Gaide's Reign

Chapter 22:

"Errr..." Dimitri stared right back at her, suddeny feeling very uncomfortable. He scratched his arm awkwardly, feeling both a mix of relief and discomfort. "Um... Hi."

Melody tilted her head, and pryed herself away from Skylar who had he rback and legs supported against him. An awkward silence filled the room. Her hair was a bit messy and damp from the snow that began to melt from the heat of the house.

Suddenly she was by him, gripping him in a hug that was hard to break. It was clear she was crying,"You...you fucking scared me!!" the tone in her voice was odd, contrasting from the warm gesture, hinging from hotsile to relief,"Don't just...just go and do that..."

"Uhhh..." the melted snow that was all over her was touching his skin and making him shiver. Stupid snow. "I'm- uh- sorry, Melody..er..." he was getting increasingly uncomfortable in the contrasting gesture.

"We went to look--and then Rayan went--and then I thought they couldn't find you--so I thought you could be--" there were awkward pauses between her words, sounding sort of like gibberish,"And you seemed so mad--and then I was so scared--and then Kaine--and then I heard about Dal--and your wing?" She glaned over to the empty space; it was clear as day through her tears "...what happened? Did they hurt you? We'll get them I promise--" She sounded extremely out of character, replacing angry rants of a horomonal immature young lady to this worried&vulnerable pathetic thing. She turned red, because she couldn't help it.

Dimitr pulled a face between confusion at her broken rant to scarcely hidden amusment at her scarlet face. "Um..." he didn't even bother trying to answer any of the half-said questions she blurted out "Are you okay?"

"Well I'm here, aren't I? And does that really matter--"

Skylar laughed, and rubbed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index,"Yes, yes, of course."

Her face reddened even more, seeming more like the old self that was away for song long from them. Melody had completely forgotten the other people in the room, and this embarassed her beyond relief. She could feel the discomfort emitting from beneath her, not being able to tell if it was some sort of rejection or out of his odd old habits. By now she looked almpst as red as the tips of her hair.

She cleared her throat, and slowly let go of him, setting herself by the one winged friend.

"S-sorry..."

Rayan laughed, and squished by Melody on the shrinking couch.

Dalamir grunted at discomfort from behind in physical contact with Dimitri, wing glowering above him like some annoying heavenly reminder. He looked away from everyone else, sending cusses to his brother mentally,"You're such a tart, Rayan."

"Oh, screw you!" Rayan said lightheartedly,"See, isn't this cozy?"

Melody shrank as both her legs were touching Dimitri and Rayan. She twiddled her thumbs in slight annoyance, and Rayan sank in cozily as if it was his own bed,"...splendid."

Dimitri shifted, frowning profusely. He side-glanced Dalamir and reached up to try and pull his wing out of the older elf's personal bubble. "Sorry." he mumbled, sending a light glare over to Rayan "Is this really neccesary?" he growled, looking almost as grouchy as Dalamir.

"Oh, completely!" Rayan beamed, throwing an arm across the back of the couch, reaching across Melody's shoulders and almost reaching halfway through Dimitri's.

Melody groaned, looking irritated, but she couldn't help but smile. She finally felt at home.

"Isn't this a lovely?" Skylar laughed, watching them while leaning on the wall. He was highly entertained.

"It's like a reunion!!" Rayan nudged Melody lightly, something that travelled all the way down to Dalamir. Melody winced as he squished her up against Dimitri. Dalamir growled, and shoved back,

"Goddammit Rayan this is a reunion, not an orgy!!"

Dimitri swore something ugly and reached up his fist to cuff him rather harshly in the head "Don't shove me, you doorknob, I didn't do anything!"

Dalamir whined rather loudly, and forced himself off the couch, forcing everyone to tilt to the right because of the sudden empty space.

He grumpily stormed over to the wall by Skylar, corssing his arms in a brooding expression.

Rayan pushed hismelf off Melody, and shot a glare at Dalamir,"Fine, you can just miss out on our cool couch."

Melody blew a stray strand of hair out of her face, and grunted a low sorry to Dimitri and she pressed off him.

