{Friday, August 1.

3 Days Until Holmgang}

[Nephilim’s Home]

A 7 A.M. alarm goes off, Nephilim’s left red eye opens, as well as his right IceEye and he slowly sits up, stretching himself out before stepping out of bed.

With bare feet and pajamas, he yawns and stretches one last time before shuffling to the bathroom.

From outside the open door, running water, followed by the brushing of teeth, gargling of mouth wash, and spits with a watery rinse afterwards.

A few seconds go by then is pajamas are thrown from the bathroom and there is are a coordinated, calm, three knocks heard at his door.

The smiling General exits his bathroom wearing his appropriate attire to lead a military fit for defending and rebuilding humanity.

He makes his way across the room, picking up his thrown PJs, tossing them into his all black hamper, and he finally opens the door to see his most loyal side kick waiting for him.

Nephilim: "Ah, like always Silpheed, you’re awake before I am.

Good, come on in.

I’m just finishing up getting ready for the day." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Silpheed’s one exposed eye closes in their face covered smile and opens back up as the assistant enters, closing the door behind them.

Silpheed: "Gd- mhh’ng-, Nef-ah-um Zr-!

Dii- Ouu- zeeb- ell-?"

As his room’s guest watches him make his bed, the General talks to Silpheed with a smile on his face.

Nephilim: "I’m going to be frank with you Silph, that’s been one of the better nights of sleep I’ve had in a few years.

I guess knowing I’ll soon be able to serve proper justice to Dice, took a load off of my mind I didn’t realize had manifested.

How about you, did you sleep well?"

He places his pillows on top of his cleanly made bed and makes his way to his dresser.

Silph rubs the back of their head, blushing and nods once.

Silpheed: "Aii- iid-, ang- ouu- vur- zzkn-, zir."

Nephilim grabs his cologne a appropriately adds one sprits of the dignified men’s fragrance to his outfit.

The scent eventually reaches the thin face covering of his cherished partner, making Silph blush from the regal smell.

Silpheed: "Ai- Ai- Ai- doog- dee- ibbrtii- uv- mehhgng- ouu- ahll- breggfizd-, Nef-ah-um Zr-."

The continuing smile stays on Nephilim’s face as he makes his way to the door and puts a light grip on Silpheed’s shoulder.

Nephilim: "Oh well that was very sweet of you.

So is everyone else up?"

Silpheed looks away as if afraid to tell him some bad news but reluctantly...

Silpheed: "Whhl, Brrzefonii- n- Eedn- r- ahheeii- uhb-."

Nephilim: "Good. Good.

And the boys?"

It takes a second...

Silpheed: "Buh- Buh- dhh- bouuz-..."

Smash cut to Nephilim slamming Arai and Maniae’s room door open.

The loud bang of the door hitting the wall makes not only the still sleeping boys fall out of their beds, but makes Eden, eating downstairs with Persephone, just out of her chair too.

Behind the already eating young women, on top and along the ’L-shaped’ marble counter, underneath wooden hand crafted cabinets, a layout of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, a box of cereal, a pitcher of orange juice and another full of whole milk the ripple once from the small nearby rumble.

Persephone: "Oh my God!

Are you okay, Eden?"

The shaking startled girl gets up from the floor and back into her chair at the table.

Persephone: "I- I- I’m f-f-fine.

Th-Thank y-you, P- Per- Persephone."

Back upstairs, Arai and Maniae are both on the floor trying to fully wake up after being abruptly awoken from their teenage boy slumber.

As the General marches in, the nervous Silpheed stands in the doorframe.

Arai: "Ow, what the Hell, Old Man!"

Maniae manages to squirm out of his comforter first and he sees Silpheed standing in the doorway.

They lock red eyes and a giant smile appears on the "little brother’s" face, immediately remembering the promise the two of them made on the roof the night before.

Nephilim: "I told you two not to turn off that alarm clock!"

Arai: "And I told you Ol’ Man, how else do I turn it off when it goes off at the ass crack of dawn?!

Maniae and I didn’t wake up until we were ready for three years, and now you’re ruining our sleep schedule!"

Nephilim: "That’s because I’m trying to add some sort of structure to the both of your unorganized lives."

The already half dressed Maniae throws on his shoes and makes his way to the door while his friend and parental guardian continue to argue back and forth.

