New Earth

Oreron

Oreron nodded, tilting his head to the side at her. "Your kind are our ancestors. As much as most neco don't want to admit it, you are. Think of it as paying my tribute." He said, before taking a running sprint toward the ledge. He landed on the roof of the other building.

He turned around, waving at her after standing up as a signal that he was alright and slipped through the tear in the roof. The one thing that went through his mind was how Aleph would react to him outside of the his suit. To his knowlege, the man didn't know him as the neco outside the suit, but the metal beast that had been named "philip". As much as it annoyed him, he wasn't sure how much the banton knew about his part in the war or his reputation. Something that he wanted to forget. And for that he was greatful.

Oreron looked around, adjusting the cloth around his mouth so the top of his mouth tear did not show. He wandered the isles, looking down them every now and again to see if his drunken aquantance was anywhere to be found.

Aleph Banton

He didn't find any alcohol. It must have been scavenged by someone else, because each and every shelf that had once held the nectar had been wiped clean of it. So, it left naught but water to drink. Aleph reached over to a shelf and grabbed one of the waters that had been resting in the refrigerated sections, that way it was cool, and he then began drinking. Truth be told, water felt so much more refreshing to drink than booze, but it didn't give him the illusion that he was forgetting anything. About his past, or about Faith's death. Even still, water did its job to keep his throat from being dry, and that's all he'll have for now, it seemed.

*Clunk*

He began hearing noises on the rooftop of the building he was in. By the looks of it, someone had to have been up there, screwing around, but who.... or what? His first thought was, of course, Phillip. He seemed like an animal, so maybe he was monkeying around up there, but that left the question of why he was doing that? Searching for Aleph? No, why? They were just at each other's throats, so unless he came here to fight him, then there was no reason to find him. And there was no reason to come fight anymore. If they were going to, they'd have done it back at the bar. Coming here just to fight him was preposterous and foolish, so Aleph hastily disregarded that idea.

But then... who was the person in the store with him? Aleph couldn't tell who it was....wait, Phillip? He was nearly impossible to recognize, but something about how he walked gave off the impression that it was Phillip. That, and some of the stuff he was wearing was the same. But this was the first time Aleph could recall seeing him like this. It was obvious that he was looking for Aleph now. He'd might as well just speak up so things could get over. He gave a loud sigh and then said, "What?" simply and waited for the man to speak.

"Why the hell did you make assumptions at me!" Ember paused and turned to look at Ace with something close to surprise on her face. "Do you have a problem with me Gabriel? I have no idea why because I have done nothing to you!..." After that Ember tuned out of the conversation and tried to read the words in her head. She knew Ace hadn't appeared to spend time in a Military based Clan, yet it still surprised her that he hadn't though of a spy or spies in his company. That any one of them would try to kill him just for the heck of it instead of having a unlikely personal vendetta. She got a migraine just thinking of the naive way Ace lived.

Gabriel, back to his normal self, began to pace beside Ace and Ember. When he saw the look on Ember's face he rolled his eyes. "Oh please stop, your giving her a headache just thinking about your view on what just happened." Without really thinking about it, he also began to think it. "Oh, geeez now I'm gonna get a headache just thinking about it." He shook his head as if he could physically remove himself of the thoughts.

Owsla

The feral girl snarled audibly from her hiding place, now padding her way toward the door to get away from the tension and the woman that Gabriel had accomanying him. She reminded him of the coldness that she had endured for most of her life and it made her tense. The feeling of uneasiness came over her everytime she glanced over to her. Something that she wanted to do away with.

She padded over to the door, but the pain in her arm made it wobble a bit. She hissed in pain, sheathing the knife on her back as she kept at it. Her arm wobbled to the point of being audible vibration on the floor "Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!" She whispered to herself as she nearly slipped on her arm.

((Sorry for the wait. Internet failed...))

Oreron

Oreron stared down Aleph, narrowing his eyes at the man he once knew as a knight of honor. He held out the bottle of alcohol from the string in front of him. "You need to face your past knight." He said as walked closer to him. As much as Oreron appeared to he a man, he still gave off that feral animalistic feeling, even with him offering something that he wanted, it was something that seemed like a preditor leading someone into a trap.

"You say you have lost faith. But in fact, she may have looked you in the face a sliced you open not to long ago." He said, his raspy voice starting to clear a bit. "You gave up to easily, Banton. It makes me wonder if you even the tried to find your...mate again. She said that it was a sort of partner ship between you two." He grinned slightly under the cloth that covered his face. He waved the bottle a bit and tilted his head a bit. "Now what say you Banton?"

"What?" he repeated, again. Philip was not making any sense, talking as if Faith wasn't dead. In fact, that seemed to be what he was implying. Not only that, but apparently it was that.... woman-thing that he had encountered earlier -- the one who attacked him. But that was impossible. Faith never told him she was a human, and she wouldn't act like that probably. There was no way that she was alive, because when he awoke from the explosion, he searched every inch of the place looking for her. And there would be absolutely no reason for her to have left without him.