Dimitri grumbled something and curled up into the corner of the couch. He looked very indignant, and felt so. He made a half-hearted attempt to fix his unruly hair, but failed. He corssed his arms and settled for giving Rayan a condescending look at the chaos he had ensued.

Rayan returned to look for several seconds, and Melody drew up her legs and shrank beneath both their menacing looks. The elf broke his glare by sticking his tongue out childishly. He threw a pillow at Dimitri's head,"Fine, fine, sorry!"

Auden smiled at how everyone seemed nostalgic to this scene, and shut the door to keep snow from falling back in.

Skylar shifted away from the brooding Dalamir, and sat politely on the floor in front of the couch.

Rayan looked to Melody and gave her a friendly hug,"So you're okay right?"

She smiled and scratched her head,"I guess you could say that..."

Dimitri pulled the pillow from his head and clutched it to his chest. "Well, what were you up to?" he asked, still feeling very distinctly an awkward sheild between the two of them.

She looked to the ground, away from him,"Skylar and Rayan were taking a while...so I thought I'd come after you too."

Dimitri's eyebrows slid downwards, and he frowned, sighing. "That wasn't very smart." he said cynically.

The red in her face returned, and he ears flopped,"I know, I know...I guess...I was eager or something." Melody sighed, defeated,"Not that it really got me anywhere though. Kaine bagged me."

Dimitri wrinkled his nose at the name, looking down at the cushion he was holding "He let you go?"

Melody smoothed her hair down, and tapped her fingers lightly on her knees,"Yeah...Morgan and Nightshade were there too." she forced out the last two names with some disdain, squirming.

A twitch of aggravation made it's way to Dimitri's face, both women holding a place of resentment in his heart. "What a party..." he grumbled acidly.

Rayan looked utterly worried,"Did they do anything to you?"

Melody shrugged,"Not really." Her nose twitched, and she rolled her eyes slightly at this, playing around with her fingers,"Nightshade was being a bitch though, as usual, throwing me around a bit..."

"We've all been there." Dimitri offerred, continuing to stare stormily into the wall opposite them, imagining their subject there, smirking and twirling her gun around. He ground his teeth together.

Melody took an extremely quick sideglance at him and smiled. It seemed sort of cruel, but she liked the tone in his voice while discussing this. She sighed again,"Yeah, but luckily they seemed in a mood not to puncture me. Kaine let me go..." she sounded kind of distant, as if remembering something. Her voice softened as she mentioned him. It could've been becasue they were off the previous topic,"I'm kinda confused as to why though. Morgan was pretty pissed though."

Dimitri thought about it for a moment. Only a moment though, because that was just as long the amount of patience or interest he he had think about Kaine or Morgan would last. "She was probably angry he was keeping you around, for reasons other than to mutilate you. Felt threatened, maybe." he replied, not really sure, and mostly just guessing.

She laughed light-heartedly, and shook her head,"Hardly. I really doubt I'd ever be able to compete with her. You don't know...how protective Kaine is of her."

"I can imagine," he said honestly, thinking back to a time when he had pressed his gun into Morgan's head; remembering Kaine's expression at the sight. Remembered the wound Dimitri got for it afterwards.

"Well anyways," Melody continued, adjusting herself on the couch,"I was alone for a while, looking around for you guys--"

Skylar observed her, watching the movements in her eyes and body language.

Not to mention, the lack of something.

"...where is it?" he asked, tone extremely low.

Dimitri's eyes went from Skylar to Melody.

Melody stared at Skylar, who only returned the favour with this menacing look that almost scared her. She swallowed whatever was caught in her throat, and cleared her throat,"...he's safe. Don't worry."

Dalamir looked over from his brooding.

Rayan leaned in, a look of confusion forming in his face.

"Where is he, then?" his voice was bleak and short, something like resentment working it's way in.

Melody heard the ice in Dimitri's voice, and recoiled a bit, reminded of the night he left,"...Gaide has him. The good one."

"...No safer place." he commended, looking back to the wall.

Dalamir arched a brow,"And how the hell did that happen? You don't see Bara just wandering--"

She shot him a glare, one that could've penetrated glass, make it seem non-existant-- he drew back a bit, and muttured a soft apology. Melody's nerves heightened, as she felt the wall between Dimitri and herself become thicker for a moment,"I'd...rather not discuss it." her attempt to change the topic was rather pathetic.

