<Aika`> |start... the next morning...|
<Cennarian> <<Cenn's going to be taking off his gauntlets at
  some point in battle>>
* Aika` lies in the bed, curled up with Cenn and Mack
<Aika`> << Like in Recca? >>
*** Aika` sets mode: +o Lord_Mack`
<Cennarian> <<dunno..... the gauntlets are power inhibitors, so
  what you have seen up to now is powered down>>
<Aika`> << Yep ^^ Like Flame of Recca... when he took off his
  gauntlet, he unleashed a 6 headed fire dragony thing >>
* Ambiel crawls up onto the bed and curles up in the crook of
  Aika's hip
* Cennarian stretches out and yawns, his arm touching Aika's
  and Mack's heads
* Aika` opens his eyes a bit and blinks sleepily at Cenn,
  blushing slightly
* Cennarian mumbles something about chocolate
  syrup and a dragonet before rolling over and
  snoring loudly
<Lord_Mack`> Cenn is always like that in the
  morning
<Aika`> Hmn...
* Ambiel coos and purrs, nuzzling Aika's side
* Aika` strokes the little dragonet's head gently
<Aika`> ...what time is it?
* Lord_Mack` yawns and sits up in bed, rolling
  his head and cracking his neck
<Lord_Mack`> from the look of the sun outside of
  the tent flaps, it's early, since it's fairly
  cool.
* Cennarian belches loudly before rolling over
  and falling out of bed
* Lord_Mack` winces and sighs while falling back
  and covering his face with his hands
* Aika` removes Ambiel from his hip and sits up,
  then peers over the side of the bed
<Aika`> ...Cenn?
<Lord_Mack`> that's Cennarian AL Coptura for
  ya.... not exactly the most graceful person
  first thing in the morning
* Cennarian sits up, his sleep mussed hair over
  his face
<Cennarian> I'm up..... I'm up
* Aika` smiles a bit and reaches out to gently
  brush the hair from his eyes
<Aika`> ...are you alright? ^^;;
* Cennarian blinks
<Cennarian> I'm fine.... really.... I'm fine
* Ambiel slinks up Aika's arm and curls up on his shoulder
* Lord_Mack` bounces from the bed and into the bathing room,
  where he splashes into the bathing pool
* Cennarian looks at the dragonet and yawns
* Aika` stretches and yawns a bit before sliding out of the bed
  and wandering over to his pack for clean clothes
<Aika`> ....
<Aika`> . o O ( ...I'm still confused over this... what did he
  mean by 'one of us'...? )
* Cennarian wanders over to his own pack and pulls out some
  clean clothes before wandering off to the bathing room as well
* Aika` sighs somewhat and shakes his head, pulling out a
  change of clothes
* Aika` walks hesitantly into the bathing room and peeks in a
  bit
* Lord_Mack` tosses a couple of light globes into the next room
<Lord_Mack`> hey Aika, come on in.... the water's fine
* Cennarian emerges from the other end of the bathing pool, his
  hair streaming with water
* Aika` nods a bit and comes entirely into the room, then sheds
  his sleeping tunic and slips into the water before anyone has
  a chance to see much
* Lord_Mack` splashes Cenn and Aika while laughing
* Aika` laughs a little and relaxes, sitting comfortably
  against the side of the pool
<Aika`> ...I slept well last night.
<Cennarian> <<right now Cenn's wearing a pair of wrist
  guards.... they're sort of like his gauntlets / bracers as
  they inhibit his power>>
<Aika`> << Yesh. >>
* Cennarian places his palm atop the water in the pool and
  smiles wickedly at Mack
* Aika` blinks at him
<Cennarian> Sea.....
* Lord_Mack` smiles wickedly back at Cenn
<Lord_Mack`> that spell won't work if you have the inhibitors on
<Cennarian> Blast.
<Aika`> Inhibitors?
<Aika`> ..is that why you always wear those gauntlets, Cenn?
