Aster lands in a another world where he finds himself on the private property of a crime syndicate. Initially he isn't accepted, but it is his goal to rise up the ranks and get recognition within the syndicate as it's the only thing he has!
Side Not...
3 hours after they had left the woods, Rou's group had made their way to the nearest tavern. Rou was still unconscious and was placed in a bed upstairs, Demitris was willing to stay with him until he woke up while Ophelia and Selina hung around the bar. All was desolate, but optimistic at the same time as Demitris's injury still needed healing and the cracks from decay were now all the way up his left arm, but they refused to move until he knew Rou was okay.
"I'm so sorry Rou, I disappointed you and killed that guy. If the syndicate rats you out for killing made man, I don't know what I'd do.", Demitris put his head down on the bed, holding Rou's leg with their undecayed hand. "I just can't forgive myself! With your attachment to the rules, you'd probably rat me out instead! Aah, I don't know what to do!", he yelled.
Demitris's screaming had awoken Rou, but the boy's head was on the bed sheets, so they didn't see that his capo had opened his eyes. "Demitris, it wasn't your fault. I know better than everyone that your struggle to control your decay, your emotions. If they want to rat you out, I'll explain everything so they don't, because you were a good friend back there…", Rou muttered, still weak from the fight.
Demitris looked up immediately at Rou's face. He looked calm, sincere, nothing what he expected over the last 3 hours of being alone with his thoughts. "R-rou, you're awake? I bet you felt so ashamed to hear me like this when you've barely woke up…", Demitris cried. "Not at all, I understand completely. Besides, it's my own mistakes in the fight that led to your own…", Rou put his hand on Demitris's shoulder, consoling his soldier.
"I always assume the worst from people, it's just who I am. All my life I was told I was born to do terrible things, but that's not what I'm like at all. At this point I just don't care anymore for most people, but for you…", Demitris became lost in his thoughts once more as Rou pulled them into an embrace. "You seem to care for me a lot, I get it. I suppose I was the first person that treated you like a human being, which is sad, but at least now you have friends, like myself, like the rest of the squad. We need you Demitris.", Rou let Demitris go, his demeanor became much calmer after the conversation.
There was a knock at the door, Demitris opened it and Vox was there. "I thought you two would be in here. I saw a couple of stragglers from your squad and they told me what was going on.", Vox remarked. The tavern that the group had wandered to happened to be one run by the syndicate to sell drugs, but outsiders were convinced it was a regular business.
"So, I'm assuming none of you found the traitorous associate. Aw! What a shame! I'm sure the other groups had some luck. In the meantime, how about you guys get drinks?", Vox chucked. Demitris glanced at Rou to see what he said, he was going to be the best judge of his own recovery. "Yes Vox, that would be great!", replied Rou, getting up from the bed.
"Geez Rou, you're really into alcohol these days…", commented Demitris. Rou shrugged off the remark, "Well I am old enough to drink it nowadays, can't say the same for you though.", Rou said jokingly. "Hey! We're only 4 months apart!", Demitris responded. The two of them laughed before heading down the stairs with Vox.
A table was set up and Ophelia and Selina were already sat there. "Hey Rou! I'm guessing you're mostly recovered if you're heading down here.", Ophelia stated joyfully. Selina took a sip of her whisky, "Hey Rou, don't you perform here from time to time?, she pondered. "Why yes, but not today, we need to get off after we've done drinking if we want Demitris's arm sorted out.", Rou explained.
A few minutes later, everyone had finished their drinks and were about to head out. Vox saw them out as they started to leave. "Come back here again some time, I tend the bar on Wednesdays!", he announces. As Rou's squad left the tavern, they waved goodbye to their consigliere and headed on their way, still blissfully unaware of what was going on with the other groups.
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