A Fortunate Run In

Victoria sat on the counter at the tavern, an annoyed expression on her face. The airship was not moving today, thanks god, but she hadn't went on a job for quite a lot of time. She needed to catch up a bit, but she was feeling rather lazy lately. It wasn't like the job of an Ace was getting her all tired or anything similar, just the whole atmosphere. She hadn't talked to people in a lot of time, she was practically all the time out, either in the Cursed Lands or on jobs. When she was in Nox Animus, she either spent time in the tavern or at home. She took a hand over her mouth and yawned, then but her hand back down and turned back to look at Meinu, the bar worker. ''Put me a glass of my usual, Meinu.'' Victoria said, her voice annoyed. She jumped off of the counter, her white dress falling perfectly around her. She stretched out her hands and looked around. Meinu gave her her glass of Liqueur and Victoria took it. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she walked to a table she hadn't noticed that was occupied and sat down, letting her glass on it. Barely when she looked up she noticed there a handsome guy sitting in front of her. '' Oi, Sorry, I didn't notice you. Was this place taken?'' She asked, taking her glass, ready to get up if needed.

Today wasn't really the most exciting day for Ethan. It seemed like life just sort of stopped like the ship had. The shipment he'd sent for was running late and the cafe didn't have any trouble keeping it up with the customers themselves. He didn't have anything to do at all so he figured he could break the pattern and do something he wouldn't usually do for a change. He grabbed a coat and hit the road. He kept walking around for a while until he noticed a sign for the local tavern. He had heard of it but hadn't had the time to check it out yet. He thought he might as well go inside. He walked up to the bar counter and tried to get the attention of the bartender "You wouldn't happen to know how to mix a toasted almond would you?" He just got a smile and was pointed to a table while he waited. The bartender eventually came with his drink and Ethan took a sip as he observed the atmosphere.

A Red haired woman approached him after a while and took a seat while seemingly not even noticing him. ''Oi, Sorry, I didn't notice you. Was this place taken?'' Ethan couldn't help but smile as she realised he was there "It's alright, really" He took a closer look at her and went speachless for a second as he realised she was very attractive but then regained his thoughts as he realised something. "Don't I know you from somewhere?"

Victoria was surprised that the guy's table wasn't occupied. She had thought that such a guy'd have a date he's waiting for, but it seemed that no. She tiled her head to one side with curiousity and arranged her white dress from under the table. '' Well, I will stay then, if it doesn't bother you.'' She smiled softly, which was truly unlike her, but hey, this night she was feeling in the mood to smile. She was curious to know from where did this guy know her. He was familiar to her too, now that she looked at him better. '' Hm, you are familiar to me too, to be honest. I am Victoria Anna Hunter, member of the Guild Nox Animus.'' A bright smile decorated her face once again. '' What's your name? Are you a mage or a citizen?''

Ethan was pretty happy to have gained some company for his lonely escapade. IT seemed she was rather curious of him as she tilted her head. '' Well, I will stay then, if it doesn't bother you.'' Ethan smiled again at the comment " I told you; It's alright " She was familiar for some reason but he couldn't remember where'd they could've met. '' Hm, you are familiar to me too, to be honest. I am Victoria Anna Hunter, member of the Guild Nox Animus.'' Of course, she had been present during the first gathering. She's another member of the guild. '' What's your name? Are you a mage or a citizen?''. Ethan raised his glass as he took another sip before answering. " The name's Ethan Ran Delt, I'm a mage and member of the guild just like you are " He had emptied his glass by now and smiled gently. "You'd think we'd know each other better after that big speach about unity and whatnot"

Victoria finally was hit by the fact that she knew him from the first day in the Guild. During Alexander's speech, she had glanced around to see her guildmates and she was certain that her eyes had landed on him. She was pretty interested on how come did she forget him so easily. Maybe the fact that she was most of the time not around the guild had led to that. Things were going to change now, though, considering she was an Ace and had to spend time around Alexander and help him with the exams and things he asked her for. However, today, she didn't want to think about that. ''The name's Ethan Ran Delt, I'm a mage and member of the guild just like you are " She smiled once again. This night she was smiling too much, but hey. Once in a while was also good.
'' Well, nice to meet you Ethan. I think I should've remembered you too from then.'' She took a sip and finished her drink.

