"So…you and my sister, going on a date huh?"

After spending a few hours convincing her friend Amanda that Astoria did not blame her in any way, shape, or form for her kidnapping, Seth and Astoria began returning to the Sinclair household, when Astoria got a call from her mother, asking if Seth would mind coming over for dinner. Confused, but interested, he obliged, to which he found himself finally within Astoria's room, a place she let few people, rarely even her own family members in, until dinner was completed.

The two spent a while, talking about everything and nothing, making Katrina smile as pearls of laughter rang down from the upstairs, and Claris nervous about what she was going to do. After thanking Katrina for the meal, and bidding them all a good evening, Seth began to leave, when Claris stopped him outside the house.

"Listen…uhh…do you wanna go out? Together I mean. On Tuesday?"

"Uhh…sure. What time?"

"One? In the afternoon?"

"Alright. I'll see you then."

Astoria had just found out, the next day, and was cheerfully grilling Seth about it.

"…yeah."

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"…I have no idea what the hell I'm doing."

"You've…never been on a date with a girl before?"

"Tori I barely had any friends before meeting you guys. I mean, even if I had, your sister's famous. I mean I don't plan on treating her any different but-

Astoria giggled. "It's ok Seth. You'll be fine."

"You think so? I really don't know what I'm doing."

She giggled again. He was really nervous about this it seemed. I guess he's taking it seriously. Poor thing needs to relax.

"Hey, hey. Calm down. How about this? I'll come over and help you pick stuff out to wear, give you some hints on what she likes."

"…it's kinda late…"

"Pfft, don't worry about that. If push comes to shove I'll just bunk at your place for the night. Nobody'll care." At least they better not.

Seth sighed on the other end. "I'm not going to be able to stop you. Alright, we'll deal with what comes."

"Perfect, I'll see you in a bit then."

The two hung up. Astoria sighed. Date with my sister…oh how I wish it was me instead. Oh well. She doesn't get him like I do…yet. I'll just wait and see what happens.

Throwing on a pair of shorts, for the evening was quite warm, and a sleeveless vest she bought, one similar to the one Seth always wore, she left her room and slipped down the stairs.

"I'm going out for a bit!" She called towards the living room, where both mother and sister were watching a movie.

"Seriously? It's getting pretty dark." Her mother called back, concerned and surprised.

"I'll be fine." Was the response.

Hmm…well…at her age…I was running around at night too. And my neighborhood was much worse than this one…

"Alright, but I'm calling you if you're out past eleven!"

"Kay!" Yes!


"This is very unorthodox. And quite suspect." Seth stated to Astoria, as she entered his home.

"Yeah well, they can go suck it for all I care." She countered. Seth went into the kitchen and grabbed two cans of soda, handing one to Astoria while popping the tab on his own.

"So what do I do? I'm completely lost."

"Well…she likes arcades, she likes fuzzy things…but she doesn't really notice her fame too much. So definitely don't get anything with her printed on it."

"Obviously. If she was that vain I wouldn't be even slightly interested."

"Oh, so you admit you're interested?"

"Gah, not what I meant!"

She just smirked at him.

"Come on, what do you like about her?"

"I don't bloody know…I barely know the girl. Hell that's one of the reasons I agreed to this, I wanna get to know her better."

"Good reason." Astoria nodded. "Well from what you know already."

"Ugh…" Seth leaned back to try to figure things out. "I dunno…she's pretty cute…gets some of my references, which is a plus."

"Elliot isn't a hardcore gamer but he introduced her to playing stuff for the hell of it. She actually started getting into it for a while…especially after dad died. Word of advice? Never challenge her to AH."

"Pfft." Seth snorted. "Weiss and I will crush her in one strike. Presuming I don't decide to annoy the piss out of her with Angelia." Astoria laughed.

"She's a total Heart main. I think it's the hair." She giggled out. "That's like, the one game she takes semi-seriously. Even Elliot has a hard time keeping up with her in that one."

"Looks like I found a good challenge area then. Alright…what else?"

Astoria got up. "Come on, let's see your room. I wanna see what we're dealing with in terms of clothes."

"…that…matters?"

She teetered her hand back and forth. "Somewhat. You don't wanna be wearing something formal to like, a carnival or something. …unless that's what you were going for. I don't get people sometimes." She admit.


After half an hour of rummaging through his drawers for clothes, Astoria picked out a casual but decent looking setup. "Keep the vest too. That's like, your trademark." She looked around the room, seeing all different sorts of games, books, and strange markings on the walls.

"What's all that?" She pointed at the odd designs.

"Oh…" He said, somewhat sheepishly. "…elemental symbols. In a fit of insanity, one day, I just…drew them on my walls, to try to stave off the nightmares. Didn't help but now I can't imagine them not being there. I wanted to make a seal array on the ceiling but…I wouldn't know how to." She squeezed his arm and pointed to a picture of a glyph, taped above his bed.

