Chapter 6- Brooke and the Angel Tear

[junkuroki]

Lily~

As the first rays of the golden sun graced the previously inky sky, Jun began her morning with a yawn, opening her mouth so widely a fleet of flies could have flown in without any major problems.

After closing her mouth, which was fortunately free of flies, she went to the shower and freshened up, coming out smelling like a lemon this time.

She looked at the time. 06:10

Deciding that it was still too early to go down to the lobby yet, Jun took out her journal and started writing. When she finished, she checked her watch again.

06:45

"Alrighty then. Let's go." She muttered and rubbed her eyes, and slung the leather straps holding Tien Nu and its sheath across her torso.

When she made her way to the lobby on the first floor, she saw that she wasn't the first one there.

"Morning, Reese." She approached the figure and greeted him lowly with dull eyes, feeling the after effects of tossing and turning on the strange bed.

[junkuroki]

Ani~

Stardust slipped into her newly pressed white beater and hoisted her black pants up to her waist. Her wet bangs brushed her eyes occassionally whenever she dips her head, earning a reflexive stroke of hands from her eyes everytime she did so.

/Just brush it back and it'll all be all right./ Diwata mumbled.

After a few while, Stardust strode out of the guestroom. She didn't feel that energized, merely because she hadn't taken dinner. A single sandwich at the kitchen shack would nicely do. Pressing the elevator's button, it gave out a chiming sound and opened for her to step in.

Stardust sighed and stepped out in the first floor. She could see woman's silhoutte at the end of the hallway together with a darker figure. It only took a few steps for her to recognize that it was just Jun and Reese. Looking from Reese to Jun, she quietly sat on one of the couch, hoping to see one of the maids pass by.

[junkuroki]

Auria~

"Morning, Reese." Reese heard Jun say.

He didn't bother looking up, much less greeting the woman.

Good morning indeed.

He pulled his hat low, willing away the knot in his throat.

[junkuroki]

Ash~

Blaze let out a small gasp as she felt arms surround her waist.

"Guess who?" A familiar rough voice said.

"Arson." Blaze turned around slowly, her voice choked wih fear. "You.. you're supposed to be in jail... You're not allowed within a two mile radius of me." her whole body was shivering.

"No one has to know." He said seconds before forcing his mouth onto hers. She feebly tried to break free but he was too strong. He had always been too strong. His synthetic hand found its way up her shirt.

Not again... please! Not... again.

"Blaze!...BLAZE!"

Blaze lurched foward from her bed, sweat dripping from her face. The covers slid down her body as she wiped her face with the back of her hands. Wolfe stared at her curiously.

"Wha- what are you doing in here?" Blaze panted.

"It's 7:00 already. I came to wake you and the door was open so I-"

"What are you doing in here?!? I'M NOT DRESSED!!!" Blaze screeched and scrambled for her tanktop.

"Whoa. Whoa. Okay." Wolfe held up his hands in self defense and backed out of her room, almost tripping over a shredded "innocent angel" shirt. Blaze slid her tanktop and outerwear shirt over her bra and went outside fully clothed. She nodded to Wolfe who was leaning against the wall.

"So who's Arson?" Wolfe asked casually in the elevator. Blaze's mind froze and she flinched. How much had he heard?

"uh.. never mind." Wolfe stuttered quickly. She ignored him and walked out of the elevator as it came to a stop.

"Sorry I'm late." Blaze told the three on the couch automatically, realizing that for one of the first times in her life she was not late.

[junkuroki]

GC~

“I’m shaving in the bathroom, yes shaving in the bathroom.” Gone sang as he shaved the next morning. “I’m not going to nick my chim, no way, I’m not going to cut my chin, nu- DAMMIT!” Gone shouted as he nicked a tiny cut on the tip of his chin.

Gone muttered angrily as he finished getting dressed. Stupid things, he bet that razor had something against him; he bet it had wanted him to hurt, had secretly planned it all night. He bet he was crazy. Gone ran a hand through his still damp hair, as he left his room and started down to the kitchen for some morning eats.

