Getting into Trouble

[Demeter]

Dream looked over her shoulder, glaring at the girl she dragged along behind her. Because of this imp she had to go down to the bottom layer, something she hated doing, and report her for an infraction of territory rules. Rhystic was the only one classified to handle this Custos. "I cannot believe you did that. Bringing in your own people for something that we would have assited you with. Had you actually come to us we would have been happy to help!"

Syn grumbled and rolled her eyes, wishing that the woman would release her wrist. Being dragged along made for very bad balance when hiking across the terrian of hell. "I would have exteneded the professional favor of helping me out but the last time I came to you people you turned me down."

Dream groaned and pounded on the door to Rhystic's place. "You had no right to end that man's life. You just assumed that he had done it for the pleasure of killing. Had you actually looked at the circumstances you would have seen that all had been forgiven but no, you in your little viglante act, had to go and off him. He'd made amends. If you had looked into things you would have know that he, as an angel, would have been thrown down. He wasn't and wouldn't have been. Do you know how thin some of the lines between angel and Custos relations are around here?"

Syn sighed again. She'd already explained this once and she would again but only when she was confronted by the Custos lord of the seventh level. She'd already been reported to her local lord and he hadn't cared. And now she was being dragged onto the carpet.

When the door opened, Dream pushed Syn towards the entryway. "I have something for you. She just killed an angel who'd been cleared of all charges three years ago. Remember that whole Damon Masters thing. You know, some guy, the angel, killed a little girl but it was discovered that he had no choice. That some sick freak forced him to do it? Yeah, she just offed Masters. And not only that, she brought in her own reapers and so on. You deal with her." She said to the man standing in the doorway. "Where's Marrus?"

[Shinigami]

Rhystic was sitting in his office speaking with his generals, Kuraku and Caspian. His father, Marrus, was much better, but he'd still be keeping some responsibilities, though minor and insignificant in Rhy's eyes. He would still deal with helping those that come through Hell, especially Fallens, which Rhystic believed was a cruel joke on Marrus' part. Kuraku, his best kept secret, was sitting before him in one of his office chairs playing idly with a vial of some concoction she had made from her deadliest of plants.

Kura was rather pleased with herself, having just sent Caspian into a silent rage by once again reminding Cas that he was Rhy's -second- general. Rhy knew the man was too smart to rise to Kura's challenge in his presence, but was very surprised to see the amount of control Cas was using. Caspian paced by the entry to the office, glaring daggers at the woman before him. "Caspian" His attention was drawn back to Rhystic. "I think you should go, visit Iki-Ryo and work off your frustrations. Tomorrow-"

A loud banging on main door drew the attention of all three and cut Rhy off. He narrowed his eyes at the unseen annoyance. Kuraku stood, looking just as pissed off at their distraction. "Who the hell would that be? You aren't expecting any new blood, are you Father?"

Rhy stood, "No, I'm not, but I'll probably have to deal with it none the less. The both of you are excused then." He walked past them and they trailed behind him towards the entrance, after all, Cas was leaving and the main door was on Kura's way back to her rooms. Rhy threw open the door and was suddenly shifting out of the way as he saw the form being pushed towards him. He narrowly missed being run into, and Cas and Kura paused to keep an eye on the commotion. Rhy grumbled before repling with forced civility. "Dream. While I.. understand how dedicated you are to your job, did you really have to make such a show of it? And Marrus is in his personal study. A room -you- are not permitted to enter without escort, however fond my father is of you."

He flicked his glance to the girl Dream had shoved at him. While he commended the death of an Angel what she had done was against the laws that had been set, so it was his duty to see to her. "And you will be dealt with in a moment."

[Demeter]

Dream rolled her eyes at Rhystic and then glanced up and down his body. Yes, he was a bastard but he was a very good looking bastard. And he couldn't be all that bad if his brother was Tobin, even if they loathed each other. There had to be something beneath that hard exterior. Not that she really wanted to find out. She was just content to look at his body.

"Well, I would like to see him, so if someone would please escort me there, I would be much obliged," she said while looking around at the small gathering of people. "My father wants me to deliver a message, probably something to do with their next chess game."


Syn rolled her eyes at the Custos as she glanced around the place. In being shoved by Dream, she'd ended up running into the one the Custoss standing behind that Rhystic fellow. The male one. "Sorry about that," she had mattered before standing away from the group and letting her eyes catalouge everything.

[Shinigami]

Kuraku had been content to sit back and watch until everyone had cleared the way for her to make it to her rooms, but then she caught the look the Angel had given her father while his attention was diverted. She was not pleased by it in the least. While Kura had long since grown out of her childish notion that Rhy would give only -her- his full attention, she was still quite protective of the man, especially in their home. Rhystic was -her- father, and she grew quite jealous of any woman that had tried to get closer to him.

