Homecoming

*Eve stares down at her food, slightly uncomfortable*

<I'm sure he didn't meant to imply anything.>

In the cafeteria, Azuma goes about getting breakfast not at all looking around for familoar faces.

Grimm put the broom to rest against a pew, "Well, there shall be enough tea for whoever would like it. You may take a seat anywhere you please and I shall return in a minute."
He turned walked off to the rear of the church and Hector shrugged, "So, what do you guys think?"
Astarte took a seat.

E"I wouldn't drink the tea, if I were you. It could easily be spiked with something."
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*He just kind of ends up sitting at their table, as I'd sort of implied there weren't many open spots.*

"You think he's going to try murdering us all here or something?" Hector took a seat next to Astarte and looked over at Euryale. "If he drinks it too it should be alright."
Eduj remained standing.

There goes going back to my room right away.

Azuma: "Morning."

And so everyone gets a chuckle out of Thiera being flustered. "Right, sorry for making assumptions," Mortal said.

"Wait, did you say Astarte?" Noct asked, "I met that girl at the bar."

"The one you were flirting with," Mortal asked.

Noct shrugged, "I wouldn't say flirted, besides, it looked like she was there with some guy anyway, not that it didn't look incredibly strained and awkward..."

--

Sab furrows her brow, "Oh, calm down. You're not forcing me to do this. I just wasn't hungry, but I suppose you're right that I should eat."

*Aroma frowns more deeply still.*

"...Are you saying that I worry too much? Am I a hypochondriac?"
=============================
*Looking increasingly red, Thiera excuses herself to go to the bathroom. Roatha frowns, but nonetheless steals a sausage from her.*

R"Well, it wasn't Nero, his phone's been broken, so he hasn't been able to ask for Astarte's number. You'd know Nero if you saw him, he looks like...well, kinda like you, actually."

*Roatha jabs a half-eaten sausage in Noct's general direction. Roatha now notices Azuma & kind of half-ass waves at him with a "yo."*
============================
"Or rapes us. Anyway, I'd just as soon not take my chances. I just got out of the Forest of Death, & away from the Shadow Over Pforzheim, so I'll be damned if I'm going to risk being brought low by some leaf juice."

Sab let out a sigh, and wrapped her arms around Aroma, "You're not a worry wort, but you're definitely overthinking this. What did you make for breakfast?"

--

"It wasn't him," Noct said, "It was some short kid, black hair, kind of, um... awkward."

Not knowing or caring about what went down before his unwarranted appearance, Azuma begins putting taking sugar packets from the stack by his coffee and putting them in, humming a jaunty yet abrasive tune.

"I doubt he would invite all of us if that was his intention, but fair enough," Hector said. Grimm returned a few moments later with a small rolling tray- reaching up to a little way under his waist- with a teapot and some cups on it.
"Would anyone like some?" He asked. Hector shrugged and got up to get some. Neither Astarte or Eduj did the same.

"...Oh no, my eggs are burning!"
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"Not sure if I know him or not. This is Azuma, by the way."

*He gestures towards Azuma.*

"He often hangs out with a girl who's a bit like Euryale, but without the looks or the charm."
=========================
"I'd prefer to just cut to the chase, if you don't mind--why have you asked us here?"

Azuma: "Attractivness is subjective. But she is the least charming person you'd ever meet."

"Well, of course," Grimm poured himself some tea. Hector sipped at his own after he saw Grimm drink from his. "I believe you have faced something terrible and lived to tell the tale. A tale I would very much like to hear. If there is a threat to the people of this town it is my responsibility as a man of God to look into it."
"Why would you believe us based on claims we made right after being found?" Hector asked. "Everybody else is saying it was some kind of mass delusion."
"It may be mass delusion, if we are so lucky," Grimm replied. "But I have yet to reach a final decision. I have long suspected that dark place, and you have given me a reason to pursue my suspicions. I must ask you to tell me what happened to you in that forest. Perhaps you could start with the boy who does not exist? That is perhaps the most intriguing aspect of what I have heard."

*Eve watches the Noctis and friends,her face not displaying an emotion*

<Oh, good morning Azuma.>

*She turns to Noctis*

Very short and dark haired sounds like a mutual friend named Cameron.>
---
*Cameron shrugs*

<He got stuck in the cabin when we got attacked, and when we came back, he was gone. I assume the monster got him.>

"'The monster'... please elaborate on this 'monster'," Grimm said.

Cameron:<There were multiple monsters, but the main one was a man completely made of shadow.>

"Would he ask 'what's your favorite color' to a girl at a bar?" Noct asked, "If so, that is him."

Mortal looked at Azuma, not really sure how to respond to someone who just kind of insulted their own friend, "Uh, okay then."

Gabe gives a small wave, "Hello, Azuma. I'm Gabe, that is Noctis, and this is Mortal."

--

Sab lets go of Aroma so she can go fix her eggs.

"According to the doctors, it's made of some kind of radiation. Well, my wounds were caused by radiation. And they were caused by the Shadow. So, 2+2...we think it also erased Stefan from time. But there's no way to prove that, now is there? I still have the roster, & his name is clearly not on it, & ever was."
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*Aroma turns off the burner & frantically tries to pull the eggs from the pot with a spatula. She frowns down at it.*

"Apparently I'm eating partly-burnt scrambled eggs."
==================================
"Sounds like him. I've always suspected he was gay."

*He scratches his chin.*

"Come to think of it, I get that vibe off of Euryale, too."

Sab smiled a bit, "That sounds delicious... Should head over to the cafeteria and get something less burnt?"

--

"So did I," Gabe said.

"You think everyone is gay though," Mortal said.

"Huh, Cameron did come off that way, now that I think about it," Noct said.

"You think everyone is gay, too."

<I do not see the problem with making conversation, but then again I've never been to a bar before.>

*Eve eats another bite of waffle*

<I should introduce myself. I'm Eve Tantus, it's a pleasure to meet you all.>
---
Monu:<That pretty much sums it up.>

"But I wouldn't want to waste the eggs."
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*Roatha passes his phone to Eve.*

R"Well, go ahead & enter it in. I'd better finish up, & find someone to go get Thiera out of the bathroom."

*Eve enters it, then stands up*

<I'll go.>

*Eve heads off for the bathroom*

As Eve walks away Noct says, "Just so we're clear, the talking part isn't weird, the 'what's your favorite color' thing is... right?"

--

Sab shrugged, "Maybe it won't taste so bad in a sandwich or something."

Azuma: "Nice to meet you all."

He takes a big of his breakfast. Scrambled eggs, ham, and toast.

Azuma: "You suspect Euryale's gay? The boarding with another woman during that trip on top of their public displays of affection in the hospital wasn't exactly the most subtle indication."