Silpheed moves out of the way and the two talk quietly in the hall.

Maniae: "So Big Sis, when can we start training?

I have a whole list of things I think I need to work on."

He suddenly gets worried, realizing what he’s just said.

Maniae: "I mean, unless you think I should work on something else like the fundamentals or something like that!"

From their visual que of their single exposed matching red eye, Silpheed smiles and rests a gloved hand on the enthusiastic boy’s black scraggly hair.

Silpheed: "Guu- geh- zmm- breggfizd-, den- wii- gane- tulk- aboud- rr- dae-."

Maniae: "Breakfast?!"

The over excited young man jumps half way down the stairs and hits the ground running.

Now fully showing the layout of the General’s beautiful but simplistic styled home, as Maniae makes his way, charging into the kitchen/dining room.

The sudden appearance and energy from the young man takes both Persephone and Eden by surprise as both skiddish girls fall out of their seats from being startled.

[Five Minutes Later]

With everyone sitting at the dining room table, Maniae and Arai are comedicallu chowing down like savages while everyone else around them eats quietly and elegantly.

Except for Silpheed.

The cook is also the dishwasher, as their sleeves are rolled up and hunched over the sink, spraying pans and plates within ear shot while the General talks to the rest of the house about the plans for the day.

General: "Wow, that was filling.

Thank you again, Silpheed."

With a quick turnaround nod of appreciation, the smiling Silpheed adamantly goes back to their household task.

Nephilim: "As of right now, there is less than 54 hours until the Holmgang against Dice and his posse of punks.

I have a meeting with Queen MamMon in about one hour.

Persephone, do you plan on heading out and finding inspiration outside the mountains today?"

Persephone nods twice with a bit of enthusiasm and looks down at her notepad in her lap.

Persephone: "I was going to ask Auntie MamMon if she could take me to the beach again.

I really enjoy that view."

Nephilim(thinking): *All another reason to take that territory from Dice.

Don’t worry dear Persephone, I’ll make sure to get you your inspiration.*

While the two bafoons continue stuffing their faces with the last of the prepared food, the smiling General calmly looks at Eden and she still jumps a bit.

Nephilim: "And how about you, dear Eden.

You told me last night on our way home you pulled a double shift so you could relax and have the day off, correct?"

The slightly shaky Treasurer nods with her spoon in hand.

Eden: "Y- Y- Yes, S-S-S-S-Sir."

Nephilim lets a chuckle escape from his nose, he sips his coffee while looking at his watch.

Nephilim: "Well, if I’m going to make it outside to Erebus I’ll have to be at the foot traffic through the shuttle system."

He gets up, quickly moving his way to the washing Silpheed.

He pats his most trusted colleague on the head, not seeing that the kind gesture is making Silph blush.

Nephilim: "You did good last night, Silpheed.

I entrust you not to disappoint me again."

With a silent nod, Silpheed continues and Nephilim makes his way towards the front door of his lovely home.

Nephilim: "When I get back Eden, maybe I can take you shopping.

I know how much the office supply store tickles your fancy, haha!"

Eden blushes.

Nephilim: "I’ll be back, you two be good for Silpheed!"

The door closes.

...

...

...

Edom: "You know what I heard, Izzy?

I overheard one of the grown ups say there are magic little fairies, all over the world. There are actually more of them than people.

And whenever they give us humans one of their tiny kisses, that person can make any wish, and it will come true!"

Isfet’s Voice: "I wish to know what it’s like to see your smile."

...

...

...

Hugo: "Aye, Ichy.

Can you promise me something?"

Ichythis: "What’s up?"

Hugo: "Don’t ever change, kiddo..."

Ichythis watches the smoke from her cig float up.

Ichythis: "No problem, Pops."

...

...

...

Kaylee: "I should be the guilty one, Ichythis.

I’m not even close to the same realm as your amazing physical strength.

You use every part of your tough and gifted body out there to make sure we both succeed.

So the only ways I feel like I actually pull my weight around here, is if I use every part of my brain to make sure we’re okay logistically and financially."

[Tristan and Stephanie’s Home]

Jamie: "I need to use it next, Pauline!"

Pauline: "You know Timothea takes so long!

I have to go now!"

With their heads laying next to each other on the floor, Isfet and Ichythis both wake up to the abrupt shouting of the bickering crown sisters.