I Don't Even...

[Aela Atheling]

She just wanted to forget what happened in that café. Completely forget. They really were never going to let her come back. Ever.

And yet, here she was, walking home with an unfamiliar Magus, despite every part of her mind saying that this was a bad idea. What is going on with me? Was it because she was low on sleep, nearing exhaustion now.

Why was the woman even coming with her, anyways? Not that the company was completely unwanted, as long as it wasn’t that Alan… the days ahead were going to be stressful. Why couldn’t she have met someone better at the church? Had she made a terrible decision in doing this?

Her record for decisions today wasn’t monumentally high, after all. That man had wanted to become the god of libraries. At every turn he had acted differently than she expected. Then this Magus had shown up… and the Servants… she could not hold in the sigh that came to her.

It kept hitting her. She knew the man for barely a few hours, and she was going to move in with him, at least temporarily. Really, what was she thinking? Perhaps the slaps from earlier had rattled her brain a little. Just thinking about that, she grew embarrassed, and had to force it down.

She shuddered. Stop thinking about what happened in the past! Right now she had to plan. Why had she let this Magus come with her again? It was Alan she wanted to keep an eye on. He could be trapping his workshop right now. There was also still the possibility that they were setting her up for something, but she could not sense the Lancer anyways. Beowulf… be on your guard.

That was a useful ability, to be able to talk to him with no one hearing. Well it was more an exchange of feeling, rather than thought. Wariness emanated across the link from her. Hopefully that would be enough.

There was no way she was letting that idiot near where her house. This place could still remain as a backup… but it was rather trashed now. Even from outside she could see the expensive copper basin lying tipped over on the lawn, now covered in dew. Shame grew in her heart, letting the Magus see such an untidy state.

A few scorch marks were visible on the outside of the house, but the majority of the fire damage had been to the spare bedroom. There had been some simple civil conversation until they had reached the door, but not anymore. Was it shock? Disappointment? Worry? She didn’t know, and it still hurt her a little inside to know her house had caused this kind of reaction.

Aela attempted to be non-chalant about it though “This is where I’ve lived for the past while.” Well that was obvious; she was unlocking the door after all. A heavy sigh escaped her lips, “Well, I’m going to put you to work since you’re here, I guess. I have a lot of stuff to carry. And only about two hours to do it. ” She did have a small car… Can Beowulf even fit in the car?

It might get her more of a chance to talk to her. Maybe. She had learned very little in the café, after all. Beowulf would be close by, so she wouldn’t try anything funny. In fact, why had she even come? I could… No, I can’t.. There was no way she could give that order, no way to say those words. It was despicable anyways.

What was important enough for Beowulf to carry, so that Veronica didn’t see it? Some of her objects in the workshop… and! The catalyst! A sword! Aela did not remember Beowulf carrying one, perhaps it was his.

“Berserker, there is an object wrapped in cloth near where you appeared. Do you mind going and getting it for me?” That should sound normal, and give away nothing important. She didn’t even know if it was important, but just in case…

That spare room was close enough to hers, anyways, so Beowulf could come if needed. Hopefully he would phase out before going through the wall, but she rather doubted it, and she wouldn’t care if help was needed to the point where she did have to call for him.

Her footsteps were heavy as she walked to her room. The most important things were in there, clothes, and vials upon vials of salts. Tens of batteries also littered the floor in her closet, many still in their boxes. She replaced the small water generator’s battery every day, even though it was supposed to only be changed at most once every three weeks. She just couldn’t believe something so small could power it so easily.

After carefully layering the vials in a box, the same one she had used to bring them here, layered with linen cloth, she hefted it, barely and began walking to the door.

The flail still lay on the floor with her still sopping clothes, in fact she almost tripped over the thing. That almost made her smile; she wouldn’t have to carry it, at least.

“Veronica, can you carry that to the car out front?” Gesturing towards the flail with her foot, she managed to make her tone sound sweet and normal. Expected. Why couldn’t she have used something lighter than that flail?

[Veronica]

It was amusing on how the weaves of fate could bring two people together when they weren't related at all. Veronica wasn't too keen on walking with strangers either, but of all people in the cafe she seemed the one that was only decently adjusted.

As part of her daily routine she would have left and set up shop in her caravan to dupe a few more people and earn her food for the day, however the exchange with these two magus led her to think life wasn't going to be easy. The Grail Wars had started in the very city she was living on, and she had been caught in it. She had seen the warnings in each other of her predictions, and knew what was going to happen.

