Twilight of the Gods

Eduj jumped backwards and raised his forearms in an 'x'-shaped shield before his face. Meanwhile, Astarte stumbled away from the pair and grabbed at her chest with her free hand, staring down with bewilderment.
"No blood? What... happened?" She whispered, her grip on her Zanpakuto loosening.

*And that's when Astarte forgets she was even stabbed. Mystery man lunges towards Eduj, who had not clearly seen Astarte get stabbed, with another stab.*

Eduj attempted to side-step the stab and grab his attacker's hand and hilt in a vice-like grip with his right hand. Astarte shook her head and re-tightened her grip on her Zanpakuto before looking back to Eduj and the stranger.

*Mystery Man jumps away from them, back on the windowsill.*

<I think I'll be going now.>

Eduj lifted both hands and fired a pair of Cero at the Mystery Man. Outside of the quarters, a Garganta opened and deposited Hector.

*Mystery Man spreads his arms wide & allows himself to fall backwards out of the window. A few feet down, a Garganta opens up to swallow him.*

"Damn it," Astarte sighed, flashing to the windowsill after the Ceros had passed and looking down. "He's gone."
"I missed him then, that is a shame," Hector said, waving off a bowing Eduj. "Or perhaps good luck. It does not appear as though you were wounded, though."
"I was not," Astarte gave a simple reply as she slipped off of the windowsill back into the room.

Atae shrugged, "I don't have any hobbies... so really, I'm fine."

"So, what exactly do you do for fun?"

"I work."

E"Hmm...Noct, how about you teach her how to play one of your videogames?"

Noct looked curmudgeonly, "But they're all single player... and she might overwrite my saves..."

E"Oh, come on, I'm sure you must have something."

*Doorbell ring.*

E"...I wonder who that could be at this hour?"

*Euryale goes to the door.*

Noct, preoccupied with trying to think of a game Atae couldn't fuck up, didn't blink on her fullbring to see who was at the door.

E"Oh...oh! I didn't expect to see...I'm embarrassed to say, I forgot to mention you to Noct...."

Male voice<That's alright. I've heard about her. It explains a lot, really.>

E"No, it's not what you think...I mean, it is what you think, but it's not EXACTLY what you think...I'll explain later, come in."

*Euryale leads a tall man in black suspenders & a white dress shirt, holding a book under his left arm, into the room by an arm on his back. He smiles & waves at Noctis.*

E"Everyone, this is my ex-boyfriend...Tsukishima."

Tsukishima<Please, call me "Shu.">

Noct's trademark scowl deepens, and she felt herself become incredibly on edge, "I'm sorry, what?" She wasn't exactly jealous, but she wasn't cool with past flames casually walking into their home.

Atae felt the awkward tension and moseyed on over to Lilith, so she could have someone else to feel out of place with.

*Euryale removes her arm from Tsukishima & scratches the back of her neck.*

E"Yeah, sorry...I can't believe it slipped my mind until now. I mean, Shu & I go way back. Not sure why he came by, though."

Shu<I just got back into town, & wanted to catch up. I didn't find out you had a girlfriend until I was on my way here. It is pretty late, though...sorry, I guess I wasn't thinking.>

E"Oh, no, not at all. Do you have a place to stay?"

"I'd be more than willing to get you a room at a hotel," Noct quickly said, just knowing Euryale was going to invite him to stay the night. Disregarding the fact that it would be rude to invite an ex to stay the night, they already had guests, and no where to put him.

*Euryale crosses her arms, looking annoyed.*

"That's what I was going to offer, Noct. It's not like I was going to ask him to sleep in our bed. Have a little faith in me."

Shu<No, I appreciate it. I'm embarrassed to say, but I didn't actually bring hotel money.>

Noct's face reddened, but she kept her scowl, and folded her arms as well. She would have said something catty about bringing him in in the first place, or her inviting him into their bed not coming as a surprise, but she had enough tact to stop herself, "I never said you would... I'm just trying to be courteous to your guest." Her voice was calm as ever, but she did stress the fact that Shu was there because of Euryale, and she wasn't exactly happy about it. She then looked at Tsuki, "I'll cover the expenses. Consider it a gift, a friend of Euryale's is a friend of mine."

Atae looked at Lilith with a, "mommy and daddy are arguing" look in her eyes.

*Lilith pats Atae on the head with a look of "I say it'll be alright, but I'm not really sure."*

Shu<Thank you. I'm sorry to have caused trouble between the two of you. I suppose I shouldn't have expected someone like Euryale to remain single after I broke up with her. You should consider yourself quite lucky.>

"Fuck is that supposed to--?!" Noct cut herself off. "Never mind, it doesn't matter. I don't want to cause anymore issues that I already have," She mumbled the last part mostly, as she walked out of the room, "Atae! Come here, I'm going to teach you to play a game!"

Atae scurried into the room to find Noct fumbling with controllers, and games. She could also tell that her FullBring was on.

Shu<I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to-->

E"No, I should be sorry. (So embarrassing...) hold on, there's some money in this drawer."

Shu<I'll pay you back in a couple days.>

E"You don't have to--"

Shu<I insist. Besides, we haven't caught up yet.>

E"Well...look, just give me a call, & we'll talk later. Okay?"

Shu<Certainly.>
===============================
*Lilith follows them. She pats Noctis on the shoulder.*

L"Hey, don't worry, this is Euryale we're talking about. You know she's emotional, but doesn't usually hold a grudge. I'm sure she'll be in here begging for forgiveness in 30 minutes or less."

Noct sat there, curmudgeonly, playing video games with Atae, who didn't know what she was doing. When Lilith walked in she let out a small sigh, "I overreacted. I just... I don't think anyone likes seeing their lover being chummy with their ex. I would never do that, not because I'm on bad terms with all of my exes, but I think it is disrespectful to the person your with now." Noct ran a hand through her hair, "Still, I should apologize for embarrassing her..."

L"Use the buttons. There you go. The two of you are already well on your way to making up."

Noct still looked upset, "I'd just prefer we not have to make up at all. Why can't everything just be sunshine and lollipops?"

Atae starts to hit buttons and smiles when she sees that she actually hit Noct's character. Noct retaliates by not letting that happen again.

"So... did you learn anything?" Hector asked, wandering over to the window himself and looking down. "Or perhaps are your memories wiped like the other Hollows?"
"Mine are not," Eduj replied. "I only arrived moments before his departure. I learned nothing."
"He told me nothing," Astarte said quietly, heading to the now slightly broken doorway of her room. "But... I assume he does not work alone. Why are you here, Hector?"
"Eduj was late home from his... walk." Hector turned from the window in time to see a Garganta closing and Astarte was gone.

Astarte emerged through a Garganta in the Throne Room and immediately looked for Senthose.