October 3, 2022

There's frenzied knocking on the front door. "HEY- LET ME IN PLEASE IM INJURED-" Yells an androgynous voice.

"Hello?" Luna opens the door, stifling a yawn. "Oh, um. hey Uh, one sec. Come on in."

On the porch is a dirty, white teen with short, choppy purple hair. Their visible skin is littered with scars and acne. They’re covered in blood, holding their side, and dragging a claymore that’s covered in grey blood. They wear a thick varsity jacket, torn up and bloodstained jeans, and a sweater beneath the jacket. Their clothes are grimy and they wear a large backpack filled with stuff. They stumble into the house, coughing up some blood. "Fuck my life-"

"Please come on in, I'll grab the first aid kit." Luna steps aside from the door to let the person in and then snaps her fingers to summon the emergency first aid kit.

The person enters the living room and sits on the floor, dropping their sword and shakily taking their hand off their wound. They look to be still in high school. "Seed eaters jumped me- there was like 10 of em." The wound looks like a long cut on their torso. Luckily not deep enough to hit their organs.

"Oh fuck, yeah those bastards are vicious." Luna begins to clean and dress the wound to the best of her ability. She's no Cole, but enough practice on herself and others plus google and WebMD has been a Godsend.

They let her, watching carefully. "What exactly are you? I've never seen someone like you before." They ask, motioning to her catness.

"Oh me? Well, I was bo-- created as a cat girl in my home veil, but then some things happened and I became a full-on anthro cat demon. Sloth to be exact." She's doing her thing.

They nod. "Ah, I see. I'm Oleander by the way," They say, offering her a smile

Luna returns with a warm smile. "And I'm Luna, nice to meet you. Can I get you some water?" The bandages are almost done.

"Please," Oleander says, voice shaky.

Luna nods and blinks. A cold bottle of water seems to float in from the kitchen and over next to Oleander. "There ya go. Speaking of." the final piece of gauze is affixed with a bandage rolled up. "All fixed up."

They take it. "Oh wow... thank you," Oleander smiles at her and chugs the water, clearly dehydrated. "Thank you so much,"

"You're so very very welcome. Would you like some more water?"

They nod quickly. "Do you live here alone?"

Luna summons a couple more bottles of water for Oleander. They're just as cold and refreshing as the other two. "Nope. I live with a few other people. Spider and Sparrow are in the kitchen for example, and Cole and Isaac are... I'm not sure."

Oleander nods, drinking the rest of the water a bit slower. "I see... are you all nonhuman?"

Luna pauses while trying to give a thoughtful answer. "Unless I'm forgetting something, yeah we're all nonhumans. Some of us more so, like Sparrow and Isaac."

Oleander nods. "...be careful. There's a few organizations who might want to contain you. Though it's probably the worst decision on their part considering there are bigger fish to fry but whatever." They grumble.

Luna sighs. "Yeah, we've been targeted by them quite a few times. The SCP foundation apparently loves us, same with Catacombis. It's really irritating."

Oleander nods. "Yeah... just be safe. They’re unrelenting." They say, gritting their teeth.

"Did you get caught by the Foundation?" Luna asks, tilting her head slightly.

Oleander shakes their head. "No, but they raided my home. I think we all escaped but..." They look down. "I miss them."

Luna goes silent. "My condolences."

They shrug. "It’s fine. I'm sure they're all safe, wherever they are. I'm the most fragile one of us, being completely human and all."

"I'm sure they're safe and sound, and besides, I wish I was just a human. Less assholes gunning for my life to perform experiments on me." She grumbles at the end of that.

A sentient horse skull about the size of someone's head rolls across the floor into the living room.

Oleander stares at it. "Um. Does that have a name?" He asks, referring to the skull.

Luna shrugs. "I have no idea. It's a sentient horse skull mask that Sparrow wore yesterday."

"Huh. Sounds cool." They smile a bit. "Sorry for getting blood everywhere-"

"It's no problem. I've been needing to do some cleaning around here anyway." Luna smiles back. "With Harmonia elsewhere, I've been trying to keep this place as tidy as I can, but lately I've been a little lazy."

