[center][h1][b][color=orange][u]Ascot[/u][/color], [color=orchid][u]Andras[/u][/color], and [color=cyan][u]Cyan[/u][/color][/b][/h1][/center]
[hr][color=yellow][b]TAGS:[/b][/color] [@Letter Bee] [@Crowvette] [@CavnderOHeart][hr]
Cyan appeared in a room even darker than the one he left, but it was definitely more cozy.  After his eyes adjusted to the sunset light straining through the closed window shades, he saw he was in what appeared to be a living room of some sort.  On the floor was a thick, comfortable carpet, and against the wall with the double window was a couch.  A couple other comfortable-looking armchairs were also in the room.  On two walls opposite of each other were bookshelves, the contents of which were quite varied in size and thickness.  In the middle of the room was a large table with some sort of equally-large, comfortably-lined box.  Cyan hadn't a clue what that could be.

Being too tired to really care about much other than sleeping at this point, but still thinking clearly enough to realize that he was [i]probably[/i] trespassing, he decided to curl up in the corner next to the couch rather than sleep on the couch itself.  Would make it less likely he'd be spotted.  Luckily, the carpet was more than worthy of sleeping upon.  He then pulled his fluffy tail over himself as a makeshift blanket and fell into a deep sleep, thoroughly exhausted.

He suddenly awoke to the chorus of The Final Countdown by Europe, and knocked his head against the hard plaster wall.

His first thought was, [color=turquoise][i]'Ow!'[/i][/color] followed by, [color=turquoise][i]'Crap, I'm trespassing and now my phone is going to wake them up!'[/i][/color]  He rubbed his head as he attempted to fumble his ringing phone out of his back pocket while lying down.  Finally managing it, he held it over to his face and noticed the clock in the corner.

[b][color=yellow]1:43 AM[/color][/b]

[color=turquoise][i]'Who on earth would be calling me at this time at night?'[/i][/color] he thought, and swiped across.  Unknown caller ID.  This could only mean one thing.

[color=turquoise][i]'Wrong number,'[/i][/color] he thought, a bit irritated, and hung up.

[hr]

William Ascot thanked Vernon with a smile and a [color=orange]"Thank You; make sure he only shoots at the wheels of that half-demon's transportation and does not kill anyone,"[/color] but frowned when he mentioned Cyan. [color=orange]"To be honest, I was going to call him now to help boost mine and Andras' luck so that we pull the right cards. As for a love triangle, only if he's willing. Emphasis on [i]willing[/i]."[/color]

Andras blinked. [color=mediumorchid][i]'Shoots at the wheels? Love triangle? H-Have these amazing things been happening all around me without me being aware of it?'[/i][/color] She studied the two boys with a renewed perspective, but decided to keep her speculation to herself.

And with that, Ascot searched for the fox-boy's phone number on the White Pages, the privately-owned database of cellphone numbers. Once he was done, he would send a text message: [color=darkorange][i][b]Hey, Cyan, it's me, William Ascot, the St. Laurel's Student who frequents the library a lot. I need your help; am willing to pay $1000 out of my private savings; been saving it up since I was eight. Text me back if you're willing.[/b][/i][/color]

No answer.

Ascot decided to call Cyan through voice instead this time.  No answer again.  He attempted one more time and finally got through.
[color=orange]"Hello, Mr. Bridget?!  It's me, William Ascot!  A fellow St. Laurel's student!  And I'm willing to pay $1,000 dollars out of my private savings for your help!"[/color] he said over the phone, a note of desperation in his voice.

[hr]

After hanging up,  Cyan stood up.  He was still drowsy of course, but after getting some rest he realized the importance of not being found in somebody else's house.  He unlocked the one of the two doors that lead outside, and his phone started playing music again.

[color=turquoise][i]'Well they must be trying to reach me if they're ringing me a second time,'[/i][/color] he thought, slightly embarressed by the idea that he just hung up on someone.

Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he tapped the answer call button and held it up to his ear.
[color=cyan]"He-"[/color]
[color=orange]"Hello, Mr. Bridget?!  It's me, William Ascot!  A fellow St. Laurel's student!  And I'm willing to pay $1,000 dollars out of my private savings for your help!"[/color] the voice on the other side almost seemed to shout in the quiet.

[color=cyan]"One thousa-  Hold on,"[/color] Cyan whispered and glanced behind him to the other door, afraid someone would come through.  Satisfied that nobody was coming yet, he left whatever building he ended up in, locking the door again before closing it.

[color=cyan]"Alright, what is this about?"[/color] he asked in a hushed, and rather confused, voice.

The answer was short, with a low, fast, nervous tone. [color=orange]"I need two things. One is a boost to luck for me and another person, Andras - you may know her as Alexandria Sova. Another is a boost to my health; my life force. Two coin-flips for 500 dollars each, right?"[/color]

Cyan didn't know anyone named Andras or Alexandria Sova.  He didn't even think he knew this William, though he did recognize the name.

