[center][h3][color=C2B280]Fleo Plector – Phoenix Backyard[/color][/h3][/center]

Feeling like Trinity was perhaps laying on the 'loving family' portion of the Phoenix Wing pledge a bit too much, Fleo decided not to demur this time.  [color=C2B280]“Well...you're welcome!”[/color]  The minstrel's following suggestion started the gears spinning in the dusty woman's head.  [color=C2B280]“Hm.  I think it's true that a lot of power can make up for speed, actually.  Back in the desert, poor Bert had magic that was slow to act at range, but using a technique called Sand Tumult, he made the ground shift and move.  We couldn't run over it, just jump around between his pillars or waste time trying to deal with the Tumult.  Any speed advantage we had was wiped away.”[/color]

An eyebrow rose in reply to Angelo's suggestion.  After a moment of considering, Fleo chose to humor him.  [color=C2B280]“Guess he's the type that likes to watch, eh, Trin?”[/color]  Upbeat and ready to go even after a bad joke, Fleo flicked one of her hands, causing the dust whirring around her to coagulate.  [color=C2B280]“Dust Craft: Bulwark!”[/color]  Immediately, the dust already ready for use solidified into a large shield that hovered directly in front of Fleo, blocking her completely from Trinity's view.  A cushion of dust formed beneath Fleo, and on that Sirocco she began to approach Trinity, shield first.  [color=C2B280]“Comin' for ya, Trin!”[/color]  Despite not being an attack, the logic behind the move was sound: if the strength of the archeress was long range, then protecting herself from arrows while getting closer and closer was a viable move on Fleo's part.

[center][h3][color=CCCCFF]Joakim Fortinbras – Magnolia[/color][/h3][/center]

As Dullahans went, Xyster tended to exhibit remarkably good spirits, but an abrupt rise in what Joakim termed 'macabre glee' did not go unnoticed by the blue-braided northerner.  Watching Xyster humming as she waltzed along, with her head loosely clutched by its hair-ribbon, and ever now and then executing what looked very much like a scythe-strike, Joakim finally voiced his opinions.  In a low voice, so that Nandy and Harper were not obliged to listen in, Joakim said, [color=CCCCFF]“Corporal?  You seem in a very good mood today.  To be certain, Phoenix Wing has its charm, but I wouldn't have expected a simple visit to strike such a chord with you.  Unless...”[/color]  The pieces slotted into place, and Joakim, realizing what they must mean, opened wide his eyes with surprise.  [color=CCCCFF]“Corporal!  You didn't...those games...?”[/color]

A brilliant green eye winked.  [color=9ACD32]“Did too.”[/color]

The northerner ran a hand through his hair in resignation.  [color=CCCCFF]“Pff...I swear, Xyster.  I will never be able to figure out if you're good with an evil side or evil with a good side.”[/color]

Laughing, Xyster flung her head into the air.  A couple of frenetic spins later, it popped onto her neck, almost exactly in place.  For that split second, until it started to slip off, she could have passed for human.  That grin, however, held an aspect more than a little nightmarish.  [color=9ACD32]“That's the fun of it, isn't it?  The not knowing.  Makes life exciting!  I don't need to remind you that I physically can't betray the guild as long as I've got my mark, though.”[/color]

The train station loomed in the distance.  Without a carriage to ferry them on, the Frenzy Plant soldiers had been forced to walk, not that Harper minded.  They decided to stop at a little cafe, so that those who hadn't eaten at the Phoenix Wing hall could have a quick bite.  Despite his revelation, Joakim trusted Xyster completely.  She brought up her mark with regularity to try and keep those she valued from being afraid of her, but truth to be told, Joakim was certain that at this point, even if the mark was removed Xyster would remain a friend -though a weird friend- to them all.

[center][h3][color=FF9966]Andrea van der Putten – the Frenzy Fort[/color][/h3][/center]

Rather than diverting her attention to Gabriel, Andrea scratched her rock monster beneath the chin, though after a few seconds she did ultimately respond.  [color=FF9966]“They're...well, I make them.  I use Rock Menagerie, which brings these guys to life.  My uncle had the same magic...he took requests from customers and created personalized monsters to perform certain tasks for them, from fetching to cleaning to fighting.  It was his line of battle monsters that brought him into Frenzy's attention in the first place.”[/color]  Now that Andrea had something else to focus on, it seemed that her inhibitions were mitigated.  Then again, it was possible that she was actually talking to Kin, and just allowing Gabriel to listen.

[color=FF9966]“I was his assistant...at the time.  He thought that guild life would be good for me...so here I am.  When you make 'em, rockmonsters are just blank, and blindly do whatever you tell them to.  But depending on how you treat 'em, they grow personalities all their own.  They're great!  Never let you down, never get tired, never lose control, never hurt your feelings.  Way better than people.”[/color]  For the first time in several minutes, Andrea looked at Gabriel, worried that she might have upset him.  [color=FF9966]“Uh...present company...excluded.”[/color]