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Sammael waited as the last three began to finally introduce themselves. The Water Chosen, Jonah, and the Shadow Chosen, Ruby, seemed quiet and and reserved. It didn't seem like he would have much of an issue with those two. Then there was his 'lovely' sister. Of all the people in this group, she would most certainly cause the most trouble for him.

Or at least, that is what Sammael thought. He was soon proven wrong when the ground below him started to move suddenly. [color=Fff200][b]"What the fu-?!"[/b][/color] his voice was cut off before he could even finish his exclamation as he was forced into doing the splits. Sam winced in pain as flexibility certainly wasn't his strong suit and it took him a moment before he was finally able to stand back up. He of course knew the only person who would be able to do this... Lach. [color=Fff200][i]That one is going to be trouble.. he's lucky I can't do anything yet[/i][/color] He made sure to shoot his newfound annoyance a glare with his eyes glowing golden until he felt his familiar peck at him to get his attention.

[b]"It's not worth it, Sammael."[/b] He knew that Soleil was right, so he reluctantly turned away. It was just a score for him to settle some other day.

Esmeray held back a laugh only a small smile coming to her lips as she watched her brother fall into the splits. Flexible is a thing he was not so it had to have caused him pain, something she felt he deserved at this point. The entertainment was short lived though as people went back to doing their own thing, so she did too. 

The pinkette was soon interrupted from her thoughts as Ethan approached her and brought her food. She looked to him shocked that the boy had just brought food over to her. It was the last thing she had expected, someone to bring her food especially after watching the trio glance at her a few times knowing they were definitely talking about her. So for one of the three to bring her food, especially Ethan... it was unexpected.

The last time she had seen Ethan was almost six months prior when he came to her and Thann in hopes of contacting Eurika and Flurissa. Unfortunately things hadn't ended well and that had caused Esmeray to believe he hated her especially with the such terrible news she gave him. But here he was giving her food which she gently took from his hand and then had to for a minute play keep away from Osseus before she could thank him.

[color=AF4035][b]"Thanks..."[/b][/color] Esmeray muttered as Osseus landed on the ground and stomped away to find his own food. 

Ethan looked to the side, avoiding eye contact. [color=31D0D6][b]"I...I'm sorry I haven't said anything since...y'know."[/b][/color] Ethan said slightly dejected. [color=31D0D6][b]"I mean it wasn't your fault it was just really difficult to hear that and..."[/b][/color] He sat down nearby to at least pretend to be comfortable. [color=31D0D6][b]"You risked yourself just to help a stranger get closure, and after all that I didn't have the guts to thank you for at least trying. So...thanks."[/b][/color] He said, not exactly expecting to open up out of the blue like that.

Esmeray stayed silent as he spoke taking a bite of food everynow and then. She definitely also wasn't expecting a thank you so when he thanked her, Esme froze and dropped what was left of her food staring at him, Osseus running out of the shadows and quickly devouring the food.

 No one had ever thanked her before, not outside of the people who worshipped Azrail. [color=AF4035][b]"I-I... I didn't do anything worth a thank you..."[/b][/color] Esmeray shook her head and looked down at her feet. She didn't deserve a thank you... She failed what she was supposed to do. Esme couldn't give him any closure, she couldn't even try and help all the trapped spirits. Something she should have been able to easily... but there were complications and she failed even that. Coming back to weak and on the verge of passing out. No Esme didn't deserve a thank you for that failure. 

 [color=AF4035][b]"I failed what I was asked to do. I don't deserve a thank you."[/b][/color]  Esmeray's voice was not as timid as it was earlier this time she was felt more sure of what she was saying. So she wanted to make sure it got across.

Ethan wasn't sure how to react to Esmeray insisting that she didn't deserve his thanks. He wasn't sure if it was humility or just self deprecation forcing her to talk this way. [color=31D0D6][b]"You tried, you almost got hurt...it wasn't your fault that you-"[/b][/color]

Of course in the midst of an emotional moment, Sammael appeared to spoil the mood. [color=Fff200][b]"It's alright, my dear sister. I'm sure you tried your hardest. Though I am surprised you only tried once, I thought you would be a little more dedicated than that."[/b][/color] As much as he tried to cover  it up, there was a slight hint of passive-aggresiveness in his voice. 

After the small verbal jab towards his sister, Sam turned to Ethan.  [color=Fff200][b]"I believe your name was Ethan, correct? It is my pleasure to be formally introduced to you."[/b][/color]

Ethan looked skeptically at Sammael, one part of him briefly thinking that what he said matched with Esmeray's statement about not deserving thanks. He glanced at her, trying to get some kind of hint that what he was saying was false...Then he remembered the source. Even if Esmeray could have tried again, it would have been incredibly dangerous...that thing had seen her the first time, and given that three chosen weren't able to even truly damage it...even if she had given it her all, Ethan doubted that Esmeray would have been able to do anything about it. He looked at her as sympathetically as he could, but there was a very slight bit of doubt in his mind now.

He looked back at Sammael. [color=31D0D6][b]"Right, Sammael. It's uh-"[/b][/color] Ethan stopped himself, it was way too early to stir trouble in this group. Given his dislike for Sammael may have been unfounded...[color=31D0D6][b]"Nice to meet you."[/b][/color] He finished, deciding to keep friendly.

