Whoops, sorry for taking so long. The past few weeks were crazy, so I didn't have a chance to update. But I'm back and so is Ryn. Hopefully she can help Adella figure out her conflicted feelings.

"So, how has it been?" Ryn pulls her knees to her chest. "With the Zol-Dick."

Adella shrugs, handing her the popcorn she'd made. "He's trying. But it's Illumi. The other day I got home late, and he told me I wasn't allowed out without supervision. And that I wasn't allowed out that Saturday."

Ryn whistles. "That's… rough. I thought he was working on it?"

"That is working on it." Adella groans. "I love him, Ryn. I'm stupid and in love with a Zoldyck who has no idea how to be a human."

Ryn laughs. "Awe, baby, it's okay. We can't all have the ideal men drop in our laps."

"Ryn, you're dating a clown and a criminal."

"Details, details." She reaches for the popcorn. "Besides, Hisoka is a magician."

Adella rolls her eyes, smacking her hand away. "Doesn't matter. What does is how my boys are doing."

Ryn rolls her eyes. "Gon and Killua are fine. They asked about you, well, Gon did. And Killua isn't exactly happy you're screwing…"

"Hey!" Adella throws a pillow at her, knowing Ryn will catch it.

"Okay! You're deeply in love with and going to marry his brother." She grins. "Come on, be serious, the wedding is back on, right?"

Adella rolls her eyes. "I told you, we haven't discussed marriage. And now is definitely not the time. I can barely trust him." She sighs. "And I should walk away."

Ryn cocks her head. She knew her friend would never suffer the injustices Illumi had done to her. Well, not normally. "Why don't you?"

She shrugs, unable to look Ryn in the eye. "I… I want to be strong, independent. I am. But I… Illumi knows me. I think he knew who I was the second he met me. And he's trying. It may not be what most people would call trying, but considering his childhood…"

"Sounds like excuses, babe." Ryn cuts her off, raising her glass of sake.

"I know." Adella admits. "As someone somewhat removed from this, and as a friend, do you think I should leave?"

"Absolutely not." Ryn grins. "I agree. He is trying. Giving up a needle, letting you have it, Del, that's huge."

She sighs, confused and concerned. "Why can't this be easy?"

"Because you're dating a Zoldyck." Ryn refills her sake, topping Adella off too. "No more sad faces and angst, only happy thoughts. The troupe will be in town September 1st."

"Right, you told me about that." Adella folds her feet under her. "So will I get to meet them?"

"That's the plan. And you'll get to see Chrollo again. I know you two only met in passing but he asks about you. Though that's probably because he knows we're friends. And he's intrigued by your nen."

Adella shivers. Ryn had warned her about his nen ability. "I don't think…"

"I threatened to leave in the night and chop his dick off to take with if he even thought about stealing yours. Besides, Illumi would sic the entire family on him, and he's no good to me dead." Ryn waves away her concerns, downing her glass and refilling.

"I thought you couldn't hold alcohol." Adella frowns.

"Better than you, lightweight. Please tell me Illumi has seen you drunk." Ryn grins. "Hisoka hates when I drink. I want to go crazy."

Adella hums. "No bloodlust, Ryn."

"Del!" She pouts. "It's fun!"

"You steal too much from others and you go insane. Remember your conditions, Ryn. You can't freely take and use. There's a limit and you have to get rid of it before it drives you over the edge." What an odd pair, Adella thinks.

Ryn was a transmuter (which they often joked about, considering Hisoka was the same) who was able to steal other's bloodlust and use that to strengthen her own nen. It toed the line of being a specialist, but the test had designated her a transmuter. She could also use her nen to affect the moods of whoever she touched, gently nudging them how she wanted to. It was a lot like Illumi's pin, but instead of actually manipulating them, her nen sharpened to a fine point and nudged their brain to release other chemicals to affect mood.

Adella didn't quite understand the logistics of it, claiming there was no way Ryn could be a transmuter and do what she did, but the water always got sweeter, and the leaf never moved.

"Any way this isn't about Illumi or the boys, this week is for the girls." Ryn raises her (once again) full glass. "To the two greatest friends who didn't stick to their plans!"

Adella raises her glass, frowning. "What plans exactly?"

Ryn downs her drink, humming. "Oh, remember, we said we'd both marry obscenely wealthy assassins."

"You said that, not me." Adella points out. "I said that wasn't happening."

"Yeah, but now look who's halfway there." Ryn winks.

Adella scowls, refilling her friend's cup. "Drink. Then at least you can't talk back."

"Hisoka and Chrollo have a different method for…"

"I don't want to know!"