* Lord_Mack` finds himself being catapaulted into the air by a
  column of water
* Aika` blinks up at him
* Lord_Mack` is then hurled into the main room before the water
  returns to the pool
<Cennarian> you could say that
<Cennarian> they're actually bracers, but they work in the same
  manner.
* Aika` sighs and lifts up some scrubbing sand, then begins
  bathing
<Aika`> ...oh
<Cennarian> <<cenn's magic is actually WAY more powerful w/out
  the bracers>>
<Aika`> << eet... scary thought o_O >>
* Lord_Mack` crawls back into the room, cursing at Cenn before
  crawling back into the pool
<Lord_Mack`> that..... was not funny
* Cennarian points at Mack and smirks
<Cennarian> Aqua Create
* Lord_Mack` gets a face full of pool water. Once the water
  blast ceases he spits a nice fountain into the air
* Aika` watches them with a soft smile for a few moments
<Aika`> ....
* Cennarian grins
<Aika`> . o O ( ...is it even possible to love two people so
  much at the same time? )
<Cennarian> I thought it was plenty funny
* Lord_Mack` laughs and splashes Cenn playfully
* Cennarian splashes Mack back before hitting Aika with an Aqua
  Create spell
* Aika` squeals as he's very effectively thrown out of the pool
<Cennarian> <<aqua create will just splash Aika in the face....
  Sea Blast is what he needs to watch out for.... unless Cenn
  forgets and goes overboard>>
<Aika`> << oh o_o >>
<Aika`> << nevermind, ignore that >>
* Aika` squeals as he's splashed in the face
<Aika`> Ack!!
<Cennarian> <<no, wait..... let's say Cenn got too wrapped up
  in the whole splash and used too much power>>
<Cennarian> whooooooops
* Cennarian turns bright red before sinking into the water up
  to his eyes
* Aika` darts back into the water, grabs Cenn's hair, and
  shoves him under
<Aika`> ...¬¬;;
* Cennarian bubbles and mumbles a spell. Mack and Aika are
  tossed into the air before splashing back down
* Aika` squeaks
* Aika` sighs and grumbles something about wanting to wash his
  hair without getting thrown around
* Aika` picks up more of the scrubbing sand and goes at his
  hair with it
* Lord_Mack` mumbles something and the pool instantly freezes
  over
<Aika`> ....T_T
<Aika`> Mack >_<
* Cennarian mumbles something else and the ice shatters and the
  pool water instantly heats to boiling
* Aika` squeals and scrambles out of the water
* Lord_Mack` leaps out of the water and fires off a burst rondo
<Cennarian> SPELL SHIELD!!
* Cennarian deflects the spell before leaping into the air,
  wrapping his arms around Mack, and diving back into the pool
* Aika` stands to the side of the pool, leaning on the wall,
  and looking extremely pissed off
* Lord_Mack` stands up, water streaming off of his body. Cenn's
  head is between his legs in a very compromising position
* Aika` blinks at them
<Aika`> ....O_O
* Cennarian mumbles something before tickling Mack in the ribs
* Lord_Mack` snickers and falls back into the pool, splashing
  water everywhere while laughing like there's no tomorrow
<Lord_Mack`> Cenn.... what are you..... doing.... you......
  pervert
* Cennarian just laughs and snickers while spitting water
  everywhere since he keeps getting a mouthful
* Aika` slips back into the pool after a minute and goes back
  to washing his hair warily
* Cennarian sits up and wipes a tear from his eye
* Aika` ducks under the water to rinse his hair out, then slips
  back out of the pool to find a towel
* Lord_Mack` also sits up and draps an arm around Cenn's
  shoulders
<Aika`> ...where are the towels?
<Cennarian> second drawer on the left in the dresser
* Cennarian leans over and starts to kiss the back of Mack's
  neck
* Aika` nods a little and begins to search through the dresser,
  trying to keep his eyes averted from the pool
<Aika`> ....
