Fantasy Howl's Flying Castle (Finished! ---Whoo! (*＾▽＾)／)

[Katsuya]

The fawn greatly appreciates Seifer's consideration and homey-ness in the room, placing the cooling fan on the bed and facing at Johnny. "Thank you, Seifer.....Heheh, you make a wonderful assistant, you know?" She commented back, finally smiling about something as she combed through Johnny's hair.

"It's really important to have patients feel calm and comfy while waiting. So to do all of this for Johnny...You have my gratitude, Seifer." Renee's wings fluttered happily at the compliment to her fiance, smiling wide and proud. Echo let Johnny do whatever he wanted to stay calm: she got onto the bed to let him snuggle with her legs, fluffed pillows that are behind Johnny tucked to keep him feeling safe and comfy. She hummed and sang quietly to keep his mind off the poison, watching the vines slowly growing on his face and chest. She has to stay calm, only reason why she is right now is because they are doing everything they can to care for her love. She squeezed his hand tenderly.

When Seifer asked what he can do to help, Renee told him to chop some herbs with the knife she brought. "Don't worry about the size. As long it's small, then I can use it." Once he minced and chopped, she grinds and mix them together with her hands; kneading like it was bread dough. It went from mass of purples and pinks to a magenta colored lotion-like paste on a clay plate. Once she smelled and tasted it, the medi-witch went over to Johnny with the plate in hand and asked Echo where the bullet hit him.

The fawn guided her hand to the wound, only ever so slightly touching it. "It's under his chin, Ren." With that, the winged woman rubbed the paste between her fingers first then smeared Johnny's wound with it, making sure it's on the surrounding area too. "You're gonna feel a smoothing sensation like silky milk here---Ah, you have to eat this too."

"But he can't swallow or talk." Echo mentioned. Renee grimaced, brows furrowed. "He has to. It'll help clear up his throat from the inflammation..." The fawn sighed, nodding in understanding.

"...Ready, Love?"

She leaned in to get a bite full of the antidote. Then she kissed Johnny, helping him drink it as she lightly tilted his head back. She noticed that the antidote reacts to heat, melting in her mouth like smooth chocolate or cotton candy and is very easy on a severe scratchy throat. It tasted like...strawberry?

With time, the evil vines on Johnny's face and chest would retract back to the main spot and disappear. Renee relaxed as Echo sighed in relief. The expected mother searched for Seifer's hand and squeezed adoringly. "Thank you for the assist, Sweetheart." Her wings fluttered happily.

*****

Meanwhile, in their new hideout, Serena froze in her spot. Waiting and waiting, believing and hoping for the best but dreading about the SCU. Her hands were too shaky to properly hold the spyglass too. See, this is why she would never accept Seth's offer three years ago. She would be feeling awful, knowing that her boyfriend is off in a dangerous adventure while she stayed in the house and praying and hoping and be driven to madness with worry. She would, no doubt, burn their house down from being too nervous for too long. That's bad for her health and his.

The blonde sighed for the nth time, staring out at the opening until she heard Pipino through the radio, and held her breathe. The dread she has been feeling this entire time spreads throughout her body as Pipino arrived and fainted on the spot.

She didn't say anything as she calmly picked up the monkey thief without breaking a sweat and placed him gently on the make-shift bed that's made of hay and a blanket over it.

"I'm done..." She whispered ominously to Sen, patting Sasha comfortingly. Her azure blue eyes are shadowed from her golden fringes with a determined fiery glint. It's been a while since she felt this...alive; then again, she hadn't felt this controlled with her anger either. Then she started to march over to the entrance of the hideout, her violin appeared in her hand.

"Sen-! Watch over Pipino or go to Renee. I'm going to demand a meeting between James and the head of the SCU. I'm done with this silly chase that should never have happened to begin with!"

*****

In the airship, Minnie just stared at the man in front of her, listening to James' advice on when to answer and when not to. She noticed how the man in front of her is very calm for some reason. He's not like what she imagined a sadistic head of jail would act.

'Then again...I did compare him to the r-red ogre from long time ago.' She thought, placing her hand on her shoulder when she felt the subtle aching feeling, rubbing it the metal that's attached to her skin. He's nice enough to not detach her arm too.

When he asked her on her contact with thieves, the little gunner answered honestly. "I'm a bodyguard and a secretary for a toy shop. I'm bound to have contact with any sort of thief out there, Sir...and it's not fun." Then she raised an eyebrow, curious at the questions.

"I thought I was being questioned for shooting in public, not about thieves. Please ask questions that's related to why I'm arrested for and not based on conjectures." She said to the men in the room. That's right, she wanted James to ask questions too. Even when he's helping her case, she still wants him to know.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Agraba -
" Inn "​

"Assistant? You mean, partner." corrected Seifer, who as usual only liked noble titles. He smiled at Echo, and it was his genuine happy one. "Of course, I am a Rathmore," he said proudly, "I take care of my friends." Unbeknownst him, he had just admitted it out loud for the first time in their lives.

Johnny's eyes blearily opened and he rolled over to show his under jaw for Renee. He nodded weakly at Echo and asked for her help to sit up a little, his hand trembling. It was the sweetest kiss she gave him and for a moment, he was reminded of that time he had sucked out poison from Echo's forehead, this felt somewhat like that, except she's helping him now. He squeezed her hand, comforted, as the medicine eased the soreness in his throat.

He curled up back in Echo's arms, now breathing easier as the evil veins withdrew and faded. He was warm now and seemed to return to going to sleep, whining if Echo moved, as though he wanted her to stay.

Seifer squeezed Renee's hand. "You're welcome, baby." he said warmly, and kissed her knuckles. A hand went over her belly and rubbed it absentmindedly. "See that? That's one of the things mama is really good at." he whispered to her belly, "so if you ever get sick, you'll be alright, mama is here and will take care of you just like she did uncle Johnny. Daddy will help too."

* * * *​

Back in the hideout, Sen was panicking. "Eh? Eh?! Serena!" but she had already left, and he could not leave Pipino like this. "Waaah, the plan's going all wrong!"

He calmed himself down as he willed himself to think about how to solve this situation. There has to be something he could do too. And idea lit up in his head, as he looked outside in the distance where there were protesters gathering around the airship, protesting Minnie's innocence.

* * * *​

In the airship, Minnie's words had no effect on Scrimgour. She could tell that he knew that she had met up with Seth. "Let's cut to the chase, Ms. Ironheart, you know which thieves I'm talking about. You're only digging a hole you'll be buried in with your friends if you lie and avoid the question, I'm sure they don't want you to be implicated here more than you already are."

"You don't have to answer that." said James. He pulled out the bottle that held the bloodied bullet lump from Johnny's throat. "I have the bullet that struck Johnny, if Minnie truly fired it, then bullets from her mechanical arm should match the ridges and grooves of this bullet. The charges against her allow me, her defense, to perform tests to prove her innocence. As of now, Minnie, I suggest we invoke your right to remain silent until we've proven this bullet actually came from you."

