[center][h2]Damian Gerard|Phoenix Wing Guild Hall[/h2][/center]

[color=f7976a]"No more secrets? Fine then. I murdered my father when I was 16. Why won't you look at me?"[/color] Damian started at the revelation that she'd killed her father the at the same age he'd lost his parents and left the Fiore Royal Army. It almost had him ask her for specifics, but he stopped himself. [color=FireBrick][i]She...how can I explain to her how horrible I feel, not just for the lives I took but for betraying her trust...[/i][/color] He was silent for a long time, trying to come up with the answer he felt fit the best. Eventually, he sighed and decided the truth was best.

[color=FireBrick]"A few months ago, the topic of killing came up. I remembered you saying, after I...did what I did, that those who would take a life shouldn't and can't be trusted. That they would turn on their best friend if they fancied it. After I took the first guy's life, to try and save Mithera, I knew I'd messed up. Not just because when you found out, you'd probably hate me for it, but because I broke a promise I made to my mom as she lay dying."[/color] His voice was soft, but loud enough to be heard and my hand drifted absentmindedly to where my cutlass on my waist usually sat, even though it wasn't there. [color=FireBrick]"She made me promise to leave behind the killing I'd done, to live more peaceably and join a guild. At 16, even though I was old enough to know better, I hoped my promise would help her live. I was wrong, but she died with a smile on her face. I guess what I'm saying is I can't look you in the face, because I know that I can't change your mind."[/color]

The Blades Magic user shook his head and flopped onto his bed, his head in his hands. [color=FireBrick]"Hell, I don't blame you if you do hate me. After everything I've done...The past is part of who you are, a defining feature. And mine's full of blood shed and war. I...I don't know if you could ever love a man like that and I wouldn't blame you if you couldn't."[/color] There, it was out in the air now. It was only a question of how Penny would react.

[center][h2]James Hunt|Phoenix Wing Guild Hall[/h2][/center]

James kept his views on Damian's revelation to himself, though he felt no contempt for the man. He did what he knew and that was as honorable and honest as one could get. Still, taking a life at such a young age...and then he remembered he was holding a conversation with the rambling man known as Gideon. Chuckling, James does his best to address it all. [color=Navy]"Well, as far as jobs go, there should be plenty available what with eight of our members soon to be busy training for the games. And a group attacking peddlers..."[/color]

James thought real hard on that one. He hadn't seen any job requests concerning a group of bandits doing that, nor were there any rumors around Magnolia about it. With a shrug, James takes another bite of his food. [color=Navy]"Nope, not that I'm aware of. Perhaps you caught them before they got really serious about it."[/color]