Pearl's Plot House ~ Open

( Cato has stumbled upon one of his great weaknesses...Canine!Ira is...A DooF lol
When he's in full jackal form it's different but apparently Anubis is a dog-jackal hybrid haha )


Anubis' Successors
-- Ira Edan-Kilborne, Arlo Kilborne

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"I know," Arlo returned his hands to his pockets and spoke to the arching branches overhead. "I was commenting on the apparent lack of hesitation." If she could latch onto him then she should be able to latch onto someone else. Suppose he should be familiar with how some people could immediately take to a stranger. Ira is a special case, however. They still share a few childhood memories. His twin was the protective one then; the scars on his left bicep earned when he'd shoved an elbow into the snapping jaws of a stray that Arlo had innocently attempted to befriend. Hm, does Thana mean to 'befriend' him then? His twin can be a bit quick to judge but she hasn't raised his hackles, so to speak.
The remainder of their journey is blessedly silent. And short; Arlo practically parked as far into the cemetery as he could get without crushing any graves. If he isn't exercising or training, he hates walking. There are times when he even wishes he could run around like Ira. Alas, at least one twin has to attempt some form of dignity.

Upon reaching his car- a nondescript gray something or other, he wanted something that wouldn't stand out- Arlo comes to realize that he's misplaced his glasses. He had them when he'd entered the cemetery, right? Ira was too busy darting around to act as his eyes...Had he unconsciously pushed them up onto his head? Noticing minor details about others is rather tiresome, he'd rather not wear them unless strictly necessary...Arlo pats around his pockets. Keys, mini first aid kit, oh- his brass knuckles were here? - phones, wallets, hand sanitizer, quick snacks, chewing gum, Kleenex, USB drives, spare gloves for Ira- and his folded glasses neatly wrapped in their accompanying cleaning cloth. That wasn't as he'd left them. Ira must have fixed and slipped them into his pocket without him noticing. There are times when Arlo regrets teaching his brother pickpocketing and its reverse. This is not one of tho- When he unfolds his glasses, a crinkly bubblegum wrapper with a crooked teal heart drawn in crayon flutters loose. He sighs but catches it and buries it in one of his pockets before it can fall.

With the other hand, he unlocks the car and slips into the driver's seat. His seatbelt is immediately secured. Ira objects to not driving a luxury car when he can definitely afford it, but has contented himself with decorating the interior as he pleases. Arlo is naturally helpless to stop him. The dashboard directly in front of the passenger side is infested by a small collection of neatly spaced out mobile Gudetama and Molang figurines. They can be easily removed if need be, but tend to remain for leisurely rides. A stylized Anubis charm as well as expensive air freshener that was inspired by some game character dangle from the rearview mirror. The only addition Arlo doesn't silently object to is the leather steering wheel cover. Despite it being Hello Kitty patterned. He's likewise fitted the interior out with all-weather seat covers and as many additional storage compartments as possible.
He automatically dips his fingers into the one at his side, ensuring that it's as he left it, before adjusting the mirror and slipping his phone into the holder on his dash. Arlo can memorize names but not directions, he'll have to rely on his GPS without Ira to provide guidance in varying iterations of his 'Siri' voice.

"Let me know if you're hungry." She doesn't need any more than that. The hospital isn't far but it's late enough at night that she might want something to eat. He and his brother need a snack every other hour or they get snappy. Literally, in Ira's case.
He pauses to scrunch his nose in a bid to settle his glasses without touching them before actually starting the car. Arlo leans back and stretches an arm over the passenger backrest to reverse. It's a relatively new habit as it allows him to either force Ira back into his seat or shut him up with a forearm to the throat. His present company requires neither, however. A strange notion, as he's only ever played chauffeur to his brother. At least in this car...Hm. They...may be around each other an unhealthy amount of time. For normal people, at least. Arlo doesn't like the feeling of having another presence so close to his own. It is unfamiliar and unwelcome but he resigns himself to it for the night.