Scrimgour's eyes flashed dangerously at the bottle, but it was only for a moment. He sighed. "You two are not helping your friends." he shook his head.

"I know how you work, how you get information. Minnie's already undergone your kind of interrogation once." James placed an arm over her shoulder. "You will not do so with anyone of my friends nor my family."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

After that, Minnie was asked to shoot a round on a target so that James can compare bullets, then she was sent back to her cell. It was lightly guarded, probably because the rest of the CSU was still scouring the city for the thieves. As she waited she'd notice something. The guard that was guarding her, had been incessantly tapping his foot as he hummed to a song in his mind, but upon closer attention, it was morse code.

"Seth-is-here-he-got-caught-this-is-David-pretend-you-don't-know-me-sneeze-twice-if-you-understand."

Katsuya
OOC | Characters | Moments in Time
​

 

[Katsuya]

Minnie took back her nice comment on the head of the SCU; he's a dangerous person and everyone should get away from him. She saw that dangerous look at the bottle. She's no fool and she knows he's not a fool either. He's probably worse then the red ogre from long ago because he actually works in the prison system.

The little gunner stayed silent, paying close attention to James and Scrimgour's words and expressions as they talked. Her face stayed apathetic...unless the men in the room looked closely to her eyes; they gleamed brightly like she has full confidence in James' ability to defend her innocence.

Her silence only amplified how loud her confidence in the oldest Pendragon, simply because she trusts her friend and boyfriend's brother. "..."

Minnie nodded, doing what James had asked for and shot her bullet to a weird jelly-like substance that's easy to grab the bullet from. Her bullets is smaller then the poisoned one with a heart as a lock with a keyhole in the middle etched on it; her awkward Uncle made the delicate design and she took a liking to it. Once she was done, she told James to take the bloodied clothes too for a blood test and look in the DNA files to get his culprit. When she's placed in a jail cell, the little gunslinger calmly sat down on the floor, leaning on the bars and cracked her neck out of habit.

She didn't know why the guard was tapping his foot like that while humming. Like he was happy about her being in a jail cell...until she payed close attention to the taps themselves. Her teal blue eyes didn't move from the ceiling she has been staring at. There was a quiet moment from her. Then...

"A-Ah-! CHOO! ACHOO-!" Minnie sniffed, wiggling her nose a bit.

"...Why is it always cold in prisons? Can't anybody have a heater in here?" She grumbled in a quiet annoyance. Her outfit isn't keeping her warm either since it's to stay cool while under the hot burning sun. That's when the pair heard something from outside. Is that...Is that a violin and why is the protesting crowd outside of the airship getting louder and louder?

*****​

"..." Echo stayed quiet at his words, pleasantly astonished as her smile grew warmer and warmer. Her fluffy ears wiggled; something that usually happens whenever Johnny makes her laugh or happy. "Ren's right: you really are a sweet person...Should you ever need help with something, no matter how small, let me know. We should hang out some more too."

The red headed fawn was about to move out of the bed once Johnny fell asleep; but when he whined, she only smiled silly and got comfortable, leaning on the bed frame. Rubbing his back and nuzzling his head with her cheek adoringly. Her racing heart soon calmed down, thanking every lucky star to have wonderful people as friends and love ones in her life. Her softened green eyes glued to Johnny's peaceful expression as he slept in her arms. One of her ears would perk up to something that's happening outside but she ignored it as her attention is solely on her sleeping beau.

Renee sat down on one of the poufy chairs with the stools, still holding onto Seifer's hand. She turned red when he absentmindedly rubbed her tummy, wings fluttering happily as he talked to their not-born-yet baby. Her other hand reached over to cup his cheek and trace his jawline sweetly to reach his ear and comb through his hair. "Honey...have I ever told you that you're a good Daddy? Because you are." She kissed him lovingly.

The expected mother tilted her head to the window when she heard Mica chattering and grumbling about something; he's by the window, head peeking through the curtains to see what's happening outside. If Seifer or Johnny pay attention closely, they would hear a violin playing...and a crowd cheering louder and louder for something.....

"Serena?" Renee wondered out loud.

*****​

Serena looked like a woman on a life or death mission.

The people around her as she walked in the street, whispered and gaped in surprise. Wasn't Serena missing? Has she been here in Agraba this entire time? They didn't know but they got curious as to why she's marching up to the city hall where the airship is and followed behind her, wanting to know what's going on. This is Serena after all, the kind violinist who always tried to cheer others up with her songs. So it's very odd to see her this...serious, at least in the public eye. She always had a smile, not a flat line on her lips.

The blonde pondered and thought hard as she marched up to city hall, not really believing that the dreadful head of the SCU would even listen to her. However...she knows for sure that James will listen. James always took criticism no matter how harsh and brutal. She knows by experience since she is always blunt and he took it in face value. So she believes that James will listen to her this time too.

As she got closer and closer, the more she sees and hears the protestors that are screaming for Minnie to be free. The blonde couldn't go past them, not unless she wants to get trampled by angry people. Her violin appeared in her hand. Maybe it's time to put her music into good use again...

Serena plucked her violin after humming a beat then she started her play with a clear sweet note. That grabbed some of the protestors' attention, looking behind them and saw the violinist playing. Her song caught a lot of people's attention, not just the protestors. The citizens who were scared from the dragon falling and hearing the gun shots came out of their homes timidly, feeling a bit courageous from her powerful and encouraging song. The guards from City Hall and the SCU airship stood a bit straighter, they felt their hearts jump with the stronger beats of her violin as if they knew she wasn't toying around. It made them feel like she wanted--no, demanded their attention as if it was important for her to have it. Even the politicians in City Hall came out, wondering what caused the protestors to slowly calm down. To their surprise, it's a blonde violinist with a broken leg. They payed close attention to her too, wondering what did this woman wanted and how did a woman captivate even the children that are nearby by just playing her violin?

She walked towards the airship, the protestors parted, not wanting to get in her way as she continued to play. Her violin melted it's violet-blue color to the ground, surprising everyone even more as suddenly the ground glowed. There's an out of nowhere soft and cold breeze that felt nice after being in the hot sun all day, making the weather a bit pleasant. Little orbs of blue light slowly dripped out from the ground and floated upwards, fluttering between everyone nearby the blonde. When it touched someone, they would feel a nice chill like a kind cold hand on their fevering foreheads, watching over them and tending them until they felt better. Her frostflies swirled around her, following her as if she's the frost queen of Fae with the most passionate fiery eyes; attracting everyone's sights on her lithe figure in Jaharian clothing. Once Serena reached the front of the protestors, her song ended in a B flat minor...

If Seth can hear her violin, it's their secret code for 'I'm coming to help you right now.'