It was seven triangles arranged together. Four of them had combined to look very similar to the symbol for hazardous materials. The center triangle was upside down and smallest, the three at its tips, much bigger. Around the center triangle was a circle, and at the 'flat edges' of the center triangle, just outside the circle, were the remaining three, each with their top-most tips pointing outward. The one above, pointing north, the one on the left pointing south-west, and the one on the right pointing south-east.

"You had that on the back of one of your vests…the one that got torn up by Reala." She said. Seth nodded.

"That one's the symbol of Chaos. I made it in tribute to Tiamat, the Babylonian Goddess. It's said that she gave birth to the other gods and goddesses, but the noise they created pissed her off. So she planned on wiping them out. Or silencing them, somehow. Well, one of them got wind of her thoughts, and they went to war, where she was defeated by her own children. Her body became the earth and the lands, and her blood the seas. She was the original Chaos Goddess. Even those versed in the supernatural are afraid to invoke her essence, because she's not…very 'good'. She's very destructive, very deadly. And my personal favorite."

Astoria nodded, surprised, yet not. "Creation…through destruction…right?" She spoke softly, a foreign yet familiar feeling rushing through her heart.

"Yeah." Seth noted, surprised. Astoria pointed to another symbol. This one was that of a Celtic Cross, stabbed into an infinity symbol, six swords sticking out from the north-west, north-east, east, west, south-east, and south-west portions of the circle around the cross itself, and a seventh, much more wicked looking sword, faded in the background behind the rest of it.

"Ahh…that one's mine. My personal creation. I still…don't exactly know what it means, but it popped into my head one day, and looks totally badass, so I made it and put it up." Astoria smiled at him.

"You have interesting ideas."

Seth sighed. "Is there anything else I need for this date?" Astoria tilted her head, thinking. Suddenly she reached up, running her hands through his hair.

"Hmm…should wash your hair."

"Why, is it greasy or something?"

She shook her head. "No…but we should do it anyway. When was the last time you did it?"

"err…almost a week ago?"

"Yeah, should definitely do it then."


"You really need to take better care of your hair." She said. A soft moan was all she got as a response. Astoria giggled to herself, working her hands on Seth's scalp, foamy suds rising with each maneuver.

"Why does this feel so good?" Seth asked absently.

Astoria smiled. "Because getting a massage usually does. You're tense about a lot of different things. You need to calm down, and this'll help."

"Why are we doing this in my sink again?"

Indeed, the two were in his kitchen, Seth propped up on a chair, head bowed while Astoria worked his scalp.

"Would you rather I jump in the shower with you?" Astoria stated with an unseen blush.

"Uhh…no." He said. "Maybe when you're older…" He muttered. Astoria's blush grew.

"I heard that."

"Dammit…"

She reached over, turning the faucet to be above Seth's head, the warm waters rushing through his hair and down his face. He sputtered noisily, and Astoria snorted in laughter.

"Pfft. I think-plblth-I got-ptegh-suds in my mouth. Kgah!" Astoria shifted his head in response, so the water could splash on the side of his face. With a loud slurping noise he took in what he could, before she turned him again and he spat it out.

"ok…little better."


"Hey mom."

"Story, where are you? It's eleven-thirty."

"I'm at Seth's. He's never been on a date before so I'm helping him set up."

That gave her mother pause. She suddenly remembered something Claris told her before. "She's been to his house before, so she might just go there if she feels too uncomfortable." "She trusts him that much? A kid she just met?" "He saved her mom. And wouldn't let her go until she was back with me, until he had proof she'd be safe." She thought back, remembering the heart-felt promise the two shared, just after she saved his very soul from insanity.

"…I see. Are you…coming home tonight?"

Astoria was surprised. She expected her mother to complain at least a little. "I…well…it's getting pretty late…and…I mean, it's not a long walk or anything. And I'm sure Seth wouldn't mind…"

"But you think it's a better idea to stay over."

"…yeah…?"

"Why?"

"…he has nightmares. You didn't hear him, he never makes it to Nightopia. His dreams are usually filled with that girl calling for her daddy, or random things, but he never…makes it there. I want…to make sure he gets a good night's sleep. I don't want Claris complaining about lack of attention because he was exhausted."

Katrina sighed. "Alright. I trust you. And I trust him. You two have a very unusual relationship…and I can't say I understand it in the slightest. But…I know you feel safe with him, so I won't push."

Astoria smiled, a few tears running down her cheeks. "Thanks mom…you're the best."


She stepped out of the bathroom. The t-shirt she wore, with a replica of his personal glyph on the back, was a size or two too big for her, and it reached down to her knees. Her feet padded along the hardwood floor, till she reached his open doorway.