[color=cyan]"Um, well, what's this for?  Like, I could try to do those things, but if I know what it's for maybe there's a better way to do it,"[/color] he asked, slightly puzzled.  Nobody had really asked him to coin-flip for them as a service before.  He then added, [color=cyan]"And it's not really two coin-flips, it could be like three to five or something, with several bad things."[/color]

[color=orchid]"What's this about coin flips? Five hundred dollars?! William, who exactly are you speaking to?"[/color] Andras felt a bead of sweat roll down her temple. [color=mediumorchid][i]'These negotiations are getting rather expensive... William sure is something else. Shootings, love triangles... Luck and health boosts... Maybe I should meet him outside of the library more often!'[/i][/color]

William Ascot explained to Cyan as best as he could: [color=orange]"There is an 'enemy' student, Vittorio Twinveil, who only hates Alto because he thinks that the latter is somehow to blame for the death of his parents, who were gardeners at St. Laurels', and his four best friends, who were St. Laurel's students. This was two years ago, and their real killer was a Demon who was seeking out Alto. Now, I was told that resurrecting the parents and best friends is impossible...and that's normally true. But my friend, Andras/Alexandra Sova, has a power that can get around various cosmic laws. But this power requires drawing random spells from a magical source of power, and of those random spells, reliable resurrection requires magic that takes away half your life force and physical health. So I need both a luck and health boost. So please, help me."

"As for why you should aid me in aiding a Mephisto's student, well, let's just say that his story is tragic. Or if you don't care about tragedies, well, resurrecting four St. Laurel's students and getting Vittorio to defect will improve the school's position greatly. So yeah, again, please help me."[/color] And with that, Ascot waited.

Most of the stuff William said went in one ear and out the other for Cyan.  It seemed like they might have been in over their heads, but they seemed pretty adamant about their objective.  Something that did catch his attention was their mentioning of this Andras being able to get around cosmic law with randomly drawn spells.
[color=turquoise][i]'That sounds a lot like my power...  I haven't heard of anyone else having a power like this before,'[/i][/color] he thought, curious.

[color=cyan]"If Andras or Alexandra is the one using her random power, only she would need luck, right?  Or do you need luck for something else?"[/color] Cyan asked after William finished his spoken essay.

The response was, [color=orange]"True, very true. So one luck boost for Andras, one Health boost for me. Also, I will be taking on every bad result on myself; it's unfair to ask you to take on any side-effects alone. Will you be all right with that?"[/color]

The side effects were mainly what the boy had been worried about, so he thought that would be a deal he'd want.  However, for some reason, he felt a bit guilty at the idea of being paid to just flip a coin and potentially really hurt someone else.  It didn't feel right to have other people take the consequences of his power.

He was silent for a moment, thinking it over.
[color=cyan]"Are you sure?"[/color]

William felt fear for the first time in this quest, a cold feeling in his chest. Nevertheless, he answered, [color=orange]"Yes. I was the one who demanded this of you, after all. Plus, I heard the story of how you got your tail; it isn't right to allow something similar to happen to you."[/color]

Cyan was taken aback by the mention of his tail.  What?  Who did William hear the story from?  He put the question aside, though.  That wasn't really important right now.

[color=cyan]"In that case, do you have any suggestions for tail flips?  The worse the 'side effect', the better the heads flip would be.  It also helps to make the flips similar, like good luck against bad luck,"[/color] he said, feeling a pit in his stomach.  This wasn't right.  Maybe they didn't understand what the coin flip could entail?  That would explain their willingness, and if so, then it would definitely be wrong to make them take the consequences.

Ascot was impatient now, [color=orange]"We're wasting time. The flipside of the luck boost would be my worst enemy,"[/color] this was Galbrek, even though he didn't know his name, [color=orange]"...getting a full dossier about me and my powers and countermeasures against said powers, effective tomorrow. The flipside of the health boost, for me, would be getting [i]wings[/i]. And not the functional kind, either; I think wings that actually allow flight would be a cheat."[/color]

The impatience and forcefulness in William's voice took Cyan by surprise.  All of this stuff was important!  If he didn't know these things, he wouldn't know what to flip and his power wouldn't work.
[color=cyan]"Um, and, when would you like the boosts to begin?  And for how long?"[/color] he meekly ventured another couple questions, afraid they'd jump down his throat again.  It was important to know though, he didn't want to mess this up.

The reply was softer, [color=orange]"Two hours each; that ought to be enough time for the plan. And the boosts can begin now."[/color]
Cyan nodded, even though that didn't really communicate anything during a phone call, and held out his fist.  An ordinary copper and nickle quarter appeared on his thumb, ready to be flipped.

[center][hr][b][u][color=yellow]COIN-FLIPS[/color][/u][/b]
Andras Luck vs. Galbrek Info - [color=crimson]FAILURE![/color]
Ascot Health vs. Ascot Wings - [color=lime]SUCCESS![/color]
[hr][b][u][color=yellow]SCOREBOARD[/color][/u]
[color=lime]Heads: 2[/color] - [color=crimson]Tails: 3[/color][/b][hr][/center]