ω Syndicate rhymes with Sunday morning! (Evelyn~, Aven, Ruvel)

Information:

Eve yawned enormously, her eyes watering as she forced down the action.  A quick glance at her watch said that it was nearly past noon.  Since there were supposed to be a few mages plus her collaborating on this mission, (Eve was pretty untrained at the moment so that was definitely a good idea anyway), they had all agreed to meet before the clock hit 12:00.  Not that she was complaining about any heat from the sun, it was just that well, she wanted to get to know her partners.  It was her first official job after all, even if it happened to be as a guildless mage and she had picked the job information paper off of the ground.  Probably, somebody had taken it off the guild board and lost it.  Finders were keepers, and Eve planned to get this done either way.

"Stop pacing, Soup, they'll be here any moment now," the pale haired girl at Eve's side muttered as she sat placidly on a park bench.  It was incredulous how the naiad seemed to have an innate ability for both irritating Eve and calming her down at the same time.  With a huff, the girl plopped down next to her friend, wincing at the brief dizziness that she felt from sitting down too quickly.  "What if they don't come, Delta?  I don't even know their names, or what they look like... how am I even supposed to find my new teammates?"  The naiad replied coolly despite the other female's snappish tone, saying that the pair had sent out perfectly reasonable directions and information to get to Rose Garden Square.  It was famous, anyhow, she remarked, which was true.  If anything, this was probably the best shopping center in this region of Fiore, so they could have some fun if the job ended up being cancelled.

Aven twirled his cane playfully as he strolled along the street, his usual carefree grin present on his face. Another quick glance at the clock tower told him he was right on schedule, a fact he didn't doubt. He'd given his word to meet his comrades for the job at hand right before the clock hit twelve, if his memory served, so timing was of the essence. If he arrived at eleven fifty-eight, it simply wouldn't be the same as arriving when he promised. After all, Aven was a man of his word, and he was nothing without it. The job, itself, was intriguing: to halt black market operations? Exciting, to say the least, and the first combat Aven had ever embarked on specifically. Till that point, his only job had been to intimidate a bully without hurting them. He expected the dynamic of this new job to be quite the opposite.

Aven spotted a duo waiting on a park bench, and checked the time. Eleven fifty-nine. Excellent! He was sure that one day he would be late, but it would not be that day. He strode over to the two of them, immediately dipping into a gentlemanly bow, balancing his weight on his cane planted on the cobble beside him with a 'clack'. "I presume you two lovely ladies are my partners in breaking the black market? My name is Aven Alveron, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintances." His emerald green eyes smile along with him, his voice gentle and soothing.

It had been extremely early in the morning when Ruvel had decided to look at the Savage Skull job board, he knew he wasn't an official member but the job seemed out of place given what kind of guild it was. Taking it from the board he read it carefully and tilted his head for a moment contemplating on wither he should take it or not, it already stated he would be working with other people and where the meeting point for the group would be. He moved to a table and wrote a note stating that he would return before the evening meal and promised to bring back and exquisite gift for her, though at the moment he had no idea exactly what that would be. Standing he placed it in the area he usually left notes for his sister and moved quickly from the guild patting his pocket to double check he had his pocket watch on him, he knew he had placed it there before he had even left his room but still he didn't feel like having who knows what unfortunate fate befall him if he didn't follow the rules that he had been given by his sister's second in command.

Normally he would wait to be given a task or an order to forefil but he seen no harm in doing this today as his sister was meeting another guild leader and he was not privy to knowing what they spoke of. This was because he was A, a servant, B, not an official member of the guild and C, even if he was a member of the guild he wouldn't have high enough rank to be within such a meeting. It didn't bother him as it meant he normally had some personal time to himself but it was often spoiled due to a task coming to his attention or hearing his sisters thoughts of wanting something by the time she got back. He managed to secure transport from people passing by he never asked them nor did he indicate that he needed assistance but was glad when it was offered and accepted after they had offered for the third time.

He had told them where he was going and showed them the job, so they were more than happy to give him a ride the whole way. He leaned against the window closing his eyes pretending to be asleep the whole time. He noted how they spoke of his strange appearance he was aware he looked frail and paler than most looking barely as if he had any pigment within his skin, before he knew it though he was getting shook and thought he should play the part stirring a little rubbing his eyes "O-oh... sorry I must have dosed off, I had a restless evening and woke quite early this morning." he looked down pretending to be embarrassed about such an action "Aww, poor thing..." the woman said holding out a small bag "I gave you some of the lunch we packed, you look like you haven't been taken good enough care of yourself" she continued making him scratch his cheek almost nervously "My lady makes sure I am healthy, though he has no reason to. I thank you both for your kindness and may the wind and sky keep you both safe" he said getting out of the car waving goodbye to the couple allowing them to drive off.

