A Reopening Welcoming Party (OPEN)

A party like one that has never been seen, and it was being held at a grand palace. People from all over the Multiverse would be joining in the merry celebration and outrageous party guests. Tora didnt know how he got dragged into doing this but it seemed fun and alot had gone into setting up the party.

Along the left side of the ballroom was table upon table of different foods and each table had foods that were special from different worlds. In the far distance from the big entranceway was a stage where stood a whole matter of instruments, which Tora liked alot because he could play almost any instrument. Other than that he seemed like a normal event with half of the ballroom cluttered with tables and chairs for people to mingle. Leaving a huge open area near the stage for those who liked to be the life of the party.

However the whole palace had been set aside for the party so the ballroom was not the only place to have fun. The entire second floor was dedicated to Chocobo racing. The third floor was made into a Casino, which had a full bar added in for extra measure. Everywhere else in the building was full of games that you get tickets if you win, and the tickets could be traded in for such things as costumes, props, weapons, all kinds of odd things.

"Seems like everything is coming along just fine."

Just as he said this a huge disco-ball was hung up on the ceiling and the finishing decor was placed on the tables. Tora made a couple of boxes for people to place their names in for a drawing for prizes later on. Then it suddenly hit him, they had not booked anyone to play on stage for the entire night, but it was quickly resolved when one of the people who was helping set it up suggested Karaoke.

Finally all was done, and Tora could finally relax before the guests were set to arrive, which was in a few minutes. He took this time to begin playing some of the instruments. He picks up a guitar and begins to play, and some of his 'coworkers' join in as he begins to sing.

(Plays)

Zorn
Thorn

We walked into the multiplex, and otherwise were amazed by the futuristic technology in here. So many knobs and doodads were there, and overwhelmed we quickly became. Something else we weren't used to was the loud noises coming from boxes a ways into the platform. Not bad were they, but something everyday they were not either. After the noise, referred to by party goers as music, Eidolons forbid, had ended we found ourselves feeling refreshed, though that was more than likely to be our personal preferences. Classical our tune was and stand that loud music we could not. We figured it would grow on us though.

Walking around through the crowd we were asked by many to perform. Jesters we were mistaken for but perhaps good it was, the part our costumes looked. We hadn't really practiced being performers or actual court jesters on account that we were in constant survival mode. Time made we had not, and for it, too uncertain we were, perhaps. We continued looking through in hopes something more interesting would spring up.

The Universal Multiplex... Dian heard that in this place a big party was going to be celebrated, and managed to get into it without much problems. He waws not the kind of person for parties, but he didn't have much more to do, and if it meant free food, then by all means it was a worth visit. Just as he entered the music started playing, with a familiar looking person leading the song with the guitar. He would later go to say hi to that person.

So, there are other floors too...

Dance, Chocobo and Casino. Which to choose? He was not really good at dancing that kind of music, and he had no idea of what the hell was a Chocobo, so he went up to the third floor and reached the casino. Fortunately, no one asked for an ID, and with the little money he had Dian managed to buy a pair of coins.

Luck better be with me today...

And Lady Luck heard his plea. The first machine he used instantly gave him at the very least 50 times the amount he had at the start. Slightly smiling, he went to turn all of that into money and went back to the dance floor, only for the sake of being there.

This should keep me going for a while...

She didn't know where she was and she certainly didn't know what was going on. The strangeness of the alien environment and the edges of claustrophobia from so many people being in one place, had her on edge and feeling very much like a trapped animal.

Arianrhod had only been free of the Facility that had been her only home, her only environment, for a single day, and she hadn't let herself stop moving from the time she had woken up in the empty cave, wondering what had happened. She could remember screams, and shouts, voices raised in anger and the sound of her own voice roaring in rage.

It was strange how the part she could remember most clearly was sound.

She wasn't sure what she had done, but she knew that she didn't want to go back and she knew that, valuable as she was to those who had trained her, they would be looking for her. So she'd kept moving.

And finally found herself here. Lost and confused and more than a little overwhelmed by everything.

