Messengertalk (Tala & Rei, occasional Bryan)

-"Heh, ok. Hopefully they're not gonna kill me immediately when I get inside the house..? I'm still a Bladebreaker..."

"No, they're not. They know they're gonna get Wolborg after their sorry asses if they do that mistake", Tala explained as he opened the front door. "If something explodes, blame Ian. He has a thing with explosives sometimes." He kicked off his shoes and took the jacket off, he had only t-shirt underneath the jacket. He walked to the living room door, spoke a few words until returning to Rei.

"They´re at the living room. I told them to leave you alone. The computer room is over here. If Bryan'd be here, you'd be in danger. But as he doesn't have a key, we won't let him in. The door is usually locked." He led Rei to the room far at the back of the house. One set stairs above the living room.

"This is probably the most complex house I've never lived. In a way... Have never really lived in a real house but anyway. Want me to leave you alone for a while? I got some stuff to do anyway."

-"If you do, then yes go. Thank you for letting me to visit you guys... It's been so lonely a long time... Well, off you go now. I'll unpack my stuff and "play" with my laptop or something."

"Ok. See you around. If you want something to eat, ask Spencer. He's the one that cooks."

Tala went to the kitchen counter, sat down and started going through the stack of bills. It seemed that no computer for a month or two as without Bryan's paycheck, the household was in trouble.

"Ian. You need to get a job!"

'Christ. We are in trouble now...'

He felt the paper knife still in his pocket. Now he really wanted to harm himself, but there was no sense do it now as Rei was here.

Rei sat on the bed and switched on his laptop.

*Luckily I have my own computer with me and that I don't have to "loan" their electricity so it's ok...*

Rei checked his e-mail. Nothing. Then he checked his messenger. Nothing.

*He hasn't e-mailed to me...well why did I even expect anything? I should have known that Kai's not going to e-mail me. Well, I'll just play with my BiteFight figure...*

Rei went to bitefight.de and started to play with his werewolf.
*Oh, you won the battle, good boy. And you got money, wow a lot, a very good boy...*

Tala made his way to his room and threw himself on his bed. He took the knife out and flicked the blade open. He lifted his sleeve up to the elbow and made a little cut. It stung and he watched a little amount of blood ooze out, until he just took some tissue paper and wiped it off. He never could watch when he bled.

'You were so right, Bryan. I am weak.'

He waited until the bleeding stopped before cleaning the knife and stuffing the paper back to the drawer and went back downstairs. Spencer was in the kitchen, making lunch and ushered him out.

"Rei?" he asked after knocking the doorframe. "Spencer's making us lunch. You do eat meat, right?"

-"Sure. I come right away..."
*You, win the battle.* Rei "said" to his werewolf.

Rei left his laptop on the bed and went downstairs to the kitchen.

"Spencer's freaking famous of his hamsandwiches. You can sit there, next to Ian. He won't bite you."

He sat down on his own spot and hoped no-one would notice the bruise. It was still covered by his hair but not for long.

-"Ok. Hey, Ian and Spencer." Rei was being polite to them or at least tried to be.

-"It's been a while. How are you guys doing?" Rei sat next to Ian, not being scared at all.

"Nothing big... Thinking of getting a job."

Tala was focused on his own sandwich. Ian shrugged again as Spencer spoke:

"Trying to cope with this sudden silence in here. I guess you wouldn't have if Bryan was still here, right?"

'When you talk, you talk business, man...' Tala rolled his eyes.

-"Yeah...well I hope that you'll get a job and hopefully Bryan comes back, sooner or later..."

Rei was getting a bit nervous with the atmosphere... It was so...strained.

-"Hmm, these hamsandwiches are great. You're the best in making these Spencer."

*I'm being too polite again, I guess?*

Rei peeked the other guys, but they said nothing back, they were just eating their own sandwiches.

-"Well, thanks for the meal. I'll go to the computer room now..."
When Rei rose up from his chair, he noticed something on Tala's cheek.

*A bruise? Ouch, that looks bad... Did Bryan hit him?*

Before Tala got time to look at Rei, Rei was already off the kitchen, on his way to the computer room...

*They sure had a big fight... Maybe it wasn't so good idea for me to come here after all..?*

Spencer nodded in acknowledgement as Rei praised his sandwiches. He was glad that their visitor liked them. He however, saw Rei's gaze linger a second too long on Tala's cheek, that was when he noticed it. A nasty purple bruise. He took his and Rei's empty glasses and took them away, before going to lock the door.

Tala heard the door getting locked. His back stiffened. Spencer knew. He finished his lunch and with a quick thanks he escaped the kitchen.

He wandered to Rei's room. "Mind if I stuff in?"

-"Sure, come on in."

Rei put his laptop away and gave some space for Tala to sit down on the bed.

"Sorry for that awkward quietness. We usually talk about everything, but they might think that it would scare you off. And they don't want to talk Russian around others..."

The excuse was lame, but it was the only one he could offer.

-"Well, you should have just talked. I wouldn't have minded if you have talked in Russian...well, maybe a little, but still... I have to admit that the atmosphere was a bit tight..."

"Well, yeah. I'm just a bit... Worried. Because of Bryan... And what he would think if he saw you here... And... He lashed out on me already. About some silly little things." He threw his head back a bit, making the hair covering the bruise fly back.

-"Well, I think Bryan didn't think those things were just some silly little stuff... And there's nothing to be worry about me so he shouldn't be jealous or anything else."

"I really hope so. It scared me. He wasn't himself. But I know that as long as Spencer is in here, he won't return. That's why I'm worried. When Spencer goes to work, what will happen? I have a short holiday and Ian will be off too..."

*I sure didn't know how bad things are in here...*

-"Well I'm here with you now... I know that you're strong to take care of yourself, but if you're even a bit scared about Bryan's coming back, then I'll be more than happy to help you... But only if you want that from me..."

Tala felt ashamed of his weakness. He had very little confidence outside the Beystadium. It was gone with the wind.

"I'd appreciate it, Rei..."

-"Well then, it's good that I can help you with something at least, even if it was furious Bryan... Is there something else where I could help you with?"

Tala let out a relieved sigh.

"No. With Ian's job the money issue is almost covered. No internet for some time, but as you are here and Bryan out it doesn't matter. I have some board games there. Care to play?"

He almost felt guilty for cutting his arm even a bit... Not worth it...

-"Sure, why not. I just switch off the laptop. I was just playing with my BiteFight werewolf."

"Sweet. I go dig the games what we have there..." He rose and went to the living room. Spencer and Ian nowhere to be seen. He opened the cupboard doors next to the game consoles, moving the casings aside and taking out a huge stack of games. They loved to play those. It was the only thing to do in cold Russian evenings. He blew the layer of dust off and carried the stack to the table in the old dining room, which was nowdays just part of the living room. They ate in the kitchen.

"All Russian... Well."

*I'm so glad that things are better now, or at least right now at the very moment... Well, I think I call out my Driger.*

-"Driger! Come out!" The White Tiger jumped off the blade and right on Rei's lap.

-"Hey, kitten. Oh, be careful or we both gonna brake the bed."

The tiger jumped off Rei's lap and sat down on the floor between Rei's legs and started to purr.

-"That's my cat... Good boy." Rei petted Driger on it's head and then he hugged Driger suddenly.

-"If anyone else leaves me, you'll be there with me. What could I do without you beside me? "

*I probably have killed myself with loneliness...*