Colin's posts

"I love you too, son." Arkus responded.

"And while I may not be here for you physically, I'm always watching over you." he assured him.

He then returned the rumbling sound, and gently pulled Eke closer towards him in an embrace.

"Never lament what you cannot change." he told him.

"Cherish what you have, and just make sure the time you have is quality."

Thankfully he fell forward, and was able to break his fall with his hands, so he wasn't hurt or anything. And the one on his back seemed to be very light, so it wasn't like he was being crushed or anything, far from it.

But... it DID feel like a small woman was on his back... sniffing at him.

"..." he was silent, blinking his eyes a couple of times.

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

"Can I... help you...?" he asked, turning his head back to see who or what was there.

Arkus placed one of his own clawed hands on Eke's shoulder.

"My boy." he said.

"You already have." he told him.

"Every day you prove to me you're a man to be proud of. A man I've always been proud to call my son, and my heart swells with love and pride for you every passing day." he continued.

"You've made a wonderful life with wonderful friends and loved ones." he went on, looking at them all and smiling.

Evan laughed a little when she said that.

"I wasn't even thinking about that." he told her.

"Hopefully I'll be working here for a LOT longer than 5 years." he said further.

"I intend do-" he started to continue on, before pausing suddenly.

"...huh?" he mumbled.

"I hear... footsteps?" he commented. "They sound... light... but fast...?"

"Yeah, I did notice that." Evan responded. "Obviously." he added.

"But I think it's great that Agent Sharp is so open about hiring all different kinds of people." he told her. "This already seems like one of the most open and inviting work environments I've been in." he said further.

"No wonder Dad said I was lucky to get a job here." he continued.

"...and then Uncle Ash said something about a government pension, but... well, pretty sure he was half-joking, though still having a point." he went on.

"What I'm TRULY thankful for is the sign-in bonus that's allowing me to move and live down here."

Evan nodded in response.

"See ya." he told her, before he and Kiah continued on their way, and Gem headed off in the direction she was intending to go. As they walked, Evan looked at Kiah and smiled.

"She seems nice." he said.

"Straightforward and blunt. I like that." he went on.

"...though I should probably learn to tone that down for myself." he then mumbled. "Given I'm new here, and in the position I have, I need to make sure my first impressions are good ones."

The city street was in chaos. Cars were demolished, windows smashed, pieces of buildings themselves were laying about, as the people screamed in panic and fear. The subject of that fear was a bald male standing at around 7 feet tall, in the middle of the road. He didn't look particularly threatening at first glance, but appearances were deceiving in this world.

"That's right! Run!" he declared. "Show yourselves for the true cowards you all are!" he declared. He then looked and saw a particular individual, a young male with blonde hair that looked to be in his mid-20's, attempting to hide behind a destroyed vehicle.

"Pathetic!" the aggressor snorted, picking up a small piece of rubble at his feet. As he did, the debris morphed into a spiked ball, much like one would see at the end of a mace or flail.

"Just die!" he yelled, throwing it towards the young man with frightening speed. The male screamed and threw up his arms defensively in a futile manner... just as the spiked ball hit something invisible in front of him, and fell to the ground with a thud.

"H-huh?" the cowering male stammered.

"What!?" the violent man growled. He then noticed that there was now a 17-year-old with black hair on the scene, beside the victim, an arm outstretched, palm facing outwards.

Evan couldn't help but chuckle when he heard that.

"Fair enough." he said.

"Regardless, Kiah was taking me to meet Ilias, so perhaps we should continue on?" he then suggested.

"Again, was very nice to meet you, Robyn." he said to Robyn.

"I hope to see you once again in the future. Hopefully not in a professional manner, at least." he continued.

"The services I offer may be necessary, but in a perfect world, they wouldn't be." he went on. "But because it's not, they are."

"Makes sense when you put it THAT way." Evan chuckled.

"But all right, thank you so much for indulging my curiosity." he told her.

"And don't worry about the door thing, don't even think it's gonna bruise." he assured her.

"...I am SO glad the door to my office opens inwards." he then muttered.

"Especially seeing as I'm en route to the medical wing for many people."

"I... really?" Evan asked.

"Of course." Gem replied, as she gently took his wrist and brought his had close to the crack. When he did touch it, he found that she was not lying. It felt smooth. As smooth as the rest of her skin, with the same cooler temperature.

But the crack was nothing to worry about, it seemed.

"Well, that's a relief." he said, withdrawing his hand.

"You seem to have a bit of a coolness to your skin, as well." he commented. "Side-effect from what happened to you?" he asked.

Evan was definitely shocked to see and hear that, and it showed in his expression, and slight step backwards. However, something seemed a little different to Evan's reaction, compared to the majority.

"Oh, heavens!" he exclaimed.

"Are... are you all right?" he asked.

"That crack looks... nasty." he commented. "Is that... dangerous? Or can it be tended to?" he asked further.

His reaction and response were certainly not wholly unique to him, no, but the fact that he defaulted to that did show Gem (and Kiah, to a lesser extent) the kind of person he was.

The dragon looked over towards Eke, and sighed a heavy sigh.

"...son." he responded, holding a large clawed hand out.

"He's solid." the demon said.

"Seriously. You can go in the barrier." he went on.

"Your Dad just can't leave it."

The dragon crawled completely out of the hole, and raised his head up, looking ready to roar. But he didn't. At that point, the hole closed underneath, the salt and crystals started to glow softly, and the dragon seemed to take a more solid form.

"..." he was silent, taking everything in, before smiling.

"Well, then." he said.

"It seems you're finally getting your strength back, old friend." he commented to the demon.

"Getting there." the demon responded.

"I saw them, yes." Evan responded.

"However, I've also seen things similar to those be nothing more than mere ornamentation, and I do my best to not make any assumptions." he went on.

"So... if you'll forgive my bluntness, what's your deal?" he asked her.

"What makes you unique in this world?" he asked further.

Both females could tell he was genuinely curious about it, and nothing more. He wanted to get to know her better, seeing as they'd be working together for the foreseeable future.