"Sure you wanna stay the night?" She nodded in response. He shrugged and started to get up, but she pushed him back down. "uh-uh."

"Err…?" His eyebrows rose.

"I'm bunking with you."

"Astoria-

"No. I've made my decision. You have a hard enough time getting rest as it is with those damn nightmares. I'm at least going to be here with you if you wake up from them."

"But then you won't get any sleep." She shook her head. "I don't care. I sleep more than you do anyway half the time. Plus, I don't have a date tomorrow. I'm staying, right here."

He sighed. What could he say? They'd shared minds twice now, the second time showing more to the other than before. They knew each other perfectly. There was no perversion or alternate intent in her words, or stance. Stupid…illogical partially inappropriate situations…

"Fine…fine…" He leaned back, sliding under the covers. She plopped down next to him, pulling the sheets over herself and grabbing his arm before throwing it around her waist.

"What-

"Shh. Shut up and relax." She wiggled a bit, snuggling into his chest, before letting out a soft yawn.

"This is friggin weird…" she heard him mumble. She gave a soft snort and pushed her butt into his crotch in retaliation.

"Oi!"

"Relax. If a parent can do this with their child, then so can we."

She felt him sigh behind her, but his arm seemed to tense slightly, pulling her closer. She smiled to herself, as sleep began to claim her, the constant pounding of her heart in both elation and nervousness, draining her of energy.

"…thanks…" she heard.

"Anytime."


"Hey…mom? Where's Story? She's not in her room."

Katrina was in the kitchen, wearing a red apron with a pink heart on the front, the text "Meals need Love too" written underneath. She was currently bent over, placing dirty dishes from the sink into the dishwasher.

"She's over at Seth's house…helping him get ready for your date." Was the reply.

Claris blinked, surprised. "Already? We don't head out till one!"

"No. She stayed over."

"…stayed…over…?" Claris tilted her head, confused. Then the answer hit her, and she gasped. "You mean that's where she went last night? And she stayed there?"

Katrina nodded, putting the apron on a small hook, turning to face her elder daughter.

"I…but…why?" Claris breathed out.

Katrina sighed, and then quoted them. "If you have need, I'll be there." Claris' eyes widened. "He's never been on a date before. Ever. So she went over to calm him down and help him get prepared."

"And that took all night?"

"Knowing her? Probably not. But she was…worried about his nightmares. I guess she wanted to be there in case something woke him up."

Claris sat down, a little surprised. "And you're ok with that?"

Katrina sighed, sitting in a chair across from her daughter. "Honestly I'm a little…nervous about it. But that's…that's the mother in me talking. Really…he's the first person she truly bonded with since your father died. And…well…as long as she doesn't come back pregnant, I don't want to know what she's up to."

"Really? Why not?"

"…because after seeing what you all go through…to keep us all safe…I've realized none of you are truly children anymore. She hasn't been the same since your father died…and we haven't truly been the best to her since then. You and I were too caught up in our own emotions and lives to pay much attention to her. And then…Reala went and took her. If it wasn't for Seth…I'd have lost both your father, and your sister. And she's connected to him on a deeper level than I'll ever understand. I'm better off not knowing what she does with him…because I'd rather not open my mouth and judge something I know nothing about."

Claris bowed her head slightly. "She…did get quieter…after he died…" She looked at her mother. "But…don't you think it's a bit…unhealthy, how close she's getting to him?"

Katrina sighed again. "It's unfortunately like Seth said. Sometimes, we have to do unhealthy things before we learn what's best for us. I've got no idea what it means to… 'merge Ideya' or anything. But whatever it is, brought them extremely close. And they've done it twice now. And there's no doubting that since she met him, she's been…brighter. Happier. Happier than she's been since then. I'm not cruel enough to try to separate them. And even if I was, how would I? He can easily whisk them away to a world almost nobody can follow. To a world that would defend them, just as much as he defends it."

"You…think Nightopia itself would protect him? Protect them?" Claris asked, surprised at her mother's theory.

"Claris…do you really think those creatures would have let Astoria pull him from their grasp, if they were against him? You saw what I saw honey, he was directing them. They were directing them. And when she pulled him back completely, they left. Quietly. I don't know anything about them, but I know my horror plots. The strange demon-ghost things don't just bow out silently when someone gets pulled from their grasp."

Claris nodded absently, her mother had a point.

"Anyway, don't you have a date to get ready for? Can't have the Star of Twin Seeds looking like crap now can we?"


"You sure I look alright?"

Astoria gave an exasperated sigh. "For the last time Seth, you look fine! Stop being such a woman about this!"

"Oi!"