So Philip wasn't making a single word of sense exit his lips. "I've no time for your games. Faith hasn't said a single thing since she's dead. I double-checked every damn inch of the area looking for her, and there was nothing but bits and pieces of houses and bodies, hers had to have been among them, so there is absolutely no way that she isn't dead, because I would've found her or she would've found me." he sounded so sure of this that if Oreron hadn't seen Faith, heard that she was alive, he'd have no reason not to believe it. His words were solid. "I spoke my mind about your daughter, my opinion. For that, I apologize. However, I fear that this is water you wish not to tread. Leave it be, or I cannot guarantee that I won't make any rash decisions." These words, however, were calm -- calmer than most any he had spoken as of late.

Ace Tyrant

"Oh please stop, your giving her a headache just thinking about your view on what just happened."
"Oh, geeez now I'm gonna get a headache just thinking about it."

The blonde caught Embers gaze and lowered his head very slightly. He realized his actions were not exactly the usual for Ace's quiet and peaceful persona, but this world changed people, including himself. He did not really understand what Gabriel had just stated, but still he kept his mouth closed to attempt to seal away the venomous words he wished to spit.

"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!"

The young shouts sent shivers up the mans spine and so he instantly turned to Owlsa, who now had returned to the doorway looking very uncomfortable. Ace made low hand movements twice to try and get her to quiet and calm, before he headed over to the young feral girl. "Hey, everything is alright. Its not very wise shouting out here...though I guess we cant exactly say anything," He sighed lightly. "How is your arm?"

After checking over his new "little sister" figure the blonde turned back to Ember, expression weirdly serious and maybe even depressive. He wandered back over to the warrior with honest and sad eyes, his voice hopefully out of earshot. "Where are you going and why? Its alright if you can't say....I just...I really really don't want to lose you."

Gabriel watched Ace and noted the man-boy's change in demeanor. When he added up all the details he couldn't help but hide the way he rolled his eyes. He looked away and turned to shake his head at Ace, a warning but also annoyed look in his face. "Where are you going and why? Its alright if you can't say....I just...I really really don't want to lose you." Gabriel made a growling sound at the back of his throat when he walked around the two to see Ember's confusion and deadness. He'd been traveling with her for several months now and all those days, he's never seen any emotion of humanity like thing in her. The only time he actually saw something even slightly emotional was when she was killing or fighting in a battlefield. He's tried to ask her why, and its like she's never experienced any type of emotion. He compared it once to stabbing someone and wandering why they're bleeding, and wandering where the blood was coming from.

Ember was trying very hard to understand the way Ace was acting. None of it made sense. She didn't know what he meant. "I don't understand. I am of no importance to your survival or even life style. You don't need to have any concern over my being here or no-" She shut up when Gabe waved a hand at her.

Gabriel was very tired, but also surprised and amused over the situation. "Lover-boy here isn't concerned over that. Well, he is but.... I don't think I know how to translate this to death personified. He... has a crush on you... Isn't that right, Man-boy?" He looked at Ace and had a very serious yet fragile look in his eyes.

(So sorry if you are going to hate my long posts but I am at work experience and when I have free time I might as well post a good post here to pass the time. Don't feel pressured to write the same amount.)

The Reprobate

Faith crept along the rooftop to the tear along the left hand side. Butterflies thudded hard in her stomach as she leant along the floor to listen and also to watch. The whole situation was awfully thrilling, but at the same time she had the idea in her mind that it was going to end up horribly. Aleph and Oreron were clearly people who sparred often with each other and this was clearly one of the touchiest subjects you could ever meet. Being honest she felt kind of awful forcing the feral man to do this; she should have been there herself.

"You need to face your past knight."
"You say you have lost faith. But in fact, she may have looked you in the face a sliced you open not to long ago."

Some knight.

The Reprobate struggled to even recognise his face he was that filled with drink. It was kind of sad to see the person you love rot away to alcohol. Oreron looked rather odd, almost like a predator crawling towards the ‘prey’. Oh and what a great way to reintroduce us. Faith swallowed hard, playing back the scenario of her slashing his arm out of panic. It then occurred to her that he may not even view her as someone worthy of him anymore. Neco's and Sapiens were just not something that mixed together well.

"You gave up to easily, Banton. It makes me wonder if you even the tried to find your...mate again. She said that it was a sort of partnership between you two."

Faith felt a crippling sadness swarm her body. And Oreron was a dick for lying about the mate thing.

"I've no time for your games. Faith hasn't said a single thing since she's dead. I double-checked every damn inch of the area looking for her, and there was nothing but bits and pieces of houses and bodies, hers had to have been among them, so there is absolutely no way that she isn't dead, because I would've found her or she would've found me."

The blonde leaped through the gap in the roof top and landed elegantly and cat like in a crouched position just behind the pair. Her eyes were sad and nervous, maybe Aleph would simply get rid of her for being someone so very weak. He loved her as a Neco, he loved the fake Faith Alexis, and not The Reprobate now. He was searching for the blonde angelic warrior from before, not the mentally unstable mess she had become.

"He speaks the truth Aleph. What's wrong? Are you ashamed of me now? I tried to come back for you but I got taken...and after that things got rough."

Owsla

Owsla jumped a bit as Ace got close to her. Not being used to friendly contact, she moved away from him. She said with venom lining her words. Her arm still wobbled and shook from the pressure she had put on it, so she sat back. Near the door and watched the two.

