The Arrival

Noct shook her head, "No, no. No attacks or anything. Actually, the week has been pretty average." She ran a hand through her hair, "So, what about you? How have you been? I hear you're living with your sister now."

--

Gabe shrugged, "I don't know. I didn't see him in the first place, remember."

"Didn't see who?" Mortal asked.

"Oh, hey you three," Gabe waved, then motioned to her friend, "Lina here said she saw someone walking out of the building with me, but I didn't notice."

Sab thought for a second, then nodded, "Oh, you're on the track team, right? I remember seeing you run a few times."

<Yes. You must be Sab, nice to meet you.>

*She holds out a hand.*
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L"Staying with her as a guest, technically. I figured someone needed to watch over her at night."

*Lilith pushes open the door to the restaurant.*
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E"That doesn't really tell us how to do it."

*She turns to Eve.*

E"Uh, yeah, how 'bout you catch up with Roatha, Nero, & Thiera? They can help you get your stuff moved."
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*The bartender hands him one.*

<Odd that she'd be so mad over a class.>
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*Assuming he paid for the thing, he is not chased down by guard dogs & having liquid pepper spray squeezed into his eyes.*

Azuma: "All we really have unless anyone can find what's her name. She might know more."

"Yeah, sounds good. I've got to go now, though. Later," Astarte said as she saw the others coming into the restaurant. She stood up off of the bench and ended the call.

"I don't want to be rude but... she is kind of crazy," Hector said quietly and said a quick 'thanks' when handed the menu. "I have no idea if she is diagnosed with anything but I wouldn't be surprised."

Sab shakes her hand, and smiled, "Oh, did Gabe talk about me?"

Picking up on the social cue, Gabe begins introductions, "This is Mortal, and she is Aroma. You've probably seen them in the stands." Gabe pointed out the two who she was talking about, Mortal giving a wave. "And this is Lina, from the track team."

--

"It is nice that you look out for her. You must be close," Noct said with sincerity. She then looked at Astarte who just got off the phone, "Oh, hey Astarte. Hope you weren't waiting long."

<Oh really? What makes you say that?>
====================================
*Aroma shakes, like a fucking dog.*

"It's very nice to meet you, Lina."

<Oh, you 2 are just adorable.>

*She looks up at Mortal & returns the wave, trying not to look too intimidated.*
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E"You mean Vanessa?"

*Euryale looks around to see if Taiyo's doing okay.*
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*Lilith & Senthose head to the podium. Senthose holds up 8 fingers. Lilith chuckles.*

L"'This many!'"

"Hey," Astarte went over to them and smiled. "Just for a couple of minutes."

"I don't think it would be proper to go into much detail, but she's a sharp-tongued, violent misanthrope," Hector looked up from the menu, smiling, and passed it over to Eduj. "Could I get a chicken caesar salad?"

Grimm reached his home and walked around the outside, looking in through the windows.

Sab smiled, "Thank you."

"So, are you two coming to get some lunch with the rest of us?" Mortal asked.

"Oh, I am. I just met Lina here now, I didn't even ask," Gabe turned to Lina and asked, "Like I said before, I was heading off to get some lunch. Want to come along?"

--

Noct smirked at the antics of Lilith and Senthose, then said, "Oh, that's good. So how have you been?"

<Alright.>

*Eve heads out to catch up with RNT*
===
*Cameron ends the call*

*The trio are sitting on a bench in the shade of a tree in a rock garden not too far outside of where they left the building. Thiera is just getting off of the phone. She jams it into her pocket, looking rather surly. Roatha turns & leans over.*

R"Well? What did they say?"

T"You don't even want to know. Oh, Eve? What is it?"
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Lina<Oh, no, I couldn't intrude. Besides, I was just on my way to a class.>
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Bartender<Sure.>
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Waiter<Right this way, if you don't mind.>
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*At the back of the house, where there aren't many places he can be seen, Grimm sees something moving inside, but he's rather busy being punched in the back of the head.*

???<We're not done, Preacher Man!>

*Whoever it is kicks him in the back of the leg, causing the already disorientated Grimm to fall down. The mystery man tries to pin him, & whoever it is turns out to be rather large & smells of old banana peels.*

*Eve heads over*

<Could you guys help me move my stuff? I'd be very grateful.>
===
*Monu exits class and heads to the cafeteria*
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*Tirea showers in the locker room before heading to her afternoon classes*

"Fine, yourself?" Astarte replied.