The two were almost at the Sinclair household. Seth was wearing a casual pair of black pants "Because tomorrow isn't going to be all that hot for once" a red t-shirt with a series of black triangles shaped in the form of a Hazard sign, on the front, and a replacement blue-jean vest, this one however missing any sort of decoration.

"I miss my old vest…"

"I know. It was pretty cool. How'd you get the design on it anyway?" Astoria asked, interested.

"Got it done in a place back in New York…I lived there before we moved here three years ago…"

"Hmm…I'll have to ask around, see if we have anywhere like that here…"

Seth nodded, absently. Astoria huffed, stepped faster and then stopped in front of him.

"Alright mister, listen up! You're going on a date with my sister, and you're going to have a good time! That means no thinking of Nightopia, no pondering about her fame, no worrying about any sort of short-comings you think you have in that other world, got it?"

"Tori-

"No! You need to relax, and have fun. What's your goal for today?"

"Uhh…I dunno…"

"Wrong! Your goal is to have fun! No worries, no thoughts, nothing that gets in the way of you having a good time, got it?"

He could do nothing but nod. Yeah…definitely been watching too much Haruhi.

"Now, what's your goal?"

"Have…fun?"

"Exactly! Now, there's a pizza place that she likes not too far down the street. Walking distance so you don't have to pop anywhere. There's an arcade a little ways towards the TST but its got a lot of stuff, even some imported straight from Japan too. They've got a few shooters, and I know I saw an AH and BB and I think I saw a Melty cabinet there too."

"Melty Blood? Seriously?" His interest was now spiked.

"I think so, I can't say for certain, but I know I saw the other two last time I went with Claris and Elliot. She's beaten him a fair few times in AH, so I want you to kick her ass and take her down a peg."

Seth blinked. "Wouldn't…that just piss her off?" Astoria shook her head.

"No she's the competitive type, when it comes to some things. She'll just want to kick your ass more, which will make her want another date."

Seth gave a soft smirk. "You planned all this out didn't you?" She laughed and grabbed his hand, pulling him along.

"You're not the only one who can split their thoughts while doing something else…not anymore."

After another minute of walking, they'd finally reached the house, where Claris was just stepping out. Clad in a dark red tank-top- "hey! You two match!" with a white thin button-up over shirt on top of it, a pair of white sneakers with pink stripes, and a cream colored skirt, she gave a gentle wave towards Seth.

"Since when do you own a skirt?" Astoria blurted out, a little surprised. Claris just rose an eyebrow.

"I've always had a few skirts. I just saved them for special occasions." She was forced to blush at Astoria's retort.

"Heyyy, hear that Seth? This counts as a special occasion!" Claris' face heated up, while Seth just gave a soft chuckle. Astoria pulled them close before pushing their hands together. Both of them blinked at her.

Katrina watched from the doorway, smile on her face at her youngest's antics.

"Alright you two. Go and have fun. And don't do anything Mom wouldn't do…which…really doesn't prohibit you from doing much now that I think about it." Astoria finished with a finger on her chin, looking as if pondering things.

"Story!"

"I'm going, I'm going." She bowed mockingly and then went into the house. Katrina stepped aside to let her youngest pass, unable to hold back.

"Try not to be out too late? And if you're going to stay over his house honey, give me a call?"

"Moooom!"

Katrina laughed, waving the two off before turning back as well.

Claris was flushed heavily. "One of these days…"

"Break through the limits with your drill?" Seth quipped. Claris gave a soft smile.

"Still trying to pierce the heavens there Seth?" She countered. Seth smirked and made his retort.

"Well, if what Tori says is true, your 'heavens' have already been pierced."

Claris' eyes widened, cheeks flaring once again.

"Man is it really that easy to make you blush? Damn I should start betting on that…"

"Bastard!" She bit out, slapping his arm.


KNOCK-KNOCK

"Story? Hey do you want…?" Katrina trailed off, seeing her daughter's room a mess. Clothes were thrown about everywhere, drawers left open. But there was one space on the bed, where a single shirt lay. A black shirt with a strange design on it.

That's…I don't remember her having this before…

She stepped towards the girl's bed, picking the shirt up before inspecting it. It was two sizes too big. And definitely wasn't a girl's shirt. Where…did she…? She put the shirt back down, feeling a little guilty for invading her daughter's privacy. However she was now quite confused. It had only been maybe ten minutes at most, since Astoria came back. Where could she have gone?

As the woman descended the stairs, contemplating calling out for her daughter, she heard a muffled noise. Turning, she saw the doorway that led to their basement. Getting closer, the muffled noise grew louder, sounding like something striking something else, something soft, but firm. She opened the door and slowly traversed the stairs, seeing the downstairs light on, the sound becoming clearer.

