Murder Game IX: Right Hand of the Crimson Moon

[Gummi Bunnies]

"Who the hell is that guy?" One of the soldiers questioned, before another would reply to him quickly.

"Shoot first, ask questions later, punk!"

With that, the soldiers, along with one of the tanks, would focus most of their fire on Gilgamesh for the time being, emptying their machine guns at him, and the tank even shooting another explosive round right at the King of Heroes! With someone with as much firepower as he did alone, that should be enough... Right?

"T-That guy's on our side... Right?"

@Gen. Gwazi Senpai @Front Lines Settlement​

"Yeeeeah, he's on our side. Besides..."

Battler decided to make this move, considering that it was only Gilgamesh at the time to handle the opposing forces. Holding out his hand, Battler recited with the Red Truth to summon his golden broadsword.

"... I'll handle the frontlines as well."

Once said, the Sorcerer made his move as majority of the opposing forces were focused on Gilgamesh. All they would see was a trail of gold and some red before Battler would initiate the advancing attack, glowing arcs of red and gold could be seen as he dealt powerful blows to the soldiers that were in his range.

@Gen. Gwazi Senpai @Verite @Front Lines Settlement​

 

[Verite]

Frank examined the soldiers quietly for a few more seconds. "Yeah, I can. Let's move. Can't waste time." The old man moved as close to the guards as he felt was safe, moving between buildings as inconspicuously as he could manage... Then, gesturing to Kinuhata for the go ahead, he rushed forward and tried to put one of the guards in a strangle hold, relying on surprise more than anything. If he succeeded- and if Kinu got to the other guard before he could, you know, shoot the old man- he didn't wait for his target to fall unconscious. With a sudden, practiced movement that he'd done countless times, he would try to break his target's neck.

@Verite
@Kaykay​

Kinuhata did the same, snaking her way around to the guards before hopping out and attempting to simply cave his throat in with a punch.

@Verite @BarrenThin​

"Gu--kaagh!" The first soldier would attempt to yell out, before being promptly taken down by Frank.

"What the...?! Intru--!" The second would begin to yell out in alarm, before Kinuhata would proceed to take him down as well.

With that, it seemed that there wasn't much else blocking your path from the cabin... except for what seemed to be a console. Looked like before you could go on in, you'd have to find a way to get past it.

The small console quietly booted to life as you were both close to it, asking what seemed to be some sort of strange riddle:

"Alice's father has four children. Three of them were named Baba, Bebe, and Bibi. What was the name of the fourth child?"

Underneath, a small keypad would be accessible to the two of you.

@Kaykay @BarrenThin​

 

[Verite]

This is Murder Game Stealth on European Extreme difficulty, what the fuck do you think Robin is going to do?

If you guessed go around the whole thing to find more guards to strangle, then congratulations, you've taken your first step in learning how to play Murder Game Stealth on European Extreme difficulty.

@Gummi Bunnies @Verite @Bomb​

Ethel decided to take a left, rather then take the creepy way of Robin.

@The Tactician @Gummi Bunnies​

Robin would appear to find a soldier circling the shack in front of him. Fortunately, he had his back facing him, so if he were to take advantage of this situation, he'd be one step closer to finishing up this special segment of Murder Game Solid IX.

Meanwhile, Ethel would seem to bump into a soldier right up front! Uh oh.

"What the hell... You're an intruder! You won't get past me!" The soldier exclaimed, aiming his gun right at Ethel without hesitation, "Intruder alert! Intruder alert!"

With that, the soldier that had been in front of Robin would begin to make his way towards the scene in a rush. The tactician better make his move fast.

@The Tactician @Gummi Bunnies @Bomb @Hideout​

 

[Kaykay]

"Gu--kaagh!" The first soldier would attempt to yell out, before being promptly taken down by Frank.

"What the...?! Intru--!" The second would begin to yell out in alarm, before Kinuhata would proceed to take him down as well.

With that, it seemed that there wasn't much else blocking your path from the cabin... except for what seemed to be a console. Looked like before you could go on in, you'd have to find a way to get past it.

The small console quietly booted to life as you were both close to it, asking what seemed to be some sort of strange riddle:

"Alice's father has four children. Three of them were named Baba, Bebe, and Bibi. What was the name of the fourth child?"

Underneath, a small keypad would be accessible to the two of you.

