The Day a Lion Became a Sabertooth

The Solitaire's mind was still in a whirl, still trying to fight off nerves that he'd never felt before. Hell, he'd chatted up more girls in one night than most men might achieve in a lifetime, yet that was nothing compared to the hurdle he was about to jump now; the jump from a life of virtual solitary as a mercenary, to one of a guildmember with some level of dedication to someone or something much larger than himself. It was, in all honesty, quite frightening. What was more, he'd most likely know very few people there with the exception of Zenshin and Ian whom he'd worked with. He was probably a somewhat familiar face seeing as how he'd recently been named a 'Rising Star' of Fiore, and how both a member and their guildmaster had worked with him.

Marick mentally slapped himself. Get it together...this is for the best. Perhaps the idea of leaving Hidate behind was unnerving. Perhaps the way Matabei had taken the news had left him feeling guilty. Whatever it was that was niggling at him, he had to put it to the back of his mind now. He walked towards a building, one that he knew was the old Sabertooth Guildhall. In the foyer would be a teleportation lacrima that would take him to the new Guildhall, where he would meet his new guildmates...or perhaps 'first guildmates' would be a better way of putting it? He walked to the large doors of the old guildhall and pushed them open, before walking directly up the steps of the foyer to the balcony. The next few moments would pass by in a haze of colour.

~

Finally everything seemed to re-assert itself. Marick was now stood directly in the center of some kind of a platform. He wasn't quite sure exactly where he was located, but what he did know was that he was now at Sabertooth's new guildhall; his new guildhall. He exhaled and let out a long sigh "Well Marick...welcome to Sabertooth..." he muttered, before taking a proper glance around. He was quite clearly in the air, and by some way. There were clouds all around him, and the air was a little fresher, albeit thinner up here. However, as he hadn't been here before, he had absolutely no clue on where he should go.

Ryo had just finished settling in to his own private abode in the Sabertooth guild hall. He was supposed to go on his way to meet his new Guildmate Ian for some mission or another, but he wasn't in any particular hurry. He was much too busy feeling the spot on his neck where his guild tattoo now rested on his skin marking him as a member of Sabertooth. He was beyond excited and now he could show Zenshin that he didn't make a mistake letting Ryo join the guild.

As Ryo walked through the guild's main building his spurs made their rather echoing clicking sound as they always have. Only this time now that Ryo was a member of Sabertooth he didn't feel so oppressed by the sound. Instead he felt right at home among the pillars, walls, and rooms of his Guild hall. He certainly had a jaunt in his step and a smile on his face with his excitement. He walked out of the main guild's building and across the bridge that lead to the platform he had appeared on when he first arrived.

Much to his surprise however there was now someone standing there looking newly arrived. Ryo walked up to him with a casual stride, but a warm feeling about him. Ryo stopped and tipped his hat to the stranger in polite greeting "Well hello there. Welcome to the Sabertooth Guild hall. My name's Ryo. Are you looking to join Sabertooth?" he asked politely as he could while his eyes assessed the mage standing before him. Ryo was wearing his usual get up, however his hat was now black, and on the front of it was the Sabertooth emblem as a sort of hat band decoration. His blood red Sabertooth guild tattoo plainly visible on his neck not hidden by his shirt, and duster collar.

"Well hello there. Welcome to the Sabertooth Guild hall. My name's Ryo. Are you looking to join Sabertooth?"

The sudden voice from out of nowhere was enough to catch the Solitaire's attention as he wheeled around. The owner of the voice was a young man, probably somewhere between eighteen or twenty if Marick had to take a guess, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He appeared to be well built, and would probably be able to handle himself in a brawl. His clothing was covered in various card-based motif's something which made Marick smile. This must have been the card mage that Zenshin had mentioned during their job together.

"My name is Marick. I am indeed here to join Sabertooth." He was about to ask where Zenshin was when he saw the Sabertooth guildmaster walking in their direction. "Welcome to the guild Marick, what do you think? And! It looks like my two card mages have finally met in person." It seemed Marick's assumptions were correct. This 'Ryo' kid was a fellow card user although, from the number of deck boxes on his person, he had a slightly different type of card magic to Marick's. "It's always a pleasure to meet a fellow card enthusiast. As for the guild, it's certainly impressive. You're just full of surprises aren't you?" he replied with a grin. All inhibitions about being here were slowly beginning to leave him...thankfully.

Ryo smiled as he learned the new comer's name. It was always a treat to learn people's names, and seeing as he was going to be a member of Sabertooth it was all the more potent that Ryo learn his name as soon as he could. Ryo committed the name to memory with a nod of his hatted head. He was about to say more when he heard Zenshin come up behind them. He turned to look at his Guild master. He tipped his hat to him smiling. He was about to speak when Zenshin let the cat out of the bag and said that Marick was also a card mage. Ryo looked to Marick with new eyes assessing him and trying to determine his stance. Ryo was sure that his card magic was different so no one could call him a copy cat, but he couldn't help but think that Marick might have magic to teach him.

He smiled as Marick continued the introduction. Ryo nodded his head in agreement "The pleasure is as much mine as it is yours. I look forward to working with you in the future." He smiled and looked to them both before he took his hat off and bowed his head "I am sorry I must depart so soon, but Ian is waiting for me so we can do a job. Marick it was an honor to meet you, and I look forward to working with you. Zenshin always a pleasure." He put his hat back on his head and stepped on the lacrima circle again leaving the pair alone on the platform.

[Exit Thread]

Marick took a look at his surroundings, left alone again but this time with some level of direction at least. Ryo had seemed like a good young man with a lot of promise. Perhaps Marick could teach him a few things in future, and perhaps even learn one or two things himself. Whatever the case, he certainly looked forward to speaking with the younger card mage again.

Then of course there was Zenshin, optimistic as ever but also seemingly rather busy, much to the Saint's apparent disappointment. Still, much as there was a lot of work for a guildmaster, Marick couldn't wait to start learning about it all. As odd as this was all going to be for him, and as bad as he felt for Matabei, this was still going to be an enjoyable time for him. For now though he began to walk towards the guild's rooms to find one his place of rest, besides the guild's bar of course.

Today was the day that he became a member of Sabertooth, and it would be a day remembered forever in his mind.

~End