(Pre-Show) The Lobby

[Gildarts]

Jon Snow certainly had proved to be a man of his own. Gildarts was reminded of his adventures to the other side of the continent, back in Earth-land, where he had met many notable soldiers but they always seemed to have been adorned with a well-pronounced and completely shamless pride, a trait the man before him wasn't flaunting. Snow sent his apologies for the intrusion and later introduced himself. Gildarts greeted the man with mutual respect as he extended his non-silver shackled hand to the warrior.

Snow seemed much more well mannered than any of the kids he knew that were the same age. So much so that Gildarts had to reconsider his original impression of his age; sure Jon looked young enough, but with his serious expression broken only by a slim smile and a maturity that balanced in his equally calm demeanor, Gildarts had the distinct impression that he was an heir to some sort of throne. Yet the clothing was not of a king's nor a soldier's, leaving his impression of a knight unanswered and dangling on a cliff.

At the mention of the same 'Dante's Abyss' that the reporter had spoken of, a twitch of fire-infused anger itched in his eye. White teeth clenched, yet the veteran was never one to flinch at his own rage, "So that's what they're calling this place?"

His voice, no longer amicable, but freshly determined, was instilled with the growing growls of hostility capable only by a man who had been betrayed. As though Gildarts was keeping the smoldering flame of retaliation at bay, an ounce of restraint was evidence enough for Jon to plainly see the resistance on the wizard's newly hardened face.

Gildarts reminded himself of the potential casualties in the room and avidly restrained the sharpness on his tongue. It had not breached his words with a callous nature, but moreso of a man who had been pitted against his mortal enemy. With a still-bitter squint, Gildarts grumbled with his complaint, "A man told me that instead, I was to be delivered home so that I could save the lives of my guild. It seems the same man was lying."

Jon allowed moment of silence for Gildarts to gather the potential loss and plan his next move. There weren't words that could ever harbor enough sincerity to make up for another man's fault, nor amend the same grievance caused by it. The veteran's mourning struck a chord and Jon was able to put two and two together. He reflected on the wizard's reclusive next move after the news had oddly enough been delivered to the unsuspecting Prime, by a newsman. Gildarts had then moved away from the very people that had cornered him in this room, meant for gathering each and every competitor. Anyone who had agreed to join this battle to the death, in Gildarts' eyes, had certainly become part of the trap he had been ensnared in. Enemies he faced, Jon too could have been suspect, and yet Gildarts never treated him as such.

Uncharacteristically, he overturned another thought. The Ace smirked in his own demeaning strife. "The only reason I don't cause a bit of commotion at the door over there, is because all those people would get in my way." He spoke of escape in his gruff voice, "Trying has crossed my mind, but you see, I'm a man of doing."

Jon took a glance back at the metallic doors he had entered through.

"I'm not sure I could break it down without someone getting in my way." It seemed, had anger gotten the best of Gildarts, an unstoppable rampage would have inevitably ensued. Not only was this Prime powerful enough to break the earth beneath his feet, but he was also practical about it. Gildarts seemed intent on proving to those who had captured him, that they could not steal him away with lies, seal him away in a room, and call him tame; no matter the size of the cage, he would always find the will to fight.