[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/4c056c96-ce82-4d17-a19b-0d0500223426.png[/img][/center] It was easy for an esper in Pax Septimus to find themselves down in the dumps. With a few exceptions, most espers were regular people that weren’t accustomed to dealing with daily life or death situations. Their situations were often complicated, and they took the line of work they did out of necessity or obligation rather than a love for killing monsters or other humans. It involved a lot of complicated feelings, and seldom did an esper leave the operation feeling fully satisfied with the outcome. Often, what gave them the strength to keep going were the people who they surrounded themselves with. Maybe it was family, friends, or even a fellow esper who could understand everything the job entailed. A pillar for a weary soul to lean on. Trixy understood the importance of such a pillar, and tried to be that for as many people as possible. Though Trixy might have wanted to be that for everyone, many people found her irritating to be around. Most humans at least. Perhaps her rampant flirting was just a bit too desperate. Maybe she had too many daddy issues, and was too ugly to be worth the hassle. Perhaps that was why she ended up joining Maverick alternative in the end. Monsters just understood her better than people did. That seemed to be the case with the Bastion’s newest additions. Boteg was a golden dragon that seemed like he was scared of most paranormal entities, yet was fiercely protective of Amanda, another new addition. It wasn’t confirmed yet, but she was the offspring of two relatively strong monsters.Neither of them were fit for combat, but in time that would change. But Trixie wasn’t here to train them, nor did she really care about how strong they may become. She was going to be Amanda and Boteg’s friends. So far, she had been knocking it out of the park. She felt, anyway. Boteg, Amanda, and Trixy were all gathered around a plastic folding table. They were playing Uno, which was a game neither of them were very familiar with, but Tetrad had played it with Trixy a few times. What made this game special was that it was the first time Amanda had offered to play with her, rather than wait for Trixy to invite her to play. [b]”You didn’t say Uno!”[/b] Amanda tapped the draw pile while giving Boteg a firm stare. The dragon, who was presently human up to his neck, folded his arms. [color=gold]”Me thinks thou rule is most strange. Little scare heard me say ‘last’ did thou not?“[/color] [b]”But that’s not the rules!”[/b] She poked the pile again. [b]”Maybe you said something, but it wasn’t Uno, and it has to be Uno!”[/b] Boteg gave Trixy a pleading stare, but he wasn’t going to find much help there. She gave the dragon a pained smile. [color=CCBFFF]”You know Boteg, I think the way you sound is really cool, but you do have a habit of taking what people say and distorting it. We’re not picking on you, but it might be worth trying to say the right word as an exercise.“[/color] The dragon only groaned in response before taking a few cards. He had yet to win a single game. [color=gold]”Me thinks you made up that rule to prevent me from winning!“[/color] Amanda laughed. [b]”No! It really is in the official rules!”[/b] It was nice to see that Amanda was able to laugh. Unfortunately, living vicariously through other people was all she could do to feel happy at the moment. With a sigh, she played a card. [color=CCBFFF]”You’re up, Amanda.“[/color] [b]”Are you okay?”[/b] [color=CCBFFF]”Yes?“[/color] [b]”But you sighed.”[/b] Trixy held out her hand. [color=CCBFFF]”I’ve got seven cards, I don’t think I’m winning.“[/color] she said before playing one. Not that six was any better. [b]”You sighed before I came to get you too.”[/b] [color=CCBFFF]”I finished working out.“[/color] [b]”You don’t work out.”[/b] [color=CCBFFF]”I just started.“[/color] [b]”Trixy…”[/b] Amanda lowered her cards. [b]”I wanted to play with you today because you seemed a little… Agitated? I don’t know, but I was hoping you could tell me. Boteg agrees with me.”[/b] [color=gold]”Grinning scare is not grinning today.“[/color] the dragon noted. Trixy sighed, again. She had been cornered. This card game had been a way to get Amanda to open up to her, and it seemed like Amanda was using it to get to know Trixy better. She didn’t mind that, but of all the things to ask about… [color=CCBFFF]”You sure you want to know?“[/color] Amanda nodded. [color=CCBFFF]”Alright, well to start, I’m not exactly lucky with my love life. None of my dates ever go anywhere.“[/color] [b]”I remember you coming to Dante’s a few times.”[/b] Amanda answered. [b]”We never met, but I was always in the back room. You came often enough that I remembered you.”[/b] [color=CCBFFF]”Okay.“[/color] Trixy decided not to bring up the fact that her waitress had been kidnapping her dates, many of which were still MIA. She also decided not to get into how the waitress was dealt with by Finn and… [color=CCBFFF]”I met this girl though. Woman, I guess. Really cool person, super chill, and a total super cutie.“[/color] Even now, thinking about [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/7ee70533-ac15-4ec9-b563-5f86c18fa5cc.png]Klava[/url]’s beauty brought warmth to every part of Trixy’s being. [color=CCBFFF]”But she’s been MIA for a while. I think she might not be of this world anymore.“[/color] Amanda froze, taking far too long to consider her next words. [b]”This wasn’t Klava, was it?”[/b] Trixy knew that Amanda was aware of who Klava was, or more importantly, that she had assisted gear boy on a job. Denying the woman’s identity would have been the best for keeping the peace, but she cursed her weakness. [color=CCBFFF]”Yes. That is her name.“[/color] [b]”She’s alive.”[/b] Trixy blinked. [color=CCBFFF]”Excuse me?“[/color] [b]”She’s alive.”[/b] Amanda repeated. [b]”At least, she was as of last week. My father placed a curse on both Klava and Time Keeper. I was in her dreams about seven days ago, so she might be missing, but she’s alive.”[/b] [color=CCBFFF]”You didn’t get any hints to her whereabouts, did you?“[/color] [b]”Sorry, not really. But isn’t there a detective esper in Pax now?”[/b] Trixy nodded a few times as a smile spread across her face. [color=CCBFFF]”Well, I’m glad I decided to talk to you about that! Thanks Amanda! I’ll have to look into that detective later.“[/color] [b]”Don’t mention it. We’re friends, right?”[/b] Amanda played a card. Boteg eyed the card for a moment, and then a devilish smile crossed his face. [color=gold]”Thou hath forgotten to say ’Uno!’“[/color]