She just wished not to contact Masters this soon.

But what was done was done, so she kept walking with this person she knew little of. She was still in denial of all the things that happened. Well, after the whole cafe incident with the other weird guy, she couldn't blame her.

She reached the door frame with a thoughtful expression. "You must be really desperate if you invite a random magus you know few things about to your workshop, Aela." She said in a half hearted remark. "Even with a hasty cleanup, you will expose several of your secrets to me."

She then glared at her when she asked her to move the flail away, but sighed in acceptance and pulled that out. "I'm not a maid and barely your acquaintance... why should I be moving things---"

And then she froze. Dark dark shadows coiling up the door frame. Dark, Dark, death rotten corruption, dead, servants of no master, abominations, danger of the master. Veronica winced a little as her eyes flashed in another harbinger upon spotting a flickering shadow in the corner of her eye... cogs in her mind working at full speed elaborated a more palatable response. They were in danger.

Her body reacted as fast as her mind, and not before long, she was dropping the flail. "Aela, get down!" She yelled while pushing the fellow magus to the ground, the claw of a lunging creature of darkness, so feral, twisted and alien it could not be something natural of this world, missing by centimeters the two.

The beast roared.

[BEOWULF]

BEOWULF nodded in assent, before dematerializing. Now a flitting shadow, the Servant flitted through the hallways, a passing phantasm.

He honestly didn't know what to make of this. On the one hand, this was an entirely different war. It wasn't a one-man campaign. He might be able to take on one or two Servants. Maybe even three, if he was having a particularly good day, was berserking - no, seriously, who had the smart idea of summoning him as a brainless buffoon - and if they weren't amassed and concentrating on him.

But five, six, even thirteen other Servants running around?

Not a chance. They had to change things up.

BEOWULF (and his master) would have to find allies - even if they all had to kill each other anyways. Already, they might have found a Lancer. That asian man... he admitted that Lancer was truly one of the most... MANLY men on the other side of the planet. Despite his grotesque visage, he comported himself as a warrior should! The manner in which he brandished his mighty javelin, striking it proudly against the concrete sidewalk... truly, it was a rare man that could meet his own gaze, and then share such a profoundly deep moment... a moment, a state of mind only attained by the union, the joining of two MEN!

...

It was difficult to visualize. He wasn't going to explain color to a blind person.

Deep in his ruminations, BEOWULF blindly walked through a wall as he made his way to the summoning chamber. He bemusedly glanced over his shoulder, at the crumbling drywall, but shrugged slightly. He'd pay for it later. Brief, brief pangs of guilt dealt with, he took two steps, striding over to the charred remains of the circle. Sweeping away some ashes, he plucked a single sword in a scabbard out of the dust and the splinter, curiously drawing the sword.

And then his face fell. It was Hrunting. The sword whose fame was derived from his own legend - and nothing more. It was Unferth's weapon, 'magnanimously' gifted to him by Hrothgar's cowardly aide. That worm had thought to gain fame and renown by having his ancestral sword deliver the final strike against the monster, Grendel.

And that cheap piece of crap broke.

Quite literally, it broke when he tried to pierce the Mother with it.

But somehow, it worked. Unferth became a legend in his own right, not as "that one guy who pissed BEOWULF off" but as "That one guy who pissed BEOWULF off but became his bosom buddy later."

Sighing, BEOWULF sheathed his sword and affixed the simple scabbard to his belt. Before he had any time to search the room even further, a feeling of... something shivered down his spine. It was... he couldn't quite fix it... an odd twinge. Then he placed it. Fear. It was the same feeling he felt as a King, before he fought that dragon...

Master!

BEOWULF immediately dematerialized, dashing straight through wall after wall, in a mad dash towards Aela. As he neared his master and her new friend (Seriously, woman was too trusting, or she was simply stringing things along, just as planned), he felt a third presence, a concentration of prana, of similar makeup of a Servant... yet was not. It was far too foul to be a recreation of any human spirit...

Drawing an ethereal fist back, BEOWULF readied a roar as he timed his rematerialization...

Too early.

His fist pulverized the wall, smashing through the flimsy, flimsy material, sending plaster and drywall exploding outwards. The fist continued in its single-minded path of destruction, pulping the Grail Beast's spine, snapping the frail monster like a twig... and then drove it two feet into the ground.