Oleander nods then pauses. "Did you say, Harmonia? That name sounds familiar."

"Harmonia Reeds, she's the owner of this house. Previously, she was one of two humans here, alongside Chris Garnet."

The horse skull watches them as they talk.

Oleander nods. "Hm. I’m not sure where I’ve heard it before..." They keep an eye on the skull.

"Hmm." Luna opens her laptop to check something.

The skull stares at Oleander

They stare back. "The skulls making me a bit nervous..."

The skull chatters its teeth.

"I think it's harmless honestly," Luna says.

"Do you think it’d let me pet it?” Oleander asks.

"Hmmm... Maybe? I'm not sure, that might be more of a question for Sparrow."

Oleander tentatively reaches out their blood-soaked hand.

It watches quietly

They try to gently touch the top of the skull.

Luna watches.

Oleander touches what feels like a smooth stone as the skull slowly starts to open its mouth.

They try to pet it, avoiding the mouth.

"Such a cutie. It's almost like a pet rock... skull. Thing." Luna says.

A chunk of hair flies up from the mouth and brushes Oleander’s hand as if licking the blood.

OLEANDER STARES. "This could be worse."

It continues cleaning blood from their hand.

"That's really cute," Luna says.

Oleander chuckles, letting it do so. "Funky little guy."

It chatters its teeth.

Oleander smiles. "Chatter your teeth if you wanna be my friend."

Its starts licking any blood left on its own face.

"Understandable." Oleander watches curiously.

It cleans it all up and goes back to watching them

The lean worm under the sofa springs out and grabs it as it hisses. The worm pulls it under the sofa with it.

"...well that happened. And that was a lean worm Oleander." Luna comments.

"WHAT?" Oleander tries to grab the worm from under the couch.

Luna's ears flatten to her skull as she defocuses a bit on Oleander's voice.

Oleander grabs it before it can hide and it's thin enough they can wrap one hand around it, it's just 90% fur. The skull quickly rolls out of the living room.

"Fucked up..." Oleander tries to pull the worm toward them.

The worm is the size of them and covered in dust.

"Just be careful with them. If you pop them, we're gonna get covered in lean. Lean blood." Luna explains.

Oleander coughs and looks it over before letting it go. "Dusty..."

“It's basically a sentient dust mop with feelings." Luna looks at it. "Super cute too."

The worm flops on the ground and rolls under the sofa again

"Makes sense I think..." Oleander pauses. "Do you have running water?"

"Yup. Cole pays for all of that." Luna explains.

"Do you think I could shower? Please?" Oleander asks.

"Yeah go for it. We're basically a halfway house for various survivors at this point. We got running water, electricity, and easy access to food and supplies. For survival, we got it made. The only downside is we get a lot of assholes looking to start shit with us." Luna explains.

“Amazing, thank you so much." Oleander gets up. "I see. I’m sorry to hear that."

"Of course. Down the hallway and it's one of the doors on the left side. Not the first one, that one’s for dimensional rooms. Honestly, if you follow the trail of pink on the floor, that should be it."

Oleander nods and goes to shower.

-

About 10 minutes later there’s rapid knocking at the door. "CAN I COME IN." It's Orpheus.

"Yeah, one sec!" Luna opens the door.

Cole in wrath form and Isaac walk in.

It's Orpheus. He's 5'7, horns are slightly thicker and longer than before, and is overall the slightest bit bulkier as well. He seems a bit disheveled. His fur is a mess, his shirt is bloodstained and his jacket's sleeves are rolled up. He looks like he was in the middle of something and abruptly stopped. He steps inside, sighing.

"Hey so did. like. something happen??" He’s a bit irritated sounding, but not at her just like. bad mood overall. "Like I was doing something but then L1M drops by and starts telling me something and then just LEAVES because god forbid they focus on one thing at a time like. oruughh, but. basically, I caught the gist of it what did I miss?"

"Wait. I. just remembered there's a discord server." Orpheus looks down at the floor. Then at Cole. "Oh, I'm not even surprised."

