Beach Filler Episode (OPEN)

[Dust]

Dust was alone when Takezo approached, he looked up from the sands and smiled up at his friend. Then laughed with a bit of red to his cheeks at the man's comment about being surrounded by beautiful women. He was one of the only two who knew the specifics of his power, who or what he told after he vanished was a mystery. Deep inside his heart, the contractor was full of excitement at seeing his oldest friend approaching him. If he hadn't been buried neck deep in the sand by Gildart's he would have thrown his arms around his friend in greetings. Maybe it was best he couldn't move under the threat of Gildarts smiting him proper. "You are a sight for sore eyes." He said, just taking him in, noticing his clothing change. "Ah, and you adapt well! Look at those fancy trunks." He teased.

The ronin made his way around to face his friend so the immobile man didn't strain too much. He was looking at the man's neck puzzlingly.

Another laugh escaped Dust when he realized what a sight he must be. "I am in time out." He offered.

"Time out?"

"Yes, for kissing a girl I shouldn't have." Dust offered, sheepishly.

"Does this happen often? You seem pretty calm."

Still smiling, did the man ever stop? "Well, I can't complain too much. It was Gildart's daughter, after all, I could be a head in the sand that doesn't talk."

"Gildarts? The strongest Prime!"

It wasn't exactly surprise, it wasn't exactly shock, but something close that peaked Takezo's voice. It understandably sounded like a pretty stupid thing to do in hindsight. Had he known she was Gildart's daughter adopted or not he might not have proceeded in kissing her. He knew something had to be up when she was trying so hard to convince him it would be fine. Wolf saw no harm in it though, as it was just a kiss and for fun of all things. He understood that was no excuse and should have gotten a signed permission slip or something, but that's why he was here in the sand wasn't it? To reflect on his actions.

He's never had to do that before.

Another short laugh. "Yeah, that's the one." He said, going from silence to smiles in no time. Then he realized he didn't get to tell Takezo any of the stuff that happened to him because his friend had been killed during the game. Again, he couldn't feel sad at all. "Oh. That's right. I have so much to tell you!"

This was when Molly appeared once more, pulling his Doll along behind her while an oddly colored pony escorted them with a picknicks worth of things in tow. He was thrilled to see the boy wasn't bright red and amused by the fact that he was clutching the bottle of sunblock. The short blonde sat down and began to explain that his mission for her wasn't hard at all and that they had food. It wasn't until he saw the sandwich in their bags, cut corner to corner, that the entire party around him could hear his stomach. Even under ground, it was loud and beastly. "Heh... I'm just a little hungry." He said, then turned to his friend. "Sit with us Takezo. Gildarts should be around soon enough to let me out. He's an awesome guy and it would be rude not to introduce you to the man who's going to be training me."

All these new faces and new concepts struck Takezo into bewilderment. Dust was clearly a man who could get along with anyone if he could be friends with a son-of-a-bitch like him and a powerhouse like Gildarts. Before he could decline, or accept, he felt the little hand of the girl grab him and pull him to sit down. Beside him sat a very pale youth with dulled eyes. This male was very easily the only one not dressed for the occasion of a picnic on the beach. He wore a black jacket but with nothing under neath, the hood being on his back and letting a head full of wispy silver hair float on the breeze. All except a single braid bound by a complicated silver clasp bead. His teal colored eyes settled on the ground between him and Dust. He also seemed to be the only one who wasn't aware of his surroundings. The ronin had very little time to question it before a sandwich was put in his hands, the silence nameless figure got one as well.

"You think Gildart's would be mad I freed just one hand?" He asked, looking to Molly who had a face of uncertainty. This made the man's face twist back, but then he looked up like he found a loophole. But even if he liked it a great deal as a counter argument, he frowned again and decided he shouldn't disobey or else. He turned to the Doll and was going to ask him to feed him, only to freeze at the idea of not knowing what to call him... He looked like a statue, just looking at the ground. At that, he wondered what kind of medium the guy needed. Didn't they have to be some form of clear substance? He looked at the sandwich in his hand and willed his stomach to remain silent. "Staring at it won't help, just eat." He said.  The Doll looked up with eyes that looked like clouded unrefined gems. "Hoseki." slipped from his lips and he looked away. When he thought about it though, it was a good enough name...

"I'll help you, Dust." Molly offered, smiling at him and then offering the corner of a turkey and bologna sandwich. His eyes lit up as if she were his angel of mercy and took a careful but eager bite. It was as plain as could be, but he took another one right away. He smiled happily at her as he chewed, his cheeks poking out as he did. She just laughed at him.

After a half of the sandwich was gone and a whole fruit juice box as well, Dust was ready to put his hunger pains aside to start. "Oh, Molly. This is Shinmen Takezo, he's scary but he's my best friend." He said, then looked to Takezo. "And this is Molly. She's Gildart's daughter." The girl in question looked more related to the silent man beside the demon - who has slowly been consuming the peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the same size bites a mouse would make - but Takezo just nodded at her politely instead of suggesting she looked nothing like her father. "Crazy cute, isn't she?" He added, but the other man wasn't sure if he was meant to comment on the cuteness level of a 10-year-old.

'I guess I'll start with when you left." He started. It was shortly after that that he found Gildarts so it made sense. "After you got culled, Yuki and I headed into the mountains. We found Calamari and her friend in the mouth of some cavern and chased them in. Did you know there was lava on that island?" He stopped momentarily to take a drink of the empty juice box, frowned, and then moved back into his story. "I decided taking care of her other tentacle was the best thing to do, so I did that. Then she kicked me below the belt, and while I was down she fell into the lava." He frowned. "Sorry I couldn't push her in myself..'

'I don't know what happened after that exactly because next thing I know Yuki's on the ground and there's no more cave. I decided to take her to the closest safe house, but since our target was downed and I was hoping to get a few more points in I went to the nearest spot and found Gildarts." He paused to smile, apparently really excited about the idea. "I was going to fight him, Takezo. I really was." He expressed how sure he was.

There was no doubt in Takezo's mind that he would have. "But then why didn't you?"

Dust's smile only grew. "It was more fun to follow him." He said confidently. This made the older male let out a hearty laugh before he bit back into his own sandwich. It was a paste or two kinds of pastes, slapped between two oddly shaped carved pieces of bread. The flavors blended finely enough, but nothing like the Japanese buffet at the facility.

Actually, I never got to see Gildart's fight, unless you count the Bear. I don't. But we finally found someone in that forest, before Gildarts got culled. So it was me and his friend against this fairy." He explained but decided not to go into too many details as it wasn't his proudest moment. He had proven his worth to Illidan he believed, but he had not been happy about killing an obviously weaker target. At least he could respect making it quick and easy instead of dragging it out. "We won." He said, his tone dipping far enough down to show some remorse. Only to pick back up when he saw their faces. "Of course we did." He added. "Karl teleported us to the safe house we met Yuki in, and while he took a nap I met this girl." He stopped the moment he remembered Tamsin. Takezo watched as Dust claimed right up for once and while still shining, he turned hot red and looked away like he was smitten with whoever the mystery woman was.