Rhystic sighed at how pushy the woman was and contemplated who to send. Caspian would have been the best bet, leaving Kura to spirit off to her own rooms and out of Dream's company while he dealt with the woman she had hauled down. Before he got the chance to voice his decision, however, Kuraku spoke up. "I'll escort her. I wanted to speak with grandfather anyway."

Rhy winced inwardly. While Kura hadn't blatantly revealed herself as his daughter, Dream knew Marrus only had two children, and it was obvious Kuraku could not be Tobin's due to her pure Custos lineage. And he knew that those sisters talked about anything and everything. He shot a glance to Caspian, one that gave the silent order to lead the other woman to his office and watch her until he got there, and then shot a glare at Kura. Though, even Cas knew she'd only ever get a glare as punishment for her boldness.

Caspian had been slightly annoyed that he had been the one to receive the woman that had been shoved through the door, being unlucky enough to have been standing directly behind Rhystic. Though, the woman muttered an apology, so he nodded to her in acceptance. Once he saw how things were going, and got his silent cue to play escort, he took the woman by her upper arm, gently tugging her towards the office at the end of the hall. He knew Rhystic would never raise his hand, or his voice, to Kuraku, but he also knew Rhy liked to take it out on others later, and wanted to get away and stay away.

[Demeter]

Dream narrowed her eyes and looked between Rhystic and the female. Was the grandfather being refered to Marrus? Dream returned her look to Rhystic and smirked. So, the big, bad Custos had a soft side after all? Now, Dream like that idea...plus she'd seen him around Rayne and, despite the girl being a angel dominent, he let her hang off of him.

Dream allowed herself to be led away by the female but she glanced over her shoulder to look at Rhystic once more and waved at him, a little smirk tilting up the corner of her mouth. He had to know that she'd figured something out, weither the girl was his biologically from some illict affair or what have you, she didn't know yet. But she knew enough. The big, bad, scary Custos had a soft side.

Syn grumbled and yanked her arm out of the man's grasp. She'd had enough with being dragged about like a toy. "I can follow you just fine, thank you very much." Syn crossed her arms over her chest and followed behind the man.

[Shinigami]

Rhystic kept a close eye on the two as they walked off towards Marrus' study. It wasn't that he feared for Kuraku's safety. She had already proven she could take care of herself when she applied to be his first general, but she was still his daughter, even if it wasn't by blood. Though they looked alike enough to be mistaken as a blood relation. He was also terrified that Dream would go and gossip with her sisters, especially Dion. Kura had been through enough at the hands of Angels.

Kuraku walked with a perfect poise, head held high as she stalked off, leading the Angel towards her grandfather's office. Once she knew she was out of Rhy's sight, and his range of hearing, she abruptly stopped and turned to face the woman she was beginning to think of as an intruder of sorts. "How is it you know my father? I'm certain I've never seen you here, though that could be due to my father's protectiveness as much as your lack of appearance."

Caspian allowed the woman to follow him without keeping hold of her and all but ignored with the slight show of attitude. Once they were both through the door he turned and leaned back against Rhystic's desk. It was something he had been scolded for many times, but had become something of a habit. At least he wasn't stuck dealing with the Angel, and he felt he should give the girl fair warning. "I would be careful when Rhystic comes in to deal with you. He would never raise his hand or voice to Kuraku, his daughter, but that only means he'll take it out on others. Watch your words unless you want a more severe punishment."

[Demeter]

Dream stopped when the Custos stopped and sighed. So, it was to be an interrigation rather then just a drop off at the office. "I know your father because my sister is married to his younger brother. I also know your father because my father and his father have been friends since who knows when. I view your grandfather as my favorite uncle."

Dream leaned against the wall and stared at Kuraku. "And how is it that I've never seen you? I've been coming around here for years, before and after becoming a reaper and yet I've never seen you and you call Rhystic 'father.'" Dream smiled at Kuraku and folded her arms across her chest. Two could play at this game.
----
Syn sat down at one of the chairs infront of the desk. "I can watch my mouth, thank you very much." She was in a pissy mood, having just been hauled down for something she really didn't think was wrong. So what if the guy has been cleared of all charges. He still had to answer for what he did.

Syn turned her face up to the Custos. "I make my living by keeping my cool. I will be just fine. I hope."

[Shinigami]

Kuraku knew of her uncle, Tobin, but had never met him. She had only caught glimpses of him during the few times he hadcome down to hell to visit Marrus. She had, however, met one of his sons, Hawk, who had been Custos dominant. He had reminded her of one of her older brothers, so they had become somewhat close while he had lived with them. She had also met Rayne, Tobin's youngest, and looked at the girl as more of a little sister. She had never had any problem sharing Rhy's attention with either of her cousins, but this woman she had a hard time seeing with her father.

Kura was reluctant to say why she had never been seen before, knowing her father hated to be seen as potentially having a soft side, especially to an Angel, but there was no other way to explain it. "My father has always been rather protective of me. I had quite a horrendous experiance with Angels as a child, which is really none of your business."

