Where do we go from here? (Invites Only)

[Solomon]

Solomon rolled out a map of Genesis on the table in the inn room. The party has rented out the room just a little while longer as they decide the next steps to take. There were still the matter of rebuilding Aircano, where, and securing the tower away from the likes of Isafaro and Jherrazad. With news of Luca Valentine's death sweeping the nation Solomon did not know what to expect from Moon Valley on this matter, if anything at all now.

The issue with the Arashi was pass them now so it was time to focus on the future. The refugees that managed to survive the previous days would be safe in Hallowton until they finished rebuilding and they would have the choice to return to Aircano or stay. Solomon waited for the others, hoping that one in particular would not dare to show their face. But knowing Miracle the way he did he was positive they would.

[Sparda]

"I came as soon as I received the message."

The owner of this voice stood in the doorway a short distance off to Solomon's right. Lacking his coat, which had been left in his room, Sparda pulled absently at one of his gloves and entered the room, Luce and Ombra clearly holstered at the base of his back. He could feel the urgency in the air; and after receiving Amoura's training just a few nights ago, could hear Solomon's slightly quickened pulse with unnatural clarity.

"Have you spoken to Miracle today?" he asked as he approached the table; an attempt at quelling the awkwardness of the silence with some pertinent conversation. "I haven't seen her since the Crystal Expanse, but we should make sure she's in a good enough condition to be here."

He stood at the table, studying the map. Ironically, Aircano was still marked upon it.

[Miracle]

"I am touched."

Miracle's voice came from behind Sparda as the child crossed the threshold into the room and approached the two men who had arrived for the meeting already.

"But as you can see I am perfectly all right."

She offered a smile to the two, albeit a weak one but a smile all the same and it didn't feel forced like most weak smiles. But once she came up to the table and saw Aircano on the map she frowned. The frown stayed on her face as she looked around hoping to find a certain silver-eyed female standing in the room but she was nowhere to be found. Miracle's eyes then wandered onto the "Legendary Dark Knight."

"She isn't coming, is she?"

[Silver Eyes]

"I am here. No, don't look around, just look up a little bit and you might see me."

Miracle and Sparda heard those words but the source wasn't coming from a familiar face. On the ceiling, concealed in the darkness, was a...bat? Sure enough, a silver-eyed bat was watching the proceedings and had its wings wrapped tightly around its furry body. Amoura had taken on the form of a fruit bat--one of the few species that actually was gentle on the eyes--and quietly hung upside down.

"I'm exhausted, and would rather not show my face so I'm just going to rest here. I'm listening even if it looks like I'm not."

Amoura hid her animal face behind her wings and swung a little bit from the effort. The hybrid had been through a rough few days and any break was a sweet reprieve. If she had to shift into a rabies-carrying vermin then so be it--at least she can rest her eyes.

[Ayen]

“Once I heard the news I could hardly believe my ears.”

Sazan, daughter of Maricul, now stood at the entrance of the room leaning against the door frame with her arms folded looking over The Legendary Dark Knight, absorbing the moment before stepping into the room.

“When Michael and I arrived I told him “this looks like a city Sparda would live in” and now here you are in the flesh.”

The Half Breed smiled towards her old friend. She would have hugged him but past experiences led her to believe he wasn’t the hugging type.

“It’s good to see you again. Where are the others?”

[Sparda]

As if she'd been waiting outside for a cue, the High Priestess entered the room, smiling softly at he and Solomon. Sparda smiled in return, turning his gaze back down at the map. He was about to answer her question regarding Amoura when - again, as if on cue - the Night Angel's voice echoed in his mind. Heeding her words, he disguised his search by arching his back in a feigned stretch. He cast his eyes upwards momentarily; sure enough, up in the rafters hung a silver-eyed bat. She'd suppressed her aura, but there was no mistaking her.

The Dark Knight gave a short nod of understanding; then a voice he hadn't heard in a long time made itself known.

He cast a glance over his shoulder before turning around to face the doorway. Leaning against it before she entered the room was a familiar blue-haired woman wearing a characteristically warm smile.

"It's been too long, Sazan," he replied, returning her smile. "Others? Dante set up shop over in Moon Valley, I believe. I found Daikus back in what's left of Dominion, but he seems to have vanished since coming to Genesis. Nobody's seen Ranka at all; or Arix, for that matter. And Amoura..."

He paused for a moment, aware of the Night angel's presence.

