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Sylanwood, East Tarrabria: Abyssal Keep: Floor 4, Time: 4:30 PM
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Nick rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as all eyes turned to him.
"Ah, yes...hello James, Mianne," he said. "I suppose you're both rather surprised to see me here."
"That's putting it mildly!" Mianne exclaimed, hands on her hips. "You never told us you were affiliated with the ArchSentinels! Just what have you been up to?"
Nick held up his hands defensively. "Now now, no need to get worked up. I know it seems I haven't been fully transparent..."
"Yeah, kinda feels like you flat-out lied," James cut in accusingly.
"Not lied per se..." Nick hedged. "I've simply been assisting ArchSentinel operations covertly. Need-to-know basis and all that."
He took his seat at the table across from the skeptical duo. "I am sorry for the secrecy. But now you see why I recommended you both to Director Asmon for this particular mission. I knew you could be trusted allies."
Mianne's annoyance faded slightly, replaced by curiosity.
"So you'll be investigating the disappearances too then?"
"Indeed," Nick nodded. "My team specializes in handling...delicate matters. Whatever has been spiraling people away, it reeks of otherworldly interference."
His expression turned grim. "I suspect something has slipped past the Gatekeepers into our reality. Something that must be sealed back beyond the veil at all costs."
A tense silence fell, broken only when Mels emerged from the kitchen bearing plates of pasta. The aroma of garlic and herbs dispelled the ominous atmosphere as everyone began filling their plates.
"He's lying, by the way," Bada stated, causing Nick to turn to him. "He is trying his best to make sure he is not involved with something stupid he's doing." Bada started to eat the pasta.
"Bada, don't tell them!" Nick's facade was falling off, and he was panicking. Gesturing frantically, he tried to dissuade Bada.
"Nick, no more lying!" Mianne smirked, ready to play her trump card. "Before I tell Julian on you." Threatening to inform a family member always worked wonders.
"No, please! Don't tell her! I will talk!" Nick was on his knees, not wanting his little sister to know what he had been up to.
"Then talk. Why did you lie about your current position and not visit Julian?" James asked, armed with a log from Bada to lightly hit Nick if he got something wrong.
"I've been... trying to find someone," Nick admitted. "He's just an old friend, and he's been causing a fuss recently." Rubbing his neck, Nick tried to ease the awkwardness with a nervous laugh.
"So, I decided to hit Bada up and earn this position." Nick looked up at them, and James looked to Bada, who nodded, signaling that he was telling the truth.
"Uh-huh, what about not visiting your little sister?" Mianne stated, grabbing the log this time. Julian was her friend, and she wanted to know the reason.
"Uhm... I..." Nick looked around, searching for an answer. "Kept getting attacked by Ulvala's bears...?" He was doing his best before feeling a sharp pain in his head.
Mianne hit his head with the log, "Try again. Why?" The log smacked against her palm, ready to strike again.
"Okay, okay! I couldn't visit her because I kept forgetting, alright?" Nick panicked, with sweat dripping from everywhere on his body.
Nick rubbed his smarting head, his lie about marauding wildlife admittedly not one of his most inspired attempts. He hemmed and hawed, trying to piece together a reasonable explanation. One that hopefully wouldn't earn him another painful log strike.
"Look...the fieldwork I handle is highly classified," he began earnestly. "The sort of covert operations Sugar himself once specialized in. It demands absolute secrecy, disappearing into the ether for months or even years at a time."
He met both Mianne's and James' intense gazes unflinchingly. "I have seen and done things in this shadow conflict only a handful know of - things that could unravel reality itself if common knowledge. It is a ceaseless battle and burden I would wish upon no one else."
His eyes softened slightly behind his glasses. "So while yes, I have been remiss in visiting my dear little sister, it is for her protection. If my enemies discovered our connection, she could become a target. And after losing so much family already..."
His jaw tightened at painful memories before he continued. "I will gladly endure any suspicion and distrust from former allies over placing Julian in harm's way. Surely you understand that is why I could reveal nothing of my continued work."
He looked between the two young guardians pleadingly. Mianne's and James' expressions had shifted to something like dawning empathy during his impassioned appeal.
Varian let out an exaggerated snore. "My gods dude, you are just as bad at overwrought monologues as your mentor..."
"Oh let him be, Varian," Kiara gently admonished. To Nick, she said kindly, "While your secrecy may frustrate those who care for you, we know it comes from an earnest desire to protect others."
Nick exhaled in relief. Perhaps he hadn't completely alienated his brother-in-law after all. Now if only they'd stop brandishing logs at him.