If anything, both reminded her of the the captivity she was in with different neco clans that saw her as some sort of prize or weapon and human settlements that used her as a punching bag. She had no love for them or anyone for that matter. Not anymore anyway. "If blondie here has a crush on someone who's no more than a shell with the scent of death, then the world ends again and the Armored Beast of War has returned." she said, venom lining her words as she moved a bit to stop the pain in her arm.

The 'Armored Beast of War' was something she had heard once before, a reference to the war she was born during and a general she now had reason to find in some way. She hissed to herself, moving herself some distance away from them as she felt the urge to run again, and with the woman in he way, it may have been best to stay within the cabin for the moment.

Oreron

Oreron sighed and pinched the bridge of his noise. The fact that Aleph would not listen even though it was staring him in the face was frustrating enough with out his own issues to deal with and face. "You are an idiot Banton and your namesake does not suit you." He said, his deep and raspy voice now sounding as annoyed as he would have been with moronic soldiers in he past.

"You may not know this, so let me explain." The feral male took a deep breath to calm himself. "Do you have any idea what happens to anyone caught in any sort of attack at all. There are survivors, but there are also people that prey on said survivors. Have you ever taken the time to think of that at all? That there was a chance that she was dragged away for something worse than death and while you were having your pity party and drinking years off your life that she was somewhere being tortured and scared mentally?"

He was on the edge again. The edge of beating the man to a pulp like he did with his own soldiers in the past. His hand flexed to crook his claws in a way that looked like he was about to claw the man's face to shreds. However, the sound of someone dropping down behind them made him flinch somewhat. He turned his head behind to take a look at her.

'He speaks the truth Aleph. What's wrong? Are you ashamed of me now? I tried to come back for you but I got taken...and after that things got rough.'

Oreron sighed and moved out of the way so Aleph could see. "What say you Banton? A dead woman stands before you waiting for your excuses."

Ace Tyrant

Ace felt a little bit downhearted at Owsla's recoil, but of course it was expected. In this day and age it would be rare to get a welcoming response. Still, even though they had not met before he found himself becoming attached and placing himself as a brotherly figure.

Ace frowned at the sound of Gabriel grumbling in his throat as he walked by shaking his head. His baby blue eyes narrowed to thin lines as the white haired male. Who was he to make conclusions about him and decide if he was right or wrong?! Then he noticed Embers 'deer in headlight' expression, it was very foreign upon her fair face and being honest the blonde preferred her normal battle ready glare.

"I don't understand. I am of no importance to your survival or even life style. You don't need to have any concern over my being here or no-"

He let out a long sigh and brushed back his golden strands from his face awkwardly, pupils lowered, before letting out a light awkward laugh. "You are joking me right? I have seen you fight and you have a tone of skills. Why would I not like you along me? Just for company sake anyway-"

"Lover-boy here isn't concerned over that. Well, he is but.... I don't think I know how to translate this to death personified. He... has a crush on you... Isn't that right, Man-boy?"

"HEY!" Ace cried, teeth bared like some kind of feral creature. "You can't see inside my mind so don't make judgements so quick." His voice was as stable as possible but it still shook with anger and uneasiness. Of course it was somewhat true, Ember was a very similar person to Jennifer and so having feelings for her was of course expected. "I'm still looking for Jennifer I will have you know. Plus, you can't say anything what so ever Gabriel! Why is this so important to you? Its clearly you who has the crush? Or maybe you two are more and never mentioned it?" He stated sharply, turning to Ember.

"If blondie here has a crush on someone who's no more than a shell with the scent of death, then the world ends again and the Armoured Beast of War has returned."

The blonde was surprised by Owlsa speaking up about the conversation. In fact it was rather creepy being honest, how she decided to bring up a subject they did not even know about. "Don't speak about Ember in that way ever again, and what do you mean? Can you please explain this armoured beast thing? I am quite curious right now."

Once again the first thing that jumped to mind was Oreron.

Gabriel snorted, "I don't know who this Jennifer is and unlike you I will have no emotional or physical connection with a potential enemy or potential traitor..." He paused. "But in this case, Ember and I have agreed on mutual survival and nothing more." He looked at Ember and her baffled expression.

"If blondie here has a crush on someone who's no more than a shell with the scent of death, then the world ends again and the Armoured Beast of War has returned." "Don't speak about Ember in that way ever again, and what do you mean? Can you please explain this armoured beast thing? I am quite curious right now."

Ember was still trying to understand the situation right now, but when Ace defended her she couldn't help but be... uncomfortable. The Necos around her knew about what she was in, but she, herself did not know. It was like agreeing to a contract written in some foreign language. It was... a strange feeling... It was a sudden tenseness in her abdomen that made her lift her hand a lay it on her side. She felt uneasy and... adrenaline rushed through her blood. The reaction was like dumping gasoline on a fire. She had the sudden need to move, and to get away. That re-focused her and she began to speak. "We are going back to our clans. Once we find a city, we will separate. I will go re-join my military in what ever battle strategy they concocted and do what I was made to do. Serve my superiors."