Even so, he isn't sure what to do with the girl. Does she expect him to speak? There's no reason to. He'll explain the process as it happens. She doesn't seem to speak unless spoken to so perhaps he'll have a bout of peace for a change. It's likely that she heard Ira's explanation as well, so there shouldn't be any questions. Good. Arlo isn't one to make plans that will not immediately affect him but tonight has changed things in more ways than one. He'll have to come up with a rough draft as he drives, Ira will fill in the lesser details later.

-

Ira responds to Cato's laughter with an unamused stare. "As his older brother and sole friend, it is my solemn duty to vet everyone who wishes to do the same." He flicks his fingers in elegant dismissal. "You wouldn't cut it, by the way~"

It was a lot more difficult to keep his cool when there was a blatant reason for his amusement, and Ira's ears flatten against his head entirely without his permission. Of course Cato would catch on with the way the conversation had turned; Ira had set himself up. Or rather, his tail had. Damn it. And him.
Shifting the words around seems the best option at this point, "Do you have anyone that you're close to, then?" He truly is curious. Being isolated seems par for the course when it comes to the Successors. Arlo isn't close to any of his obsessively wealthy 'family' and only sought out his twin and birth mother at Anubis' behest. Ira's childhood was heavily affected by bouts of loneliness as well, despite his mother's best efforts.

Hm, this interaction is much too one-sided...but Ira decides that he doesn't mind overmuch. He likes questions that make him think, even if they concern things he already knows or believes he knows about himself. And it isn't as if he intends to let the status quo remain unbalanced for long.
Ira rocks back onto his heels, fingers laced behind his back and head canted to keep Cato in his peripheral.
"Mmhm~ As I said, I'll be a giant jackal sooner or later. I don't have an idea of the scale, as Arlo is either incapable or unwilling to shift.
And I repeat: I probably could do that. But I won't. So don't get any funny ideas~" He sticks out his tongue and scrunches his nose. "I can't believe we've just met and you already want to cut me up! How long has it been again?" Ira flips his wrist to check his watch, mumbling, "this has to be a record."

"Hm? I imagine the logistics follow the same rules as your helmet or Thana's wings, yes~? How does it know to camouflage itself? How can her wings be compact enough to fit in a trench coat but light enough to allow her to fly? It's mathematically impossible~ Are her bones hollow enough to fly but dense enough to walk around normally? In conclusion-"
He punctuates his words with jazz hands. "God magic~!"

"Also," He puts a hand on his hip and stares into the sky thoughtfully. "I'm pretty sure my cat has cursed at me more than once. At the very least she said 'no' very loudly when I tried to push her off my pillow."

"Why isn't Hades contacting you, then~? Is that iteration weaker than Pluto?"
Anubis is the 'OG' death god, so to speak, so it makes sense that he'd be more active and powerful than Osiris. "Renown applies to our situation. Is it not the same for you?"

Cato's comment on the twins themselves prompts a brief arch to his brow as he whirls to face him again. 'Two different entities of the same person' huh? That's an interesting statement, though he supposes it's par for the course given their facial similarities but opposing inclinations to expressiveness. Arlo has smiled a few times for their mother but it's more of a smirk when he's bullying Ira.

"Well, of course I'm restless! I actually haven't been 'out' like this in a while!" He circles as if chasing his tail. There hasn't really been any need for a partial shift beyond sparring with Arlo; Ira may have the superhuman strength but Arlo actually knows how to utilize it.
"And what does it matter to you?" He tilts his head but instantly regrets it when Cato takes advantage of his ears being closer once more. "Hey!" Ira flattens them and covers them protectively with his hands whilst hopping away. They're too big to actually hide, but the meaning is clear. "No more scri- none of that!" It's distracting. He eyes Cato warily and his expression doesn't change with the successor's next words. "What makes you think I want to be friends with you? Hating you sounds like more fun." He hadn't paid much attention to the blond in school. Did he have any friends?
Ira is fairly acquainted with what that's like. He'd had a few tentative friends in his old school before moving here. Before.
What would 'hate' look like on Cato? He really wants to know. 'Mild' people are the best when it comes to extreme emotions like that~ Ira has already decided that they'd be rivals. His motivations haven't changed, though he supposes they could be 'friends' as well. To be honest, if he'd known Cato was such a weirdo he'd have approached him sooner. Ira can't make that any more obvious than he already has, however. No more wagging. "Hmph." He adds, belatedly. "I'll tolerate you for the sake of our mission."

