(Open) Between the velvet lies

[Albert Wesker]

Kuzan had barely finished speaking when he felt, more than saw or even heard, the movement to his side. He turned ever so slightly to look at the newcomer as she spoke up to get a look at her out of the corner of one eye, while doing his best to keep an eye on Dio, at least, as well. He was fairly confident that the young man wasn't going to starting any trouble of his own volition. He didn't seem the type to start chaos without good reason. As for Dio, though...he could tell that his own message had been received less than favorably. That told him something. If it had been wholly dismissed, then it would have meant that mister Dio here was either a far better actor than the ice-man had initially pegged him as being, or that he was so incredibly arrogant he believed that he had no cause to worry at all. That it might have potentially been dismissed because he was as powerful as the former arrogance might imply didn't pass through his own mind.

But it wasn't dismissed entirely. And while there was, of course the chance that the disapproving look on their host's face was merely that: simple disapproval, perhaps at simply being so blatantly mistrusted....well, there was also every chance it wasn't. Regardless of any of that, though, it was clear that things were getting more out of hand and interesting with their little 'hunting party'. The new arrival, who introduced herself as Akemi Homura, offered her assistance in taking down the Tarrasque as well. In practically the next breath, she confirmed she was, ineed, another Prime.

The unpleasant taste in his mouth didn't rear up quite so strongly this time as it had when he had first overheard that the other young man -- Aang, was it? -- would be taking part in a hunt for such a dangerous beast. He was all too clearly a child. As for Homura....there was something that didn't add up about her. It wasn't so much anything about her appearance or demeanor, so much as an...odd feeling. She didn't really seem like someone of the demeanor and age her appearance suggested. She seemed far more...mature. It was just a little eerie, if not exactly unsettling. Something to keep in mind, but not to really worry about.

He turned his attention back fully to Dio just in time to witness a rather....energetic performance on his part, shattering a glass upon the floor. Coupled with what he had to say, it was certainly an extremely convincing act, if an act it was. He'd stopped being able to tell for certain as soon as he'd let his focus waver.

Soon enough after, the music faded to a much more somber tune, as the band once on stage trouped out, being replaced with a performance of some sort. Kuzan gave it only a cursory look, given he was much more invested in matters going on in his immediate vicinity. Dio choosing to speak up again, this time in a much more serious tone, the ice-man leaned ever so slightly forward, resting one forearm on the table in his familiar posture. What he heard did not sound good. Something that tough he could understand; that was a pretty usual theme back in his own world, most of the time. But something that big being that fast, well...that was going to be a real issue. Compounding all that would be its apparent regenerative capabilities, something that he would be out of his depth when dealing with. The ability of a Logia user to be blown apart and reform when Haki wasn't involved was as close as his reckoning came from personal experience. But somehow he doubted it would be quite like that.

Still...if all of that was just hearsay, that was something to potentially look forward to. Such reports and informaiton, considering their sources, were likely to be at least partially skewed from fear and memories hazy from combat, adrenaline, or any number of other things, making the information less than entirely reliable. With any luck, the information would turn out to have been exaggerated, and give them an easier time of things. But somehow, in the back of his mind, he had a feeling it wouldn't be.

It never was.

Dio seemed to say as much himself the next instant, and then went on to add how necessary it was that no one here would end up a liability, even offering those no longer sure of themselves to depart. For his own part, Kuzan merely sat up straighter in his chair, leaning back ever so slightly, though left his arm propped on the table. "This one sounds nastier than most...but it won't be the first giant creature I've gone after." He rolled his neck, elicting a sharp pop and a grimace, before he indicated Aang with an inclination of his nead. "Good point. I assume we've got some kind of plan, aside from the usual 'fight smart, not hard' strategy?"

The sudden appearance of someone standing behind Dio was enough to halt further questions from the former Admiral then and there. It looked all too similar to an assassination in progress, and while Kuzan couldn't say he cared much for Dio personally, just sitting back and watching would have left an unpleasant taste in his mouth, no matter who it was. A thin sheen of frost crept over the fingers of the hand not currently resting on the table, with a sound like thin ice crackling in protest of being moved. And a faint cloud of icy mist began to stream from the growing frost, more than ready to launch into an assault.

It soon became apparent that it wouldn't be necessary, as the newcomer spoke up, revealing himself as Velger: a mercenary, also here to offer his assistance. Though his expression remained neutral, save for a scowl which had unconsciously crept onto his features, the ice slowly covering his arm rapidly vanished, leaving not even a drop of vapor behind to show it had even been there.

This was really getting more and more out of hand.