It appeared as if Oreron wasn't going to stop with this whole thing. To be honest, Aleph could've essentially deflected most anything he had said to him away. He was even prepared to, until the one subject was brought up that Aleph didn't want to believe. He wanted to deny, throw away, toss aside this idea, this possibility. Because if something like this happened to Faith while Aleph was still alive...

He'd kill himself.

"You may not know this, so let me explain. Do you have any idea what happens to anyone caught in any sort of attack at all. There are survivors, but there are also people that prey on said survivors. Have you ever taken the time to think of that at all? That there was a chance that she was dragged away for something worse than death and while you were having your pity party and drinking years off your life that she was somewhere being tortured and scared mentally?"

Aleph stood himself up, albeit shakily, as he looked at Philip with an intensely worried stare. Now he was really losing it. There was always a strong possibility that this happened. In fact, it was much more plausible than dying back there. After all, the bomb couldn't have blown her up to the point of being unrecognizable, since he was right next to Faith when it went off, and he escape with naught but minor injuries. Yes, Aleph was just fooling himself this whole time, hoping Faith was dead, hoping she was alive, hoping something he wasn't entirely sure of. And the pieces would start crumbling here.

A small, elegant figure dropped from the ceiling, right next to the two. Her crouched position reminded him of Philip, oddly, but now that his cover, his delusion that she was dead was gone, he could actually recognize the person behind all the physical and mental trauma that showed on her body and on her face. And then, she spoke. "He speaks the truth Aleph. What's wrong? Are you ashamed of me now? I tried to come back for you but I got taken...and after that things got rough." It was quite possible that Oreron said something after that, but Aleph didn't hear, or listen. He instantly became... torn. Destroyed. Obliterated, as a character.

"You're dead." he mumbled softly, almost too quietly to be able to be comprehended. So, he repeated and descended from there. "You're dead! You're dead! You'redeadyou'redeadyou'redeadyou'refuckingdeadnononononononono" Aleph dropped to a knee, clutching his head as something akin to a migraine on steroids hit him. His head hurt so damn much right now that he didn't care how he appeared He was a drunk in appearance, so why not? He couldn't care less about how he looked at this time, he just..... had to lose it. "You died, I saw it. No body, no life. Nothing. Nothingness. Loss. Death. Decay. Descent. You're not here to see me like this, like filth, because you're dead. You have to be, you have to, you have to..."

Two things should have been made very apparent with his ramblings. One would be that he had gone over the deep end, and was now less than half of the half of the person he was before, the Drunk Aleph. And the other? That seeing Faith alive, though he wished he could every single day of his life since the accident, was one of the worst things anyone could've done to help him.

So easy does our mind descent, that we oftentimes wish for the things that cause such an event with blissful ignorance to that fact.

Owsla

Owsla hissed loudly at Ace, taking offence to being told what to do. She didn't know him, she wasn't his house pet and was sure as hell not his gaurdian. "You're not my caretaker, so don't treat me like a pup blonde." She growled as she turned his back to him. She felt uneasy around these people, like she was only supposed to have passed through and needed to leave fast.

The feral girl tilted her head to the side, still not facing the blonde neco. "You don't know the stories. You really must not be from a clan at all." She said with a sigh. "They say he lead the clan that brought cities to their knees. The beast that tore human and neco alike to peices and tore out their throats. They say he has no soul or consience. There is no reasoning with him." She turned her head to look at him with her one blue eye. "Those who survived his wrath say that they can't look at blue lights in the dark with out breaking down in terror, and one day he dissappeared." She turned away from the blonde again. "No one knows there is even a man under the armor that makes him the beast he is. Though as a Neco general I wouldn't be surprised if he was just a maddened killer."

Owsla's shoulders quivered a bit, head lowering a bit. She hated telling people about the armored beast. Something about telling the story made her want to crawl in the corner and cry, like failing to defend something that she knew was true and was being made fun of for it.

"They say he was killed in a village raid along with his wife and kid, but survived to kill those that murdered his family and now wanders the wastes."

The Reprobate

"You are an idiot Banton and your namesake does not suit you."

Faith swallowed hard and blinked rapidly. Aleph was not exactly the same chivalrous male that she had once known. He had almost completely changed his life completely. Still, did that really give Oreron the right to insult him? For years now he had thought his so called love was dead. Faith was not really sure how Aleph had concluded them to be a couple, as he did not even admit any feelings what so ever for her. She had not even accepted such a thing...how self centered.

"You may not know this, so let me explain."

No please don't talk about this.

"...she was dragged away for something worse than death and while you were having your pity party and drinking years off your life that she was somewhere being tortured and scared mentally?"

"Yeah. Um... I got taken by Necos who found out I was a Sapien...lets just say they did not take lightly to it. After that..." Faith snapped her mouth shut, wanting to drop the conversation and leave it forever. She wanted to pretend it never even happened. "Oreron it is not his fault though. People deal with things differently."

You're dead! You're dead! You'redeadyou'redeadyou'redeadyou'refuckingdeadnononononononono"

The Reprobates blood began to boil and tears slowly began to roll down her cheeks and drip thickly onto the ground. She sobbed lightly, eyes wide and fixed on the male kneeling at her feet. "DO I LOOK DEAD TO YOU ALEPH? WONT YOU STOP TO LISTEN YOU DRUNKEN TWAT! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT FROM ME!?" The blonde screamed until her throat grew dry.