"Everyone!" Serena cried out, making some people jump as they blink out of their stupor. "I know why you are angry! It's because Minnie was arrested! I agree: it's silly to believe that one of the saviors of your beautiful country would ever endanger her people! She lost an arm for you! For your safety! For your futures! Seth, Sen, Ricket, and Minnie risked their lives to save this country and defeated one of the dreaded Deathknights, leading the people of Jahara to freedom from the evil dragon's grasp! Three of the four are foreigners! People who weren't even born in this beautiful country as one of her people but still they risked their lives as if they were! Yet here is the SCU, taking Minnie in as if she was a criminal and endangering another hero's life! How dare they?!" The people cheered in agreement.

"Should we let the SCU do whatever they want?!" Everyone in front of her screamed "No!"

"Do we want real justice?! Do we want to free Minnie from this blasphemy!?" Everyone screamed even louder, "Yes!"

Serena grinned impishly. "Then let it be known! Everyone who can hear me! Let it be known! Spread the news! Tell every city, every village, every town! Tell everyone that the SCU is doing something that will not be tolerated anymore! Spread the news to even the Eldoon kingdom! Let them know that Jahara will not tolerate injustice from another country! Proud Jahara will not be silenced! Her people will not tolerate another dictatorship! Jahara will never let unfairness take her heroes away! Let's repay the heroes with what they have given Jahara back: Freedom!!" With this, the crowd went wild, cheering and screaming loudly. The blonde saw a few groups of people leaving and riding their horses. She's pretty sure it's the news people of Jahara, ready to write down on what they just heard from her. Hopefully with this, the Eldoon kingdom will be aware and take action about Scrimgour for being the cause of the Jaharian people's anger. Politics is a very fickle thing...a fickle thing, when played right like her violin, that will sound like a beautiful melody once the people of a country join in.

Majority rules. She's pretty sure that even the royal kids of Jahara would want to deal with this once they hear what has happened.

Then she turned to the now frightened SCU guards, gazing at them calmly despite her passionate speech. "...Unless you want to deal with an angrier mob and cause a major riot right now when I know you don't have a lot of men inside the airship, you will bring the two prisoners you have captured outside with James Pendragon." Serena said coolly.

"The New Order will handle the captured heroes with fairness and just. We will find the real thief who stole the artifacts and the assassin who tried to spill more blood in the sands of this beautiful country." Serena had enough of all the lies and hiding in the dark. It's time to really speak up and reveal the truth of this case in the light of day where everyone can see it with their very eyes.

"Recruit the men inside the airship and search every nook and cranny. Hand over the prisoners to James Pendragon and me. Prove that you listened to the people of Jahara and want fair justice!"The protestors, citizens, and some of the political men cheered in agreement. Peer pressure building and building on the poor guards.

Spoiler: Revival song

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Agraba -
" Inn "​

"Alright?" said Seifer, wondering why Echo was giving a serious friendship bond, but was pleased all the same, and patted her shoulder. "Then, let's go wine tasting someday!" he said cheerfully, as he sat down beside Renee. "And walk around the forests you've regrown. By the way, Echo, whatever happened to all the seeds you and Johnny collected six years ago?"

Johnny pressed her head close when she nuzzled and gave her a sleepy kiss on her cheek, before relaxing and going back to sleep, muttering, "Echo Mello" contentedly. "Thank you. Thank you, Renee, Seifer." He curled up in her arms and hugged her fluffy leg, nuzzling into her clothes, comforted, and finally fell asleep.

When Renee gave Seifer that compliment, he was surprised again that his actions had such an effect. "Thank you?" he said, and happily melted under Renee's kiss. He beamed at her. He was a good dad. After that Seifer walked around the room in a strut like he's the man. 'I'm a good dad.' he beamed at the thought, and cuddled with Renee.

* * * *​

Meanwhile, in the CSU's airship, one of the guard's was asking Scrimgour what to do. "Ignore them."

"But, sir, they're getting restless. We don't have enough men in the ship, the rest are still looking."

" . . . Let them continue, are the repairs on the ship proceeding well?"

"Yes, we'll be able to fix it in three hours."

"Good. Leave this rabble to me, they're just civilians, they'll flee at the moment of danger." he stood by the window of the forward hull of the ship, looking at Serena calmly. His eyes narrowed at her and the people with her, and noticed how even his own men were being invigorated by her songs. He shook his head at her in warning, and gazed at her with the eyes of someone who will get her out of the way if he has to.

Back with Minnie in the brig, David was telling her how they could get out of here, this time by tapping the bars with his fingers behind his back. He had left the door unlocked, only pretending to close it, but he had stuck a wad of wet toilet paper in the latch hole so that it didn't close. He was asking her what she wanted to do, help him bust Seth out of here, or stay in the cell until James clears her name.

Somewhere in the ship, a bloodied twin's fingers were being broken as an interrogator was asking him where the artifacts were and where were the rest of his friends."Pork tenderloin, costs thirty gold a kilo --- ahhh!" one of his fingers was pulled back with a snap. "Beef ribs cost forty gold!" all he was saying was prices. Then he heard Serena's song and was encouraged. She was coming for him. How can he tell her he was here, there has to be a way, somehow, somehow. But these walls were silenced, no sound from within this room can escape to the outside.

A huge crowd had begun gathering now around the docks, and the horsemen who had rode off, came back saying the King of Jahara and his sister are coming to see Minnie.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

"Of course! I would love to taste test some wine and walk through a forest." Echo said with a smile. Her alcohol tolerance have gotten better over the years. "Hm? Oh! We planted them around my mother's grave." She explained, combing through Johnny's hair as he slept.

"I want her to see all the different trees of each country we've been through. Dad loves them and my auntie Mel and her kids are watching over their growth."

Renee's wings fluttered happily as she hears Johnny's sleepy mumbles, giggling quietly. Then she cuddled with Seifer, tracing his face gently with her hand and she felt him beaming. "It's true, Sweetheart." She muttered quietly in his ear, leaving kisses on his cheeks and forehead. "You're a good father to our kids and a very supporting soulmate. I feel very lucky to have a wonderful man like you."

*****

Serena grinned brightly at the very flustered SCU guards who can't stop tapping their feet at her song, their faces entirely red.

"It's okay you guys. No one will be mad at you for wanting to have fun too." She made a playful note on her violin that caused the guards to subconsciously grab their clothes where their hearts are beating too fast; resisting their urge of smiling back.

Serena has a feeling that the men in the SCU don't have fun moments in their lives as of late. So she played her cheerful, empowering, and brave songs to bring everyone's spirits up; show the Head of the SCU that they are protesting by having fun in front of the serious environment. Having everyone to dance, cheer, have fun while wanting to free their heroes. That will annoy him for sure or that's what she believes.