"I will get..." Eduj skimmed over the menu. "French onion soup, please."
Hector got out his phone and sent a quick message to Euryale, Vanessa is actually down at the bar now, if you're interested.

Grimm gave an angry roar and tried to push himself up and sideways to get the man off, also jabbing back with an elbow to try and catch him in the ribs.

Azuma: "Yeah."

Taiyo is coming back to the table with a tray.

T"Oh, yeah, sure."

N"Do we have to?"

*Monu passes these assholes.*
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*Euryale smiles at her & turns back. She looks at her phone.*

E"Speak of the devil, she's in that one bar."
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*He is successful in this strategy. When the man loses his balance & falls to the ground, Grimm sees that it's the same homeless guy who fucked up his church.*
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*He tells their orders to the people in the kitchen.*

<It'll be out in about 15-20 minutes.>
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*The hallways in her class's building are empty. She begins to get a sense that something isn't right when the lights go out & the door to a stair well behind her opens, but she doesn't hear any footsteps.*

Azuma: "That means so much."

"Thanks," Hector nodded to him, and drank some of his beer. Eduj checked over his shoulder to see if Vanessa was still glaring.

Grimm pushed himself up to his feet and pulled the bayonet from under his cassock, snarling, "This is the last time!"

*Eve crosses her arms*

<I'd greatly appreciate it.>

*Monu heads over*

<Good afternoon!>

Eve:<Oh, hello Monu.>
===
*Tirea starts off at a run to her class, knowing generally where it's located in the dark*

*She is. Hector gets a message back. "Talk to her, please."*
===========================
T"I don't know about Nero, but Roatha & I will do it."

R"I will?"

*She glares at him.*

R"Uh...I mean, I will. Yeah. Sure...."
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*She suddenly ends up in a basement of some kind, it's a narrow hallway with doors marked "1" & "13." The lights begin to flicker.*
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"It means we might be able to ask her about what's going on."
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*He suddenly straightens up & his facial expression changes. His eyes full of newfound clarity, he smiles.*

<Kill the shell, if you can. We don't fear your threats, & we will laugh as you die.>

*He shakes his head & laughs.*

<By the way, I was just kidding about being in league with Satan. He's a little guy.>

Taiyo sits down.

Azuma: "And you believe she'll be talkative this time around?"

*Tirea tries both doors*
---
Monu:<Oh, do you need help with something?>

Eve:<Yeah. I'm going to stay with Euryale, so I must move my stuff.>

Monu:<Could I be of some assistance?>

*Eve nods*

<That'd be awesome, thanks guys.>

"The same," Noct said, following the waiter, "The week has been kind of boring, if I'm honest."

--

"Alright then," Gabe said, "I'll see you later then."

Mortal and Sab wave as well.

*Thiera, Roatha, & Nero get up.*

N"Well, since I'm not a tool, I'm going to the bar."

*He starts walking off. Roatha turns to wave, but Thiera does not.*

R"Okay, bye...I guess...."

T"Lead the way, Eve."
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E"It's worth a try. Welcome back, Taiyo."
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*A bunch of brooms fall on her, clattering noisily around her. She hears a shattering in the distance to her left.*
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S"Which is better than being assaulted in the shower?"

*The waiter leads them to a pair of empty tables for 4.*

<Now, we don't have actual tables for 8, but what we can do is allow you to rearrange these 2 in any way you see fit.>
===========================
*She waves back.*

<Later, Gabe. It was nice to meet you, Aroma, Mortal, & Sab.>

*Eve nods and leads them towards her dorm room*
===
*Tirea runs out and tries the other door*

Noct chuckled, "I guess you have a point." She then looked at the table, "Always love a bit of manual labor to go with my dining experience."

--

"Nice girl," Mortal said.

"I don't think she would be interested in you," Gabe said.

"Shame," She shrugged, "Well, let's get going. They're probably waiting for us."

Astarte moved over to the edge of a table, "So, should we move them together?"

Hector replied, I really don't think that will help at all. I'll try to keep her around if she looks like she's leaving though.
He looked back over his shoulder at her again.

"Enough!" Grimm yelled and lunged forward, aiming to drive his bayonet into his right shoulder.