She crossed her own arms over her chest before continuing on with her bit of interrogation. "Now, I saw the look you gave my father. He doesn't give such attention to Angels, so I wouldn't bother with it if I were you."

***

Rhystic shook his head, letting out a sigh as he was left to himself in the hallway. Now his brother and his family would know about Kuraku. Of course, his brother wouldn't bother to come down to Hell just for that, but he feared Dion or one of her many sisters might. He didn't really feel like dealing with the gossiping sisters, or having them bother Kura.

Dream was quite the infuriating woman with how often she liked to push his buttons, and she would spare him no mercy this time either. He would have to resort to tuning her out, as he often did with others so as to keep his head. At least he'd have something nice to look at, for an Angel, even if she was just barely older than his own daughter.

He grumbled as he stalked back to his office, throwing his door open. He paused to give a look to the two currently in his office before he continued forward and threw himself into his chair. He looked up at the girl that had been put in his charge for punishment. "Sit. I don't like people standing around in my office." Then he turned to Caspian. "You're staying. Close the door."

***

Caspian smirked at the woman's attitude, because if she kept it up, Rhy would end up snapping at her at some point. He was still leaning back on Rhy's desk, watching her. When she mentioned that she made her living by keeping cool, he found his attention caught. But she seemed a bit unsure in whether she'd be able to keep cool with Rhy. "You make your living keeping your cool? What do you do that would require such a thing?"

Just as she answered, the door flew open and Rhy stood in the doorway. He only hesitated for a moment before heading to his desk, and Caspian quickly stood up and moved out of his way. He moved off to the side of his desk, hoping to shift his way out of the room, but when he heard Rhy's tone, and then his order to stay he winced. He walked over to close the door and sat down in a chair off to the side, waiting.

***note: I edited Rhy's part a little bit. It isn't hugely important, but I had left it out by accident when I first posted.***

[Demeter]

Dream grinned. So the girl was protective of Rhystic just like he was protective of her. Dream leaned forward, until her nose was less then an inch away from Kuraku's face. "And what makes you think that I'm a pureblooded angel? I'm a reaper, darling, I'm a half-breed and I belong to neither world. I just happen to flounce around look more angelic because it just seems friendlier. When dealing with the souls of mortals, looking like an angel generally works better then showing up looking more Custosic. And I prefer this form."

Dream backed up and cast a glance around the hallway. "So is, Marrus' office that way?" she asked, pointing to the the right. "Come on, I've got other things to do then stand around, listening to you warn me off your father. If I want to look, I'm going to look. And don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

***

Syn groaned and sat down. "Before anyone starts asking questions, I'm just gonna say my piece. I answer to two different authorties. Sckhmet and the leaders of my kindle. I am Custos and cougar. While the angelic, Custosic and mortal communties may have forgiven Masters for he did, the cougar communtiy has not. I'm willing to take any punishment you dole out but I stand by my actions. I was hired to track down and take care of the man who killed, the one who actually did the killing, not the lunatic that is already dead, the first female cougar seer, and a strong one at that, in a hundred years."

***

Dream, after speaking to Marrus, walked to the exit, muttering about the man's urging for her to settle down and start a family. Reapers rarely had families of their own. Reapers normally succombed to various mental ailments. Said ailments normally ripped the immediate families of reapers apart. Rarely, very rarely, did a reaper find someone to love and maintain a mental balance.

When she heard a door close, Dream looked up and say Rhystic leaving his office. She waved at him and bounded over, any thoughts of Marrus' comments leaving her head. She smiled up at Rhystic. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, not even my sisters, about Kuraku. You've obviously gone through great pains to keep her relationship to you quiet and I will respect that. I understand that whole protective thing. You forget that I am the baby of the family and the one who is the most different."

Dream smiled up at Rhystic and patted him on the shoulder. "I'll see you later." she called as she bounced out of Rhystic's home, waving at him over her shoulder.

[Shinigami]

Kuraku narrowed her eyes and tensed as Dream leaned in so close to her face. She was at the ready to grab one of her many poisoned knives if she needed to, but she found herself surprised by what Dream had to say. She never realized the woman was part Custos. She carried her Angel form so naturally that Kura hadn't even thought to check her further. This was going to be interesting.

Of course, she still didn't want the woman anywhere near her father, so she narrowed her eyes again when Dream declared that she would look if she felt like it. She turned on her heal and stopped outside of a large door just down the hell. Kura knocked sharply and when Marrus answered she called out to him. "There is a woman here to see you, Grandfather. Her name is Dream."

When Marrus, rather cheerfully, instructed her to let Dream in she frowned. If this woman was in her grandfather's favor than that would make things rather hard for Kura. That would mean she was allowed around, and that she would probably deal with Rhy a lot. She opened the door, reluctantly, and stepped aside to let Dream in before stomping off down the hall.