There was Astoria, rhythmically attacking a punching bag, suspended from the ceiling, dressed in a pale red Gi. The girl's hair was flying behind her, as the side of her leg impacted the large red cylinder shaped object. Katrina grew a little closer, wondering what possessed her youngest to suddenly start training again, something she didn't take that seriously before. The mother of two grew worried as she listened to her youngest's ramblings.

"…swear to Tia…" SMACK "if she hurts him…" SMACK "I'll fucking tear her goddamn heart out!" BANG


The two of them had ordered a couple slices of pizza. The walk to the parlor was filled with laughter, jokes, random references to gaming and anime, and sometimes companionable silence. But something was on Claris' mind. Something was bothering her, since the morning.

Honestly, it was bothering her since the day she met him.

The two sat down with their orders, eating in silence, both lost in their own thoughts.

"Why'd you do it?" Claris asked suddenly. "Save my sister, I mean."

Seth tilted his head. "You didn't have to ask me on a date if you wanted to pick my brain."

Her eyes widened. "What? No! No no, I-

She sighed and bowed her head.

"Listen…I'm…I didn't ask you out to pick your brain. I'm sorry. I'm just…very confused right now. I like you. I do. And I want to get to know you better. It's just…I've never met a guy…a hero like you before. And unfortunately for me, a lot of my questions have to do with you saving my sister…because that's the first thing I learned about you. You saved my sister, you did something impossible, even more impossible than my fight with Wiseman. All I could think of is 'what makes a guy put his life on the line out of the blue like that? What motivates that thought? What's he like?'"

Seth reached over and gently grasped her hand. "It's alright. I understand."

"Well I don't! And that's what my problem is. And that's…that's why it sounds like all I want to know about is what goes on between you and my sister. It's really not, but it all comes back to you and her. I want to know who you are, for me but to do that, I have to look at the facts, and the facts are that you and her are very close, that you saved her life. And I want to understand. I really do."

He could see the turmoil in her eyes. She was on the verge of tears. Seth gave a deep sigh, turning away slightly, staring out the window.

"…it's because we all understand the same pain."

Claris blinked away the few tears leaking out of her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"We all know the pain of losing family. Of having someone taken from us. You, me, and her. The Ideya no doubt helped a lot, but because we know the same pain, I've no doubt that if she and I were to have spoken any other time, we'd be friends."

"You think so?"

"Misery loves company. Pain attracts pain. When you know someone, who's felt the same pain as you have, that pain gets a little more bearable. Because you know you're not alone in that pain, and there's constant proof, right in your face. She felt alone. She knew she wasn't, but she felt it. Nobody she could talk to, nobody she felt like burdening. And then fate threw her and I into each other's way."

Claris nodded softly.

"I don't know why I saved her. I really don't. I just…saw something strange, and followed. It was stupid really. But it was something I knew, something I knew only I could even come close to figuring out. So I did. Honestly…I did it because I felt like it. I did it because I wanted to. There was no 'oh my god I have to save that girl' or 'now's my chance to figure out what's been going on'. It was all 'huh…that's…a bit strange. I'm gonna go take a look.'"

"It's…that simple? You did it…because you wanted to?" Seth nodded.

"I've learned…I learned early on in my life that if I didn't want to do something, and I was forced to, it always failed, or ended up shitty. So I've been living my life, doing the things I feel like doing. I follow my instincts, and my impulses. And for the most part, they haven't led me wrong."

A man who follows his own desires, and not those of anyone else. Claris thought. No wonder he holds the Ideya of Desire. He does what he wants…because he wants to, and for no other reason than he believes he should.

The two finished their slices in silence. Claris was contemplating how badly she'd botched things, when Seth suddenly spoke up.

"So…I hear you're a Heart main." He said out of the blue.

Claris blinked for a few minutes, before the statement settled in her mind. She gave a soft smile. And he knows how to fix an awkward moment.

"Yeah, I'm pretty good as her."

"Well then. It's official. I can't let this stand." Claris blinked, worried she'd somehow messed things up worse.

"I challenge you to a duel!"

It took her a moment, but she realized what he was getting at. She gave a coy smirk. "Bring it on. I'll crush you in one strike."


"DOWN!"

"Fuck!" Seth yelled. Some of the crowd cheered. The sounds of battle, buttons being clicked, joysticks being moved rapidly raced through the arcade. Games had been dropped in the middle of rounds, races lost intentionally for everyone to see the spectacle going on towards the back. A small crowd had gathered once word spread that Claris Sinclair was back, and with a different boy this time. not only that, but he was actually keeping up with her, in the one game she played regularly.

Claris had become a regular since the accident that claimed her father, finding interest in a very specific fighter. The owner of the Arcade tended to slip her blue-haired boyfriend a few extra coins to keep her happy and distracted from the sorrows of the world. And now she was back, with someone different. But unlike before, he'd let people crowd around them, because even he'd have to say, this new kid was doing pretty good.