Dimitri turned his head to meet her gaze "Don't you owe it to them to at least discuss your child's miraculous survival? They've been worried." his tone was clipped, something he winced at inwardly.

Melody flinched at the pins of his voice, and gave him this look. She felt like he was talking to her indirectly, or didn't really wnat to dicuss anything with her at all. It was unbearable to be beside him, and surrounded by all these other guys questioning her. She didn't really want to drag it out or whine any longer, so she continued, sounding defeated,"It wasn't really complicated. I was wandering around and he and this other dick-ish kinda guy just kinda...landed."

Auden looked away, kind of embarassed,"That dick's probably Talen."

Skylar cocked his head,"So what they just kinda..." he looked sort of embarassed at this,"...took the baby out?"

Melody rolled her eyes,"It wasn't that complicated. I was on the ground, already heaving and whatnot." she coughed, trying her best to leave out the details,"Gaide explained htings to me...and that he wasn't gonna hurt it; it would be better if he was the highest place away from...Kuroi," she wicned at the name,"It seemed like a smart idea. I didn't really...feel anything after that. I remember a light and that I suddenly felt lighter." she rubbed her arm, feeling sort of half gone,"...he let me talk to him for a while. Then they were gone."

"Did you at least name him before he went on his way?" the question was stupid and random, but it was all he could muster at the moment; and maybe he was just a little curious.

"Darren." Melody answered quickly, putting as much love and effort into the name as she could in those two syllables as she could,"They promised I'd see him again-- I believe them."

He just nodded shortly, not hinting that the name wasn't his favourite or that it sounded kind of stupid to him. He also refrained from making a snide comment about believing warlords, sparing her his cynicism. "Sounds cute."

Melody's face reddened even more, and her face sunk into her knees out of no where. She appreciated his effort, but still felt unbearably awkward.

Rayan pouted, and pet her shoulder lightly,"Awwwh, sorry Mel!"

You could hear her muffled tone,"Well I'd rather not keep going on and on about a baby sounding like some sex fiend who got knocked up after school or something." she complained.

Dalamir rolled his eyes,"Well it kinda makes--"

"Oh fuck you."

Dimitri arose from the couch suddenly, wavering slightly, trying to catch his balance. Once he stood firmly on his feet he wandering into the kitchen, went to the sink, and poured himself a cup of water. An aggravated groan could be heard from him as his hands wandered in and out of his pockets.

Melody was aware of the sudden space beside her, and drew back from her knees, shifting awkwardly.

Skylar sighed, and walked over to Dimitri, getting a bottle of cooler from the fridge. He had a massive headache from all of this; a little tipsyness wouldn't hurt. He leaned over to Dimitri, and gave him this look,"...what's wrong?" he asked quietly, Melody and Rayan chatting in the background, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Dimitri met his look, returned it, letting his eyes drift downwards to the object in his hands. His nose wrinkled and he turned back to the sink, putting the cup gently into the metal basin. He drummed his fingers on the counter "This is just weird, that's all." he said finally, feeling stupid that that was all he could come up with.

Skylar took a sip of the fruity-spiked-lemonade taste, and set it on the table,"Why? Was your goodbye speech that dickwad-like?"

Dimitri pulled a face at him, having half a mind to break the bottle over Skylar's head just to wipe the smugness and know-it-all out of his voice. But the very idea of touching the bottle made him quiver a little "Well, it wasn't very nice Skylar, no." he said in a low voice "I said some things I shouldn't have said, but also that I don't want to apologize for."

Skylar shook his head, but then suddenly ended up chuckling lowly, as this reminded him of some lame post-gym class locker room discussion, and at the frustration in Dimitri's voice,"Well are you gonna keep being a dickwad--well, not saying you weren't really half of one before, no offense," he added quickly,"But you don't want things to be htis...weird, do you?"

He refilled the cup with water for lack of something to do with his hands. "What do you expect me to do? Go and apologize, expect her to forgive me, have a lovely heart-warming hug and go on my way?" there was something angry in his voice which lacked mirth, probably triggered by Skylar's annoying laughs. He shifted the cup in his hand around, watching the water move in a circle, some of it sloshing over the rim and onto his hand.