"Yeahhhhhhhh that all happened yesterday. It was a mess." Luna says.

{- And that is putting it extremely lightly. -} Krystal comments.

“I didn't do that, that was here when I walked in.” Cole shrugs.

"Oh, the floor? We have a new person in the house, they needed first aid." Luna explains. "Apparently got their shit rekt by Seed Eaters."

Isaac raises an eyebrow as he watches.

“Let me just- “Cole swaps back to his human form and puts his hood back up to hide his halo.

"...” Orpheus looks back at the floor. “I. Didn't even notice the blood there actually huh???"

“Comical, classic Orpheus moment.” Cole chuckles.

"Also wait you guys are still taking in strays??" Orpheus chuckles. "Surprised since the last like 3 were Maiden."

A teenager with short choppy purple hair walks in. They're wearing a hoodie and torn-up jeans. Their clothes are stained with red, grey, and black blood. They have brown eyes with deep eyebags and acne on their face.

"Or.. Violet?" Orpheus corrects himself.

"Violet yeah. I think they're doing things with the Naomis or something?" Luna shrugs.

Oleander just kind of nervously waves at the furries.

“Wait what-” Cole hears Oleander walk in and pulls his hoodie strings to hide the halo more as he turns to look at them. “Sup."

Isaac stares them down "Age. Now"

"17.” Oleander says.

“Isaac, what the fuck?” Cole asks.

"What's with people going full risen on everyone today?" Luna asks.

"Dang. Alright, I’m out." Isaac turns and leaves.

"What," Luna says.

"What?” Cole says.

Oleander blinks in confusion.

Orpheus groans and rolls his eyes. "Don't get me started on the Naomi's have you BEEN to Naomi towers??? THEY TURN YOU INTO FETUSES FOR LIKE HALF A SECONDS AND THEN MAKE YOU RELIVE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE ITS FUCKED UP- ahem sorry." Orpheus clears his throat and looks over to Oleander. He looks them up and down. "Well, aren't you queer today?"

“Anyways.” Cole points at Oleander. “What are you."

"Sorry, that's mean I'm in a mood," Orpheus says then pauses. "Actually, I'm not sorry, that's a lie."

“..." He stops talking.

Oleander looks at them. "I... queer? Ava said that- uh... doesn’t that mean gay?" They seem a tad overwhelmed. "I'm a human-"

".....interesting...I'm not taking my hood off then.” Cole slowly turns to look at Orpheus. “You."

"Uh... okay," Oleander says.

Orpheus looks Oleander up and down some more. "You seem… Hm." He pauses. "...Anyway." He walks over to Cole, grabs him by the scruff of his neck, and carries him outside.

Cole emits the boowomp noise as he is carried.

"...what the hell is happening," Luna asks. "Right, oh by the way." She turns to Oleander, "Does the name Daniel seem familiar to you?"

Oleander looks at Luna. "Oh- yeah. My leaders named that. Well... dad? Ava said I can call him my dad but uh..." They chew on their lip. "Do you know him??"

Luna nods. "He saved me from Abaddon a few months ago. I owe my life to him."

"Yeah... he's a good guy. I've been trying to find him since... everything."

"Wait." The gears start turning a bit in her mind. Then it seems to click. "You mentioned Ava? Would her last name happen to be Williams?"

Oleander nods.

"And she's dating someone named Scarlett? Scab Rabbit."

"Yeah. Wait, Harmonia is Claire’s fiance, right?" Oleander asks.

"Yes. Daniel is Claire's father."

Oleander nods. "Yeah, I know. That's where I heard the name I think... Do you know where he is? Where Daniel is?"

"Unfortunately, you missed him by maybe a couple of days. He was staying here for months on end and then he went out the front door and I haven't seen him since." Luna sighs.

Oleander's eyes widen. "Fuck..." They slump down to the floor, holding their head in their hands.

"Sorry. I mean if you wanna stay here until he returns, we have plenty of room and the aforementioned supplies." Luna offers. "Was there something you needed from Daniel? I might be able to contact Claire, she might know where he is."

