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Priscilla     As stated twice before, and thus now to make it the holy trinity of threes, someone(s) wants to beat the garbage cat to the punch. This involves the tradeoff of delivering the news in the least (or most positively) skewed way possible, for having to deliver said news at point blank.

    At least they get to do it at a swank pad! For what nominal sense it matters, one of the esteemed Knights of Gwyn gets to chill out at Anor Londo's Citadel Palace in their minimal downtime, being obviously some of the first to venture back out of the walls and start doing things outside of the city in the past few months. (Artorias however, has had it rough. With his sword busted beyond repair, months of abyssal purging ahead with silver magic, and a missing buddy in action, it isn't super wise to go anywhere).

    So with two of three down, he's in a better mood than his dark and broody usual. Pretty much fresh out of the adjoined forge building --one of many connected by little more than obscene amounts of stairs and walkways-- he seems all too happy to meet these wonderful quest-taking oddballs again, saying goodbye to a giant working an anvil with a hammer the size of his pinky daintily clutched between his thumb and forefinger. The people who look for ! NPCs get let into the audience hall, which is currently empty, and which is probably for the best.

    It looks like the giant pillars have been repaired since the boss fight a long time ago, and the expansively flat vista of marble and red granite makes the already huge room feel even bigger than it already is, helped further by the warm, midday breeze blowing through a set of gigantic, northward facing windows, left open for the pleasant weather (in January).

    The vaulted hall has the unfortunate effect of making the ten-foot knight's faintly hollow and echoey breathing pronounced to the point of low-key imitating Darth Vader, but the faceless dude in ornate silver and blue finally stopped looking like he'd taken a bath in battery acid. He also has a black and silvered scabbard with him that is somehow even taller than him. He sits at the center floor, crossing his armoured legs lotus style, so as to not have a standing height advantage.
Guest Psyber     Psyber is here! However, he's not playing diplomat today. He is, once again, bodyguarding for Yuuki (Though not quite as dedicatedly as someone like Zero). He has his own set of goals for being here today which are secondary to the larger goal of cutting off Trash Cat at the pass in terms of delivering news.

    Psyber is idly scratching some notes in a journal as they go, the fountain pen gently tapping against the paper as the half-angel manages to walk, write, and not bump into anything as they move along, "This is convenient. I need to bug him about a dumb side project I'm working on anyway. I can kill two crows with one stone."
Reiji Arisu     Politics are basically the worst possible thing. If Reiji had his way, his job would consist entirely of punching and/or stabbing evil in the face, leaping off high buildings, and making heroic speeches from those same high buildings. Too bad that Lordran's problems are no longer ones he can just shank repeatedly. Even more too bad that the problem in particular sees him raining on the parade of someone he has a great deal of respect for.

    "Sir Artorias," Reiji says, making his way up toward the knight in the middle of the room. "Has your sword been well? I've been meaning to pay another visit to check in, but the upheaval out in the multiverse has made it... Somewhat difficult."

    "Unfortunately," he sighs, scratching uncomfortably at the back of his head. "I wish that was all I was visiting for, today. We bring some news. Some good news. Some bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
Tomoe It had taken some time for Tomoe to understand the magnitud of what was going on. She's not the best person at high poltical affairs when she know sit but when taking time to think about it? She saw some paraelle to certain sorts in MMORPGs, and this is what happens when thsoe get power. She doesn't like what has happned nor is she happy about what happened to Artorias either or his best friend. Maybe she's being a bit less foolisha bout the subject and how to handle this. She's a bit behind Reiji and looks to Sir Artorias for a moment.

"Sir Artorias, it's as Reiji says i'm afraid."
Zero Kiryu A few days ago Zero had been asked if he wanted to kill the great cat called Alvina. The answer of course was yes, but that it was so far outside of his jurisdiction he wasn't inclined to pursue it without some sort of order. It's not as if Alvina's realm seemed to teem with regular life. It was just crammed full of non-persons ready to jump somebody. That's all well and good to exterminate, but if it's minding it's own business wandering out to cause trouble with it with a vague reason like 'I felt like it' is dangerous for a person like Zero.

He is presently accompanying Yuuki Kuran, and in fact arrived here with her in the first place. His irritability is a little more pronounced than it ordinarily is, or has been so far. The last time they were here he had to deal with Yuuki spazzing out about a bunch of stupid stuff and saying some unpleasant things.

