa with Shula watching cartoons with Amestrian subtitles, Elastor pulled off into the hallway to talk to Csilla again. Round two, Anouk thought dryly, turning away from the rest of the house to finish checking over her contracts. Her wedding band turned in her hand idly, trying to find some calm state in the mindless action as a sort of physical mantra. Things would be alright for everyone, Anouk just had to keep reminding ehrself of that. Nothing worthwhile came suddenly. Tired lavender eyes scanned the paperwork again.

King had been good to his word setting up everything for Anouk. All of the forms were legal; nothing forged, and no tiny print that would take Nu's soul later (not that that mattered; she rather concluded hers was forfeit anyway). Takatori had said that their parents had owed him money, and she remembered a few hushed arguments about money that were instantly quieted any time it looked like she or Ela might overhear. It's just jitters, Nu. You've done this song and dance before when you took over the Green Dragon. Starting over was a scary thing; almost as scary as moving into something unfamiliar for the first time. All first things were scary; unknowns had that effect on people. Kitaro sleeping in his own bed for the first time had taken a while. Getting the boys to adjust to being with their uncle they were meeting the first time was still a work in progress sometimes. Talking Ryosuke into giving up everything he'd ever known in Aerugo and all the people that made his life there in order to come to Creta and start a business there, jumping into many unknowns feet first. Ela trying to get on with Csilla enough to no resemble a square peg trying to shove into the circle spot certainly gave off a 'new territory' vibe, especially given Csilla's descriptions of their previous encounters... All unknowns.

It seemed to be going well enough as far as Anouk could tell. Which was great. Calm discussions = Happy Ela. She let out a faint sigh, rereading the last clause on one of the licensing forms before signing her name at the bottom and dating it, black ink staining the white with a seal that Anouk felt strange about using but never wanted to surrender, either. Anouk Ueda Almost eight years that was her last name, even though the last several months had proved to the poor woman that she would never be as docile as her darling Ryosuke or his family. The golden band rotated once more in her hands as she signed another page, stopping to glance at the inscription inside. I Will Never Rob An Otter That... would never stop making her smile. How Ryosuke had called into a jewelry store to have her band engraved with that promise, and wanted it to be in Cretan to make it more special. But Ryo's grasp of Cretan was only slightly better than Shula's, and his Aerugese accent was very, very thick. Her husband had nearly cried seeing that his vow of never loving another was so horribly translated into solemnly swearing to never rob poor, defenseless otters. Anouk was far too amused to let him take it back to have it fixed until it became a private joke. Her fingers brushed the gold again, ignoring her own sad and distorted reflection as she slid the ring onto her right hand, forcing up a smile as warm and loving as the first warm day of summer.

Csilla and Elastor had finished their little chat, and nobody was (further) bruised or crying (again), and the boys seemed content enough now, despite the strangers being in the house. "Rrah-vit?" Strangers who spoke terrible Cretan. She shook her head lightly. Things seemed okay now.... Nu glanced at the clock on the wall, then at the kitchen. She hadn't really planned anything stellar for dinner for the kids and Ela, and with company Anouk really was at a loss until genius struck. The Steel Rose wasn't open to the public yet, their grand opening due soon. But she could come and go as she pleased, and it was ready to go and stocked. up. "So here's an idea," Nu said over the garble of the cartoons. "You girls aren't heading straight home, and I don't have dinner planned here... So how about tonight we all go to my pub for dinner? I just got a jukebox installed, too." Anouk looked to her little brother, checking him over to make sure he was okay, and giving him that subtle Are-you-okay-with-this-plan look. She could cook for everyone, get her mind off everything, and keep an eye on Ela and the boys in a safe environment. Anouk liked this plan.

