Audience with the Queen (Lori/Open)

[Sparda]

"As you wish," came the devil's reply. Another able blade rallied to Hallowton's banner... Their strength grew day by day. In the midst of the terrible things happening in this mad world, it lifted Sparda's heart to see this once peaceful city rising to stand on its own two feet against even the mightiest of its foes.

He turned, and with a swing of his arm, tossed Cloud's massive sword back to him. It whistled dully through the air as it span, its arc long yet graceful, as if seeking out the soldier's hands. "Make your way to the third floor and find Sazan," he instructed their new addition. "She'll find you living quarters in the castle, if you wish, and brief you on our situation. On behalf of Her Majesty, I bid you welcome to Hallowton."

[Byakko Furaribi]

A portal of darkness appeared outside the gates, startling the guards as three figures stepped through. The owner of this portal was extremely tall and thin, and with him came a very dark and unpleasant aura. The girl he half dragged with him did not have as evil an aura, much more neutral.

Supporting himself on a staff with a slightest limp he made his way forward only to pause as the point of a guards spear stopped an inch from his pale nose. Leering down the weapon he showed no interest. "Is this the correct place?" he asked Mey Rin, turning and ignoring the guard. The guard, who seemed irked at being ignored, jabbed the spear towards Tall Jake. "Hey who are-" the guards words fell silent as Tall Jake turned, gripping the spear near the guards hands and roughly pulling it from his grasp. "How rude.. I was not speaking with you, human." His chilling voice was like nails on a coffin, bringing terror to the young guards eyes.

A shadow seemed to creep along the spear with a sound like hundreds of tiny craps scuttling, and before their eyes the spear seemed to be eaten by the darkness, which receded leaving nothing left. "Now then.." he turned back to Mey Rin.

[Summer Fall]

Summer watched Tall Jake turn to speak to Mey Rin with no interest at all. With a small sigh to her self, she turned her attention away from them onto herself as she readjusted her sword-whip so it fit better on her hip. She adjusted her clothes and her hands went up to her hair.
After fiddling with her somewhat messy hair, Summer opened a small bag that was hanging over her shoulder and after digging around for a few seconds, she managed to pull out a small battery operated curling iron. With a satisfied smile, she pushed the switch to on and it heated up within a few moments. She started to curl her hair in front of the castle like it was the most natural thing to do

[Mey Rin]

Mey Rin was a bit startled to find herself suddenly standing in front of a palace, to have darkness grow around her and fade to reveal completely different scenery. It was a much different effect than the one that had brought her to this world. She was beginning to think she had better find a way to slyly get away from this man before he turned on her.

Mey Rin studied the grounds. It did look remotely similar to London's Queen's estate overall. Flags bearing the colors of the country, a balcony from which the Queen addressed the populace on occasion, guards posted; this was probably the right place.

"This is probably the right place, though I'm not from 'ere so I can't rightly say. Best way to find out's to arsk, I s'pose.... 'oy!" Mey Rin addressed the guard of whose spear the tall man had destroyed so strangely.... Indeed, she needed to escape from this tall man without making him suspicious of why she was leaving him. "Guard? Is this where we can find the ruler of this land? We must speak with 'im, we..." She didn't know how to complete her thought... We're lost? hardly warranted a King's assistance. She decided to awkwardly quit talking and leave the explaining to the tall man.

[Queen Lori]

Just when Lori thought she was finally done for the day, the door swung open and another guard came in to alert them of another group's presence.
"My Queen, a group of three strangers have appeared outside the gate from a portal!"
The Queen sighed and then placed a hand on her head. Developing a headache from all these visits just a few seconds apart from each other and how people could so easily just enter the city like this was growing on her nerves. All the money being spent on defense didn't help if people could just warp in and out as they pleased.
"Sparda," began Lori, "I'm going to lay down. See to these visitors, will you?"
Lori stood up from her throne room and headed for her chambers.
"And see if you can't do something about people just popping in while you're at it," she added before disappearing behind her bedroom door.

[Cloud]

Cloud caught the blade expertly, spun it and put it away on his back. He bowed in respect to both the Queen and Sparda before summoning a portal of darkness behind him. He started towards it but then he sensed a dark power emerge.. almost if not the exact way he got around. It was a dark power, but not quite hostile. With interest he turned toward Sparda after the Guard left with the Queen's orders. "Do you mind if I see this for myself? They entered similarly to mine, but I sense no hostility. If not I will do as I was before the guard entered." Asked Cloud with slight interest in his eyes.

