Chuunitrixx whipped around, Ariamis leveled with Rodias's heart; the bullet wouldn't take his life, but it would wound him -- trouble him. However, Chuunitrixx's expression softened, as she registered him; old habits died hard, but her gun lowered. Her eyes closed, as she smiled -- a smile brighter than the very sun -- before she glomped him, and buried her face in his cold chest. "[color=red][i][b]I missed you, Rodi. Why don't you visit me, anymore,[/b][/i][/color]" she asks, with a genuine sadness that came of being given genuine emotion, yet wasn't hers; a phantom pain of a woman that was no more. Rodias paused, softly placing his hand against the back of Chuunitrixx’s neck as he sighed. [color=f7976a][b]”I know...work was busy though.”[/b][/color] he would say, the same excuse he used to give Traptrixx for why he wasn’t logging in as regularly some weeks. He hated that Traptrixx made Chuunitrixx into an exact copy of her...and hated even more the thought that he was going to watch one of his best friends slip away all over again. [color=f7976a][b]”Why’d you react like that? You never were that pushy,”[/b][/color] he would ask, letting her remain close. All the while, he wanted nothing more than to go back to his shitty life. It wasn’t fun remembering how Traptrixx’s life fell apart. That’s the real reason he didn’t like visiting Chuunitrixx. "[color=red][b]Pushy? Moi? Hardly![/b][/color]" Chuunitrixx chuckled, looking up, and smirking; her periwinkle-hued eyes dulled, yet didn't lose their excitement. "[color=forestgreen]They were groveling; it was pathetic, and hardly befitting any one,[/color]" she says, stepping back, and crossing her arms, her eyes narrowed, "[color=red][b]Frankly, you were no better on your knees; denying your stations.[/b][/color]" Rodias sighed, scratching the back of his head. This was...problematic to explain, really. He couldn’t tell Chuunitrixx anything without ostracizing himself, since he had a feeling new would travel fast if “Master Rodias has gone insane and thinks he’s been isekai’d into an isekai’s isekai”. Regardless, Rodias would pull back from Chuunitrixx and walk towards the edge of the building they were on. [color=f7976a][b]”The truth is, I don’t know if I’m fit to lead. You know better than anyone what my rank was amongst the lords. Besides, I was never a party leader. So...half of that was honest. The other half? Probably more my inability to handle praise,”[/b][/color] the sable lord would say. Another lie that at least served to explain why he bowed. Frankly...he didn’t want to disrespect any of them. Chuunitrixx frowned, and looked around. "[color=pink]You lead fine, my Lord. It is an indisputable fact,[/color]" piped up one of the Survivors; a little girl in rags, like all the rest; she hugged a pickaxe like a teddy bear. "[color=lightblue]My Queen is only worried for you, my Lord! After all, you must lead with an image of strength![/color]" chimed another of them; a little boy, dragging a sledgehammer. As usual, Enderall knew what Chuunitrixx wanted to say, but couldn't think to. Rodias would chuckle at the words echoed from the Survivors, the vampire lord’s hand reaching out to gently tussle the little girl’s hair. Even if she wasn’t really...real before, he couldn’t deny that it felt right to at least acknowledge her. For the boy, he would kneel before him to be on eye level, before saying: [color=f7976a][b]”Then, I suppose I’ll have to make sure I maintain my strength,”[/b][/color] before standing once more. Looking back to Chuunitrixx, he would say: [color=f7976a][b]”But, I’d like if you were more direct with what you want to say.”[/b][/color] Chuunitrixx seemed lost in thought for a moment, as she looked out into Enderall City Corpse;a gentle, flowing breeze never stopping, as the city lived and breathed -- the “City Corpse” in her name a mere misnomer, not truth. “[color=forestgreen]I want something to do. A challenge worthy of my station,[/color]” Chuunitrixx decided to say, as she looked up. “[color=forestgreen]I’ve known this city for all my days. Its safety. Its shelter. Its love. However, she tells me, I need more...[/color]” Looking up, that luster was back in her eyes, “[color=red][b]I need to wander, Rodi. I need to explore my freedom.[/b][/color]” Rodias was a bit concerned at the idea that Chuunitrixx was completely aware of her newfound lack of boundaries from before. She’d been nothing more than binary data before, so any of Traptrixx’s copied mental state was kept to a minimum but here… [color=f7976a][b]”What do you propose then?”[/b][/color] Rodias would question, crossing his arms. He hated the idea of keeping her locked up out of fear for her losing control, but keeping her content was more important in the moment. And the thought of shackling up one of his best friends’ creations… Rodias really didn’t have any choice but to listen to her now. "[color=forestgreen]I want to expand the Chateau Gothika, my domain is flexible,[/color]" Chuunitrixx says, "[color=forestgreen]Anywhere I choose, so shall that land become mine. Such is the right of the Hivequeen. It is my task to defend the whole of the Chateau Gothika. To do that, I need to walk freely, and take land beyond us.[/color]" Chuunitrixx grinned, "[color=red][b]In short, I need to scout about without interference.[/b][/color]" Rodias would think on it for a moment, seemingly weighing his options before he stated: [color=f7976a][b]”I’ll trust you to scout, then. Just be aware that scouting doesn’t mean razing. Your actions reflect on every member of this guild hall, whether you mean them to or not,”[/b][/color] Rodias would say, uncrossing his arms and smiling ever so slightly. [color=f7976a][b]”Do I make myself clear? If so, then you have my approval to scout.”[/b][/color] Chuunitrixx closed her eyes, smiling pleasantly, and she gave a graceful half-bow found on a Butler, not a Queen. "[color=red][b]Of course,[/b][/color] [color=forestgreen]Lord Rodias. I am always on my best behavior.[/color]" Rodias would give a simple nod, before turning to leave. ...Upon which, he would finally notice that Aurora Aera was coming down the elevator. Call it heightened senses, but Rodias could feel the individual movements of the elevator. Knowing that Chuunitrixx would react as she usually did, pointing and shooting at things that weren’t him, he would make his way to the elevator and say: [color=f7976a][b]”I trust that as soon as you find something, you’ll relay it to me?”[/b][/color] before turning his head back towards Chuunitrixx. Chuunitrixx nodded, and turned to her company that she kept. She’d her own tasks to assign, now... [hr] Collab with [@The Irish Tree]