Gift of Creation (Paladins)

[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel would sit back in the darkness of his office. A fretful look on his face as he hadn't expected for this day to turn out quite so dismal. He had to face his oldest friend face down a behemoth and take those jagged claws to his grave. His computer open would face him showing the destructive power that Barker possessed. Gabriel would kneel over to poor himself a large glass of whiskey, taking to it with a twist of his wrist and then down it with a pained grimace. Another glass poured before Villetta would step in the door with a disapproving but also depressed look. She'd stride between Gabriel and his glass taking it for herself and downing it faster than him and with less of a disturbed reaction as though she drank it regularly, and ultimately putting Gabriel in the weak chair.

"Your guests have arrived..."

Gabriel would nod taking back his glass to pour another but leaving it on his desk in plain view.

"Show them in Villetta"

He'd put on his fiercest face, one of a warrior proud of his fallen comrade. Gabriel needed to play the part, but more importantly he needed to keep from crying.

"Yes Lord Seran.... and my lord?" She'd pause for a second, lingering in the doorway, "Its okay to show them...Lord Valentine will be avenged."

Gabriel would nod fiercely shooing her out the doors to lead in his compatriots. His Legionaries of a new generation.

[Kevala Badoer]

She was not herself, that was one way of putting it. But on the exterior she appeared to be as her usual self, her hand moving to brush through her hair as she let her mind wander back over the events that had taken place earlier.

A heavy sigh released as there was nobody around to hear it at that exact moment.

It wasn't until she was allowed in to see Gabriel that she would once more straighten herself and shove her hair out of her face once more, tongue sliding against her lips as she moved inward, icy hues settling upon him with a bit of concern in her gaze.

She was no fool, that much he should have known of her. A few slow steps taken toward him as she tilted her head just a bit. Glancing back over her shoulder as she made certain that nobody else had followed in closely behind her. Giving her enough time to say what she wanted to him before they were bothered.

Foregoing the usual formalities, and foregoing the sassy attitude, she would slide up beside him, taking up a spot behind where he sat and bending down to snake her arms about his neck, a soft hug applied there as her lips pressed against his cheek. The soft scent of her shampoo, strawberries surrounding the air around them.

"I am sorry Gabriel..."

The words whispered softly against his ear.

She knew he was in pain, she knew that he was putting on his warriors face....She knew him just as well as he knew her, sometimes.

"I know he was close to you..."

A little affectionate nuzzle against the side of his neck just below his ear. Though her eyes would stay locked upon the entry way so that she could pull back the instant that she heard another approaching, as to reserve Gabe's image and all.

Very, very seldom did she grant herself the chance to show him such affection.

"I am here if you need anything....You know my heart still belongs to you....I will do whatever it is you ask..."

She was upset over Jaus, she was ten times more upset over the way that it had to be making Gabriel feel....And if he wished to shun her affection even now then that was his choice. She had resigned to the fact that she would never be with him, but that did not mean she had to stop caring.

[Date Masamune™]

That man... the dead man whose body Shugo had retrieved had ended up being quite the hero. Jaus's men had informed Shugo of the kind of man he had been. Shugo had felt angry when he found out. The man that killed Jaus was Barker. Shugo wanted to have been able to say that he had avenged Jaus or that he had even struck out against Barker... but he couldn't. He had frozen... he had been scared.

For some reason, Jaus's followers still invited Shugo to go along to some sort of meeting. A meeting for Paladins. This was apparently the group that Jaus had been part of. The only thing Shugo wondered was what they wanted him to do? Tell them how Jaus had been in his last few minutes? Shugo only saw the man get stabbed. By the time he made it to the body, Jaus was already dead.

None the less Shugo knocked on the door and was shown in by a tan woman. Shugo would slowly step into the room seeing two people in somewhat close proximity. Close enough to speculate something, but under the pre-existing circumstances they were probably just mourning the loss of their friend.

"Hi. I'm Shugo Yuy."

The boy felt slightly awkward in this room where everyone seemed to know each other. He felt like the odd man out.

[Kazuya Hikari]

Striding down the hallway towards Gabriel's office, Kazuya's black bulletproof overcoat swished erratically with each step as he drew closer and closer. Slung on his back was his katana and on his head, he wore his helmet and dark sunglasses. Although he barely knew Jaus, having fought the man once, and even then, it was minimal at best, the man had died a noble and honorable death, Kazuya would not let the man's efforts to take Sean Barker down be in vain.

