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Being so readily ignored by the women, especially the women of Conquest, was nothing new to Bastion. So, when he realized with a glance and a double take to confirm, that he was being subtly stared at, Bastion felt conflicted. They were, admittedly, both two beautiful women. That usually meant he had to go hide until they left or forgot about him. But Medea needed all of the horsemen at her side, and so he looked like he was taking a step back, just to take another step forward.

He continued to step back, then forward, then back, then forward..

Bastion was two stepping.

Why were they still looking at him?!

Soren looked down at Lan, expression somewhat serious but mostly just blank. Doing what who did? It didn't really matter, but her neck looked like it was in a painful position. "You need me to lift you so you can see?" It would mean he would be putting his hands on her, but if she invited him so be it.

He accepted Lifen's smile and nod. It was all he needed in a friend.

It was the most delayed barrel in the world. One moment Shik was safe: nodding to Eisheth in return (it had been a while since he had seen the alchemist - perhaps another aptitude test in battle was in order), raising a brow at Lan's snub (he had half a mind to try and goad her about his resounding victory over her last they met because he was petty like that), raising the other at Shaheen and the snickering he did not yet understand (because that still didn't count as talking to her), turning back to Iyari to say, "There is always time that can be made -"

And then it happened. The Bucketing Mark Two.

It was almost in beautiful slow motion the way the barrel flew through the air, twirling like a beautiful brown barrel-chested ballerina, angling just perfectly to kiss Shik's sweet little face just as he was lifting not a brow, but actual an arm this time to fend it off, his face twisting with a startled growl -

But like most things that came into the executioner's possession, the barrel was promptly destroyed. Splintered in two across his face, neck, and chest with a burst of wooden fragments that knocked Shik back against Bastion; the poor guy was most likely assaulted not just by the war horseman's sharp nails, but by the aftermath of what had once been a beautiful barrel. Shik snarled less from pain and more in indignant irritation (his Fear shield had prevented any actual lasting damage) as he stalked forward to confront the trouble making duo.

He was going to be yanking these two by the wings and dragging them along the ground like fresh kills if he had his way.

“Excuse me, Senga. I thought I explained myself to you already about that. I guess one time just wasn’t enough for you?” she huffed indignantly, crossing her arms as she turned away from the executioner.

A puzzled Jay stared at the barrel as it soared through the air. She watched it curiously until she realized who the accidental target was—Shikoba. As the container scattered into pieces with a loud crack, she fell into peals of shrieking laughter. Her wings flapped wildly while she clutched her stomach tightly. “You’re dead, Senga. So dead! AHAHAHAHAHA!” She had to suck in large mouthfuls of air to help calm herself down before stumbling over to Iyari to clap her on the shoulder. “You love us anyways, I know you do,” she stated matter-of-factly with a confident grin.

Perhaps it was the smell of sweet roses in the air. Or just the sheer intuition that ran through Bastion's blood, hot and demanding. Whatever the reason might have been, Bastion's heart throbbed painfully, beating just once so hard it made him put his hand to his chest in response. That one pure moment of adrenaline, spiking up as all of his senses were slapped into awareness, came in a rush that took him off guard-

Shikoba slammed into him a moment later, confirming what his body was trying to tell him - he was in danger.

He winced as the larger man tumbled into him, falling back without any balance and landing right on his rear. He bounced, and let out a rather unsavory sound of agony as his backbone felt pierced with the pain of impact. Then he flopped down on his back, and felt the shattered remains of a barrel fall on his face.

Why him?

Lan wasn't staring at you Bastion (Not your face anyway). But the shuffling was mildly distracting. Raising en eye brow she turned away in time to hear Soren's remark.

She opened her mouth then closed it. "..................................." Finally she figured out what to say. "I'm in a dress. Lifting me up, or becoming a footstool isn't exactly appropriate but thank you for your offer. Perhaps in the future." Not in a dress.


Of course.

Then Invi showed up. Lan's dishonor meter skyrocketed as she made a small awkward shuffle. Bowing towards him and hoping he wouldn't be disappointed in her with whatever they would be called to do.

None of this mattered however and the world turned to bliss and butterflies as Shik was hit by the barrel.

She would have to thank Senga and Jay later, for now, smiling at them both.
The happiest little pony.

The war chieftain was hardly even paying attention to the group she had situated herself near, now, though she did turn towards Kiwi when he spoke, her smile just as tired looking and strained as she felt. "Yes, nice to see we have all managed to return quite safely." She agreed in a voice that appeared to have lost all energy. Even if deep in her heart she knew that she had been happier in that other world, and would choose to return in an instant, if that option were available to her.

More horsemen were arriving, some of which she recognized but didn't know well enough to even remember their names, like the large man who loomed up behind Lan. That got her shifting uncomfortably on her feet, her paranoia flaring until she realized that both Lifen and Lan knew him, and then she remembered that he had been the one in that kissing booth during the Fright Night festival, so a friend of theirs and likely safe.

Her eyes followed the looks that the two conquest women were giving to a man who was standing not far off, taking a step forward and back in a peculiar way that made her eyebrows raise, much as Shik had raised an eyebrow at her. Well, she watched him until the large war man went falling into him at least, wincing a little, though her eyes seemed to light up a bit with more life and awareness, her lips quirking into a smirk as she watched oncoming action.

"Senga!" She called out to the younger and much smaller man. "Stop backing away from him! You might as well roll over and show him your belly with that attitude." She scoffed, knowing that with Shik it was always better to meet him head on, to show that you were not afraid of his bullying antics.

"Weren't you just saying the other day that you were sure you could take him in a fight?" She asked, sweetly, calling it out so that Shik was sure to hear as well. Whether or not what she said was true, Shaheen just wanted to see the other man stick up for himself.

Invi regarded Lan with mild interest - clearly if he was going to be shaming anybody that day, it wasn't going to be his dear little naiive cousin. She was learning, but that was about where his attentiveness to her teetered off for the moment.

However, he did return her bow with a light bow of his own head. "Lan." It was neither familiar nor condescending - neutral greeting.

Ying's bow was returned with a slightly lower one than his cousin had received, however, his eyes remaining attentive even as he inclined his head. "And good day to you as well, Miss Ying." he greeted - and then she ran off to hide behind his cousin as well. Ah well.