"You're not here to see me like this, like filth, because you're dead. You have to be, you have to, you have to..."

Faith then sank to her knees as well and leaped towards him before pulling him into a kind of romantically sad hug, but it swapped around when she began weakly battering her fists upon his chest. "I was never your partner! Lets get that straight first! You never admitted anything to me so I might as well be dead to you! I never thought I really meant anything anyway! Either way I'm breathing!!"

So this is what he was now? A sniveling, pathetic excuse for the knight he had once been long ago? Someone who couldn't even come to face the fact that he was graced with Faith's presence before him, because he did not want to accept it. The person who he had wished he saved, the one who he had drunk himself silly because he missed, the one he wasn't able enough to save was standing right in front of him, shouting at him, telling him she was alive, and he refused to believe it even then. How much more sad could he get? He was not worthy of being called pathetic, that's how low he was now.

She continued to scream at him, scream at how they weren't even a couple. That was true. There would've only been a slight chance that it wasn't, if she had 'died' but a day later, instead of the night that she did. That's when... Well, that doesn't matter now, does it? It never happened. Never could. It would always be a regret. Everything in his life would be a regret. He was just full of them, and now one of the biggest regrets of them all was shouting so loudly in his face that he couldn't even really hear, but only because he wasn't listening. His mind shut out everything for the time being. Nothing but one line repeated in his head.

You're dead.

It was his voice. It was him. He was telling someone that she was dead, to her face, and she denied it, as anyone would. He was just ranting on and on about how she had to be dead, when she was doing everything she could in an attempt to get him to stop. But could she? If she wasn't dead, then what? Would he just smile, be happy? Would he forget everything else and pretend like it never happened? If only. At this point, the fact that she was alive was scarier than watching her die again. He'd much rather have her die with a decent thought about him in her head, than live with.... this as her thought of him. Because if she thought low of him............

What would anything else matter? Life? Honor? Chivalry? All those things he was taught when he was young, by his father... who really gives a flying fuck? Is there any reason why he should? Because it was something to remember his father by? Ha, as if. His father was a regret. His life was regret. What couldn't he regret about himself? That word essentially summed him up entirely. He so desperately wanted to get out of that cycle. Being in a war, killing people, causing people harm.... Regret, regret, regret. But the biggest one, even bigger than now? The one that he could never forget, or redeem himself for? Killing his father, and his brother. Out of jealousy. Oh how his life was nothing but despair.

But he tried so hard to simply shrug it off and move on. To become a better man, he walked as if he was a knight. He protected people when he could, and killed those who would kill others. He, knowing that it wouldn't save him, attempted to be the kind of man he had always wanted to be. His father. His father, the great man he murdered, whose only crime was attempting to save his other child from Aleph. His other, good child. The one that had promise. And not only did he fail to do that, but he himself was killed, while Aleph managed to pin the blame on the one he had murdered. The only reason he did not kill himself, avenge his family from himself, was because he was too scared and knew he was not allowed such an easy way out. He was a coward, but a prideful one. He had to do something to make up for it.

So, after all those years, why did fate trick him like this? He had thought that, perhaps during the travels with Faith, that maybe he had done enough to at least find something real to live for. Something not empty. A purpose. But she was cruel. Fate was. When he decided that it had been more than enough time for him to make a solid confession of the feelings that he had developed, Faith, both figuratively and literally, was taken away from him. And now, here she sits, screaming, punching, and hugging at him, and he can only deny her existence.

Aleph closed his eyes. Everything went quiet. He took one, two, three deep breaths, slowly, surely. He calmed himself, regained some composure. He had to do this, at least. He had to accept things. Because he finally realized that he had never grown up. He was still that same selfish boy that murdered his parents. He neglected to even think before he spoke about how they were, or rather, how he had wanted them to be. It was a tad-bit embarrassing to see her alive and for her to hear that, but nothing could be done about it now.

"Either way I'm breathing!"

Aleph smiled... but something was missing from it. It was nothing weird. It wasn't creepy or anything, it was just... empty. But he did smile. "Yes... you are. You're alive." he said, chuckling a bit. This was also empty. "How... immature of myself. For that, and for assuming things when I was too dumb to confess earlier. Sorry. For everything. I'm just a selfish, self-centered man under the guise of a knight, nothing more. Well, not even that now..." he trailed off for a moment, possibly thinking about something else before continuing with, "...I'll try. I'll try to act like a grown-up now. I can't begin to express how sorry I am. To both of you. Dealing with an overgrown child is something nobody should be forced to deal with with the world as it is." the empty smile on his face had been replaced with a stoic look. "You may both leave. I will be fine on my own. Faith isn't dead, so I don't believe I'll need alcohol anymore."

Oreron

Oreron smiled at the two, then looked out the door. "Being fine on your own is one thin banton, but where is your armour and weapon?" He said as started to feel the cloth covering his mouth slipping. He lifted it back up quickly, looking away from them for a moment as he noticed something move out of the corner of his eye.