Oleander nods. "Please, that would be wonderful. Thank you so much. I don’t need anything, I just want us to be together again. The SCP Foundation made us split up. I..." He pauses. "I felt safe with him."

"Lemme see what I can do." Luna opens up her laptop and goes over to [The Kiss] group chat.

Sparrow and Isaac can be heard screaming at each other from the kitchen.

Luna pinches the bridge of her nose as she hears the two crybabies in the kitchen fighting over whatever the fuck.

"Thank you," Oleander says to Luna.

"Okay, so Claire doesn't know either also holy fucking shit. They need to stop already, fucks sake."

Oleander nods a bit nervously. "Yeah..." They stare at the ground.

"Sorry Oleander," Luna says.

"It's alright," They smile up at Luna to try and prove it.

Luna smiles back brightly. "I believe you. Oh and Claire said Daniel went to go talk to someone who works under The Moon? Not sure if you're aware of them?"

Cole walks in and shuts the door, there's a faint black glow coming from his hoodie as he leans on the wall next to the couch and just listens.

"Apparently the name is... Sin? What the fuck kind of name is that?" Luna says.

Oleander shrugs. "Who knows... I don't know anything about him. Other than hearing his name once, maybe twice?"

"I see. That's the first time I've ever heard it." Luna grumbles, continuing to hear them bicker. "Excuse me for a second." She gets up and heads to the kitchen.

-

Now moving back a bit, let’s switch to Orpheus taking Cole outside.

Orpheus walks out and gently places Cole on his feet. He stares with a gaze of pure disappointment.

Cole looks down at the grass. "I just wanna say that it was the intrusive thoughts and I plead the fifth."

"Wasn't it ALSO intrusive thoughts the last, like, 3 other times?" Orpheus asks. "Or was it only 2."

"...it was twoooo…” Cole sounds slightly upset as he sighs

"Well, like, what even. Happened??? Because from what I read VERY quickly I'm genuinely impressed! in the BAD way!!! How the fuck did you piss him off that badly????" Orpheus asks.

“I’mcuttingoutalotofstuff-” Cole quickly says as he takes a deep breath. "Harmonia came over to visit and then I said I was gonna eat them like a KitKat and then they said to try it and then I bit down on them gently and it hort and I got slightly mad that it hort so I bit with a little too much force and shattered the exoskeleton and then kade got upset at me turned into Cerb and then we fought for a little bit before I decided to end the fight in the quickest way possible because I was in a lot of pain and just wanted to die at that point...I shattered the roof of his mouth and then he swallowed me and I died.” Cole is slightly out of breath afterward.

Orpheus stares. "That honestly hurts to comprehend actually"

"I'm… really stupid and really sorry.” Cole sighs.

"That only goes so far, Cole!" Orpheus sighs, scratching his neck. "I'm like... I'm not MAD, I'm just... like." He takes a deep breath. "Have you tried carrying around a stress toy or something??? God, that sounds dumb a stress toy for you is probably like the goddamn demon core. Just, I don't know, I WANT to help you? Since I like, respect you. But also god damn is it hard to even Begin to think about how to especially when I'm not really around." Orpheus pauses. "Just. Like. I don't know this is like... 2 times is too many. Not because ohhh the act is sooo deplorable and you're The Worst Person Ever no it's just." He huffs. "I don't know, I'm just talking at you right now."

Cole sighs. "I mean-” He starts pacing back and forth. “A stress toy would work but would I even remember to use it? I have a hard enough time remembering to take my goddamn meds.” Cole groans. "I wanna improve I wanna be better but....it's fucking hard man I’ve never really had to do this many things to handle one issue before, I value you as a friend Orpheus I really do and I can never thank you enough for how many times you've helped me but I......I just don't know what to do right now.” Cole sighs as he continues pacing.

Orpheus watches, thinking. "Look, do you want to.. Like. Go on a walk or something? To talk? We totally can. I was kicking someone's ass in a fistfight until it got cut short so I'm a bit restless right now."

"I would but Isaac and Sparrow have been fighting a lot recently, and i wanna be here in case it gets physical and there's a new person there I don't want them to get hurt and leave a bad taste in their mouth, and I don't want Luna to lose another life and… fuck I'm rambling.” Cole stops pacing as he sighs.