[Elastor Ito]

The intended target removed his hand from atop her head, but she didn't let go, instead squeezing it with a brighter look now directed at him followed by faint laughter which initiated a new start. The redhead let out a breath, his hand somewhat limp in her grip until he returned the squeeze, blue eyes smiling in slits. “I think that sounds like a good idea. We can play twenty questions." That, was amusing. Already she was taking what he said and running with it. That was a good thing, right? He wasn't sure, but as long as she wasn't yelling at him, crying, or storming out, he figured that he was playing his role right this time around. "But I think we'll save that for a little later. I believe there are two small boys missing their uncle.” He nodded, thinking back to a time when he wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near Bugs Bunny and that ruffian with the long red beard and mustache. His childhood had been spent mainly behind bars. The seldom few memories he did have that were considered good usually involved Nu or an outing with their parents to Disney World. The cartoons...he couldn't even remember partaking. He was the roll around in the mud kind of child who came home with cuts and bruises and sticks in his hair. He actually used to even sleep with his bokken. But here, there weren't any forests to romp through (not like Las Vegas was much for forests either), but there was space to roam unlike where they lived. London was a city, a tightly compact city overrun with people whom at least Ken was shy of. That settled it. Ela would have to take them somewhere. There was no way he was going to let them lead a lifestyle by choice similar to that of his own. Something yanked at his leg, alerting the man out of his thoughts and straight into the grabbing eyes of the younger boy. "..."

“Sorry I stole your uncle.” He matched her smile with a slightly misplaced one of his own, looking somewhat baffled by the entire scenario. Elastor paused in place, observing while Csilla stepped around them and headed for the couch. ...they weren't going to watch Looney Toons all day, were they...? He sighed and slumped down onto his haunches, poking the little boy in the nose with a malicious smile. "What?" His voice cooed, edging on creepy, his fingers venturing dangerously close to the small one's sides, fingers waggling mercilessly into the ticklish core of Ken's body. "Did you want something?" Evil. This was an evil more vile than any induced by even Takatori. Once the poor creature could no longer breathe and to avoid suffocating him, Elastor withdrew, smirking at the vexed child also grinning wildly. The two of them turned simultaneously and proceeded to go about business as the tickle-attack always proceeded. Ela flopped onto the couch in a heap, more exhausted than he remembered feeling since the days of recovery after RIOTE attacked. He stared at the wall next to the TV, seeing the eyes of so many attackers. It irked him to know that terrorists could waltz into their country, their capital, and steal away their King as if the Royal Guards were nothing. Unforgivable. He looked sideways at Csilla and Taro then at Shu just in time to witness perhaps one of the most butchered Cretan sounds he had ever heard. "Rrah-vit?" ...

Moving on, it seemed that slowly, London was reverting back to normal. However, since they had a severe lack of alchemist, rebuilding was a painfully slow process. The soldiers who were intact were helping with construction work even while upping defenses and preparing for any form of action. But it seemed for now, RIOTE was lying at bay. "So here's an idea." Oh no. Covering his ears wouldn't make it go away. "You girls aren't heading straight home, and I don't have dinner planned here... So how about tonight we all go to my pub for dinner? I just got a jukebox installed, too." Ela met his older sister's are-you-okay-with-this-plan look with an even-if-I-wasn't-you'd-still-do-it-anyway icy gaze. He was then met with a yeah-Anouk-likes-this-plan smile that affirmed his convictions. Having no need to say anything, Elastor turned then to Csilla for an answer.

[Csilla Angelis]

Kitaro was taking her suggestion in stride with Shula, which was a great sign. He was pointing at the TV and looking at Shula, while distinctly pointing out the species of Mr. Bugs. Shula was clearly trying to pick up on it, trying very hard to master this relatively simple word. Her mouth opened and out came... “....Rrah-vvit?“ It wasn't too bad, actually. But Csilla couldn't help it. She clapped a hand over her mouth as a snorted giggle emerged. Cretan and Amestrian were similar in some forms but not in others. Apparently “rabbit” was one of those cases where things did not work out well. She glanced over at Kitaro with a smile. “I think we'll need to try a different word.” She glanced over at Shula to respond to her fantastic attempt when Anouk joined them from the kitchen.

