[center][b][u]Iktomi's Base[/center][/u][/b]

Kisheto had been enjoying his "time off", as he referred to it. He and Arianna both decided to take some downtime, resting up and enjoying meals they didn't usually come across in the city. Kisheto, being the more talkative of the two, rambled about his usual subjects, while Arianna absentmindedly listened, fidding with the crumbs of their meal. Her mind was semi-focused on Iktomi. 

"Honestly though, I think that if you and the rest of the hosts teamed up, you guys could whoop some major ass. Imagin this huge tsunami of whoopass just slamming down on the helpless numbers of soldiers, like, what are they gonna do, y'know? Nothing, really, cuz-"

His speech was interrupted by Victor's voice. As Victor spoke, Kisheto's eyes widened, and he stood from his seat, as if being summoned by his voice. He looked to Arianna in awe, wondering if she was feeling the same spark of hope that he was. 

Arianna blinked and looked up from her plate as Victor's voice filled her ears and mind through the speakers and the thoughts of those around her. It seemed to cancel out any other thought as everyone focused intently on it. For the first time in a year, she felt like she had a chance to see her parents again, bringing up the mixed emotions of happiness and worry. She listened to the rest of the speech, imagining the hundreds or thousands in the city being moved just as much as she was by his words. She could tell the speech was beginning to end and wished that it wasn't. While the speech ignited the feeling of rebellion, the military would surely multiply in order to quell any thoughts of lashing out. Would people still fight if they were being cut down at any riot? She could imagine the brutality of it all, and knew then that she had to do something more than sit and wait for the wall to fall down on its own. It was then that she decided that when Kisheto returned to the Golden Mercenaries, she would be right next to him, prepared to use her abilities to the fullest.

As Victor finished speaking Kisheto looked left and right, contemplating what he was to do next. "Shit, did you... we gotta go join 'em we..." before he could continue, Halimae entered the room and confronted Kisheto. He turned to face the woman, confused at first. "What? Whoa, whoa, slow down, you're kicking me out?" he asked, having missed more of her instructions than he should have.

Halimae held back a sigh as Kisheto continued to prove to her that ninety percent of people are ill equiped to follow the simplest of instructions. "No I am not kicking you out. I am giving you a mission that has the dual effect of removing your presence from this place." Taking a deep breath, Hali began speaking extra slowly. "The piece of paper I just placed beside you has the frequency for my headset. Give it to Hector, tell him to contact me when you do. Understand?"

Kisheto squinted at the paper before taking it and raising both brows. He then smirked and looked back to Hali, "What? Too chicken to give the man your number yourself?" he said jokingly, ignoring the hints that she was in no mood to joke around.

The only sign of Hali's annoyance came in the form of her eyes narrowing dangerously before she responded. "Boy, I highly recommed that you think before you speak from this point onwards. I do not have the time to deliver this to Hector. I am busy running an entire organization while my boss is out of commision, otherwise I wouldn't be trusting you with this very important task."

Kisheto chuckled softly, "Alright, alright, I'll do it, relax, yo. I was about to head over to the Mercenaries anyway. So does this mean you're on their side?" he asked with an innocent smile. There was something about Halimae's eagerness to contact Hector that made Kisheto believe that Victor had succeeded in winning over Sovereign's heart. 

Halimae shook her head at the naive words of Kisheto. "No, I serve Iktomi and only him. My loyalties are not severed between two different factions, I am merely following orders. The rest of the details are not important for you to know. So as soon as possible please begin making your way there." 

Kisheto nodded and then looked at the piece of paper before turning back to Halimae. Only now did he realize exactly how tolerant she was of his wisecracks - years of stirring up barfights in order to steal valuables had left him void of normal mannerisms. Her consistent tolerance only caused Kisheto to find himself respecting her more, though he didn't show it. "Don't worry, Sally! I'll take care of yah request. You take care of the webslinger, alright?" he said with a smile. He then turned to Arianna, "You wanna come with? It's only fair I get to show you [i]my[/i] place now."

Arianna had picked up on Halimae's hint through her thoughts and tensed lightly, staring ahead at the wall, her face void of the emotions swirling within her. When Kisheto spoke to her, she turned, looking up at him. "I need to think," she murmured before standing up. Her eyes locked with Hali's eyes, wondering how she could be so distrusting. [i]There's a reason Iktomi trusts me. My loyalty has been with him since I was a child, but I need to choose my own path. My business is my own,[/i] she told her through telepathy before calmly walking off, heading out of the dining room and up the stairs towards Iktomi's room.

This time Halimae had to hold back a smirk as Arianna projected her thoughts into Hali's head. It amused her that the girl thought that it mattered where her loyalties lied, though that had been Hali's goal. [i]You are merely the last link that ties him to a past that no longer means anything to him. He has forsaken every other bond that held him to that. When you leave it will merely serve to sever the last remaining bit of it. I suppose I should thank you for that, once that is finished he will be able to grow even further.[/i] Turning her mind away from Arianna, Hali focused her attention back on Kisheto. "It is my job to protect Iktomi from harm. I haven't failed yet and I do not intend to. Be sure to not fail your mission." 

Kisheto nodded, "No worries. I'll get it done, you got my word. And trust me - I never go back on my word," he said with a wink as he began to head towards the same entrance from where had entered not long ago. '[i]Ay, if you can hear my brain, then I'll meet you outside. Oh and put in a good word for me with the sleeping beauty, alright?'[/i] he said in his mind, hoping Arianna could hear.