Orpheus sighs. "Maybe another time then. What's been going on with Sparrow and Isaac???"

Cole pulls on his hoodie strings as he groans and takes a deep breath. “Sparrow is upset at Isaac because apparently, he keeps boasting about how good his life is whenever they talk and Sparrow gets upset at it and starts yelling and then he starts yelling and I'm afraid it's gonna get physical at some point.” There's a faint black glow coming from Cole's hoodie.

"...Alright. Well, uh..." He pauses. “Yeah, I'm gonna go check on them then. Go hang out with the new queer." Orpheus walks around the house into the backyard.

He sneaks into the kitchen through the door to the backyard.

Sparrow is standing by the table and Isaac is by the counter

"You'll only be worth anything after you’re skinned!!!" Sparrow yells.

"You'll only be worth anything if your mom didn't cheat with the pool boy!!!" Isaac yells back.

Orpheus snickers nervously, rubbing the back of his head. “Yikes, guys... just call each other slurs, it'd be so much easier."

"We already did that!” They both yell back.

"REALLY?" Orpheus asks.

"Sludge sipper!" Sparrow mumbles.

"One legger!" Isaac snaps back.

"Poacher payday!”

"Shrimp pecker!”

"Oh my god, you guys are like fucking housewives." Orpheus takes a deep breath. "What even has you two riled up?"

"Her parents are dead and she won't let me hear the end of it-” Isaac points.

"My parents?!?! Yours are dead too." Sparrow scoffs.

"Oh big woop, my parents were both dead by the time I was 1. Are you really fighting over who's the bigger orphan???" Orpheus asks.

Luna enters and watches from the doorframe.

"Yeah? And how would you feel if you were mocked for it by a living belt???" Sparrow gestures at Isaac.

"Says the one bragging about the fancy flamingo hybrid when you can't even see any of that hybrid." Isaac rolls his eyes.

"Are you really getting riled up by the man with the biggest ego and the smallest cock teasing you to feel good about himself?" Orpheus asks. "Come on, Sparrow! You dated Spider for fucks sake!!! Isaac is like... a watered-down version of her sometimes, c'mon."

"Exfuckingscuse me?!?!" Isaac gets off the counter and takes a step forward.

“At least Spider didn't flaunt having a perfect little life,” Sparrow says.

"Because she'd be telling the biggest goddamn lie of the century! Although I dunno where this guy is getting his perfect life from, considering he's in this boat with all of us as well. Ain't exactly the perfect spot to settle down." Orpheus says. "Not to be entirely sided against you, Isaac, I'm just saying."

"I never said I was perfect, she’s just butt hurt she thinks she has to have a harder life than me," Isaac grumbles.

"Oh honey, you wouldn't survive a day in my shoes," Sparrow says.

"YOU DON’T WEAR SHOES!” Isaac yells.

"IT'S A METAPHOR!??" Orpheus screams.

"You're fucking stupid," Sparrow says at Isaac.

Isaac snarls as he clenches his fists. "I'm not an idiot."

"Have you ever read a book?" Orpheus asks.

"What??" Isaac says.

"Have you ever read words on several pages?" Sparrow explains like he's a child.

"I KNOW WHAT A BOOK IS!” Isaac yells back.

"Then how don't you know that expression!!!"

Isaac snarls as he takes a deep breath and tries to walk past them to get out the back door.

Orpheus is leaning on the back door.

"Move." Isaac snarls at Orpheus. His fists are shaking some.

Sparrow just rolls her eyes.

"If you make a move at me I'll pick you up and carry you to Cole," Orpheus says.

"I said MOVE." Isaac tries to shove Orpheus out of the way.

Orpheus attempts to grab Isaac's snout, hold it shut, and lift him up.

Isaac is as heavy as you would expect him to be and kicks in the air as he reaches up and tries to pry Orpheus’s hand away from his snout.

Sparrow watches amused.

Orpheus seems to have gotten a. substantial amount stronger. He manages to hold Isaac pretty steadily and begins to walk over to the living room.