Nick winced, bracing himself as Mianne wound up with the log again. But instead of smacking him, she simply thwacked his shoulder firmly.
"That's for not trusting us with the truth," she huffed before breaking into a grudging smile. "But I think I get why you did it now."
"We may not like it, but we understand wanting to keep loved ones safe," James added, setting down the log at last. "Still, would've appreciated you being upfront instead of sneaking around."
He leaned back in his chair, eying his uncle shrewdly. "No more half-truths though, you hear? We're in this together, so no more secrets!"
Nick exhaled, tension draining from his shoulders. "You have my word. From here on out, full transparency."
He smiled crookedly. "I should've expected nothing less than you two seeing through my facade anyway. You're too clever for my good."
Mianne smirked proudly at that before lifting her glass. "To new partnerships then - no more lies!"
"Here here!" the rest of the table chorused, raising their glasses as well. As they all drank to cement bonds of trust, the mood seemed to lift to something warmer.
Soon playful conversations and Mels' cooking dominated again, tensions fading into camaraderie.
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The Utopian Realm, Twilight's Castle: ???'s Hideout, Time: 5:00 PM
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Aether was humming a tune to themselves as they walked down a set of stairs deeper into the castle. They finally arrived at a dimly lit room filled with old furniture and ancient cargo, as if it had been in there for years.
Aether looked around with a smile on their face, "You can come out now, Valkyrie." They addressed nothing before hearing the metal clank of footsteps ringing out from the room.
A figure emerged from the shadows, her hair cut in a short, piece-y style with red highlights on her left bang, and a massive horn pin on her right. She wore a white button-up outfit adorned with golden ornaments.
A sharp white pauldron with golden and black details rested on her shoulder, and her leggings and gauntlets followed a similar design.
A small black wing adorned her back as she wielded a great sword with black, golden, white, and crimson details.
"You caught me, ma'am," Valkyrie stated as she got on one knee, bowing to Aether respectfully.
Aether laughed, "Don't be so formal, dear." They ran their fingers through her hair, giving her an affectionate pat on the head. "Where are your brothers?"
"They are arriving..." Valkyrie checked her watch, and a shadow crashed through the window with two figures sliding down and striking poses right after, "Now."
Both brothers had short blonde hair, one with a flower crown and the other with a crystal crown.
The first brother wore a white jacket that only reached his torso, with a blue interior and a white pauldron on his shoulder adorned with golden details. He sported brown shorts with a belt and gadgets all over, wearing a thigh-length white legging on his right leg with a gauntlet matching the details on his right arm.
The second brother wore a black jacket reaching his torso, with a red interior and a black pauldron on his shoulder adorned with golden details. He wore the same shorts as his brother, with a thigh-length black legging on his left leg and a gauntlet matching the details on his left arm.
"Ah, Len and Lin." Aether greeted them, both kneeling for an affectionate pat on the head. "Now then, where's Nick Crowell?" Aether's face turned grim.
Len and Lin exchanged an uneasy glance as they rose from their kneeling positions. Usually, their adopted guardian parent Aether was gentle and affectionate with them. This stern shift in demeanor was unusual...and rather frightening.
"Uh, Sir Nicholas Crowell you said?" Lin squeaked, fiddling with one of the gadgets on his belt.
Aether nodded, emerald eyes were intense. "He disappeared a year ago after his little suicidal stunt at Qumor. Yet my sources indicate he resurfaced recently here in Tarrabria's capital."
Their gaze bore into the nervous brothers. "Where exactly might he be lurking, I wonder?"
"We, uh, we aren't sure actually," Len admitted, wilting a bit under that burning stare. Damn, Nick and his secretive doings! He was going to get them in trouble with the boss.
Valkyrie stepped forward, clearing her throat diplomatically. As the eldest sibling created by Aether, smoothing relationships was often her unofficial role.
"Apologies for the lack of specifics on Sir Crowell's current whereabouts," she said earnestly. "Our intelligence has been focused primarily on locating rogue eldritch coming through the Rift. We are trying to purge this beast from our forsaken land."
She met Aether's gaze evenly. "However, if this disappointment regarding a...former associate is cause for distress, then his location shall become a priority for us to handle."
She thumped her fist over her heart in solemn oath, as did her two brothers.
Aether surveyed all three for a silent moment before their severe expression finally softened, a slight smile returning.
"Very well then. I shall leave Sir Crowell's retrieval in your capable hands." They patted Valkyrie's shoulder affectionately once more. "Do take care not to damage him too severely. I find I still have a few matters to...discuss with that troublesome rogue."
Their smile remained, but something about it made the siblings suppress a collective shiver.
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