He gave Dimitri this highly annoyed look, as he watched his counter get drenched in water,"No, of course not. I'm a simple man, not a miracle worker, and you have some sort of emotional baggage shoved up your ass, and you're being everything but Mr. Wonderful." Skylar hissed sounding colder, bitter ,"But not trying isn't helping very much either. You're fucking crazy, tossing around smart-ass comments like that. Just don't...end up hurting her." The last sentence teetered between common sense and some unseen worry about her. As if he knew too much.


Dimitri bit back something like a harsh reply, pouring the water back down the sink, half-thinking about getting a cloth and cleaning the mess. "And why do you care so much? Hm? I don't understand you Skylar, at all. I don't get why you've been helping us. I don't get why you busted us out of jail, or let us stay here, or came looking for me, or why you care about Melody's feelings, I don't get it." it was apparant he was trying very hard to keep his voice low, there was less anger, but a little more frustration "Don't think I'm ungrateful or anything, because I'm very thankful for everything, Skylar. It just confuses me and torments me to no end as to why you keep doing this. I just wish you would give me something before you start telling me who I should and should not be hurting, because I really want to be able to trust you. I just can't when I don't understand you at all." his voice lowered down to something empty and genuine, tired, maybe.


Skylar stared at him for several moments, giving him this look that couldn't be read off as any sort of expression. A sly smile took hold on his lips,"I've been alive since the beginning of this war." he said simply, as if it was some commonly known fact,"I'm part of the war-- not like some pet who obeys orders or gives into commands...I guess you could say. I am the war." He pushed himself off the counter, walking out into the hall. He gestured for Dimitri to follow.

Dimitri frowned at the prospect of walking, but followed him anyways, pushing his hand to the wall for support as he walked.

In the dimmer light of the hallway, Skylar looked to the hardwood floor, scratching his chest. He continued,"I don't want to complicate things, so I'll keep this simple. I remember what you were...before this. Before you died, I guess."

Dimitri's frown only deepened, and his brows came together. He leaned heavily against the wall "I think that complicates things a little..." he offerred half-heartedly, something leaping up inside him at the idea of knowing himself, both excited and scared.

Skylar watched him and smiled teasingly,"I'll stop it if you want."

Dimitri shot him a look, annoyed by his light-heartedness of a topic that was this important. He exhaled silently, cracked his neck. "Fine. Continue."

Skylar tapped his hands on the wall, and shuffled around, shifting his hands into his pockets,"Look," he sighed,"I'm warning you, Dimmy, just listen to me. There are some things you'll probably want to know...and don't."

The look that he had made on his face contorted a bit at the name "You are making this really difficult." he mumbled, crossing his arms. He gave a half sigh "Isn't it better than not knowing at all?"

"Not exactly." Skylar replied simply, looking up at the ceiling as if trying to recall everything.

Dimitri wrinkled his nose "Well what do you expect me to say Skylar? I don't know what I want to know, can you just tell me something?"

"Well, you're definitely nicer now." He drummed his fingers against the wall, closing his eyes,"...a sad alcoholic with very few, but very good friends." Skylar pursed his lips, as if trying to decide his limits or not.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, adjusting "I knew about the alcoholic part already." he agreed, not sounding very satisfied.

He smiled, reaching his goal,"Well you did say anything," Skylar stuck out his tongue jokingly, only to take on his serious expression again,"Not to sound bleak or anything, but you died sort of...uh..."

He couldn't help but roll his eyes "Well, I knew that." he grumbled.

Skylar's eyes flickered to him, and arched a brow,"The oh so important details? I doubt it." he scoffed, tapping the wall another two times.

Melody's old giggle filled the room, as Rayan inquired her of all the happenings that had taken place. She found amusement in the thought of running into some of Dimitri's old friends, especially as Rayan attempted half-ass impersonations of both Fale and Dominic.

Dimitri cocked his head from the sound, which seemed a bit contrasting to the slightly somber air around him. He met Skylar's gaze, looking a bit annoyed "I don't know the details, no. Sometimes I get vague images but none of them make any sense so it doesn't really help."

