Standard Mission: The Extortionists' Fee

Samael

"Good.  We'll need to make you a proper uniform though, make you look intimidating." Samael stated with pride, as he took out a measuring tape from his bag and began taking measurements of Goki's various dimensions.  He scribbled a few numbers into a notepad and then quickly followed Bastion out of the cave, as he began to sketch out an outfit design that would fit Goki.

"Anything interest you in particular?" Samael stated with a slight smile, as he erased some of his design realizing he was getting ahead of himself... it's been a while since he could sketch something out like this.

Though, he mind was alerted when he heard Bastion go off, as Samael's head quickly jolted straight up glancing between the two vanguard's with his eyes wide open.  He knew Bastion was mad, but he didn't except him to be this mad.

Though letting her oni side run wild?  Really?  She murdered a great oni with ease for god's sake!

"You need to understand Gad, they didn't notice us and we're a stealth based and analytic team.. it's why we were assigned to this mission" Samael stated rolling his eyes, as he put his sketch pad back into his pocket and continued to say, "When you run in front of the enemy like that and give away that we're all here it weakens our potential massively, and you're judging Bastion for losing his temper?"

Samael shook his head again, as he placed his hand on the back of Bastion's shoulder to calm him down.

"Though Relax.  We can discuss this in more detail back at the base, we don't know if Ryoko might test us again with forces from the 'ring'... so we should stay decently alert." Samael stated to the group, as he began to walk off.

Zephyr Arc

Waking just a little from being carried roughly by some of the lesser Oni, he heard some of the argument. Laying still for a while longer, he brushed the Oni on his back off and stood up, stumbling a but before he managed to steady himself.

"Really, what was the point of that outburst?" He asked Gad. Cherry quickly floated up and seated herself on his shoulder, whispering in his ear. Giving her a nod, he turned to the Oni he's brushed off and offered a contract.

- Bastion -

Goki blinked up at Samael before inspecting his body. "A uniform?"

He chirped in surprise as Samael began to take his measurements, both bemused and a little excited. But then Zephyr woke up like a confused bear from a long hibernation, and he and his fellow oni tumbled off the Madman's back. Zephyr tried to inquire as to what was happening, but everyone ignored him. Bastion in particular was far too focused on Gad to even notice Zephyr was up.

"Better option?" Bastion's pitch rose in incredulity. "You thought waltzing in and asking nicely after she'd just decapitated a Greater Oni was the BETTER option?!"

He rubbed his temples and shook his head. At least, Gad had the sense to admit he was wrong, but it seemed like he was still failing to see the reason why. It wasn't wrong because it failed. It was wrong because it was never a good option in the first place.

"Living bait!" Bastion snapped. "The fact that ever occurred to you in the first place is a problem! Not only were you perfectly willing to get yourself killed, but you nearly got us killed trying to rectify your unbelievably foolish blunder! If you have no qualms in recklessly endangering your team, then maybe you shouldn't be on a team at all."

His limbs were starting to shake with anger. Fortunately, Samael interceded and tried to calm the situation. Who knew how much further Bastion might have gone otherwise. He hadn't even realizes how upset and frustrated he was until he started venting.

"Right, back to Chaldea," he said, marching back up the path they took to the top of the ravine.

"Is it over?" the one Lesser Oni asked, just finishing his contract with Zephyr.

"No one lost their heads," Goki mused. "Not even any broken bones! Humans are strong... but also soft."

Bastion ignored them and took the lead up the long, craggy path. When they reached the top, they oriented themselves and headed back toward Chaldea.

Bastion, now feeling uncomfortable after losing control like that, nudged Samael aside and spoke to him out of earshot of the others as they walked.

"Do you think I... went a bit far?" he asked, cheeks reddening again.

Gad

"Judging his character?" said Gad, raising his eyebrows. "I am merely stating what I saw. To me, that's a show of frustration."  And then Zeph butt in asking what made Gad take such action. "Didn't I say it earlier? I believed in her human side. Even if she chopped that greater oni's head, it doesn't change the fact that she's half-human."