<Cennarian> Mack..... you're embarrassing me
* Aika` pulls out a towel and begins to dry off quickly,
  wanting nothing more than to get out of the bathing room
* Cennarian blushes before leaping from the pool and grabbing a
  towel
<Cennarian> you know you want it
* Lord_Mack` blushes before sinking deeper into the pool
* Aika` wraps the towel around his waist, gathers up his fresh
  clothes, and leaves the room
* Cennarian finishes toweling off and dresses quickly, tossing
  the towel into a nearby basket before floating over to where
  his boots are
* Aika` pokes his head back in a few moments later while
  adjusting his circlet
<Aika`> ...are you two ready yet
<Lord_Mack`> yeah..... I'm coming, I'm coming
* Lord_Mack` emerges from the bathing room, naked as the day he
  was born
* Aika` blushes a little and looks away
* Aika` leans against the wall, holding Ambiel in his arms
* Cennarian looks between his legs and blushes before falling
  over
* Ambiel nuzzles Aika's neck gently, cooing
<Cennarian> wowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowo
  wowowowowowow
* Aika` keeps his eyes on Ambiel and gently strokes his neck
<Aika`> ....
* Cennarian starts drooling before dropping a freeze arrow down
  his pants and maintaining composure
<Cennarian> mack..... please, put some clothes on.
* Aika` nods a bit in agreement
* Lord_Mack` wanders over to his pack, takes out some clean
  clothes, and starts to slowly put them on, giving a nice view
  of his incredibly muscular body
<Aika`> ...that would be nice.
* Aika` glances up at him for a bit, blushing deeply
<Aika`> . o O ( ...wow, he's hot ^^ )
* Cennarian looks at Mack, then glances at Aika, then starts to
  fume a little
* Aika` forces his attention back to Ambeil
<Cennarian> (that.... that little........)
<Aika`> << Ambiel >>
* Lord_Mack` finishes pulling his pants on and buckles his belt
  before turning to see Cenn slip one of his wrist bands off
* Aika` glances at Cenn, blinking
<Aika`> ...Cenn?
<Lord_Mack`> Aika, GET DOWN!!!
* Lord_Mack` leaps between Cenn and Aika just as the elf fires
  off a spell
* Aika` drops to the ground immediately
<Cennarian> Flare LANCE!!!!
* Cennarian hurls a large lance of flames at Aika without even
  realizing he's using too much energy
* Lord_Mack` catches the energy lance right in the chest and
  gets thrown into and through a wall
* Aika` quickly forms a barrier, clutching Ambiel
* Ambiel screeches
* Lord_Mack` screams in pain
* Aika` widens his eyes and looks back at Mack
<Aika`> ...Mack...!
<Cennarian> M.........ma........mack??
* Aika` releases the barrier and crawls over to him quickly
<Aika`> ....
* Cennarian tears his other wrist band off before leaping over
  to his friend
<Cennarian> Mack.... just hang in there.... I'll have you
  healed in a wink
* Aika` bites his lip and begins working on litanies
<Cennarian> Oh spirits of light and air, gather here in my hand
  and guide my healing arts. RECOVERY!!
* Aika` watches them quietly, tears forming in his eyes
* Cennarian casts a healing glow over Mack's body
* Lord_Mack` twitches his eyes before moaning in pain
<Cennarian> Mack....... please come back to us
* Aika` begins a healing litany
<Aika`> ....
* Lord_Mack` starts to turn blue, his body glowing before shrinking down into a crystal ball
<Aika`> M...Mack!!!
<Cennarian> m.... m....... mack??
* Cennarian blinks and falls over from energy backlash
* Aika` shakes Cenn a bit
<Aika`> Cenn, get up!!
<Aika`> Cenn!!
* Cennarian stares blankly at the ceiling for a moment, mumbling over and over that he didn't mean to do it
<Aika`> ...Cenn, what's going on?!
