[img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/623360226481012766/1144768358626099252/image0.png[/img]

The morning rays crept into the train's cabin, hitting the prism within Demi’s hand as the rainbow light pressed against his face. The image of him sleeping appeared before Zeke in a shimmer of light as the Iris message finally went through. 

Ezekiel petted the cat while they waited for their father to answer. The sun shifted through cracks in the boarded up windows. It played tricks on Zeke. He thought he saw something. Ezekiel shifted and rubbed his eyes, blinking rapidly. The dust mites shifted and revealed Demetri. Curled up with Alexios' arm around him. Zeke's jaw clicked and looked away. 
[color=#EEE8AA]"Why the hell am I seeing this?"[/color] he muttered angrily, staring past Demi's image at the cat.

Demi shifted in his sleep, pulling the prism closer towards him as he curled up on the bench while he slept. Zeke’s voice cutting through as he dreamed on, muttering to himself. [Color=6666FF]"What're you talking about Z? What're you looking at?"[/color] His eyes still closed as he now lay half asleep. 

Ezekiel startled. He stared more intently into the sunlight, seeing it shift to reveal the rainbow within. It was an Iris message.
[color=#EEE8AA]"Dem? Demi, you're sleeping. Wake up."[/color] Ezekiel didn't fully realize how much he was missing Demetri until he saw him. He really should have reached out to him yesterday.

Demi slowly sat up, rubbing at his eyes with his free hand as he wiped away a dried tear from his cheek. He blinked, blinked again, waking up into a full start as he noticed he'd gotten an Iris message from Zeke. His eyes went wide, a dopey smile coming across his face as he saw his boyfriend's face once more. [Color=6666FF]"Zeke? Zeke?! Are you ok? Where are you? You missed the trainivebeensoworriedaboutyouyouvegotnoidea!"[/color] His words rammed together with the speed of a rushing minotaur as elation hit him. His voice choked up in his throat [color=6666FF]"I just…I'm just so glad to see you…"[/color]

Ezekiel quickly looked up, knowing Nancy had for sure heard Demetri. The conversation he had with her the night before was still fresh in his mind. What if Demetri was mad? He looked back at Demi, and saw the elation on his face and broke into a boyish grin. Maybe Demi understood why he left.
[color=#EEE8AA]"Demi, breathe. I'm okay. We're asking our dad for a ride. Nancy just needed space and I needed to go with her. Besides, you look plenty cozy without me."[/color] As soon as he said it, Zeke regretted it. He really was glad to see Demetri.

Tears welled up in Demi's eyes, sniffling as he wiped them away in between each sniffle. [Color=6666FF]"Space. Right. No, that makes sense. And ofcourse I can't go because I'm not a child of Apollo."[/color] He responded before his voice cut short as the ending of his message finally clicked in place. His chest tightened as he broke eye contact from Zeke. Maybe he did want him to be comfy without him? A part of him was dying to tell Zeke that he wasn't, that he'd spent all night crying himself to bed, that he'd gotten into a fight over him. But he didn't know if Zeke would care, nor did he wish to burden him with any of that knowledge. So he shut himself down, keeping his mouth quiet for a moment. [Color=6666FF]"Yeah…very comfy…"[/color] His heart wasn't in his words as he pulled his legs up towards his chest.

Ezekiel looked away as well, fighting the urge to laugh or throw dirt into the sunbeam and end the message. [color=#EEE8AA]"Then why did you call me?"[/color]

[Color=6666FF]"Call you? I thought…"[/color] Demi's heart shattered into pieces as he heard. He'd thought Zeke had cared enough to send a message but he figured now it was more that his got delayed as he fell asleep. [Color=6666FF]"I've been trying to call you all night…I fell asleep trying Zeke. I thought you sent this…I guess…I guess it doesn't matter…"[/color] There was an edge to his voice, laden with deep sadness and frustration that roiled inside of him. 

Ezekiel glanced back at Demetri, fidgeting uncomfortably. [color=#EEE8AA]"I wanted to let you know, but it was time sensitive and I knew you would try and stop me or try to come. You're safer there. Wrapped in the arms of a god."[/color]

The sensation burned hotter in his chest the more that Zeke spoke. [Color=6666FF]"Would that have been a bad thing?! Am I such a burden that my coming with would be so bad?!"[/color] The urge to swipe the blanket over the prism to end the call was enormous, but his want to talk to Zeke was greater. He lowered the prism, cutting his face from view as he took in a shaky breath and exhaled. He waited a moment before lifting it back up with red eyes and tears ready to burst. [Color=6666FF]"I'm wrapped in a damn blanket when it should be your arms!"[/color] he yelled as he threw the blanket onto the ground.

Ezekiel clenched his hands into fists, ready to yell back. He didn't even look at Nancy, not wanting to see her face and what judgment may lie there.
[color=#EEE8AA]"Demetri… This isn't about you. This isn't about us. This entire quest isn't about us and why I left isn't about us. I …"[/color] he started shaking his head at a loss for words. [color=#EEE8AA]"I don't want to fight with you, Dem. I've been on some pretty wild quests, but this one is different. I don't want to walk into this hotel from hell after yelling at you and being mad. Especially if our memories are going to be wiped or we don't make it out. Just know that why I left has nothing to do with you. I have to go. I'll see you soon."[/color]

All the fight that was in him had washed away. [I]It had nothing to do with him.[/i] The words stung and left an empty feeling inside of Demi. How was it that Zeke got to be mad when a god was thrust upon him but Demi wasn't allowed to be upset when he got recklessly abandoned? [Color=6666FF]"Right…well don't be a stranger then."[/color] 

Ezekiel looked conflicted as he looked through the light to Demetri on the other side. He didn't like that he was being berated for leaving with his sister. Did Kristin tell them nothing of their final conversation?
Still, Zeke found himself wishing he could comfort Demetri. To get him to understand.
[color=#EEE8AA]"I'm sorry you got caught up in this."[/color] He shifted his hand and the light faded, cutting off the call. He stared at the empty space for a moment, feeling sad and angry and hurt. Would they ever understand each other?