He came to the room with Jun, Stardie, and Reese, all sitting there looking morose. “So, why so glum chums? You all need a dose of cheerful charms.”

Gone then mimed exaggeratedly, shooting them with Cupid’s arrows of cheer, acting like James Bond on crack. Then once he finished his little ‘act’ he sauntered into the kitchen nonchalantly.

“Morning, Darla, love, how are you this fine fine morning?” He asked cheerfully, wincing slightly as he gingerly sat down. But not even a sore butt could keep him down today, he thought grinning as a huge plate of breakfast foods was placed before him. He ate it with a relish. He was always cheerful after a good night’s rest.

[junkuroki]

Bun~

Tomoe opened her eyes sleepily and slid out from beneath the warm covers she had piled over herself the night before. Her black hair had fallen out of its pigtails, a mass of black about her bare shoulders. She had crept into the nearest empty bedroom last night, disrobed, and fallen into bed asleep. It had been a long day, and now, it was a brand-new morning, and........

Her amber eyes traveled over to the digital clock on the wall above the door, and she gasped.

It's 7:10?!?! Tomoe sat up straight, pushing her hair out of her eyes. "Oh, crap!!" She dived for her clothes--someone had gone into the room while she was sleeping and washed them, and left them at the foot of her bed afterwards--and tried to straighten out her hair at the same time. She had just managed to pull on her black suit when her bedroom door opened. Tomoe whirled around, her jacket in one hand, facing whoever had decided to come in.

..........!!

[junkuroki]

Ani~

/The food won't come to you, Stardust. Just go to the kitchen./

That's what I'm doing. I know.

Stardust pushed herself up the couch to make her way towards the kitchen. It wasn't because she wanted the maids to serve her food but because it would just look rude to barge into someone's refrigerator and gobble. Maybe after she got her breakfast, the others would be here by then--not to mention Brooke.

"Good morning." Darla's face welcomed her as soon as she stepped into the kitchen. She was holding an empty bowl and was heading towards a small partition at the back where the sink was. Several maids were busy cooking something on the other side as well.

"Would you like a chowder too?" she inquired, gesturing at a ponytailed guy with a red hair sitting at the very corner of the long dining table. It was Gone. He seemed to be too preoccupied to notice her.

"Uhm...no." Stardust replied. "Thanks, but I think I'll just have a sandwich."

"Tuna or chicken?" Brooke's maid made her way at the back. Stardust could still see her through the open counter that pretty much resembled the counters of Balamb Garden's cafeteria. And now that she had thought about it, this Darla had a slight resemblance from the Cafeteria lady.

"Chicken," she said, striding over to the counter to get her sandwich. Darla closed the fairly sized refrigerator after pulling out a ready-made sandwich wrapped in a tight plastic cover.

"Here you go." She beamed at Stardust and placed the sandwich down the counter.

"Thank you," she muttered, then took the sandwich. After she finished it, she expect to see the others in the living room.

/Right eat up, then remind yourself to get your weapon afterwards./ Diwata mumbled.

Stardust paused. That was right. She almost forgot. Ciceronian...

[junkuroki]

Fox~

Alaxia slowly opened her eyes. She turned to the clock that rested on the side of the dresser 7:20 "Crap!" Alaxia Jumped out of the bed and quickly got dressed.
She opened her room door And saw most of her teammates still getting ready. Good I'm not late.

Alaxia Closed her door and headed to her window to greet the day. She moved the curtains and unlaced the latch. She looked straight out. "What a beautiful day" she looked up at the sky and her eyes slowly drifted down. Were her brother laid "ALAXZANDER!!!!!!!!!!!" Alaxia yelled as she quickly rased down stairs running in to people not caring who they were and making her what down to his body.

[junkuroki]

Lily~

Reese pulled his hat down to cover even more of his face.

