001

[dreamsofnoah]

[At first there's only audio; beeps and giggling and clicking as Road messes around with the buttons. She's been around a short while already and has been peeking at all those other posts, learning more about the other people there.]

Hmm, it's this one, isn't it?

[And the video flashes on, two bright and mischievous brownish eyes filling up the

Comments

video.

[rile]

[now here's a face he hadn't expected to see, but it's certainly a pleasant surprise. especially after being subjected to the persecution of the exorcists for so long (and all alone, too), the prospect that the family was arriving was uplifting.

good for the soul, or some insightful junk like that.]

There may be one or two familiar faces, Road. [see: himself.]

action.

[rile]

[from a viewer's standpoint, they're picture perfect. a pair of siblings, both exceptionally attractive in their own right, basking in the glow of their reunion. the older brother cradling his baby sister. it's touching, really.

-- if not for the wicked smiles slashed across their faces.] It's practically a party. They've got the whole gang and then some.

action.

[dreamsofnoah]

[Those wicked slashes of white across their faces and the dangerous golden tint to their eyes. It's astonishing what even the thought of a game with Exorcists does to them.]

Who else is here? I want to know! And I want to see Allen again.

action.

[rile]

[but it's then that Tyki exercises control, and the blood-curdling magnitude of enmity alleviates- but only by a little. only enough to keep him grounded, restrained. a habit that the Earl lovingly chastised him for.]

A dog from the upper echelons who brought the boy back his pet golem, and his keeper- Cross Marian.

-- and you will. I promise.

action.

[dreamsofnoah]

[On the other hand, restraint isn't a word often associated with Road. She'd go seek them out this instant if she had her way.]

That General? [A little grimace, because that man is so troublesome. Oh well, the prospect of Allen is enough to make her brighten up again.]

It's my turn to play with him, after all. [A tap tap tap of her finger against Tyki's chest.] You've already had him three times now.

action.

[rile]

[that previously depraved smile evolves into something sheepish. like he'd been caught red-handed participating in something naughty.]

Okay, okay. I'll share. [he promises apologetically. he'd certainly gotten his fair share of 'play time' with Allen, that much is true. and despite how shamelessly entertaining the boy exorcist could be, it was about time he relinquished his 'toy' to his sibling.

he'd get his turn again in due time.] He's yours.

action.

[dreamsofnoah]

I'll take good care of him ♥

[Whether he'll get his turn again or not depends on how much of Allen is left once Road is through with him. Already there's a mischievous look on her young face as she daydreams of all the fun she can have - it's probably better not to imagine what the small Noah has planned.]

Where are you staying, Tyki?

action.

[rile]

Ah- about that... [figuring out how to explain his living arrangements was not something he had contemplated beforehand.

he starts again with a cheerful laugh edged by apprehension.] Remember that General I mentioned? He's more like a leech than anything, really. He found his way into my apartment- and just like a parasite he was easy to obtain, but hard to get rid of.

action.

[dreamsofnoah]

[Road's staring at him, trying to figure out if he's serious or not - and he seems too apprehensive of her reaction for it to be some sort of joke.]

Tyki! You can't stay with an Exorcist! Especially not him.

[She treats him to the kind of glare which usually precedes a very painful punch to the chest.] If he wouldn't leave, why didn't you just find somewhere else?

["I was feeling too lazy to move apartments" isn't an acceptable answer, by the way.]

action.

[rile]

[ouch. nothing like a verbal beating right before the physical one to warm things up. the scars hidden beneath his blouse are already aching in preparation.] He's only been there a few days, and he's hardly been there as it is. I figured he might... tire of it and leave.

Besides, I was already all settled. I wasn't about to let an Exorcist uproot me. Call me stubborn, if you will. [or stupid. stupid works, too, Tyki.]

action.

[dreamsofnoah]

[Forget punching, he's probably expecting that by now. She's at just the right height to aim a kick at his leg instead, not really caring if it means he ends up dropping her.]

Do you really think he would? And he's sneaky, you know what he did on the Ark! He could have tried to do something to you. [And there's a punch to his shoulder for good measure, lest he think she's worrying about him or something silly like that. Of course she isn't.] Since when do you care about being settled? [It's not like he's not always running off on them back home, even if she'll admit it hasn't been happening that much since...]

action.

[rile]

[since that incident. the one that haunts Tyki in ways that he's only confessed to Road when it's at its worst (when he's sick with it, writhing and feverish). since then he'd been on unnaturally good behavior. there was no unannounced treks to some randomly selected country or new sets of humans he liked to call 'friends'.

while the Earl seemed to delight in the change, with Tyki... it was harder to tell.]

Worried about me? [he fishes between winces (the hit to his shoulder was especially painful), even though a part of him knows the answer, despite Road's haughtiness. after all, they were family.]

Would it put your mind at ease if you and I went window-shopping for a place to stay? We'll share a place.

action.

[dreamsofnoah]

I wouldn't have to if you didn't do these things.

[It's not a no because that would be a lie, but she won't say yes either, even if he knows it too well, especially after the days she spent with him, sitting in a corner to watch and wait as he was wracked with the pain brought on in the aftermath of that failed Exorcism.]

It has to be a good place. [She nods, relenting slightly but still as demanding as always. Though actually she really likes the idea of sharing an apartment with him, especially in this place so far from home.] Hmm...maybe somewhere close to Allen!

action.

[rile]

Fortunately- [for them, at least. Allen? not so much.]- I know exactly where he's rooming. He's staying with that Bookman's apprentice. [Tyki knows that Road will know exactly who he was referring to. after all, how could she forget one of her newest, favored playthings?]

This place is massive, and there's plenty of accommodations. I wouldn't be surprised if we could land a room right next to- [he taps a finger against her nose playfully.]- them.

action.

[dreamsofnoah]

[She claps her hands at the good news, her bad mood of moments before already forgotten.] We'd be neighbours. I could see Allen every day ♪ [Hearing that Lavi is staying there too only makes her more enthusiastic - the thought of the looks on both his and Allen's faces when they find out who's moving in next to them is enough to cheer her up completely.]

Let's go, then, Tyki, I want to see our new rooms! [And she has every intention of wriggling out of his arms and dragging him along if he doesn't go fast enough for her liking.]

action.

[rile]

[he's quick to set her down on her own two feet (she's awfuly animated today), only to be grabbed by the wrist and hauled towards the living arrangements. on the way, stragglers of Tease join them, reuniting with their Master. briefly, he considers that maybe he should remedy the problem of having such a small army sooner rather than later. after all, the fodder in this place was practically endless! the sick and the dying coupled with the long-since deceased would be the perfect breeding grounds.

he allows her to drag him halfway down the hall before gently reminding her-] Maybe it would be best if I lead the way, though it's not far from here.

[unless, of course, she wanted to knock on each and every door until an Exorcist answered.]