That's most of what he's thinking about right now. This Artorias fellow isn't one of his acquaintances, so it isn't really his role to speak with the... man? Whatever he is, his only business here at the moment is playing bodyguard.

"No gimmick this time?" He asks Psyber.

Unconsciously, he's fumbling with one of those paper packets of his. Stress medicating, probably.
Yuuki Kuran     Yuuki had been AGGRESSIVELY bodyguarded by not one but TWO jauntily-haired sadboys in recent times, having just brought a simoleon sack of money - brown and with a shiny green dollar sign, of course - to Psyber's office and gone 'hey so uh I understand I can purchase your services on retainer...?' and gestured at the nonsense sack of dosh and gone 'I want this much business' and then not bothered to count the money. She has many Monies.

    Returning to the Darkroot Forest was not something that she particularly wanted to do, for she counted it among her rare - in fact, sole - failures of talking someone or something down. And it had devastated her. She had talked down The BOOGEYMAN, but a cat?

    A cat had been beyond her.

    Being so well protected by Zero, by Psyber, and tangentially by Reiji (who she understood was Good At Swords), she let her own mind wander as she meandered along, a melancholy expression on her face.

    "No gimmicks are needed. We should bear speak to those we wish to speak to, and if the denizens of the forest would stop us... Well, then we should meet force with force. ... If only that didn't leave such a bad taste in my mouth..."
Priscilla     Artorias is a little bit of a weird dude. As seems to be the case, having enough of a soul count starts to make you huge, and being nearly twice as tall as anyone else in the room, even sitting on his ass he can more or less make eye contact. Rather being clad in ridiculous slabs of metal, his profile is oddly sleek and stylized, with thick, cerulean cloth serving as a sort of scarf and face wrapping that leaves the only gap with his angular helmet completely dark. As per damn usual here. All his getup looks sparkly new now, which is a good change, even if he sounds like he's steadily breathing into a deep well. When he speaks though, his voice isn't some Reaper-esque edgelord growl, but oddly youthful, like a picture perfect artist's imagining of Arthur Pendragon as a young adult.

    "Well met Sir Arisu! And Sir Psyber as well! I even see Lady Tomoe! How have you been?" He's sitting, so he just has to kind of incline his head. "And well met too, to new visitors to our Lord's lands." Yuuki looks adorable, and clearly Zero can't be a bad guy if he protects a lovely maiden like that.

    "It could not be better! Thanks to your hard work, and the efforts of those involved in retrieving the old Embers of the forge and breaking open the vault seal, everything necessary for the restoration was gathered all together in startling time! Lord Priscilla was kind enough to approve myself first for its use. Take a look!" From one sword enthusiast to another (and the guy who had done half the work removing the corruption from the nearly destroyed blade), Artorias withdraws the weapon from its excessively large scabbard, getting that Hollywood sound of over-pronounced rasping steel for its size.

    Because if Reiji's interested, it is a) absolutely massive. It was already big with half of it eaten away by the living black gunk, but now it probably weighs ten times as much as he does. b) dressed up in silver on black like a work of art, perhaps of the Greek "grotesque" genre. c) something that /screams/ 'holy blade'. Not in the sense of 'made by angels and fairies of the lake' or 'spiritual construct of humanity's collective will to do good', but the 'thou wretch who hast turned thy face from the light of the one true sun, I consign thee to an eternal hell of oblivion' kind of holy. The bevelled edges reflect more light than they catch, and turn it a luminous blue. The sheer volume of mcguffin that must have went into fixing it is truly disgusting.

    He seems very enthusiastic to show it off, all said. Pretty good reason to be proud of it, after people had gone through so much effort and so many mini-quests to get him back in the field. "Ah, keep your head high, Lady Tomoe. For all the good news you've brought to this land, a little bad was unnaturally overdue. I'd hear the positive side first, however, if you would."
Guest Psyber     "The Gimmick today is..." Psyber leans over and quietly mumbles something to Zero under his breath. Then he shuts the journal and hands Zero the book for safekeeping. Moments later, Psyber stands up and then looks towards Artorias, giving him a wave.

