[RP] The Inn of Peace - IoP (Open to all)

[Azana Brown]

Azana was silent a moment, apparently having a short conversation with herself. "...I think she's shocked," she said at last. "Let's do this."

"Oh, good...!" Violet breathed a sigh of relief, looking to Malachai. "Important...? O-okay..."  

[Astra_Senpai]

Tamriel opened her doo- NOPE- door closed. She decided it was best to stay inside her room today.

Kiran yawned. Kyou grinned, "You should sleep if you are tired Mr. Degas." Kiran's ears twitched, "I w-will sl-leep wh-when y-you st-stop st-star-ring." Kyou's head tilted to the side, "Y-you f-first." Silence. Both narrowed their eyes.  

[Gren_Eckener]

He nodded, leading the way. "He's really serious about this..." he hummed. "Thank you for coming. I'm sorry about yesterday."

Malachai took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. Honest, not pleading. He could do that. "I...I have to admit that I haven't been totally honest with you, Violet. I was told when I got here that you weren't...comfortable, with creatures that were scary, so I wore a glamour, so that I wouldn't upset anyone. But, it's caused me a lot of pain, and I don't like having deceived you...so, I wanted to know if, if you'd be all right if I didn't hide what I am any more." It was clear that he was nervous, as if something very precious to him was on the line.  

[Azana Brown]

"I know," Azana frowned, arms folded. "He's been serious from the start, hasn't he...?" She walked past the doors, looking at the name plates and wondering what he had meant by yesterday. He hadn't done anything to her. Sympathy? Empathy?

"I don't think there's anything you need to be sorry for," she said at last in the wake of the apology.

Violet listened to him, tilting her head. She was a little confused; he was hiding from her? He was scary? Only one thing came to mind.

"Are...are you the red and black monster...?" She asked.  

[Gren_Eckener]

"He has...he just didn't know the scope of our mistake." he said, glancing back at her. "Just a bit of sympathy...you folks had to do something awfully hard."

He blinked, confused. "Huh? Um...well...I, I guess? I have red and black features..." he admitted, perplexed. "Like, wings, and a tail, and horns..."  

[Azana Brown]

Azana's eyes hardened practically to a glare, though it seemed to pass through Gren. "I would have done the whole thing myself if it would have accomplished anything," she answered, flinching slightly after getting that venomous statement out. "...but yeah, hard..."

Violet almost looked relieved, until he continued. Her drawings didn't have any of those...but she knew plenty of things that did. Kiran would likely hear her heart racing, her copper bracelet glowing lightly. "...y-y-you're..."  

[Gren_Eckener]

Gren sighed, nodding. He knew the feeling all too well. "Take heart that it's over...and cannot happen again."

Malachai looked to his lap with a small nod. "...I'm sorry that I couldn't be something you'd like."  

[Astra_Senpai]

Kiran broke the eye contact, turning and following the sound of fear. He didn't rise, speaking softly, blue eyes on Violet, offering her a weary smile, "Exc-c-cuse m-me, M-Miss?"

Kyou cheered having won.  

[Azana Brown]

Violet was teetering on the edge of panic, but a good portion of her was just confused now. He was apologizing for being...and they'd been...and Hemlock...

She shakily reached a hand out, bracelet seemingly ready to shield her, and rested it on his. She was terrified of the demon, but she was sad for Malachai. He just wanted her to like him...and she did...but he'd been lying...he was a demon. The whole time.

"D-do...do they know...?" She asked before being addressed.

Azana nodded, expression still sour. "Not anymore..." She agreed, trying to shake the thoughts from her head. He needed her strong, and ready. There was always later to fall apart.  

[Gren_Eckener]

He nodded, not lifting his head, glancing over through his bangs. "Yes...they told me not to bother you or anything...but then you made me pancakes."

"I dunno if I should offer you whiskey sooner than later...but there's a nice chili dinner at the end of the night for us." he reassured, nearly to the stairs.  

[Astra_Senpai]

Kyou grumped, "Stop nosing into others business. She is fine." Kiran's ears twitched- ah- seems he'd jumped the gun a bit. Fear turned brave. Ah what a change of beat. Kiran redirected his gaze back to Kyou and pointed. Kyou smiled, "I've won. You owe me a candy, Mr. Degas." Kiran's ears drooped, "B-best t-two out of th-three." Kyou nodded, "I get your bowl of chili if I win." Kiran crossed his arms, "St-steep b-but ac-c-ept-tab-ble."  

[Azana Brown]

They knew. It seemed everyone knew but her. There was a good section of her mind that was both hurt and outraged that they would lie to her like that, and hide a demon under her nose. At the same time...it seemed like everyone, Malachai included, was doing it all for her sake. It couldn't have been easy to hide so much.

"O-of course I made you pancakes..." She answered. "Th-that boy's food would poison most people...! I wouldn't...I..." She stopped, leaning forward to look up under the bangs. Max was Max, no matter the hair color. She was herself, even with scars and graphite all over. Why couldn't Malachai be Malachai, even with horns and wings? The thought still jump-started her heartbeat, of the image of a demon...but Malachai wasn't a demon. Well, he was, but no...

"Save it for after, when it's not a liability to the task at hand," Azana answered, faint glyph making itself visible. "Also, Bara doesn't drink."  

[Gren_Eckener]

The same sweet, vaguely dimwitted garnet eyes met her grey, uneasy but earnest, just like a stray dog hoping to get petted but too shy to ask. He swallowed, almost holding his breath.

Gren nodded, peeking around the head of the stairs for a moment.  

[Astra_Senpai]

Kyou and Kiran were deep into their third round. Kiran leaning back in his chair and Kyou leaning far over the edge of the rafter... but they weren't the important ones.  

[Azana Brown]

The thing about being an artist was that expressions spoke a lot louder than words. Being able to visually capture emotions made the difference between quality work and a scrap sketch. Violet blinked at the absolute earnest in his gaze; he really meant it. He lied, for her, and he was sorry. Sorry for her fear of him, sorry for the lies...and, it almost seemed, sorry for whatever had happened to her before.

"...you're a demon," she said, breaths measured to not stutter at that horrid word. "But you're Malachai. My...my friend." She grinned softly; just a bigger Hemlock, in ways.

Azana stopped behind him, almost wanting to peek around him. "...what?"