"DOWN!"

"Fuck!" Claris yelled. The rest of the crowd cheered.

The last round. Whoever won this would win their little matchup for the day. None could see it, but they could feel the concentration going on between the two. The crowd gasped and yelled, cheered and jeered as each strike, dropped combo, or even outright miss occurred upon the screen. Fist and foot, beams and swords all flying across the screen.

"BREAK DOWN!"

"YES!"

"DAMMIT!"

Some of the crowd groaned, while the rest cheered louder. The two bowed to the crowd, before moving on, the group dispersing.

"Dammit…I had you there." Claris complained.

"2A my dear. First rule of Melty Blood. 2A." Seth replied.

"Bah…fuck your 2A. Stupid sword hands…how'd you do that anyway?"

"Down Down A, B or C. Equips a sword on her arm that gives her extra range. Goes away once she's hit though."

"Why'd you keep picking Milly though?"

"Err…cause she's the only Arcana I know how to use right?" Seth responded, sheepishly. Claris just laughed.

"Nothing beats the power of Love!" She exclaimed, causing a few people around them to chuckle, knowing what she was talking about.

"The final boss of AH1 apparently begs to differ." Claris blinked.

"Wait…THAT was the final boss of AH? Seriously?"

"Yeah I dunno the story behind that either."

"No wonder she looked so familiar…" Claris mused.

As they left the arcade, the sky had turned a soft orange.

"Evening already…?" Seth mused.

Claris frowned, something on her mind.

"What's wrong?"

"…how far…have you gotten in learning to fly?"

Seth blinked, not expecting that question.

"Err…not…very? I…haven't been back since the Spydre…"

Claris nodded to herself. "Take us."

"Eh?"

"Take us there. I want…I want to show you something."

"Right now?" Seth was a little shocked, and slightly unprepared. Claris nodded.

"Uhh…alright…" Does that mean the date's over? I'm really confused…


The ground warped beneath their feet. Walking was difficult, the stone beneath him wobbling and morphing like jell-o.

"What…?"

"Welcome to Soft Museum!" Claris exclaimed, proudly. "Dad…was always a major Art buff, so when I found this place I instantly fell in love."

"The hell's with the ground? I can barely stand."

"Strange isn't it?" She said casually, walking like she had no problem. "It takes some getting used to. The ground here is like a trampoline. It absorbs your weight, and if you bounce on it…" She gave a soft hop, and was launched into the air doing a simple flip before landing, the ground bending below her again, where she bounced higher. Throwing her arms out, she coasted the air to a gazebo, landing on top of it, crossing her legs.

Seth saw everything. Shaking his head, he stopped trying to walk normally, and instead jumped forward. Tensing his legs as he felt the ground beneath him shifting, he sprung up, flipping forward and landing. Only he landed improperly, and fell backward, bouncing on his back. Claris giggled, gently floating downward.

"It's like friggin rubber." Seth spoke, slowly rising to his feet. Claris nodded. "I know."

"I don't know why this place is so weird, compared to the rest of Nightopia, but honestly, it's beautiful here and one of my favorite places. There's a few solid areas, where the ground is normal, but we'll have to walk…or fly there."

"Which way?" Claris pointed north. "Over those hills. It's a big building, you can't miss it."

"Bounce race?"

Claris blinked and then smiled, happy he wasn't upset. "You're on."


Claris won, but only barely. Seth was much more adept at bounding than flying, seeing as it was all he could really do.

"How do you do it?" The two of them had taken a rest just inside the museum proper, laying next to each other, staring at the ceiling.

"Fly? I don't know…it just comes naturally to me. I spent so long surrounded by the feeling of freedom while merged with Nights…it was just simple to imagine that feeling for myself."

"I never got that feeling…"

"But you're doing really well! You've got the hang of catching the air, now you just have to direct yourself."

"Yeah…but it's like I said…my mind is too logical sometimes. It won't let something happen, in this world, if it doesn't understand why it could happen. I can only barely understand the concept of floating…I don't know how you do it. It makes no sense to me. I've…never felt that freedom feeling, that weightlessness. How do you turn? How do you go so fast?" He turned to her, asking.

"I don't really know. It's all instinct. I guess…I just imagine it like swimming. Like swimming in a pool. The air just…lifts me, the way water would. I'd sink if I didn't focus…that's what I believe. But it's not an intense focus, it's just…it's like floating on the water. You just have to let it happen. And to move, you just…push. You push yourself, kinda like kicking off a wall."

"Skating on sausages…huh?"

"What?"

"Sorry…Guilmon reference…basically, imagine the impossible to be possible right? Well I can imagine it…my brain just doesn't know how to convert it into logic."

