The Underworld discussion

Daemon hurried after Adrian, into the council's commons. He kept close, almost too much so, but he didn't seem to notice, gazing around in curiosity.

"Sit down in the corner," he ordered, "We'll need to wait for Mel - we're a little early."

He sat down in his seat, pouring himself a glass of whiskey.

He nodded and went to the nearest corner, curling his knees to his chest, resting his chin on his knees, watching Adrian curiously.

Hinoko looked up at Adrain, thinking.

Adrian clicked a button on his monitor, an Artic Monkeys song gently playing from the speakers. He took a swig and leaned back closing his eyes, dreading the overbearing attitude of Melanie.

Hinoko turned into a small red lion.

Daemon inched closer and closer to Adrian, sitting by his chair, finally laying down sleepily as the silence, interrupted by the music became more lulling. His eyes slowly drooped closed as he snoozed, stretched out like a dog next to Adrian's chair.

Hinoko curled up like a kitty around the legs of Adrian's chair, purring softly.

Adrian arched his brow at the both of them. Whatever happened to sitting quietly in the corner? Oh well. If they fell asleep they'd miss everything but he guessed that was to be expected. Neither had slept since before they'd been dragged to the Underworld.

Alex Turner hit the chorus.

Crawling back to you,
Ever thought of calling when you've had a few?
'Cause I always do,
Maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new,
Now I've thought it through,
Crawling back to you.

((Meow

Daemon jerked awake with a start, sitting up and groaning softly, leaning back against Adrian's chair tiredly.

"That was very audacious of you," noted Adrian.

He flicked the boy on the head.

Hinoko just lied there awake and purred.

HE winced slightly at the flick, looking up at him and smiling with a false sweetness. "I like it better being next to you"

"If I had a dime for every time I heard that," sighed Adrian, "But you're pretty so it doesn't matter."

"I bet you found your other lovers pretty too" he murmured.

If Hinoko could've paled in this form she would've. Was this guy trying to get killed?!

Hinoko looked up as the two entered.

Melanie sat down in her seat immediately.

"No," said Adrian, "Some of them were exceptionally ordinary. Melanie. First order?"

"Cell 107."

"Sigh."

Daemon fell silent, listening to their conversation from where he sat next to Adrian.

Hinoko was paying attention as well.

"Pass," said Adrian.

"Brother elections," said Melanie, "Don't you dare skip."

"Pass-oh wait we have a candidate," said Adrian, "Daemon."

"Whatever floats your boat, sir," she sighed.

"Love ya," he said.

"Love you longer," she sighed, "Okay, the siege-"

"Next time," said Adrian seriously, "Not in front of these."

((Sleeping - night))

Daemon blinked, looking between them and raising an eeybrow.

Daemon glanced to Koi and smiled brightly, scooting over to him. "You're new" he whispered

"keep your voice down whilst the adults talk" he murmured, scowling at Adrian before smiling back at Koi, holding out a hand "I'm daemon"

"I just call him that to piss him off. No he's called the father and he's the big man around here apparently"

((Gtg)) "neither do I" he smirked "I'm supposed to sit here and look pretty"

"And about that blue blood," said Melanie, "You've had him under order 23 too long, he lost his eyes yesterday."

"Tell me something more interesting and important?"

"Listen or I'll cut your showering privileges."

"I'll turn you off and reset all your data."

"Ooh" he snickered, looking up at Melani and grinning

Melanie huffed.

"The serious stuff you won't discuss in front of these," she said, "So we're back to square one, about the Brother. Look I get that you're grieving, but it needs to be done."

She looked at him softly and he glared.

"Don't patronize me or I'll kill you."

He glanced up at Adrian, growling at Mel

Hinoko continued her purring.

"Fine," relented Adrian, "Daemon's gonna do it. Aren't you, Daemon?"

Melanie frowned for a moment in disapproval, but then shrugged.

"Okay," she said, "So that's that done. Please don't tell me I have to debrief him."

He jumped up at hearing his name, peering over the table at Melanie, his gaze narrowing for a moment. "....yeah..." he replied, slowly sinking out of sight under the table where he was talking to Koi.

"He's far too odd," complained Melanie.

"We're all a little odd," allowed Adrian, "Exhibit A, your charming, breathtaking me. Besides, he'll do a good job and he has a pretty face."

"Oh no," she started, "We're not doing this again. You can't keep picking people becau-"

"I picked you for that same reason," he said, "Let it go, Mel, none of this is even necessary. I could do it all myself, I'm just lazy."

"I"m replacing some guy who died." he shrugged, curling closer to Adrian's chair. "but so far all I've learned is I'm pretty" he sighed.

"I'm not odd at all," she complained.

"I wasn't referring to that," he bickered, "And you are odd. You still watch Sailor Moon."

"Which is not for children!"

"Why do our meeting always turn out like this," he muttered, "Silence now, Melanie, and let me think for a moment."

He closed his eyes and she silenced, knowing he was having a bombardment of brain waves that would form something brilliant.

Daemon rested his chin on the arm of Adrian's chair, watching him curiously. "Can my eyes shoot lasers?"

"No," said Melanie, "But mine can."

"You need to get a hand on yourself before I can give you dangerous and cool stuff," said Adrian, "Melanie is my prototype though, so if you see anything badass you like, let me know and I'll alter you."

"what!? Awesome!" he grinned

"Which reminds me Mel," he said, "I'd like to fit you with the Intel 94. Tomorrow, at a convenient time."

"Does that include that ridiculous brewery inside me."

"I like homemade whiskey."

She sighed. "I'm free for 2 hours at 14:32."

"That will suffice," he replied, "And Daemon."

"His debriefing and training will start effective immediately," she said shortly, "Will you participate, sir?"

"Perhaps."

"..training?" He grumbled, looking over to Mel and scowling unhappily, flopping down on his back. "Ew. So if you like brew alcohol inside a ya, where does it come in and where does it come out?"

"Come out of nowhere," she answered, unabashed, "Teleportation is something my model is very adept in."

"I may ban such vulgar questions in the Underworld," said Adrian, "What say you, new guy I haven't met yet with blue hair?"

Daemon glanced over to Koi, grinning unabashedly, before glancing up to Adrian. "They aren't vulgar! I was curious! It was your mind that twisted it into a dirty question"

(...)

"Like the fish," mused Adrian, and then, "Vulgarity is not my forte..."

Melanie sighed, glaring at Koi and Daemon for speaking against Adrian.

He scowled right back at Melanie, ignoring her glare and leaning back against Adrian's chair once more. "The floor makes my butt hurt" he muttered unhappily to himself.

Hinoko's laugh transferred telepathically through everyone's brain so she shifted from her lioness form to her human form. The red haired Asian girl giggled hysterically.

"Then earn your seat," ordered Adrian.

"That isn't a thing," pointed Melanie.

"I'm making it a thing," he said, "You're very argumentative today, Melanie, one would think it was that time of the month."

"I'm a cyborg," she said bluntly, "I don't have times of months."