Thousands of heads faced the center of the room for a moment to see just who had arrived through a Drivers Rift, an The Dark Stars at that. But to everyone's surprise it was Saranai with her arms interlinked with a mysterious man they'd never seen before by her side. They saw a handsome man with dark skin and a confident stride but to Iramo and Saranai they wondered one thing as they looked each other in the eyes then back at the crowd.
Are we late? We're they here waiting for us to arrive?
Though the question lingered in the air for a moment the crowd soon settled down and the two went on their way. Because during that awkward interaction, Iramo had spotted the tables filled with food out the corner of his eye.
"Well since that went so well, I think its time we see what's left to eat since we got just enough time to go get a snack."
Smiling as she tugs his shirt, Saranai points to the yellow squares sitting in the back.
"OUU! Look they still got our favorite and I already see what I wanna try after that!
Dropping her tone to a whisper, Saranai lean up to his ear and whispers her plan.
"Lead the way and if we're fast enough we can come back for that and take some to go. Why we still standing here? Come on go go go!"
Pushing through the crowd without a care in the world, a lanky man with dark green skin, wearing tattered black jacket riddled with holes over his blue shirt and black pants rushes towards the drinks prepared for all participates and starts chugging them down. Knocking people all around the crowd as he makes his way to the front even grabbing hold of a well tailored man in a fancy smancy, ebony suit and pushing him to the side.
"Get out of the way already! I'm hungry and does it look like I wanna wait?! You guys are hogging all the food and forming a line!"
An without a care in the world he continues to stride through the crowd while the fancy man falls into a small woman with blue hair and black skin, not even bothering to turn around. Infuriating the fancy man so much that he throws her onto the ground and reaches out, grabbing hold of his shoulder firmly,barely holding him in place.
"YOU! Show some respect! Do you know who I am you vagrant! I'm Tyson Stella!"
Feeling the hand begin to weight on his shoulder the lanky man moves without a word.
"Don't forget your here to show what you can do for a shot at the good life I lead! So don't go around making everybody's-"
Ducking down out of his jacket, he swiftly turns around, sticking his left leg into the air and driving his worn out, bourbon boot down on his face.
"Huh? I don't even know you and I don't give a damn about everyone else in this place! So you can shut the fuck up and let me go eat in peace!"
Pressing his foot down hard enough to leave a mark against his head, the lanky man bounces it off the ground one last time before walking off like nothing happened towards the buffet. Leaving blue blood pouring out from Tyson's mouth all over his suit and spread across his face.
Grabbing hold of his mouth as he cries out in pain, Tyson rises to his feet with tears in his eyes.
"Damn it! Who do you think you are?"
Scratching behind his ear, he turns around showing his peculiar face lined with blue wires glowing with a strange substance flowing through them from under his chin with disgust in his eyes.
"Huh! Why do you care, it's weird of you to ask somebody who you we're rude to for their name but I guess I'll have to introduce myself anyways. My names Farai and if theirs nothing left to eat when I get over there, you'll have a whole lot more than a few drips of blood spill today."
Man I can't stand rich guys! Their outfits have no taste. I mean who wears that shade, especially when it doesn't go with your face?
Staring at Farai with blood lusted eyes, Tyson stands firm smiling with blood smeared across his teeth as he burns his name into his mind.
"Farai remember well, I am still one of the Stella's and I'll see to it that my brother shows you no mercy after this is all done!"
Snickering as he wipes the blood onto his sleeves, Tyson the youngest child of the Stella's stares intensely at the empty space before him, growing more and more enraged as he notices Farai walked off long ago.
"DAMN YOU!"
Pulling a strange nonagon shaped device out his pocket, Tyson storms off towards the corner of the room with tears in his eyes.
"Enjoy what time you got left… you bastard."
Enjoying the many delicacies Saranai is delighted by the burst of flavors as she bites into a juicy, long, quatrefoil shaped tail dipped in a maroon sauce.
"Mmmm, this is sooooo good! Iramo you have to try it!"
With skepticism written all over his face, Iramo hesitates but with one look into his eyes Saranai shoves it in his mouth, maintaining eye contact as she wipes the sauce from his mouth with her fingers before pulling them away.
"It's good don't think to much about it… just chew slow."
Feeling the soft, succulent, tender sensation shoved into his mouth as he bites down. Iramo's teeth tore through the flesh with ease as if he was biting into a cloud. Releasing the sea of flavors trapped within it that we're bursting through the skin. Absolutely captivating Iramo with each bite the flavors intensity only grew awakening a growing hunger he'd been ignoring all this time.
"Looks good now doesn't it?"
Rushing to the rest, Iramo starts shoveling more and more into his mouth, completely devouring the delicious tails one after another all on his own without showing any signs of stopping.
"Everything's so good!"
Taking a brief break to find the next food to stuff his face, he turns to Saranai and looks her in the eyes like he hasn't eaten in day.
