The Arrival

"Yea... I'm just nervous," Sab said, "I'm so happy, but it doesn't really matter if you're not happy either."

--

Noctis pulled out a cake pan, placing it on the kitchen counter, "I think the batter is ready." She motioned for Astarte to come over so she could pour the batter into the pan while Noct got the oven ready.

*Aroma frowns.*

"I'm happy, really."
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*The group at the base of the stairs feels the temperature suddenly drop alarmingly, & also experiences a sensation like being punched in the diaphragm. Suddenly, it seems to be nighttime, with no lights in the home save for the full moon shining through windows.*
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<For the amount it will cost, & the likelihood of it being anything unusual, no. The vandal probably just used a fixative. Plus, again, how are we supposed to know what it is if it isn't?>
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Thiera: Oh, we were watching that new Star Trek movie. I stepped out to answer my phone.
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"Yeah...and don't worry, it's not really that hard to move. If I have an apartment, & a job, I should be fine."

*Having a good idea what's coming, the group make a break for the outside.*
---
{Oh, I heard that was quite a good movie. Very sorry for calling you at such an inconvenient time.}

Taiyo smiles a little.

Taiyo: "All right."

*This is when their food arrives, because I presume they ordered when they walked in. Euryale bows her head, closes her eyes, & clasps her hands in her lap.*
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Thiera: No, it's fine. We were kind of just trying to get away from that creepy priest, anyway.
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*Outside, they see what appears to be Stefan walking down the street. Worse yet, a second later, the dark form of a cloaked man wearing a porkpie hat materializes out of the darkness of a nearby alley, & follows him.*

Again, Taiyo watches out of curiosity.

Astarte did so.

"An extremely effective fixative," Grimm said. "But fine. The name I wanted to give you is Roatha I believe. Part of the group of students who were lost in the woods. He came around to the church yesterday and tried to kick the doors down, and then yelled at me, accusing me of stalking his friend. A false claim."

Sab smiled, "Good! So... uh, when are we going to get that cake? I could use a bite to eat."

--

Noct popped it in the oven, closed the door, and smiled, "And now we wait." She went and took a seat on the couch, "So, how was your day?"

"I don't know, she said she'd text us when it was ready."
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*Euryale concludes her business with the gods, & stretches her arms out at her sides.*
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<And was he a particularly large boy?>

Taiyo: "Umm, why do you pray before each meal?"

"Oh, okay," Sab said, "I suppose it would be rude to rush." She stood up and walked over to the fridge, "Maybe I can nibble on something to tide me over."

*They ignore Stefan for now and instead head up to the college, Monu getting out his phone and checking the time as he runs*
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{Creepy priest?}

"Hmm, I don't think he was particularly tall or fat, no."

Astarte sat with her and shrugged, "Eh, alright I guess. Went for that walk with my brother, ran into some crazy woman who thought we were following her. And yours?"

Noct didn't want to say that she broke a man's nose, so she instead said, "Nothing much. I went and picked up supplies for the cake, then got to baking." Noct smiled, "It seems I'm not nearly as exciting as you are."

Astarte hesitated a bit before answering, "I wouldn't say it was interesting, mostly just scary. If it wasn't for occasional good luck, like meeting you and your friends, I'd probably never leave home."

*They start to realize this is a bad idea when their route to the college takes them within a couple yards of the Shadow Man. Something begins to bulge out of its back as they run past. Oddly enough, the time does not seem to have changed from before they heard the noises.*
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Thiera: The one that Astarte & them talked to. You weren't involved in that?
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"And then Mortal would have to give you a stern talking to."

*Vegetables! Vegetables, everywhere!*
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<Did you not look at the footprint outside the church? We're looking for a very large man, with shabby shoes.>
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*Euryale laughs.*

"Well, why wouldn't I?"

*They keep running, Tirea outpacing Monu and Cameron*

Monu:<I doubt this is real.>

Tirea:<Huh?>

Monu:<I'll explain when we have time.>

*Tirea fumbles with her phone and tries to call her Mom, knowing it won't work*
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{I didn't hear about it, but now I wish I had been involved. Did he do anyone to you?}

Taiyo: "I don't know. You're not Catholic or anything like that...right?"

"No, most Christian dogma does not make sense to me, starting with the notion of a singular, all-powerful deity. Why, would it make a difference if I was?"
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*She was correct. They presumably keep running in a line down the street with no idea of what's going on behind them. Ahead, lamp posts, street signs, & parked cars swim into view, but there is no light from them. The moon itself can be seen overhead in front of them, & strangely does not have any markings on it, by all accounts, it is a solid, blue-white sphere.*
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Thiera: We don't know. He accused Roatha of vandalizing his church, & Roatha thinks that he might be one of the ones who's stalking us.

*Cameron looks behind as he runs, still heading with the others to the college*
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{Really? Priests do have a rather nasty reputation, don't they? Oh, speaking of which, someone was stalking me in the library this morning.}

Taiyo: "No, I was just wondering."

Sab giggled at what Aroma said, "At least it would be short, and to the point." Sab pulled out some pre-washed and cut spinach and began munching away. She giggled again, then swallowed before putting on a Mortal voice, "'Rude.'"

--

Noct smiled at what Astarte said, caught off guard by the compliment, but appreciative of it. "Well, I can relate to that," Noctis said, "The outside is usually full of assholes, pardon my language. Luckily there are some gems out there too." She ran a hand through her hair before asking, "So, you said you had a brother, what's he like?"

"Well. I'd been doing some thinking since before we got lost in the woods. Now that we're out...I'm pretty sure I'm not Wiccan, as that didn't seem terribly useful."

*She laughs.*

"I've been practicing a lot from the eastern religions, lately."
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OOC: Was going to use Senthose, but Aroma doesn't know enough about him to make fun of him. The only thing I had to change about her tone was removing the note about it being of a lower pitch.

*Aroma laughs.*

"Hey, that was pretty good! I'll be Noctis."

*She clears her throat, doing her best to look & sound bored, & with a biting edge.*

"Hey, baby, we haven't met, but you have the silkiest hair. How would you like to come back to my place for a drink? Do you like liquid music?"
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Thiera: Really? What happened?
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*The scene is out of sight. There is a shadowy figure following them, but not the usual Shadow Man, more of a general human shape. Rather than walking, it appears to contort & wriggle whenever it takes a "step," suddenly lurching forward several paces.*

Taiyo: "That's...I'm not sure if that's good or bad. I guess all I can say is I hope you find something that works for you."

OOC: Mortal is going to have to give them both a stern talking to...

Sab giggled, "Oh, that was great!" Sab tried to mimic Noct too, but fell short due to still giggling, "And afterwards we can have some cake."