Then Bastion came with the full swing with his frustration. Gad took it rather well, then Bastion mentioned about he shouldn't be in the team at all. "Yeah, don't worry about it. Just give me some time and you won't see me in the team mission." Said Gad, and watched Bastion turned his head and went forward. Gad did not say anything else.

Then the Lesser Onis spoke about such bad-blood over without a blood bath, then talked about humans being soft. "Well, unlike you onis, humans have to have soft sides to survive. If you don't have that soft sides, you can't be called human."

Then Gad thought about Ryoko; a girl who definitely had human blood in her. Perhaps, he was an idiot to believe that she still had that humanity side living inside her. However, would he have done things differently?

No, perhaps Gad is too soft on that side. He would probably do it again to find a better option for co-existence.

Samael

Samael turned his head towards Gad, as he stared at him for a few seconds before giving him an irritated glare.  He was dodging a lot of what they said, unable to handle it.  People like him wouldn't of lasted a minute with his old pack, they'd carve him up for being a prick.

"A lot of humans are scum Gad...  Who's only 'role' is to make others suffer" Samael depressingly commented, as he turned his head away from the vanguard.  Though, he secretly let out a sigh of a relief, now happy that this whole ordeal was over and he could start making an new outfit for his new demon!

When Bastion started talking to him, Samael jumped a bit as he tried to play it off like it didn't happen coolly turning his head towards Bastion with a solemn nod.

"You were justified, Gad has a big ego... so it's better you talk him down now before a demon does it for him." Samael stated with a reassuring smile, as he lightly patted Bastion on the shoulder.

"You coming Zeyphr?  Or do you want a Bicorn to carry you?"  Samael jokingly called out with a slight jab in his tone, trying to bring an end to the tension of the situation.

Zephyr Arc

In response to Samael's inquiry, Zephyr recalled his vague memories of the fight from after the madness effect hit him. That bicorn was nearly as rowdy as he had been...

"Uh, I'm not sure that's a good idea..." he replied, going comically pale at the suggestion. "Not sure I need any more broken bones for a while..."

- Bastion -

Bastion smiled and Samael's words, his friendly pat on the shoulder reassuring. Yes, Gad's belief's were dangerously naive, and he would need to face reality or face a lifetime of disappointment... if he lasted that long.

Goki, dragging his little club along the ground as he followed after Samael, looked up at Gad's words. "Hmm... is that why Ryoko is so hard? Ryoko wants to be full oni. She hates being half-breed. So if Ryoko kills softness, she kills human side?"

It wasn't the most eloquent assessment, but Bastion thought there might be a ring of truth to it. Perhaps that hadn't been working for her, and she hoped joining this "Ring" might make her strong enough to kill off her human side, so to speak.

Either way, Bastion had a feeling this wasn't the last they'd see of Ryoko.

Gad

Gad smiled weakly, he did not speak any more or so; it looked like he had been misunderstood and his belief seem to be taken as just naive.

But Gad knew so well, after all of his traveling with the others and meeting some demons, he knew if humans don’t believe in co-existence then no beings could keep such ideal alive.

Goki spoke his assessment about Ryoko; Gad agreed with what Goki said, but many demons forget one thing. The reason why Ryoko try so hard is because of her human side. The human’s need, the sense of belonging... And there’s something he disagrees with, and perhaps he disagrees with Ryoko with as well. Humans are not soft - humans are probably the most brutal and selfish existence in this world. The only reason why they appear to be so soft, it’s because they have strength that what other beings lacked.

In any case, it looked like he created uncomfortable relationships. If it was old him, he would have tried to break the wall so that he could reach them. But, after losing his comrades, he could not bring himself to do so. Instead of losing his new comrades, he would die protecting his belief, even if it cost his life, and meet his lonely end.