Her azure eyes found the serious looking man from above at the window of the forward Hull, observing his silent threat. She tilted her head up, her bright grin grew into a charming smile that can bring joy to even the most hardened of sailors. Then she defiantly and playful winked at him. Her mother and mentor always tell her to smile in adversity...so she will give her brightest and biggest smile at Scrimgour just to prove a simple point: she will not feel threatened by him. No sir. She has faced the most dangerous of creatures in this realm. He is but a tiny chihuahua compared to Valdanr and the tall lanky and pale guardian that's sealed in again by Echo six years ago at the other side of the Storm Wall.

Her ever growing hope became noticeable in her song as everyone has heard about the royal sibling coming to visit Minnie. Maybe...?

"Will you guys let me inside? I would like to see my friends too." Serena asked very sweetly to the guards. The both of them looked at each other before one volunteered, letting her pass through the doors. She heard him say "I'm so going to be fired for this..." Brave one, he is...she wants to look out for him now...

"Thank you...would you like to accompany me?" Serena asked and the guard nodded, accepting her offered arm and wrapping his own around hers as if they were the best of friends. They went inside the airship as the crowd cheered even louder at watching this exchange of friendliness between Serena and the SCU guard.

Meanwhile in the jail cell, Minnie sighed shaking her head a bit. There was tapping. 'No offense but I'm not a thief. I'm choosing to have James clear my name and have Scrimgour eat dirt for bringing me here.' She might not show it much but she does have pride and it was hurt when the head of SCU tried to make her talk in the interrogation about the thieves. So she's going to trust James at what he does.

'Go without me. If you like I can make a distraction for you so you can search the airship without the guards bothering you...but it won't be for long; Maybe a couple of seconds.' Minnie has a plan and she's going to take advantage of the one quirky function the twins have made for her to...enjoy.

Spoiler: The sun is skipping

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Agraba -
" Inn "​

Goosebumps erupted pleasantly on his skin when Renee muttered in his ear. She could feel his dimples as he smiled, "Thanks for saying that, baby, I feel good about myself." he said, very pleased and warm inside. His attitude never received much praise, so whenever he gets heartfelt compliments like this, it really makes him beam inwardly, like he could believe he's a good person. "You're welcome any time." he hugged her tenderly, and kissed her cheek.

After a while of staying like that and ignoring the fact that this probably wasn't the time, he whispered to Renee asking her if she wants to do a quickie in the bathroom. Maybe take a short bath together too in their fancy, fancy tub.

* * * *​

That soldier was definitely going to be fired, because Scrimgour came marching out, his face red. "Get back to your post, Haversham!' he bellowed, spraying the soldier and Serena with spit. "And you, you have some gall, trespassing here, you are under arrest!" and he pulled out what was unmistakably a sealing cuff to cuff the violinist.

Meanwhile, David got Minnie's message and went ahead of her, heading for some stairs that went below deck; and as he went down, he passed a man whom Minnie had never seen before her whole life, but was wearing the same odd shoes as the stranger that shot Johnny from the bell tower. He was wearing long sleeves, but there was a stiffness to one of his arms, as though he didn't want to move it too much.

Inside one of the rooms in the ship, a couple of surly warlocks were watching James match Minnie's bullet with the one that had hit Johnny, and sure enough the summoner discovered that the groove and ridges of the bullets were not the same. "Aha!" he said triumphantly and took out an old camera to take a picture of it. This was enough, Minnie will be free.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

"It's not trespassing when I asked Haversham to let me in and he did." Serena said calmly, puling out a handkerchief to wipe the gross spit away from her face. Then she did the same to the poor trembling guard who hid behind her from his boss.

"And I'm sure you know this, Sir," The blonde tucked her handkerchief back in her hidden pocket. "that someone with a high position from a high order of wizards and witches can come in to visit a suspect with a guard in tow and I'm the same Order as James. Actually I'm one of the people he asked to be part of the investigation team for the artifacts that went missing..." Her azure blue eyes dared to look at the head, raising a fine brow. "All I want to do, under your men's ever watchful eye is visit Minnie-"

BOOM

The violinist and the guard jumped in surprise when she heard that loud noise; the poor shaken guard held onto Serena tightly. If Scrimgour or his men checked what happened, they would see a very flustered Minnie trying to take her metal arm off in her jail cell.

BOOM

Her arm that's shooting confetti paper everywhere and she seemed really distressed about it. "Help! It's jammed and I can't get it to stop shooting confetti! C-can someone please get my arm off?! I ca-can't fix it if I can't take it off!"

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Agraba -
" Airdocks "​

"Somebody, get her arm off!" said Scrimgour. "And you, I'm watching you, Lock, any funny business and I'll slam the law on you so hard that no one's going to hear a single violin note from you in years." he seethed. "This is an order from your commanding officer, Haversham, I will not repeat myself a third time. Get back to your post or it's a court marshal for you."

A guard unlocked Minnie's cage and was figuring out how to get her arm off, while a couple of other guards watched. Serena was allowed to visit Minnie, but with another guard.

As the commotion was going on, James came down the stairs to see what was happening and was surprised to see Serena. "Serena, you're here too?" he seemed to catch the drift that something was going on, unfortunately he was on the side that was determined to get the violinist and Minnie out of harm's way. "What are you doing here? You have to leave --- Scrimgour I have the proof of Minnie's innocence. The bullet didn't come from her gun, you have no reason to hold her in custody now." he threw a photo at the man's feet.

A vein popped in the man's temple. "Very well, take her and go." he said as calmly as he could. "Be careful on your way back to the inn. Who knows who else has it for you out there in the dangerous streets."

Minnie had the choice to leave or do something for Seth, leaving now, her distraction would be all she could do for the twin, before the ship's engine is repaired and the CSU leave for the Eidolon Kingdom; that man she had seen earlier with the odd shoes, had disappeared behind a corner in the ship.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

This guy has anger issues...Serena would know. She has anger issues too.

"Thank you, Sir." She curtised at the tempermental SCU head before waving at Haversham who saluted and went back to his post.

Though...she could have sworn that he's fast walking...

When she reached Minnie's cell, the violinist flinched when another shot of confetti was fired. "...that was you?"

"It happens at times. Sen was supposed to renew it." Before leaving to Jahara, Sen told her that he would fix her arm but with what that's been going on; she didn't remind him. Not when he's stressed enough when it came to Seth and his wishes.

The guard that's helping Minnie would have a hard time as the recoil was harsh and loud. It made the few with sensitive ears flinch.

"Hi James!" Serena grinned. Minnie looked at the Pendragon with a grim look.

"James! The guy who shot Johnny is here! He just went around the corner! He's wearing funny looking shoes---like he was Lady Mama on a concert night!" She pointed her human hand where she just saw the man turn around the corner.

Serena narrowed her eyes as she now became suspicious of the Head. "..."

