Colin's posts

"Normally, I would agree to that." he said.

"However, given the state of the two that I assume you are referring to... maybe not." he muttered. "Just... I dunno, not sure I'd like seeing them as they are." he continued.

"That is fair." Jun assured him.

"Anyway, I wish you the best of luck in helping them get back to themselves, and I'll do some research on my own." Lex then told them.

"Not sure if it'll be any help, but... this is one of those cases where I can't just sit back and do nothing." he admitted.

"...hm. Fair enough." Lex muttered.

"Well, I should at least inform Lil of this." he reasoned.

"Tell her what's happened... and the reason... and hope she doesn't get TOO unimpressed." he sighed, shaking his head.

"She has a temper?" Jun asked. "Haven't heard much of it." he admitted.

"Temper isn't the right word." Lex replied.

"She... well, when she is mad... truly mad... it smolders within her. And you can tell. She's having that anger... that grudge... boil up inside her, until she decides to take things into her own hands." he went on.

"It's not as explosive as Vae's, but no less dangerous." he continued.

Lex nodded in response.

"That works." he said.

"And if that's already in the works, all the better." he went on.

He then paused for a moment, and sighed.

"I should tell Lil about this." he muttered. "Not looking forward to it, but... I should." he mumbled further.

"And am I allowed to see Sebastien right now?" he asked her.

"Or do you know what's happening to him currently?"

Lex raised an eyebrow when she said that, but Jun interjected.

"Don't ask." he said.

"...right." Lex mumbled, stepping forward and handing Vae the tin.

"That has all you need in it." he told her. "It's like a complete set, kinda thing. Loose leaf tea, the strainer ball, all you need is the water and the mug." he said further.

"And it should help Hazel?" Jun asked him.

"It's meant to promote calmness, peace of mind, destress, that sort of thing." Lex responded. "So it should somewhat take the edge off of whatever she'll be feeling." he continued.

"...but she WILL need someone there that she trusts." he then lamented.

Jun raised an eyebrow.

"I... wow." he said.

"I don't... I don't want to really ponder that." he told her. "Which is to say, anything that gets your mother excited, thrilled, or giddy CAN'T be anything good." he clarified.

"I'm sure Azazel can confirm that." he added.

At that point, they heard Alex's footsteps, and Vae called out.

"Come to my voice!" she said, which led Alex right to the room they were in, holding a rather nice-looking tin in his hands.

"....I see." Jun responded.

"Just... hm." he mumbled sitting back a bit.

"The dealings of Haven and Hell are lost on me." he said. "I know contracts pretty well, but... this one just escapes me." he shrugged. "Just seems like more trouble than it's worth." he continued.

It was at that point, Vae felt a very familiar mana signature from within the building.

And it was followed by an equally familiar voice.

"I'm here!" Lex called out. "Headed to the basement!" he said further, recalling where Vae had told him they were.

"I've heard of that contract." Jun responded.

"I don't know what's in it. I don't know what terms or conditions are in it. I don't know what the exact wording is. But from everything I've heard... it's one that Elizabeth was a fool to sign." he told her.

"From the sounds of it, and from the evidence displayed, she is allowed to do whatever she wants, and nobody can interfere with her." he went on.

"Why would such a contract be signed?" he wondered.

"It's done nothing but give her power over the entire globe."

Jun had just finished cleaning off Hazel of any dust and dirt she had, had made sure her clothing was presentable and neat, and had replaced the blindfold over her eyes, making sure it was snug, but comfortable.

He looked over towards Vae as she told him what was happening, and nodded.

"All right." he said.

"At this point, pretty sure any little bit helps." he told her.

"...Vae, will ANY of us know peace as long as Vanessa Encrae lives?" he then asked her.

"It seems that, no matter what, no matter who you are, where you are... her tendrils will eventually reach you..."

"...we can discuss that later." Lex responded.

"I don't know if I can put a price on helping someone like this." he told her, before pausing, and sighing.

"Although I DID pay Rocky... uh... well, the equivalent of about 45 Canadian dollars for the small tin of the tea I got. So at the very least, reimburse me for it so I can just buy another tin." he told her.

"That being said, I'm grabbing it and I will be there within 5 minutes." he went on.

"Where you at now?" he asked.

"Oslo." Vae responded.

"I'll appear where I usually do, then." Lex told her.

"I know enough." Lex muttered.

"Well... I'll say THIS much." he told her. "She'll need someone there that she... implicitly trusts." he said. "Or as close to that as she gets." he went on.

"And... I think I know something that may help." he then said.

"I have a blend of tea from Rocky Fyrane that I was planning to give to my sister for her birthday in a couple of months. Supposed to REALLY promote peace of mind, eliminate stress, that sort of thing." he informed her.

"It's not a miracle cure by any stretch, but I can give you what I have to give to her, and get some more for my sister from Rocky." he offered.

"..." Lex was silent for a moment, listening to this.

"...that blasted elf, huh?" he growled, sounding far more serious than normal.

"Hm." he mumbled.

"Well, do what you can." he told her.

"I'm going to get to work." he said. "I know I was reading something about control and manipulation mana a week ago. It might come in handy here." he reasoned, before sighing.

"...is everyone okay?" he then asked.

"..." Alex was silent for a moment, taking all that in.

"I see." he said bluntly.

"Kiah, Kaia, AND Hazel." he said. "Risking his relationship with Jordan, and intruding on the relationships of others. I would certainly HOPE that this was not of his own volition." he commented.

"Now. Tell me." he said further.

"Do you know WHAT was making him act like that?" he asked.

Alex was clearly a little on the groggy side, but when she mentioned Bast, and how he was going to be unavailable for the next while, and she didn't even know how long, it had his attention.

"Ngh! Wha?" he asked.

"Unavailable? Why?" he asked her.

He then sat up more properly, shook himself away, mentally, and took a few heavy breaths.

"What's going on, Vae?" he then inquired.

"I get the feeling it's not good..." he mumbled at the end.

Jun nodded as he stood back up.

"I'll go check her immediately." he told her.

"And it looks like your wife is starting to slowly come around." he then said. "Her sister is still very much unresponsive, but Kaia is already starting to slowly return to who she is." he went on.

"Regardless, I shall leave you to care for them." he said.

"I'll look after Hazel as best I can."