'' Well, nice to meet you Ethan. I think I should've remembered you too from then.'' Ethan realising that they had both finished their drinks didn't really know what to say next but thought he could answer the question at least. "It's very nice to meet you as well, My day's been a bore to be honest but well i don't know...... I guess this would be a bright side?" He wasn't really used too talking to girls like this. He didn't know that much about her except her name and that they happened to be in the same guild. He was quite for a little while; trying to think of a topic. He thought he could might as well bring up whatever came to mind. "So, do you come here a lot? It's my first time here so i wouldn't know" He was getting a bit nervous but calmed himself down shortly and thought of something he should probably know "Anyway, just what sort of mage are you? That's another thing about you i don't know"

Victoria slid her fingers on the table slowly left and right. Her drink was long gone, and she was actually willing to get another one, but she prefered not giving her guildmates a look into her bad sides. Well, they'd eventually see it, but she prefered Ethan not seeing it now. ''It's very nice to meet you as well, My day's been a bore to be honest but well i don't know...... I guess this would be a bright side?'' He said. Victoria looked up and nodded, her face calm. '' So, do you come here a lot? It's my first time here so i wouldn't know.'' She noticed he was a bit nervous, but he calmed down quickly after that. Victoria was surprised that he could control his nervousness so quickly.
'' Yeah, I do. I actually own the tavern, so I gotta be around to control things a bit.'' Victoria explained putting her head on her hand.
'' Anyway, just what sort of mage are you? That's another thing about you i don't know'' He asked. Victoria remembered she doesn't know his magic either.
'' I am the Thunder God Slayer, although I have a Dragon Slayer Lacrima too. What about you? I don't know your magic either.'' She said, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

' Yeah, I do. I actually own the tavern, so I gotta be around to control things a bit.'' Ethan's eyes widened as he took a look around the building. "It's all yours? What a coincidence, I run a cafe further up the road" He went quiet for a bit as he realised it might seem strange that he wasn't actually over there. "They don't really need me over there right now, not exactly a busy day. So I thought i'd take a walk and found myself here" He also happened to notice that the tavern didn't seem to be busy either with only a handfull of people around. '' I am the Thunder God Slayer, although I have a Dragon Slayer Lacrima too. What about you? I don't know your magic either.'' She was appearently very curious of him as he saw how she looked at him while asking the question. He could also not help smiling as he realised he might have met someone like himself. "A God Slayer you say? That makes 2 of us. He straightaned himself in his seat "Tell me, is your......caretaker also VERY eccentric?" He couldn't imagine what she had went through in the care of a god when he himself knew exactly how terrible it could be.

Victoria was surprised that he owned the café. She had went there a few times and all that she could say is that the coffee is incredible. She loved it, and usually went there when she was too busy and couldn't actually stay at home and make herself a coffee. '' Oh, the café is yours? Interesting. I love the coffee there, to be honest.'' She smiled. ''"They don't really need me over there right now, not exactly a busy day. So I thought i'd take a walk and found myself here'' He said and Victoria let out a soft laugh. She wasn't really needed here either, but there was one particular reason why she was around. '' I'm not quite needed here either, but trust me. If I am not around the bargirl will try to flirt with everyone and won't do her job.'' Victoria giggled and threw a look at Meinu, who was puring some alcohol to a guy at the counter.
"A God Slayer you say? That makes 2 of us.'' Victoria was surprised to know that Ethan was a God Slayer too, and was pretty amazed that she hadn't noticed it. "Tell me, is your......caretaker also VERY eccentric?" Victoria looked down after this one. Raijin hadn't treated her bad at all. ''Well, he kidnapped me after I ran out of home and at the begining treated me miserably, because I was weak. But then he actually began treating me better until he became something like a father to me, since I began understanding him better.'' She explained. It was true that at first Raijin hated her, but then he accepted her as a daughter. '' What kind of God Slayer are you? Did your Caretaker treat you terribly?''