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Agraba -
" Airdocks "​

James didn't waste time. "I'll leave Minnie to you, Serena!" he said, and dashed for the direction Minnie pointed. "Funny looking shoes like Lady Mama on a concert night." muttered James, as a puff of cloud erupted all around him. Buzzing filled the hallways as his bees searched every nook and cranny in the ship.

Scrimgour was beside himself with this sudden display of suspicion. "There will be no offensive magic in my ship, Pendragon!" he yelled, "Leave whoever you are looking for to us and stand down or we will attack!" But James did not listen, deflecting spells with his shielding charms as soldiers went after him.

"Don't." Scrimgour pointed a warning finger at Minnie and Serena. "Soldiers, make sure they don't interfere, if they move, shoot them. As of now, summoning war beasts is a breach in our non-agression pact. As a prisoner's defense, he isn't allowed to display such spells." and he went off and followed after James with a handful of his soldiers.

BOOM

A sudden explosion rocked the entire airship --- it came from below!

The crowd outside gasped in shock and a soldier pointed beyond the windows saying, "Escaping prisoner!" If Minnie and Serena looked outside, they'd see three people fighting on the roof tops. One was Seth, the other David in disguise as a CSU soldier and they were fighting another CSU soldier with Lady Mama shoes! Their clothes were partially burned and Minnie could see very clearly that the person Seth and David were fighting was wearing a half-melted mask --- it was Jonathan.

"Shoot those three!" commanded Scrimgour, and the soldiers and warlocks readied their spells to fire.

* * * *​

Johnny woke up to the explosion. He was in Echo's comforting arms, her fingers combing through his hair. It would have been nice to fall back to sleep with his love, but that was definitely an explosion he had heard. Slowly, he sat up, chin leaning on her shoulder. "Echo, what's going on?" he whispered hoarsely.

The group could see smoke coming from the airdocks and hear the sound of a mage battle. Seifer frowned as he looked towards the fighting, and quickly looked at Echo. "I'll stay, you go, Echo. You want to be a giant?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

"Why should we even listen to you? We don't work for you." Serena countered as she faced the Head of the SCU. Her eyes hidden beneath her golden fringes as Minnie walked out of the jail cell, staring at something out the window. The blonde didn't say anything to Scrimgour as he went after James.

Her hands clenched into fists.

BOOM

"Serena!" Minnie cried out, gesturing her head at where the sudden explosion happened. "There he is! The guy with Lady Mama shoes!"

The gunner's arm let out another confetti shot randomly, startling the men around them. The SCU soldiers aimed their guns at Minnie, following their orders. The little gunner looked at them, tensed. Ready to fight back in self defense---

"W-We ca-can't move-!" Stuttered one of the frozen men. Minnie raised a brow, confused. None of them have ice on them to freeze like that so why-? The little gunslinger looked over at Serena again only to tense up in alarm. Under her golden fringes is her shadowed eyes with brows furrowed down. Intense oceanic blues stared at the SCU men, her fierce anger pressuring them down and pinned. Her pupils have changed into dragon-like slits, thin and narrow.

Minnie looked away, feeling like if she stared for too long, she might get frozen too. "Ready, Minnie?" Serena asked...rather calmly, dangerously so. It gave the gunner goosebumps, but she nodded silently. She wondered what Sen is doing right now...

Once Minnie held onto Serena's hand, the pair of women left and the men who were frozen can move again; now that Serena isn't nearby.

*****​

Back at the Inn, Echo looked at the closed window as Mica flailed in surprise and panic, falling to the floor with a 'thud'. Then he scurried to Renee and Seifer, trembling and feeling Renee petting him to calm down once he curled on her lap.

"Shh..." The fawn combed his hair with her fingers, trying to get him to sleep again. "It's okay, Love. Nothing to bang your head over with, that's for sure." She placed a kiss on his cheek when he leaned his chin on her shoulder. When Seifer volunteered to stay, the red head nodded.

"Yea, make me grow. Love, I'll be right back." With another kiss on his forehead, Echo situated Johnny to lie back down on the bed; fluffing his pillow for a moment. "Don't worry, Echo. We'll watch over Johnny in the mean time." Renee chirped from her spot as she lets Seifer stand up from their cuddling. The fawn nodded, ears wilting a bit as she sighed.

"Right...Thank you." Once they were outside with Renee pressing her ear against the window, Echo let Seifer make her grow. Then she headed towards the smoke, where the explosion happened.

*****​

The men outside who were about to shoot at the trio up on the roof tops didn't expect a loud 'WOOOO~!' from above nor did they expect a blonde and bluenette women bouncing off the ground in front of them-! Did the ground jiggle like Jell-o?

Minnie landed on the roof top first, rolling her landing in front of Wilde and kicked high to his wounded arm; the same one where she shot him before. Then she fluidly stood over him and aimed, her arm now shaped like a bazooka. "Don't move." She said to her target apathetically. The 'or I'll shoot' is left hanging in the air threateningly.

Serena landed not too long after the gunslinger, rolling in front of David and Seth and shielded them with her body, her arms wide open. Her back towards the two thieves. "Enough!" She roared at the SCU gunmen below. There was a pressure like something or someone is trying to stop them from moving.

"The New Order is taking Johnathon Wilde into custody for assassination attempt and thief!" Then she looked at the duo thieves passively, revealing her draconian sapphire eyes.

"...Will you two hand yourselves over now that he's under Minnie's gun?" There's a tiny plea in her voice. She just wants what's best for them. This whole trip to Jahara, Serena felt like she was a burden to the thieves, always hiding and just playing her violin. Now that she's free and in the open, the blonde can help them fully...if they can just let her.

"Please? I want Renee to take a look at your wounds...all four of you guys." Serena is including Pipino and Johnathon as she worryingly stared at Seth's broken-looking fingers and David's wounds from their fight with Wilde. "Let the Order help you...Let me help you..."

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Agraba -
" Airdocks "​

Johnny nuzzled Echo's neck, cupping a cheek. "Alright." he mumbled, and kissed her sleepily back, hugging her waist. He snuggled under her antlers, horns fitting like comfortable puzzle pieces, then went, "Huuuh?" disappointedly when he heard she was leaving. He stubbornly hugged her waist, but eventually let go giving Echo a dramatically sad face which mellowed when she kissed his forehead. "Come back soon, and whoop their buttocks, love." he said, holding her hand a little while longer after she fluffed his pillows.

Seifer petted Mica, then stepped outside where he cast, 'Sirus Gigantica' on Echo, and stood back to admire the giant. He hoped there was going to be some titan clashing wrestling smackdown --- that had always looked so cool; Johnny sat up and watched her from the windows. "No matter what, if Echo's in trouble, I'm going out there." he said as the giant fawn headed for the smoke. Come to think about it, there was a giant fluffy Echo before him. A giant fluffy Echo. Big fluffy fur that smelled of her that he could entirely roll in. "On second thought, I'll go right now." he said distractedly, his face a little red.