Where was she?

Oh?

Dian noticed, perhaps because he was too bored to do anything else, the entrance of a peculiar looking person into the party. This person didn't look well, she looked confused, as if she was lost, and her clothes were... Kind of thorn apart? Was that it?

A new trend, perhaps?

...Nope, it didn't seem like it. It seems what called Dian's attention the most was that she clearly looked different from all of the people in the party so far, for the exception of some, including two jester-looking individuals that were around here and there. Dian felt curious about this person. And Dian's sense of curiosity, unfortunately, is much bigger than a normal person's, something that wouldn't be noticed thanks to his quiet personality. And he was quite worried about her state. So, sighing and saying to himself: "Oh well, at least it's caught my interest somehow", Dian walked to the entrance of the party and slowly approached the woman.

Like appearing out of nowhere, he was already at her side.

Excuse me. He first thought about putting his hand in her shoulder, but fearing that it may startle the woman, he decided to slightly approach his face instead in order to catch her attention. You don't seem like someone that has come to enjoy the party. And you look unwell. Are you feeling ok? ...What else could he say?

Looking at her with his inexpressive eyes, putting his usual blank face on and showing no emotion or feelings at all, Dian waited for an answer.

Ari was surprised by the young man's sudden appearance, enough that she took a startled step backwards from him. It wasn't that she thought that he was attacking her or anything, just that she was very much on edge from the circumstances.

The fact that her clothing had been torn by the events surrounding her escape was not something she really paid much attention to. The covering of her body was of minimal interest when she was in the Facility. All the scientists had worn the same white over-garment and the guards had worn a grey uniform garment.

Seeing the young man's face, though, he looked no older than the youngest of the guards in the facility. That bothered her, slightly. She knew that her escape had not been clean. There had been blood on her hands when she had woken in the cave, blood which she had washed off in a nearby stream.

His apparent emotionlessness, though, reassured her in an odd sort of way. It was familiar. She could deal with emotionless individuals; she'd been dealing with them her entire life.

She'd also learned how to hide behind a facade of her own.

She nodded to him. "I am... I am well enough. I... I do not require medical intervention." She looked around. "What... what is this place? It is... very strange."

This place?

Dian looked around. Tables with food. Loud music. Lots of people. Many of them dancing. Disco-ball hanging from the ceiling. Lights everywhere. Did she really didn't know what was that place? Did she arrived here without knowing where she was going? Did she really crossed that big entrance, came to a place between worlds, not even inside outer space, without knowing how?

...Wow...

Um, this is the Silver Noon, a place inside the Universal Multiplex, which is something like a place to access different worlds. And, as you can see, there is a big party going on right now, and many people from distant worlds are here to enjoy.

Dian wasn't sure if he had given the right answer. He looked at the girl's eyes. For some reason, he found something strange, and quite familiar in them.

But are you sure you are feeling ok?

Using that question as an excuse, he took a closer glimpsee at her eyes. He could see it, her soul. It was... as if she wasn't completely human. No, to be more exact, it was as if there was something different living with her in the same body. Kind of like him... He stared at that pair of eyes for some moments, and then backed off.

Sorry, just wanted to make sure. It was no good to peek at the soul of others. I haven't introduced myself. My name is Shirogami Dian. Shirogami meaning "White God". May I ask your name?

Name?

The young man looked into her eyes so strangely, in a way that none of the scientists who had been her keepers and observers for all her days had looked, and then he said words that implied that to look at her in that way was somehow... wrong.

But he asked for her name.

The scientists had simply called her "Subject A" amongst each other. To her they used no designation other than "you" or "Girl". So far as she knew... she didn't have a name.

But then a distant memory fluttered into her mind. A woman's kind face smiling at her strangely and calling her something different... calling her by a name.

"I am Arianrhod..." she thought a moment and remembered that the scientist, who had been left The Facility when she was still very small, had been called something more... there could be no harm in taking the name, could there? "Arianrhod Truesdale. I do not know if it has a meaning other than that."