"So here's an idea. You girls aren't heading straight home, and I don't have dinner planned here... So how about tonight we all go to my pub for dinner? I just got a jukebox installed, too.” Csilla's eyes lit up and she smiled. “You own a pub? That's cool!” She glanced over at Elastor, who did not really look that keen about the idea. Sort of? She didn't know what he was thinking but it is blue eyes were not warm so therefore he had to be kind of annoyed, right? She wasn't sure exactly. She'd save that for their twenty questions. In the meantime, she nodded at Anouk. “That would be great!” She then looked at Shula again. “Nice try, Shu. I'll think of something easier. Anouk invited us to her pub for dinner. Ready to try some delicious Cretan cooking?” Csilla was excited. Cretan cooking and she had smoothed things over with Elastor. It would be an interesting meal, since Shula's Cretan was kind of horrible. She suspected that Anouk didn't have decent Amestrian, considering she had constantly spoken in Cretan. Translator Csilla, to the rescue!

[Shula Brighton]

Over the years Shla had come to conclude that she could accomplish most things she set her mind to and that being told she couldn't do them just made her more determined to, if only out of spite. She'd left home, survived the military long enough to make a good career out of it, climbed the rank ladders and gained her childhood dream of holding the same rank and position as her grandfather.... and she was currently getting her ass kicked by a cartoon rabbit. Ela and Kitaro looked pained by her attempts at Cretan, but at least Csilla was amused, so that was something. Shula let out a tiny sigh of defeat. The rest of the day wasn't going to be trying to educate her through the Cretan dub of Sesame Street, was it? Her Aerugese was butchered enough and only learned out of necessity; the last thing Shula really wanted while she sucked at something that badly was an audience.

"I think we'll need to try a different word." Shu gave a small smile and a shrug, nonchalantly agreeing even though she was now wondering what was next. Csilla and Ela had at least called a truce. Soo..... Hm? Anouk was suggesting.... something, from her tone. Elastor didn't look too thrilled. Csilla turned back to Shu, acting as a translator. "Anouk invited us to her pub for dinner. Ready to try some delicious Cretan cooking?"[/i] Hmm... Dinner didn't sound too bad of an idea at least. She'd heard mixed things about Cretan food; that it was generally pretty heavy, and that in a lot of cases was either amazing or burnt. Then again, she'd survived the cafeterias of South and Central HQ, proof that she had a cast iron tummy. She smiled and gave a nod.

"Sounds okay to me." As she glanced at Ela and caught the remnants of the glare he'd given his sister, a thought came to mind. Csilla had come here to see Elastor, and Shu'd only come as backup and to make sure she got there okay. Well, they were there okay, and Ela was more or less okay. And sticking around would mean that they couldn't do that strange thing called communicating. "How about this. I'll stick around for a while tonight, and grab a hotel in the area, and then I'll hop the train back to Amestris tomorrow so you guys can go have fun." London was a huge area with lots of historic things, and Shual did have her trusty tourist phrasebook. She could go spend a day in the city on her own and do the tourist thing, and head home tomorrow night. "Let me just tell Spade I'll be home tomorrow."

Her phone was pulled back out from her pocket, keyboard sliding open. Spade hadn't texted back after he won, but he probably had something he was doing. Still, updates were good, and she'd promised she'd keep him in the loop when she wandered off. It was a small wonder sometimes that the man hadn't bought a leash by now. Fifth-wheel mode: engaged! Csi and her boyfriend made up and I'm tagging along with them to dinner tonight.... Kill me? Getting a room tonight and running around London solo tomorrow. I'll be taking a train back into Amestris sometime tomorrow night. The little image of the winged envelope flew off and left the screen of Shula's phone blank for a moment only before she opened another message to chase it with. Wish you were here. :c Shula smiled faintly, closing the phone and pushing it back into her pocket as she looked up at Csilla and Ela. Hopefully they'd be okay with her own plan. A linguistically-challenged dinner date with a third wheel only sounded funny the first time.

[Anouk Ueda]

The sound of Ken squealing as he was tickled into submission would always be one of the best things Anouk could ever want to hear. After months of living nightmares where the only sounds were inhuman and horrific, even if Kenta woke up in the middle of th enight just to laugh at something, it was a sound worth waking for. She leaned against the partition of wall that divided the kitchen and living room, arms folded lightly to hold onto her elbows as she looked to everyone. She'd invited them all to come to the Steel Rose for dinner and be her first victims. Cooking for a crowd always made her happy, and as she waited for responses, she was at least mildly amused at watching her little brother surrender.