He could have sworn he had seen white hair for a second, and snarled a bit. "Cursed visions." He muttered to himself as he walked toward the door, his back to the reunited duo. He leaned against the door frame, and took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

As glad as he was to see the two together again, a part of him was torn. It had been nearly twelve years since the village he lived in was burned and his family destroyed. He remembered the look of his wife when they came, he could still hear the screams of the others as he tried to fight of the clan that he had left to raise is own kin. The laughter and glee they took in torturing his as the searched for his mate and child. He knew his wife had killed a few before being killed herself, but he watched them take his screaming pup away. His white haired little girl as he slipped into unconousness. Every moment still burned into his memory,

His shoulders shook somewhat and his head hung low as he started to walk out. His armor started to form around him again and forced him to stand on all fours again. He plopped down onto his side again, making himself look like he was tired.

In truth, His own past still haunted his mind.

Ace Tyrant

"I don't know who this Jennifer is and unlike you I will have no emotional or physical connection with a potential enemy or potential traitor..."

Ace was starting to lose his temper with Gabriel now, the guy just seemed to be snapping at his ankles constantly like some kind of savage Jack Russle. If he had dared he would have hit him square in the jaw by now, but the blonde knew it was likely he would end up in a worse position. "Jennifer was not my enemy, she saved my life and basically baby sat me until I reached adult hood, taught me how to defend myself, gave me life skills and then I don't know if she was taken or if I was deserted but she just vanished. I feel like I still owe her and being all too honest I loved her, that's all." He spat. "So imagine if you lost Ember. That is how I feel right now."

"We are going back to our clans. Once we find a city, we will separate. I will go re-join my military in what ever battle strategy they concocted and do what I was made to do. Serve my superiors."

The males once handsome face hardened slightly, lips pressed into a thin line and eyes sharp. "Is that all you want to do? Do you not have a personal aim Ember? What are you exactly doing? Defending others or serving pest control to Sapiens? Please tell me you are not doing that." He sighed rubbing his brow. "I guess I cant stop you. I am going to miss you."

"You're not my caretaker, so don't treat me like a pup blonde."
"You don't know the stories. You really must not be from a clan at all."

Ace began to smile smugly, eyes bright and mischievous. "Are you sure its bright talking to me like that? You are wounded and at a disadvantage." He stated, putting on a false melodramatic tough-guy voice. "I'm kidding, but nobody is here to hurt you so just calm down." The male's heart sank a little at her second comment, eyes rolled low and sorrowful. "Everyone is dead, I am the lone wolf."

"They say he lead the clan that brought cities to their knees. The beast that tore human and neco alike to pieces and tore out their throats. They say he has no soul or conscience. There is no reasoning with him."
"Those who survived his wrath say that they can't look at blue lights in the dark with out breaking down in terror, and one day he disappeared."
"No one knows there is even a man under the armour that makes him the beast he is. Though as a Neco general I wouldn't be surprised if he was just a maddened killer."

He swallowed hard, listening to her story. Ace could just remember the maddening smile etched upon the face of a shelled being that stalks the ruins. Jennifer became rather friendly with the thing, but he could not help but hate it. "I...would it be mad if I said I have experienced something similar." The blonde strutted. "Though it did not seem aggressive. I thought it was just mechanical software working...Creeped me out."

The Reprobate

For a cripplingly long time they sat their in silence. Aleph seemed to be going over and over the situation in his head, trying to figure out this riddle that did not really exist. How hard was it to accept? He looked afraid, a emotion she never though the brunette would ever display in his whole life.

"Yes... you are. You're alive,"

Faith paused, stunned. The change around was so quick that it shocked her into silence. His voice and grin seemed off, she was unsure if it was because of all the alcohol or just the odd situation that had come at hand. Either way, he had accepted her and that made her the happiest person on earth. The blonde curled into his warmth like a child and his familiarity surrounded her. It was bliss.

"How... immature of myself. For that, and for assuming things when I was too dumb to confess earlier. Sorry. For everything. I'm just a selfish, self-centered man under the guise of a knight, nothing more. Well, not even that now..."

She found herself shaking with nerves, glaring up into his blue eyes with a thousand feelings running through them. "Don't apologise. Sure enough you were a little messed up, but I know it must have been hard for you." The blonde sighed lightly, lowering her face in shame. "What do you think of me...me being a Sapien?..." It was the question she was dreading the answer of. The woman had always displayed herself as some warrior Neco. She lied. She had lied before and she was lying now. "Before I lied about my species and now I lie about my name. I have made myself some savage legend Aleph. I go by the Reprobate, the killer of Necos. I don't know if that's the case anymore. I just....I hate myself."

"You may both leave. I will be fine on my own. Faith isn't dead, so I don't believe I'll need alcohol anymore."

"Are you kidding me!?"

"Being fine on your own is one thing Banton, but where is your armour and weapon?"

The Reprobate nodded furiously at Oreron's response. "Its no wonder I did not notice it was you. Your armour is a huge characteristic of yours you know Though I have to admit...no clothes would be nice!" She purred suggestively. The woman then crawled from his lap and stood up, leaning over the brunette and shouting at the brunette beneath her. "You just found me and now you are going to leave me!? I want to stay with you! I hope you do realize this!"

