[b][center][color=007FFF]Abel Fulgurate[/color][/center][/b]

After a few minutes, a tone from the guardian's scroll demanded his attention.  He slipped the device from the from jacket pocket of his gorgeous and stylish blue coat, pulling it out and activating it in a single, deft motion that by now was well-rehearsed.  It took a moment to sort through all the unerased messages and find the newcomer, but find it he did, and he examined Gren's alert thoroughly.  Just before Abel could shut the scroll off and pop it back into his pocket, a new message arrived.  This barely provoked a reaction from him, totally expecting it to be another text from a teammate.  He opened the message to read without glancing at the number, only to pause in confusion.

[i]To: Abel Fulgurate
From: Leo England
Subject:
Body: cme to emeerald faoreestalone tomorwo lok for falre if you dont people wioldie[/i]

A couple of seconds later, Abel looked to the sender and the subject for any clarification.  One proved to be totally unfamiliar and the other blank.  Baffled but suddenly intrigued, Abel focused his full mental capacity on deciphering out the ridiculous arrangement of letters he'd been confronted with.  This new problem to solve swept away all thoughts about lunch for the time being, but fortunately for his stomach the guardian didn't take long to figure out that this was no code he'd been sent, but rather a short statement more rushed and full of awful mistakes than a speeding prison bus.  He'd reached about halfway through over the course of thirty seconds or so -[i]come to Emerald Forest alone[/i]- and was puzzling about its meaning when a bright and familiar voice drew him from his riddle.  Before Abel's eyes, looking good as ever, was Krysanthe, and if he'd heard her correctly she'd just asked him to accompany her to lunch.  He blinked once, motionless for a split second.  On the inside, however, there was an exhilarated yet dignified party going on.  [i]Holy cow she wants to hang out with me I did okay last night and she did the asking she's totally assertive that's really hot and man I'm happy![/i]

“Sure, I guess.”  [i]Uh oh.  Too disengaged.[/i]  “I mean, yeah, sounds great.  Now?  Sure, let's go.”

He pocketed the scroll and its cryptic contents, rerouting every mental function available to not looking like a complete dolt.  Wearing an optimistic smile, the guardian walked alongside her toward the deli, marveling internally that he'd managed to do well enough to have a second date with someone.  Was lunch a date?  Who cares!

Deli N'Doul, despite its moniker, wasn't your everyday sandwich shop.  It brought along an atmosphere of culture and quaintness, visible in the art on the walls and the decorative objects found everywhere.  Even more visible than the scenery, however, were Abel's teammates.  Instantly, a dilemma hit him.  [i]Do I bring her over to the others or find a table for two?  Ah, I know.[/i]  A cleared throat later, Abel remarked, “Nice place.  Where do you want to sit?”