@Kaykay @BarrenThin​

"Super good job," Kinuhata said to Frank before looking down at the console.

And input Alice.

C'mon, now.

@BarrenThin @Verite​

 

[Bomb]

Robin would appear to find a soldier circling the shack in front of him. Fortunately, he had his back facing him, so if he were to take advantage of this situation, he'd be one step closer to finishing up this special segment of Murder Game Solid IX.

Meanwhile, Ethel would seem to bump into a soldier right up front! Uh oh.

"What the hell... You're an intruder! You won't get past me!" The soldier exclaimed, aiming his gun right at Ethel without hesitation, "Intruder alert! Intruder alert!"

With that, the soldier that had been in front of Robin would begin to make his way towards the scene in a rush. The tactician better make his move fast.

@The Tactician @Gummi Bunnies @Bomb @Hideout​

"No, Ethel isn't an intruder." Ethel knew this situation was going to be shitty so Ethel had no choice but to quickly move and evade the gunshot.

Someone help her <3

@Gummi Bunnies @The Tactician @Verite​

 

[BarrenThin]

"Super good job," Kinuhata said to Frank before looking down at the console.

And input Alice.

C'mon, now.

@BarrenThin @Verite​

"Likewise." The riddle itself didn't even give him pause; it was pretty simple. The only real issue at this point would be staying undetected.

@Kaykay
@Verite​

 

[Verite]

"Super good job," Kinuhata said to Frank before looking down at the console.

And input Alice.

C'mon, now.

@BarrenThin @Verite​

"Likewise." The riddle itself didn't even give him pause; it was pretty simple. The only real issue at this point would be staying undetected.

@Kaykay
@Verite​

With that, the console would beep to confirm the answer. Fortunately, it wasn't loud enough to give away your position, and as the door would open, you would find yourself coming face to face with a number of ordinary citizens, most likely hostages captured by the soldiers outside. Most of them looked upon you, initially with fear that you might be the captives about to make a dangerous move, and then surprise. Luckily, it looked like they knew better than to yell out in glee, considering the noise that was going on outside, but they did begin to murmur to one another in their native language. If Frank knew any Russian, he'd mostly just be able to make out general questions and statements like "Are they here for us?" and "Who are these people?"

Among them, two girls would stick out from the rest, if only because they appeared more Japanese than Russian.

Exhibit A. An airheaded looking girl who didn't even seem to register your existence. Judging from her slightly rocking movements and breathing patterns, you could guess that she was either asleep or unconscious, despite the fact that her eyes were open. Kinuhata would, of course, recognize her as Rikou Takitsubo, the girl that Hamazura from earlier had been referring to.

Her expression was so dull, almost bored, that one could almost forget the amount of danger she was in.

Exhibit B. A younger girl that resembled Misaka physically, though she would appear to be much younger, somewhere around ten years of age biologically. From her mannerisms, you could deduce that she was rather sick at the moment, but ill with what, you couldn't really tell. Still, with all these girls running around that looked just like Misaka, she was bound to be as important as the other one(s), right?

"Who... Who are...?" The girl attempted to ask, though it would seem that her health was in such poor condition that she wouldn't be able to even finish her question, though you'd likely be able to get the gist of it.

@BarrenThin @Kaykay @Sneaking Settlement​

 

[BarrenThin]

With that, the console would beep to confirm the answer. Fortunately, it wasn't loud enough to give away your position, and as the door would open, you would find yourself coming face to face with a number of ordinary citizens, most likely hostages captured by the soldiers outside. Most of them looked upon you, initially with fear that you might be the captives about to make a dangerous move, and then surprise. Luckily, it looked like they knew better than to yell out in glee, considering the noise that was going on outside, but they did begin to murmur to one another in their native language. If Frank knew any Russian, he'd mostly just be able to make out general questions and statements like "Are they here for us?" and "Who are these people?"

Among them, two girls would stick out from the rest, if only because they appeared more Japanese than Russian.

Exhibit A. An airheaded looking girl who didn't even seem to register your existence. Judging from her slightly rocking movements and breathing patterns, you could guess that she was either asleep or unconscious, despite the fact that her eyes were open. Kinuhata would, of course, recognize her as Rikou Takitsubo, the girl that Hamazura from earlier had been referring to.

Her expression was so dull, almost bored, that one could almost forget the amount of danger she was in.

