[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/IYihMs5.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/CpBxi4T.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/LaKV12v.png[/img][/center] [h3][color=gray]The Eleventh Path[/color][/h3] [sub][b]Interactions:[/b] Luca ([@FernStone]), Adora ([@Shin Ghost Note]), Sully ([@Atrophy]), everyone[/sub] [hr] Aislin perked up as the 317 filed in, waving her hand. [b]”Hey guys! I brought wine, you should try some.”[/b] Layla and Alizée both looked to the 317 in tandem, nodding. Layla offered a smile. [quote=Luca][color=6B8E23]”I think smaller groups still is a better bet than all living together. There’s too many clashing personalities here… and someone like me, who will just destroy anywhere I live. It won’t work out. We can’t force everyone, anyway.”[/color][/quote] Aislin gave a nod, shrugging with open hands. [b]”Well, I can't argue with that.”[/b] Layla's eyes hovered on Luca for a moment. Had they spoken with Leon? How had it went? She wanted to ask, but alas, the meeting was now in near-full swing. So, Layla simply took another sip of her wine, and continued to listen. That was when Layla felt prickling on the back of her neck, and scanned the room. Her eyes fell on Clancy's, and the quiet fury he was exuding felt like it punched a hole in her. Self-conscious, Layla distracted her gaze by staring very, [i]very[/i] hard at her wine glass. [quote=Jack][color=6644ff]"But our primary goal is the artifacts: The Map of the Drunken Sailor and the Mirror on the Wall. They are information-gathering tools, which is what we are after. They will point us in the right direction, and lead us to Father Wolf."[/color][/quote] Alizée's chains swirled where she hovered, a tick. She was deep in thought, eyes glancing to Layla now and again. Having unpacked Layla's memories, Alizée was well aware of the need for information, [i]any[/i] information, that would bring them closer to unraveling the serial killer that threatened their lives, and Layla's life. But were two artifacts worth the sacrifice this fight would no doubt extoll? [quote=Britney][color=f4eb93]”... Luna was playing us. Greyson killed her, though."[/color][/quote] The color drained from Layla's face. Luna? Dead? At the hands of Mr. Devola, no less. Weren't they friends, though? What had happened to cause bloodshed between two Sycamites? Layla felt a bitterness on her tongue, and hung her head quietly. [quote=Adora][color=fd8a6c]”Layla, how are you doing? Those people... They didn't hurt you or force you to do anything, [i]right?[/i]”[/color][/quote] Layla pushed down her sorrow and guilt for a moment, looking over at Adora with a small smile. Ah, Adora. One friend she could count on, yes? Layla's thoughts drifted back to the Adjoining, on what she learned about the Temple. She had complained to Luca already, surely, there was no need to voice her concerns further, yes? And it was true, then Temple hadn't [i]forced[/i] her to do anything. Layla nodded. [color=7ABBFF][b]”I'm doing okay. They didn't force anything, promise. And uh, Alizée and I are getting along nicely. She's still her old self, though she doesn't remember. “Thanks for asking, Adora.”[/b][/color] Alizée's gaze was on Adora as Layla accepted the apple, vividly remembering her aggressive introductions. Self-conscious. [color=916BB4][b]”My apologies if I disturbed you the other day. Yes, Layla's fine. Eating better too.”[/b][/color] Layla took a small bite of the apple. Sweet, and crunchy. Before she almost choked on it as Ruby leveled a gaze that could kill at her. [quote=Adora][color=fd8a6c]”If you're going to apologize to them...”[/color][/quote] Layla's face flushed with embarrassment. She stood from her seat, and bowed her head slightly, addressing Ruby. [color=7ABBFF][b]”Sor-sorry for the other day.”[/B][/color] Before she sat back down, and listened to the plan that Ruby and Greenwood had. [quote=Ruby]"We're going to be up against assholes with guns. Assholes with magic… But, if you decide to help, we will split the artifacts three ways - including the two artifacts Britney wants so badly.”[/quote] [color=916BB4][i]”You sure about this?”[/i][/color] Alizée thought mentally to Layla. Layla, shamefully ignoring Ruby’s gaze, only mumbled mentally back. [color=7ABBFF][i]”We need those artifacts. Auri is dead. Who knows who will be next…”[/i][/color] [quote=Leon][color=C67C12]"Physical arms and armaments, Lux boosters, healing salves, the list goes on."[/color][/quote] Layla perked up upon hearing Leon, and the adjoined pair seemed to relax somewhat in the presence of Temple’s finest. However, Layla's intrigue was piqued. She wasn't aware of the Temple's healing salves. The sedation medicine, yes, but this? [i]Interesting.[/i] [quote=Sully][color=goldenrod]“Worrying? You’re worrying? Man, the one who needs to be worrying is that bitch ass Scott Reese… Over here we got the goddamn Thunder God Drake “Raiden” Blackmore and over here we have the Big Bad Wolf, Leon “Motherfucking” Richoux. You throw in me, the Water Boy. You throw in me, the…the Juice Man…and what’s Scott Reese gonna do? Nothing.”[/color][/quote] [b]“Yeah, you said it, Sully!”[/b] Aislin cheered from her seat, raising her glass in a toast. Layla and Alizée glanced each other with dark looks. Scott Reese. Just the name was enough to elicit uncomfortable memories for Layla. But the two were in agreement. Team Aggro would be able to handle any stupid Stygian thrall. That left… [color=7ABBFF][b]”I want to be on the artifact team. We'll… figure out something with the Starving Dog.”[/b][/color] Layla said, glancing at the group around her. Aislin nudged Layla. [b]”Count me in too. Come on, it's a [i]dog[/i]. All we have to do is distract it and let me bend the door open! [i]Bam[/i], all those artifacts will be ours.”[/b] [color=7ABBFF][b]”What if we're not able to distract it, though?”[/b][/color] Aislin merely grinned, nudging Layla again. [b]”You doubt me? Oh ye of little faith. Then I'll make the Starving Dog sink in a hole it'll [i]never[/i] crawl out of. Those artifacts are as good as ours, I [i]promise.[/i].”[/b] Alizée listened to Aslin and Layla go back and forth, before she raised a hand, addressing the group. [color=916BB4][b]”Say you get the artifacts. Say you kill a couple of them. How are you getting off the island? Not everyone is lucky like Layla in being able to void-step. You will be disorganized and weak. Some will be disconnected from the group, to be sure… “How does everyone make it home?”[/b][/color]