Faith then turned to Oreron, noticing him leaving the room. She dashed up to him just before he exited, softly grabbing his hand. "Are you just going to go too? You are welcome to stay if you wish it. I guess I kind of owe you now though, thank you very much Oreron. Chin up. If there is hope for us there is still hope for you." She told him with a soft voice, it almost seemed motherly with the amount of care in her tone.

"Hey handsome? How about that confession."

Oreron

Oreron sighed in his helm, feeling the pull on his hand as he lay on the ground in his armor again. The truth of the matter was, as glad as he was to see Faith and Aleph together again, it reminded him of his own past. The love of his life that had died trying to protect their babe.

His head moved to face her, that 'smile' on his helm ever unnmoving. "Alright." He said, rolling onto his belly. "I will stay with you two, even if to keep an eye on Banton. Though I doubt he knows who I really am." He chuckled lightly at the thought. But in the back of his mind, part of him knew that he may as well kill him. It had been a long time since the war. But the titles and names still stuck with him like a ghost haunting a place it remembers.

The Beast, General, the Armored Beast of War. All names he had earned and still called by those who know his armor and face. He counted himself lucky that Aleph either didn't know who he was or hadn't noticed as of yet. He had put those days behind him long ago, searching for a peaceful and quiet life with his daughter again.

Even with this goal in mind, his past still caught up with him. And he hoped that it would catch up with him with the one person he had just aided.

"Tell me when you two are ready. I just need some time to think is all."

Owsla

Owsla snapped her head toward him. "You've seen him?" she asked, now paying him attention. The girl turned herself around fulled to face him and held herself up with her arms as she sat cross legged. "Where? Where did you see him?" Her voice was frantic, as if what he said was important to her.

Her leg started to shake with impatience, tapping her fingers on her knees. Every person she had talked to about this "beast" only told her the stories that she already knew or had information that was just...stupid. But to have someone who had actually come in contact or even saw him and lived was more than enough to keep her from stealing most of their stuff.

"What did he want? Did he do anything at all or something?" He said, sending death glares at Ember as she spoke to Ace. She didn't get why the blonde had such an attachment to the woman anyway. She gave no scence of feeling, caring or anything. Just to "serve her superiors". If that meant clans of necos bent on starting something again, then she wanted no part of it. Never mind the fact that she already had a bad taste in her mouth from necos from a young age.

The only reason why she stayed around now was to get any information out of the blonde while she could.

He was... well, no, he couldn't.... it was just like a daze, though he was aware of where he was. He was in some sort of daze-like feeling, at least. Most of the stuff anyone said was ignored. He did enjoy the feeling of comfort as Faith hugged him tight, a feeling he didn't remember feeling. Was it content? No, he still felt worthless. More than before, but he had at least come to act more grown-up about it. He wouldn't drink himself silly anymore, and he wouldn't complain about it if he could help it. He stood up when he was free of Faith's grasp.

Thinking about what Faith said, he stood still. She was a homosapien, not a homoneco. She had lied about that for so long, hid it from his knowledge. How would that change things? As long and hard as he put his mind to it, he couldn't think of anyway that it would. There was no reason for it to change anything that wasn't already changed. Aleph had fought many Necos over the years, but he couldn't recall killing any humans (that he knew of), so in all honesty, he didn't give two shits that she was a Sapien. She was still Faith. And if he had thought bad about her making a horrible name for herself, then he'd be a hypocrite. Raze was given to him because of the horrible things he did. He could never really live those down, and that wasn't including what he did to his father and brother. He had no right to judge her.

He wanted to make things clear with Faith. She deserved to know what he felt.

"Faith." he said, motioning her over to follow him just a bit away. Oreron could probably still hear their normal voices, but he just wanted to get some space for them. He had no intention of hiding anything from either of them anymore. "The fact that you are a homosapien means nothing to me. I have killed many people, of my race and maybe yours, for all I know. To hate one more than the other makes no sense to me. It would be akin to hating a toddler because he isn't as strong as a teen." he tried comparing. In his drunkish mind, that was the best he could do. But at least it kinda made sense. "And what you said you have become? I..." he paused for a moment, thinking of what might have happened to her. What he failed to prevent, and what he had feared all these drunken days. "...I'm sorry. But I don't think any less of you because of it. I couldn't think any less of you because of it. I was worse. I've killed so many people, some who didn't deserve their shortened lives. Some who might've had families, or who wanted to avoid the war. Yet I, willingly, joined it, and I don't remember why. Maybe as a way out, or maybe just because. But still, I did things I regretted."

And this was the part he had to say, not so much for Faith as it was for Philip, or rather, Oreron.

"I even became infamous due to some of my deeds in the war. 'Raze' is the name I was known by back then. I, along with a savage Neco," he glanced at Phillip. "...and a few others, made names for ourselves in that war, but Oreron would probably agree that they were anything but respectable." he wanted it to be clearly understood that Aleph knew who he was, and he wanted it to be clear who Aleph really was, just in case. Aleph had, in fact known for a while, but more than Oreron, Aleph wanted to hide his past. Now that he was growing up, he ought to at least let things be known.