He couldn't help but blush a little as she spoke so well of the cafè. He hadn't really expected it to become such a big deal when he opened it to begin with.  " I'm not quite needed here either, but trust me. If I am not around the bargirl will try to flirt with everyone and won't do her job.'' She suddenly leered at the bartender serving another customer and Ethan couldn't help but laugh a little at the sight. She also seemed surprised to find that he was a God Slayer, not that he blamed her. The very nature of it made it extremely rare. She started telling him the story of how she came across it as he asked about her "Caretaker". ''Well, he kidnapped me after I ran out of home and at the begining treated me miserably, because I was weak. But then he actually began treating me better until he became something like a father to me, since I began understanding him better. He understood it was something of a progressed relationship. '' What kind of God Slayer are you? Did your Caretaker treat you terribly?'' He took a deep breath as he realised he could at least share his own story. "It's not that she treated me horribly, she just had trouble adjusting sometimes....." His expression darkened a little as he kept going. "You see; she took me in when I was orphaned and offered to take care of me. She raised me as well as she could while teaching me magic and it went very well. The only problem was that she never got accustomed to me being mortal. She could leave me in places due to work and return 2 weeks later to find me starved and half dead." He took another deep breath after the longer explanation.

"It's not that she treated me horribly, she just had trouble adjusting sometimes....." Victoria noticed his face darkened as he kept going. A worried expression took over her face as she looked at Ethan. "You see; she took me in when I was orphaned and offered to take care of me. She raised me as well as she could while teaching me magic and it went very well. The only problem was that she never got accustomed to me being mortal. She could leave me in places due to work and return 2 weeks later to find me starved and half dead." She bit her lip. She hadn't met any other God Slayers lately, though she knew there were quite a lot in Nox Animus, but then again, she hadn't talked to them. She had no idea how the Gods had taken care of the other God Slayers, but by hearing Ethan's story, she understood that actually she could be considered pretty lucky for having Raijin as a caretaker and having him treat her so well.
''I... you must have suffered a lot. I can't say I know how it is because I don't. Raijin always treated me well, though he tended to forget I have limits, or if he did remember, he tried to make me go over my limits, expand my limits... He hated weaklings and people with Limits.'' The Thunder God Slayer finished shrugging. She looked at her glass and got up. '' Well, considering the fact that the Tavern will close doors after a few minutes, wanna go out? We could have a walk around and continue talking, since you truly seem like an interesting person to have around, and I am willing to know some more things about you, if you don't mind, that is. I'm sure the bargirl will manage to lock the door and avoid flirting with everyone because if she does that I will kick her out. '' That last sentence was said louder so that the bargirl could hear it. A terrified expression spread on her face as she watched the Thunder God Slayer smile at her.

''I... you must have suffered a lot. I can't say I know how it is because I don't. Raijin always treated me well, though he tended to forget I have limits, or if he did remember, he tried to make me go over my limits, expand my limits... He hated weaklings and people with Limits.'' He realised he might have overdone it while telling her about it even though "She" had left him for two weeks in a swamp once. '' Well, considering the fact that the Tavern will close doors after a few minutes, wanna go out? We could have a walk around and continue talking, since you truly seem like an interesting person to have around, and I am willing to know some more things about you, if you don't mind, that is. I'm sure the bargirl will manage to lock the door and avoid flirting with everyone because if she does that I will kick her out. '' Victoria gave the girl tending the bar a dark look as she said so and you could see she was scared out of her mind. He laughed out loud at the sight of the scene but the laughter died quickly as he thought he's take her up on her offer. "You're pretty interesting yourself, I'l join you if you'l have me" He raised from his seat as he approached, opened and held the door. "You coming?"