"is this what's next?"
Giggling as she reaches out to grab another, dipping it in the sauce and dangling it over his face, Saranai pulls it back to her lips, slowly biting into it as she licks the sauce away.
"Their called Soaking Sops and their even better in this macko sauce. Here wanna taste?"
Without a word being said Iramo opened his mouth, to eager to wait for another taste so he bites into the other end, reaching over to grab hold of the sauce on his own but she still wants to play. Saranai grabs onto the sauce and put her hand over his lips while she pulls the sauce behind her back.
"Nope you gotta ask nice."
Muffled yet clearly desperate, Iramo can't help but beg Saranai to give him a taste.
"Let me try the sauce!"
But the more he begs, the closer she gets until his hands around around her sides.
"Do you reallyyyy want it?"
Moving her hand off his mouth Iramo looks at her with determination in his eyes, the building heat begins to get to his head.
"I really wanna try it, I have to know how it taste!"
Looking back with nothing but desire, Saranai can barely contain herself as she lean back, pressed against the edge of the table, holding the sauce behind her back.
"Hmmm, I don't knowww. You didn't really ask me nice, what if I say no?"
Reaching around Saranai while closing the little distance between them, Iramo looks Saranai in the eyes.
"Then I'll just have to take it and see if you pull away."
Holding her waist with his left hand, Iramo pulls Saranai in even closer until they are face to face their noses pressing together. Leaving barely any space between their lips as Iramo utters sweet words to Saranai while softly extending his hand right hands fingers, gently caressing her back.
"I'm almost there so you gonna play nice or do you want to get dirty today?"
Locking eyes they both stare at each other intently, sharing a moment of silence until a soft voice calling out to them, brings them back to where they are.
"E-excuse me?"
A small woman with blue hair and black skin, nervously stood before them, wearing a beige dress and purple shoes.
"Can I get some of the flaming Samosa behind you… please?"
Snapping out of their trance, Iramo and Saranai look at her, then back at each other as they step out the way, opening up a path between them for her to walk.
"Yeah of course, Go right ahead! Don't let that bottomless pit stop you from enjoying everything."
Nodding in agreement, Iramo fires back a sly comment at Saranai.
"Yeah don't be shy she clearly eats plenty at home."
Connecting her whole hand across his face a powerful slap echoed across the room.
"HEY! YOU JERK!"
Saranai launches her right hand into Iramo's face slapping him so hard everyone turns to look for a moment drawing their own conclusions of what happened as they turned back their heads.
"Young love, what can you do about it!"
"They really should just get a room already."
"I don't know I like them."
"Yeah, I can see this power couple getting far!"
"Did you hear what he said though? Talking about her like that they won't last long!"
"He was just teasing don't be such a hard ass about it!"
Among all the commotion in the crowd a frantic voice from deep in the crowd, rapidly grew louder as it came closer to the food.
"MOVEEEE! THERE WILL BE BARELY ANY GOOD STUFF LEFT!"
Sending more and more people shuffling throughout the crowd the louder it got the one and only Farai reached the front of the food. Grabbing hold of an unlucky short man with a strong frame, green skin, and flowing yellow hair along side his back, Farai yanked him back from the table just as he was reaching out his hands.
"You don't get tired of such greed!"
Throwing his hands off without giving him the time of day he turns his back to the table, glaring at Farai with confusion spread across his face.
"What?"
Furious beyond reason, Farai pushes him back into the table so hard it nearly fall over and pushes the food to the ground.
"Don't act like you don't know! I haven't had a bite to eat, not one! But your still over here stuffing your mouth!"
Regaining his balance, the green man drives his finger into Farai's chest as he stares him down.
"WHO?! Not Takari, cause this is the first thing I grabbed!-"
Pressing his head down hard into his face, Farai refuses to back down, smacking his hand off his chest.
"Bullshit! There's no way you didn't eat them all and somehow there's only one left!"
With the forming crowd circling them, things got loud quick as both Takari and Farai intended to make a scene.
"The fuck you mean bullshit?! It's the truth! This is my first bite!"
Looking into the crowd with an appalled expression, Farai looked back at Takari with disgust written all over his face.
"No way your just now getting your first bite! If your gonna be a glutton at least share some! But nooooo, your gonna sit here and lie to me!"
But ass Takari grew tired of his back and forth, he turned his back to Farai and put the last Flaming Samosa onto a plate only to have it ripped from his hands as he's thrown across the room, straight into the air. Leaving the plate in Farai's right hand while he bring his left hand down to pick up the last piece from the plate and walk away with a smile on his face.
"I knew you ate already! Look! There's already a stain on this pla-"
With a heavy strike to the back of his head, Farai staggers for a moment dropping to a knee and dropping the plate right into Takari's hands.
"You, You, YOU ASSHOLE! What was that for!"
Sticking the plate out as far as he can, Takari keep Farai at bay.
