Colin's posts

"......." Aly was silent, before looking away.

"...I can tell you don't want any." she said.

"I can tell you're not happy right now." she went on.

"...I can tell that you don't want to talk about it..." she then said, her voice getting quieter.

"I have your medication made for the next week." she suddenly said, her tone shifting to one more like a home caregiver.

"Please remember to take it."

Jaden froze when he heard that.

"I... I..." he stammered.

"What!?" he exclaimed.

"I'm half-mana hunter!?" he asked her further.

Dom just sighed, shook his head, and went to get his sandwich.

"Thanks, Sydney." he said to her.

"So, this is the boy, eh?" he asked, looking at Jaden.

"Looks a lot like you." he said with a smile.

When he got back, he heard Aly's voice.

"Hi, Eke." she greeted him.

"I was thinking of making some hot chocolate." she told him.

"Do you want some?" she asked.

"Oh, and s'mores as well." she added with a smile.

"You know, just some sweet things."

"....hm." Jaden muttered.

"I... see." he said.

"And yeah, I guess it's not THAT weird..." he then admitted, thinking about it some.

"Oh well." he shrugged.

"Anyway, why bring that up now?" he asked her, as they heard footsteps coming down from the upper floor.

"...guess they're done upstairs." he said further.

"Looks like it's time for me to meet this hunter."

Jaden opened his mouth to say something, but stopped.

"Ah..." he stammered.

"Huh." he said.

"Interesting..." he mumbled, pondering this new information.

"That's... kinda cool, actually." he told her.

"Means I'm an interesting mix of ethnicities." he said with a small chuckle.

"But why bring that up?" he then asked.

"Dad disappeared and left us, so... yeah, we moved on, right?"

"...." Jaden was silent for a moment.

"Uhhhhh..." he mumbled.

"Nnnnnnnnno." he then said.

"No. No, you have not." he admitted, thinking about it.

"Why?" he asked.

"Why DID we live in Italy for so damned long?"

Jaden sighed and nodded.

"Yes." he replied.

"I do." he said, accepting a mug when it was handed to him.

"....so... why?" he asked.

"Why should I meet this 'Nico'?" he asked her.

"You're never one to introduce me to others. Why the sudden change? What makes this person so different?"

Jaden raised an eyebrow.

"Ah.... huh." he said.

"Right." he muttered.

"So... this 'Nico' is the one you want me to meet, I assume." he commented.

"Are they the one I sense?" he asked.

Jaden could hear the ire in his mother's tone.

But he could also hear that she was sincere when she said that all would be answered in the kitchen.

"....uh..." he mumbled.

"Y... yeah." he said, before stopping his search and making his way towards where she was, and the kitchen... and then marvelling at the spread.

"Oh, wow." he muttered.

"This is one hell of a spread." he commented.

"One could make some amazing sandwiches here."

Jaden was searching around the room, before pausing and looking at her.

"...eh?" he muttered.

"A Cuban sandwich?" he asked.

"That's... a bit odd." he commented. "Specifying THAT kinda sandwich, that is." he then clarified.

He then sighed, shook his head, and continued to look around.

"Damn it." he muttered.

"I can smell them. Where are they?" he grumbled, growing a bit unimpressed.

Jaden looked at his phone for a moment, silent in his confusion.

".....hm." he mumbled.

".....interesting." he said, scratching his head a little.

Sure enough, around noon, and after he'd finished his lengthy morning routine, he appeared in a portal in Sydney's den, stepping out into the room.

As soon as he did, he froze for a moment, looking around.

'...what the...?' he thought, narrowing his eyes.

'This... someone... is here.' he realised, going on full alert and starting to search the room.

"All right then." Jaden replied.

"You have me even MORE curious now." he admitted.

"But I'll see you at noon." he told her.

"I'll mana right into the den." he said.

"...." he was then silent, before she heard some rustling.

"...yep. Not busy. I'll be there no issues."

"Uhhhh... right then." Jaden replied.

"I... I will be there, then." he told her.

"I admit, I'm VERY curious as to what you're talking about, but it's not TOO long." he muttered.

"...wait..." he then said.

"Wasn't tonight a drinking night for you?" he asked.

"Is... everything all right?" he then asked her, a bit of concern in his tone.

"Huh?" Jaden asked.

"Noon?" he asked further, checking the clock.

"Uhhh... yeah, sure." he said. "Shouldn't be a problem." he said further.

"Do you mean at your place?" he asked.

"Yes." Sydney responded.

"Why the sudden invite, if I may ask?" Jaden then inquired.