Colin's posts

Azazel just sighed.

"No. No, it isn't." he said.

"Wasn't pleasant for Aedan when SHE experienced the realm." he muttered.

"Regardless, it's their feeding time, so let's get to the mouth of the cavern." he suggested.

"And... actually... seeing as you made your way here, odds are your friend is somewhere in this little pocket of Hell." he reasoned, thinking about it.

"And they need to go for walkies... I suppose we can use them as a ride to cover more ground." he continued.

"Depending on if they want to keep that form or not."

"WITHOUT him?" Azazel asked.

".....maybe." he said.

"But there's a REAL strong chance that your soul will be ripped from your body and left down here." he told her. "See... when a bonded contract it made, it can only be properly severed through some very specific loops to jump through, and it has to be done on the surface." he said further.

"However, if we find him, and get you two back together, then you can leave, no issues. Just need a hell portal, and I can create those." he went on.

"So... it's up to you if your own personal safety is worth risking to try and leave without him." he finished.

It was at that point, the ebony canine whined lightly at her, clearly worried about her.

Ryker was in a weird hazy state of being half-awake and half-asleep, but he stirred when Eke woke up and stretched.

"Hey again." he said to him.

"How ya feeling?" he asked.

"I mean, well, aside from the cold." he clarified.

"That's gotta suck, but how are you, not taking that into consideration? A lot better from... well, before?" he asked further.

".....yeah." Azazel muttered.

"Not gonna lie, it is." he told her.

"Well... actually, maybe not." he then corrected himself.

"There might be something I can do for you." he said further, before thinking about something.

"Though, I'm not sure you can leave without your partner." he went on. "Which... to be frank, MAY be the reason you're here in the first place." he continued.

"To clarify, YOU weren't meant to be taken down here... your friend was. And you happened to be brought along for the ride, and separated in transit." he explained to her.

"If that made sense."

"............................." Ryker was stunned silent for a moment, a lump forming in his throat.

He swallowed it hard, before slowly make his way to a couch, sitting in it and leaning against it so he would he comfortable, but still allow Eke to use him like a large pillow.

He smiled a little, and then relaxed.

'Heh.' he chuckled internally.

'I could get used to this.' he thought.

Ryker returned the embrace, before he noticed that Eke's arms went limp.

"Eke?" he asked.

"Hey. Hey, you ok?" he asked.

"What happened?" he asked further.

He really hoped this was just Eke being tired and weak from the cold... and not something far more serious.

"Mmmm." Ryker mumbled, before swallowing the bite he'd taken.

"I do." he said.

"I've not tasted anything like this since... well... ever." he told him.

"The taste is really sweet and nice, and it... it makes me feel... well..." he mumbled, pausing for a moment.

"Good. Like, all over."

"Ahhhhhh crap." Azazel mumbled.

"Well, that'll be a mess to deal with, but I think I might be able to help with that." he said.

He then sighed, as he looked at Aly petting the heads as they nudged her... either for attention, or to comfort her.

"Wow. All of 'em have really taken to you." he said.

"They normally never do that." he said further.

"Guess you REALLY have a way with animals." he told her.

"Still, it's lucky you ended up HERE." Azazel responded.

"Hmmmm." he mumbled.

"There are VERY few sets of circumstances that end up with a human being dragged down here." he went on.

"Any idea how long you've been here?" he asked her.

"Or... rather, do you know what time it was before you were dragged down here?" he then clarified.

"Time kiiiiinda doesn't function normally down here." he muttered, as one of the three canine heads bumps its nose against Aly's hand.

"Pulled down here?" Azazel asked.

"They... you shouldn't have been able to have been pulled down." he said.

"Unless..." he then mumbled, thinking for a moment.

"Hm." he muttered.

"Well, as I said, if you cling to me, you'll manage to keep your sanity a little more intact." he told her.

"But I suppose it's lucky you ended up landing HERE, of all places." he said further.

"Looks like the boss's pet's taken to acting like a guardian for you."

"....." Ryker was silent for a moment, before grabbing a fork that Eke had brought.

"Well... okay then..." he said.

He then used the fork to separate a good-sized bite from the cake, and slowly put it in his mouth.

As soon as he did, his expression changed.

Eke saw become one of surprise, delight, and... more importantly... happiness.

Ryker's eyes widened when he saw the cake.

"...woah." he said.

"Holy..." he muttered.

"Wait, you made that?" he asked. "While I was gone?" he asked further.

"...I suppose I WAS gone for just the right amount of time..." he then admitted.

"But... but.... for me?" he then asked.

"Why? Why make something for me?" he asked him.

Again, Azazel was silent, as he looked around.

"Hm." he muttered.

"Here." he said, getting closer towards her.

"If you stick close to me, the effects of this realm should be toned down. Not by much, but you should feel SOME improvement." he told her.

"Where's your tagalong?" he asked, referring to her own demon companion.

".....huh?" Ryker muttered, as he watched Eke head off.

"What the...?" he asked.

"He shouldn't be straining himself like that." he said. "He needs to be resting." he reasoned.

"The heck's so important that he needed to suddenly get up and go?" he muttered quietly.

'And why when I just get back?' he then wondered.