    His 'Comically Large Bag of Retainer Money' is back in his office in a safe, but Yuuki has definitely purchased his bodyguard services in Lordran (and non-conflicting incidents) for the forseeable future. He raises his hand to greet Artorias, "Hail! Sir Artorias. How are you? I have personal matters to ask you about once all this news is settled out and you have your wits about you to fully answer it."

    "Hopefully time will allow."
Reiji Arisu Oh God he's chipper. Why did he have to be chipper!? That just makes this all so much worse!

    Well, at least they're starting off on good footing. Or rather, on a subject that Reiji is intimately familiar with. Yuuki is correct; he IS Good At Swords. Sure, he can't exactly make one himself, but he can certainly appreciate one when he sees it! And what a sword this one is. "Ahh," Reiji smiles slightly, "This really is the Majestic Great Sword so famous in all of those stories. I'm still surprised how easily you wield it, considering its sheer size. But it looks like the taint has been all but stripped away, and the parts that were corroded have been properly repaired. The smiths of Anor Londo are impressive indeed."

    "It seems--" from the glow, or maybe this is just Reiji's weird spirit sense triggering? "That the sword is glad to have been restored, too. I'm happy that it's doing so well; if we'd waited any more than we did, it would have been... bad."

    "But, I think, therein lies the root of our meeting today," Reiji says, looking up at the Wolf Knight. "We know where Sif is, Artorias. Have you been to your grave since your return? He has apparently been waiting there for you. But that's the good news."

"The bad news is..." Reiji grimaces, "...also related to that situation."
Zero Kiryu "Zero Kiryu, Bodyguard to Director Kuran." Zero offers to Artorias, curtly. He doesn't seem like he wants to talk a lot. Being addressed by the massive knight seems to bring him back to awareness that he's stress eating, and he puts away his packet of tablets immediately after. Not too hastily, but pretty promptly all the same. He supposes there are benefits to coming here with local heroes, if he's positively associated by default.

His attention turns to Yuuki, who gets a long flat look.

"Quit moping." He says to her.

There is a change in Zero's body language when Psyber leans towards him-- as if the gesture is uncomfortable to him at best. A tensing of muscles, not to get out of the way but out of general anxiety for that kind of proximity. His eyes narrow slightly as he listens, but whatever the problem is he seems to hold it mostly in check.

When Psyber leans away, the tension ebbs out of him. Close proximity alone seems to be the trigger.

Zero nods slowly and cracks open the journal.
Tomoe Tomoe Says "It's good to see you as well I' wish It could be under a better situation however." She sits back and waits she doe howeve rhold her head high thogh e's right she's got to keep from getting down on herself she eally has been like that over the last few months. She sits back and listens as rhe news is dished out to the Knight the good news is though Sif is indeed alive but the rest of the situation is a bit of a mess.
Yuuki Kuran     Yuuki Kuran, being introduced, bows fully to Knight Artorias. "I have heard some mention of you by Psyber - all good things!" She beams, her big dinnerplate eyes a cheery red-brown. Zero gets a pouty look. "I'm supposed to solve problems by talking to them, Zero." She frowns, before returning to the task at hand!!!

    ...Which is sword nerdery. O-oh. This is...
    As a Shojo, this is incredibly boring.

    But she patiently waits. "I am the second of Queen Priscilla in an otherworldly organization. But, I believe Psyber has things to tell you?"

    "There's also the matter of the Darkroot Garden, which we may seek your guidance - and possibly forgiveness on."
Priscilla     'If you have your wits about you' is not exactly the best statement to put to someone at ease. Buttering up may or may not actually help here though. "Very well, Sir Psyber. I will make certain to hear you out shortly." Artorias says in a mildly more reserved tone. He tilts his head faintly at Reiji, with one of those little armoured clicks. "I imagine it is. I know I, for one, am as well." It doesn't seem like the culture anthropomorphizes weapons too much here, but considering the amount of soul energy that goes into supernatural forging techniques here . . .

    He straightens up a little as Yuuki, and then Zero, introduce themselves. It's difficult to tell who is important when everyone is all the same tiny height, but for a /change/, the famous knight actually recognizes the importance of 'his boss being the boss of a Multiverse group as well', and the authority that confers ranking members of that faction too, or at the very least, deserved respect as distant peers. "Then I am most honoured to meet the both of you. Our Lord must be doing well if her Covenant seeks to aid us even here." He looks to Zero. "You've made some powerful allies."