After all, they were in the same clan at one point. Well, Aleph didn't stay for long. He had left long before Oreron tried, so he had never gotten involved with 'The Beast' before their meeting a few years back. Still, infamy like theirs, one should be careful. There were others. Many others. But most died. Some had just believed that a title made you invincible. A few of them actually died to Aleph's blade, foolishly challenging him without even considering strategy or preparation. While not easy battles, they did go in Raze's favor.

But those tales are unimportant. Just deaths.

"Faith...." he said, softly. This is what he had to say, finally. It was the one thing he needed to say. "Asking me to stay with you makes me so happy I could cry. Hearing that you want to stay with me... I don't think I've ever wanted to hear something repeated. If you wish, you can take that as my confession. I... love you. However... I need to know something, so please, tell me: Knowing all of this. All of the lives I have probably taken, both Neco and Sapien, of the tragedies I have caused, would you still accept and forgive me?"

What was in his voice? Expectation, anticipation, and nervousness? Yes, that had to be it. He waited for her answer, doing his best (and succeeding) at keeping himself from trembling. His legs felt weak and his heart was about to explode from the tension. Even still, he had decided that he wouldn't be a kid anymore. Either he was accepted or he was denied. He would simply walk away quietly and without fuss if he was denied, and he honestly wasn't even sure how to react if he was accepted. He didn't think he would be after saying all of that. He confessed his sins and his feelings to the best of his (current) ability. Whatever came next came next, so he would have to just accept things and move on, or continue on, but knowing this, the beating in his chest did not even begin to cease in the slightest.

(I hope it's alright to say he was in the same clan ><)

Ember cocked her head to the right and was about to reply with a calm demeanor when Ace started to speak. "Is that all you want to do? Do you not have a personal aim Ember? What are you exactly doing? Defending others or serving pest control to Sapiens? Please tell me you are not doing that." Ember stiffened at that, her anger becoming evident in the way she narrowed her eyes and glared at Ace. His words were practically an echo of what her brother once asked her about. She gritted her teeth, and she made a decision. Whatever Ace and Gabriel had spoken about feelings and... crushes, had confused her but what Ace just said made her come up with an answer. Ember was going to leave, back to her clan and forget about Ace. The naive Neco just pushed a major button that probably should not have been pushed.

Ember turned and stalked away from the group. Her green eyes burning with... Something close to emotion.

(sorry bout the choppy post, I have limited time on the computer now... I think....)

(Sorry my Pc at home for some reason has been hating on the site. I'll try and fix it :\ God I just realized how much I quote from peoples posts. Lol I fake writing loads.)

The Reprobate

"I will stay with you two, even if to keep an eye on Banton. Though I doubt he knows who I really am."
"Tell me when you two are ready. I just need some time to think is all."

A wide smile grew upon her fair face as she nodded at his response. Faith found her and Orerons relationship rather odd to say before hand they were unable to keep there palms off each others throats; yet she had found herself befriending him quicker than anyone ever. On top of that he was a Neco too. Maybe he was her icebreaker to a new and brighter life. At that point she turned back to face Aleph who seemed in a completely different world. She wondered if he was pondering whether to accept her or not and that made the blonde extremely uncomfortable.

"The fact that you are a homosapien means nothing to me. I have killed many people, of my race and maybe yours, for all I know. To hate one more than the other makes no sense to me. It would be akin to hating a toddler because he isn't as strong as a teen."
"I even became infamous due to some of my deeds in the war. 'Raze' is the name I was known by back then. I, along with a savage Neco and a few others, made names for ourselves in that war, but Oreron would probably agree that they were anything but respectable."

Faith laughed lightly, cocking her head with a devilish grin and bright eyes. "But you know I am just as good as you. Better in fact!" Of course that was not true, she could never even start to compare to him but for a Neco she was pretty damn good at fighting due to her past times. Her agility was perfection; nobody could move like the lioness. "I never knew anything about the war since I had avoided it until lately." She let out a sigh as a response to what he said about himself and the shelled beast.

"Asking me to stay with you makes me so happy I could cry. Hearing that you want to stay with me... I don't think I've ever wanted to hear something repeated. If you wish, you can take that as my confession. I... love you. However... I need to know something, so please, tell me: Knowing all of this. All of the lives I have probably taken, both Neco and Sapien, of the tragedies I have caused, would you still accept and forgive me?"

At that moment she was pretty sure her heart had stopped. She almost could not believe those words were falling off his tongue as she had waited so long to hear them. Butterflies began to hit hard in her stomach and she grinned up at the brunette. Though the second part of his confession was nothing to smile about. Faith was unsure what to say, of course he was forgiven. Nothing had changed from before between the two of them because of it. "Shut up." The blonde spat at him before stepping towards Aleph and leaning towards him, closing her eyes as their lips...

No.

A sudden overwhelming surge of fear and panic came over her as she paused just before they touched. She let out a sigh and moved to the left and pecked at his cheek, there was no particular reason why. Faith felt as though someone like him did not deserve to kiss such a messed up and back stabbing Sapien. After all, something in her still hated him because of his species. A little piece of her still wanted his blood on her hands. "I accept you. I'm just...scared."