Welcome to Gaia! ::

Scythes, Watermelon, and Flowing Breezes.
These are the things that bring me Joy.

"Nice to meet you too!" Thanaphyr replied. Phantasia floated down next to the other Reapling while Etheria had opened the fridge, looking for something to eat. "Xashowd, do you have anything besides Watermelon in here? I could use a cup of coffee..." Xashowd shook his head. "Sorry about that. I don't drink Coffee, so I never buy any. Laguna might have some, though." He called over. "Okay..." Xashowd turned back to Arron, vaguely recalling that he was a mechanic of some kind. "So, how long has that passage been there? It's only been a few months since I last expanded the place." He inquired. He sensed that the man was shy, and hoped he could at least make him feel calm.

I am Xashowd, the Nocturne Zephyr!

Scythes, Watermelon, and Flowing Breezes.
These are the things that bring me Joy.

"Huh..." Xashowd replied. He wasn't entirely sure what else to say, as there were numerous possibilities...even ones that went into powerful Magic. A Hatch doesn't come from nowhere, and Xashowd's Closet started out as a much smaller space. Considering that the hatch was far away from the door, it didn't make sense for it to have been there in the past, so it had to be recent. Guess there was just one other question. "What were you doing down there in the first place, if I may ask?"

Meanwhile, Etheria floated inside the fridge, looking for the door to Laguna's Chambers. She found it on the right side of the Shelf Hall past the Ice Cream. The drowsy Reapling knocked on the door. "Laguna...Do you have any coffee? I need to wake up..." She asked, hoping to get an answer.

I am Xashowd, the Nocturne Zephyr!

Scythes, Watermelon, and Flowing Breezes.
These are the things that bring me Joy.

"You'd told me you were avoiding Grunnies and that you're the guy who makes repairs. You didn't tell you were in the process of making repairs down there." Xashowd calmly explained. "Sorry if it sounds nitpicky, but I tend to need specifics." Thanaphyr nodded. "Big time. I don't think he even leaves the Closet without an instruction manual." Xashowd was taken aback by the comment. "Hey! Not what I meant." Thanaphyr just chuckled. "Hey, I've got a real question. How'd you even get in there, and where from?" The Reapling inquired of Arron. Phantasia just listened to the conversation, taking in any details she was unfamiliar with.

I am Xashowd, the Nocturne Zephyr!

Scythes, Watermelon, and Flowing Breezes.
These are the things that bring me Joy.

Xashowd noticed Arron's discomfort. "Well, I guess we'll leave you to your work then. If that's what you want, anyway." Xashowd stated, pressing a button in the middle of his Scythe and returning it to capsule form. He placed it in his front coat pocket before continuing. "We need to head out and find a friend of ours, or at least someone we want to be our friend. Turns out there's another Reapling like these guys here, except more Halloween themed." "Wait...he never told me where he'd come from!" Thanaphyr exclaimed, but Xashowd intervened before the Reapling could start pestering Arron. "Probably from his workshop. If I recall correctly, Arron lives in the Guild like we do. Come on Thanaphyr, let's not make him uncomfortable." Thanaphyr sighed. "Alright, alright...Wait, where's Etheria? We can't leave unless all three of us are with you!" Xashowd looked at the open fridge door and walked over to it. "Etheria? Come on, we're heading out. We can get some coffee for you on the way." There was a halfhearted and rather drowsy reply from within the fridge, and the white Reapling slowly floated out. "Okay...I think Laguna's at her job anyways. There was no answer from the door..." Xashowd turned back to Arron "Well, I guess we'll see you some other time. If it's not too much trouble, be sure to close the hatch on your way out." "Bye Mr. Mechanic!" Phantasia cheerfully cried as the four of them walked out the door. Xashowd hoped Arron would be okay, especially since he'd been rather uncomfortable around them.

I am Xashowd, the Nocturne Zephyr!

Scythes, Watermelon, and Flowing Breezes.
These are the things that bring me Joy.

"Man, I was hoping he'd take a liking to me..." Thanaphyr sighed as he watched Etheria's sister and their new friend, appropriately named Pumpgeist, laughing together as they discussed the upcoming holiday. After leaving Arron to his work, the four of them had looked around the realm of Gaia for a Halloween Reapling, centering their search around the ruins of Halloweentown since there was ambient magic there from being the center of Gaian Halloween festivities for so many years. As it turned out, while Phantasia was looking around in a nearby forest, she bumped into one of them and started asking him questions due to her curiosity. The Reapling was delighted to answer them, and the two had a nice conversation while Xashowd and the others headed to their location. Upon hearing of Xashowd being a Reaper-in-Training, the Halloween Reapling was skeptical about joining him, but Phantasia pleaded with him using her adorable charm, and the Reapling agreed to Bond with Xashowd.

Now named Pumpgeist, the Halloween Reapling took a liking to Phantasia's curiosity and interest in his work, so the two spent a lot of time together, much to Thanaphyr's chagrin as he had hoped to be "bros" with Pumpgeist. Xashowd also watched the Reaplings while leaning against a nearby wall, amazed that in a few months' time this many of the species had found there way to Gaia. He'd seen other Reaplings around the world on a daily basis since finding Thanaphyr, and there were other Gaians who had Bonded with Reaplings of their own. It brought a smile to Xashowd's face to know that the Reaplings were accepted in Gaian society, and as an explorer seeing new kinds of Reaplings and making new discoveries excited him. With Halloween on the way, things were looking up for the group.