Exhibit B. A younger girl that resembled Misaka physically, though she would appear to be much younger, somewhere around ten years of age biologically. From her mannerisms, you could deduce that she was rather sick at the moment, but ill with what, you couldn't really tell. Still, with all these girls running around that looked just like Misaka, she was bound to be as important as the other one(s), right?

"Who... Who are...?" The girl attempted to ask, though it would seem that her health was in such poor condition that she wouldn't be able to even finish her question, though you'd likely be able to get the gist of it.

@BarrenThin @Kaykay @Sneaking Settlement​

Frank motioned for the hostages to be quiet, though he put on a smile that was as 'friendly grandpa' as he could manage to try and reassure them. Seeing the younger girl, he crouched down with a slightly grim look at her condition. "We're here to get you all out, okay?" He stage whispered in competent enough Russian, which was, funnily enough, one of the only foreign language he was any good at according to ComicVine, looking up at the others as he spoke. Though how they'd get this many people out unnoticed was beyond him. "Is anyone wounded?"

@Kaykay
@Verite​

 

[Kaykay]

With that, the console would beep to confirm the answer. Fortunately, it wasn't loud enough to give away your position, and as the door would open, you would find yourself coming face to face with a number of ordinary citizens, most likely hostages captured by the soldiers outside. Most of them looked upon you, initially with fear that you might be the captives about to make a dangerous move, and then surprise. Luckily, it looked like they knew better than to yell out in glee, considering the noise that was going on outside, but they did begin to murmur to one another in their native language. If Frank knew any Russian, he'd mostly just be able to make out general questions and statements like "Are they here for us?" and "Who are these people?"

Among them, two girls would stick out from the rest, if only because they appeared more Japanese than Russian.

Exhibit A. An airheaded looking girl who didn't even seem to register your existence. Judging from her slightly rocking movements and breathing patterns, you could guess that she was either asleep or unconscious, despite the fact that her eyes were open. Kinuhata would, of course, recognize her as Rikou Takitsubo, the girl that Hamazura from earlier had been referring to.

Her expression was so dull, almost bored, that one could almost forget the amount of danger she was in.

Exhibit B. A younger girl that resembled Misaka physically, though she would appear to be much younger, somewhere around ten years of age biologically. From her mannerisms, you could deduce that she was rather sick at the moment, but ill with what, you couldn't really tell. Still, with all these girls running around that looked just like Misaka, she was bound to be as important as the other one(s), right?

"Who... Who are...?" The girl attempted to ask, though it would seem that her health was in such poor condition that she wouldn't be able to even finish her question, though you'd likely be able to get the gist of it.

@BarrenThin @Kaykay @Sneaking Settlement​

Kinuhata pretty much just ignored the natives. She couldn't understand them, and at the moment was interested in doing so either. She quickly moved towards Takitsubo, for now ignoring the little child who strangely resembled the Railgun.

"Yo, Takitsubo." Kinuhata tapped the lethargic girl on the forehead a few times. It'd be easier if she was awake, after all. "I'm super here for you. Let's get super out of here, okay?"

Unfortunately, doing so would be pretty difficult with this many people. Maybe if they all huddled into a ball Kinuhata could pick them up and run off?

...

That was probably even more conspicuous. She'd have to think of something else. But for now, getting Takitusbo out and back to safety came first. She'd promised, after all.

@Verite @BarrenThin

​

 

[BarrenThin]

Kinuhata pretty much just ignored the natives. She couldn't understand them, and at the moment was interested in doing so either. She quickly moved towards Takitsubo, for now ignoring the little child who strangely resembled the Railgun.

"Yo, Takitsubo." Kinuhata tapped the lethargic girl on the forehead a few times. It'd be easier if she was awake, after all. "I'm super here for you. Let's get super out of here, okay?"

Unfortunately, doing so would be pretty difficult with this many people. Maybe if they all huddled into a ball Kinuhata could pick them up and run off?

...

That was probably even more conspicuous. She'd have to think of something else. But for now, getting Takitusbo out and back to safety came first. She'd promised, after all.

@Verite @BarrenThin

​

Again speaking in English, he looked to Kinuhata. "We may have to bring them out one or two at a time. A group this size isn't leaving unnoticed."