As BEOWULF skidded and landed, he spun on the spot, turning to Aela. "Y'all right, Master?"

[Alan Girm Moria]

The scene before him was nothing short of a free for all melee. Bodies scrambling over and under each other in a mad gambit for their goal. Kicking and biting each other for but a few meager handfuls tossed before them. While he was the instigator of this violence between brethren...good lord was he honestly this bored?

Alan blew out a sigh and checked his watch again slightly irritated at his inner monologue. It still wasn't time for meeting at back at the cafe and sitting in the park feeding the ducks wasn't making this any less boring. He had gotten used to dealing with boredom during long flights and travel but still there was not much to do but wait. Rolling up the bag of bread his hand brushed the grocery bags next to him.

After forming an alliance and inviting a woman he just met to move in with him on a whim he had gone shopping again. Might as well throw them a welcome party even if they weren't on the best of terms. Besides, he glanced briefly at the items he had acquired after he left the grocery store, he had intended to buy other things before heading back anyways. Now he would just have to find time after that to use them.......................his reading time was becoming less and less.

Disheartened by the thought Alan packed up the bread and turned to Benkei. It would have been an odd sight to anyone who might have walked through the small park. A giant yakuza with a shark's mouth implanted into his face, and a regular sized man with a headband sitting on a bench feeding ducks.

"Alright B," Alan paused and bit his lip before he let it slip. Even if there wasn't anyone around now he was going to need another way of addressing him. "Lancer I'm going to need you to take spirit form now. With our new guests moving in I'm going to start refering to you by your class name. Even if they have become allies the tsundere aela seems to be the crafty type."

He needed to start regaining his prana as well. The summoning and earth flow traps from earlier had set him back to half capacity. There wasn't really a reason for Benkei to go scaring the living daylights out of people by maintaining physical form anymore now that they had encountered another servant/master duo. Alan punted a duck offhand that had decided to nip his leg for more bread. Why were there ducks here in February anyways?

[Aela Atheling]

… The nerve of the woman. Although, she had not had enough time to set up a workshop, the comment still grated on her. Mostly because the magus was right. What she had done… her mace was even supposed to be a secret, what if she figured out what it did? The fact that she had even seen it should have been too much. Its only real use would have been the element of surprise, and she may have just lost that.Its his fault!

Yet the woman helped her anyways. She probably wouldn’t have helped, had someone else told her to do that. Thankfully, the woman did not have her temperament. Veronica was in the process of some snappy remark when, for some reason, she paused in the middle of it and… stared?

It was only for a single second at most, until she leapt at her, dropping the flail in midaction.

Not even enough time! All she could do was raise her arms to try and block her, to no avail. Veronica dragged them both to the ground, and she heard the near miss of razor sharp blades slicing the air where her body had once been.

A knot of fear tightened in her chest as a single word echoed through her mind. Beowulf! What good would that do, she had to ready herself, grab the mace…

As she moved her hand, the room exploded in a shower of debris.

Blocks and pieces of drywall covered her, covered her clothes, covered everything in the room. Even the beast. It may have looked comical even, covered in white dust from the wall, for the single instant that it continued to exist.

The fist that destroyed the wall broke everything in its path, even the air rushed to give way to the fist, and it so happened that the creature was the focus of that path. Between one startled blink and the next, the creature did not exist.

What did exist was a hole in her wall, a crater in her floor, and an entire layer of fine white dust on everything in the room. Including her.

Restrained rage boiled from within as she got up to meet the man with his hand still two feet in her floor. The only things keeping her from shouting at her Servant were that woman, she could not be allowed to see weakness, and the fact that he may have managed to save her life, even if he destroyed everything in his path.

Everything. Pieces of the ceiling had been torn out along with pretty much the entire wall. The hallway was literally part of her bedroom now.

At least the ceiling didn’t collapse…

… This man she had summoned had only been damaging her life so far. This house was literally ruined, and there would not be much left of it if they stayed in it any longer. She almost managed to feel sorry for Alan, his house probably wouldn’t be standing for very long.

“Y’all right, master?”

Her teeth clenched, as she managed to utter a simple “Yes.” It sounded nothing like thanks. More like simple confirmation, bordering slightly on anger. Slightly, he had saved them.

He had saved them. So had the woman. Why was she getting angry… but… couldn’t it have been done better?

