[IC] Fateful Convergence

[Vocalia]

"I... I love you too, Isaac... I hope we can continue loving and trusting each other," Hayley replied, finding comfort in the presence of the reformed assassin. Despite his blood-stained past, she couldn't help but feel sympathy for him, especially after knowing that he had Sean wipe his memories to help him forget the atrocities he had committed. While she considered the act cowardly at best, she could see why he wanted to do so and, had it not been for that, perhaps they would had never met.

As they boarded the jeep, Hayley shifted into her human form and turned to Arlia and Nigel who had taken their seats at the back. Letting Isaac sit at the front, she propped herself on the last back seat and looked at them intently. "What will you two do now?" she asked after a moment of deliberation. She didn't look forward to potentially working together with them, especially Arlia, but she realized that their manpower would be crucial in their war against Crey now that the stakes had been upped.

[Daxam]

Nigel doesn't say anything, still overcome with grief over the loss of his sister. Knowing this, Sean, who appears to have been crying, as well, says, "They'll be staying with us. They were staying with Sarah, but...today happened. So, unless they figured something else out, they have to live with us or go out on the streets." Isaac looks back at Nigel, who was leaning heavily against Arlia, the Medici woman being the only thing keeping him from going over the edge. "That's probably for the best, anyway," Isaac quietly says as Sean begins driving away from the hill.

[Vocalia]

In a normal situation, Hayley would never welcome an enemy into what she considered her "home", but she knew that Nigel and Arlia had lost more than just a home. They'd lost one of their own, a family and friend. Having lived in the streets herself, she didn't have the heart to make them go through what she did, especially with Crey now actively going after their heads.

Watching as Arlia gently draped her arms around her grieving lover, Hayley replied, "First thing's first. We need to get everybody patched up and looked after... Then we have to train harder and I do mean all of us. If this is just a small show of what Crey could do, we are obviously out of their league. We have to be stronger... so nobody has to lose anyone or anything to them again." Somehow, her own words made her heart beat furiously and her hands clenched into hard fists. Arlia, still in a state of shock, asked, "You... You would let us stay with you?" she asked, sounding as if she was also pleading for the three of them for help on Nigel's behalf.

[Daxam]

Sean offers the couple a smile, which they could see through the rearview mirror, and says, "Of course. We wouldn't want you or Nigel to suffer anymore than you are now. I'm sure that the five of us can put the past behind us if it means taking Crey down, once and for all." Nigel, hearing them, offers a small smile and whispers, "Sarah would be proud of you three, then...she hates it when people hold grudges."

[Vocalia]

"Grazie! Grazie mille! We won't let you all down... We promise," Arlia sobbed, but in joy instead of in sorrow, as she saw Sean's smile and a welcoming grin from Hayley's face. "Well, I guess having a couple more people in the penthouse would liven things up," the blonde nonchalantly replied, then looked at the auburn-haired woman. "Doesn't mean that I'll start being buddies with you, Angel McBitch." Chuckling softly as she wiped her tears, Arlia finally regained her fighting spirit and replied, "I wouldn't expect that anytime soon, Hayley. Besides, why would I stoop so low as to be associated with a street urchin like you?" The remark seemed to have brought Hayley out of her funk as she glared at her and replied, "At the very least, I'm not an upper class twit who decides to be with someone who has aluminum foil for a hair." This infuriated Arlia and subsequently brought her out of her state of despair. "How dare you?! Take that back!" And so the two women resorted to name calling and petty insults, but it appeared to be the start of a somewhat dysfunctional relationship between the two rivals and a good start for Arlia and Nigel.

[Daxam]

Hearing the two girls bicker, Isaac, Nigel, and Sean can't help but smile. "At least that doesn't change," Sean says. Isaac chuckles and says, "Yeah. Besides...Sarah would want us to move on." Nigel, apparently having already grown weary from Hayley and Arlia calling each other names, sits up and pulls his lover into a deep kiss to keep her from egging Hayley on, as well as to comfort himself, having yet to feel any better after what happened. "You go, Nigel!" Sean praises the silver-haired Brit.