Victoria left the tavern with Ethan, throwing the bar worker one last dark look before looking forward. It was a precious night in Noximus. The moon was shining, and considering the guild was flying in the air, it seemed a lot closer than if you looked at it from the ground. The city was silent since pretty much everyone was already in their own house or still at work, or maybe sleeping. Important thing is that pretty much nobody was around. As Vicyotia walked, her high heels made a slight sound on the ground beyond her. She took her hands to her shoulders as the chilly air hit her bare arms. She looked up at the stars and smiled. Then she turned at Ethan. '' So, you still haven't told me what type of God Slayer you are.'' She pointed out with a small smile.

Ethan had left the tavern with Victoria and could only enjoy the atmosphere. Not a sound could be heard but their own footsteps echoing througout the street. The stars was fully visible from their standing but was interrupted in his thoughts as Victoria suddenly shrugged. She turned to the stars like he had a second ago before turning to him with a faint smile on her face '' So, you still haven't told me what type of God Slayer you are.'' As she broke the silence he realised she was right but thought he could at least demonstrate while he was at it. "Sure, just put this on for a second" He pulled of his coat and handed it to her. "You need it more than me" Wearing a black short sleeved shirt he got on his knees and picked up a small rock. He clenched his fist as he held it for a second before opening his hand to reveal the now pitch black rock. It gradually got smaller until it completely disappeared leaving only some grains of black dust which flew of with the end. "I'm Venom and i have to say it's very convenient, I don't get motion sick like the rest of you"

Victoria gladly took the jacket and put it around her pale shoulders. '' Thank you. I didn't think it would be so cold and I went out with this dress. Obvioualy, I made a big error there.'' She smiled with gratitude and looked at Ethan make a demonstration of his magic. The Venom God Slayer? She was certainly amazed. She had never met even a Poison Dragon Slayer, but she heard that they are incredibly powerful, and the Venom God Slayers took God Slayer magic to an entirely different level. Then he mentioned he doesn't get as much motion sickness as the others, and Victori alaughed slightly. '' Actually, God Slayers don't get motion sickness. I don't get motion sickness because of my God Slayer magic.'' She finished and took a piece of shadows and dropped it into her mouth. '' It's my Shadow Dragon Slayer lacrima that gives me motion sickness.'' She finished, grinning.

'' Thank you. I didn't think it would be so cold and I went out with this dress. Obviously, I made a big error there.'' She gladly accepted his coat and put it over her shoulders. "Well I can't get sick so you'l have better use of it" He performed his demonstration. Ethan felt good being able to just show of his powers a bit and Victoria seemed impressed to say the least. He knew his magic was rare and enjoyed meeting with someone of the same kind as himself. He bragged a little about how he didn't have motion sickness but was met with laughter this time. '' Actually, God Slayers don't get motion sickness. I don't get motion sickness because of my God Slayer magic.'' Ethan was suddenly very embarassed over the statement "W-we're not?" He suddenly thought back to distant days when he was assured how special he was and the motion sickness had been used as a prime example. He now realised he'd been made a fool for so long. "It seems i've been lied too..." Then Victoria seemingly grabbed a shadow of a building; then eating it'' It's my Shadow Dragon Slayer lacrima that gives me motion sickness.'' Ethan tried to make sense of it all for a second until he remembered hearing about this before. "So you're a Thunder God Slayer AND a Shadow Dragon Slayer, you're just full of surprises aren't you?" She smiled at him and he just couldn't help but smile back.

Victoria tiled her head to the left as she heard that Ethan had been lied about the God Slayers having Motion Sickness. She was weirded out by the fact, but she decided to let it go and concentrate on talking to Ethan. He then stated that she was full of surprises and smiled. This smile made Victoria feel strange, in a way that she hadn't felt ever since she and Yukine broke up. And she immediately felt spread through her body. She had believed herself unbreakable, unable to fall again for someone, but then again, here she was, falling for Ethan slowly, yet progressively. She looked away and smiled, since she just couldn't avoid it, then looked back at Ethan. '' So tell me... your story, maybe? I am out of ideas what to ask. I have asked you pretty much everything important.... Well, do you have a girlfriend?'' She asked, grinning, trying to keep herself calm and funny.