"HUH! What do you mean what was that for? You took my food and sent me flying! Don't act like you don't know!"
Rubbing the back of his head as he reaches out with his right hand to grab onto Takari's arm, holding it in place Farai shakes his head.
"Look! Your still only trying to stuff your face! You need to learn how to share!"
Annoyed, Takari side eye Farai as he struggles to pull back his hand.
"Well, I told you I'm hungry so hurry up and let go before I flash out!"
Farai saw a deep glow leaking out from the Takari's odd eyes. Each one began to form lines down the middle, expanding as they start to form cracks like groves along the surface, revealing a glare bright like a diamond from deep within his eye.
"What's going on with your eyes? This is freaky I can't eat like this. Get your zone under control or at least fix your face."
With each passing second the remaining cracks in Takari's eyes begin to peel away more and more as the light begins to crumble, forming twin jewels in his eyes.
"You wanna act crazy?"
Tearing his shirt off with his left hand, he throws its into to air, watching it's remains fall to the ground as his body radiates a strong, shell like aura, forming circles under his feet.
"Fine! Let's get crazy!"
Amidst the commotion, Iramo walks up from behind and grabs onto the last flaming Samosa, eating it right before their eyes, oblivious to the overflowing tensions between them now turned his way.
"Mmmm! This is really good! I was wondering why your fighting over it but I can see why you guys wanted some so bad. They should really make more."
Instantaneously the two began to emanate intense animus as they rush at Iramo, deciding to take him down before he finishes off the little food that was left.
Twitching his eye profusely as he extends his left leg, driving the heel of his foot to the side of Iramo's chest, Farai closes the distance quick, rotating his leg.
"You greedy-"
Clenching his fist as tight as he can, Takari slides in with his left foot, jerking his body forward as he sends his right arm cutting through the air, gunning for Iramo's face.
"Conniving-"
Inches from striking him down they both synchronize, shouting to the top of lungs.
"JERKKK!"
Leaping on top of his foot, Iramo shut down Farai's attack, pushing his foot down as he jumped off it, doing a front spin over the fist that followed and smirking as lands.
"Come on guys, you'll have to do better than that."
Before the next strike could be thrown, the room was consumed by a realgar flare, that seemed to thicken the air. Making the once lively crowd fall silent just as fast as the phenomena began. Drawing all eyes to the center of the room, right to the source before they all came crashing down at the peculiar sight of orange flowers spread all across the ground.
"That's enough for now everybody, let's all settle down."
Unsure of who or what has entered this place, Iramo rushes to return to Saranai's side, only to be intercepted by a delicate yet calculated voice, wrapping a strange dust around his hands.
"Don't worry about her, I saw how you both came in and neither I nor anyone here wants war with The Dark Star so don't worry, I just came to talk."
Following the voice back to the center of the room, a woman wearing a long red dress and orange heels clad with arrows met his gaze with a curious look in her eyes as she walks his way.
"I promise I won't hurt anyone who came this is just part of the test no one usually would withstand but your an exception so I can just take you to the ground if you like."
Staring at Saranai passed out in the corner on a chair, Iramo doesn't hesitate and takes his next step her way.
"I'm good lady, I'll stick with who I know."
Twisting her orange hair around her finger as her golden eyes glow brightly shining on him, the realgar flare around the room grew even more intense.
"Hmmm… you don't care easy do you? Well don't forget your hear to prove yourself— so don't act a fool under our name, especially for a friend."
"Your name can belong to anyone but my friends are mine alone."
Leaning forward with a smirk on her face, she sinks her hands into her thighs as she takes a seat, crossing one leg over another, dangling it in the air.
"Really? If anyone can be a Crusader why do you want to be one?"
"Because it's the only way I can achieve my goals and all I have to do is win. So for now… its the easy way out and that's fine with me."
Crossing her arms with a curious look in her eyes, she can't help but pry.
"An if your as strong as your words imply you are our ranks will provide all you need… that is if your willing to work your way up to the top."
Scooping up Saranai in his hands, Iramo holds her close to his chest as he makes his way back to the center of the room.
"That's the plan. I'll go after something insanely strong then I'll pass the scan."
Laughing softly she covers her mouth with her right hand, flashing the glare from her orange gem.
But even so… what could make you so eager to take on our empty name? Do you really think you can?"
Exuding pure confidence, Iramo smiles lifting his head high.
"I'll do it because I have to so it doesn't matter if I can. I'll join The Crusaders here and now to prove that anybody can."
Erupting one after another green pillars of light began to appear, violently shaking the room as they engulf each survivor, whisking them away, leaving no trace behind.
"I'd love to talk with you more but it looks like it's just about time to begin. Do your best out there! Oh and try not to die looking after your friend."
Before he could take his next breath Iramo was surrounded by the beam and boxed into a light, breaking him apart as he too was whisked away.
"If you mange to do you do what you said we'll surely meet again someday."