Blinking he seen the people at the meeting point but turned away from them moving to someone sitting on the street and handed them the back of food that he himself had been given. "I believe you will require this more than I" he said with a smile turning and now heading towards the group bringing out his pocket watch "Noon... right on time" he stated more to himself than anyone else. Seeing the others he placed his left hand to his chest and bowed "My name is Ruvel Rune; would I be correct in presuming you are the others I am suppose to meeting here" he said his black eyes taking in the others fully now as he stood up.

Word Count: 698/1'666

"Hail, Aven!" Eve announced brightly, thumping her chest before bowing in a salute.  Her clothes today were that of traditional Pergrande Kingdom footsoldier garb, and she had taken to their tendency to bow whenever anyone with a smidgen of rank passed by.  Considering that this man seemed to be part of the mission and therefore on par with Eve, he deserved the same proper greeting (from some kind of standpoint, at least.  Just roll with it).  "Hello there Ruvel. Just on time I see," Delta murmured a bit creepily in a tone much huskier than her actual speaking one.  Without hesitation, the violet haired girl slapped the naiad up the back of her head, hissing with very little discretion, "Don't do that!"

"... do what?" the sprite replied, to which Eve scratched the top of her spine where her neck connected, a slightly sheepish expression on her face.  "Well, I don't know exactly.  That... thing.  Shut up, you know what I mean!" the mage flushed slightly.  "I do not comprehend," Delta said robotically, to which the lightning mage simply sighed and said, "Whatever.  Anyway, hi Ruvel!  My name is Eve-" "Soap."  "My name is Eve, and I hail from-" "Nowhere, we're currently homeless," the naiad informed the other female a bit brusquely.  Eve started at her curtness before waving her hand in front of Delta's face.

"Excuse me!"  "You are excused."  "That's not what I- urgh, stop interrupting me already!  Anyway, Ruvel, Aven, you may call me Soap- I mean," "Soup is my name for you.  Soap is indeed your name," the pale haired naiad reminded Eve gently.  "Right, okay, my name is Soap, I was right the first time- hey, wait a second!  Weren't you supposed to shut up and stop confusing me already?!?" the violet haired girl groaned before shaking her head.  "Enough talking.  Let's just start getting the job done!" she decided with a smile that attempted to wash away the mess pot of conversation just now.  

Delta was still muttering under her breath, but Eve chose to completely ignore the faerie in favor of tapping her chin thoughtfully.  "The Rose Garden Police said that they heard about this from a maintenance worker at one of the private airport terminals.  We have to keep everybody safe while taking them out... should be easy enough, right?" she hoisted her sword off of her back and held it loosely at her side, still sheathed.  "Someone else should lead before this insane chick gets us all killed," Delta warned in a monotone that made it difficult to tell whether she was simply jesting or if the words were said in sobriety.  Eve automatically took offense either way; she was a perfectly good leader!  If none of them wanted the captain hat, she'd step up gladly.

Aven tried to contain himself at the display of the young Eve arguing with her companion. So comical was it, however, that he couldn't help but chuckle, a reaction that escalated into good-natured laughter. Even with the few wizards he'd met to date, they all had their fair share of eccentricities. Perhaps... he did, as well? Or was that a feature that developed along the way? He brushed the thought aside, positive there were odd tendencies surrounding his personage that would give others pause.

The faerie's words carried a valid point: who was the leader? In an entourage of newly met wizards, he couldn't be sure which of them held the most potential for leadership, not with his current information, at least. Soap... Soup? No, Eve. He was positive she'd started with Eve, and Aven favored real names to nicknames. She came off as spontaneous, and her intelligence wasn't clear as of yet, but she did carry a respectable charisma, one that could denote a leader, and one that Aven was sure he himself lacked. Ruvel, on the other hand, was reserved: that much he could tell from a glance. The young man had a kind of emotional mask equipped, the kind that allowed politeness and cordiality, but seemed to stem things like excitement. Given the nature of the job, protecting citizens while flushing out the Black Market, it would be better to have a charismatic leader, one that could easily rally away any panic that might ensue. Aven, himself, could provide tactics from the side, perhaps evacuate the citizens during the preliminary of the skirmish. His magic power would be most helpful when the inevitable grunts are taken care of. Yes, that would work out nicely...

Aven leaned onto his cane, crossing his left leg over his right. "It's a pleasure to meet all of you, Mr. Ruvel, Miss Eve, Little Fairy. On the topic of leadership, I have no objections to Miss Eve spearheading this particular venture. Thoughts, Mr. Ruvel?"

[255 + 333 = 688/1666 Words]

For the moment Ruvel remained quiet there was nothing much he could add on to the conversation his eyes was more looking the area taking in the sites. The last time he had been within Rose Garden he was getting his passport and had played tag with a few youngsters, though he remained stoic he smiled a little inwardly at the thought of the game of tag. Out of the three he would most likely stick out the most as he wore a black suit with a silver pin on the lapel that his sister had given him to show him that no matter what he would be favoured by her while in her service, a charcoal coloured waistcoat, white shirt with a what seemed like an azure coloured collar tie made from silk. "I am always on time" he stated bluntly to the naiad, he hated being tardy or anyone else for that matter since it often put him behind and he was never one to allow that to happen especially given what he knew followed him while he was away from the guild hall.