Ethan couldn't feel more stupid at the moment as he had not only been so ignorant and as such being stupid, now he was openly admitting it too. What was wrong with him today? Why was he acting like this? He just couldn't think straight anymore. He was fine before, was it because of her?
He hadn't ever felt this way before. The way she smiled at him made his mind go blank and he had to concentrate to keep a straight face.  '' So tell me... your story, maybe? I am out of ideas what to ask. I have asked you pretty much everything important.... Well, do you have a girlfriend?'' He pretty much froze in place at the mention of the word "Girlfriend" and he had to take a minute to "reboot". He cleared his throat as he prepared himself mentally for answering her. "Well... I don't want to bore you so i'l give you the short version for now: I was orphaned when i was 9, I don't remember that much of anything before that. I found myself walking through the wilderness for who knows how long. I could barely stand yet walk after a while and I couldn't help but cry, then as i was about to fall over someone caught me. She wrapped her arms around me and just said "There Child, don't cry". I ended up doing so anyway as i was so happy that i didn't have to run anymore." He took a moment to breathe before he went on.

"Needless to say that person was my Mother; Vaermina. She took me in and raised me as her own. She really tried her best but she could be so clumsy, i had a hard time believing she was a God at times. " He smiled gently in remembrance of those days "That's pretty much everything" He blushed and tried to stare into the pitch black sky now as he tried to find the words. "And No, I don't have a girlfriend....." He kept cursing himself in his head for acting like he did to no avail.

Victoria sighed. Ethan had went through a horrible childhood, just like she had. His god had been good at moments too, and could be considered nice, if you forget the part in which she almost killed Ethan because she forgot he is mortal and needs to eat. Raijin was the same. She smiled as she remember the days she spent with the old man. '' Raijin was fun. He used to make a climbing competition. He always won, and I´d always arrive an hour after him. I was always mad, enraged that I lost, and tried to shoot him constantly, but he just ate the lightnings I shot at him and then he used to pet me as if I was his pet. But he cared, this is the important thing'' She looked up and smiled. Raijin could seem a total idiot sometimes, but he cared for her.
The answer to Victoria's question made her face go bright. And made her sigh at the same time. She looked up at the sky once again, cursing herself for falling so easily for people. She didn't know what to do right now, and she felt as if this is the same time in which she actually fell for someone. She looked back down and remained silent, since she had no idea what else to say, and she feared that she'd screw things up if she said something now.

It seemed they both had a lot in common concerning their background and simply terrible childhoods governed by Gods. After telling her he didn't have a girlfriend everything suddenly went quiet. No one of them spoke up as they just went on their way. Ethan stared into the distance as he tried to think of something to say, anything would do as long as it broke the silence. After a while he wasn't just scared of what to say but also if it would even be alright to say it. He didn't really have any experience in these kinds of situations and was really nervous as to what he should do. He eventually couldn't stand the silence anymore as he just decided to speak up. "So umm, this was nice...." After finally breaking through the silent night he felt safe in going on "Would you mind doing something like this again.....with me?" He had finally said it but was still very tense for the answer. There was no going back after asking something like that.

Victoria noticed that Ethan was uncomfortable. He then finally broke it, asking her if she'd like to repeat this sometime with him. She smiled, an honest smile and looked at him. She hadn't even noticed they had reached her house until a small, pink creature flew out of the window right into Victoria's face. She rose her hands and removed the cat from her face, and looked at Ethan with an apolgetic smile. '' Sorry about this. He tends to do this. This is Catsume Catspian, my exceed.'' She introduced the kitty, holding him in her hands. Catsu rose a paw and greeted Ethan. '' I'm Catsu, Aye!'' He was just too cute. Victoria placed him on her head and looked at Ethan. '' It was certainly an interesting night, Ethan. I'd love to repeat it sometimes. And well, see you at the Guild, I guess...''
The things Victoria did next were the reasons she cursed herself for atleast half of an hour after she did them. She leaned forward and kissed Ethan, an instict that pushed her to do it, but when she realised what she was doing, she quickly pulled away, almost red as her hair, and put her hands on her mouth. '' Sorry, I don't kn-know what got into me.'' She said, her voice shaking.