[Vocalia]

Hayley watched with a bug-eyed expression while Arlia, no longer paying her any heed, returned the kiss with great gusto from her own behalf. It was as if she was declaring to her new allies that, while they had their entire support, Nigel Howeland was hers and hers alone. Breaking the kiss minutes later to catch their breath, Arlia glanced at the blonde and smirked, the latter responding by wrapping her arm around Isaac's shoulder and the seat, eyes glaring at her. It seemed that the group had set itself for a new kind of rivalry between the angelic Medici and the demonic Summerland.

[Daxam]

Feeling and seeing Hayley's arm around him, Isaac smiles and laces his fingers with hers, communicating his love for her without saying anything. Sean chuckles, glad that the mood seemed to have lightened up, then remembers a promise he made. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he dials a number and hands it to Arlia, saying, "I almost forgot: call the number I dialed in. I promised a good friend of mine I'd have you call her next time I saw you."

[Vocalia]

"Who?" Arlia muttered as she fumbled with the phone before picking the call up. It wasn't long before another voice could be heard from the other end of the phone. "Hello, Sean!" Eryn spoke from her phone, only to be greeted with an ear-splitting scream that caused her to cringe and remove her phone from her ear, courtesy of a hysteric Arlia. Said ear-splitting scream also made Hayley regret her decision to sit at the back with her and Nigel as she nursed her ringing ears. "Dio! Eryn, is that you?" Arlia asked, now sobbing once again.

"Arlia? Arlia! Oh goodness... Arlia, it really is you!" Eryn was unable to describe her feelings right now. She knew Sean had promised her that he would help her be in touch with her twin sister, but she had never expected him to do as he had said. "Eryn... You have no idea how happy I am to just hear your voice...!" Arlia whimpered, nodding gratefully at Sean for reuniting her with her twin sister. "Friend of hers?" Hayley asked Sean, somewhat surprised to see Arlia looking as if she had stumbled upon an ancient treasure.

[Daxam]

"You could say that," Sean says. Nigel, grinning, turns to Hayley and says, "Eryn is Arlia's twin sister. She was put up for adoption when their father found out she didn't have any powers." Looking up at Sean, he asks, "How did you find her?" Sean chuckles and says, "Well, it wasn't like I was looking for her. We just met at an anime convention a few months ago and really hit it off. I promised her I'd help her get back in touch with Arlia." Isaac chuckles and, still holding Hayley's hand, says, "Well, you do have a heart, after all. I figured, from our sparring matches, you were immune to feelings like that." Sean chuckles and replies, "Eryn has a weird effect on me. What can I say?"

[Vocalia]

"Can't say I'm surprised. Birds of a feather flock together, after all. I'm just shocked that there are two of her. As if one Angel McBitch isn't enough for the world," Hayley replied, keeping the last bit into a hushed murmur. However, Arlia could still hear her and calmly said to the phone, "One moment, Eryn dear." Blocking the phone's receptor with her hand, she glared at Hayley and said, "I'll have you know that my dearest Eryn is a law-abiding, normal citizen of Capital City! She's as sweet and lovable as a puppy and, unlike you, she's not violent and reckless!" Clearing her throat, Arlia left a stunned Hayley and returned to her conversation with Eryn. "Wow... And I thought she's overprotective of you as it is," the blonde said to Nigel, then turned to Sean and asked, "So this Eryn girl... What sort of person is she, aside from being a major anime-lover like you? You talked about her as if she's an ideal woman or something."

[Daxam]

"Oh, she is!" Sean says without hesitation. "It's like Arlia said: She's as sweet and lovable as a puppy, not to mention she's just as adorable, too! She's also pretty shy, but that's just another thing you can't help but love about her! And she's so kind, she wouldn't hurt a fly. In fact, she'd probably make it a three-course meal just to be nice!" Isaac chuckles and says, "Wow, she really does sound like something. I hope we can meet her, soon." Me, too, Vincent says. Especially if she looks like Arlia. Two equally hot babes in one room? Yes, please!

[Vocalia]

Hayley blinked, not sure how she was supposed to feel about Eryn as a person. Still, if both Arlia and Sean were giving the same description, she started to think that, perhaps, she was just as innocent and as pure as they had described. "Whaddya know...? There is someone who looks just like Arlia, but acts nothing like her at all... It's like a big joke waiting for a punchline, but the way you guys described her does make me curious. I really want to meet her now!" Hayley replied with a chuckle. Alexis, having put her failure behind her, chimed in, "I similarly would like to express my intention to identify this individual. It would be a fascinating observation to see how she behaviorally differs from Arlia Medici."