It was a damn good thing she was immune to his glares, silently agreeing completely that even if he didn't like the plan that that was the plan. Sometimes she'd swear they were telepathic, even as she gave him that Damn-skippy smile. Unless he magically had a better plan, or honestly wanted to just take Csilla out alone, and then she'd figure something else out. Because if nothing else Nu had become very good at being adaptive by now, and this was at least something not as critical as anything else she'd had to work around. But as Ela said nothing and looked to the blonde at his side, Csilla seemed rather pleased about the suggestion of a more entertaining way to spend their night in London. “You own a pub? That's cool! That would be great!” Well... at least someone was enthusiastic?

She looked to Shula as she shifted on the sofa, seeming to come up with a tentative plan of her own that Anouk understood most of.... Well, at least the gist of it. She'd stay tonight and leave tomorrow from what she got, so that worked. "Well then," Anouk offered up warmly. "Let me just finish up what I'm working on, and whenever everyone's ready we can head over, and I'll make whatever everyone wants that I've got the stuff for." Two tiny sets of ears perked at the mention of dinner in the context of whatever they wanted. Kenta's tiny hands shot into the air jubilantly.

"Nuggets!" the toddler declared happily, his smile beaming. Kitaro smiled, more than he had since all the strangers burst into the house that day, ignoring cartoons in favour of chiming in his thoughts.

"Rennian fries!!" Anouk smiled, shaking her head and giving a small sigh of defeat. So much for all the healthy food her darling Elastor had gone to so much trouble to find for them.

[Elastor Ito]

“That would be great!” Females. He's never understand them. How Csilla could be so happy now was beyond him--it was the like sun coming out after the rain. It made him want to sit in a dark room for a while to contemplate the underlying secrets of the feminine race. Because right now he was lost. His somber look transgressed into a baffled eyebrow raise from the worn in couch in which he lounged. It was settled. Csi was the weather channel and he was the public onlooker who could only shake his fist at the sky and shout 'Why!?' He'd never do that, however. Instead, he allowed the satisfaction to take hold of himself as well, accepting the situation as is...and the fact that there was no way out of it even if he tried. Listless blue eyes drooped to side, settling like melted ice in water onto the two boys. Grow up so we can share our suffering! No, they were glued to the flickering colorful images of a make-believe rabbit chewing on a carrot like it was tobacco. Give it a few more years, but could he survive until then!? "Ready to try some delicious Cretan cooking?” It was already starting. He winced inwardly, brushing out the wrinkles in his loose dress shirt, and contemplating turning off the television now before he lost his mind trying to interpret Amestrian while crazed Cretan voices were blaring in the background. Though he couldn't complain exactly; he was the one that turned it on. It was all his own fault; he was his own worst enemy.

Nu's cooking was fairly excellent. He'd had better, had cooked better himself, but the variety in which she inhabited was something rather hard to come by. She was like a walking diner, producing meals good enough to eat, but in such assortment that she was unmistakably talented. "Sounds okay to me." The conclusion was inevitable. He met Nu's eyes again with a damn-you-how-do-you-always-win stare that transitioned into strange, meandering look. "How about this. I'll stick around for a while tonight, and grab a hotel in the area, and then I'll hop the train back to Amestris tomorrow so you guys can go have fun." That's right, why had Shula Brighton come with Csi? For support? Females always came in pairs. They were like socks. Ela played with the ends of his auburn hair thoughtfully. She didn't even speak Cretan, how was she planning on getting anywhere? Amestrian was by far not a required language in school so hardly anyone even in London knew the language. Though the world was growing more globalized as time went forward, the language barrier was still able to impede normalcy when one attempted to transverse a foreign country. There was no way she would be able to get around with a tourist phrasebook however qualified it appeared. Elastor immediately shook his head with a dank look. They'd pick her up at the police station later if she insisted and they'd let her go alone. He looked back at Csilla to gauge her reaction. It wasn't smart. Don't do it. Shula pulled out her cellphone and began tapping at the keys. Ela lost interest in seconds, diverting his attention back to his sister who looked more than a little amused. It was the idea of cooking the Steel Rose's first meal that had Nu in a jubilee of anticipation. They'd join in, he supposed. Nodding his agreement, he turned to the door only to stop dead in his tracks.