"Let's see." Skylar's voice was dulled, and he suddenly sounded extremely worn out, as if he had been running laps around his house,"Sum it up; anger, vehicles, broken glass, and spontaneous..." he couldnt put a word on it,"Not passion...well sort of...spontaneous moment of weakness I guess. You can thank a dog in the road." he laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

Dimitri sighed, Skylar's tired laugh making him feel a little guilty. He pieced things together rather quickly "Car crash." he mumbled, that one image left to him of a car and blood racing his mind.

He nodded in reply, and yawned, stretching his arms out in an over the top manner,"Look, Dimitri, it's not my job to tell you about your past. I know it may seem that way but...just trust me okay?"

Dimitri nodded as well, not feeling any better than he did before, but maybe less lost. "Yeah, alright." he reached up to scratch the back of his neck "But you gotta understand, Sky, that it's not very easy for me to put on a smile and at least be decent to someone I got into a fight with." he added, referring obviously to their hanyou friend "I know you don't want me to hurt her, and I really don't either; but I'll try my best, kay?"

"You did say you'd speak with her," Skylar noted, pushing himself off the wall. He started to make his way back to the living room,"Thank you, Dimitri." he smiled and slid a hand over his shoulder before walking back into the scene.

Dimitri grunted back. As Skylar left he shut his eyes and kneaded his forehead with his knuckles, sighing heavily. "I'm not good at talking to people." he muttered to himself, following Skylar out shortly afterward.

Rayan flicked his head over to Skylar and Dimitri, smiling smugly,"Well, look what the cat dragged in,"His ears flittered happily, looking to Dimitri. He mocked his monotone expression,"Awwwh, Mr. Grumpypants..."

Dimitri put his hands on his hips "Well, aren't you in a chipper." he grumbled grouchily, staring down his nose at the elf. He was very aware he was fitting Rayan's insult aptly.

Rayan stared at him in several seconds, and as a result, burst out laughing spontaneously,"Please, don't do that!"

Dimitri gave him an apalled look "Do what?"

Rayan shoved his nose up in air overdramatically, pouting his lower lip, shaking his head vigourously. He looked absolutely ridiculous,"That doesn't suit you!!"

Dimitri rolled his eyes, settled them in a glower at Rayan. "Well, that doesn't suit you either." he retorted, pointing at the elf's ludicrous visage.

Rayan stopped and gave him a snide smile,"Oh, stop it." He closed his eyes and raised his eyebrows in mock-dissapointment,"You these days..." He shook his head.

Dimitri palmed his forehead, feeling defeated. He collapsed in an dumb looking heap beside Rayan on the couch, trying for a second time that day to fix his unruly hair.

The elf looked rather cocky and triumphant,grinning madly,"Hoho, looks like Scrooge has been outwitted!" Rayan yawned, and stretched his arms across both Melody's and Dimitri's shoulders.

Melody laughed lowly, and even Dalamir chuckled a bit, pushing himself off the wall, muttering dark insults better left unheard.

Dimitri made some noise that was a mix between a grunt and a whine; it was muffled, however, as he bent down forward, as if he was gonna throw up, and did his best to cover his slightly red face with his one wing. "That name is so demeaning...." he grumbled.

The elf's expression loosened and almost fell of his face, and this ridiculous amount of sympathy overwhelming him,"Awwh, I'm sorry!" his voice cracked in the high pitched state.

Melody smiled a bit, and her lips pulled into this ridiculous almost sad smile,"I always thought you were sensitive."

The angel felt this almost overwhelming need to collapse entirely off the couch to avoid them, but refrained, decided that would be painful and the getting-up process would not be worth it. He instead lifted his tomato face slightly to stare pathetically at them. "Whatever...I am not sensitive; I just think I don't represent Scrooge that much..." his facial hair ridden jaw, tabacco scent and doomsday attitude disagreed "...do I?"

Everyone in the room looked at him, and this awkward silence filled the air. Rayan blinked, feeling rather guilty all of a sudden.

"Of course you do--"

Melody, Rayan, and Skylar shot sharp glares towards Dalamir, who refrained from continuing.

Melody scratched her head, chewing on the inside of her cheek,"No, Dimitri, you don't, don't worry about it."