“Thanks, both of you.” She managed to get out with a real smile on her face. At least she was alive even if everything around her was broken, dirty, and destroyed.

"What was that anyways?" Her voice was accompanied by a slight rumbling sound... The build up of pressure?

All thoughts left her mind but the anger though, when one of the pipes that had been in the wall suddenly sent water spraying into the room as it burst from multiple places. The entire room was being treated to a cold water shower, while covered in drywall dust.

Angry was a very good word for her mood. Unrestrained fury was even better.

[Aela Atheling]

[] Bye Paul, we hardly knew you~ []

While she had been furious, the other woman had been… relentless. She had even attacked Aela in a moment of surprising anger. Not with Magecraft or anything, with her fist. A solid blow to her face, just under her eye left a light, barely visible bruise. It had been easily covered up when she had redone her makeup, but still.

She had slapped back almost instantly, leaving a similar mark across Veronica’s face.

From there, things got out of hand really quickly. They began to fight, kick, slap and punch in the soggy, muddy room, until finally the other woman just stormed out and left. There was a little sense of strange accomplishment at that, a sense of pride.

“Yah! Run away!” She shook her fist at the fleeing woman from on the ground where she had been grappling. Her voice was tired

A small splattering sound bounced around the room when she had lain back down on the floor. The muddy floor. Cold, cold water was still spraying into the room. Again her Servant had not helped her. But this time… she was glad.

In her violence she had worked out all her hate at that man. Of course Veronica had stood no chance when those were backing her kicks. Normally she wasn’t the most athletic person in the world… but anger and adrenaline had accelerated her skill a bit. At least to the point where she could fight another person barehanded. Alan… there wasn’t quite the amount of fury in her anymore as there once had been. Still though!

It had taken forever to get clean, especially when the bath no longer worked because all the water was running out the pipe by her bedroom.

So she had done something immensely practical. The copper washtub she had bought, and summarily had hurled out a window, was hauled in by her Servant, and filled with the water, then carried to the bathroom where she had washed.

The water had been freezing.

Thankfully not all her clothes had been completely soaked. Although what had been left was rather informal, but at least the weather looked promising.

Because I’m lazy, image is image


She had hailed a taxi to go to the café, mainly because she was pretty sure driving would be unsafe at the moment, there was still a bit of anger residing in her, but nothing like before. Hitting Veronica a bunch of times fixed that.

Now it looked like nothing had happened, Aela had made sure of that. Her hair had been absolutely disgusting, and now was normal again, and the only bruise she had was carefully covered by makeup.

He would still wonder where Veronica went though. And would probably wonder at her lateness, and would likely inquire why her clothes were soaking wet, and muddy. At least if he saw in one of her suitcases.

As she stepped out of the cab, at that familiar café, she touched the driver’s hand, and made him forget all about her, and his other hulking passenger. It was safer for the both of them that way.

She was fashionably late… about an hour fashionably. Oh well he can take it~ It would be some sort of payback. It was… somehow.

There was a little bit of a smile on her face at that thought.

[Alan Girm Moria]

The chair creaked as Alan leaned back in it precariously. He had chosen the same seat from earlier while waiting on Aela. It had been hours since their meeting but the place was still reminiscent of an old western ghost town. Almost as if what had happened earlier was a dream. Yes almost, not taking into account the store owner's eyes boring holes into the back of his jacket.

Watching the ceiling fan's lazy spin Alan couldn't find it in himself to blame her. Taking into account her business being disrupted, the angry outbursts, and him not buying anything while loitering it was hard to imagine why the owner hadn't thrown him out already. Oh wait it was probably Benkei standing next to him in spirit form. If the odd intervals in which the feeling of being stared at occurred she was probably looking around to see where if anywhere he could be hiding.

'If she knew about spirit form the poor woman probably wouldn't be able to sleep for the rest of her life. The thought of an invisible Benkei leering over you would keep anyone from sleeping soundly again.' Letting his thoughts wander aimlessly along similar topics, Alan offhandedly began counting the number of indentions in the ceiling panels. Really after her speech about murdering him if he showed up late Aela was certainly taking her sweet time getting here. What was she doing, getting all dolled up for a night out on the town?

....Apparently so.

