♪~Gonna Change You Like a Remix~♪

"Hi! I'm looking for Xanti, have you seen him around lately?"

[ Answered by: @overx ]

Oh. Xanti, not X. They must be friends then? Vile pauses, tools set down on the workbench. He looks over, somewhat surprised to see the sunny blond had stopped here of all places for directions. Cheerful, smiley, cute... Yeah, you would be one of his friends. "Sorry, you just missed him. I think he stepped out for an errand but he should be back soon."

Oh. He's not here? "Ah, that's fine." For missing his friend, Ziel tried his best to not sound too disappointed. It wasn't for anything important anyhow; just a chance to catch up while the rebel had some free-time.

Nothing wrong with waiting for just a little bit, especially when... "What are you working on?" He leans over the Hunter and the table he was bent over, arms folding behind his back-- reassurance he wasn't going to reach out and touch any equipment.

Wait.

Somehow, he always found himself in this situation eventually but it was rare for someone to not only offer him a hand but somehow get dragged into the chaos with him… ok… no… people getting dragged into his chaos happened pretty frequently but people being dragged into his chases and being chased with him? that was new to him!

Panting softly he takes a glance towards his running companion and offers them an apologetic smile before letting out a shrill shriek as a bullet barely misses his face. “A-ahaha, y-yeah it kinda is…” He whined skidding around a corner and then down some stairs taking them three at a time. “Nope! I’m new to this particular town so my plan was just to run until I lost em!” The android sure chose the wrong person to help out. 

There's a flinch at the bullet whizzing in between them, his eyes watching the projectile just miss the man's face. Refrain twists to avoid another round at his feet, his mouth twisting into a grimace behind his scarf. That was close. Guns were still a threat to him, even if they weren't plasma, if not a little worse actually.

Already he's vaulting over the side of the stairs after the-- what were people calling this guy? He tunes into the shouting behind them-- Humanoid Typhoon? What a nickname. "From what I'm hearing, they're not gonna just, get bored." The metal steps reverberate as his boots hit the rails, and he skids down on them besides Vash.

Disgruntled though the enforcer may be, it seems his twin unit gets a pass for the time being. Rock does not rise to greet his brother, although his expression twists in dissatisfaction at his newest chew toy being snatched away from him so quickly. He would have loved to have an excuse to dig into Ziel, but it seems that opportunity is already slipping through his fingers.

Because he thought to be a little lenient in the few minutes his mood was less abysmal. 

Should have waited a few more fucking minutes.

Whatever. Rockwell’s scowl persists, but he chooses not to stare at them any longer. Instead his attention turns to the rain outside, quietly simmering, but a sign he won’t be pursuing either of them. //Get going before I change my mind,// is pinged to the other Light-bot.  

Not so much as an outward goodbye. 

A slight sigh. Should have known Rock was going to be like this. Oh well! It’s less his loss, and more the stranger’s good fortune in this case. “Yup, another time then!” Cale pulls the newcomer with him a bit less forcefully, letting the blond get a handle on his belongings as they march towards the doors. 

Rain’s still looking nasty, but at least that means the streets will be relatively clear. 

“Sorry we have t’ meet like this, but I promise I’ll get ya taken care of an’ see ya home safely. Just, uh, stick close, yeah?“

....Aaaugh. It feels like a waste to end their conversation the way they had, or maybe that was Ziel’s guilt talking. It’s hard to not feel at least a little bit bad at the way he’d soured the Light-bot’s mood. It’s a bit his fault, and maybe he shouldn’t have talked as much as he had, but...

He’s too nice not to say goodbye. “See you later, Rock.” Because I have a feeling I will. The android must be nuts to want to even try, but hey, he’s the same person who was willing to date the most dangerous machine in his own City.

Ziel falls into step easily after Rock’s Twin, shuffling his coat on quickly over his arms, but he still feels reluctant to step outside. It’s leather, yes, and his... equipment should be fine in the rain, it’s just the Leader himself that was a little more water soluble. Kinda. Sure felt like it sometimes, really. “Um... Okay.” 