I guess that's his way of saying "Good morning" then. She thought distractedly, mumbling another greeting at Stardust when she sat at the couch.

"Sorry I'm late." Blaze showed up next, with Wolfe tagging after her.

"You're not." Jun muttered, sinking deeper in her seat as she glanced at her watch. "Although I can't say the same for some others. Won't be surprised if they're still asl--"

"So, why so glum chums? You all need a dose of cheerful charms.” Gone's irritatingly bright voice burst out at them. Then he started making a complete ass of himself by impersonating a Chicken-man on Viagra, or something, she didn't know what.

She shut her eyes quickly to avoid further escalation of her irritation levels.

I can't take this anymore! Stop stop stop stop stop or I'll sic Tien Nu on you! Grrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!

She was relieved to find him gone when she re-opened her eyes.

"So... Anyone has a suggestion how to get out of here?" She looked at the ones still in the lobby. "Might as well throw around some ideas while we wait."

[junkuroki]

Auria~

Zacke rode the elevator down to the first floor and discovered most of the team to be up and about already. Except for Tomoe, who was usually the punctual type...

/Oh, c'mon, you just want an excuse to see her./ Iris commented dryly.

Zacke snickered, turning around. I don't need excuses.

/Zacke Mercutio go get something to eat./

Ehh, not that hungry.

/You're always hungry!/

Zacke stepped out of the elevator at the third floor and glanced around for a maid. I have to make sure she's okay! The bed could have swallowed her!!

Though he couldn't see it, Iris' smoky black eyes were rolling. /Oh yes, you must rescue the fair maiden from it's fluffy jaws of doom./ Zacke snickered. /Not that Tomoe is fair./ Iris added.

Zacke turned the corner and spotted a maid. You know, you're right, fair isn't very accurate. More like flawless... he replied mentally. "Excuse me," the maid turned. "um, would you happen to know which room my friend stayed in? She has dark hair, kinda long, pigtails..."

The maid nodded and pointed down the corridor. "Five doors that way, on the eastern wall."

He smiled. "Thanks." he strode down the hallway, mentally counting the doors. Once he got to five he grabbed the doorknob and turned. Tomoe stood at the side of her bed, jacket gripped in one hand. Her eyes flashed like a deer caught in headlights.

Zacke's hands came up in front of him at Tomoe's alarmed look. "Whoa, whoa, just me." he lowered them.

"Err, maid told me a you'd be in this room. Came to, um, make sure you were up...since you're like..." he glanced up at the clock on the wall behind him. "About fifteen minutes late...err, but thats okay! I mean, you didn't miss much...well maybe breakfast, but I'm sure Darla could fix you up something fast...err, if you're hungry..."

/You're rambling./

He laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head. "Guess I should have knocked..." his hand dropped. "...well since you're up and everything should I escort you down to the first floor?"

/Oh Zackie, you're so smooth, kiss me!!/ Iris exclaimed sarcastically.

Talk to you later, darling. Zacke replied with trying patience and unjunctioned his GF

[junkuroki]

Auria~

It felt strange without the weight of Consequence on his left hip. Reese pushed himself away from the wall, pull his hat up a bit, and made for the kitchen.

He stopped on the doorway. "Where are our weapons?" he demanded of Darla.

The tone of his voice alarmed her slightly, but she seemed to shrug it off. "Miss Coroniere would probably know."

He growled in frustration. "Well where would the little bimbo be?!"

Darla's eyes widened. "She's probably not even awake yet. And your tone isn't very polite."

"Well I don't give a fvck what you think of my tone." Reese spat back angrily. "And who's waking this girl up anyway?! We have to get moving, if she's not up in five minutes I'm going to kick down her door and wake her up myself damnit!"

[junkuroki]

Ani~

“Oh, and another thing—“ Stardust was in the verge of asking Darla about their weapons when someone’s brisk, demanding voice cut her off. He seemed to alarm the nurse with the tone that he was using.