The screech of worn brakes pulled Alan's gaze back to the clear and sunny day outside the storefront window. Further dispelling the morning's occurrences Aela emerged with Berserker in tow seemingly cheerful? She had shed her sour, downcast look of a green trench coat and cold attitude in favor of jeans, a t-shirt, and was that make up she was wearing? It was as much a reversal as the weather distinctly reminding Alan of the Persephone myth.

'Well if anything she takes about as much time to arrive~.' Alan thought with a grin as his chair planted itself firmly back on it's feet with a clatter. Turning to face the store owner, Alan gave a cheerful grin and waved goodbye before letting his hands brush over the paper bags seated on the table. Hauling his newly bought supplies along Alan strode out to meet Aela the good natured grin never leaving his face.

"Yo Aela. Left your watch in your other trench coat?" It might not be wise to provoke sleeping tigers but be darned if it wasn't fun.

[Aela Atheling]

The first thing he did was look her over, she did admit she appeared rather different than when he had first seen her, at least slightly more feminine, but his face displayed one of the reactions that she was expecting.

She knew, she just knew what he was about to do. The moment she had seen his face she knew he was going to try to irritate her. The nerve of the man!

Although at least what was coming was better than drooling over her like he had that stupid Veronica.

Of course he didn’t know the events that had transpired earlier, but still what kind of person begins with harassment? Well, she knew that type of person. Him.

"Yo Aela. Left your watch in your other trench coat?"

That… was the best he could do? Bother her about ti-

No. Not just that. He had insulted the way she dressed too! Trench coat? Trench coat!? She… she loved her coats! They were so warm, secure, and resistant to the weather. They were incredible, and so useful, considering the nature of her magecraft. Wait, think this over again. Maybe he is just too stupid to know the difference between a beautiful jacket, and a trenchcoat.

That seemed rather probable, and it was the explanation she would go with. So he was just talking about her lateness. Well she completely expected that. But was she just going to let it go? That was a cause for concern in itself. If she let it go, he might just continue. Then again he hadn’t stopped when she rebuked him either. She had a choice to make.

Well not much of one. She was anything but submissive.

“Good to see you haven’t lost any of your charming humour. Someone perhaps more polite than you would have asked why I was late, or perhaps say nothing. After all…” She glared at where her Servant was. His very presence was impossible not to notice, no matter how invisible. It was if part of her was being tugged towards his hidden form, the link forcibly tearing away her prana.

The constant drain was hard on her circuits. They seemed intrinsically linked to her body, far more than normal, and it prickled constantly. What is going to happen when he needs more...? Her circuits could not handle long drains like this well, and the constant slight burning would probably make it difficult to sleep.

That doesn't matter. Whatever it takes!

“After all…" She had paused for what seemed like forever to collect her thoughts, "I had to gather my things, and be rid of that… woman.” Veronica. The fury in her voice was plainly evident, and her hands almost clenched again, but this time all that showed was a simple smile. In that fight, she had come out the victor. In this one… looking back, it did not look so good on her side.

Mainly because of his now disappeared Servant. That face… his very presence was overwhelming. She had never felt like that before. This time she was prepared for it, however, and she silently prayed that it would not approach the same effectiveness that it had before.

Her reactions had been embarrassing. Falling upon coming out of the church, and her shaking agreement in the café made her look the fool.

Unless the aura of fear he presented could be greater still, the worst of it would be hopefully held off.

“Now, if you can refrain from belittling me again, perhaps we should head to your house? After all, the day is beginning to grow late, and I would wish to at least acquaint myself with your place before the first night that I participate in this war.”

That stuck out in her mind. Had there been any fighting the previous nights? As far as she had heard there had been nothing, but how would she have heard of it? Lucca was a large city, and there had been no great devastations she would expect from a fight between giants such as her Servant and Alan’s.

Once again the ‘…more than fourteen.’ brought her worries. How many would it be limited to? Seven seemed like they could change the landscape… what could twenty-one do? What could sixty-three of them do? What could a hundred do?

Would the city even exist after this war? Lives… would be lost, she knew that coming into the war. But so much destruction? It didn’t make her willing participation in this seem any easier.

The steel in her came back quickly however. No matter what, the war would happen, and her participation was better than so many others would have been.

“Well? We should get going. And if you don’t mind, could you help me with my things?” Her voice came out somewhat cheerfully now, a pretence often taken when matters weighed heavily on her mind, as she pointed at the small stack of luggage she had pulled out of the taxi. But the point was still there; she certainly wasn’t going to carry all these bags herself, especially if the man had no transport.

