"Yeah, yeah shout all you want, it's not like you're actually a member of the family any--"
Cassey begins to say before immediately stopping himself. Like realizing he had just made a big mistake.
"…."
-silence-
"…"
"…. what did you say?"
Lillith says blankly before quietly beginning to make her way toward a stout-faced Cassey as a tense silence befalls the group when…
(TUT!)
(TUT!)
(TUT!)
(TU-)
"Uhhh… Hi."
Xavier says cutting through the tense atmosphere, and halting Lillith in her tracks.
"…"
"What? -"
Lillith's response is cold and blank as all the eyes are drawn to Xavier in a tense silence. A cold shiver down his spine and the feeling of dread welling up inside him… Did he maybe misread the read the room?
"OH? HEY!!"
Jimmy is quick to respond rushing to Xavier as he cuts off an ominous Lillith.
"…"
"Great to see you made it too!"
Jimmy says continuing to talk and offering his hand for a handshake as Lillith stays silents and the groups eyes now focus on the pair.
"Uhhh… What was your name again?.."
"Xavier."
Xavier says helping Jimmy who looks alittle awkward as he shakes his hand.
"Xavier Grey."
He adds
"Right. Xavier."
Jimmy says smiling brightly before freeing his hand.
"Well! It's great to see you've made it this far Yasser Jr."
He says brightly
"Yasser Jr?"
Xavier thinks, his face visibly confused… maybe even troubled by what may appear to be his secret nickname in the upper ranks.
"Huh?"
"Am I maybe wrong?"
Jimmy asks, a genuine look of confusion and worry on his face as he watches Xavier's expression change.
"Aren't you the one who was trained by Yasser?"
He adds.
"…."
"Ahhhh yeah actually, that's right."
Xavier responds forcing a slight smile of his own.
"Though I'd hardly ever call that training…"
Xavier thinks salty
"Oh, good then."
Jimmy says, his tone indicating an honest relief
"Its nice to finally meet you properly."
He says.
"Xavier."
Jimmy adds, almost correcting himself like he grasped the problem with his first remark to Xavier. A gesture, which softens Xavier's expression.
The tension in the air relaxes but something about it now feels more… tangible, as the stares of the group pierce through the pair's exchange
"…"
"I could say the same thing to you."
Xavier says, fake smile equipped
"Jimmy Blanche."
He says seriously as the smile fades almost in tune with the last pronunciation of Jimmy's last name.
"…"
"Oh?"
Jimmy stays, his smile now more ominous as its bright nature is no longer backed by his soft expressions.
"So, you know my name?"
Jimmy says seriously, the tension in the air palpable as a shadows loom over Xavier where he stands. In the midst of the trial's favourites!
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"Sorry to ask this so soon of someone who knows me but…"
Jimmy says slicing the cold silence
"But have we maybe met before?"
He adds curiously alert
"…."
"Huh?"
Xavier exclaims confusedly and, to the surprise of everyone oddly blank. (0_0)?
"What are you talking about?"
He asks
"The only time we ever got close to each other was on the night of the first checkpoint."
He says
"Besides that I'm only aware of you because of your obvious fame and class within the Beneath."
Xavier adds in a blank admission
"Hmm…'
"Oh."
The pair exclaim in tandem
"Oh, then nevermind it!"
"AHAHAHHAHAHA"
Jimmy says suddenly bashful and laughing haughtily as he throws his head back at what appears to have been a case of mistaken identity?
"eh."
Xavier exclaims at his overexpression of relief
"Nevermind what you weirdo?"
Xavier thinks confused as the tension in the group is finally resolved
"...."
"Hmph."
A much calmer Lillith exclaims watching the pair as her own aggressions simmer down
"s-So Xavier! Can you tell me just how you were able to beat that guy?"
Jimmy asks suddenly beaming with positive and innocent energy
"I mean I know he wasn't all that strong."
"But that last sequence was incredible!!!!"
He says happily swaying from side as he analyses the A.K before pumping his fists in excitement
"Given what your last name is it probably wasn't inherited arts or techniques but then again individuals with that much power are almost impossible to come by…."
"AAAAHHH! I just can't figure it out hey c'mon won't you tell me? Pleeeeeasssse!!!!"
Jimmy says begging in a childishly as he rambles on in his own analysis of the fight
"What is this guy--"
Xavier thoughts are about to materialize into words when!
"… Well, that is, unless your last name is actually a cover for who you really are."
Just then, Jimmy Blanche blurts out the last of his ramblings but the tone with which he said it… the smile… the squint of the eyes…. the expression. Could it be he knows something?
"Hey c'mon…. won't you tell me?"
Jimmy asks ominously
"…"
Xavier stays, his expression serious but dismissive of Jimmy's questions
"What's with this guy…"
Xavier thinks, his mind on alert but thoughts straightlaced
"…"
"…Royals huh?"
He thinks as he turns his gaze to the rest of the royals, all the while recalling the feats of strength they so nonchalantly demonstrated to this point.
"…"
"If the rest are just weirdos like him, will I be fine?"
Xavier thinks cautiously
"No… if they're same that'll just make it--"
He thinks
"…"
"Tsk. Whatever."
Xavier thinks dismissing the cautionary thoughts as he forms his on internal resolution
"I've gotten this far already I'll just have to handle it if it comes to it."
He thinks as he looks over the overeager but growingly bitter expression of Jimmy
"And if that's my answer…"
He thinks. When…
"…"
"Well so what actually happened was…"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!"
Suddenly, Xavier is cut off from giving Jimmy the minor history lesson by a sharp shout from Lillith
"Hm."
"What?"
Jimmy and Xavier respond in tandem turning their gaze to the small royal.
"Hey Jimmy don't you think that's enough?"
She asks blankly
"I think you should stop there before you make it seem like information on lowly refugees is actually of interest to us."
Lillith says throwing her hair back before starting her approach to the pair
"…"
Xavier stays silent as his eyes wander once more to the slender silhouette sat in the tree. Bumping eyes with her once more the result of which is the same as before
"He's just a refugee from the boonies…"
"Surely, he isn't worth our attention, right?"
Lillith says turning her gaze to the same tree as well before facing Xavier
"We shouldn't waste our time on such people."
Lillith says as Jimmy's expression turns alittle more sour
"Now just hold on Lillith-- "
"And you."
Lillith says cutting off Jimmy once!
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"If I was you, I wouldn't be giving any information to any of anyone here."
Lillith whispers to Xavier. Leaning in a little too close and catching him off-guard!
"Ah HEY-- "
Xavier jumps, cheeks flush and ready to mouth off in embarrassment when…
"Because you see…"
Lillith says, a huge smirk on her face and loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Huh?!"
Xavier exclaims at her sudden change in demeanour.
"Everyone here."
She says suddenly raising her voice and arms!!
"And that includes me ofcourse."
She says pointing to her
"Well… let's just say…"
"We're all snakes."
Lillith says ominously, smiling bright with her eyes shut as the tense atmosphere returns once more to this secluded part of the forestry!!
And Xavier… frozen stiff once more by the aura being exuded by the larger-than-life Royals that stand before him. Is once again reminded of the challenge that lay in wait for him is he is to win these trials and chase his goals!!!
"…"
"…"
-To Be Continued-