"Well I don't give a fuck what you think of my tone." She set her eyes on the doorway. Reese continued. "And who's waking this girl up anyway?! We have to get moving, if she's not up in five minutes I'm going to kick down her door and wake her up myself damnit!"

“Hey,” Stardust said from her post, pausing for a while until she caught his attention. “Calm down.”

She turned to Darla and spoke. “He’s right. We really are in a hurry here. Can you get Brooke and ask her about our weapons?” She stopped for a second. Was that right? Brooke was still asleep as of now? “If she wants to come with us that badly then she shouldn’t be sleeping like a primadonna. We got a lot of things to plan.”

[junkuroki]

Bun~

"Whoa, whoa, just me." Tomoe sighed as Zacke lowered his hands, and she subconsciously touched the tangled mass of sable that fell over her shoulder.

Great, and I look like this.......

"Err, maid told me a you'd be in this room. Came to, um, make sure you were up...since you're like...about fifteen minutes late...err, but that's okay! I mean, you didn't miss much...well maybe breakfast, but I'm sure Darla could fix you up something fast...err, if you're hungry..."

Tomoe shook her head, perhaps a little bit too quickly, before shrugging on her jacket. She heard Zacke laugh--was that nervousness in his chuckle?--and he spoke again. "Guess I should have knocked...well since you're up and everything should I escort you down to the first floor?"

Tomoe paused and raised her head to look up at him. "E-escort me?" she stammered. She dropped her jacket, flustered, and picked it up again. "But my hair...!!"

Oh, that sounded just wonderful.

"I mean--!!" Tomoe buried her flaming face into her jacket for a brief moment before looking back at Zacke. "Th-thank you.....I just have to....tie back my hair....."

.....I think he's secretly laughing at my idiocy

[junkuroki]

Auria~

Zacke couldn't help but grin when she hid her face behind her jacket. It wasn't something he thought Tomoe would ever do, but it was really cute.

"It's okay, take your time..." he said, moving over to sit on the foot of the bed. He realized he was still grinning and cleared his throat, straightening his face.

Such an idiot.

As soon as she finished tying up her hair, he stood. He approached the door and held it open for her as she stepped out. Windows lined one side of the hall, early morning sunshine spilling into the hallway and onto the rich red carpet.

He gave a big loud, obviously exaggerrated yawn and strecthed his arms up high. He let one fall down across Tomoe's shoulders.

"So," he leaned in, addressing her in a casual manner. "You've lived here. How do you think we'll be able to get out?"



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Reese tensed at Stardust's 'Calm down.' remark. He almost spat something nasty at her, but he managed to compose himself somewhat and bite his tongue just as she said 'He's right.'

Damn straight I am.

Darla began a response to Stardust. "I empathize with you guys, it must be rough on such a tight schedule, but you have to realize Brooke isn't used to--"

Reese's hand slammed into the doorway. He disappeared back into the living room before anyone could say anything. Darla flashed a dirty look at where he was standing, which quickly faded at the sound of Brooke's voice.

"What's all the fuss about?!" Brooke said loudly from down the hall.

"About time!!" Reese's voice barked.
"So I slept in fifteen minutes!! Don't have a baby over it." Brooke's voice retorted loudly just before she appeared in the kitchen doorway.

She wore leather, hot-pink low-riders with white boots, and a smart little white leather jacket. Pink cat-eye glasses rested on the tip of her nose, the front part of her brown curls pulled up into a clip. She flashed a dazzling grin.

"Good morning, everyone,"

[junkuroki]

Ash~

Blaze casually took a giant bite of an apple and chewed and swallowed noisily.

"Good morning, everyone," Brooke exclaimed when she entered the room. Blaze stared at her a moment before licking her finger and trying to rub a dark blood stain off her ripped pair of jeans.

"So, rich girl, how many turkeys died to provide you with your outfit?" she asked, reaching into her pocket for a piece of gum. Her hands brushed against a few splintered pieces of wood and her eyes landed on Reese.

My he looks joyful today. Well his pain causes me pleasure.