--Gangs--

[felyney]

[Lyney, as a rule, does not like going to people outside of the Family for help. He just doesn't know that he can trust them, and trust is tantamount for him.

But Shio was Family, once, before he managed to leave and maybe that's what Lyney needs right now. At least, he knows Shio won't report him to the Family for coming back injured.

He knocks on the employee entrance of Gen's, pressing his jacket to the wound on his arm.]

Comments

[reignitions]

You three are important to me. As important to me as Kazuma was.

[Lyney especially.]

[felyney]

...really? I know how much he meant to you.

[reignitions]

Yes, really. Kazuma meant a lot to me... but so do you.

[And so Lynette and Freminet being important to him are a natural consequence of that, too.]

[felyney]

[He smiles, leaning against Shio a little more.]

You mean a lot to me, too. When you left, I nearly took Lynette and Fremi and followed.

[reignitions]

[...!]

... Really?

[felyney]

Mhm. Father knew, though, and sat me down to talk about being her successor.

[And he couldn't let Father down, not like that. Not without giving it a shot.]

And now...

[reignitions]

And now this has happened.

[He can't blame Father for it, but there's a part of him that's angry with her for this.

... That doesn't matter right now. They'll have to find her, and restore her to her rightful position.]

[felyney]

And now this has happened.

[He sighs.]

So, is the former Balladeer planning a murder?

[reignitions]

Yes. And he's not the only one.

[He can't claim to know what goes through Nagisa's head but he knows necessary murder is a not insigificant part of what does.]

[felyney]

Am I allowed to help, or should I just focus on healing and laying low?

[reignitions]

Focus on healing and laying low. [A pause.] I'll be right here.

[Kunikaki, Nagisa, Ash, and however much of Sognare Fugo decides to alert will more than have it handled.]

[felyney]

[He smiles, and Shio can likely almost see the weight being lifted from Lyney's shoulders as he sinks down a little.]

Thank you, Shio. I...mm. I owe you.

[reignitions]

You don't owe me, Lyney.

[He puts an arm around him, smiling faintly.]

[felyney]

[It takes maybe a week for Lynette and Freminet to be found and brought to Lyney, who's more or less moved in under Jiaoqiu and Moze's place. They keep the basement as a safehouse anyway, and no one in the Family has any idea. It's just safer than Gen's, at least for now.

Lyney is a mess when his sister and brother are brought in, sobbing and clinging somewhat desperately. It takes Jiaoqiu coming in with (normal temperature) dinner for him to let go, and even then he's still a mess.]

[reignitions]

[Shio has followed Jiaoqiu in, eager to see Lynette and Freminet himself.

Nagisa just stays quiet, as he has since he brought the two in.]

[felyney]

[Jiaoqiu knows Nagisa is there, but he's not saying anything.

Freminet has his hood on, overstimulated from it all, and Lynette is clinging to her twin just as tightly as he's clinging. It's a lot.

Lyney looks up when Shio comes in.]

Shio! Fremi, it's Shio.

I heard.

[The hood stays on.]

...oh well. Shio, thank you--

[reignitions]

[Freminet gets a sympathetic look as Shio sits down nearby.]

Nagisa did most of the work.

[Even if Shio had coordinated things. Speaking of Nagisa, he's since slipped over to Jiaoqiu's side.]

I'm just glad to see the three of you reunited.

[felyney]

[Here child, have food.

Lynette speaks up.]

You mean the four of us?

[reignitions]

[He appreciates it, Uncle Jiaoqiu.

Shio pauses, clearly a little surprised, then huffs out a soft laugh (mostly at himself) as he moves closer.]

... Yeah. The four of us.

[felyney]

[Lynette nudges her brother closer to Shio, only settling when Lyney is close enough to the other man to satisfy her.]

Yeah. [Lyney sighs, relieved.] God. Now what?

[reignitions]

Continue laying low for now. A couple of the guys from Sognare said they might've found a lead on Father's whereabouts.

[felyney]

[Lynette promptly tugs Lyney down as her brother tries to get up, followed by whacking him with her tail. Absolutely not, sir.]

Are we staying here, or is there another safehouse that might be better for us?

[reignitions]

You're staying here. This is probably the safest place for you currently--nobody else knows about the place still, and some of Nagisa's friends have been drawing attention to themselves elsewhere.

[felyney]

If you're sure. And leaving here so we don't go stir crazy? Yes, or no?

[reignitions]

Sparingly. I've called in a favor with a customer who does illusions, but you're going to be subject to her schedule.