***

Rhystic raised an eyebrow at the woman, but he listened as she gave her explaination of her actions. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose at ther mentioning of her kindle. It was always more complicated with a hybrid, especially a were-creature who was tied to a pack or kindle. "It was your kindle who hired you for the hunt? Well, than I'll msot likely have to speak with one of them. They should have known better than to choose a part Custos hybrid for a job like that, but that doesn't mean you're off the hook."

Rhy leaned back, trying to think of where he should put the girl until this could be resolved. She would still have to answer to the Custoss, and to her deity if they were also offened by her actions, but she would have known if that were the case by then. "You will have to stay here. The other Custos Lords wouldn't stand to have you go without punishment, and I am in agreement with them. You have conflicting loyalties, and I suggest you use this time of waiting to think about how you should handle yourself should a similar situation some up in the future. And I suggest you try to follow which ever is the -strictest- at the time, that way your ass is covered."

He stood and walked over to the door. "I'll have Caspian find you a place to stay in the mean time. I don't guarantee your comfort, as you'll most likely be staying with any Fallens that haven't choosen deities yet. I will be trying to get ahold of your kindle leaders immediately. I don't want you here any more than you want to be here." He nodded to Caspian to take over as he left.

***

Caspian sighed as Rystic left. It seems he lost his chance to blow off some steam at the poor girl, but he may end up taking it out on whoever he ended up talking to from the kindle. Or his officers later. He walked over to Rhy's desk and began to root through the one drawer that wasn't locked. He pulled a leather bound book out and flipped through it, looking for how many Fallens were currently being housed and where.

He looked up at Syn periodically as he did so. "You're rather lucky this involved your kindle, as well. It may have saved you from a rather severe punishment. I don't need to worry about placing you near a Fallen, do I?"

***

Once Rhy closed the door he looked out into the hallway and saw Dream. He sighed as she bound over, ready to try and barter for her silence, but he blinked when she said she'd keep quiet. She seemed rather suspicious, and too friendly to be quite as sencere as she sounded. He was even more surprised when she patted him on the shoulder. They had never touched before, mainly because he never let Angels, no matter how beautiful they were, get that close to him.

He called out to stop her. "Wait! Why? Why would you be so willing to keep my secret? You being the youngest should have nothing to do with it. You know I look down on you because you're tainted with Angel blood, so why would you show me any mercy? What are you hoping to get from it?"

[Demeter]

Dream stopped inches from the door and peered over her shoulder at Rhystic. "The youngest in the family is quite often the one the rest of the family is the most protective of...well, in closer knit families then your own." She grinned at him and leaned against the doorframe. "You seem quite protective of Kuraku. Seeing how this is the first time I've even heard of her, much less seen her, and seeing as how our fathers are attached at the hip and your brother has been married to my sister for some twenty odd years now...i think, that is the logical assumption."

"My own family is quite protective of me. Of all my siblings, I am the baby. If they could, they would have locked me up in the house then let me become a reaper. Reapers, after all, have some of the highest mortality rates. And, statistics show, Reapers also easily succomb to mental illnesses. It's all the death we see. What parent would want that for a child. My father hates that I'm such a being and he still tries to protect me."

Dream looked at me and gave a small, soft smile. "I know it's not much of an explantion. I mean, I could spill to my sisters about her if you wanted all of them down here, harping on you for never introducing Kuraku to them, but I don't think that you want that. So, I'll keep quiet. As for what I want in return, keep your father off my back about me settling down and giving my father, and him by default, grandbabies. I swear that if those two had their ways, we'd find ourselves shackled together. You're a nice, good-looking man, Rhystic, but I believe you'd be a crap husband. Besides, you wouldn't lower yourself to actually date, much less marry an angel." She waved one last time and flounced out the door.


Syn glanced at the man, the one who had brought her into this room, and smirked. "No, I won't kill, maim or otherwise hurt any of the poor fallens. They make better sport alive." At his raise eyebrow, Syn grinned. "Just joking. So, as too your earlier question about my employment. "I'm a private investigator who specialies in cold cases. I'm excellent at digging up old dirt."

(ooc: Hehe..Dream got away from me)

[Shinigami]

Rhystic listen causiously. He never was one to trust what others said, but so far Dream didn't sound as if she were trying to play around with him. Though, he could imagine what she felt as the youngest in a family such as hers. Kuraku often huffed at him that he was too protective, that she could handle herself, even around Angels, but he was older, wiser, and knew better. She was still terrified, which made her very dangerous.

When she mentioned that she could very well tell her sisters, and what their reaction would be, he flinched just slightly. Not only would he most likely be annoyed into his grave by the lot of them, but Kura would probably hit the wall being around so many Angels. She wasn't even allowed around the Fallens unattended.

