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[center][color=C60000][b]Location:[/b][/color] Sundown Row - The Pink Room • [color=C60000][b]Time:[/b][/color] Night[/center]
[center][color=C60000][b]Interactions:[/b][/color] Wren [@Tpartywithzombi], Locke [@Oso]• [color=C60000][b]Mentions:[/b][/color] Angel[/center][/color]
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[color=cadetblue]“Oh how I’ve missed you, Noah.”[/color]

He couldn’t not laugh at that. A deep rumble that bubbled out when stirred by the irony of such a statement. Locke sitting across from him, pretending like he wasn’t the one who turned his back on Noah in the first place. 

[color=C60000]“And it’s a real shame you never knew where to find me.”[/color] Came a flippant reply that was intentionally unbothered. It wasn’t as if Noah was the one who disappeared into the night. Wren’s fingers softly dug into his shirt and his arms tightened around her in response. That distant look spread across her face as she partially disappeared into wherever it was she went when she saw and heard things that only she could. Noah’s eyes stayed focused on her even as he listened to the rest of what Locke had to say. 

[color=cadetblue]“And it’s sweet, really… the way you pretend this is about her,”[/color] 

Locke thought he knew something. He pretended like he understood something he couldn’t even begin to grasp. This was as much about Angel as it was about Noah. The separation between the twins was only an illusion, their bond something deeper than just family. Noah and Angel shared not only blood, but had once navigated the waters of the womb together, their minds were connected. 

And they were never meant to be separated. It felt all wrong, like the loss of a limb. His other half. Locke couldn’t even begin to fathom what that meant. 

[color=cadetblue]“But you and I both know who you’re really trying to prove somethin’ to, little brother.”[/color]

[color=C60000]“I’ve long since proven myself.”[/color] Noah didn’t bother with a glance in the man’s direction. The accusation hidden his words, that this was somehow about earning favor with Magnus, bored him. He was his sire’s right hand, trusted and effortlessly loyal, Noah proved himself at any given opportunity without needing to think about it. It was as natural as feeding had become. 

Instead of watching Locke, Noah remained captivated by Wren’s movements as her hands reached up towards empty air and her fingers danced through flickering neon lights. His grip held her close and steady until she floated back into the present. 

[color=cadetblue]“Angel never did well in cages…”[/color] 

[color=C60000]“Don’t be dramatic…”[/color] Noah rolled his eyes. 

[color=cadetblue]“Especially not the ones your father builds… Respectfully, of course.”[/color]

[color=C60000]“Being given power and everything else you could possibly desire is not a cage, Locke, it is a privilege. A few responsibilities…a few expectations, it’s all a small price to pay for it. This is not a jailbreak, Lucky, this is a teenage rebellion that has gone on far longer than it should.”[/color] He glanced back at Locke, spoke in a tone both serious and exasperated. 

[color=C60000]“Pet, do you feel like we live in a cage?”[/color] He asked Wren, fingers absentmindedly stoking her arm. If anyone had the genuine authority to speak on the matter it would be her. 

[color=cadetblue]“I’ll find her for you. I’ll even give you the [i]family[/i] discount…But if she don’t wanna come back...”[/color] Locke paused, his silence drawn out, filling the air around them.  [color=cadetblue]“...what then, brother?”[/color]

As Locke attempted to pull the tension tight and Noah snapped it back with an immediate answer. [color=C60000]“Then I’ll peel her skin off bit by bit until she sees reason.”[/color] There was no emotion in his voice and a blank but hard expression on his face. He kept his eyes locked on the man across from him and didn’t so much as blink as a handful of seconds passed. 

Then he laughed. Wild and unhinged. 

[color=C60000]“I’m kidding. Of course.”[/color] A grin spread across his face. 

[color=C60000]“We’ll deal with our family issues privately. Your job is to find her and bring her home safe and sound. And that’s where your job ends. You’ll go back to your empty home and brood over a glass of whiskey, pockets a little heavier than before, and hopefully our paths won’t need to cross again.”[/color] Noah explained, his words stiff and unyielding. He laid out his expectations and left no room to negotiate them into anything other than exactly what he wanted. 

[color=C60000]“And you’ll stop calling me brother without earning the right to that word.”[/color] 
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