    The mention of Sif has his immediate, intense attention; as in, actually so much it's kind of scary. The sword clacks back into its scabbard with an almost deafening clap, as its owner leans forward over it and stares intently with the dark gap in his helm. "I have barely heard of it. It seemed like a curiosity worth investigating at some point or another, but as much as it warms to heart to hear of a monument to one's supposed death, those woods are built on top of the grave of Oolacile, and the Primeval Man. It is not wise to venture deep into them."

    "This is a matter I am willing to make exception for. I can scarcely imagine how the old boy has survived on his own in that all-swallowing pit, but if I were to leave him for /centuries/ and miss the opportunity to see him again, with him thinking I'd died . . ." His fist clenches, trembling with the kind of feeling that, to briefly break tone, normally only someone who has just watched the episode of Futurama about Fry's Dog can feel.
Guest Psyber     Don't worry, Zero. He doesn't like leaning in and whispering any more than you like having it happen. He just had to, for the sake of this gimmick tonight. The half-angel dusts his hands off and puts the pen into the pocket of his coat. He seems fairly subdued tonight, much less energetic and aloof, probably owing to the heavy nature of the meeting.

    Psyber waves his hand at Artorias, "No rush, Sir Artorias. Take your time on the matter. I have plenty of time to discuss this matter with you, I assure you." His thing can wait until the news about Garbage Cat and Best Dog is done.
Tomoe Tomoe is also trying to get a feel for Zero and Yuuki she didn't have too much experiance with them back in the da before the end of the war so she's honesly a bit curious. Reiji and Pysber She's got a lot more experiance with after all. She listne to th warning and would love to heeed it however they have little choice if they are going to go help Sif after all.

"Make sure you are ready Sir Artorias. Better to take your time and make ready."
Zero Kiryu YUUKI used DINNERPLATE EYES.

"Quit pouting." Zero replies to Yuuki, stubbornly.

It's not very effective...

This is the second or third impression you're going to get from this guy. Not the first because you've been around him before, but he's been cranky and disagreeable at every single turn. Today will evidently be no exception, and the fact that Zero is technically Yuuki's subordinate doesn't seem to deter him at all. Really, if the situation were slightly different they'd probably be shoving each other around like small children.

With regards to Darkroot Garden, he remarks, "The location is thick with hostile creatures held in check by a feline spirit. I'm surprised that it isn't a bigger problem than it already is. Cats aren't known for their consistency."
Yuuki Kuran     Yuuki nods, her eyes watering just a bit. It's that Shojo Emotion Wellspringing? Even a heartless Normal Girl can be moved to emotion over the realities of A Giant Badass Knight-Man and his Giant Badass Double Decker Bus Dog. She never met the dog but can only imagine from the tales.

    "We confronted Alvina, guardian of the forest, who made... unreasonable demands and attempted to both threaten and blackmail us. I think Queen Priscilla sent us there because if she had gone herself, it would have went worse, but... I still failed, and now it seems conflict is the only solution. She made some mention of bring question to your name, too, and that of Sif, but..."

    She looks up, bringing a hand to her chest and touching her collarbone. "If nothing else, I personally will make sure that you can move through the forest to find your companion. For good or ill, you have my word. I... I hate people that twist and use others like that."

    Says the NORMAL GIRL. This is not hypocritical. At all.
Reiji Arisu Well.

    This isn't unexpected. The bond between man and beast can be strong indeed. For one named the Wolf Knight, it isn't surprising that he'd feel such a strong bond with the Great Wolf Sif. A bond like that would be necessary, especially considering how long the wolf protected his grave. A bond, or a powerful contract. One of the two.

    "That would explain the strange sensation I was feeling there," Reiji muses, idly. "I thought it was just the tranquility of nature, but if it's The First Man, then..." He shakes his head. No, they can talk about that later. "Regardless. That is the good news. Now I need to tell you about the bad."

    Reiji takes a deep breath, and then promptly drops into a practiced seiza. "Alright. You know how some of us from outside the world were led by Priscilla on a quest to open a way to the Kiln. To unite the old Lord Souls, in order to reignite the First Flame. You might remember, as I believe this transpired before your disappearance, that Lord Gwyn bequeathed a fraction of his soul unto the Four Kings of New Londo."