Rhy cocked his head to the side when Dream began to speak about what she wanted in return and his eyes widened a bit. He had no idea that his father had been harping at her to settle down. And with -him- no less! His eyes narrowed as he thought about giving his father a piece of his mind. "You can rest assured that I will speak with my father. He knows better than to try and set me up at all, let alone with someone who carries Angel blood."

He watched her leave before stalking down the hall towards his father's study. He would speak with that old trouble maker first, then handle the trouble with that woman and her kindle...

***

Caspian raised a brow at the woman's mention of Fallens being better sport alive. While he agreed that anything was usually more sport alive, but he unfortunately had a job to do, and that meant keeping this girl out of trouble. When she grinned and confessed it was just a joke he sighed, but what she said nect caught his attention. "I private investigator? Really?"

He walked around to the front of the desk and leaned back against it, crossing his arms over his chest. "Well, if you get out of this well enough, I just may have a job for you... does your skill at digging up old dirt include being able to find information about old Custos families and Angel families alike?"

((ooc- that's okay, Dem... Rhy has been getting away with me lately... ^^))

[Demeter]

Syn blinked up at the man and nodded. "Yeah, I'm pretty good at it. I can be very persistant and persausive. And the people at the record halls know me very well. They like me as I generally come bearing food. Why? Want me to hunt someone down?" She asked, staring up at him.

While she waited for an answer, Syn studied the man. She liked to get to know her employers before she committed to anything. And to try and guess why they wanted to hire her. Usually, men hired her for only one thing but this guy didn't seem the type to father a child and then vanish...still, you never knowned. "I'm not trying find a bastard child of a an Custos family because you dallied with the youngest daughter of that family, am I?" She asked suddenly while scowling at the man.



Dream, once she returned to her father's house on the more affulent parts of the city, flopped over onto her bed. Why in the hell had she said all that to Rhystic? It couldn't possibly be because she liked him. He was an attrative man, that much was unavoidable, but his personality was just...annoying.

She rolled over onto her stomach and groaned when someone knocked on her door. Second laters, the door opened and Darius stared down at his youngest child. Dream turned her head to look at him over her shoulder. "yes, I told Marrus that you want to trounce him at Chess. He said 'ha! I'd like to see him try.' And would you please stop consipring with him to get me and Rhystic hitched. I know your greatest goal is to see all of your children happily settled down and giving you grandbabies but it just isn't going to happen with Rhystic. He hates Angels, remember?"

Darius snorted and sat down on the edge of his daughter's bed. "The boy just doesn't know what is the best for him. Now, if you would just--"

"Shut it, Dad," Dream said and threw a pillow at him. Darius managed to take a hint and left his daughter's room. Dream huffed and wondered about the man who would take in and become very protective of a young girl but be so abrasive with everyone else.

[Shinigami]

If Syn was half as good as she said she was he might be able to get some real answers. Or at least enough to try and dig up the rest on his own. He knew Rhystic was involved somehow, but he wasn't stupid enough to think he was responsible for what happened to his family. When Syn began speaking again he perked up to pay attention.

Cas blinked at Syn before laughing. It took him a moment to get himself back together and then another minute to sober up enough to explain why he needed Syn's help. He sighed and looked up at the woman sitting in front of him. "No no... you won't be tracking down any illigitimate children of mine. My family was killed when I was a boy by another Custos family. I was never told much, but I know Angels were involved somehow. I want to know who was responsible and why they did it."

***

Rhystic threw the door open to his father's study to find the man sitting at his desk, reading. Marrus looked up at his son with a completely innocent look on his face, which was rather impossible for such a rather imposing looking man. Though, he never seemed quite so scary to his sons, who as children had him wrapped around their fingers. "A little Angel told me a funny story on her way out of our house. Apparently you want Dream and I to settle down and give you and Darius grandchildren. What the hell do you think you're doing trying to set me up with an Angel?!"

Marrus rolled his eyes at his son, but didn't bother standing. "Rhy, there really is no reason for you to hate ALL Angels. They aren't all responsible for everything horrible one of them does. What would you do if someone told you that you were to be punished because some low life Custos decided to murder someone." When Rhystic bristled at the thought of being punished for someone else's mistakes, Marrus gave him a look.

Rhy huffed, but refused to back down. "Well, they may not all be responsible, but a hell of a lot of them like to act like heathens."

"Does Dream?" That caught Rhy off guard a little. He had never seen or heard of her acting out of hand, but that didn't mean she never had. Though, he was fairly certain that if she had acted out like that Darius would have flipped out. Marrus took his silence as his defeat and smiled, but Rhystic shook his head. "Just because she isn't like the kinds of Angels I loathe doesn't mean she's fit to be my wife. Now -back off-, old man."

Rhy turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him. He stalked back down the hall to his father's office, which was where he would find whatever information he needed to contact Syn's kindle, plus it would be a quiet place to hide in, as his father rarely used it. He threw himself into the chair and picked up the phone, dialing whatever numbers he managed to find.

