OvaDaRainboe

"I'll be travelling again here shortly, so I won't be able to stay nearby just in case anything happens with him." Artemis explained to Aria as she sheepishly tried to clear some of the mess in her crowded lab, motioning for Eden's wife to take a seat in one of the few empty chairs at her desk. "Have you forgotten how this works, have you?" It'd been a long time since Aria had operated in any capacity as a part of Eden's little group of allies. Nothing had really changed since the last cycle of Creation. This time, however, the stakes were the slightest bit higher.

	Eden was sick and it wasn't getting any better the more that time went on. In her countless number of hours researching the issue- taking blood samples, pouring through medical literature, and searching through ruins of past civilizations for clues- all she'd known was that his sickness was due in part to a phenomena called Creator's Stagnation. It was a phenomena that was inevitable in those who ascended to the station of Creator. It occurs when the three Heir Apparents have been born and slowly but surely deteriorates the health of the current Creator. Artemis suspected that it would eventually lead to death if the Heirs weren't brought forth. From what she could tell, it wasn't painful but for the last year or so she had to watch him slowly lose his strength. And now she had to leave him in the care of Aria while she went to accomplish her goal. She trusted the woman and knew that she would take good care of him, but part of her felt uneasy. What if something significant happened while she was away and he...

	The angel shook her head and took a seat behind her desk, giving Aria a wide smile. "They shouldn't pose a problem, but I would suggest keeping away from Haku and Zero, at least until I return. They've been particularly... resistant."

	"Resistant to what?"

	"Change." Artemis lied, not wanting to drag the woman into the chaos of what was Eden's plan. "They don't quite understand the intricacies of what Eden does." Aria nodded, seemingly satisfied with that answer. In truth, she and Eden both knew that it was better to have them as strong allies than strong enemies. So long as her spell, aided with strength borroweed from Eden, held they would be fine. If push came to shove and Servum Facio did fail, she didn't think that Eden would have the heart to battle with Haku. His heart was so soft towards her. Artemis couldn't blame him, though.

	She was his best friend. Though their paths had diverged, that would never change.

	"He's usually fine, but when he coughs he'll need an elixir made of goldwater, Hayle's Rose, and crushed pepper. He'll complain about it, but it'll make him feel better." She said as she started explaining things to Aria as she began the process of transferring a nominal amount of her power to the human woman. It was nothing more than a drop in the bucket for Artemis, but for Aria it would put her on at least Endymion's level before he died.

	||

	Nathaniel was actively ignoring the slowly brewing situation between Octavia and Scarlett much too amused by someone finally taking the piss out of Octavia. He was also, if only the slightest bit, wondering what would happen if Octavia did give in to Scarlett's advances. The mental image of the two of them sharing him was actually quite... would he dare say, extraavagant? The union of the inexperienced with an expert would no doubt be a mindblowing experience that would truly make him a man. Absentmindedly, his mouth watered. As he continued his conversation, he tried to keep that image out of his head and instead focused on the arachnid woman, Araki. "My dad is an important guy somewhere I think. It could be one of his friends. We're supposed to be here in Kharidian for about a month, so it would make sense."

	"Somewheeeeereee, over the raiinbowww way up hiiiiiiiiiigh!" His attention was captured by the rather terrible singing voice of one of the patrons and he tilted his head when his eyes landed on young man with caramel colored skin and buzzed black hair. He was holding a curved dagger with the rounded pommel held up towards his mouth as he belted out his tune with aplomb, obviously drunk off his ass.

	'It's hardly after noon.' Nathaniel thought, trying his best to be nonjudegemental.

	"My name is Rahziel Asfour and it was a pleasure entertaining the lot of you ugly bastards!" The young man slurred out, stumbling as he made his way towards the door. Something about the way he moved, however, irked Nathaniel. He stumbled around like he was drunk, but it was almost like he was faking it. It was too perfect. Too calculated and not erratic enough. Just as the boy passed through the door he glanced back at Nathaniel and they locked eyes for a moment before the boy grinned and held up a what looked like a heavy leather pouch, obviously flush with money. The boy winked and disappeared out the door and Nathaniel blinked, his brow furrowing.

	What?

	He frowned and then shrugged, trying his best to not let it bother him.

	But that was weird. It was almost like he was announcing his presence to someone specific, like he wanted to catch their attention. It rubbed him the wrong way. But he ignored it and turned his attention back to his tablemates

	"Stop touching me." Octavia whispered, trying to move the pirate's hands away from her face. "You're a pirate I don't know where your hands have been!"