"We're just bugging you," Rayan smiled softly, and toussled his hair from behind, finally feeling a little bigger,"Dally's worse,"

"Hey..." he replied bluntly.

Dimitri said something ugly under his breath, hearing the well-meaing lies in their words. He leaned back on the couch, his back not up for the slumping. He hugged a cushsion to his chest, looking ready to drop dead in sleep on top of it. "Ahh, it's fine... I can understand where it comes from. I mean, look at me." he said with humour and a great deal less resentment than before.

Rayan pouted ridiculously,"Well you're not so bad! I mean... sometimes it's fun..."

Dimitri gave him this look, sinking deeper in the cushion and the couch "...fun?"

"Well, yeah....I think I worded that wrong..."

"Well we like you for you, Dimitri," Melody sighed, leaning out to see him,"I guess you're kinda...grumpy sometimes, but has that really changed the fact that we'rre still hanging around you?"

Rayan smiled, thankful for Melody's pick-up,"Yes, honestly, if it was out of hand I would've ditched you by now."

Dimitri gave them this sort of crooked half-smile "Er... thanks." he said, as honestly as he could "I--" he was interrupted by an obnoxious yawn, one that served to embarrass him a little. He placed his hand over his mouth, tried to cover it up with a cough as colour returned to his cheeks.

Melody watched him, and smiled softly, giggling a bit. She realised she must've sounded like an idiotic school girl, because the giggling wouldn't stop. Eventually she did, and scartched her nose,"Sorry...and no problem."

Rayan was highly amused.

The giggling and amusement of the two did nothing but serve to, if possible, turn Dimitri's gace even redder. And now all he was embarrassed about was his crimson face; so he rose to his feet and wandered over to the kitchen again to get a glass of water. After downing and taking several deep breaths he returned back to his position on the couch, looking ten times paler and ten times grumpier. "What time is it?" he said finally.

"Oh," Rayan's eyes raced for a clock around the room, head turning,"Well from outsiiiide--"

"A bit past seven." Dalamir cut in.

Rayan gave him this look of dissapproval and dissapointment,"Grr, who cares about you..."

Dimitri crumbled into the corner of the couch, tucking the cushion under his neck. It felt later. He raised half-lidded, baggy eyes to Dalamir "Why're you in such a piss?" he asked, not really annoyed with him.

Dalamir rasied an eyebrow at this,"A piss? Oh? Well I feel perfectly content." he snickered,"Not really. Maybe I'm the Scrooge."

Dimitri refrained from the snide comment that rose in him, a little too tired to keep coming up with them if he started the spat. "What's the matter, then?" he settled with.

The older elf sighed, twisting his face a bit. He looked to the floor and shuffled his feet,"Unlike Santa's helper," he shot a quick glance ot his brother,"Snow makes me tired and weak, it's nearly impossible to enjoy one single day without eye irritation and my hair breaking."

Dimitri couldn't help but steal a smirk at Rayan "Weeellll, seems I'm not the only one who has a beef with this pretty weather that reminds you of home." he joked.

Rayan shook his head, still in denial,"Whatever...though it does kill my hair." He looked overdramatically to the strands covering his face,"Beauty is pain!"

Dimitri gave him a very pointed look "You're ridiculous, Rayan." he sighed "Can't you not act like a girl, some time?" he added, only half-kidding.

"Heyyy..." Rayan gave him a blatant expression,"It's not that girly, Dim," he pointed out,"At least I can take care of myself..." this was an indirect jab at Dimitri.

Dimitri frowned at him, reaching out a leg to kick the elf in the shin, rather hard. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Rayan yelped, grabbing his shin,"Ow!! That hurt!!" His nose flared up and he smacked Dimitri with equal force to the arm,"I was kidding, Dimitri! I get it, that scuffy unrefined look you and Skylar have going on,"

Skylar's eyes narrowed at this, and he threw his head up, looking rather high and mighty. He glowered at Rayan below him. The elf, feeling overpowered and a bit threatened by his enigmatic looming.

This made him unbearably nervous,

"Oh, Skylar, you pull it off very well...heh...I bet ladies are all over you..."

The look of disspointment still loomed a bit, but he nodded in approval, scratching his chin.