Knocking on the door, he was shown in by Villetta, nodding slightly in acknowledgment to the tan woman as he stepped into the room, seeing Kevala was already here, not surprisingly. Unlike Shugo, Kazuya knew very well the relationship between Gabriel and Kevala, and was unfazed by how close in proximity she was to him.

Taking up a spot beside the door, he lifted his helmet off and leaned up against the wall, casually folding his arms across his chest as he held onto his helmet with his left hand and glanced around the room, his dark sunglasses/scanner having already been powered on as the various power levels of the others flashed on screen, viewable to Kazuya and Kazuya alone.

[Jack]

The tall male walked with a stiffness not seen in him since the wars of #552. Hardly a day went by that he did not have to go to the front lines to defend his territory. His body had been battered and bruised his military like discipline keeping himself calm and collected even when retreat was a viable option. For five men to do what an army could not Jack was awfully proud of his soldiers weak as they were.

He walked through the the house, greeted and escorted by some person or another, shown to the appropriate room.A curt nod of thanks as the door was opened for him allowing him to enter the gloomy room. As he entered he saw Kazuya, Shugo and Kevala in their various positions. Kevala close to Gabriel, maybe a little bit too close for his liking but since when did things he like happen?

The look in his eyes as they were directed at Kevala was sort of "we'll talk later" look about them. However for the most part he assumed that Kevala was too preoccupied with what ever Gabriel wanted to care too much for him.

Finding a comfortable chair opposite Gabriel Jack sat down. Not showing his the pleasure and relief he the leather seat held him. Such comforts were not present in his new spartan lifestyle.

[Alexis Seran]

Alexis would massage the bump that had over took over her once beautiful curve... But in itself created a new glow. This had continuously been on her mind and now with a loss of a family friend.... It only made it worse. It would be a bad time to confront Gabriel about her concerns, though it also would play as a blessing in disguise. It would be difficult to pry him of the people whom look up at him with hope... But when it comes down to it Alexis prayed that he would turn a cheek and look at the unborn lives of their children growing in her womb.

She wasn't apart of the gang... She wasn't apart of anything of the sort, but that didn't mean Alexis wasn't there every night showing him how much she supported him... And right now she wanted to comfort him.

Walking through the doors it didn't take her long to see the girl close to her husband. Gabriel mentioned she returned, but Alexis had a hard time believing.... Why? She had yet to see Kevala try and visit her child. The world is in a sad state one would assume a woman would try and see her loved ones before the possibility of death was an option... Though shortly after that thought she realized that was probably what Kevala was doing. The two had managed to become somewhat of friends... But that girl truly knew how to push Lexi's buttons.

Without saying a word she would approach Gabriel, yet her emerald hues stared down at Kevala with a silent threat. Alexis wouldn't verbalize anything towards the girl simply because now was not the time.... But boy did she ever want to take advantage of her pregnancy hormones.

She would walk inbetween the two hinting she wanted Kevala to back the fuck off. Lexi would then kiss Gabriel's forehead and stand behind his hair with both hands on his shoulder. Everyone else in the room would then receive a subtle head nod in gesture towards a recognition.

[Gabriel Seran]

His head would remain bowed even in the current context of Kevala entering the room.

"I am sorry Gabriel...I know he was close to you..."

His brows would furrow, an anger overcoming him subtly feeling his grip tighten around the hem of the glass and hearing the subtle inclinations of it cracking under the pressure of his vice like grip. His breathing all but stopped in a sudden force. Others making their arrivals but in a moment Lexi was in front of him, he didn't notice until the moment she placed a kiss on his forehead. His hand instantly going limp and letting the glass fall to the floor.

'Lex...'

He'd breath again, his body loosening up again before leaning back to sit upright. He was glad she was here, though the fear of her presence showing his own weakness was over ridden by the amount of strength she had regained in him. Thank You...

His eyes would wander to each of the members here before him. Shugo, Jack, Kazuya, Kevala. Good, the pieces were in place for his plan to begin.

"Hi. I'm Shugo Yuy."

Standing upright Gabriel would grin, his features entirely peaceful now albeit a small slant to his brows illiciting the ideal that something was on his mind.

"A pleasure and real honor, Knight of 552."