"You said you can shift your sense of gravity, right?"

"Yeah. I can kinda fly if I do that, but I have to keep shifting it, and I basically 'fall' that way. It doesn't work…it's not as fluid as how you guys do it."

"But you flew before! With Will and Helen, against Clawz!"

"Yeah but that was different…"

"How?" Claris sat up, staring down at her companion.

"I wanted to live."

She stared at him.

"It's like with Astoria…it's like with the Spydre. Like with Gillwing and Clawz…I wanted to Live. I wanted to keep surviving, I wanted to be able to wake up the next morning. My parents are dead, I have all of their money, I have to pay bills on time, I have to go to school…I had to deal with all that shit from everyone here…"

He sighed, looking away.

"I survive. It's what I do. I live, where others would die…because I don't want to die yet. As much as I want to fall asleep and never wake up, I don't want to die just yet. And because of that, I live. I can do stuff like fly, when I need to, because it's required to survive. Logic doesn't matter when it comes to survival. You do whatever you can, to live, no matter what rules it breaks, no matter how illogical. Sense…logic…reason…they're meaningless when it comes to living. But outside of that…if I don't see how it could work, if I don't understand how it can happen, I can't do it."

He turned back to her, seeing tears in her eyes. "Literally, the only thing keeping me from flying as freely as you do, here, is myself. I don't understand how it can work. I have ideas of how it could work, but I can't do those things. I don't know how to do them. I've never had experience like you did, of flying as someone else, yet still able to feel everything. So it's not like I can override my brain with 'well I've done it before, under the exact same circumstances. I've done it easily. I know how it feels, I can just re-create that feeling.' I don't have that. I have to do everything from scratch."

Claris sighed, wiping away the moisture on her face.

"I'm sorry…"

"What are you sorry for? It's my problem. Really, I'm happy you're trying to help. You've given me a few more ideas I can try out…but honestly until I understand for myself how it works, how I can do it, it just won't be done. I'm not giving up though."

Claris nodded. "Good…because…I want to share it with you. I want to fly with you, someday." She looked him dead in the eyes. Unseen by either, a soft, faint black outline was beginning to form around her.

"When this is all over. I want to go flying with you. When we can be sure that nothing will attack us, that nobody will show up and ruin it. I want to show you the real beauty of this world, from my eyes. I want to share the skies with you Seth." She was right in his face as she spoke. Her eyes were all he could see, neither of them seeing the gentle, wavy darkness beginning to become more defined.

"I…can't say I'd mind that…" The two drew closer.

Suddenly, Seth's watch beeped. The two blinked, the moment ruined. The building darkness vanished instantly. He looked down, seeing the numbers 8:00.

"Ahh…we should…head back I think." Claris' cheeks were red at what she realized almost happened between them.

"Yeah…yeah we should…"


They stood at her front door.

"Seth…I had a really good time today."

"Same here. You're just lucky we were playing stick and not pad. I'm much better there."

Claris smirked. "Well then, I'll have to come over and kick your ass sometime."

"Ha, bring it on."

She smiled at him, pulling him into a close hug.

"Thank you…I haven't had that much fun since…well…" She was hesitant to say it. "Since…Elliot and I broke up."

"What…-ah…never mind."

"What made us split?" She guessed. Seth nodded.

"Our schedules. He was always practicing for his team…and I was always busy singing or making videos or whatever. We ended up barely having time for one another. We had fun when we did but…neither one of us felt like it was fair to the other if we stayed with each other when we couldn't even live our own lives at the moment. We both thought it was for the best."

Seth nodded again. "Do…you miss him?"

"Sometimes. I see him a lot more now though, since his team won the last championship. They're taking it easy for a bit. Oddly enough I haven't been pestered by the agency lately…I think they're giving me time with my Sister, seeing as she was kidnapped."

"Ever think of getting back together with him?"

"Every now and then…I did. But then…well…I think I want to see where we go first." Seth's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Really? I'm not the best-

She placed a finger to his lips. "Don't sell yourself short. I don't think even Elliot would have ran off and chased my Sister like you did. And even if he had, I don't think he would have protected her so fiercely. You're a good person, Seth, regardless of what anyone else says about you. You're not as athletic, and nowhere near as popular as he is, but you've got a good head on your shoulders. I've known him longer, and he and I have shared…a lot. But…I want to see those memories with you as well. I'm glad I worked up the nerve to ask you out, and I really enjoyed today."

Seth nodded, staying quiet.

"And…well…I've never…taken Elliot…to Soft Museum. I barely even told him about it. It was…my special place. And now I've shared my special place with you."

Seth's heart pounded. Until meeting Astoria, nobody had ever done something like that.