After a bit he walks back into the kitchen and over to Sparrow, Isaac left behind in the living room. "So you've been doing this for like weeks now huh? or just a few days"

"I've lost count,” Sparrow replies.

"That bad, huh??” Orpheus says. "How did it start why does it keep coming back up???"

"So Isaac decided to come to me for some mental help, asking for therapy in private. I accept wanting to help the man, I mean he's dating my father it's the least I could do. Then he just starts going on and on crying about his life when it was literally perfect. Oh boo whoo, your dad didn't let you use the leaf blower when fall hit, oh waa waa your mom didn't like you running in the house..." Sparrow huffs "He just kept going until I told him the truth and he got mad at me for it from then on its just been cats and dogs any time we talk"

Orpheus pauses and facepalms. "Like. Ouhghhh I don't want to say. Like. Other people's issues are invalid. But like… that's so??? Small and petty??? Like. On his part like what was he talking about?? Ghrhhrh it doesn't really matter. It's." Orpheus pauses. “I… Honestly, I'm speechless actually.”

"See what I mean? He's a fucking snowflake.”

"I mean... I wouldn't say he's a snowflake, I'd say he's more like a bulletproof window? Like, ok, I haven't talked to him in. a while, right but from what. I remember he's… like. Ok, so you have this normal suburban house right.”

"Yeah?" Sparrow asks.

"And all the windows are bulletproof. It's like It's painfully average." Orpheus says. "The locks aren't special, the backyard is the bare minimum, there's a cheap car up front, it's just... painfully average. But it has Really Expensive Bulletproof windows. It's reinforced in this ONE specific way, and if you keep attacking it at the windows, well shit! It's never gonna work! But the moment you try, like. Any other way into the house it basically crumbles open." Orpheus pauses. "...That's a dumb analogy. I just think he's like." Orpheus sighs. "I feel bad about trying to convey this grrhghhgh."

"He's a brick balancing on a toothpick?" Sparrow asks.

"YEAH. KIND OF- Or like, a wooden door welded shut?” Orpheus replies.

"So what you're saying is I can break him easily?" Sparrow cracks her knuckles.

"I'm saying he's overcompensating."

"You got that right." Sparrow laughs some.

“Like… I dunno man, it's... something. Isaac's definitely something." He sighs and pulls up a chair to sit at the table. "What's. Your opinion with him being with Cole. Like honest, won't talk about it with anyone!"

"I honestly think it's shallow. He just met this nonferal he doesn't know anything about and goes straight to dating him just cause Isaac got all puppy dog eyes at Cole for being a man? It's sad if you ask me.” Sparrow replies.

"Yeah, that's one way to put it." Orpheus gestures for Sparrow to come a little closer.

Sparrow steps closer. "What is it?"

Orpheus leans in. "I just think it's kinda unhealthy since... he got married in January. and it just helps fuel that god complex of his sometimes..." He sighs, sitting back. "Yknow? Like… an ego thing, really superficial."

"Definitely..." Sparrow rolls her eyes in agreement.

"Kinda like a pet?" Orpheus asks.

"Like I said he's just his fucking purse Sparrow says. "A trophy man."

"No functionality either, a sha-LITERALLY WAIT THATS THE PERFECT DESCRIPTION sorry." Orpheus gives a small woof.

Sparrow laughs some.

"You're definitely fun to talk to sometimes."

"Dear I haven't had many people to talk to for a while so if you ever want to chat my room is open.” Sparrow gestures at the hall.

"I mean I'm also barely around the house anymore anyway!" Orpheus stretches his arms idly.

Cole walks in his hood is down and his halo is visible, he snaps as a martini glass appears in his hand as he starts making a martini.

Orpheus WATCHES him. "Nice dollar store glowstick headdress, Cole." He chuckles.

Sparrow snickers.

“Yeah? Very funny.” Cole's tone is dry as he finishes making the martini. "And I know I don't hear Sparrow snickering right now, Miss Skull Tamer.” He starts pouring a glass of water.

