The Owlery

I take the locket and look at her, "Woah, hang on a sec... daughter?! Someone had KIDS with this guy?!"

"Despite being a creep, I will give it to him- he's got a sleek seductive form."

Cynder pointed out good-naturedly. She would know.

"But, that's beside the point. Pitch wasn't always like that. He was human once- sort of. A General in the Golden Ages, is what all the legends say. That was his daughter. He turned into what he is after trying to save her.

"Okay that removes any mechanical questions I have..."

"Anyways, so where's this dame now? We just get her back, Pitch and her rides off into the sunset and we're on our merry way..."

Cynder chuckled, her lightly bruised cheeks turning a pink color.

At his next question, however her expression turned into that of sorrow.
"Topher... the Golden Ages was hundreds of years ago. She's... she's probably dead."

"Dammit!" I slap my leg.

"so what goods the locket gonna do us?"

(( trolling you with book canon ))


"Perhaps it'll remind him of who he was..."
Cynder glanced to Toph, then to Crest.
"Right?"

I take a moment to think. For the greater portion of my life, I didn't believe in redemption or forgiveness. But everything had changed recently.

Sam had shown me that change is possible, both in myself and her. Even Descole, the man who had hardened my eternal soul into ethereal stone has shown changed from the ruthless creature he was.

"It's possible."

(( gtg. ttyl ))

Chao!

Determination spread over Cynder's face, and the girl looked to Crest with pride.
He'd grown from when she last knew him. It seems the fights and experiences he had had changed his views on people.
For the better.

"Then we need to find Pitch, pronto~"

"Yeah! Just how do we find him?"

Cynder scowled, expression falling.

"... I- .. well, he might be somewhere dark..."

"That doesn't lower the list that much..."

"Give me a minute, smartass."
Cynder gave Topher a mock look of upset, sticking out her tongue to him.

"Well, he is the bringer of fear... and if I can bribe him out of the darkness again..."

She paused, her hand raising to brush against a bruised bite-mark on her neck.
"... yes, he might listen to that."

"Cyn... you better not be suggesting what I think you are."

"Toph, listen."
Cynder's voice was stern, and pointed, as if she had already made up her mind.
"If we can help this man, it'll be worth it. What's happened has happened, and if he's going to do anything more to me without my consent, it's not like he'll hesitate. But what villain has ever denied prey that walked right into their hands?"

"And what friend has EVER let a friend do that?" I offer in challenge. She may have convinced me to try and save this guy but she was dead wrong if she thought I'd let her offer herself up like fodder.

"And what hero has ever disagreed to doing the right thing for another person?"
Cynder stood right up to Topher's argument, firmly.
"I'm not going to be a coward, Top. I'll be fine... it's happened, anyway. And as much as I don't want to, it's for the greater good."

"I've got news Cyn... I ain't a hero. I do whatever I gotta for what I think is right. And you know what? This is messed up!"

"If anyone, let me go. He hates Enzo, beatin' on his grandson would be too tempting to ignore!"

"And I'm no hero, either. But I'd like to be, someday. So I'll do very well what's right."

Cynder spoke firmly, glancing apologetically to Crest for a moment before turning back toward her friend.
"I'm not letting you go. You were at least numb to everything that did happen, in the slightest. He wouldn't allow you otherwise. What might happen to me has happened before, and I know there can't be much different pain from what had."

She stated what she had in a gentle way, motioning to her beating she'd taken during the unwanted experience.
"Besides, you're strong against him. You've still got your lucky eyes, remember?"

Having heard enough of their ramble, I step forward to them, "let me do it. I don't have any fear."

Cynder glanced blatantly toward Crest, her eyes flashing in defiance.

"No one has non-existent fear, Crest. You don't have to do anything more... you've helped us plenty."

"Cynder, I don't even have self preservation." I lift him my shirt to show a large charred area on my left side. Tenting over my heart, it still looked like it could've been made yesterday.

"I did that to myself when I was 8 to show I wasn't attached to anything, not even my own well being."

Cynder clearly flinched at the prospect of such an idea, and she shook her head firmly.

"... I don't want you hurt, though.... I don't want either of you turned into a fearling..."

"Pain can be ignored. The loss of a friend..."

Blinking one time, I continue, "not so easily..."