When Zeke received the text message from his brother that he found the turtle, he was relieved.  It meant Neylani did not have to worry anymore, but it also meant he could perhaps be the hero she needed.  Anything to get ahead of that list of hers that caused their breakup years ago.  Zeke finally spotted Ryker and weaved through the crowd.  He noticed the turtle right away and let out a sigh of relief.  “You’re a life savior.  This will get me some bonus points with her.”

The man offered his brother a soft smile then reached for the turtle.  “Here, let me hold him.”  His eyes looked around.  “So where is your date?  Is she just mingling or what?”

Where: Reaper Hideout, entrance hall.

When: July 12th, 12:03.

If the Reapers were the pests of her city, then this place was their nest. To think that this powerless human called himself Tsar. Of what? This cold, dark pit of a kingdom? This hotbed of shadows and obscurity? No, for Masha Vetrova owned even this, owned all the territory that the Tsar so foolishly burnt and declared as his own. He could believe whatever it was he told himself and his apparent followers. But here they were; archangel, son, and company bringing heaven’s light into the heart of his territory and proving that it wasn’t his at all.

They had waited for Bubbles’ nod of approval that there were no thoughts humming about, no Reaper still lurking. Now they stood openly in the atrium. This was a careful plan, with reason behind it but she couldn’t deny that she was enjoying herself. Masha walked slowly around the room as the others whispered, dragged her hand lazily along the surrounding walls as she did. Touching, scenting his territory -- turning off every camera and alarm system she could feel running through the building. “I’d like to say I expected more,” she murmured to her underboss, examining the fine layer of dust now coating her fingers, “but I’d be lying.”. 

She looked up at Ryker then, a small, sharp smile on her face. He’d done well, beyond well if all goes to plan. She won’t get cocky, she’ll stay measured until each one of them is satisfied and safely out. But - but - this feels like a reckoning, like due course. Her eyes were drawn next to the skeletal figure looming over them, scythe raised into the air. It lacked a certain.. subtlety. “Straight from Rozalie’s old nightmares”, she said to him quietly, almost nostalgically, with a half-smile .Yours too, she thinks but doesn’t add. “Not half as scary in real life, hm?”. Then she raised her brows, tore her gaze away from the Reaper and gestured for them to properly Begin.