Colin's posts

"...that's frightening to imagine." Evan admitted.

"But all right. This is something I'll need to get used to."m he said with a small sigh. "Might as well get started early on it." he reasoned as he shrugged slightly.

"So, is this just a case of her mana not attacking me as time goes on?" he asked. "...or myself becoming numb to it?" he asked further.

"Because either way, it's fine, just... curious as to the logistics, I suppose." he admitted.

"Also, I never realised Hazel's mana was so... volatile." he then went on.

"I guess it makes sense, from what I've heard of her... unfortunate past."

Evan paused a moment as he heard that.

"I..." he stammered.

"I... wait..." he then said, thinking about it seriously.

"...no." he admitted. "No, I... I don't think I have actually met her." he said further, having thought about it.

"I... could swear I have, but... maybe that's just having seen her a number of times when she's gone to see Dad for various reasons." he continued.

"...is the burning thing related? I assume it is."

Evan quickly kept up with Kiah as they scampered away, and took in what was just said to him. It was... a bit of information, to understate it.

"A... zombie?" he asked.

"In the most literal sense of the term." Kiah confirmed.

"I... hm." Evan mumbled. "Something tells me that there is a LOT of story behind that, and me feline curiosity is clawing at my brain to try and get that information." he admitted to her.

"However... if my assumptions are correct, based on how you said she's a literal zombie, the hand shaking with the bat, and saying she need a 'meal'... then perhaps that is best saved for another day." he reasoned.

"...thank you for stopping me from making a... potentially dangerous decision."

'"Yet, let's get a move on." Evan agreed.

With that, the two of them continued to walk, greeting a few more people as they passed with quick introductions. However, when they turned down another hallway, and were walking past a perpendicular one, Evan looked down and saw a young woman with a spiked bat.

"Hold up." he said to Kiah, causing her to stop after a few steps.

"...she doesn't have mana, either." he said, subtly gesturing to the woman.

"And... I sense a weird... discord... in her soul..."

Evan looked disheartened at the commented that people thought she was a freak, and that there were a few there that still did.

"That's a shame about what those people thought... or think." he said.

"But as long as she knows I'm not one of them, that's what matters." he said further.

"Anyway, we're on the way to the lab." he then remembered, as he stepped up towards her again.

"Though I can't say I'm against these impromptu delays." he admitted. "It's good to meet the people here."

"Bye for now!" Evan called to her, watching her go... and then sighing heavily when she was out of sight.

"I thought for sure I ruined that first impression when I asked about her lack of a glamour." he commented, before looking at Kiah.

"...I'm guessing there's a bit of a story behind that?" he asked her.

"Because I didn't mean for the question to sound confrontational or anything." he assured her. "...though you probably already knew that..." he then admitted, thinking about it.

"But... well... that didn't really mess anything up, perception-wise, did it?"

Arkus nodded in response, before reverting to his own human form, just to show Eke what he looked like as such. He then looked at the demon, and nodded.

"It's time for me to return, dear friend." he said.

"...I know." the demon responded.

"Remember, a bit of benevolence goes a long way." Arkus reminded him.

"...yes." the demon said quietly, with a small hitch to his tone, before he withdrew his hand from the ground, and the crystals and salt started to lose their glow. And as they did so, Arkus' form began to fade.

And he merely waved to them all, smiling his warm and kind smile.

Evan righted himself, and Peyton saw his feline eyes for a brief moment, before he put his glasses back on, which hid the features.

"I'm thankful for that." he said.

"However, I don't need these to fall off when I'm in public." he reasoned. "That, and... I actually DO need these to see, so... I'll need to tinker with them a bit later." he went on.

"...also, thanks." he then said, sounding a little flustered.

"People that have seen my ears before all say they're cute." he told her.

"Blair loves to pet them and muddle with them." he then chuckled, before pausing a moment.

"...my boyfriend." he clarified to Peyton.

"Good." Arkus responded kindly.

"Therius misses you too." he told her.

"He awaits the day we'll all be reunited, but he's willing to wait forever and day for it." he informed her further.

With that, he looked to Eke again, and nodded.

"Live well, Eke." he told him.

"And when that day comes, I'll be waiting with open arms."

"I didn't mean anything bad by that, I promise!" Evan quickly said.

"I'm so sorry." he apologised to her, bowing forward apologetically... which caused his glasses to slip off of his face. He managed to catch them in his hands, but even though Peyton was unable to see his eyes, she DID see his feline ears pop up outta nowhere.

"..." Evan was silent as he held his glasses in his hands.

"Guess there're a bit loose." he commented.

"Might need to narrow them down a little." he said further.

"...oh!" Evan responded. "THAT'S what you meant when you said a 'runner'!" he realised, snapping his fingers. "That makes sense. And yes, I can see WHY you'd have that job." he said further.

"You seem to be... quite fast." he complimented her.

"I want to say I'm surprised this place hasn't gone completely paperless, but I can see the wisdom in having physical records." he then said. "It's good to have backups in case technology fails." he reasoned.

"...also, I... you're not in a glamour or anything." he vocalised to Peyton.

"Any particular reason for that?" he asked.

"It's nice to meet you." Evan responded.

He then appeared confused for a moment, thinking about what she said.

"...a runner?" he asked.

"Like my sister? She runs a lot." he commented, pondering what that had to do with them seeing each other again for sure, though. It seemed like a non sequitur to him, to be frank.

Arkus nodded in response.

"Indeed." he said.

"I'll waiting for you with open arms." he told him.

"We all will be." he continued, mostly referring to family that Eke had never known, but would get to happily know in the afterlife. He then looked at Aly, and smiled.

"Take care of my boy." he told her.

"I promise." Aly responded.

"Arissa, was good to see you again as well." Arkus then said.

Evan was silent again for a moment, before starting to stand up. The one that Kiah had called 'Pey' offered her hand to him, and he accepted it, allowing her to help him to his feet. The thing was, Evan knew he wasn't super-tall. He figured himself to be at average height. He was just shy of six feet, last he checked... hence why he wasn't expecting to suddenly feel like a giant when looking at this newcomer.

He seriously needed to legitimately and physically look DOWN at her, to meet her gaze.

And it stunned him for a moment.

"Ah... I..." he stammered, before it hit him that the one standing before him appeared to be a literal fox-girl.

"Ah... Evan." he managed to get out.

"Evan Kiczys."