    He goes on, continuing his summary of the events. "In order to retrieve that fragment, it was necessary to descend into the Abyss. But the only way to do so safely was some artifact that was laid at your grave." Reiji shifts slightly, resting an arm and much of his weight on one folded leg. "Some, many of them amongst the now defunct Union, travelled to Darkroot in order to retrieve this artifact. However, when they arrived at your monument, they found it protected by the Great Wolf, understandably incensed at their trespassing upon your would-be resting place."

    "Sif and those who travelled there engaged in battle, and the wolf was wounded but, as far as I am aware, he has been recovering ever since." Reiji glances up at the knight, partly in sympathy, partly to gauge his reaction. But...

    "I won't argue that the suffering which Sif has suffered could or could not have been lessened," he continues. "I wasn't there for the fight, and so I can't make any judgment as to whether things could have been different. All that I know is that the item was necessary in order to slay the Four Kings, and so it was felt that they needed to defeat Sif to retrieve it."

    "One way or another, however, we gathered the souls. Entered the Kiln. The rest is history, except for what specifically brought this matter to the forefront," he says, then, keeping his voice in as measured of a tone as he can manage. "There is a cat living in the Darkroot Woods, one named Lady Alvina, who has recently voiced her displeasure towards the transgressions inflicted upon the woods. We met her there to hear her complaint, and so we heard of Sif."

"And so we bring it to you, now. Because you have the right to know, and because apparently none have yet informed you."

    The exorcist then... actually bows, folding over almost in half with his head low. "I am sorry, Knight Artorias. For what transpired there in those days past, for the situation we now find ourselves in, and for the injuries your friend suffered in the defense of his master's honor."

    "While I am unable to repay that injustice, I ask for your understanding. I'm certain that, if there were another way, it would have been pursued. For now, all we can do is attempt to make right in the future what was wronged in the past. I hope only that this situation might still resolve amicably. If you would allow me to, I would accompany you to meet with your old friend as well."
Priscilla     Artorias has a weird reaction to the mention of 'feline creature'. Weird is the only way it can be described. It somehow feels as if the air has changed, even with how perpetually inexpressive and 'left to interpretation' most people wind up being here. The best it can be pinned down as, is the reaction of someone who has just had a total stranger verbally detail the dream they had that morning.

    "I am not surprised to hear of the state of the wood. When I last walked it, it was still curated by golems of earth that kept it. The name 'Darkroot' must speak of its new nature, but it was, once long ago, a true Garden. Lords know what may have moved into it since, if its caretakers no longer function, or indeed exist. I imagine the Sanctuary Guardian has long since perished."

    He seems . . . cautious, but unsurprised, that Yuuki would describe the mysterious cat that way. He seems hesitant to ascribe to the belief right away, for whatever reason, but certainly like he wouldn't be surprised. "I know not precisely how long that creature has dwelt within the Garden, nor when it learned to speak, but I know that it is at least a length of time great enough that it remembers the city that once laid beneath those trees. A cat is an odd creature to linger so long at its old grounds, or to attach such sentimentality to them."

    And then Reiji tells the whole truth. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what item Reiji is talking about. Artorias is pretty capable of remembering he lost his ring and his pendant forever ago. Despite the good cause, however, and despite all the justification in the world, and even despite the miraculous result, a man's dog is his dog. Some mental image of a wounded pup by its lonesome must have shot into his head, because in the blink of an eye, a twelve foot sword is buried six feet in the solid stone floor, shooting spiderweb cracks through the tiles under everyone's feet. The knight gets to his feet, trembling with impressively, if barely, contained rage.

    It's a very sudden reminder, what this fantastical world is like. Even in these glorious, hallowed halls, safe and peaceful once again, face to face with the picture of chivalry, the air charges with an utterly overpowering feeling of "Danger danger, conscious brain! Murder imminent! I repeat! Murder imminent!". Turning the other cheek is not a phrase that exists here.

    So it's probably a measure of incredible self control that he lets go of the weapon, though his voice turns dead and cold. "Then it is a very good thing this Union was destroyed, else I would be required by honour to destroy it myself. I will have words with Lord Priscilla. Regardless of the situation, I owe my own life to her judgements of whom she chose to employ, and cannot so easily betray such a debt. This cat, if it intends to keep dear Sif in the dark, will acquiesce or face judgement. I can only say I will refrain from the same towards those involved if Sif is indeed still able."