Predictably unpredictable as usual, Ira brightens a bit when Cato turns the conversation back to said mission. "I'd like to see how you do things~ I'll let you get one up on me this time, 'kay~?"

He waves his hand with a pensive hum. "Isn't that the problem? She really doesn't seem too well-acquaintanted with the fact that she can kill someone. I thought perhaps Khen could show her how it isn't always the same, yes?"
Cato's compliment makes Ira snap to attention with a wink and his fingers in a horizontal 'V' over one eye. "Of course! I'm a paragon of kindness~"

The casual way in which he admits that he regularly breaks the law causes Ira no end of amusement. "Aren't you supposed to be a judge? Pfft haha~! I suppose that meaning's a little loose in Pluto's case~"
He bounces lightly on the toes of his boots, allowing the jackal features to dissolve into Cerulean mist. "I don't want to deal with the hassle of putting the car back later, y'lazy ass. Besides, I want to walk with you~!" He circles again and dances a few steps in the direction they're meant to go. "My turn to ask questions! Do your parents know about what you are? Can you judge souls on the spot or does it take time?"

(I'm back!!! Ember34 Ave Domine Nox Noctis )

@ Quod

( Welcome back!
Also I'm sorry for Thana! Lol she wants a reliable big brother and Arlo is like 'my quota is filled. Have this' he gestures to Ira, who is chasing a squirrel into a tree. 'It's free and has all of its shots. Not enough to the head, however...' )

-- Anubis' Successors
-- Ira Edan-Kilborne, Arlo Kilborne

<><><><><>

That's a few more words than he expected. Hm. She felt safer around him? That...isn't exactly implausible. Excluding obvious candidates like his mother and twin, Arlo has noticed that others tend to rely on him against his wishes. It's his fault for running around solving problems, so he technically can't complain. But he does. Constantly. It's one of the few subjects he may speak about at length, with Ira nodding where appropriate and writing notes on his hand as if taking the role of therapist. The load has lessened with his enthusiastic brother accompanying him on his little missions, but the acts lose their sincerity if they can't be credited to Arlo himself...fortunately the need for his daily atonement has also lessened as he prepares to step into his role as judge. It would do well in making up for his past, as he can provide people with what they are due in a more complete fashion.

Ah, his mind has wandered away from his original pondering. "Not entirely," he gripes, though his tone hasn't changed. Being trusted and relied upon is equally tiresome. He walks with the weight of worlds on his shoulders...just the thought makes him wish for a nap. Once this is all over with, he'll make Ira drive him home while he becomes one with the passenger seat. Arlo sighs and considers the barely-there tug at his jacket. There may be another limpet in his future. "You'll get over it." He assures her. He intends to pawn her off whenever possible. Ira is more suited to teaching the art of killing. Probably. Ira doesn't really seem suited to teaching anything but he's somehow acquired the role of tutor at school.

Arlo relaxes incrementally when Thana drifts off. Good. He doesn't experience embarrassment or 'awkwardness' but Ira has made him more aware of others in a rather troublesome way. He didn't know what she may want or need and was debating on fiddling with the radio to fill the silence. That may have been a bad move. He doesn't know how Ira may have sabotaged it but he definitely has.
It's likely the pair haven't even begun their mission and if they have, its success is a toss-up. Ira is too personally affected by his target and will respond with his customary unpredictability. The swinging of a bright red arrow indicates Arlo's increase in speed. He'd like to finish this quickly, but he can't actually rush it...Ugh.
---
They reach the hospital with time to spare- at least within his mental schedule- but Arlo is briefly stalled by the dilemma of waking Thana. He doesn't want to touch her, as she still may be averse to that, but he definitely can't assault her as he occasionally does with his brother. After a moment of contemplation, he settles for gently tapping the seat cushion beside her head and lowering his voice to call her name- her surname for the sake of distance. "Aetos, we've reached our destination."