"Thanks! I'm actually a comedian now, 20 dollars to get me at your venue and I beat up everybody who doesn't laugh." Orpheus says, lying out of his ass.

"What's a venue?" Sparrow asks.

"Like a bar or a theatre or a restaurant where people can perform shows or rent to do stuff or something," Orpheus explains.

Cole chuckles. “You’re gonna have to start pummeling me then.” He finishes pouring the water and starts walking out as he mutters. “Tamed a skull to get more brain.” Then he’s gone.

"YOU LITERALLY LAUGHED!” Orpheus huffs.

Back to when Luna left the living room.

“Soooo how’s life?" Cole asks Oleander awkwardly.

Oleander snaps out of spacing out and looks over. "Uh.. its okay. Been better." They grab their sword and start to clean it off.

"Yeah, that's uh that's a mood.” Cole quickly unholsters his revolver and unloads the ammo and starts cleaning it seemly without much thought. “Soooo you ever knock someone out in a fist fight?"

Oleander nods. "Yes, a lot of times. It was part of my training."

“Nice, nice, I've done that a lot too....not the training part but the knocking people out in like bar fights and shit.” Cole nods.

“What's a bar like? I've never been." Oleander asks.

"A lot of drunk adults with money problems and whores.”

"Hm. Makes sense." They clean off their sword more. "Um... thoughts on The Slenderman?"

“You mean The Moon? I'm one of his proxies....it's not fun.” Cole sighs as he continues to clean his revolver.

Oleander looks up at him. "Me too... I was... born and bred to be a tool for him."

"I wasn't born to be a proxy, I was born to reap and harvest souls for the grim fuckin reaper.” Cole sighs. "I don't do that anymore though, lost its enjoyment."

Oleander nods. "I see. I have... nothing else I suppose. Aside from killing monsters and doing Der Großmanns will." They keep cleaning the sword, despite it being clean.

Cole's eyes flicker grey then back to hazel. “Ah uhm yeah, yeah the big man." He’s still cleaning his revolver despite the fact that it is shining and squeaking.

Orpheus walks in and takes Isaac over to Cole. "Get your man."

Isaac flails.

Orpheus had entered holding the state-of-the-line albino crocodile Gucci handbag.

Cole groans and spins his revolver as he holsters it and grabs Isaac's snout and puts him down on the floor.

"Happy doing business with you." Orpheus walks back into the kitchen.

Oleander blinks and watches.

Isaac keeps flailing trying to get free. He looks pissed.

Cole's jacket rips as metal strips hold Isaac's limbs as he is sat on the floor

"Welcome to Harmonia's house, the home of the supernatural nightmare.”

Oleander chuckles a bit nervously. "I'm used to the supernatural.”

Isaac keeps trying to move as he snarls.

Cole smiles slightly. “I'm considered the guardian of the group, and I would hope you would be if you work for The Moon." The metal strips restrain Isaac enough so he can't move.

Luna walks back in, figuring Orpheus's got this.

Oleander nods. "Daniel was our guardian. Still is. We're just... separated temporarily."

Isaac keeps fighting as he's breathing rather heavily.

Cole pats Isaac on the head. “Well as long as you’re in this house, you fall under my protection unless someone else can provide it for you.” He loosens his hood, his halo still isn't quite visible but it's obvious there's something there.

Oleander smiles a little bit. "Thank you... I can take care of myself usually but I appreciate it."

"And if Cole's unable to protect you, there's a ton of other people who can," Luna adds.

“It's not a problem, yeah there's kinda a whole group here some are more willing to protect new members than others.” Cole smiles slightly.

After a bit, Isaac stops fighting and begins crying.

Oleander nods. "I find myself protecting others more often than I expect. They're usually strangers though."

"Cole, can you please release Isaac? You know, on the terms he doesn't go bother Sparrow tonight?" Luna looks at Isaac as she says the second half.

Cole lets go of Isaac's muzzle as the metal strips loosen slightly. “Mhm, i usually don't find myself protecting strangers but.... you're a different circumstance...you’re a kid and I don't mean that in a demeaning way but I mean it in a there's so much more you need to learn way, ya know?"