She looked around at the complex, at the people dancing and the strange lights and all the different manners of dress and appearance. "A Universal Multiplex... I had not known such a place existed. What manner of worlds can be reached from this place?"

She had to find a den, of some sort, a place to hide from the scientists, some place where they couldn't find her easily. She wasn't sure where she had come from, but she knew that she couldn't go back.

Her only choice, then, was to go forward.

Arianrhod Truesdale... I'll call you Aria then, if you don't mind.

It was a nice name indeed. For some reason, he felt fortunate to cross roads with people whose names sounds nice. But, this girl, Aria, was different from others he had know. She seemed confused, she seemed completely clueless about what surrounded her, her soul was also awkard... Yes... Like someone who hasn't been outside their own world for a long time... No, it was better not to jump to conclussions just yet. But, the fact that she didn't say anything after he looked at her eyes like that, something that would make some girls accuse him for sexual harassment, made his mind think a little bit more.

What worlds? I'm not really sure myself... You cannot reach every world in existence, but there is a good variety. Worlds with advanced technology, worlds that relies on magic more than anything else, worlds with forests, cabes, mountains, and many other enviroments. And in many of these worlds you can find magnificent and big creatures, like Golems or Dragons.

I don't know much more than that, though, as I haven't been to many of these worlds...

He looked at the girl again. There was something strange about her, indeed. Even if she tried to hide behind a fake face, she couldn't hide her soul, which was clear to Dian's eyes.

Excuse me, but, did... "something" happen before arriving here?

It was hard to notice, but his tone of voice had slightly changed.

"ROYAL FLUSH!!!"

Raven threw up his hands and cried out in joy. He just won his fifth straight game of poker and boy was he reaping the rewards. He reached across the table and pulled in all of his winnings with both hands. He had just won 100,000 credits. He could now go and exchange these credits for any currency throughout any of the worlds.

Raven had come to this party due to an invitation he had received. Normally, he would have refused such an invite, but he needed a break. He had to tear himself away from his work again, or else he would relapse and be useless for a while. Now Raven was glad he came.

Raven got up from the table and walked away with his winnings. He didn't want to keep going and risk losing it all. That money would be used to fund TF3's notoriously accurate attacks on PSI-COM. Not to mention the fact that atleast a part of it would go to those who need it.

Raven lit up a cigarette and walked down the stairs to the ball room. There he saw many people dancing and having a good time as an oddly dressed cat played for them on stage. He saw the kid standing over by the door talking to a woman who looked very confused and even more down on her luck. Not to mention the twin jesters running around.

It seemed like everyone was having a good time. Raven let out another puff of smoke and took a seat near the stage so that he could listen to the music.

(Raven, I'm presuming a touch regarding your character. If I got his voice wrong, let me know and I'll edit.)

The shout of the deeply masculine voice letting everyone know about his achievement startled Ari and she very nearly crouched into a defensive position. She didn't know how long she had until the scientists found her here. She didn't even know if they could.

She just knew that she'd fight if they tried to take her back.

She forced herself to turn her attention to the young man speaking to her. "You may call me as you wish." She wasn't certain why he chose to shorten the designation that Assistant Truesdale had given her, but she was used to accepting matters without complaint that she didn't understand.

His description of the different worlds caused the strangest feeling to rise up inside her chest. It was... it was very much like an ache, but she knew that she was uninjured. She didn't understand it at all. It was like there was something deep inside her that was trying to reach out, almost a hunger...

That thought caused complete distraction, though, as her stomach rumbled betrayingly and she realized that she had not eaten in some time. Some berries gathered on the run and a few handfuls of stream water were not going to be enough to satisfy her for much longer. Still, she didn't know what the expectations were in this place.

She looked at the boy and remembered that he had asked a question, one she had not yet answered. One she wasn't certain she knew how to answer properly. In the end, she had only one explanation which she could offer him. "I am free."

Walking down the stairs and into the throng of people, Crucent smiled happily.

She had been invited to this party, and even tho it wasn't the norm for her to go be a socialite she had decided that yes, for once she could go enjoy herself and relax.