Dimitri bit down on his lip to keep himself from laughing as he rubbed his arm in the offended spot. "Ohhh, are you saying I don't pull it off well? Is that it?" he said in an offended tone, entirely joking.

"Oh, nu nu nuuu!" Rayan voice was sort of high pitched, looking to the angel,"I'm just poking at you, just saying I wanna look different from you two; there's nothing wrong with shaving it off every morning, I'm almost certain people love it. Dimitri, I think you're rather handsome!" He put this joking face on and rubbed his bare chin, mocking Skylar, who only laughed in response.

"You know sometimes I really question if you're straight or not." Dalamir was chuckling lowly while saying this, looking rather upbeat.

Rayan's ears flared up and he glared needles at him,"What?! I'm not gay, what the hell are you talking about?! I love boobs!! I'd stare at them all day if I could!"

Melody gave him this piercing look and had a half mind to smack him on the head but she resorted to giggling hysterically and throwing a pillow at his face.

Skylar burst out laughing even harder, placing his arm on the wall and resting his head against it.

"Pfft!" Dimitri cackled light-heartedly, and uncharacteristically, at Rayan. He pat him on the head mockingly "Well, as long as they don't catch you staring I'm sure it's fine."

The elf turned bright red; it was like some sort of disease being passed around that night. He smiled nonetheless, and cleared his throat,"Heh. Well I guess I got my payback for teasing you around there."

Dimitri gave him a tired wink "Ehh, maybe just a little." he rubbed his eyes "Well, sorry to break up this little fest, but I am beat. Skylar, is there any place I could crash?" he asked Skylar, as politely as he could.

"Yes, actually." Skylar waved his hand over to where he was sitting lazily,"All over heeere...there's that couch, and that comfy chair, and the floor...and the guest--"

"Shotgun guest room, bye kids!" Dalamir smiled wiely and out of character, springing off to a small room down the hall. The floor slammed shut behind him.

Dimitri frowned deeply, cracking his knuckles; he could've sworn a gust of wind passed over them as Dalamir rushed by. He grumbled angry and annoyed curses under his breath as he dragged himself over to the chair Skylar had mentioned, curling up as best he could in it. "Stupid elves... no manners...common courtesy... guests in the house..."

A look of disapproval was given to Dimitri from Rayan. He couldn't hold it for long, and smiled wryly,"Sorry about Dal."

He waved dismissively "Bah. It's fine. I expect it from him." he said with some mirth.

Skylar yawned and stretched, heading down the hall,"I'll be back with more blankies and pillows for you kids." he dissapeared.

Rayan sighed, and crawled off the couch onto the floor,"I'll be a sweetheart and take one for the team."

Melody smiled, and nodded in appreciation,"You're a doll, Rayan. Thank you."

The elf smiled, glowing.

"Oh yeah. So doll-like in fact, I'm overwhelmed with the need to tie up your hair in pigtails." came the remark from the stupid looking heap of limbs, wing and cushion from where Dimitri was trying to make himself comfortable on the chair.

Rayan only laughed in response, and grabbed a pillow and a blanket that was dumped beside him. He nodded in thanks to Skylar, who tossed more supplies to the angel and hanyou,

"G'night, kids!" he skidded off to his room.

Melody stretched herself out on the couch, hugging a pillow to her head.

Dimitri covered his entire self in the blanket and pillow and drifted off almost immediately.

Auden smiled as they all drifted away, and tiptoed after Skylar. Skylar turned around to him, and sighed, twitching his nose at him.

Auden felt sort of awkward, looking up to Skylar. He felt short and underpower despite his military power, especially compared to the tall and well-built assets Skylar had no intention of hiding. He shifted uncomfortably, beginning to speak,

"..well,I--"

"Don't worry about it," he sighed, scratching his neck,"You do what you have to, I can deal with it later."

He shrank back again, this sudden guilt coming over him. The wood of the floor shuffled against his feet,"I'm sorry--"

"You can let yourself out.Goodnight." Skylar shut the door behind him before he could finish.

He winced at the cold pronounciation in his voice, great in contrast to his fellowship-esque welcoming previously,"See you around..."

Silence.

Auden sighed, and made his way out of the home.