"...And that's why Orange and Black are the colors of Halloween, my young friend." Pumpgeist stated, finishing up an explanation from one of Phantasia's innumerable question. "Ohhh...Thank you Pumpy!" The younger Reapling replied, using a nickname she'd created for her friend. "Do you have any other questions this evening? I even know a few tales about Jack if you are so inclined." "I've got a question...Why her?" Thanaphy asked the other Reapling, still sullen. "Thanaphyr, be nice." Xashowd chided. "But I wanted another guy Reapling to hang around when you're off doing other stuff! He only seems interested in Phantasia..." "Apologies my colleague, but it was she who took an interest in my work. You on the other hand seem to only want a..."Player 2", was it?" Pumpgeist stated. "Noo!...Well, not just that. There's tons of other guy stuff we can do!" Thanaphyr exclaimed. "Perhaps another time. I'm certain our young friend here still has inquiries for me." Thanaphyr hung his hooded head, while Xashowd crouched beside him. "Cheer up, Thanaphy. I'll play with you if you want." He said with a smile. Thanaphyr perked up at the statement. "Really? Thanks Xas, you're a pal!" Xashowd chuckled, and the two went off to play a game Thanaphyr had recently discovered called "Mortal Kombat".

Meanwhile, Etheria and Laguna were having their own conversation in Laguna's Chambers, the soothing sounds of the waterfalls a stark contrast to the commotion in the Reaplings' own room. "Are you're sure I won't be in any danger?" The white Reapling asked of the Drow Succubus. "It's a supermarket, Etheria. Hell or otherwise, it's like any other." She replied calmly, somewhat bored after returning from work. "I ask because it's in Hell. They're not exactly fond of Reapers and Reaplings down there you know. A lot of the Souls in Hell like to blame us for putting them there, and it makes trips to that realm dangerous for us." "Relax. The supermarket's in an urban part of Hell, and there's a strict 'No Combat' policy inside the building. The owner hates it when his food get smashed, and since he's an Archdemon no one messes with him. Besides, I told you the code for a portal in the ladies' restroom. I use it all the time, you'll be fine." Laguna explained. She was laying on her side upon her bed, open book in one hand while she talked with Etheria. "You asked if I knew a good place to buy coffee, and now you know. Prices are fair, product is excellent, and no it's not inherently spicy or hot. That stereotype is actually annoying to most Demons nowadays." "Alright then. Well, thank you for the info! Maybe now I can wake myself up in the mornings..." Etheria turned to leave when Laguna responded. "Too many late nights on the servers, huh?" The Reapling suddenly stopped, startled by her words. "Um...uh...How did you know about that?" Etheria asked sheepishly. "Because somehow your ranting defies logic and I can hear it in here. You do realize that half the things you say would make some Demons wince, right?" Laguna stated, eyebrow raised. "It's not my fault those nutjobs can't play fair! After I humiliated them in Deathmatch last week they've been aimbotting like crazy! I don't know how they get away with it!" Phantasia exclaimed. "Do Reaplings have their own custom servers?" "Well yeah. We can do whatever we want since we technically don't live in an official country. The Reaper Realm's not exactly on a map or anything..." "Well there's your answer. My advice would be to either stop playing with them or have them meet you on your terms. Also, try to keep it down. I'm pretty sure none of you can hear my 'shenanigans'." Laguna replied, using air-quotes with her hands. Phantasia shuddered. "Yeah...I'm thankful for that." The Reapling left the room in a hurry while Laguna yawned. She went back to the book she had been reading. "Hmph. I'll never understand why she hates my work, even though she threatens creative dismemberment on random strangers on the internet...Weird."

I am Xashowd, the Nocturne Zephyr!
The Quest is on!

Scythes, Watermelon, and Flowing Breezes.
These are the things that bring me Joy.

Phantasia and Pumpgeist noticed the visitor first, being the only ones in the main area at the time. Ever curious, the younger Reapling floated over to the entity first. "Hi Winged Lady! Are you a friend of Laguna's? She has wings too." Pumpgeist looked upon the visitor with caution. Being older, he could sense other beings of Death, and this woman was similar to a Reaper. It wasn't exact though, and there was something off about her...something he couldn't put his finger on.

I am Xashowd, the Nocturne Zephyr!
The Quest is on!

Scythes, Watermelon, and Flowing Breezes.
These are the things that bring me Joy.

Phantasia tilted her head in confusion. Why would someone not want to be friends with another person? It didn't make sense in her mind. "But why? I don't get it..." Pumpgeist was about to interject, but the fridge door opened and Etheria flew out, still slightly shaken from her talk with Laguna. When she saw Phantasia near the strange winged entity, her protective instincts kicked in and she sped over. "Uh, Hello there! Who are you, and what are you doing here?" The white Reapling inquired, putting herself between Phantasia and the woman. Phantasia sighed. "Here we go again..." She muttered under her breath, slightly annoyed at her older sister's over-protectiveness.

I am Xashowd, the Nocturne Zephyr!