<Aika`> You have to help him... I'm not strong enough... please...
<Cennarian> I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it.
* Aika` slaps him
<Aika`> Cenn!!
* Cennarian blinks and looks at Aika with a hurt look on his face
<Cennarian> you.... you slapped me
<Aika`> Cenn...
* Aika` stares down at him, tears pouring down his cheeks
<Aika`> ...is... Mack....?
* Cennarian looks at the crystal ball, which starts to hover off of the ground
<Cennarian> I don't think he's dead....
* Aika` looks at the orb forlornly
* Cennarian watches as the sphere glows
<Aika`> ...you have to help him...
<Lord_Mack`> {{{{Cenn..... Aika.... can you hear me?}}}
<Aika`> {{{ Mack!! }}}
<Cennarian> {{Mack, where are you? Are you ok?}}
<Lord_Mack`> {Cenn, Aika..... I'm scared. This place is creepy. It's a nightmare world and my powers don't work}
* Aika` bites his lip and looks at Cenn
* Cennarian looks into the sphere, which is now in his hands
<Cennarian> Aika, we have to do some traveling
<Aika`> ...where?
* Cennarian shudders
<Cennarian> the nightmare realm
* Aika` chews his lip
<Aika`> ...why'd you do it?
* Cennarian sighs and looks at his feet
<Cennarian> I can't really blame it on a mood swing, can I? The truth is I really love Mack and I felt a momentary flash of jealousy.
<Aika`> ....
* Aika` sighs and stares at the orb
<Aika`> ..you were going to attack me...?
<Cennarian> I know, and I'm sorry, but right now we need to go and save Mack
* Ambiel sits on Aika's shoulders, glaring at Cenn and growling
<Aika`> ....
* Cennarian looks at Ambiel with genuine concern in his eyes
<Aika`> . o O ( ..it's all my fault... )
<Cennarian> I know asking for you to forgive me is too much right now, but if we can work together we can save him. I just know it.
* Aika` shakes his head and runs his hands through his hair
* Cennarian turns around, his cape flowing dramatically behind him, and begins to walk towards the door
<Aika`> ...I forgive you...
<Cennarian> so you'll help me?
* Cennarian stops and turns his head
* Aika` stands up slowly and looks at Cenn
<Aika`> Of course I will... for Mack... but... afterwards, I'm going to leave...
* Cennarian turns completely around and looks at Aika in shock
<Cennarian> why?
* Aika` wraps his arms around his shoulders and stares at the ground
* Cennarian steps towards Aika
<Aika`> ...I cause so many problems...
<Cennarian> don't leave us. You're one of us now. You belong.
<Aika`> But you haven't accepted me.
* Cennarian shakes his head and looks into Aika's eyes'
<Aika`> ...you don't have to pretend to want me here...
* Aika` blushes a bit and looks away
<Cennarian> I have accepted you. I may not show it, but I have. I just.... well, get jealous of those who look at Mack like that.
<Aika`> And I don't understand what you say when you tell me I'm one of you..
* Cennarian puts his hands on Aika's shoulders and kisses him
* Aika` blushes deeply and kisses back a little
<Aika`> ...C... Cenn...
* Cennarian grins and looks into Aika's eyes
* Aika` stares at him with wide eyes
<Cennarian> now that that's settled, let's go and save Mack!!!
* Aika` hugs Cenn tightly
<Aika`> Cenn... I can't help the way I look at Mack or you, either... I love you both dearly...
* Cennarian looks a little surprised, but hugs back
* Aika` clings to him and kisses his cheek softly
* Cennarian blushes
<Aika`> ...I love you and Mack with all my heart... I don't know how it's possible, but I do...
<Cennarian> ok.... ok.... no need to get overly emotional right now. We can save that for AFTER we bring back from the nightmare realm
* Aika` laughs a little and nods
* Cennarian turns back to the door and breaks into a run before casting a flight spell
<Cennarian> |To Be Continued...|