    Eventually, he sits back down. "The things of the Old Dark will want repayment from me. I have, in a roundabout way, broken the terms of the Covenant. If the cat truly has command of everything that lives in the Garden, she will need to be neutralized first, else I do not enjoy the idea of any of you being in the way should the Dark boil over in search of me."
Guest Psyber     "I have connections to individuals that may prove able to out-fox Alvina and her ilk," Psyber says confidently. The half-angel seems, on the surface, unphased by the show of force from Artorias. His actual mindset is, as ever, shrouded behind a poker face of aloof detachment. He folds his hands behind his back as he approaches Artorias and says plainly, "Allow me to reach out to some people and see if we can't destabilize her power base within the area using those connections before we head in using force."

    The half-angel takes a slow breath and fidgets at his back for a few moments before unfolding his hands and walking formally, and stiffly, towards Artorias, "That way, we can ensure the safest sort of entry and execution of all this."
Reiji Arisu     Given all that he and the others have been through in Lordran, Artorias' reaction is not altogether unexpected. Reiji maintains his seiza bow for the duration of the Abysswalker's tremendous wrath, and only unfolds again once he detects that the knight has sat back down. He seems calm, at least on the outside. Maybe it's just his experience in negotiating with spirits very much not unlike Artorias and the other Gods. Divine Wrath is, it seems, Divine Wrath.

    "One way or another, you will not be going into those woods alone," Reiji says, then. "It won't be the first time I've fought the old dark, and it would be remiss of me to not see this through now." He inclines his head towards Psyber, then, "At the very least, I would like to provide some degree of security, in case Alvina has prepared countermeasures even after Psyber executes his plan."
Yuuki Kuran     Giving a glance to Zero, there's an uncompromising tone to the first word she speaks. "Don't--." Before she catches herself, adopting a more even, melancholy tone. "Don't... get too worked up about what I'm about to say."

    She gives another meaningful look to the room, though she'll know Psyber will get it.

    "From Reiji's story, I know you hurt. From your reaction, I know you are pained, and that your honor demands some recompense. I cannot offer you my life... But if it would give you peace to strike at those responsible, if your honor demands blood, then..."

    "I was a member of the Union. I, a bumbling fool, have caused problems with my meddling. I am willing to take responsibility for these sins upon myself, for you to render your punishment upon."

    Yuuki gives a weak smile. "I am... somewhat tough, so it would be alright. Though I understand it is a hollow peace that it may grant you. Then, we can go find your friend, at the very least?"
Tomoe Tomoe does take note of his reaction to the feling creature that thing was an ass hole and it was playing poltical games pretty hard which wouldn't work out too well, one way ot another. She took a shor breath as she thinks over what they are going to have to do and she tlts for a moment as he tells them a bit about the wood and she nods for a moment. "Maybe it's not out of any emottional attachment? But that cart is osmething else."

She looked over to Pysber for a moment.

"Who ever they are I trust in your judgemtns and connections Pysber."

She does mean it too he did a good job back in the day and Kirito trusted him pretty deeply too as far as we kno.

"We won't be letting you go alone not matter what happens. I can't run away from the things I did, right?"

she looks to Reiji for a moment she pays attention to Yuuki.

"I was with the Union too and I was ... there the last time Lady Priscilla's Allies came through here..."
Zero Kiryu The charged atmosphere of the room doesn't seem to be rankling Zero like it does everybody else. This is a false perception. He's actually started picking at his paper packet full of tablets again once Artorias draws his blade and slams it into the ground. This is the primary reason he manages not to lose his cool and snarl back a little. In fact, it's the reason that he stops himself from reacting with immediate harshness to Yuuki directly.

This doesn't, however, prevent him from cutting past all the nonsense directly.

"Useless here is trying to throw herself on your sword on behalf of the anonymous individuals who actually conducted the activities you're upset about." Zero jerks a thumb towards Yuuki in a manner that can only be described as a little angry.

"That's just the kind of person she is. I don't really care about your business personally, but I understand why you're angry, and I'm under orders to see it through so I don't mind helping you with the cat and her forest. Both her and the creatures that live there need to die anyway. But if you hurt this one then we're going to have a problem." He folds his paper packet up and puts it away again.