His gloomy mood has near nothing to do with Rock behind them and all to do with the rush of water falling from the sky. It’s not going to kill him, but it sure would suck to be in it; he’d slog himself down with water weight alone. With some debate, the blond concludes to use his guitar case as a make-do umbrella. It’s an awkward angle but better than nothing.

Even as he’s running, Refrain’s voice is exasperated at best, his pendulum of a scarf waving behind him. “Is it normal for you to be shot at like this?” 

Deja-vu, much? The android wants to pretend he, himself, isn’t used to the idea, but that would very much be a lie. He’d only just wanted to assist the man very clearly fleeing from gunfire, but... hadn’t really intended that he would be added to the line-up of target practice. His brother would say that’s what he gets for being nice to a stranger.

The Sparrow

The Sparrow is the quickest of the signs, flitting between the dangers of the forest floors and the glory of the treetops with a gleam that borders sometimes on anxious, sometimes on reckless, and forever free. Despite their love of laughter, those under the sign of the Sparrow tend to be independent to the point of accidental isolation; they crave connection, but tend to fly away at both distraction and danger of the love that comes too close to their own heart. To become close to the Sparrow must be a process of solid steadiness without the feeling of weight. A Sparrow never allows another to clip their wings. Their keen sense of observation can make the people they love feel known, and the sparrow wishes that the same eye could be turned upon them-- they both crave and flee from attention, never landing for too long where shadows might grow. Sparrows are natural scouts, exploring their worlds with an honest eagerness that sometimes pushes into obsession. They tend to keep their eyes moving-- first towards the woods, then towards the clouds, but always, always, back to the horizon; the Sparrow is a creature of the future. They long for a thousand futures all at once, but struggles with committing to a path.

Stolen From Tagged By: @galaxofmuses

“…no but you could prob’ly ask the birds.” 

Yeah, they should have seen that coming. This guy didn’t exactly look like the type who wanted to work with someone else, let alone share information. It was worth a shot though.

Val frowns, continuing to hold her small hands out as she worked to mend the stranger. “I understand your concerns, of course…” Security, privacy, not to mention being in a different world all together. Even if it weren’t for that, this blond looked to her like he might have some trust issues.

“I-it’s just, er, well…” she trails off, apparently having some trouble engaging with Encore’s demeanor. It’s not often the cyber-elf feels quite this off put, but–

“…your enemies,” Crimson cuts in. “…they pose a threat.” It’s plain to see, from how badly Encore himself had been damaged. From the artificial blood scorching the ground. “…makes them my problem.” It’s clear their new companion is not some regular civilian model, and likely whoever hunted him would not relent so easily.

The Zero doesn’t have to say more for his implication to be clear. You’re getting their help whether you like it or not.

It isn’t optional. 

Apparently, hoping his demeanor would deter the two only works part of the way. The girl is swayed, her small voice hesitant, but it does nothing for her companion. He can’t help the jolt of nostalgia that ripples in his processor at the voice so rarely used, gold eyes narrowing. 

When you speak... Encore was far more grateful for when the reploid was silent. 

“Oh, and that makes it your business, then?” It’s not snapped, per se, but the displeasure was there. “You aren’t from my world.” You can see where he’s going with this, can’t you, crimson machine? It’s a twinge that’s hard to place. Why... were they both like that? “If you really think I’m going to allow for anything more than an escort to the nearest portal back, you’d be mistaken.”

Even if the android that damaged Encore had been aware he’d survived, that same android would not have followed him through the portal that must’ve disappeared by now. This the Guitarist knew far too well, like an itch inside his skull. Too... agoraphobic, already. No, Noize would likely be waiting for him on the other side, if that was the case.

“Uh huh, sure. We all believe that.” Sarcasm? Yes. Only because you’re easy to tease Ziel.

“I just assumed you were dead.”

"W-WOAH--" Ah, there it goes! Nearly ran into him too.