[Demeter]

Syn grinned. She sank lower in her chair and tossed one jean covered leg over the arm of the chair. Finding out who and why was one of her favorite things. She never enjoyed revenge hunts and revenge kills but when asked to dig deep into an old case or mysterious event, Syn jumped.

Twisting a strand of red hair around her fingers, Syn smiled up at Cas. "Sure, I'll help you out. It's been a while since I've had a real challenge." she stood and straighened out her clothing. "So, Cas, When are we going to get together to talk about what you already know? Having some background information will be helpful when I start looking."

***

Dream glared at her father from across his desk. Meddling old man, she thought as he grinned at her. He'd just sprung some bogus marriage contract on her. Something him and Marrus had concocted in their younger, childless years, as a way to combind to Custos houses. They planned for their oldest children to get married. To each other. And, seeing as how the rest of her sisters had blown his plans out of the water. But she was still single, as was Rhystic.

"I can't believe you. I told you to stay out of this. Besides, you already have a child married to a Deluge son or did you forget about Tobin."

Darius smirked. "The contract says the oldest children, Dream, and Tobin isn't Marrus' oldest. This has always been something important to us, Dream, so you will go through with it. You and Rhystic will be good for each other. There is no way out of this, Dream. I want the best for you and I want someone who not sit by and let you go the way of other reapers. Rhystic will keep you on your toes."

Dream couldn't help the short but infuriated scream she huffed out between cleched teeth. It wasn't that she minded Rhystic, it was that her father was still trying to run her life. She suddently stood, shoving her chair backwards and stormed out of her father's office. She screamed again when he yelled out to her that she'd been moving in with Rhystic until the wedding. Dream past her mother in the hallway and pointed to the open doors of the office. "Your husband is an infuriated, annoying, addle-minded, meddling old man."

[Shinigami]

Caspian was glad that Syn was interested in the job and uprighted himself from the desk. He walked around to put the book back into it's shelf, already having picked out a room when he asked her if Fallens bothered her. She'd be in the room by herself, but there were many Fallens in the building, and they were sometimes allowed to roam, though, until Rhystic talked to her kindle, Syn would most likely be stuck in her room. "That's good to hear."

He walked over to the door motioning her to follow him, but he spoke again before he opened the door. "I'll get you set up in your room now, and we can either speak there, or you can wait until you're being released, if your confident enough in your kindle. I'll most likely be the one escorting you out."

***

Rhystic had managed to get ahold of Syn's kindle, and after a bit of a debate, Rhy agreed that her punishment would be light and would not cause bodily harm. He then had the task of convincing the other Lord's that it was a just punishment, but most backed off when he mentioned her loyalty was with her kindle. Plus, he had been in a rather bad mood that day. He was currently sitting in one of his rooms, reading a book by a window and dressed rather casually - a rare sight for anyone to see. The door opened, without a knock, but Rhy knew only two people brave enough to do that. His father or his daughter.

"Ah, there you are. I've been looking for you today. Did you get that whole mess with the Cougars sorted out." Ah, it was his father this time. He looked up and nodded, shutting his book, but keeping a finger tucking into the pages to hold his place. "I did. She'll be held here for a day or two, then she's being released to a kindle member. Was that all you needed me for? Or is there something else?"

Rhy knew better than to think his father sought him out for something so insignificant, so he was preparing himself - though, for what he wasn't sure. Marrus sat in the high backed wing chair across from him and had a little smirk on his face, which worried his son. "I do indeed have something else to discuss with you. Darius and I have been talking, and it is quite obvious you're not going to marry on your own anytime soon, so we've decided to impliment the marriage contract we had written out years ago."

Rhystic stiffened, glaring at his father. "What marriage contract? You can't possibly be thinking of -forcing- me to marry Dream!" Marrus stood, and for once he took a stern tone with his son. "The contract was written before either of us had any children. It stated that our two eldest would marry in order to join our two families."

Rhy growled, standing up quickly his book still in his hand. "And what of Tobin? Did you forget about your precious favorite son? Isn't he married one of Lord Darius' daughters?! I can't believe this! You would force this on me?!" He stalked away from his father, starting to pace, but turned back when he thought he had a good reason to talk his father out of it. "What about Kuraku? She may be all grown up, but that doesn't mean I don't have to consider her in these things. Do you know what having an Angel step-mother would do to her? And one that's younger than her, at that!"

Marrus deepened his tone, and Rhy stepped backwards a few steps on instinct, knowing better than you challenge his father when he gets in that type of mood. "You are just too blind and stubborn to see that Dream would be a good wife for you! She could probably help you, AND Kuraku, work through your troubles with Angels, plus I would have the added perk of more grandchildren. Now, you WILL go through with this contract, and Dream will be moving in with us before the wedding, so you better be on your best behavior!"

Rhy snarled, he was a grown adult and yet his father was trying to make his life decisions for him. He was so infuriated that the didn't even think when he flung his book across the room, intentionally missing his father. Once he heard the satisfying bang as it hit the wall he growled one last time and stalked out, giving a frustrated shout once he got into the hallway.