Now, she just had to make sure he would carry that one with the flail in it. Whichever one that was.

[Alan Girm Moria]

It seemed despite the change in covers the content remained the same. 'A little light humor and she jumped right to glaring daggers. Really a good example of don't judge a book by it's cover this girl.'

Fighting down the urge to roll his eyes, Alan grinned and shifted around the bags in his hands. As usual Aela was taking her time with the snide rem, there ya go. Took her awhile but she could make jokes too given time. Granted they weren't very nice in nature but at least she was making progress in the right direction. Maybe. Something to work on in the coming days.

"I'd hope not Aela. Someone has to have a sense of humour around here. Where politeness is concerned I decided not to pry into your affairs. Well seeing you that energetic my worries about you being attacked on the way back were erased post haste. So I settled for a light greeting. Although I guess you'd prefer something more dour?"

'Thus time passes silently and akwardly as Aela trailed off lost in thought. More likely just lost going by her attitude today. From what she's show me, shifting gears is not a strong point. Need to make a reference to that in battle. Can't have her dying on me when something unexpected shows up.'

Alan craned his neck and looked up at the clear sky while the sun blazed down cooking the city below. While Aela continued her stoner stare, he grappled with a persistent feeling. One that had been occuring over the past five hours. The feeling he had forgotten something of dire importance. What that was exactly remained tantalizingly out of reach as the crowd moved around them like a river.

'Did I leave the stove on? No that can't be it, I didn't eat breakfast at home. Library? Oh I forgot to clean the summoning's mess downstairs!'

Had his hands been free Alan would have taken this moment to perform a facepalm. Sadly, the shopping bag's muffled laughter mocked him into refraining. Putting down your groceries just to facepalm in the middle of a busy street would be odd even to him.

'Well I still can't shake the feeling that it's something else.' Alan cut his inner monologue short as Aela got back into her groove again. 'Make up your mind if you want to sit and stammer or have a conversation! I want to gather my thoughts!'

"On second thought just go back to not smiling. You look like you just finished burying the corpse of a hated enemy. The smile of a slash murderer from a dime store thriller. Which would explain our mutual acquaintance's absence." Meanwhile his own smile diminished as he looked on at his slightly unhinged comrade.

....More silence. Not a good sign by any means. Maybe having Benkei stand guard at night was in order? That or paying for a psychiatrist session for his dear new ally.

'Way to attract the nutjobs of wonderland Alan. Just pray Alice doesn't raise hell in the library.' Alan gave a quick mental rebuke before returning his attention to Aela.

Then having to bite off the immediate joke that sprang to his mind and almost from his lips. He had a feeling if he had said, 'If you can try not to stab me in my sleep.' It would have simply happened then and there. Tsundere slasher smile deluxe boded ill for his earlier acquaintance. Rest in peace Veronica we barely knew you.

"Well I don't mind getting home but it's only noon. Plenty of time to explore the place but if you are that eager let's get going." Well he could lay off the jokes if it really bothered her that much. There was always mental monologue in the cliff notes after all~.

What followed immediately after threw him for a loop. Thinking back it seemed about time he balance things out by being caught off guard. Aela had gone from not only a Freddy Kruger grin to a kind smile but had personality switched too. Again the Persephone myth nudged at his mind but was shoved brutally aside but the resurfacing desire to face palm.

Alan's face was blank as he met Aela's gaze then allowed it to move down to his bags and back again to Aela. Seems in addition to bipolar, Aela had a habit of being airheaded. Moe airhead Aela needed a reality check right now.

"So you had all those bags and decided to send the taxi away...why again? You could have done what happened in the car when we reached my home. If money was a problem I could have paid the fare for you since you are my guest. Well I don't mind carrying your bags but you'll need to hold these for me then." Alan shifted the grocery bags for empahsis before putting them into Aela's hands.

"This is your welcoming party feast so don't drop it alright? I'm not sure what you'd like so I stocked up on different things." Before Aela could mutter a protest Alan began grabbing as many bags as he could carry. Really why ditch the taxi? Raising his voice to a whisper, Alan murmered towards where Benkei was standing.

"Lancer, materialize in the nearby alley and grab the rest please. It's a bit of a bother but guests are guests." That being said Alan trudged off in the direction of Moria Manor.