"Claris…I'm-

"Shh. I know. I'm happy I did. Even if I could show him…I don't think I really need to. He and I…are really close friends. Just like you and Astoria are. And…I'll admit, I was a little jealous of her, for a while. Because she didn't have the scheduling conflicts I did…she was…free…to do as she pleased. And seeing how hard you were willing to fight for her…seeing you stare Nights down like that…it really drove home what kind of guy you are. You didn't cave in and just blatantly trust what Elliot and I had to say about Nights, you kept Astoria safe until you were certain for yourself, that Nights wasn't a threat. And…while it hurt a bit that you didn't trust me, it made sense, later on."

She flushed slightly. "And…I can't say I didn't…mind…being in your arms…before you did that stupid idea."

Seth gave a soft chuckle, remembering his jump. "Yeah…not my most brilliant of plans…"

"Elliot's tough…but I think you're a bit tougher. He's…never really had to worry about too much in his life. He gets a lot of stuff but…you…get it better…you understand it deeper, than he can. And he can be pretty deep when he wants to be. From afar he looks like the typical jock but he's not…but you…you're different. With him, I feel like I could tell him something, and he'd get it, because we've known each other for so long…but with you, I feel like I can tell you anything and you'd get it because you get it. Like, you'd understand on a completely different level than he would…and that means a lot to me…"

She hugged him again. "I liked today, and I'm definitely going to be asking you out again. I want to spend time with you…I want to get to know you more."

"Still gonna kick your ass though."

"Pfft, bring it on. You're not the only one with a decent amount of cash on you. What'd you say? You were a Mu main? Fine…next time we go out, we're playing that one."

"Oh good, I need competent competition or else I'm just going to keep sucking."

She smiled at him, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Take care Seth. I'll see you soon, ok?"

"…yeah." She waved and turned, entering her house. Seth just shook his head, surprised at the day's events.

Today went too well…ugh I hate being cynical but my life never goes this good for very long…

Claris Sinclair…huh? Last person I expected to be going out with. Then again, I never expected to be saving anyone's life either…

And to think…all this…because of Wiseman…

I'll have to thank him…before we kick his ass…


A/N: BLEGH. I suck at fluffy filler crap. I'm an action man. My romance happens when people link up from deadly experiences. I cut the bullshit and go straight to the heart of the matter. Claris was overly emotional this chapter because she's still bloody confused about her feelings, but wants to understand. Honestly, someone you care about for the longest time, and suddenly your heart starts beating for someone different? That's hell. Only thing you can do is try to figure it out.

It'll take some time, but she'll get her answer.

archsage328: Reala's deal will be explained soon enough. A lot of 'legends' that he knows of have just started coming true, so the reality he's been living in is starting to crumble, and that's making him think. The Old Ones were beings that even Wiseman wanted nothing to do with, because they wouldn't be controlled. That means something that Seth and Astoria were 'commanding' them for a while. Seth being 'lost' would have been bad for EVERYONE involved. The Old Ones want their world back, no matter what it takes. As explained in this chapter, a little, Seth isn't so much a "good guy" as he simply follows what his heart tells him, and doesn't like sacrificing innocents if he can avoid it. But I'll say this: him being 'touched' by the Old Ones…

We'll see that come back, soon enough.

D&S Master: Phobias manifest in various ways, for various people. For me (and thus Seth) it's an unusual thing. If it's one or two, I can kinda ignore them, especially if they're tiny and just kinda there. I kill them anyway, because they're in my space, but outside of that, nothing really happens except an uncomfortable feeling. Any more than that, and I start getting nervous and shaky. They put me on edge for some reason. I can't look at even fake spiders, because it makes my head hurt, my brain imagining them coming alive and…yeah I'm starting to get creeped out just thinking about it. The biggest problem is, I don't know where it came from. I've always had it…but I don't know why. It just triggers a reaction, there's no rhyme or reason for it, there's no path, it's like a program. See Spider = goto 10, where 10 = flip.

Webs, spiders…they all make my head hurt. I start getting weak, sick feeling. The bigger the web, the more of a reaction I have, because I'm imagining a bigger spider. Even plush ones, or big fake ones for Halloween cause me to turn right around and leave the area. It starts doing things to my head…things that make me nervous. Because it's the same…pressure…I get when I'm around a barking dog. An uneasiness that starts pushing my mind to "kill or be killed" mode. It triggers my survival instincts. Since Seth's weaknesses are some of my own, he's got the same problem. Our minds start locking down, preparing for an emergency shutdown, to escape. It's one of the few active fears I have, but it's a powerful one. It's not a pleasant feeling in the slightest, it literally makes me feel like I'm about to go insane.

The bond between Astoria and Seth gets explored a bit more, this chapter, as well as within the next few ones. You should have noticed something in this chapter that suggests something beyond what's in everyone's faces though. There's a reason for that, and yes, it will be important.