@Kaykay
@Verite​

 

[Verite]

Frank motioned for the hostages to be quiet, though he put on a smile that was as 'friendly grandpa' as he could manage to try and reassure them. Seeing the younger girl, he crouched down with a slightly grim look at her condition. "We're here to get you all out, okay?" He stage whispered in competent enough Russian, which was, funnily enough, one of the only foreign language he was any good at according to ComicVine, looking up at the others as he spoke. Though how they'd get this many people out unnoticed was beyond him. "Is anyone wounded?"

@Kaykay
@Verite​

Kinuhata pretty much just ignored the natives. She couldn't understand them, and at the moment was interested in doing so either. She quickly moved towards Takitsubo, for now ignoring the little child who strangely resembled the Railgun.

"Yo, Takitsubo." Kinuhata tapped the lethargic girl on the forehead a few times. It'd be easier if she was awake, after all. "I'm super here for you. Let's get super out of here, okay?"

Unfortunately, doing so would be pretty difficult with this many people. Maybe if they all huddled into a ball Kinuhata could pick them up and run off?

...

That was probably even more conspicuous. She'd have to think of something else. But for now, getting Takitusbo out and back to safety came first. She'd promised, after all.

@Verite @BarrenThin​

The girl would cease her movements for a while as she seemed to awaken, before looking in Kinuhata's direction, her eyes almost widening in surprise. Emphasis on "almost," though the shift in facial expression would give away her surprise either way.

"Ah... Kinuhata? Is that really you?" She asked, rubbing her eyes in her usual lethargic manner, "Did Hamazura send you? I didn't know you were in Russia..." The girl named Takitsubo spoke quietly, briefly glancing at Frank, and then looking at Kinuhata again, as if to ask who he was without exchanging any further words.

"You're gonna... get us out?" The girl asked Frank softly. It was as though staying conscious was a struggle for her. Her eyes were this close to staying shut, but she would keep trying to remain conscious. "Where's... A... Accel...?"

One of the natives simply shook his head in response to Frank. "N-No, we're all okay, I think. How will you get us out of here?"

A little faith and luck, am I right?

@Kaykay @BarrenThin​

 

[Verite]

"Yeeeeah, he's on our side. Besides..."

Battler decided to make this move, considering that it was only Gilgamesh at the time to handle the opposing forces. Holding out his hand, Battler recited with the Red Truth to summon his golden broadsword.

"... I'll handle the frontlines as well."

Once said, the Sorcerer made his move as majority of the opposing forces were focused on Gilgamesh. All they would see was a trail of gold and some red before Battler would initiate the advancing attack, glowing arcs of red and gold could be seen as he dealt powerful blows to the soldiers that were in his range.

@Gen. Gwazi Senpai @Verite @Front Lines Settlement​

"What the hell is--Aagh!" A soldier would exclaim before he would be struck down by Battler. With the combined forces of him and Gilgamesh, it seemed that they wouldn't have much problem taking down the reinforcements.

"Take him down! Take 'em all down!"

Like with Gilgamesh, the infantry units would focus some of their fire towards Battler, intending to gun him down, though fortunately, it appeared that the tank was still focused on Gilgamesh for the time being.

In the distance, the sound of what seemed like a helicopter would begin to be apparent. Looked like you'll have to clear your plate before you could deal with anything more though!

@Gummi Bunnies @Gen. Gwazi Senpai @DapperDogman @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @Front Lines Settlement​

 

[BarrenThin]

The girl would cease her movements for a while as she seemed to awaken, before looking in Kinuhata's direction, her eyes almost widening in surprise. Emphasis on "almost," though the shift in facial expression would give away her surprise either way.

"Ah... Kinuhata? Is that really you?" She asked, rubbing her eyes in her usual lethargic manner, "Did Hamazura send you? I didn't know you were in Russia..." The girl named Takitsubo spoke quietly, briefly glancing at Frank, and then looking at Kinuhata again, as if to ask who he was without exchanging any further words.

"You're gonna... get us out?" The girl asked Frank softly. It was as though staying conscious was a struggle for her. Her eyes were this close to staying shut, but she would keep trying to remain conscious. "Where's... A... Accel...?"

One of the natives simply shook his head in response to Frank. "N-No, we're all okay, I think. How will you get us out of here?"

A little faith and luck, am I right?