"Are you both alright?" he enquired finally after watching the sprite and her companion seemingly having a lovers tiff with one another, he didn't really care to be honest it's just the more they doddled there the later it would become and he still had to find a present for his sister and get back to the guild before supper so he could prepare it for her. "Hello Lady Eve, it is a pleasure to meet you and your companion." he said placing his left hand on his chest bowing to her much as a butler would, he couldn't believe she would allow people to call her after a hygiene product and certainly wouldn't do such a degrading thing to a person, more so to a lady. "Homeless you say? Perhaps finding a guild would help you with a place to stay." he wasn't going to suggest any guild to her it wasn't his place but he really didn't like the thought of anyone resting on the streets.

His black eyes now turned to the male that would seem to accompany them "If you must say mister I would prefer you use my last name as it seems a little foolish to call me it with my birth name." he said, his tone hadn't changed pitch from when he had spoke the first time so it wouldn't be known if he was indeed offended or not about such a thing; he wasn't it was just something that he didn't see the point to "I also prefer to be called by my birth name if possible but I understand if you prefer the latter" he said bowing to Aven much the same way as he did with Eve "It is a pleasure to meet you none the less Lord Aven" Even if asked he would persist in calling them such titles as it was something that he had been taught every day of his life until a certain event happened.

"I do not see the point in a leader" he said honestly to the question, they each obviously had their own set of skills that would be useful in certain situations so it wouldn't be a good idea to have a static leader as they could over rule what was actually in the best interests of the group. He was also concerned at the idea of Eve being leader given the episode that she had with her companion less than a few moments ago that made him question her sanity and who would trust her with something sharp, though he kept these thoughts to himself. "We have a balance and will each need our own specialities at one point or another, so I propose that we do not have a leader and we take charge as our own set of skills fit." he said calmly, he was charismatic when he needed to be, he was also cunning and intellegent, after all he learned how to fake emotions and staying one step ahead was his only method of survival for the longest time.

Word Count: 697
Total word count: 1'395/1'666

"My name is Delta.  I am not a little fairy," the naiad said with a tinge of irritation in her voice.  It was barely a smidgen though and nothing of notice unless somebody carefully analyzed her voice and all of its accompanying undertones.  "Also, I object very strongly to Soup being the leader.  She is incompetent and even if it is proven that you all are more so,
I will stand by my decision that it would be unwise to allow her to take the reins of this operation.  We will co-execute this assignment if it is necessary."  The pale haired faerie fell silent to at least give the illusion of manners as Ruvel began speaking.  She made no comment about his timing but finally spoke when he seemed to be finished, at least temporarily.

"He just doesn't want you to be the leader,"  Delta snarked at her friend, who blew a breath of frustruation out of his nose.  "For someone who always sounds so reserved and polite, you honestly have absolutely no filter, Delta.  Anyway, you have no place to say what Ruvel desires anyway."  "You're repeating yourself."  "Let's just go already," Eve shook her head at the sprite's words.  "We don't need a formal leader.  We just need to get started.  As I said before,"  "Ruvel certainly wants to get started.  He's simply itching to go, or is that to leave?" Delta prodded in that same monotone that she had been speaking in for the past... ever.  

"Okay, you're no help then.  As I was saying before, I am going to go to the private airport terminal here in Rose Garden.  I do happen to know the way, but if anyone is extremely familiar with the area then they are of course free to proceed; shortcuts are very welcome."  If nobody spoke up very quickly, she would simply head on across the city to the correct location, going along the road without a particularly striking or notable scenery to see on the way.  It was the most direct route one could take without cutting corners, so to speak.  If indeed someone else had a path in mind, Eve would follow enough paces behind to give them personal space while still tagging closely.

Aven nodded graciously. "That sounds like a fair plan. Lead the way, Miss Eve." He followed close behind as Evelyn took them nearer and nearer to their target location, the clack of his footsteps slowly fading into obscurity as he began to roll his heels, silencing the hard soles of his dress shoes. They arrived shortly, Aven keeping low and out of sight. He could feel the tension start to rise in the air, and sure enough, there were at least ten armed guards around a large machine, the likes of which Aven had never seen. It was armed to the teeth with guns, missiles, and other various weaponry, looking as though it requires many hands to operate. Not only that, but Aven spotted a magic engraving on the hull, the syntax of which pointed to a barrier spell. They seemed to be prepping the aircraft for takeoff, scrambling around, loading various boxes of cargo and scouting the surrounding area. One guard could be seen approaching their location, a bit lazily compared to the other members.

Aven crouched behind the wall, turning back to Ruvel, Eve, and Delta. "If that aircraft gets off the ground before we deal with the grunts, we'll be in deep trouble. I do, however, have a plan to take that thing out, if I can just get a circle on that hull. For that purpose, I'm going to make a beeline to the aircraft the moment the battle starts. From there, we can pincer their forces and take them out."

[688 + 256 = 944/1666 words.]