But after a very quick rummage in her closet, she noticed she had no dresses and had gone out and shopped for a black satin/pink chiffon wiggle dress

Spoiler:

that clung to her long curvacious body like glue, making her feel a little like a fish out of water (even tho she looked very nice) and that was the reason she was on her second Vodka of the evening. Looking around she was quite impressed at all they had gotten done in such a short time and walked around taking it all in.

More and more people were joinging in the party and more and more waiters were placing food unto the tables. As far as he could see no one he knew had shown up yet. But even from 2 floors below he could hear someone screaming out for joy in the casino.

"Ok our next song was prepared just for this party."

(Song)
"Easy come, easy go
That's just how you live, oh
Take, take, take it all,
But you never give
Should of known you was trouble from the first kiss,
Why were they open?
Gave you all I had
And you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked,
Cause what you don't understand is
I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby;
But you won't do the same

No, no, no, no
Black, black, black and blue beat me till I'm numb
Tell the devil I said “hey” when you get back to where you're from
Mad woman, bad woman,
That's just what you are, yeah,
You’ll smile in my face then rip the breaks out my car
Gave you all I had
And you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, yes you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked
Cause what you don't understand is
I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby;
But you won't do the same

If my body was on fire, ooh
You’ d watch me burn down in flames
You said you loved me you're a liar
Cause you never, ever, ever did baby...
But darling I’ll still catch a grenade for ya
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby;
But you won't do the same.
No, you won’t do the same,
You wouldn’t do the same,
Ooh, you’ll never do the same,
No, no, no, no."

After the song their was a light applause from everyone in the ballroom. Tora looked at everyon still trying to find someone he knew, and saw Dian in the distance with a young woman.

"Ok now that the opening of the party has begun I am going to announce the first even of the evening, Karaoke. As well as mention that if you want a chance to win a hovercycle, whatever that is, made by the late Mr. Rhodes, to place your name in the boxes in the main hall behind you."

Tora watched as about half the people left the ballroom to put their names in for the drawings. Was this Rhodes guy really all that famous? Tora had heard the name before from Koneko that he was some sort of party animal and mechanist. And that he was the Ruler of the Earthlands at one point, but soemthign happened to him and no one knows what. Tora got down off the stage and while on the stairs to the Chcocbo floor saw something that frightened him a bit, an Elvaan from Vana'Diel was coming down the stairs. He was still on the run from Vana'Diel and did not know if this Elvaan would try to turn him in. He jumped over the rail of the steps and landed on his feet, staying close to the wall as he kept a close eye on her.

Ari found herself quite at a loss for words when she saw the very tall woman with the side-pointing ears and the very long neck enter the area wearing... well, wearing what had to be the most unusual garment she had ever seen.

How could she walk in that thing? She certainly couldn't be expected to fight in it, unless she pulled that skirt up to her waist to restore freedom of movement. Maybe she was a mage and didn't require much freedom of movement to be deadly in the field. But then why was she so broad of shoulder with such a developed musculature? And what in the world was the purpose of that bright pink band right across her mammary glands? Was she signalling that they were dangerous as animals in the wild sometimes did?

She stared at her for a moment in disbelief, blinking several times to make certain that she was seeing what she thought she was seeing. She just could not determine what the purpose was behind a garment like that.

But then the music started blaring again and Ari was completely stunned.

It should be noted that musical training was not one of the courses offered to her by the researchers in The Facility. Music, as a concept, was beyond rarely spoken of, except in the most derogatory of terms by the Lead Researcher and then only addressed as a form of attack that she would likely experience from a type of warrior called a "Bard".

She'd heard the sounds in the room before, but she hadn't put together what they were, and in any event they weren't invasive enough to her attention to cause much of a reaction. It's possible that this particular song simply caught her at the wrong time, or something.

So her response to the song was most definitely not a positive one. She crouched into a corner, waiting for the attack hidden in the sound, her hands already balling into fists out of sheer reflex. If the researchers had sent a "Bard" after her, then she wasn't going down without a fight.