* * * *​

Meanwhile, Wilde raised his hands in surrender, then gasped, as though he realized who Minnie was. "You . . . the one who shot me."; a little bee wiggled out of Minnie's hair. James had heard it and that was a good confession as any.

Some ways away on the rooftop, the crowd had cheered when they saw their two heroes and the famous violinist, Serena Lock; Seth had startled when she shielded them --- for a moment very scared that she might die, but when he saw the hold she had over the warlocks and soldiers by just her presence, he calmed down. David looked at him, and they silently agreed, getting caught by the order was better than complicating things.

"We surrender." said Seth to her.

"We surrender!" yelled David for everyone to hear. Who would have thought that it was going to be Serena to catch the two, and to prove they meant it, they dropped their weapons.

Scrimgour had popped a blood vessel. The jig was up. If Wilde confessed --- and he heard the order had someone who can tell if somebody is lying --- it was going to be bad for him. And in a moment of angry desperation, roared, "I. SAID. KILL THEM!" and for a moment broke out of Serena's hold, quickly casting a spell that was making dozens of swords appear from thin air, all pointed towards the violinist ---

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

"Johnny, you're still recovering." Renee deadpanned, smiling at the potted flower. "You need to stay still while the medicine is doing it's job."

*****

Meanwhile Minnie frowned sternly. "Yea and you're the one who shot my dear dear friend." She felt James' bee wiggling in her hair. Well...at least big brother Jams heard this silly goose's confession. "Now stay there until James comes up here to cuff you."

Hearing Seth's and David's surrenders, Serena relaxed a bit, smiling wide. "...Thank you, guys." She put her arms down, turning to face them. However she jumped in surprise, giving the SCU a brief moment of freedom as she turned back around. Her eyes wide in shock from the amount of swords pointed right at her. Was Scrimgour insane?!

Before Serena could lift her violin and Minnie to shoot the spell caster, the earth vibrated from a loud 'thud'. People screamed, some pointed at the ever growing wall of dirt and sand that grew to cover the ones on the rooftops. The swords that flew towards Serena either got stuck on the wall or crashed into it and fell down. Everyone can see who did it too, considering how big Echo is right now.

"...Hi Echo!" Serena cheerfully greeted, waving at the red headed fawn who's glaring at the SCU like they were naughty kids. Then with a hum and another stomp, the dirt wall curled around the SCU; keeping them trapped in a tube with the ceiling open.

"Hello Serena, Minnie...Oh! Seth is here too." Echo was surprised to see the twin, her ears twitching. "Is everyone okay?" She asked to the crowd who are probably wondering why she's really big. "James?"

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Agraba -
" Governor's Hall "​

"But giant fluffy Echo." said Johnny, looking out the window longingly.

Back at the rooftop, Seth suddenly hugged Serena protectively, as the swords rained down on them, but all clunked dully as the shadow of Echo's earth wall protected them. The twin sighed in relief.

"We're all okay!" yelled James waving at her; somewhere, Sen's finger moved away from a big red button on a steam punk cannon. He was going to fire marshmallow bombs and turn everyone into marshmallows and somehow get his mallow brother and mallow friends out of there, but he was glad it didn't have to come to that.

"They got caught by Serena, Minnie, and Echo." he said to Pipino, sounding relieved. "It's over."

* * * *​

Later that afternoon, a very angry Scrimgour and his followers were taken into custody by James and Pond. The King and princess of Jahara had arrived and with Renee's help, Minnie's statements, and Serena's truth discernment, got Jonathan Wilde to confess to the royals and tell them that he had struck a deal with Scrimgour: let him go and get a share of the artifacts, in exchange for Seth, David, and Pipino. He had caved when he learned of what happened to Jeanne and said this was all his fault.

Pipino, David, and the twin were all sitting put as they waited for their turn for Mica to snuggle them.

"Oh, don't worry about this, Serena, it's fine." said Seth showing her the broken fingers, then gritting his teeth and manually fixing them back into place. "It'll hurt and swell, but they'll still work!" he said cheerfully.

Sen had carefully hugged Minnie. "Are you alright, Minnie? Did they hurt you, my Eastern Blue?" he said, tucking her hair behind her ear as he looked her over. He was very anxious whether they tortured her, because he really hated that memory when she had been hurt badly.

Johnny was happily rolling around Echo's giant fluffy legs, like someone blissfully content on a soft, soft bed. "Woohoo, Echo you're so fluffy!" he said face-planting on her thigh in front of everybody and flapping his arms and legs, as though making fur-angels.

Seifer chuckled, as he held his umbrella over Renee and their not-yet-born baby. "All's well that ends well.

That night, as they rode on Sen and Minnie's airship, the one they had used to come to the empire, with the CSU's zeppelin in tow, Seth looked at the cuffs around his wrists. They weren't sealing cuffs, he had asked James just put them on him and his friends, who thought they were going to bust out of here, but after hearing Seth's reason for giving himself up and leaving this life, the two had decided that they were going to be with him in jail so that he won't be alone, and so asked James to put the cuffs on them too.

"This is strange." said Pipino, looking at his hands. "Turning ourselves in."

"Tell your brother to put us in the same prisonhold, or we're going to break out." said David.

Seth chuckled. "You guys don't have to do this, you know. We still have a debt to pay."

"We'll think about it when we get out." said Pipino. "And by that I mean me and David."

"Eh?"

"We respect your decision. You should start anew, Seth. Nothing holding you down."

"No, we made that debt together."

"Did I hear the word debt?" came Seifer's voice. The model came strutting out from the hallway door. "How much do you owe people?"

* * * *​

Later that night, as Seifer cuddled with Renee, he told her. "Baby, are you okay with us relying on your money for the next two years and on Sirius' hunting?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Serena winced when Seth popped his fingers back and gently grabbed his hands with her callused ones; rubbing them comfortingly. "...I still don't like to see you hurt..." She pressed the ice pack she made with a piece of paper and ice on Seth's fingers to lower the swelling. She stared at his hands for a moment then she smiled tenderly at Seth. "These hands wanted to protect me, so I want to take care of them."

Minnie hugged Sen back, leaning her head on his hand that tucked her hair behind her ear. "Yes, I'm oka-" She jumped and tensed when her arm suddenly shot confetti, colorful paper pieces floated around. Then she laughed her chirpy laughter as she nuzzled his hand with her cheek. "I'm okay, my kooky inventor. Big Bro Jams defended me against Scrimgour during his interrogation...I'm sorry about my arm though."

Another confetti shot ringed in the room. "I made the jam in my arm worse by banging it on the wall..." Minnie admitted, furrowing her brows a bit as she sadly looked up at Sen.

Echo simply giggled as she tries to sit still while Johnny rolled on her fluffy thighs, her cheeks tinted in pink. Her thighs are ticklish-! She squirmed in place.

