βββ ο½₯ ｑοΎβ: *.β½ .* :βοΎ. βββ
"Hey Fate. Thanks for stepping in for me."
βββ ο½₯ ｑοΎβ: *.β½ .* :βοΎ. βββ
Ι΄α΄α΄‘ α΄Κα΄ΚΙͺΙ΄Ι’: α΄‘α΄α΄α΄ΚΙͺΙ΄Ι’ Ι’α΄α΄α΄κ±Κα΄α΄‘κ± | α΄α΄α΄α΄Κα΄x α΄α΄α΄α΄ΚΙͺα΄κ±
β» β || β· βΊ
βββ ο½₯ ｑοΎβ: *.β½ .* :βοΎ. βββ
It wasn't often where Able would offer his gratitude for someone's help. Often, he would seek to pay back a kind gesture with a favor of his own. Ever since meeting Merri back in Duviri however, he learned the strength of using the right words. Won over through her persistence with kindness and compassion over all things, not only has she won his heart over, but she taught him a lesson: Honest appreciation of one's help can be just as meaningful as the act itself. The demon felt a warmth inside of himself after hearing Tai thank him after helping the prince rescue his lover and her closest friends from the ice prison on Fenrir. He also saw how powerful it was to have the third and seventh work together once they genuinely appreciated each other's efforts.
Believing that if all others could change, he could change too, Able decided to step out of his comfort zone to thank his best friend. If not for Fate, he doubted that he would have gotten so close to Merri. "
Don't mention it. I'm sure that you'd do the same if you saw me and Ana going through something similar." By now, it was well apparent that there was an underlying chemistry that lingered between the "human" and the "succubus." Given the fact that she was becoming a regular visitor of the Midnight Cafe and a frequent face coming out of his room, the other boys held little doubt that she won him over.
"
We're friends and we're family, Able. No matter what. We'll be there for each other." The kami placed a reassuring hand on Able's shoulder, aware of how far he came if he was willing to thank him in public about it. Taking note of the gifts in hand, the kami glanced over the different names of gifts he prepared in advance, finding at least one of the gifts labeled for each member of the crew in Able's handwriting as well as some of the regulars too. "
Oh? Nymph and Bliss are coming too? Alter also?" Fate scratched his chin, appearing as though he was curious over the contents of each box. Though, while he knew what present everyone else was to receive, the one labeled with Ana's name on it was a mystery to the god of foresight.
"
Interesting." Waving a spell to summon gifts from a rift in the void, a pile of presents landed in Fate's hand. While much smaller volumetrically compared to Able's pile himself, each held an accessory befitting that of a higher tier angel, tastefully crafted by the kami of crafting himself for a favor.
"I've actually gotten a few things for you and the others too." Among his gifts was a watch with a studded wristband for the demon himself made with a few natural jewels from Able's hellion homeland.
"
They aren't anything fancy, but I'm sure you would appreciate it!" Walking with Able, the two were eventually able to make it to the center of the cafe where a hologram of a tree stood in the center of the room. Nearby tables and chairs have been moved to the side to give the found family space to spend time with each other next to the magical fire. "
Oh? Did you learn that in Noctua?" Able noted the use of his portal spell. "
Yeah, they were teaching classes about it." Wielding his lies as deftly as he did his truths, Fate hid behind a little white lie.
βββ ο½₯ ｑοΎβ: *.β½ .* :βοΎ. βββ
"You think Thea would appreciate this?"
"Of course she would. If she were here, she'd be the happiest out of everyone."
βββ ο½₯ ｑοΎβ: *.β½ .* :βοΎ. βββ
Ordering his army of assistant drones to help set up the room to their liking, Sen did his best to help Sev out where he could. He knew that Sev's eyes weren't the best, though he wasn't willing to bring it up at the moment. Instead he offered to do what he could to help the vampire hero where he struggled most while their beloveds took care of gathering the guests for the event. "
You know. You should be proud of what you're doing here." The human hero watched as several different species spent time together, all working towards the same goal of making their evening function be the best it can be. "
The empress and Thea would have killed to see a sight like this."
"
Thanks, Sen. You're surprisingly thoughtful." Using his gravity magic, Sev moved the largest tables out of the way. Even if he couldn't help out Sen with aligning the decorations perfectly, what he was able to do was deal with the majority of the blunt labor. With Io and Jin also moving furniture in from the bar and the other rooms, the cafe's dining hall began to look more like a massive lounge than a place for customers. "
After hearing Merri's suggestion, I thought it would be nice to try it. If it gives us an excuse to spend time together making memories like this, then I don't see why we shouldn't." As he moved the counter out of the way, his hand trembled for a moment, nearly causing him to lose grip of the massive piece.
"
Hold on, Sev. Relax. We don't need to rush anything." The vampire was still recovering from his lapse in feeding. Long periods of time spent dry had made the influence of the scars induced by past poison on his body worse. "
I can't have you in the medbay while everyone else is having a good time." The human rolled his eyes, gesturing with his hand to get the dragon and his robot friend to move the counter in Sev's place. "
Jin, Io. You know what to do. Let's give Sev a break. He's been working since the morning." The two nodded as they turned to each other, using each other's arms as leverage to lift where they ordinarily took orders to go. With the heavy labor now someone else's responsibility, Sen sat nearby and patted the table to get Sev to sit down across. "
Come on. Take a break. Wouldn't kill you to take a breather."
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"Sorry Sen. I got too excited. With the other heroes coming too, I didn't want to disappoint them."
"They'll never be disappointed in you. Yan told you herself, didn't she? Just hosting this is more than enough."
βββ ο½₯ ｑοΎβ: *.β½ .* :βοΎ. βββ
"
Hell, being able to do this much is a lot." Sen thought of how his wife smiled when she received her early present. They were smart-shades that interfaced with her halo. Both fashionable and resilient to damage, they held within it a HUD that revealed her health and energy stores as well as messages from Sen and information about his body. After going through hell from Ten's magic, he wanted to reassure her that something like that would never happen again. "
It doesn't be perfect. I know, I'm the farthest thing from it but... What you did for us then? What you'll do for us now? I think, that alone keeps you one step away from being a disappointment." The human was proud to call Sev his friend after all they went through together. "
So don't you dare fucking put yourself down. You haven't earned the right to. The moment you started dating my best friend was the day you lost your right to self-pity. Be proud of yourself because I am, and I'm not wrong."
The vampire gave a chuckle, hearing his friend return back to his normal demeanor. "
I could see why Raf gushes about you Sen. Whenever you're kind, it's impossible to hate you, you know? Why don't you show that side of you more often?" Sen shook his head. "
Kindness isn't free and I can't have every person in the galaxy believe that I'm someone that's easy to take advantage of. If I'm kind, there's a fucking reason for it. Don't take my pride for granted, Sev." His eyes glowed with the color of his passion. While he was happy to hear of Raf's proud comments of him, he didn't want to give Sev an excuse to devalue his words. The vampire was one of the rare few he was willing to accept within his close circle.
βββ ο½₯ ｑοΎβ: *.β½ .* :βοΎ. βββ
"You're one of the special ones. Act like it."
βββ ο½₯ ｑοΎβ: *.β½ .* :βοΎ. βββ
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