Out of instinct she started softly repeating to herself the words of the Lead Researcher during his lecture on the subject. "Bards... cowards who hide their attacks behind sound itself... masters of psychological warfare... useful but not to be trusted as getting one to stand and fight is an exercise in futility..."

As Crucent was exploring the party, she suddenly saw a movement out of the corner of her eye and turned her head to see what it was. To her great surprise, it was a Mithran, but no ordinary Mithran, it was a male at that!

Curious about him she saw him watching her right back and held his gaze for a few minutes, then decided to leae him alone as she didn't know him at all and he seemed a bit stressed. Right now she wanted some fun, not a fight so she simply raised her glass a little to him took a sip and then turned around.

She then saw a very pretty human girl with long black hair, that behaved a little... odd as the music started playing. Since the music itself wa actually pretty good, sCrucent thought it was a little extreme to hide away as if expecting an attack.

Smiling a little, she walked over to the girl, sat down in front of her and looked at her for a little while. The girl seemed ready to run. She certainly didn't look like she was having a good time as she was murmuring something about bards.

Placing a small glass of rosè wine in front of her on the floor, Crucent waited for a reaction as she kept looking at the girl.

Dian heard Ari's words: I'm free. Has she been locked down then? Was she in a place where she could not reach the outside world? He wanted to ask all of these questions, but he simply put a small smile on his face, and said:

I see...

And suddenly, a loud voice startled the two of them. Dian recognized that voice immideately, and decided not to go to greet its owner yet. Last time he got involved with "that person", he almost had his body filled with many tiny little bullets. Yeah, it was better to keep safe. Also, the Mithran on the stage, looked his way before starting to say something. Dian took the opportunity to wave at him, though he wondered if he had been too late to be seen.

When he returned his eyes to Ari, he saw her crouching in a corner, as if hiding from something. As if she was... Trying to protect herself from something. Dian, confused, got near her and managed to hear her words.

Bards? Like that? Who could have told her something like that?

But she seemed to hold some kind of importance to those words. Dian sighed, and then had a small idea. He crouched near her, put her mouth near her ear, and then whispered the next words...

Bards... Warriors that use the power of music to protect themselves and those who they care about... Good at bringing happiness wherever they go... Though, they most incredible ability is, without a doubt, the power to make people around them enjoy the music, and put a smile on their faces.

Standing up, Dian looked at Ari's eyes with another little small on his face.

I won't ask about your origins or what were you doing up to this point. But let me give you a piece of advice: This is a party. And a party is for having fun. It is for dancing, listening to music, relax and have a good time with friends. There is nothing harmful here, nothing that can attack you... It is simply a place to enjoy. So stand up, Ari, and forget about all of that cautioness you've been showing to me all this time. I don't know how were things in the last place you were, but... This a completely different world. And one must adapt to it, for the better or the worse. Ok?

After giving that friendly advice, a woman came at them, like seeking something from Ari. Dian looked at her with his blank face, but would not say anything until she did so.

Ari really didn't know what was going on around her. No direct attack materialized from the song, but she still had this feeling that there was a Bard behind it somehow and she really didn't know whether the song was intended to make her run into a trap or to keep her where she was so that a trap could close around her.

She wasn't going back to The Facility. They couldn't make her.

But then the woman with the odd ears and the exceptionally odd garment came up to her and her body language seemed to speak only of neutrality and non-hostility. She offered a beverage of some sort.

Ari bent slowly, never moving her eyes from the woman's face, looking for any forewarning of an attack, and lifted the glass into her hand. She sniffed discreetly at it, but couldn't identify anything unusual, though there was a tang that told her that it wasn't juice.

Not knowing anything else to do, and not wanting another rumble in her stomach to sound out, she took a sip of the liquid. It was odd, distinctly not like any liquid which she had been given by her keepers in The Facility.

Not knowing what else to say, she spoke bluntly. "I'm not going back. I don't care what they do or who they send after me. I'm not going back. I am free."