Zero doesn't draw arms though. He hasn't been here long enough to have a firm grasp on the situation, but he's reasonably confident based on the way people have talked about Artorias that he wouldn't hurt somebody acting that selflessly.
Priscilla     Okay, having a shoujo woobie try to bear that cross is just sad. Even though Yuuki is probably acting on naive, pure as the driven snow intentions, it is an effective form of psycho-social warfare, because really, who is going to beat on her after saying /that/? It's like the guilt and awkwardness you feel when a homeless guy you ignore wishes you a merry christmas as you walk away except times a hundred.

    "It would grossly tarnish my name were I to harm a young lady in lieu of those culpable." Artorias finally sighs, pulling the anime-tier sword out of the flagstones with one hand. Zero's impression seems to be correct. "And at the same time, I understand it would be trampling upon your honour as her guard to have you sit by and watch. Perhaps it is best that someone here is completely detached." He then says to the male vampire.

    He regards Psyber's offer with some palpable sense of distaste, but just shakes his head faintly. "I will not ask, and you will not tell me who these people are. That would be for the best. After that, do as you will. You are grown men and women, with mettle proven. I am not so full of hubris as to believe you incapable of venturing under the ancient trees."
Guest Psyber     Psyber nods his head to Artorias and then places his hands in his pockets again, "I will see it done. In return, I believe it is finally time for me to ask my favor of you."

    Psyber shifts his footing a bit, "I understand this may not be the most opportune time for me to ask this of you, but at the same time, there is no point more appropriate to bring it up." He rocks on his feet a bit, "I need to ask you a fairly large favor, all the more reinforced by recent events and many other things going on in the world."

    He stares at Artorias and says, "I'd like you to train me to be the next Abysswalker, Watcher of the Abyss, or whatever you wanna call it," Psyber tells him point blank, giving him a serious stare, "I'm capable of handling the responsibility, I'm powerful enough to do it, and I have business in there to handle anyway. I am willing to take on your mantle and continue the task of keeping it at bay here in Lordran."

    He keeps his stare flat and fixes his gaze on Artorias, "And once we've recovered Sif, I'd like you to formally pass the title on to me publically and then retire to adventure, travel with your dog, or just do whatever. But leave the Abysswalking to me."

    "This is my request."
Reiji Arisu Reiji just stares at Psyber. For a very, very long time.

    "I suppose," he says, then, "That you have a reason. Will you be able to manage the agency while you're busy with this, or do you just have that much free time?" It's a good-natured barb, but there's still a hint of worry there. A good friend is hard to lose, after all.

    He looks back to Artorias, and slowly pushes himself back to his feet. "Well then, it seems I've got some preparing to do. At the very least, I need to write up a stack of wards to bring along, just in case. It will be an honor to see you in battle first hand, Sir Artorias."
Priscilla     That's a heavy request to drop on the tail end of all of this. The hollow, echoing breathing stops for a full second. Not a piece of chain clinks. "I know you have some inkling of what you ask. I know you are not weak, either. I know you were among those who bested the foe that, in the end, I could not. I know that the Abyss has shattered because of it, and become something else. For that reason, I would perhaps be willing to honour such a request."

    "However, I make no promises as to passing such work on to another before they fully understand it. The Abyss is not something so easily tamed by one man and his sword. The Abyss remembers. As you return to it, it comes to know you, and as it comes to know you, you will come to face stranger and more insidious things than raving monsters. It is not to be trifled with, in the way of hunting exotic beasts. It is a living thing, that will only slumber through so many intrusions before its denizens come to take notice."

    "If, and only if, I deem you are capable, I would pass the title, as Lordran needs Knights more than ever. I'm afraid retirement is not for me, but know that it is not for doubt of your mettle that I say this, but for the consequences that should follow for everything touched by the light of day should one err. I will discuss this further only once this current matter is resolved."
Tomoe Tomoe is also effectd by just how hard Yuuki is laying it on and she's feeling Guiltuy about he wanting to take on the stuff she had a hand in for good or ill. She looks to him for a moment then back to Yuuki then back to Artorias nd she seem to be thinking her words over carefully. Then Pysber utterly derails her word nd what she was going to say. She just stares at a loss ofr words much like Reiji is. Then looks at Artorias's reply to the deal Psyber has set up. She simply understand she's witness to something very imporant to both men and this world is going on here now.