Renee nodded, helping Mica heal Johnathon's wounds as she professionally wrapped his paste covered arm with bandages. "There! That should do it. All done Mica?" The little ferret, who glared as a warning to Johnathon, chattered and she petted his head. She tilted her head towards Seifer, her wings fluttered as she smiled. "Yep!"

*****

Later that night, Renee cuddled with Seifer and nodded. "Of course it's okay!" She cupped his cheeks gently with an innocent smile.

It's too innocent...

"Besides I got James to let them work for me as community service. They're going to be gardening and helping me around the Order's medical wing for a while." Annnnd there's the mischievous grin that her brothers are infamous for.

"They are going to be very tired and probably will fall asleep if they are not careful with getting the herbs, but it'll be worth it to help others." Then she leaned in to give butterfly kisses on his face adoringly. "Thank you for helping my little brother and his friends. You're so sweet." Her wings fluttered slowly as a leg wrapped itself on his waist, bringing him close. "So so sweet...and yummy..."

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- The Order -​

"Yummy?" said Seifer, his voice becoming husky, "Are you flirting with me, Renee Pendragon?" he cooed close to her ear, as they cuddled tighter.

In another room, Sen was fixing Minnie's arm. Their bed was surrounded in confetti, as he finally removed the part jamming her gun. He was sitting on the floor with her gun arm parts all organized and labelled on a spread of clean cloth with a head lamp that had magnifying monocles, between his teeth was a pocket screwdriver with different screws, and his hands were slick with oil. "Ahhh, that's better." he said, holding up the jammed parts up to the light. "This needs a little welding, it's dented." he muttered, as he tied a paper around it and labeled it with a quill.

Seth, David, and Pipino weren't staying cells, they were sharing one of the rooms, but as of this moment the twin wasn't there. Seth, knocked on James' room.

"Enter." His older brother looked up in surprise when he saw it was him. "You knocked?"

"I heard you're going to fight to let the judges assign us community service in the Order too, so . . ." Seth shrugged and came in. James was reading next to the window, messy hair framing his placid eyes with a grace only few people have. On his table was tea and some sandwiches, and a picture frame of him, Lydia, and their scruffy dog, smiling under a desert sun.

He was studying a book of law and preparing the cases for Seth, David, Pipino, Jonathan, and Scrimgour, and on the window sill was a stone basin etched with Lydia's runes, where inside something like silvery mist or air turned into silver water was swirling; he'd tapped into it every now and then and a ghostly figure would appear from a memory speaking words said in the past. Right now it was Wilde confessing it was all his fault after he heard about what happened to Jeanne.

Seth picked his cuffs open, then pulled up a chair next to his brother. Then punched his shoulder.

"What was that for?!" said James, surprised, and punched him back.

"Thanks." said Seth.

James raised an eyebrow. "You're just trying to make me say something nice."

Seth grinned. "Yeah, and I mean it. Brother."

" . . . Are we friends now?" James quirked a smile.

" Yeah, we are."

James grinned. "Don't cry now, brother."

Seth chuckled. "Like heck I will. I'm going to serve my sentence and then when I get out, I'm going to find something honest to do with my life, James."

"That's good." he ruffled the twin's hair.

"Yeah, I'll come home and see mom too."

"Tell me when you're going, I'll pick you up from the train and ask Renee to come too. Mom's going to cry buckets, she's going to be there in the order's headquarters when we land together with dad. They really missed you these last three years, Seth."

"I know. I miss them too . . . Thank you, James." he smiled.

"You're welcome, Seth."

"Ahh, all this sappy love. Okay, I'm going to go thank sis and Echo too." He paused to listen for a moment. "Or, maybe tomorrow, they sound busy."

Honestly, three years later and those two couples are still going strong at it. And he wondered if Kenren and Chenglei were also still going strong at it. Somewhere, in a certain palace, an emperor was Ku~fufufu-ing as he prepared to eat a very delicious ramen.

* * * *​

When they arrived at the order, James gave Seth, Pipino, and David a night's rest. Tonight he was Seth's brother, but tomorrow, he will be one of the heads of the order and uphold the law.

Seth dawdled behind Serena, waiting to see if she was going to sleep immediately or maybe stay up a little longer. She had done a lot for him, and he wanted to use the last moments he had as a free man to do something to say thank you to her.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Renee hummed, her skin tingling from his coo-ing in her ear. "You know I am, Seifer Rathmore~" Her wings fluttered before coyly covering her redden cheeks as she leaned in to kiss him passionately. "We can take that bath too while we're at it."

*****

In another bedroom, Minnie was quietly writing with her left hand. There were moments where she would touch the metal parts of her shoulder and sigh; looking less tense then before. She peeked over her shoulder, teal blue eyes watching Sen work on her arm, and she smiled softly before going back to writing her new story. She let out a 'eh?' when he mentioned about the dented parts and looked down at her written paper.

"Sen?" Pushing herself out of the desk, she walked over to the inventive twin to sit next to him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you..."

*****

Serena raised a brow when Seth dawdled behind her and stopped on her way to her room. In her arms is a large basket filled with clean clothes. "Seth? Is there something---" She paused and pondered. "...Would you like a sweet? I can make us some? I'm dying for a pie!" It seems that she wanted to cheer Seth up again.

"Or maybe you'd like to stay in my room for tonight? We can talk and I can play my violin?"

*****

Somewhere, in a certain palace, Chenglei was struggling against his restraints while Kenren enjoys his ramen. Letting out his 'Hiiiiieeee~!'s.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- The Order -​

As he made out with Renee enthusiastically, Seifer scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom.

In another room where Sen was continuing assembling Minnie's gun arm, he smiled at her, touching the part she kissed, then hugged her warmly. "You're welcome, Minnie." He turned and pulled her close with his sitting legs and hummed, enjoying their closeness. He gazed down at her and kissed her cute nose. "What do you wanna' do tonight?"

* * * *​

Meanwhile, Seth stood by Serena's side and playfully bumped her shoulder. "I'd like both, Serena." he smiled humbly, and held her hand.

The order had grown the past six years, turning into a village, then a town of hardy folks who shared the same ideals. Many of the folks were Lydia's and Echo's soldiers from six years ago and so most were Orientals and satyrs. There were jewel-hearted elves too, who, touched by the return of Luthien, who was now as large as Claritas and Rhea, and standing proudly in the elves' new capital, came to offer their services.

As such there were houses here, and it was by a brook and on a great twisting tree where cottages were offered to the resting heroes and thieves.

Seth followed Serena, helping her by carrying ingredients of the pie across the brook. It was peaceful here, and a couple of fireflies floated among them as they crossed a ford surrounded by lily pads and a few croaking frogs. It was the twin's first time here, and he marveled at how Lydia, his siblings, and friends all made the Order grow. "Wow . . ." he said as they entered Serena's cottage. There were paintings here, most of them Renee's.