She looked over at Dian, understanding that he was trying to calm her, but knowing that he didn't understand. "I... I do not understand what you mean. What is a 'party'? The researchers will send warriors to retrieve me. I am... valuable to them like a prized toy or a weapon which cannot be allowed to fall into an enemy's hands." She looked around, fighting back the panic. "I cannot stay here for long... they may have tracked me... but I do not know where to go."

Blinking as she heard what the girl said, Crucent looked her in the eyes and answered slowly "ookay... I have no idea were "back" is or who "they" are, and I have no intention of harming you in any way so just relax. Are you okay?" Standing up again as her legs were beginning to cramp up a little as she turned to the man and continued "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to seem rude. Your friend just seemed like she weren't feeling well. My name is Crucent, nice to meet you."

It was true. Dian had no understanding of her situation. And he knew that perfectly well. But he also knew that a strange messing into other people's problems out of the blue was not going to do anything more. Still, thanks to her words, Dian could get the fact that she was being tracked by some sort of researchers. And that weapon that couldn't be allowed to fall into their hands... Was that weapon, maybe, that strange element in her soul that Dian could not recognize? He was lost in thought when the woman talked to him.

Oh? Sorry, I was a bit distracted... Nice to meet you, Crucent. My name is Shirogami Dian. And, well, I just met her, but... Yeah, she is my friend, and it is true that she doesn't seems to be doing so well.

It seems that trying to calm Ari down is not going to be easy... Just something to drink and telling her it'll be fine will be useless. She needs to feel safe somehow... But taking into consideration what she said, I think it'll be hard to do...

She said she had to go somewhere to escape, but didn't know exactly where to.

...Ok, Ari, if what you say it's true, then you still have nothing to worry about, as this place is well protected and is safe. But if that doesn't makes you feel better... You can always trust me, or Lady Crucent here... He quickly turned to Crucent. Sorry if this is a bit sudden, but I would like your assistance to calm her down a bit...

There was only one thing that was bothering him: The music was too loud. He could hardly hear his own words.

Ari, maybe some fresh air could help you. Why don't we go outside for a bit?

Technically speaking, outside was safer than inside for an attack. Inside, enemies can get into the crowds and attack without being noticed, and outside there is plenty to run in case of meeting something dangerous.

Raven got bored of listening to the music quickly. He never had the ear for good music. Most of the time he would focus solely on the lyrics and ignore the tune all together. This led to him being quite tone-deaf and lacking any sense of rhythm. So when the musician started to play a rap song, even a slow one like that, Raven lost interest. Though the lyrics did remind him of a certain short grouch of a woman from the Gardens by the name of Shade. Raven hadn't seen Shade in a while, which was probably good for both of their healths. It seemed like everytime they were together they were fighting someone or each other. But he sorta missed the girl. She was the only one who he could actually talk to from another world without wanting to punch. Though, Raven had made a few friends since.

Raven was walking through the crowd when he saw a small group of people he knew in a corner. He walked over to them and said, [colo=red]"Heya, Dian! How are you doing?"[/color] Raven gave the kid a slight pat on the back before turning to his elvaan friend and saying, "Hello, Lady Crucent. You sure look beautiful in that dress, tonight."

Raven's attention turned to the last member of the group. A poor girl who looked like she was about to have a heart-attack from fright. He gave a puzzling glance to both Crucent and Dian before saying, "And who might this be?

Raven held out his hand to the girl and said,"The name's Raven. Nice to meet you."

A friend? Dian claimed to be a friend and she wasn't even certain that she knew what that word meant. It was certainly not a word she had ever encountered while at the Facility...

Still, he seemed to understand the tactical benefits of not being in a crowded place... though the crowds could just as easily act in her favor if she were trying to escape from anyone following her. She nodded at him. "Yes... outside would be better."

She paused for a moment and then continued. "Would you explain what the word 'friend' means?"

The sudden arrival of another stranger set Ari's nerves immediately on edge. This one carried himself with the gait of a warrior, like one of the guards from the Facility, though he seemed unthreatening enough. She remembered the depth of his voice, though, as being the one which had shouted out earlier, before the song had startled her with the expectation of a Bard's attack.