The call cut out as Demi watched a familiar hand motion coming from Zeke. He hadn't called to yell, he didn't want to fight, but as he watched the gesture on the other end his heart just stopped. As soon as Zeke faded from view, Demi began to sob. His legs still pressed against his chest as he buried his face into his knees and cried. Why was he being so difficult? It was like he was trying to push him away. The prism remained in his hand, gripped and now unused. He had no idea if he would get to speak to Zeke again before the Hotel. What he did know was that if Zeke wanted to talk to him, he'd have to make the call himself next time.

[hr][hr][center][h3][b][color=6666FF]Demetri Rowan Howell[/color][/b]  [b][color=CC00CC]Cassian Rudenko[/color][/b][/h3][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/392257844256440322/1125619539040813077/Copy_of_Black_and_Gold_Eye_Modern_Occult_Illustrative_Halloween_Virtual_Background.gif[/img][hr][b][color=6666FF]Location:[/color][/b] Limbo
[b][color=6666FF]Skills:[/color][/b] Agility, Endurance
[hr][hr][/center]

Days had gone by and not once was there a notice from Zeke. No shimmering prism of light to let him know how he was or just to see how he was doing. No cheeky rainbow to ask him if he's up. Just radio silence. Somehow the silence was worse than the fight. He was left alone with his own thoughts, the darkness inside of him gnawing like an encroaching hunger that couldn't be satiated. The dining car was a nice touch, it would've made the trip that much more enjoyable had Demi been in better moods. He'd watch as the others hung out, never daring to step near them since the fight. He'd made his apologies to Cassian the following day, but after that had kept his distance. Cassian hung out with Janelle and Kristin, and Janelle didn't like him, and Kristin wouldn't abandon Janelle. So Demi stayed to himself, well with Alexios as well most of the time. But he must've thought him a bore, as Demetri hardly spoke those two days.

[Hider=Trigger Warning SelfHarm/ED] It was the moments that Alexios would step away that Demetri found his lies. Between Janelle, the abandonment of Zeke, the stress of where he landed with Nancy, the fact that Alexios was still thrust into his life, and the entirety of this quest, Demi was wracked full of anxiety, depression, and stress like never before. He could feel an old voice clawing at the back of his mind, one he'd befriended back when he was bullied in school. The ones that told him how best to make marks. He pulled his sleeves over his hands as he pressed his legs against his chest. He just felt…empty. 

This voice was different however. He couldn't do anything while he was surrounded by people, even more so when one was a god. But anytime he was asked, he'd lie and state he had eaten while Alexios was away. Demi could feel the god knew something was up, but he never pressed him for any information. Either he didn't care, or didn't know how to help. Either way it only helped to allow Demetri to get away without having a meal within those days. Once Alexios had left on the second day it only became easier. He doubted the other campers would notice. Any time he looked at food his stomach just became a swarm of knots, his hunger evaporating away in an instance.[/hider]

The third day's afternoon approached and they finally made it towards their destination. Demi nodded towards Kristin, standing up as his head became light. His pack felt heavier than ever before, and each step brought upon pulsed visions as his sight faded in and out for a moment. When they got off the train Demi looked around helplessly and exhausted, but there was no sign of Zeke. Alexios was there however, and a small tired smile appeared on his face. [Color=6666FF]"Hey, how'd the godly business go?"[/color] he teased. [Color=6666FF]"I don't see the others so give me a sec, I'm gonna call them and see how they're doing."[/color] He wanted to call Zeke, to see his face, but he couldn't bear to right now. So he called Nancy, catching the sun's rays into the prism as he sent her a message. [Color=6666FF]"Hey Nancy, we made it to the Vegas station. Where do you want to meet up? If you want to, that is…"[/color] 

[hr][hr]
Cassian had had a wonderful trek across America. Looking out the window as they pass several states each with their own forms of beauty. City's, sprawling countrysides, and everything in between. He wished they could have the time to visit them all, to play tourist for a few hours and then move on to the next. But he knew that this trip wasn't for leisure, they were on a time crunch for the end of the world or things akin to it. But at the very least for now, he could enjoy himself and enjoy what little he could see through the cabin windows.

As the days went by he tried to have a different dish each day. Trying all the train's dining car had to offer. After all who knew when their next good meal would be? They were heading to a hotel meant to mess with your mind as well as time while searching for the doors of death and a titan that would be guarding it. All he could do was hope that Alexios would help in the fight and give them the godly aid they needed to defeat the guardian. Once they'd arrived he grabbed his back and made his way out. [Color=CC00CC]"Finally! The train was nice and all but I miss the fresh air, walking in a space larger than the cabins, and "[/color] Cassian stretched to his fullest as he hopped out. Taking full advantage of all the space he had now.