@Kaykay @BarrenThin​

He answered the girl, first. "Yeah, we are. Gonna get you to a doctor, okay?" Then, she started on asking where someone was. "Accel...? Do you mean Accelerator? I don't know, but he was fine last I saw him."

As for the natives, he switched back to Russian, though he temporarily avoided directly answering the question. "We're going to get you to your friends."

@Kaykay
@Verite​

 

[Kaykay]

The girl would cease her movements for a while as she seemed to awaken, before looking in Kinuhata's direction, her eyes almost widening in surprise. Emphasis on "almost," though the shift in facial expression would give away her surprise either way.

"Ah... Kinuhata? Is that really you?" She asked, rubbing her eyes in her usual lethargic manner, "Did Hamazura send you? I didn't know you were in Russia..." The girl named Takitsubo spoke quietly, briefly glancing at Frank, and then looking at Kinuhata again, as if to ask who he was without exchanging any further words.

"You're gonna... get us out?" The girl asked Frank softly. It was as though staying conscious was a struggle for her. Her eyes were this close to staying shut, but she would keep trying to remain conscious. "Where's... A... Accel...?"

One of the natives simply shook his head in response to Frank. "N-No, we're all okay, I think. How will you get us out of here?"

A little faith and luck, am I right?

@Kaykay @BarrenThin​

"Yeah," Kinuhata nodded. "Hamazura...and Mugino. It's gonna be super alright, even she's finally super come around." She took a pause to think about how to get out before realizing Takitsubo was looking at Frank.

"Oh, he's with us. Super okay," she told the lethargic girl, giving her a thumbs up.

"Hmm, I guess that's the only way..." Kinuhata muttered in response to Frank. It didn't matter if she could lift them if they got noticed running out anyway. But it'd be kind of dangerous to have to run back and forth so many times, wouldn't it?

Ah, forget it. Faith and luck.

The esper nodded at Frank, turning around to Takitsubo as if to tell her to get on her back. "Two more of you, super follow m-" She broke off her sentence as she realized the Russians wouldn't understand her.

"Frank, can you super tell maybe two of them to follow each of us? Should only super take maybe two trips like that."

@BarrenThin @Verite​

 

[BarrenThin]

"Yeah," Kinuhata nodded. "Hamazura...and Mugino. It's gonna be super alright, even she's finally super come around." She took a pause to think about how to get out before realizing Takitsubo was looking at Frank.

"Oh, he's with us. Super okay," she told the lethargic girl, giving her a thumbs up.

"Hmm, I guess that's the only way..." Kinuhata muttered in response to Frank. It didn't matter if she could lift them if they got noticed running out anyway. But it'd be kind of dangerous to have to run back and forth so many times, wouldn't it?

Ah, forget it. Faith and luck.

The esper nodded at Frank, turning around to Takitsubo as if to tell her to get on her back. "Two more of you, super follow m-" She broke off her sentence as she realized the Russians wouldn't understand her.

"Frank, can you super tell maybe two of them to follow each of us? Should only super take maybe two trips like that."

@BarrenThin @Verite​

Frank grunted. "You go. I'll stay here with the others. Keep them safe until you're out. You be careful, alright? I like you too much to see you hurt." Though he said this in a joking tone, it was likely more true now than ever, with Rin's absence weighing heavily on his mind.

Speaking in Russian now, he signaled out two of the hostages. "Go with her. She'll get you out." He smiled again. "Everything's gonna be alright soon, okay?"

@Kaykay
@Verite​

 

[Gummi Bunnies]

"What the hell is--Aagh!" A soldier would exclaim before he would be struck down by Battler. With the combined forces of him and Gilgamesh, it seemed that they wouldn't have much problem taking down the reinforcements.

"Take him down! Take 'em all down!"

Like with Gilgamesh, the infantry units would focus some of their fire towards Battler, intending to gun him down, though fortunately, it appeared that the tank was still focused on Gilgamesh for the time being.

In the distance, the sound of what seemed like a helicopter would begin to be apparent. Looked like you'll have to clear your plate before you could deal with anything more though!

@Gummi Bunnies @Gen. Gwazi Senpai @DapperDogman @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @Front Lines Settlement​

"Not to be too cocky and over my head," the Sorcerer would begin to say, hastily making his move across the battlefield, seemingly avoiding the bullets coming his way. Surely enough it was all narrow evasions, as some bullets managed to pierce through his gamemaster's cape. Even so, it only signaled more golden butterflies to appear in a way to repair his cape, and that alone could work as a tactic to intimidate the foes they face here.

