[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Td7NjFd.png[/img] [b][i][u]City: ???[/u] Location: Black Cathedral - Entrance[/i][/b][/center] [quote=@Letter Bee] A pause as the Inquisitor waved to the just-arrived Libero and Noel accompanying them, before he continued. (...) And with that, he ran up to where Noel was, tackle-hugging, the young man and saying "NOEL! I'm so happy to see you!" [/quote] Noel was taken aback a little by the tackle-hug. He looked at the person who hugged him, a little confused. But once the voice came out, he finally remembered. [b][i]BGM:[/i][/b] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlrpCQ0-KP0]Beneath the Hollow Moon[/url] [color=00aeef]"... Rote? Is it really you...?"[/color] He looked at his face. It was indeed him. Rote Kaufmann, another noble of Venedig and a childhood friend. The Fragarach and the Kaufmann maintained contact ever since Libero was a kid, so Noel and Rote met each other while being very young. They were inseperable and stood playing at each other's houses for as long as they can remember. That is, until both completed 15 years. At that time, the relations between both families suddenly stopped, without any reason being given to them. And after that, the duo never saw each other. Once all memories flooded back, Noel hugged Rote back. [color=00aeef]"I... I can't believe this!! Where were you?! Do you know how much I missed you?!"[/color] He spoke. Noel was the sort of smart and quiet kid. The kind who got easily bullied at school. He never talked much with other children and always stood back studying. Rote was someone who never left him at silence, though. He always pulled Noel to play with him and the other kids at Venedig, that being the only way Noel could make any other friends. But they were always together, as if they were brothers from separate families. It's thanks to Rote that Noel decided to muster some strength and become more sociable with people. Time passed and Noel became who he was today. [color=00aeef]"We were always together, ever since we were children... played together, chatted together, studied together and... just passed the years by. After your family stopped coming back and you just vanished, I... I felt like something important was missing..."[/color] He spoke a little. [color=00aeef]"I... don't know what happened for you to become a slave. I can't even imagine why something like this would happen, but... I'm just... happy to see you again, Rote! You're like family to me... the brother I never had, so I... I missed you so much!!"[/color] Noel spoke, crying in his shoulder. Libero could only look and smile at the moment. He was really happy that Noel wouldn't be alone with just strangers in his new home. [color=f26522]"I'm happy that you two are now together again, Noel. It heartens me to know you're happy."[/color] Libero spoke. [color=00aeef]"*sniff* I... I said I wouldn't cry if I saw you again, but... I'm just too happy, so I'm sorry!"[/color] Noel said at Rote. [b][i]*BGM fades*[/i][/b] [quote=@Letter Bee] "Heck, the only thing that'd make it better is if I had an excuse to be naked -" Inquisitor Malamocco rolled his eyes and cleared his throat. "Young men nowadays." [/quote] [b][i]BGM:[/i][/b] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quDLHeN6ER0]My Homie[/url] Libero scratched his head and sighed. [color=f26522]"This is Rote being Rote. You better get used to it."[/color] When Noel heard Rote speaking about being naked and Malamocco clearing his throat, he finally paid attention to what they were saying. He was fully naked, with only some rags. His face began to flush out of embarassment, as he pushed Rote away and broke the hug. [color=00aeef]"Y-You... you're... only with rags...!"[/color] He spoke, nervous. However, he also got a little angry, because this... was common, just like Libero said. [color=00aeef]"You... y-you haven't changed at all! A-And what do you mean by "excuse"?! You always ran around naked at your home ever since we were 13! E-Even at home, when I leave my room for one second and when I'm back you're... already without your clothes and looking at me!"[/color] Noel spoke. [color=f26522]"That's... true. The many times I caught you at Noel's room naked and I had to close the door before someone caught him..."[/color] Libero spoke. [color=00aeef]"Y-You saw him?! And you never told me?! W-Why?!"[/color] Noel exclaimed to Libero. [color=f26522]"I do enjoy when my little brother gets flustered over this, sometimes. It's rather cute."[/color] Libero spoke, with a little yet tender smile. This didn't make Noel less angry, though. On the contrary... [color=00aeef]"W-Why you... UGH!! Y-You two are the worst!! Teasing me like this is not funny!"[/color] Noel complained while looking away. He never liked this... hobby Rote had of staying stark naked without any problems. For him that was completely indecent. [color=f26522]"Hey, you need to understand that he was a slave not a moment ago. It's not Rote's fault this time."[/color] Libero tried to cover for Rote. [color=00aeef]"I-It doesn't matter! Slave or not, he always wants to... to stay like this! T-This is rather normal for him and... and... ugh!!"[/color] Noel opened one of his bags and took out one of his spare robes, pushing it onto Rote without looking at him. [color=00aeef]"W-Wear this, please! It'll cover your body for now!"[/color] He spoke, still flushed and not looking at his friend. Libero could only laugh at the scene. He missed this sort of peaceful and familiar feeling. Then, Malamocco began speaking with him. [quote=@Letter Bee] He then looked at Libero and said, "Greetings, Fragach scion. Your actions have brought the approval of the good aspects of Existence today." A frown as he continued, "Here is something that might stay your father's anger - We have the identity of the Cult of the Keeper's agent in Kaisersdat. As I said, the Cult of the Keeper is a group trying to bring down civilization as we know it so that the Old Gods can be worshipped due to everyone forgetting they are mere mortals with great magical power." The Inquisitor smiled, "Her name is Katherine Sophia Gotha, and she is the one who planted the idea for the Iron Decree in our sovereign's brain." [/quote] [b][i]BGM:[/i][/b] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKRWNODq1hk]March[/url] [color=f26522]"Greetings, Inquisitor. Believe me, my reasons for doing this are more selfish than what you would believe. All that I want is to safegaurd Noel so that he won't become another slave master. I want him to keep his heart pure and away from that."[/color] Libero spoke. Then, he spoke about something that would stay any anger from Grandalt. It was about a woman named Katherine Sophia Gotha, member of the Cult of the Keeper and responsible for making the Emperor believe and create the Iron Decree. However, he thought differently about it. [color=f26522]"My father sold his soul and mind to the Decree, only because to maintain connections with the Emperor. Bringing this woman's name on my home will bring nothing to stay his anger once he discovers mine and my mother's actions. You can consider him your enemy and I, a rebel to his will."[/color] Libero spoke.