He held a hand out to her and she looked at it for a time in uncomprehending confusion. Obviously he expected her to do something, but she had no concept of what that might be. He did, though, ask about her name. That, at least, was a question she knew how to answer. "I am Arianrhod Truesdale."

...Sh*t, the troublesome one is here...

Ari's fear would be completely right if that person was part of the researchers. Dian looked at Raven, not showing anything but still annoyed, but managed to calm himself down and answer him.

Hello, Raven. You're not being followed by the law again, right? I wouldn't like it. I seriously wouldn't like it. Please tell me "no" and I'll be able to calm down.

It was hard to tell with that blank face that he was actually joking. Leaving that matter aside, Ari asked a strange question. She asked what was a friend. Now he was even more curious about the place she had come from. Did she really didn't know what was a friend? Dian started to think. How could he describe what a friend was? It was something that you learnt from little, but never given a description. You simply learnt about it, as if it was something natural...

Dian managed to answer somehow.

A friend... Is someone you can trust, someone you can rely on. They help each other in whatever they need, they laugh and they enjoy together, they, well... In short words, they are not part of your family, but still people you can count on no matter the situation. ... Man, I went too deep into that thing. Better go back to my usual speech way.

He hoped that would be enough.

Now, let's go outside before Raven casts a Pursuit Spell on us or something...

It seemed like every time Dian attempted to explain one area of incomprehensibility, he brought up another one. Arianrhod looked at him blankly. "Perhaps you could explain to me what 'family' is so that I might know how it differs from this 'friend' concept."

She nodded, though, to his suggestion that they leave for the out of doors. She glanced back at the warrior who had introduced himself as "Raven". She didn't know if he was sent by The Facility or not, but she knew that he was a warrior, and so she was concerned.

She didn't understand why she was so trusting of Dian, though. Maybe it was because he was still so young, too young to be experienced enough for The Facility to send hunting her.

But the room was beginning to feel very closed in, particularly with so many people around her. And then her body chose that moment to interrupt with a very loud rumbling in her midsection.

She endured, though. What choice did she have?

The Elvaan looked right at him, yet showed no sign of doing anything to cause him harm. She walked over to where Dian and a young woman were at, and what do you know Raven too. Tora's ears perked right up as he saw his two buddies hanging around.

"Dian, Raven. . . what you guys been up to?"

Tora had not known them for too long but he did consider them to be friends. When he aproached them he heard the name of the Elvaan woman, Crucent. And the young womans name Arianrhod.

"Hey, hey now this young woman seems to have been through alot, let's back up a bit here. Couldn't help but overhear about you being chased, well I'm in the same boat, being an escapee from her world."

When he said her he pointed over to Crucent with a smile on his face. He looked around for a waiter and motioned for them.

"Excuse me, the young lady seems to not have eaten in a while, and her stomache is rumbling slightly think you could bring us something."

He whispered it into the waiters ears, he was proabably the only one able to actaully hear it with his acute sense of hearing, but he did not wish to embarass the young lady.

"Perhaps we could get you to a more open area Miss?, we have a more open section up by the casino not being used for anything in particular?"

Tora tipped his top hat and motioned up the stairs.

Smiling at Raven Crucent gave him a quick hug. "Raven, so nice to see you again." She was about to ask if he had seen anything of Shade at all, when she saw the Mithran walking up to them, striking up a conversation with Raven.

After he had finished talking Crucent nodded, and taking both Raven and the Mithra by their arms as she slipped inbetween the men, she headed up the stairs as she said "Then let's go"

When they all came to the top of the stairs she let them both go, and sat down at a large round table, drink still in hand and as the rest settled down, the waiter came over with a dinner plate on wich was fettuchine pasta and veal and placed it in front of Arianrhod then walked off.

Looking at the clearly anxious woman, Crucent said "I hope you don't mind my asking Arianrhod, but where are you from? You look like your about to flee at any minute even though we are at a party and they normally aren't prone to violence or danger."