"Let me just finish up what I'm working on, and whenever everyone's ready we can head over, and I'll make whatever everyone wants that I've got the stuff for." Oh. He leaned onto the back of the couch like a lethargic cat, frowning like a child denied. Why couldn't they just go right now? He hated idling about. It made him feel useless.

"Nuggets!" Wonderful.

"Rennian fries!!" They were spoiled. He turned slowly to his sister, holding close a if-you-keep-saying-yes-and-feeding-them-crap-they-won't-learn-what-no-is-when-it-comes sharp gaze. Please, please let this day end in peace. He stalked toward the table, grabbed his keys, and shot Csilla a softened let's-head-there-now? look before realizing that he probably should have asked out loud.

[Csilla Angelis]

Things seemed to be going well. The dinner plans appeared to be a good idea all around, although Csilla frowned at her best friend in the world for a moment. None of this had gone exactly as planned... but then again, Csilla really hadn't had any kind of plan. She had asked Shula to come along primarily because of nerves. If Elastor had been dead or had gotten married or something... she would've needed the support. But that hadn't exactly happened. Despite the minor bump in the road, things seemed to be going well. And Shula was stuck here in a strange city, not knowing the language at all. And she just wanted to go about alone... not cool! She watched Shula pull out her phone and write out a text... probably to Spade. As soon as the phone was away, Csilla leaned in towards her friend, enclosing her in a big, boob-smooshing kind of hug. She whispered, “Thank you.” She released Shula after a moment, smiling. “You and I will get a hotel.” She rose her eyebrows briefly, giving the silent signal of “Like I'm gonna ask to sleep here!” She then continued, “And tomorrow you and I will go around London together. It's about time I show you my home.” She laughed a little. It was really good to have Shula in Creta, despite the strange circumstances.

Her laughter grew as the two small boys gave their input to the dinner selection. She looked down at Kitaro with a bright smile. “Rouenian fries are delicious. Nuggets too. I used to eat them everyday! It made my grandma super mad, but we both know that fries and nuggets are good for you.” She gave the child a broad wink. Her gaze moved from Kitaro to Elastor, who had grabbed his keys from the table. He was glaring at his sister for some reason, then looked at her. He wasn't exactly glaring but she really had no idea what he was trying to say with his “look.” But the way he was clenching onto the car keys seemed to give her a good idea. She looked over at Anouk. “Well, Shula and I are ready to go whenever you are. We just need to grab our bags, so we can find a hotel after dinner.” She then looked back over at Elastor, raising an eyebrow slightly. It was a “Does that work?” look. Let's see if he could play the comprehension game!

[Shula Brighton]

Something about dinner just sounded more and more magical, not so much for the idea of trying foreign food that could either be amazing or burnt beyond saving or deep fried multiple times, but for escaping and actually moving. More and more, Shula concluded that she was like a small dog, or perhaps the curious fox that her family often compared her to. Regardless of the species, she was something that really didn't like being made to keep still for too long unless she really had to. Twelve-hour car rides, fun as it had been, was too little moving, and yet the ride itself was tiring without moving. Which never ceased to baffle her. But long-ass trips, then being tossed into the middle of a fray like that had only really made her want to go walk around or something. No, she didn't speak Cretan, but she could manage going around the block a few times without getting lost, despite the look Ela was giving her about going off tomorrow. Even if she didn't stick around in the city, she could surely manage loading herself onto the train to go home tomorrow, and she was armed with the latest copy of Nightwalker: The Midnight Detective to keep her content for the ride, fighting all temptation to peek into the book just yet.

Csilla leaned over and squashed herself against the Ishvallan, boobs smooshing firmly against Shula's tiny frame as Elastor seemed to stalk to the kitchen table like an annoyed stalky thing. He must have wanted to hurry and leave, too. "Thank you," Csilla said as she squeezed, the warmth in her voice rubbing away Shula's agitation. At least Csilla was happy, and that was why they'd come here. So in that, Shula couldn't complain at least. “And tomorrow you and I will go around London together. It's about time I show you my home.” As Csilla laughed, Shula smiled, surrendering a bit. So Csilla wouldn't let her go off alone... That was actually really awesome of her, though it made her wonder how her surly.... boyfriend? Friend? Cute male she had several encounters with, crushed on hard, and drew while he was sleeping and mostly naked? Whatever he was and they were, surely they'd want alone-time, and hopefully Shula would find a chance to excuse herself so that she wouldn't get in the way.

The jingle of keys alerted Shula that they were leaving now, Csilla talking in a language that in some cases sounded like drunk Amestrian. She stood, her phone buzzing gently as people talked, Spade finally answering her. b there in 10 with a loaded gun txt me the address She couldn't help but smile, even if the man's phone shorthand made her cringe. But morbid as the offer was, it was sweet in its own way. Quietly Shula went and grabbed her purse and pulled it over her shoulder, tapping a message back. Gun's already in my bag, but it would be rude to shoot myself in the house. We're heading to their pub. The good news was if she really wanted to, she could bother with her phone's GPS after they got there and figure out where they were since Shula had absolutely no idea and Csilla and Elastor seemed to be trying to converse solely with their eyebrows. That was... entertaining at least. "Ready whenever everyone else is," she said quietly, purse in hand and deciding now that she'd try to enjoy herself as much as she could, even without the area having subtitles.

[Anouk Ueda]

There was something about their bond as siblings that seemed to defy logic and often left their parents and neighbours baffled when they were kids. Nu had always been very protective of Ela, and that wasn't a secret, to the point of giving the pediatrician grumbly threats if the offending shots would make her little brother cry. Even if he usually didn't, the little girl's sharp glare and pout had a way of lingering until she was satisfied. But it was their communication and understanding between each other, how sometimes their family joked that the two could hear each other think with how they had entirely non-verbal discussions and even fights for dominance between them. It was more normal for twins, but they were years apart. It was love, Anouk had told their father one day. Because she loved Elastor more than anything else, even green mint chocolate chip ice cream, and because she'd promised to take care of him, she could always tell what Elastor wanted and needed, even if he didn't say a word. He didn't have to.

Years later, that was still Anouk's only answer as to why she could still interpret each of her little brother's glares as though hearing Morse Code and having it automatically translate in her head. Everything from lamenting about the horrors of going out to just buy damned waffles to admitting defeat in what he was being swept into. She heard every word of it. That, or she just spoke glarinese. Anouk moved to the table, shoving the loose papers back into the thick manilla folders they'd come from and putting them away. She'd get them all finished, just probably not today, but at least she'd made a dent in it. Ela slinked around to grab the keys, silently making his demand that they not hang around the house and do nothing. Leave. Now. SOMETHING. Yes, Ela, I got it, I got it. Shoving the last of her papers away, Anouk smiled, giving a small shrug in defeat to nobody in particular. Poor baby brother was surrounded and outnumbered; she could at least lessen the suffering a bit. Hopefully when the boys were bigger they'd be up for spending obligatory dude nights with their uncle Ela; he might need the counter balance to keep sane while tackling the challenge of anything that blossomed from such a cheery girl with an emotional revolving door.

“Well, Shula and I are ready to go whenever you are;" Csilla offered up. Alright, alright, you all win. "We just need to grab our bags, so we can find a hotel after dinner.” Grabbing up her own purse, Nu moved to the sofa and shut off the TV and cartoons. Shula was quiet and sending another text to someone as she stood up, ready to leave as well. Anouk pointed at the tiny shoes near the door, Kitaro walking over to put on his and help with Kenta's little velcro ones. "Nah, you girls can leave your bags here for now. You can get them when we come back from the pub and then point you to a decent hotel." Besides, she and Ela both only had small cars; Porsches were awesome, but not known for their legroom and trunk space. "Shoes on? Alright, let's head out! You can all be my first guests!" And that was something that certainly made up for the earlier drama as she ushered everyone out of the apartment and locked up behind them.

[Elastor Ito]

[EXIT THREAD]

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