"...elected not to come to this meeting. I'll explain why afterwards."

He gestured for Sazan to join them. "Where have you and Michael been hiding yourselves anyway?"

[Silver Eyes]

Oh, she's here. Amoura's hanging as a bat on the ceiling but don't alert anyone else of her presence--the human and Sparda know.

Michael placed a comforting hand on Sazan's shoulder and smiled down at his fiance. The news hadn't been given to them as of yet but he agreed to let her do the honors.

"Do I count as the 'others'?" He stated jokingly and nodded at everyone else present, especially at Sparda, "Haven't seen you in a long time. How have you been? I heard of what transpired--news travels fast among those I work with. I'm grateful you made it out alive."

Among other things, he knew that Sparda had blamed him for a crime that he supposedly committed against his sister nearly a year ago. The vampire had been investigating this but found no evidence as to who else may have done the "betrayal".

What he said. I'd crack the 'I'm just hanging around' joke but it's overdone.

Amoura tenderly unwrapped a wing and did her best to wave at Sazan should she look up. Solomon was busy looking at the map and everyone else present but she chose to make that greeting brief.

[Clash]

A head poked up from the ground, a sharky head with two flashlight eyes. It was near a corner of the room but still took up space, Clash was trying his hardest not to intrude. "Hai!" He rose a bit more, waving a fin like it was a hand. He had been listening in but he hadn't made too much noise. It was amazing how easily a shark could be overlooked, but when he was just there in the corner, eyes closed and motionless, he was like a tacky piece of furniture. "Ranka and Arix didn't go through. I had to clean up that whole mess. Council of Legion and the Abyss or whatever, old hat and no sweat." Clash let some cockiness shine through, hoping his bravado would assuage anyone asking about all that. He shifted the subject.

"Anyways, we have The Legendary Demon Guy, we have... Miracle, Miracle's sword guy, and we got Fred and Daphne from Scooby Doo." Clash nod-bowed to each person he 'named' as he spoke, then smiled, showing off those shiny metal teeth of his, the flashlight eyes glinting as they cast their pale yellow light. "So the million dollar question for the night; Where do we go from here?"

[Miracle]

Miracle's eyes were lured up to the ceiling and she smiled as those very eyes of hers fell upon Amoura in the form of a bat. The High Priestess smiled happy that the Night Angel decided to jo in them even if it was as a bat. Sazan would be the next person to enter the room followed by her fiance Michael and then one of the others who helped back on the expanse. Clash.

"Looks like most of us are here."

With the exception of Kyal and Dante and as far as Solomon was concerned, Amoura. But they could continue without them. Kyal was a god and would have his own way to catch up meanwhile the Demon Slayer didn't come off as the "stand around and plan" type. He was more a man of action. He also struck her as somewhat of a lone wolf that didn't play well with others. Miracle moved to the other side of the table, the map now in a right side up position in her field of vision.

"Shall we begin or is there something somebody would like to say before hand?"

Miracle looked over to Sazan and Michael. Wink, wink.

[Ayen]

The smile left Sazan’s face at the mention of Ranka’s name. The Half Breed has never forgiven him for his betrayal back in Dominion City during the war against The Council. Ironic, Amoura was the one most betrayed by him yet would be the first to forgive him. Sazan on the other hand? Ranka could die a thousand times over for all she cared. She could forgive the mention though, they didn’t know her feelings on the matter and she’d like to keep it that way. Michael was the only one in the know and knew better than to utter the man’s name around her.

“I’m sure The Demon Slayer, The Ajerian and my brother will take care of themselves. Michael and I have been right here in Hallowton this whole time since we separated.”

Sazan would then feel the comfortable hand of Michael on her shoulder as she turned to face him, smiling as she did so. Taking a hand in his she leaned up against him.

“Perhaps,” she replied teasingly giving him a peck on the cheek before looking back to the others, her hand still in his, itching to announce the news of their engagement to everyone. Sazan then looked up to see Bat Amoura hanging on the ceiling before Clash came out of the ground and started talking. She only smiled at his claim of taking out The Council and Abyss before nodding.

“Good shark.”

Sazan couldn’t find it in her to rain on Clash’s parade. He was just too darn cute. Sazan looked over to Miracle as she gave them their cue, smiling and even though it was probably a most inappropriate time Sazan had a feeling the group could use good news if Miracle was suggesting for them to announce it now. The Half Breed hand squeezed Michael’s as she brought their hands up showing off the diamond engagement ring on her finger.