- - ->

Ira returns Cato's haughty look with one of his own. He doesn't exactly have a set response- he generally jealously guards his brother as a matter of course. Not in a weird way! It's just that the majority of people who attempt to befriend his twin always want something from him. Whether to solve their problems or to extort money. Cato wants to dissect him though, which is an equally valid objection. "He's the one with the jackal head, just the thought probably sets your scalpel a-tingling. Hmph."

"Oh," he clicks his tongue in sympathy. "That makes sense...If Pluto tries to make any advances on Arlo please let me know because I've always wanted to fist-fight a god. Buut in light of your plight-"
"Haha, rhyme~"
"-I'll lower myself to being your friend." His smile is a bit too genuine, so he bats at his tail just in case. "I see...I suppose you can empathize with Arlo then. Our dad's side of the family is exactly the same. It's why they got rid of my mother, haha~ They wanted to keep me though." He gestures at himself dramatically, "For obvious reasons. I mean Arlo and I basically have the same face but I wear it better. His facial muscles are dead because he never uses them."

"Oi, I don't appreciate the lack of detail in your answer! You're lucky I like talking about myself." He jokes, semi-sincerely. Ira likes to talk because his peers don't tend to acknowledge him otherwise. And he's recently learned that others can and will listen to him. Even Arlo when he pretends to be asleep. "I'm really close to my mom. She's my best friend, cliché as that is. She's amazing! We could totally replace 'Ginny and Georgia' or the 'Gilmore Girls'~ Now, my turn. It sounds like you've always had your abilities, have you always been able to hear Pluto then? Anubis started contacting Arlo when he was thirteen."

He can't help perking up a bit as Cato leads into his inquiries about the subject of Thana's- and by extension their- abilities. "It's really rather fascinating. I've been looking into things like that in my free time! Not concerning Thana, of course. But now..." He pretends to rub his hands together in a sinister fashion. "I'll have to add you two to the top of my Subject List~"

Ira laughs as Cato puts his hands on his hips and chides him. He likes when others mirror him, it means they're engaged in their interactions~ "You wouldn't take her side if you knew that she likes to lay on my pillow with her butt against my head. For no good reason!"

"Oh, and what are you the paragon of, oh judgmental one?" Despite his tone, Ira's grin widens and he bounces lightly on the toes of his boots. He likes Cato's laugh, he can't wait to make him laugh just as hard again! "I have plenty of other reasons to roast you, but your sister has good taste!" Finally, someone who appreciates his anime poses! Arlo either ignores him- when in public- or knocks him over. "I've been practicing~ I wanted to copy one of the Sailors' poses for when we're about to 'punish' people but I haven't decided on one- or a catchphrase. Would it be 'in the name of Ma'at'? Justice? Anubis...I wanted to use Arlo but he threatened to disown me again." He pouts, ears flattening to either side. Honestly! Arlo's so mild-seeming that nobody knows how much of a bully he is!

"Hmhm!" Ira listens intently to Cato's explanation, trying to keep himself still. It's been a while since he's been physically close to someone but he's already distanced himself, unfortunately. "I see that we have different criteria but the same end result! For us, it's more based on the effect actions have on others. Like, if you steal from someone who needs that particular thing, it's wrong but if you steal from someone who doesn't need it as much as you, then there's some gray area to work with. Not that I'm judging you in any way!" He waves a hand dismissively. "I've 'borrowed' a car or two as well. It's why Arlo is the judge, hehe~"

His brows furrow at Cato's words but Ira tries to keep it to a micro-expression. Cato has touched on the subject multiple times but it is always just as agitative. Ira makes it rather obvious so it's no secret that family is very important to him. The things that his family- not that he considers them such- have done to Arlo and his mother never ceases to disgust him. Anubis definitely chose well in making his twin the arbitrator. Just the thought of Cato's family being so dismissive causes his fur to bristle, but he tries to tell himself that this doesn't immediately make them as extreme as he may imagine. Now that they've got this friend business sorted, Ira resolves to take Cato home to meet his mother. There's no reason that they shouldn't be involved in each other's lives now that they know of their existence. He wishes they'd all met sooner.