His hand would extend outwards offering it to shake. As for the reason why Gabriel knew about Shugo, well he'd been around his fair share, heard rumors, heard truths. Shugo was certainly a big name back in the day and his actions today proved to Gabriel that he was above all a worthy soldier to pave the way for the future.

"I am Gabriel Seran."

A nod before retrieving his hand back shifting to the side and grasping the suitcases that remained under his desk before putting them atop it. His eyes would wander over to Kazuya first.

"Gentleman, Ladies; I present to you the weapons of the future. But with them comes a request and essentially a burden."

He'd pause tracing his gaze over to Jack next lingering a grin.

"To accept these items is to accept becoming a Knight of Justice, a Knight of Honor, a Knight of Vengeance."

He'd pop the cap on the steel grates revealing three seperate items; a belt, a necklace, and a cleaver.

"I would ask that you employ your trust in me, and as such you will understand a power to which you've never imagined and with that power and equlibrium."

From there he'd wait. He imagined just as the years before that there would be questions. It was not as though this was the first time he'd run down this route.

[Jack]

Jack followed Gabriel standing as he did so, and moving into position. Jack's eyes locked with Kevala the affection was there in his eyes and only his eyes his love for her causing him all sorts of anxiety absent to the world outside world.

He met Gabriel's gave when it came to it, his full and undivided attention given to the older male. When Gabriel opened the large brief cases one item in particular caught his attention among all others. Slowly his hand raised up as if to reach for it. Restraining himself he pointed at the cleaver with his right index finger.

"Who's is that?"

[Kazuya Hikari]

His gaze shifting as Jack entered into the room, Kazuya barely even moved an inch as the atmosphere intensified about 100 times with the arrival of Alexis (Whom Kazuya still did not know, since she did arrive at Point Hope High after he had died). The air was so tense, you could cut it with a knife. Looking down slightly, his eyes now hidden by his hair and in shadows, the love square between Gabriel, Alexis, Kevala, and Jack was quite amusing a sight to behold.

Locking gazes with Gabriel as he looked over at him from beneath his hair, though the eye contact was not quite obvious. Peering over in mild interest at the contents of Gabriel's opened suitcase, his gaze was immediately drawn to the belt.

"... It's been two years since we were last allies, Gabriel. Those years away from you have served me well. Despite our differences, I still considered you a good friend and close ally. I trust you once more Gabriel, it would be tragic if my trust was misplaced yet again."

[Date Masamune™]

The boy kept quiet as he was called the Knight of 552. It had been a long time since he had been called that. He no longer deserved the name. 552 was shut down and the students were cast out separated into different schools. He was not able to stop the violence at the school and was now suffering the consequences of that.

It appeared that Jack had also made an appearance. What kind of game was he playing? Shugo had expected Jack to have ended up on Barker's side. It was apparent enough as soon as Gabriel had opened the case. A giant cleaver was the first thing Shugo noticed. Among it were throwing knives, a necklace, headband, and another sword. What was he using these items as an incentive to try and get them to join him? Shugo was going to fight Barker with or without any sort of incentive. If he hadn't hesitated to move earlier, maybe the man that died would still be around.

"I'll join you, but I lost the right to be called a knight years ago."

One would be able to tell from his frame that Shugo was a bit tense. It had been a while since he had been a group player. He had been on his own for far too long.

[Kevala Badoer]

Annnnnd there was Lex. It was like radar or something and the thought made Kevala grin rather widely.

"Lovely to see you Lex.."

Despite the strained relationship or whatever you wanted to call it, Kev really did like the girl...though she found the whole jealously thing rather amusing. Mostly because Kev herself knew nothing was ever going to come of the way she felt for Gabriel.

Stepping away from the two she would think to herself about how well that went. No walls were broken, she wasn't being beaten to a pulp and she wasn't being broken in half. All in all, a good venture. Especially if all she got was a disapproving look and some jealous emotions.

A little bounce in her step as she inched away and moved over toward Jack. Letting him move into position as Gabriel went about presenting them with their....items, weapons, whatever....and then sliding herself up against him.

Her arm snaking around his as he looked at the items, motioning toward the blade. A little grin curling onto her lips. Knives were fun...she loved them. Her finger tracing small circles over Jack's arm as she glanced up at him and then at the rest of the group that was there. Staying silent for the most part. Nothing to say right now really.