"Sis is amazing . . . she's blind but she painted all these?" he said in wonder.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

​

Minnie smiled and giggled when he kissed her button nose; letting out a mouse-like squeak when he pulled her in with his sitting legs. Her cheeks burned red. "Ca-can we snuggle? Under th-the c-covers?" She...shyly asked, gazing into his eyes for a bit before looking away and biting her bottom lip. She reached for his hand and placed it over her arm-less shoulder before reaching for the other to hold.

This is a habit she's developing; letting Sen touch her shoulder without the metal pieces. Lately she wanted him to touch it more. The inventive twin knows that she wouldn't let people go near her without her arm on. Much less touch her because of her fear of being touched by strangers. Yet she yearns for Sen to do it, encouraging him to touch her more even without her gun arm on.

*****

Serena grinned and bumped Seth's shoulder back playfully. "Alrighty then. Pie, it is!" She tenderly squeezed his hand. Her stomach fluttering in joy when he held her hand.

She lead Seth to her keep, walking slowly so Seth can see everything that has happen during the three years he wasn't here. She loved hearing the frogs croak and seeing the fireflies calmly flutter around and blinking their soft glow. When they entered her cottage, the blonde cackled in amusement.

"Yep. She did. Apparently acrylic paint helps make texture on the canvas. She told me once that she couldn't be the only blind one in the Order so if anybody wants to feel something to see, they can by touching these pieces. There's more in the other cottages and houses in the Order." She explained as she placed the basket down on the table of the living room. Beside each painting is a title; the one with a couple under umbrellas is called 'Warmth under Umbrellas, Lights for the rain.'

Then she went to the kitchen, turning on the oven to heat up slowly. "Any type of pie you want to eat, Seth?" Serena asked as she started to prep the measuring cups on the counter, tying a red bandana on her head to pull her hair back. Then she put on a matching apron, grumbling a bit as she couldn't tie it right. The strings are too loose and would untie itself. "...Oh my goodness...why does this always happen to me?" She grumbled. He can hear the pout in her tone.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- The Order -​

"Banana cream pie with oatmeal ice cream, please." said Seth, placing the basket on the table and taking out a bottle of whip cream and a jug of milk. Hands brushed against hers as the twin stepped close behind her to tie the apron. It went taught across her hips.

"Does that feel alright?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Serena jumped at the feel of his hands tying her apron, her cheeks turning pink. She peeked over her shoulder with a bright smile. "Yes. That feels about right." The blonde turned around to kiss Seth's cheek, cupping the other gently.

"Thank you, Seth." Then she started to measure the flour once she saw it out, putting a little bit of salt and cinnamon in the mix. The violinist quietly moved about, chopping bananas into slices with a sharp knife. Now that she has her back to Seth, he can see her pale long neck under her golden fluffy looking hair; modest with her long white sleeves pulled back to her elbows and walking around with plain red flats.

"...Seth?" Serena called out quietly, sighing heavily as she cracked eggs with a spoon. "...W-will you be okay tomorrow?"

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- The Order -​

"You're welcome, Serena." smiled Seth, and kissed her shoulder as she passed by. He brought in some firewood and heated up the brick oven, then donned a spare apron and got to whisking some eggs, cream, maple syrup, honey, and vanilla in a bowl.

Crickets chirped outside as they heard a couple of owls hooting by the bubbling brook. There was a coolness in the night, and soon the first drops of rain began to pour. He watched Serena move, feeling a quiet happiness, as he covered the ice cream mix with a clean cloth, then asked her to freeze the bowl. This felt very home-y, cooking together in a kitchen they share. The night is cold, but the oven is warm and toasty. As they passed each other again around the table, Serena would feel a shy peck on the back of her neck, and see Seth smiling at her shyly, before mixing some sugar and butter.

"I don't know, Serena, but I trust in James and Lydia. They'll be fair, and they say the judge tomorrow is impartial. So, while I know I'm going to get what I deserve, I'm also sure that it won't be anything cruel." he said, looking into his bowl pensively. He looked scared. Seth was a free spirit, so years in a cage sounded daunting.

He looked up at her. "I'm . . . scared. I . . . really don't want to stay in jail for ten or twenty years . . . I'm going to be very good so that I can get out early."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

"Ah..." Serena touched the back of her neck where Seth kissed, looking at him with a bashful smile of her own. Her cheeks tinted pink.

As she listened to Seth and grabbing the pans to put on the table with wax paper, the blonde reached over and hugged him tightly. Wrapping her arms around his waist, pulling him close.

"Seth," she mumbled into his clothes. "It's going to be okay. If James can defend Minnie from the most demonized man on the face of this realm, then I'm sure he can defend his own little brother in the face of impartial judges." He can feel her hands rubbing his back comfortingly. "I know it's scary to be stuck in a cage but I doubt it will be for so long like twenty years. Maybe five or six, plus community service. Then there's your testimony against Scrimgour and his torturous ways, it will help alleviate on the years too."

Then she sighed, rubbing her nose on his button one, cupping his cheeks. "I will come visit everyday and bring you something nice like sweets or any sort of food you want. I promise to be nearby and cheer you on, help you as much as I can so you don't have to be afraid in there." Her hands are shaking; nervous for Seth in the trail tomorrow. Her blue eyes gazed back into Seth's auburn ones.

"I won't let you be alone. Not if I can help it." She grinned at him.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- The Order -​

Seth kissed her. His mitten hands holding her own. He was blushing when they parted, looking teary. "Thank you, Serena, for being so nice to me after breaking up with you and making you sad. You're a really good friend. I-I'd like pies and your food, and vinyl records of your music, and just visiting is okay, and to see my big sister's son or daughter too. I don't know how I can help you too in prison, but I want to support you too." he nodded at her happy and determined as the tears fell. He was very touched by her kindness and gave her a biiiig hug.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Serena's grin grew into a smile, cackling a bit as she hugged back tightly. "I-I'm glad to hear that, Seth." His determination, she means. She can hear it in his tone of voice. "I'm really glad." Her own voice trembled as she sniffed, wiping her own tears on his shoulder before leaning back a bit with a wide and bright smile. He can see that her eyes are misty, the sapphire color wavered in the upcoming tears that's coming; touched by his words.

Then...she cupped his cheeks again, still tender and sweet, rubbing her thumbs. There's white dust puffing from contact and when she lets go, there's flour marks on his face, in the shape of her hands. Serena grinned mischievously. "Heheheh-ah-huck!" She had secretly powdered her hands in the left over flour as she leaned away from their hug. "Sorry, Seth. I couldn't resist marking you with flour. Heheh-huuuu!"

The violinist ran off tot he living room, wanting to escape Seth's clutches should he ever chase her. "You look cute like that, Seth~!"

Zer0