"C'mon," Ira gestures to Cato again. "Let's walk and talk~ If Arlo finishes before us he'll storm over and literally hound me." Somewhere in the distance, Arlo sneezes into a handkerchief and glares up at the sky.
He clasps his hands behind his back and begins to move backwards whilst leaning toward the blond, a common pose when attempting to invite his brother to follow and engage in conversation. It's Ira's own version of the 'puppy play bow'. "I imagine that you may be unaccustomed to how pure my soul is. It must be blinding! However," He tilts his head in thought. "Seeing as we're all god candidates, I wonder if our powers work on each other or if they're rendered null? We'll have to experiment! I volunteer you as tribute to be the one Thana touches so that we can see whether or not you'll die. Pfft it'd be hilarious if you did! Not that I wish you harm-" He assures, as if completely negating his earlier statement, "but I imagine it'd just send you 'home' back to wherever Pluto is~ We...probably can't die? If I do I'd be Beyond pissed. Like I did all this work to kill everyone else and for what?!" He tries to sound angry but he can't help laughing toward the end.

( It might take me a while to reply! ^^" Adulting a lot has made me procrastinate ~ research ~ haha )

Bump

Yuda stood as he brushed the dirt that had collected onto him from sitting on the ground. He debated going inside or just staying out longer. He shook his head and headed back inside, he wasn't fully familiar with the area so he didn't want to take the risk of wandering and than getting lost. He waited for the elevator to get to the lobby, glancing around, it was a very appealing lobby. He got in when the doors opened and tried to remember the steps to getting up to the penthouses, after a few trial and errors he managed to remember what Caley had said. When it opened up to the penthouses he headed down the hallway to get to the second corridor on the left.

Yuda entered back into the penthouse, quietly shutting the door behind him, as to not cause any noise, uncertain of what Caley was doing. He looked around to see if Caley was around, not spotting him immediately he moved away from the door to walk further into the penthouse. He tried his best to be quiet to not alert that he was back, still feeling guilty for earlier, not that he would admit to it verbally. He had learned guilt won't change the outcome of events that took place, no matte rhow much you had.

Florence looked at him as he took a sip of the drink, the subtle look of surprise was enough to confirm that he liked the drink. She knew he would, there hadn't been a person who'd come here who didn't like there drink. Especially when they asked her to surprise them with something. She leaned her elbow on the bar, she was done cleaning it for now and had some time to chat. Plus talking with the people she was serving usually ended with a nice tip. 

So he was new, she figured. She would have remembered his face had he been around before. Or one of the waitresses would have gushed about him and how some dreamboat had come into the bar. "Well that is fun! Vacations are always fun. Ya know I don't think I've been on vacation since I took over the bar actually..." Florence paused thinking for a moment, not really sure when the last time she'd taken time off had been. "In honor of vacation, that drinks on me. You'll have to pay for any other ones though." She said raising her brow and him for a moment offering a small smile. "

Yuda jumped a bit as a small blush shot across his face. He looked to the phone for a few seconds before getting the nerve to speak, after a quick cough to recompose himself. "I was thinking of charcoal or navy in terms of dark colors," he commented. "I know those tend to look good with white." He looked to Caley. "What do you think? or do you have something else in mind for it?" He didn't have an issue if Caley wanted something else for colors, after all it was both of their wedding. "For some lighter colors I was thinking like a mint or maybe a mango?"