She had already been given her "gift" so for now, she would just listen and learn. Letting her mind wander over the events that happened earlier.....

[Alexis Seran]

Alexis would stand in her spot, now pleased Gabriel wasn't brooding by himself in his mind. She would also stand back as not to interrupt anything he had planned so even as Kevala greeted her she would only smile for what seemed to be sincered... Seemed. She watched as Gabriel revealed the items... The drool at everyone's lips like the vultures they were. She marveled how Gabriel would do just about anything to see justice... Whether it be destroying someone's life or giving powerful stuff away to people like...... Kev. Though to pick on Kev was only because Alexis was the worst with grudges.

Her hand would stroke her stomach as she watched everything pan out. She wanted this rendezvous over as soon as possible because she felt it necessary to talk to Gabriel in private so as not to alarm anyone..... That and she would probably be able to convince him more in privacy.

So all she had to do was wait.

[Gabriel Seran]

"I'll join you, but I lost the right to be called a knight years ago."

Gabriel would find a silence momentarily, a silent nod of understanding. Granted their positions were likely very different but the hells to which two fallen warriors had descended were no different in severity. He knew of the harsh roads one had to take if not for some misplaced sense of justice or simply the aging of years wrought on someone's back.

"Then I hope to restore that image of yours, because walking down this road you will be beaten and broken and the hard choices will be made, but Knight you shall become once more at its end."

Gabriel would presume that the story would be flushed out in detail once more locking eyes with Shugo, he presumed that the stance would come as an understanding between two people. He didn't know the man personally but heard his fair share. Though those were just stories of childhood dreams. He now saw the man in full expecting much more and granting much less.

"... It's been two years since we were last allies, Gabriel. Those years away from you have served me well. Despite our differences, I still considered you a good friend and close ally. I trust you once more Gabriel, it would be tragic if my trust was misplaced yet again."

His attention now to Kazuya; my the years had changed them. The last they'd spoke they were both in school. Gabriel the trouble maker and Kazuya setinal for the Pillars. He would make a small grin at his words remembering when they'd worked together, the hell that their enemies suffered. Such a brief time but nonetheless just as memorable.

"And I do hope that you accept my trust Kazuya Hikari, God knowing we will need to share such a strong bond when the time comes. I have always had great faith in you."

A silent nod now turning to Jack, the youngest of the group but still his own strengths of experience. Aptly a grand choice for Gabriel's final designs.

"Who's is that?"

"yours but of course."

Gabriel would laugh briefly, a moment breaking his otherwise dismal facade. He was looking up now, the entry of his both new and old friends would give him that sense of hope that would mean a change of times. The wheels of history turning though not in blood this time, but as Jaus Valentine had hoped for them to move on Faith.

"Take these, rally your forces for the time shall come when we will need to stand and fight as one. I presume you each have your own factions to attend to. For the time being this loss will be seen as one, the Paladins shall retreat into the shadows only to prepare for the next battle. We will not let Jaus' loss be in vayne. Stretch your sights to the furthest extent and make allies with the neighboring forces. When the time comes I will acknowledge you and we will reconvene. Thank you for your loyalties and your efforts, it means more to me than you can ever know."

With that Gabriel would hand out their items and expect them to leave, a somber expression taking hold on his features before awaiting the tense feeling he'd taken from Alexis at his flank. He presumed he already had an inkling as to what she'd say but supposed she would phrase it much better than he could comprehend.

[Kazuya Hikari]

A slight smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth at the small grin that appeared on Gabriel's face as he spoke to Shugo, himself, and Jack respectively, indeed, he too remembered when the two of them had worked together, the hell their enemies had suffered at their hands was quite the frightening sight to behold, and made future enemies think twice about crossing them.

"... You need not worry Gabriel, I accept your trust. I too, had great faith in you my old friend. One day, we shall have a friendly spar against each other, and there will be no losers in our fight, only winners, for both of us will gain something from that fight."

Taking the item handed to him, Kazuya would bow his head slightly to Gabriel in acknowledgment before whirling around, his overcoat swishing from the movement as he placed his helmet on his head once more and strode out of Gabriel's office. Glancing down at the belt in his hand, he almost seemed to disappear into thin air as the shadows engulfed him, his footsteps echoing through the empty hallway the only indication he was still there, as he made his way out of the ruins of the building that was once Public High School #259.