Darrel was silent, but still in a bit of a huff.

He knew his mother was right.

But... the term 'date' just seemed wrong, considering the subjects were brother and sister. It was just his teenage attitude, though.

He then sighed, and shook his head.

"No comment." he said.

"I gotta make sure I'm ready." he then said, before disappearing from her sight.

Later on in the day, Darrel was dry from his shower, and had changed into a pair of clean clothes.

He looked at the time, and then picked up his cell phone.

Yo. he sent to Abby.

It's about the time you said you wanted to meet up. he sent further.

Where do you want to meet? he asked.

He then set his phone down, and started to gather what he'd need... wallet, keys, etc.

Darrel read the text for a moment, and nodded slightly to himself.

Diner. he sent.

I'm in the mood for something substantial, but not overly expensive, and has that sort of quality that you know the food's bad for you, but it's so damn tasty, you don't care. he then sent in an explanation.

You know what I mean? he asked.

He then looked around the room, did one more mental check that he had everything, before going to see Desiree, who was in their den.

He got her attention, and smiled when she looked at him.

"Heading out now." he told his mother.

"Just ironing out the last-minute details, but headed out."

Works for me, I'll be there in a few. Darrel replied.

Even though Desiree had not said anything to him in response, her nod was enough to show him that she had heard what he'd said, and had acknowledged it.

So with that, Darrel put on some footwear, grabbed a light jacket, and disappeared into a portal, appearing in a deserted part of the park, closing it behind him.

He then heaved a small breath, and made his way towards the bar that Abby had mentioned.

Even though she was a Hunter, and this could've been seen as a trap by a more wary or suspicious mage, he trusted her completely, as she had proven to bear no ill will to them... or anyone else a Hunter would see as prey, or an enemy.

"GAH!" Darrel exclaimed, as he was caught off guard.

He whirled around, and sighed when he saw it was Abby.

"Geez!" he said.

"Just.... geez!" he repeated.

"What was THAT for!?" he asked.

"You scared me outta my skin!"

"Hard to, but not impossible." Darrel responded as they walked.

"Hunters over the centuries have sure found ways." he told her.

"Anyway, nice to see you again." he then said.

"Been a while since we've seen each other." he continued.

"Like, face-to-face." he clarified.

"How's it going?" he asked, making conversation.

Darrel just sighed.

"I know." he replied.

"Had a few attempts on my life already." he said.

"But, as you can tell, they didn't rightly know what they were doing." he went on.

"Regardless, how's it going?" he asked her again.

"Any big hunts or anything to be your new crowning achievement?" he asked further with a light chuckle.

"....mm." Darrel muttered.

"I suppose so." he said.

"Though you must have SOME fighting skills." he went on.

"I mean... wait..." he muttered, thinking about it.

"I can't remember if this has been asked, but... do you even have mana?" he asked her.

"If not, you have to have at least SOME fighting skills to have become a Hunter, yeah?" he asked further.

"Or am I thinking too narrowly about this?"

"Ohhhhh, I see." Darrel responded.

"Yeah, that makes sense." he said.

"I suppose information is important, knowing how to get what you want, and knowing how to get info and such... important skills to have." he reasoned.

"A proper guild does need that sort of thing." he went on.

"Wait..." he then said, pausing for a moment. "Wait, wait, hold on... hold on a second..." he muttered further, looking at his half-sister.

"WAS?"

".....shit." was all Darrel could say in response.

"I... uh... hm." he muttered.

"That... really sucks, to understate it." he said.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked.

"...admittedly, not sure what someone like me CAN do, but I figure I'll ask anyway." he added.