***

Kuraku and been about to go speak with her father about some of the soldiers and their progress in their training. She also wanted to sit with him, as she hadn't ahd the chance to just spend time with Rhy in a while. He seemed to be in a better mood since he had gotten a few frustrations out of the way, so she was sure he would be happy to just chat idolly.

Once she got to the door, however, she could hear her grandfather's voice. She pressed her ear up against the door, listening in as their voices rose until they were yelling at eachother. Her eyes were wide as she listened, not able to believe that her grandfather would force Rhy to marry that Angel. She heard the loud bang and heavy footsteps, so she quickly flung herself away from the door and back into the nearest hallway, making sure her father hadn't known she was there.

[Demeter]

Dream stared at the pair of Iron bound doors in front of her for a second before looking over her shoulder and glaring at her father. She had planned to run off after packing up her stuff but he'd ruined that plan by escorting her to Rhystic's front door. "I hate you" she hissed out while the doors opened.

She nodded to Rhystic and kicked the duffle bag by her feet into the Foyer. "Hi, just show me my room and I'll stay out of your way," she grumbled out, arms crossed over her chest. "I take it you couldn't talk your half of the worlds most evil friendship out of this hair-brained idea. Seems to think that we'd be good for each other."

She stepped inside the doors and glared at her father. "See, I'm in. I was a good girl now leave, you meddling old man." she knew that most people wouldn't talk to a Custos lord, even if the Custos lord was their father, but really...she would only put up with so much. Once her father was walking down path, whistling, Dream kicked the door shut and turned to stare at Rhystic. "Seriously. Just point me to my room and I'll stay out of your life. We'll do the marriage and say that I can't have children or whatever and that will keep them off our backs. You go about your life and I'll go about mine."

***

Syn lay flopped over on a bed, waiting for Cas to show up so she could pick at his mind for whatever he knew and remembered about the Custoss who'd killed his family. They'd agreed to talk after finding out just how she was to be handled and, since she got to stay in hell for a while, it only made since for Cas to come back during her stay.

Not that her stay had been all that great. Her mother had heard about her being dragged to the seventh layer and remanded into the care of the Custos lord, for a punishment of all things, she'd come around, wailing that her daughters would be the death of her. She gotten some looks from the other fallens, who probably wondered why some low lever, second layer Custos had a daughter who was dragged to see the seventh layer lord. Syn had just ignored her mother while clicking away on her laptop, reviewing notes for other cases.

[Shinigami]

Rhytic was pacing the hall infront of the large doors that allowed access to the house. He had been ordered to wait until Dream arrived and great her personally, and Marrus had even escorted him to the door and gave him a stern glare. His way of warning Rhy that if he left his "post" before he greated his "future wife" there would be consequences. Severe ones. So, like a petulant child, Rhy bitched an moaned under his breath about how much he hated his father, this stupid contract, Angels, and he was sure to find -something- he could complain about his would-be bride.

He heard his guests' approach and swung one of the large doors open only to have to dodge Dream's bagage as she kicked it into the foyer. He made his own grumbling noises when she mentioned that he obviously hadn't been able to talk his father into backing out of the contract, though, he found it rather amusing that Lord Darius saw fit to escort his daughter to their door. He obviously didn't trust her to run off when she got the chance, and Rhy didn't blame her for wanting to.

Rhy held his tongue until Dream kicked the door closed. Shaking his head an her proposal. "Do you honestly think your father will just believe you when you say you can't have children and leave it at that? I know my father wouldn't at any rate, but at least my father will be patient after the wedding. And going about my life as usual will be rather hard, seeing as my own daughter won't even speak to me or look me in eyes."

He was still rather sore about that, as Kura had been his little pride and joy that he had always enjoyed spending time with. He had told her about the contract once he had calmed down from being told himself, and she had been avoiding him since. He scowled and waved Dream on. "Come on, your room is in my quarters." He turned to walk down one of the many hallways that led away from the foyer and towards his quarters.

While it was true that Marrus had strategically prepared a room there, Rhy's quarters were quite large and he found the space between his bedroom and hers bareable. As they approached the large white doors he pushed them open and stepped aside. "This is your room, and you have run of any others that connect directly to it, as well. My room, should you be forced to find me there, is in the next hallway over at the far end. You already know where my office is. Anything else before I can go return to my work?"

He was being forceably polite, though, if the circumstances were different, and Dream weren't part Angel, he most certainly wouldn't have minded her finding him in his room. He was only a man, after all, and had to admit when he saw beauty, even if it was only to himself.

***

Caspian had just finished training with some of the newer, inexperianced soldiers when he got the order to escort Syn out. He cleaned up quickly, ever hating being dirty and wanting to street apropriate clothing than armor, and headed out towards her room. He was eager to speak with the investigator, though he didn't have very many details at all about what had happened to his family. Only minor ones, along with the image of their crest burned into his memory. He figured it would most likely be the crest that would end up the most usefull.