"... but maybe this Endless Sorcerer should declare another Truth!"

As if he were preparing for something big, he avoided dealing any more attacks as he distanced himself and kept up the manuevers to avoid those bullets. Holding the golden broadsword with two hands, Battler yelled out with a vibrant determination.

"... useless. It's all USELESS!!"

His weapon filled to the brim of the energy from his Red Truth, the Sorcerer swung the weapon in a diagonal in front of him, releasing the energy to where it would form into a deadly arc of Red Truth energy!

@Verite @Gen. Gwazi Senpai @DapperDogman @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @Front Lines Settlement​

 

[Kaykay]

Frank grunted. "You go. I'll stay here with the others. Keep them safe until you're out. You be careful, alright? I like you too much to see you hurt." Though he said this in a joking tone, it was likely more true now than ever, with Rin's absence weighing heavily on his mind.

Speaking in Russian now, he signaled out two of the hostages. "Go with her. She'll get you out." He smiled again. "Everything's gonna be alright soon, okay?"

@Kaykay
@Verite​

"Don't let your super old bones freeze up before I get back, then," she joked back. "I still want my pistol back when this is super over, so don't go keeling over on me."

Assuming Takitsubou got onto her back, Kinuhata stood up and would start to walk out with the two hostages, trying to get them back to safety.

@BarrenThin @Verite​

 

[Gummi Bunnies]

Robin would appear to find a soldier circling the shack in front of him. Fortunately, he had his back facing him, so if he were to take advantage of this situation, he'd be one step closer to finishing up this special segment of Murder Game Solid IX.

Meanwhile, Ethel would seem to bump into a soldier right up front! Uh oh.

"What the hell... You're an intruder! You won't get past me!" The soldier exclaimed, aiming his gun right at Ethel without hesitation, "Intruder alert! Intruder alert!"

With that, the soldier that had been in front of Robin would begin to make his way towards the scene in a rush. The tactician better make his move fast.

@The Tactician @Gummi Bunnies @Bomb @Hideout​

"No, Ethel isn't an intruder." Ethel knew this situation was going to be shitty so Ethel had no choice but to quickly move and evade the gunshot.

Someone help her <3

@Gummi Bunnies @The Tactician @Verite​

You know what? ... screw this.

Erika had the greatest feeling that Ethel had finally gotten herself caught. However, she wasn't going to let that guard that she and Robin were trailing rush off into the commotion. Might as well lessen the load that poor Ethel was having at the moment?

Slipping out of her box, the detective swiftly pulled out her roll of duct tape. Yes, her great roll of duct tape. With a good strip of duct tape ripped out of the roll, she pounced on the guard from behind, and while she didn't have the physical strength to effectively knock someone out, she did aim on using that duct tape strip to strangle that guard up. And that's what she was going to do. Besides, Robin could always pitch in and help her out, since she was just the detective.

Kids, this is why she always carries duct tape with her.

@The Tactician @Bomb @Verite @Hideout @Murder Game Solid IX peeps​

 

[York]

"You don't know? Jeeeez, this is a pain," Fujimura sighed, somewhat distressed, "I liked the first few people who had come in better. They were more upfront about it. It was either a "Yes, Fuji-sensei, I'm a lowly Traitor and I need to be cleansed!" or a "No, Fuji-sensei, you can bet on my life that I'm not a Traitor! I swear it!" And then you and that other little girl come along and are all uncertain about things."

"So... With that in mind, do you wanna go straight to the purification process to get yourself checked out then?"

@york​

Cinder Fall
@Verite

"Fine... Let's get this over with..." Cinder said, shrugging a little, it looked like she wanted to get to the bottom of this herself really, though, she wasn't even quite sure why herself; has the prospect of her being a traitor always nagged at her like this? Maybe not consciously, but, subconsciously... But, even then, she couldn't quite understand for once, why that was the case...
​

 

[Poe Dameron]

Russia? John wondered why that cold place of all places, but he kept a little fireball hovering near himself and Mari as he would ask what she wanted to do at this point, as he was basically her bodyguard, and a little more at that.

"Where would you like to go, Mari?", he asked, as he kept the fireball close enough to provide some warmth to them both... as if the heat between them was not enough as it were.

@Mari