[center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjcyLmRmNTNhNC5RV3RwYTI4Z1RXbGhlbUZyYVEsLC4w/jessen.mittel-14.png[/img][/center][hr]
A second passed as 'Kanbaru' stepped up onto Durgan's back to escape with Akiko's group, but Akiko herself kept an eye on the newcomer. Somehow, the light of a broken light post nearby gave way into [color=ed1c24]a gleam of crimson[/color] in Akiko's own eye, though the bard didn't say much on that matter initially, instead looking up towards the airship in thought. [i][color=hotpink]"That's not Kanbaru... oh well, we've gotta keep mov-"[/color][/i]

[color=hotpink]"Shit!"[/color] Akiko swore out of surprise as she instinctively grabbed hold of Lorelai, scared from Durgan's sudden leap into the sky. She glanced up at Lorelai's hand to see she was wielding the Violet Relic, something that Akiko raised an eyebrow at. She had heard something about what it could do when she gazed through Eleonor, but seeing that Lorelai had it herself was incredible. That, plus technically that meant Akiko had both the Red and Violet relics. Good to know for the future, but not immediately now. She had a plan for what to do when the group got up top.

As Durgan was dismissed, disappearing... somewhere, Akiko kept holding onto Lorelai as the two landed upon Rose's Airship deck. Fakebaru could figure out how to land herself. She glanced up at the helm and, sure enough to her suspicions, Rose was piloting the airship for the moment. In the gaze towards Rose, another [color=ed1c24]glint[/color] in her eyes gave Akiko enough info to figure things out, and she hugged Lorelai tightly before she broke free.

[color=hotpink]"Stay here, Lorelai, and help Chen with that demon there. I'm heading up to relieve Rose of her duties."[/color] Akiko smiled at her knight one last time before she darted over to Rose's side and spoke. [color=hotpink]"You're better with combat than I am. I'll take the wheel, you get in there and take that thing down!"[/color]

While she was waiting for Rose to move from the wheel (or refuse, if she wanted), Akiko returned to thinking about her Monkey card. [i][color=hotpink]"If I had to absorb you permanently, would you be alright with that? Like, willing to let me shapeshift freely and everything?"[/color][/i]

[quote=Monkey, as given from Gecko on Discord][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ff5utTO.png[/img][/center]
[color=de0307]"Sure thing! The me from one day to the next isn't that important. Most people are so caught up in who they are right now that they can't see how they've changed from ten years past and how much they will change ten years hence. It just kind of happens on autopilot, and then at the end, when they finally having nothing left but to look back, sometimes they're horrified at what they let themselves become in clinging to the now. I'm just glad that I fell into the hands of someone who's willing to chart their own course on who they want to be. Use me as you see fit."[/color][/quote]

[color=hotpink][i]"Thank you, Monkey."[/i][/color] Cool, another Serei to absorb and merge into yourself.