“We’re getting married!” she squealed, barely able to contain her excitement. “Very soon.”

[Solomon]

Solomon remained quiet for the most part displaying his patience as he allowed the small talk to commence. By the time a wedding between two people he knew very little about were announced the knight had just about enough and thought it was time to get down to business. "Miracle, if you'd please...." It was time to start the meeting. "The next step is to secure the tower but without a place to call our own we are only laughing stock for the other nations." Solomon looked back over to Miracle and nodded. "Miracle and I both agree that Aircano is to be rebuilt, where however is still being discussed. In the meantime Hallowton will be our place of refuge."

[Clash]

Clash blinked and turned those eyes to Solomon. His voice had a strange indignation in it. "Anyone who survives something that flips a bird to the laws of physics is far from a laughing stock. Your people eluded something that flew up into your sky and gave you 12 more hours of daylight, while trekking through a frozen tundra beset by some of the coldest hosts I've had to deal with in my life." Clash looked around the small room, at familiar friends and new faces, then back to Solomon. "On top of that, this place doesn't seem half bad. I'm sure you can find a lot of help here in Hallowton!"

Clash then seemed to shrug and had an almost sneering, condescending tone as he spoke "What other nations are their on this world? I'm not from around here after all and I could use the info on whatever small-peckered despots would laugh at such a plight." Clash turned his head from Solomon to Miracle, completely oblivious to how far his course manners could possibly go regarding these two.

[Shai]

There was a flutter of wind; much the same sound as a bird taking wing before Kyal was standing against the wall, head down and wings tucked away, one leg bent to rest against the wall - he actually looked rather brooding.

"Miracle Sparda-" He gave Amoura a silent greeting mentally "Clash and Solomon, it is a pleasure to see you all alive and in good health."

He took the time to look them each in the face - all but Amoura, naturally - and instead took steps over to the map. Internally, though he hadn't exactly voiced it, he was somewhat angry with Amoura for the Others actions in the Crystal expanse, though he hadn't been there himself - oh how easy minds where to read.

"I apologize for suddenly vanishing after the supernova - I should have assisted, but in the state I was in I fear I would have done more harm than good - regardless, I am fully aware of what transpired." He spoke clearly, before he looked at Solomon as Clash had.

"I echo Clash." Kyal would have raised an eyebrow, had he possessed any "You are far from a laughing stock, Solomon. You are a proud and strong leader, worthy of his title."

He paused once more, and realized he hadn't addressed Michael or Sazan - he wasn't being impolite, but he didn't know them - thus, he didn't.

"I can rebuild the city within half a day, right down to the last detail, as it once was. But the tower I fear will be much more guarded, and" His voice dripped with hate at the next part "Maricul will no doubt have her hand in something."

With that, The God fell silent.

[Miracle]

Miracle smiled, glad to see that Kyal could make the meeting. The High Priestess was pondering on whether or not to tell them about the dream she had concerning Maricul and the forces of evil in Jherrazad's possession but opt not to. The people around her already had so many things on their plate to worry about, Miracle wished not to increase any of that so chose silence as the best alternative. The child soon brought her hand on the map and pointed over to the Crystal Expanse.

"Here."

Miracle made sure everyone had followed her finger to the part of the Crystal Expanse they had passed by just a day ago. Ideally it wasn't the best place to a build a town yet at the same time, it was. Nobody would expect a city to be built in that position, they were well hidden from opposing nations that would wish them harm and it would be difficult for forces to try through the cruelty of the Crystal Expanse just to invade. To top it all off the will of God shinning over the site acted as the icing on the cake to what Miracle thought to be the perfect spot.

"We'll rebuild the city right here."

[Silver Eyes]

“We’re getting married!”

That gave away the hidden vampire. In her bat form, she let out a loud, drawn out squeak that could easily be taken as "WHAAAAAAAAAT?! before falling to the ground with a small thud. Well, so much for making herself unknown to Solomon. Bat-Amoura flapped her wings and landed atop the table to get a better look at everyone. While in this form she wasn't able to cause harm should Other manage to resume control like earlier--that may put minds at ease.

Er...sorry. I know I'm not the most popular person at the moment because of another entity in me. Amoura's ears flattened against her skull and she looked like she was very guilt stricken. Damn, this was adorable. I'm not that intimidating in this form so I'll stay like this. I'm listening.

Bat instincts took control and she began grooming her fur. It had to be kept clean to ensure flight.