--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

[felyney]

I will, thanks.

[He is going to duck in there, find the bench he knows is in there, and just.

Lay there.

Unmoving.

Exhausted.]

[reignitions]

[What a mess.

Shio wanders back to the kitchen to get to work, nudging Kunikaki's shoulder with his own as thanks.]

[threebetrayals]

[A nudge back.]

So. What happened?

[reignitions]

Lyney got hurt.

[He sucks in a breath. More pressingly...]

Arlecchino got overthrown. New guy's a bastard-- like, actually likes Dottore level of bastard.

[threebetrayals]

...what? I never liked the Knave, but what?

[reignitions]

Yeah. Apparently she sent everyone away and when they got brought back, someone new was in charge.

[His mouth presses into a thin line.]

They're keeping Lyney away from Lynette and Freminet.

[He does not elaborate because he knows Kunikaki will see that for what it is.]

[threebetrayals]

I see. So, when do I kill him?

[reignitions]

As soon as we find Arlecchino and a good opportunity presents itself.

[It speaks volumes that he's not even bringing up a token "no murder".]

I was plannin' to ask Carbide if that Sognare boyfriend of his heard anything.

[threebetrayals]

Leaving me to handle the even-less-savory informants?

[He's good at that, after all. And has more magic.]

[reignitions]

[He nods.]

And I suspect Nagisa's already planning on looking into things on his own.

[He doesn't even have to look to know the youngest of their part-timers has been listening.]

... Eheh. Guilty as charged.

Just don't get in over your head. I know Moze's been training you, but...

[threebetrayals]

[Yeah, Kuni didn't even have to look either. It's Nagisa.]

We find the Knave, we kill the replacement. Is that about it?

[reignitions]

We also kill anyone who enabled this, if we can manage to smoke them out.

[threebetrayals]

Good. Go tend to the cat, Shio, I'll handle the lunch rush.

[reignitions]

Alright. Thanks.

[Time to take these noodles and the sake to Lyney.]

[felyney]

[Lyney has not moved from the bench. He's too tired. He's been running on fumes since Father was deposed, after all.]

[reignitions]

[Yeah, that's not a surprise.

He sets down a couple of plates of seafood yakisoba, the heated flask of sake, and two cups.

After a few moments, he reaches over to gently shake Lyney's shoulder.]

Hey.

[felyney]

[He starts to sit up, slowly and carefully.]

Hey. Is that seafood?

[His ears are showing. He's too tired to keep them hidden.]

[reignitions]

Yeah. Shrimp and calamari.

[A lot of fish doesn't play well with the stir-frying.

It's said as he reaches out to help Lyney sit up. After a moment or two, he sits down next to Lyney so the other can lean against him.]

[felyney]

[And he does with a sigh, reaching for the noodles first. He knows better than to drink on an empty stomach.]

I'm sorry about this, Shio.

[reignitions]

[He reaches for his own plate and shakes his head.]

Don't apologize. You know I'm more than happy to help you whenever you need it.

[felyney]

Still, you left the Family and here I am...

[reignitions]

I may have left, but I already knew doing so that I was going to keep helping you all however I could. You, Lynette, and Freminet especially.

[felyney]

Oh? Why us, especially?

[God, the food here is always so good.]

[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.