Ethan still felt a bit tense as he had finally broken the silence but he wasn't expecting what happened then. Something pink flew out the window and stuck to Victoria's face. He didn't really get a good look at it but had a feeling it wasn't anything dangerous. She pulled it off her face and smiled at him as she held him up. It was just a pink cat, not that pink cats are normal. '' Sorry about this. He tends to do this. This is Catsume Catspian, my exceed.'' Ethan's eyes widened at the comment and stared at the little guy. "So this is an exceed.... I've heard a lot about them." He suddenly waved at him and yelled "I'm Catsu, Aye" Ethan could only marvel as everything he knew about the exceed turned out to be true as it spoke. He waved himself in response to Catsu's greeting "Hey there little guy, i'm Ethan" She then put him on her head where he made himself cozy as she answered Ethan's earlier question. '' It was certainly an interesting night, Ethan. I'd love to repeat it sometimes. And well, see you at the Guild, I guess...'' Ethan was now at ease as she had agreed to meeting up again. "Yeah, i'l see you around then" He felt relaxed as he had gotten it off his chest and that she agreed at that but he couldn't possibly have foreseen what waas coming next as she suddenly leaned forward and pressed her lips against his own. She suddenlt pulled away and blushed in a way that her face actually matched her hair. '' Sorry, I don't kn-know what got into me.'' Ethan blushed as well at the sudden occurence and didn't really know what to say "I-i'ts aa.... ummmm...."

Victoria looked down and Catsu almost fell form her head. She had screwed it up, as usual. She took a deep breath and calmed down, her face was calm and didn't express anything in particular. The only sign that she was still nervous is the blush on her face, that had faded to pink. She took Catsu in her hand and pet him, the poor kitten had hit its head slightly. SHe looked at her house and took out the keys. '' Well, sorry, once again, I have no idea what has gotten into me. I will be going now. I am looking forward to our next meeting, Ethan Ran Delt.'' She said calmly and turned around. Then she remembered she still had his jacket.
She let the jacket slip from her shoulders and caught it, handing it to Ethan.

He couldn't find words for what had just transpired and Victoria seemed as nervous as him. She suddenly took on a straight face but he could clearly see she was still blushing. She grabbed Catsu and petted him for a bit with an apologetic look. She then turned to her house and brought out her keys '' Well, sorry, once again, I have no idea what has gotten into me. I will be going now. I am looking forward to our next meeting, Ethan Ran Delt.'' Ethan finally got back to his senses and coughed a bit before answering. "It's alright and so am I, looking forward to it that is" She turned around and let his coat fall of as she catch it and hand it over to him. He just smiles and turns around without accepting it. "I don't need it right now, You can always return it later" He start walking away a bit concerned if he should have done that. Considering that she'd give it back he'd ensure meeting her again but if not..... that's his favorite coat. He eventually shrugs at the thought, it's just a coat.

~A couple of days later~

Victoria walked to the arena, in an incredibly bad mood. It had been a few days since her and Ethan's encounter, and ever since then she was in a fairly bad mood and refused to go to the tavern. Catsu was the one sending Meinu warnings through letters written by Victoria. She limited herself at staying at home, beating monster butts on jobs and training. She didn't want to return to the guild for the timebeing, she just wanted to give her mind a rest from everything. She began running her 45 minutes marathon, as usual, her scythe slightly hitting her back. When she finished the marathon, she began practicing with her scythe, all the anger she had been accumulating these days combining with her scythe abilities created a very destructive combination. It's not necessary saying that she practically destroyed 12 training dummies without using magic. In 5 minutes.
She then moved on to the katanas that were waiting for her. However, as she turned around to take them, she met up with a face she tried to avoid for the timebeing.

Vika's appearance: