Twilight of the Gods

E"Okay, but what is she doing here?"

Chesed<I am changing teams.>

*Aroma agrees, & follows.*

S"Oh, I killed them. I also have to kill Scyllu & Gorius. They're clearly the idiots who let Tsukishima into the castle in the first place."

"Would you like me to take care of that?" Astarte asked, seeming unfazed by the response. "Once I receive some treatment, I should be more than enough to kill them."

"Oh, are you badly hurt?" Atae asked, making her way over, "I can help with that."

Noct looked a bit shocked, "I thought someone else offed them. What happened?"

--

Sab looked a bit confused, "So, what do you want to talk about?"

"Alright, um," Mortal thought for a second, "I don't know exactly how to phrase this, so I'm just going to come out and say it. I really, really like Astarte."

"I knew it," Sab said.

S"Normally, that sort of thing is Daisy's job, but in this case, I'll make an exception."

*He turns to Noctis.*

S"They tried to kill me & take over Las Noches.."
===================================
A"But, does she like you back? And what about the rest of us?"

"There is a problem with my back," Astarte said to Atae. "I was kicked and I believe that the female said she had fractured a disc of mine, or possibly two."

Mortal ran a hand through her hair, "Well, I don't know about the first question, I thought it was smart to see if you two would be okay with something like this first before I just went off and did something dumb. Sab was really upset last time."

Sab felt kind of bad, "Well... it all worked out for the best."

"I agree, but what I'm trying to say is, I won't do anything if you two are not okay with it. Do you think you might be okay with it? Four of us?"

Sab looked at Aroma.

--

Atae began to feel around her back, finding what was broken or misplaced, then began to use healing kido, "We should find you a place to lay down."

Noct looked at Senthose and said in a deadpan voice, "I am Jack's complete lack of surprise."

S"Well, that is how you get killed around me."
====================================
A"I would be willing to try if Sab is, but that isn't quite what I meant, I meant that even if she likes you back, does she like us the same way?"

"I shall lie on the ground," Astarte said, already lowering herself down.

Atae began to work her magic... literally.

Noct just shrugged.

--

"I guess I would be willing as well," Sab said with a small sigh, "But Aroma raises a good point. This is all for nothing if she doesn't like you, or us, or any combination of that."

"Well, yea," Mortal said, "But I thought if I went to her first you would be upset."

*Aroma pats Mortal on the shoulder.*

A"You learn well, my pupil."
============================
E"Hey, what about Xcution? There are clearly other FullBringers out there, but John can't help them anymore."

*Lilith approaches, having finished healing Riruka.*

L"Well, can't you 2 take over?"

Astarte remained lying down and being healed. She closed her eyes and began to think, disregarding the affairs of the humans.

"But... you're the reason I came to that decision because of Sab's reaction..."

--

Noct let out a long, and exaggerated moan, "Do we have to~?" She then looked at Chesed, "Hey, you. How would you like a job?"

E"Are you sure that's wise? She doesn't seem like the loyal type."

Chesed<I just want all of you to leave me alone. Well, that & a million dollars.>

E"Why should we give you that?"

Chesed<I downloaded Mirror World after Ginjo took it. I can transfer it back.>
===================================
*She pats Mortal's arm.*

A"Learning well."

"Um... yea, okay?" Mortal pointed over her shoulder, "I'm going to go and... um, you know."

"Knock em' dead, tiger."

--

"A million dollars?!" Noct folded her arms, "Like hell we're just going to give you that kind of money."

Astarte remained lying down and being treated.

A"Good luck...have fun...chin up...should we go with her, or what?"
======================================
Chesed<It is hardly a gift, I am offering a unique service, one which you clearly need, in exchange for what I know is a modest sum from you. But if you are too cheap, then I suppose I will simply have to delete it. It is taking up valuable space.>

Sab shrugged, "I guess we're just as involved in the outcome as she is."

--

Mortal looked down at Astarte getting treated, then frowned, "Are you alright? Can I talk to you?"

Atae looked up at Mortal, "She should be fine to walk around. Just don't strain her back."

Noctis looked upset, "You don't have any other way to get this kind of money. You may have a unique skill set, but you have an equally small clientele. I'm not willing to pay a million. You can either take what I offer, or have nothing at all."

Chesed<Speak your offer. But, do recall, if I do not like it--which I likely will not, as I have come to this figure through careful consideration--then I simply accept the inconvenience, and delete the information. Of course, I will also forward this conversation. For some reason, I've always found that other people tend to become offended when you refuse to do things for them.>

L"Well, aren't you just a ray of sunshine?"

S"You know, it does seem unwise to let superpowered humans run around with no one to control them. That is what led to this mess in the first place."
===================================
*Aroma goes with whatever Sab goes with.*

"$999,999," Noct said, with deadpan seriousness.

*Chesed stares at Noctis with no reaction for a full 2 minutes.*

<If it will please you to retain that one measly figure.>

Noct shrugged, "I'd rather not pay you anything, but the sum is poultry, and I do like John. The haggling is on principle really."

"Yes, Mortal?" Astarte asked, standing up.

"I'd like to talk somewhere more private," Mortal said, pointing back over her shoulder.

"Okay," Astarte said, trying to read Mortal's features as she walked past her.

Mortal ran a hand through her hair, a bit nervous. Sab was an instant connection, and Aroma was more than easy to read, but Astarte's emotions, sometimes the lack thereof, were harder to place. Mortal wasn't one for subtlety though, so she figured she'll compensate for Astarte's furtive behavior with the brashness of her own, "Astarte, I really like you."