[Byakko Furaribi]

Tall Jake's attention turned to Summer with a faint expression of irritation. Closing his eyes with a barely suppressed sigh, he lifted his staff and smoothly spun it upside-down. With a rather loud crack he brought the polished stone on her head harshly. "Do not disgrace me!" he growled, his voice taking on a new level of darkness. "Or would you prefer to join what became of Havoc?" The threat, laden with reminders of less pleasant times for Summer, hung in the air between them.

[Summer Fall]

Reisting the urge to rub her head, Summer stood up tall and looked Tall Jake in the eyes. She shook her head at what he was implying, remembering how she betrayed Havoc to save herself. They were all dead now. "No, Im good, thanks though." She was scared, but attempted to take on a bored look instead. "So what are we doing now? Why do we need to speak with the Queen?" She didnt want to be the only one not knowing what was going on

[Sparda]

Sparda had sensed the portal almost before it came to being, and turned as if to regard it through the walls as Lori spoke up. Cloud was next to speak, offering to investigate the situation himself. Sparda turned back to consider this for a moment, looking the young man up and down. It would be a welcome change to not have to do the leg work for once...

"Alright, let's see what you can do," the devil answered. "Go out there, see what these fools want, and tell them what I told you. If they get hostile, take them down."

[Mey Rin]

Mey Rin's eyes grew wide at seeing her new acquaintance nearly smash in Summer's head, this poor little... Who have I started hanging around?

She must find a way to escape from him. She doubted she could simply make an excuse like she had left the oven on. Besides, perhaps this man was not as bad as he now seemed, if this girl was hanging around him. She wouldn't be... his captive, would she? Mey Rin answered the girl, trying to make her voice sound... she knew it was usually fairly eccentric, the way she talked. She guessed this man might find it "disgraceful." She tried to make it sound more common. "We're 'ere to see if the Queen knows a way for us to get back to where we came from."

[Byakko Furaribi]

Tall Jakes eyes turned to Mey Rin in a disturbing analytical way as he added to her statement. "Indeed, and lest we forget your companions." He turned to summer with a warning tone in his voice. "We owe this woman a debt for her assistance in locating you.. understand?" No doubt had his own ulterior motives as well, which he hinted to Summer in his speech.

[Cloud]

"Of course..." Cloud said as he spun around and entered the portal. The portal snapped closed behind him. Meanwhile a dark portal would open up near the three newcomers. Cloud would step out from it with arms crossed and his face half covered by his cape. His Buster Sword lie snug against his back as he approached them, his eyes challenging them to try and move past him.

"You want to see the Queen? Well... you must sign a petition and wait for an appointment. The Queen is busy at the moment and cannot see anymore people.." Cloud said to the three tapping a gold colored claw against his arm as he awaited a response.

[Byakko Furaribi]

Tall Jake was first to react, though his reaction was minimal. He mostly observed the one who spoke, mentally noting on the similarities between his choice of entrance and Tall Jakes own. Yet for every similarity there was a dozen differences. The eerily tall and thin man turned his strange yellow star shaped pupils to Mey Rin as he lightly nudged her forward. When he spoke his voice almost seemed to chill the very air, the voice of a nightmare given form. "We are here to find this girls.. friends" Something about the way he said that word made it sound like one he never used generally speaking. He did not mention his own reasons for visiting.

[Summer Fall]

Summer turned to Mey Rin and gave her a bright smile as she straightened her back, trying to look taller and more important then she felt. Keeping her eye on Tall Jake and the strange guard talking, she stepped closer to the girl. Summer had no idea what to say to anyone, so she decided to talk to the other female with her.
"So, whats your friends name that you're looking for?". She asked softly, not bothering to mask how curious she was about this girl. "And if you don't mind me asking, where are you from?"

[Cloud]

"Many people are trying to find their homes, and refugees arrive to this city daily from homes that have been destroyed... They will have to have patience, just as you will have to have patience.. Again I repeat, you should fill out a petition and come back at a later date.", Cloud replied coolly, caring little of the change of accent and the man's attempt to intimidate him. It will not work. If he learned anything as a mercenary, is that weakness was not an option when dealing with these types of people.