Isaac keeps his gaze away from anyone as he tries to control a bit of hyperventilating.

Cole kneels down and opens his arms to Isaac as the metal strips go limp.

Isaac tries to sprint for the front door.

The metal strips tighten as soon as he gets halfway to the door and pull him back over to Cole.

Oleander nods and watches. "I know this isn't my business, but I think you should let him go and maybe just follow to make sure he doesn't get hurt? He seems panicked-" Oleander says, hoping offering advice wouldn't offend Cole.

Cole glances down at Isaac as he sighs and whispers to Isaac

"You’re not gonna run off and get hurt right? You know how to pray if anything goes wrong right?"

Luna sighs. "Prayer... right."

Isaac keeps hyperventilating and doesn't look at anyone.

"Isaac, listen to me for a sec. Please close your eyes and focus on something else." Luna says. "Then breath in through your nose for a 4 count." She does this. "Hold for a 5 count. And release for 6."

Cole glares at Luna then returns his look to Isaac as he sighs, the metal strips retract into his jacket as he whispers. “If you need to run, run."

Isaac sprints out the front door.

"And there he goes," Luna says.

Oleander just sits and watches, feeling guilty about basically watching this dude have a panic attack.

Cole stands back up as he takes his hood off, to reveal devilish horns sprout from his head covered in the green and black tissue as a black halo with a black glow is supported by the horns, it has a slightly visible crack

"Luna let's not try and argue about the prayer shit in front of the new person, alright?"

"You're not a god." Luna rolls her eyes.

"I'm not a major god. I can't create worlds or do anything Enoch can but I can still be prayed to and if you don’t wanna pray to me then all power to you but don't try and push your 'you’re not a god you can't be prayed to' shit onto people who do believe they can, I don't shit on your beliefs so leave mine alone.” Cole's eyes flicker purple then back to hazel as he stares at Luna.

Luna doesn't stare back and just goes back to her work. "Whatever you say, dude."

Cole rolls his eyes as he mutters. “I tried.” He crosses his arms and looks away from Luna.

"Look if people wanna pray to you, that's fine whatever. I personally don't see you as a God, that's all." Luna says.

Cole snaps to look at the kitchen and rolls his eyes. "Sure.” He leans his head against the wall he's leaning against.

"I'm gonna get something to drink,” Cole says as he steps away from the wall and looks over at Oleander. “You want anything?"

"Water please," They say, smiling a bit nervously.

“Alright.” Cole walks into the kitchen.

Luna types something in her laptop because that's the only way it can be hidden from Cole at this point. It says: "I really don't like this god complex, but whatever."

Cole walks in with water and a martini, he offers the water to Oleander.

Oleander takes it and nods in appreciation, sipping their water. "Will the crocodile be alright?"

Cole goes back to where he was leaning and nods. "Probably.” He sips his martini. “If not, I know where he is.”

"Oh, okay." Oleander sips his water. "I left my bloody clothes in the bathroom to dry, I hope it's not a problem."

"It's fine, it's just clothes.” Cole waves his hand dismissively. "I don't know who would cause a problem over clothes.”

Oleander nods. "Cool. So... if you don't mind me asking, how old are you guys? Like obviously you're adults but like. yeah."

"34," Luna says.

Cole thinks for a moment then sips his martini. "292.”

"I see. Understandable." Oleander responds.

“Yeah, quite the difference.” Cole replies.

"Indeed. But we're still able to kick ass." Luna says.

"I don't doubt it!" Oleander says, yawning a tad.

Luna can't help but yawn as she curls up in the black fleece blanket she always uses. "Good night ny'all." And she's out on the floor. How very nostalgic.

Cole finishes his martini as he yawns. "There's a guest bedroom in the hallway that you can sleep in if you want to.”

"Good night!" Oleander says to Luna before turning to Cole. "That would be amazing. Thank you." They stand up and grab their bag and sword. "Thank you again for all this... you're lifesavers."

“Not a problem, just doing what I do best protecting those in need." Cole yawns as his eye drift closed. “Goodnight."

Oleander waves and heads to the guest bedroom. "Night.”