He arrived at her door not long after setting out and gave a kurt knock, hoping the girl was ready, because he wished to be away from prying eyes and evesdropping ears as soon as possible. He wouldn't speak about anything until he was sure his words wouldn't get back to Rhystic. He spoke as soon as the door opened. "I hope you're ready. Get your things quickly and lets move."

[Demeter]

Dream glanced around the rooms quickly, withholding the sigh of relief when she saw the few boxes she'd sent on earlier tucked into a corner. She turned to Rhystic. "No, nothing else for now. And I'm sorry about Kura. I'd hope that she wouldn't have been hurt by all of this but it appears that our fathers are doing more harm then good. You can go, I really don't need you hanging around."

Dream closed the doors to her room and leaned against them, closing her eyes for a moment. Those eyes snapped open and she squeaked when she remembered something. She pulled one of the french doors and leaned out of the doorframe. "Rhystic!" she called after his departing back. "Whats the deal with dinner around this place? I don't have to show up on time and dressed up, do I? Or I can just eat in the kitchen, sitting on the counter, and eating something I heated up out a can?"

When she got her answer, Dream returned to her room and glanced around. Larger then her room back at her father's place. She skirted the bed and went for the boxes. All of the things she hadn't been able to leave behind, including a slightly ratty old blanket. It had been her fathers but the first time she'd meet him, when she was five years old, she'd been scared of the guy. And sick. That part she remembered clearly. Right in the middle of her introduction to her father, her until then low grade fever had spiked and her complaints about not feeling good were realized when she depoisted her partially digested breakfast onto her father's lap. He'd just brushed the incident off and wrapped her up in the blanket from the back of the sofa. She'd been attachted ever since.

Dream pulled that blanket out of a box, wrapped it around her body like a cloak and curled up on the bed, wishing that she was home and not in a place that belonged to her future husband, who hated angels. She knew that her father was just trying to make sure that she was cared for, but he could have found a better guy.

And, of course, there was Kura to deal with. There was no way that the girl was happy about this, espcially with Dream being the same age as her. Dream sighed and rolled over. She was just glad that her required week off from Charon's service was over and that she'd be gone for a while starting tomorrow. She supposed that she should tell Rhystic not to expect her back for a few days. Unwrapping herself from her blanket, Dream went on a search for Rhystic.

***

Syn bounced off the bed and grabbed up her bag. "Yeah, I'm ready. I've been ready for hours now." Syn smiled at the Custos as they exited the room. She grinned at the few fallens that were allowed to roam in the wing reserved for them. She was leaving. "Can't wait to get out of here. My plants probably need to be watered."

Syn followed Cas out of the place. "So, when do we get to talk? Cause, I don't know how this whole transfer thing works because I may be part of the Northwest Kindle but I live over on the east coast." Syn was eager to get her claws into this case, it had been a while since she'd had any sort of real challenge and this sounded like a great challenge.

[Shinigami]

Rhystic nodded when Dream told him she didn't need him for anything further and turned to leave. He heard her close the door behind him and he had managed to make it halfway down the hallway before he heard he yell out to him. He stopped and turned, a bit put out and wondering what on earth she could have forgotten. Rhy actually chuckled a bit when she asked about dinner. "There's no set time for dinner unless the family tells the kitchen staff there is. You can either go make your own food, whether its from a can or not, or you can have the staff make it for you."

He hesitated for a moment after she went back, waiting to see if she would be popping her head back out again, but when she didn't after a moment or two he continued on his way to his office. He closed the door behind him and flopped, rather uncharacteristically, into a wingbacked leather chair in the far corner, away from his desk. He didn't have much work that needed to be done and he wasn't in the mood to start it, so he was procrastinating a bit. It didn't take long for him to pull himself up from his chair, deciding that he was horrible at procrastination as having nothing to do drove him crazy.

He unbuttoned and rolled up his shirt sleeves as well as unbuttoned a couple buttons of the shirt itself. That was as casual as most ever saw him on a good day. He settled at his desk and started going through all of his schedules and copying them over to his computer so he could actually keep track of them in a more organized manner. He heard a knock at the door and didn't even look up as he bade whoever entrance. "Come in."

It wasn't until the person had actually entered that he spared a glance and signed a bit when he saw it was Dream. She didn't seem the type to knock to him. "Did you have another question?"

***

Caspian was glad to see the woman ready to go and began to lead the way out. They got outside the building Syn had been held in before Cas replied. "We can talk while we wait for your kindle member outside of Hell. This place has too many eyes and ears." He looked back for his next words though, a little confused as to how her situation would work. "Anyway, how can you live on the eastcoast, yet be a member of the Northwest Kindle?"

((ooc: crappy on Caspians part, but it's there))