Coming to the restaurant to keep an eye out for her ward til the night falls was an everyday occurrence. However, coming in to find a bowl of food at her usual stop was new.
It was early in the morning and there was nobody there but her and the chef who was wiping down the tables, he didn't have to look up to know who it was and just hummed in greeting. Carlene pulled her usual chair out and sat down, placing her bag down before she started to eat.
The chef waited till she was done to start a conversation, "Missy, why exactly are you taking the Hunters Exam?" He grabbed the empty bowl to wash it and she gave a small thank you.
"Because my brother is an idiot." The chef barked out in laughter.
"Yeah, that would do it. Is he the one you're waiting for to show up?"
"Yes." She said simply, keeping an eye on the entrance.
"Well, I hope he shows up soon. I'm starting to get tired of you loitering around!" He joked and went back to work.
If it wasn't for the fact that she's seen different people that she recognized going to the backroom every day she would have given up her search and gone home, but with each day passing she got more and more irritated.
'Fine, if you want to take the Hunters Exam so badly then who am I to stop you?'
As the chef started cooking he shot a small prayer for her brother, muttering to himself as he worked, "Hell has no fury like a woman scorned…"
Iquella felt proud of himself. Sure he felt a bit embarrassed once he found out that the Hunter Exam was taking place in Zaban and his trip on the boat was pointless, but he was proud that he was able to get as far as he has without his cousin there to help.
A part of him felt guilty about leaving the way he did, but the need to get stronger- to her that he can protect the both of them so she can finally let her guard down- was more important.
His traveling company rattled with every step behind him and Iquella found him creepy, not once during the entire journey he has said a word besides to give a name and would just look at him with large lifeless eyes- the eyes didn't bother him as much as they should have, seeing a similar look in the only family he has left gave the dead fish eyes a familial sense- what creeped him out the most was the needles that stuck out of his face like he was a pin cushion.
Iquella just wanted to get to the Exam site already, but right when he was about to let out another sigh the navigator stopped and pointed at a small restaurant. With a renewed enthusiasm he gladly took the piece of paper that had a code they were supposed to say and rushed into the small restaurant.
His companion is right on his heels with wide steps. The jars he took with him clinked against each other as he walked. As they stood in the opening of the restaurant the chef didn't even look up as he asked what they wanted. Iquella said the code and the chef looked up at them then said that they could head to the backroom.
And right as he was about to enter the backroom a shiver went down his spine as a familiar voice called out behind him.
"Well, well, well… look what the cat dragged in…" Iquella paled as he froze in place, any energy he had fled quickly as he swallowed a gulp and slowly turned around.
" B-bi sis, I-I don't think I want to take the exam anymore..!" There, standing behind him was cousin, her eyes seemed to gleam with an odd light and Iquella finally felt regret for running away.
"Really now? But you've gotten so far! It would be a same to turn back now Iquella!" Carlene said with a smile and he prayed to his ancestors that his death will be swift and merciful.
For Carlene smiled like someone was going to die. Like something carefully hidden until the sweetness turned putrid on the senses, something festering and forgotten until it grew too sickening to ignore. And Iquella fears what that meant for his future.
"Well, well, well… look what the cat dragged in…" Carlene said calmly as Iquella freezes in place, a loud gulping noise rang out and he slowly turned around to face her, face pale and eyes wide.
"B-big sis, I-I don't think I want to take the exam anymore..!" He stumbled out, but it was too late for that, she was tired and irritated with him.
"Really now? But you've gotten so far! It would be a same to turn back now Iquella!" She said with a smile and if it was possible, he got even paler.
She stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder and started to lead him to the elevator, only stopping once they were inside the elevator and stepping away with an amused little smile.
Iquella had regained some color after realizing she had no plans to drag him by the ear back to their home in Dolle Harbor, but was still on edge because it felt like a trap.
Carlene sat at the table with her arms crossed over and a sense of dread sunk in, a part of her wondering if it's too late to just go home. The sound of clicking brought her back to the present, and her breath left her chest. There, standing in the doorway was one of the many people she wanted to avoid at all costs.
"Ah! Gittarackur, I almost forgot you were here! Big sis, this is Gittarackur. Gittarackur, this is my older sister, Carlene. I met Gittarackur on the ship and we've been traveling together." Dread had its grip on her throat, and her ward had unintentionally gone and met an assassin.
He just looked at her with an expressionless face and all her instincts were telling her 'flight or fight', but she has always been a coward.
The elevator dings and she knew it was too late now to turn back, she was glad that the moment they made it to the basement that Illumi- who is currently Gittarackur- would disappear off into the crowd and her and Iquella would probably never see him up close for the rest of the exam.
The elevator stopped with a ding and Carlene stood up, a protective figure to stand behind Iquella, the door opened and the contestants of the 287th Hunter Exam barely shot them a glance as they entered the basement area.
Beans stood there waiting, and gave them a simple introduction before handing them their badges, reminding them to not take them off or lose them before disappearing. She put hers on, not looking at the number. Iquella fidgets with his own before clipping it on, looking up at her with a proud grin. She huffed and ruffled his hair, clicking made her look up to see Gittarackur staring at the two of them.
She exhaled and focused on the lights that give a soft glow overhead.
"Come on, let's find a place away from the elevator." She told Iquella softly, he slipped his hand into Carlene's, not quite tugging but eagerly towing her in the direction he wanted to go. The warmth of Iquella's fingers distracted her from the heat of eyes staring into her neck and the sound of clicking as they walked.
"Ah- before I forget- Iquella, if you know what's good for you then never expect anything from a stranger."
"What?"
"I've never seen you all before!"