Sammael only made Esme feel worse about herself. Why hadn't she gone and tried again... Maybe if she had used their dead bodies she could have had a stronger connection and been able to free their spirits. It was too late to know now. Esme had messed up their chance for closure, one that they may never get back. [color=AF4035][b]"Sammael is right Ethan... I could have tried more. Done it differently. Used something else to connect with their spirits. I'm sorry..."[/b][/color]

 [color=Fff200][b]"I'm sure you did as much as you could... sis."[/b][/color] It sounded so unnatural to call her that, even for him. He did know that it had to be done. His little comment to try and call her out in his introductions back fired. How was he supposed to know that everyone was dumb enough to actually trust HER of all people? He needed to gain their trust and fast.

He stood beside his sister, quickly wrapping his arm around her in a friendly manner and trying to act brotherly. Pulling her in and whispering in her ear so that only she could hear.  [color=Fff200][b]"You might want to play along here 'sis.' After all, it would be a shame if our parents found out..."[/b][/color] After leaning away he plastered a friendly smile onto his face.

Ethan was suspicious to say the least when Sam pulled Esmeray in to whisper. Something was up, but he already knew he wouldn't be able to get to the bottom of it right then and there. [color=31D0D6][b]"Y'know, I'm sure if you really could've done anything differently. That old man that kept hitting me with his cane would have said something."[/b][/color] Ethan said, not entirely certain himself, but not exactly willing to take back his thanks from before. Unlike him, Esmeray had gotten a close look at that thing. If there was even a chance that it could have hurt her, he'd rather she didn't try...at least not before that thing was ripped to pieces... 

Esmeray froze up as Sammael put his arm around her and hugged her close to him, it was unnatural and not something she'd experienced since they were children. Then he threatened her. Knowing not to let her face give it away, she kept it neutral but felt a shiver run down her spine at the thought. 

When he leaned away she gave him a small smile,  [color=AF4035][b]"Thanks Samantha... you always know what to say to cheer me up."[/b][/color] The words felt disgusting coming off her tongue but she had to play along... at least until she died out here and knew she wouldn't have to deal with her parents anymore. But if she was going to play along she was going to play the teasing sister part. Which she already did, just now she had to actually get along with him when not teasing him. So his nickname was back... well one of many...

At the mention of Thann, Esmeray's smile faltered slightly as her chest tightened. A sad chuckled left her lips as she remebered the many times he had whacked her in the head with his cane... a stubborn man he was. But one who just wanted what was best for her and for her to not be weighed down too much by her duties but also know just how important her role in life was. Before he had died he had already been on his death bed. Sick but staying stubborn as he didn't want to die on her birthday, he wanted to hold out for a few weeks past the first scare of his death. The stubborn man held out for three more months past her birthday. But with each day she got stronger, he grew closer to death. Then he was assassinated, she was blamed and then he wouldn't even speak to her in the spirit realm no matter how many times she tried. He'd only say it'd make her weaker if she couldn't accept his death without visiting him... still she tries and to this day, keeping the jewel from his ring around her own neck. 

Meanwhile, a little dragon had been staring up at a beautiful griffin. He was captivated by the creature and was going to fly up to greet her but then the person she was perched on moved... and touched his Esme. He hated the person the beautiful creature perched on. It had been one of three people to be mean to her and do bad things. So he mixed one of his favorite things in with his anger after letting a few of his sharper teeth grow...

Osseus bit the squishy.

Sammael heard the nickname he hadn't heard in a long, long time. Samantha. He scowled at the name. Very few people were allowed to call him anything but Sammael and it was his biggest pet peeve to be called anything but that. He stood up, intending to walk away before his anger got the best of him.  [color=Fff200][b]"You little-"[/b][/color] He started to mumble before he got cut off. He felt a sharp pain, in his ass of all places. It took a moment for it to process before Sam yelled out in pain.  [color=Fff200][b]"Get this damned thing off me!"[/b][/color]

The griffin flew off of his shoulder and landed on the ground by Ethan and Esmeray, giving a slight chuckle. Soleil knew her master was in no real trouble as this had occured several times in the past. [b]"It seems Osseus is very riled up today."[/b]

Sammael managed to finally pry the skeletal dragon off him by pulling it by the tail and after finally doing so he tossed it towards his sister. [color=Fff200][b]"Take your boney brat and keep him away from me! I'm tired of it doing that..."[/b][/color] He complained before stomping off in another direction. Soleil flew up and perched again on his shoulder as he left the other two behind.

A laugh escaped Esmeray's lips, the first one in what felt like forever to the pinkette. Her laughter continued as her brother struggled with the small dragon biting his butt. The others would hear her, see her and probably think she was crazy. But she was just enjoying what she could for the time being.

Catching Osseus the girl grinned at her brother as she patted the little dragon on the head. [color=AF4035][b]"Sorry Samantha. You know how much Osseus likes to bite the 'squishy' as he calls it."[/b][/color] There was no sense of sincerity in her apology as she watched her brother walk away.

Ethan stared slightly perturbed by Sammael's angry outburst. He could easily chalk it up to getting bit in the ass by some rather sharp teeth, but something told him that it was really just a glimpse of his real personality.

 [color=31D0D6][b]"Well, for what it's worth, your brother probably deserved that. Regardless of what you say, I'm still grateful you tried at all. You didn't owe me anything, so even if someone says you didn't do everything you could have, you still did something."[/b][/color] With that, Ethan walked off with a single wave. He was definitely frustrated by the possibility that there had been any possibility of saving Eurika and Flurissa's souls back when Es first tried, but he still knew what they had to do now. If that thing was gone, it wouldn't be dangerous at all to contact them and get their closure...Even if he didn't tell Ka'ora, which he couldn't bring himself to, she would be more than willing if they encountered it again. This time though, Ethan would have to make sure he was there to keep the last bit of family he had alive.