[Daxam]

Nigel stays silent, his grief not completely forgotten, but a thin smile still crosses his face. "Arlia, dear," he says after a few moments, "why don't you invite Eryn over? We're all dying to meet her, after all." Sean grins and says, "Yeah, do it! It's been awhile since I've seen her and I've missed her!" Isaac chuckles and says, "I think it's unanimous, Arlia. Tell Eryn we can swing by and pick her up on our way home."

[Vocalia]

"Well, I..." Arlia seemed unsure, especially after what happened to Sarah not too long ago, but Hayley, understanding a sense of genuine longing to be reunited with her own sister, looked at Arlia and nodded quietly, as if telling her that she would do all in her power to protect her. Looking around at the group, Arlia's sad frown creased up into a smile, realizing that Eryn would be in safe hands with them around. "Actually, Eryn dear, why don't you come over to Sean's place for a brief visit? We'll even pick you up!"

"I-I'm free today and I'd love to see you again, but are you sure i-it's not a bother?"

"Oh, stop speaking nonsense! Sean is personally inviting you here~! He's more than happy to roll a red carpet just for you."

It was a minute of deliberative silence before Eryn replied back.

"I-If you say so. I can't wait to see you both again!"

"Wonderful! We'll see you soon~!" Arlia ended the call and tossed the phone back to its owner, a big smile on her face.

[Daxam]

Sean, grinning, takes his phone back and makes a last-minute turn down a side road, having been told Eryn's address by the girl herself. As they drive, Nigel sighs and wraps his arms around Arlia, holding her close. "I promise," he whispers, speaking loud enough for only Arlia to hear, "I won't let what happened to Sarah happen to Eryn. I'll die before I let anyone so much as touch her. And even then, I'll come back to life just to keep her safe."

[Vocalia]

Similarly feeling the loss of Sarah hitting close to home, although she was seeing it from a different perspective, the loving Arlia pulled Nigel's head and laid it down on her shoulder, one hand gently caressing his cheek. "Nigel, we will all do that. I'll always be with you along the way, regardless of what you do. I could never hope to replace the void her kind soul has left behind, but if this is any consolation to you, let me tell you one more time. I'm all yours, Nigel, body, heart, and soul, and I'll do anything I can to see you smile. That's the least I could do for everything you've done for me."

[Daxam]

Nigel smiles and nuzzles Arlia's neck, breathing in her scent. "Thank you, my love," he whispers, her words meaning more to him than anyone else could ever say. After a few moments, he sits up and brings her into a loving kiss. Sean sees it happen in his mirror and rolls his eyes. "They just don't know when to quit, do they?" he mutters to Isaac with a chuckle. Seeing the couple in the back seat, he smiles and says, "Right now, I don't blame them. We all need someone, especially right now." As if to affirm his statement, he squeezes Hayley's hand before lifting it to his lips to gently kiss her knuckles.

[Vocalia]

Hayley's cheek turned into a vivid shade of red, her body warming up as if that one kiss alone could heat up even her own soul. Lovingly holding onto Isaac's hand, she smiled contentedly and leaned against the seat in front of her as they made their way the dorm where Eryn lives.

Unaware of what had transpired, Eryn had tried to dress herself for the occasion in a simple set of light blue sleeveless top with a white jacket over it., a pair of light colored jeans and white sandals. Visitors to the dorm must first inform the dorm warden about their visit, who would then inform the dorm resident about the visitors. Right now, Eryn was waiting near the dorm telephone, waiting for the call she now longed without her realizing it.

[Daxam]

A few minutes later, Sean pulls up in front of Eryn's dorm building and says, "I'll go get her. Be right back." Climbing out of the jeep, he walks into the building and strides right past the dorm warden. "Sir!" he says. "You have to tell me who you're here to see and you have to sign in!" Grinning, Sean says, "No time! She's waiting for me!" The warden attempts to grab Sean's wrist, but soon finds himself being dragged effortlessly as Sean continues his walk straight to Eryn's room. Without wasting a moment, he throws the door open, the man hanging onto his opposite wrist as if for dear life, and yells, "I'm here, Eryn!"