[b]Hope all of you have had a great day! May the Light of the Traveler shine down upon you.[/b] [b]CherubicYew60, Om4li, GHOST9o5, WEHBSTAR, and PhysicSquid98's characters are in this chapter.[/b] [b]Chapter 30: Finding Ground[/b] "Hey Ghost. Since you're the only human here I want you to drink this." There was a sound of clinking and then something sliding across a surface. Ghost grabbed the glass as it went towards him before it could spill, his eyes looking to the other people around him. No, he was looking at the [i]Exos[/i] around him. His company mainly consisted of Hunters and Titans, a surprising thing to the outside eye. Warlocks looked mildly unsettled by their closeness and Ghost jeered smugly at their faces. All of them had decided to leave Mirak and Vala alone, not wanting to ruin the moment with their intrusion. In the end they decided that if they were going to keep this secret, courtesy of a very threatening Ghost, they needed to at least know each other more. And that is why they found themselves back in the Hangar pub, trying to find ground amongst Hunters and Titans. Raphaël, the joking one, made the situation more funny when he began making loud remarks at their '[i]newfound friendship[/i]' to any curious Warlock that passed. Ghost was curious as well. He realized that Hunters and Titans [i]could[/i] get along. "Dude don't glare. Your eyes are creepy." Ghost did the opposite of what he was told, giving Omali a pointed stare to the Titan. "Ghost that's just not natural. Were you resurrected with eyes like that? And what's with those black markings?" The Hunter's hands gently touched the black markings subconsciously, his fingertips feeling the raised flesh underneath the war paint. Frowning, he turned away and didn't realize he had brought the glass to his lips and took a large gulp only to reel back at the bitter taste. "That's just hard vodka not gasoline. I made sure you got the good stuff." Raphaël said proudly, preening his ego a bit as Ghost made a disgusting face. Psych and Omali both laughed at the sight, only to look away by those piercing black eyes that looked to them. Yes, Ghost knew he had a strange eye color. It was the reason to keep his helmet on at all times. He missed the days it used to be [i]brown[/i] and almost felt the ghosting hands and voice that would once tell him he was handsome and loved. But just as those sleeping thoughts came, they went as quickly as possible from his mind. "They were brown once..." All sounds stopped and eyes went to the human Hunter as he drank. Raphaël and Primitus shared a small look, not liking where this was going. "They were brown and I loved the way they looked. But like every other Guardian, nothing happy lasts forever." [i]Nothing lasts forever. Nothing ever works out. We are all damned in the end. Who was I talking to again? I feel weird.[/i] "I think that's enough for you. Let me just-" Omali reached forward to take Ghost's drink but the Hunter was quicker. Without making a sound, he pulled the glass away without spilling it and gulped down the rest of the liquid inside. Raphaël and Primitus whistled at the act and tried not to laugh when Ghost grimaced. "It's mine." The tone left no room for argument. Omali raised his hands in surrender, Ghost finding that satisfying enough and tried to get Raphaël to get him another drink. The Exo refused due to the stares of the rest of their group, excluding the human Hunter. "Do you ever remember things before your minds get wiped?" Ghost asked, laying his head down on the cool surface of the table. He didn't notice all the distant looks the question made, his mind somewhere else like theirs. "Do you wish you could remember things?" His eyes began to close, the gentle thrum of alcohol soothing his nerves. The screams and bad memories somehow were chased back and Ghost could smile a little at the feeling. "I think we should dance." Raphaël announced, clapping his hands to diffuse the land mine of sadness that would soon go off with everyone. He didn't want to say that the question had hit a nerve within him as well. Standing up, the Hunter began to try and persuade Psych to dance with him who outright refused. "I don't dance." Ghost said, lifting his head to give Raphaël a look. He then laid his head back down, trying once again to fall asleep. "I can't dance." "How the hell do you live without dancing?" Raphaël snapped "Aren't you interested in the ladies? Or just a chance at the feeling of dancing? No wonder we're all alone." "I know you can't get a lady to dance with you, Raphaël." Psych retorted with a grimace. "No woman wants to dance with you. I can tell you that much." A spark of challenge and determination flashed in Raphaël's eyes. Fishing put a few Glimmer from his pocket, he threw them on the table only to bend down and retrieve them when he threw the currency too far and it flew off the table. Primitus chuckled at him but Raphaël held up a finger to silence him. "I bet 5,000 that I [i]can[/i] get a lady to dance with me willingly." "I'm in. 200 for me though, I'm going broke." "I'm with Omali on that." "Same here. Ghost?" All eyes went to the Hunter who seemed to be sleeping and turned away. They would leave him alone. "Settled! Now watch this." Raphaël walked away and sauntered up to a random person. Said person was a Warlock who was sitting alone and watching the rest of the pub lazily. Seeing Raphaël she tensed but did nothing to ward him off as he came closer. "Would you-" the Exo didn't get to finish as a gun was pointed in his face. The Warlock, an Awoken one, finished her drink in a few more gulps and then looked to him. "Sorry tin can. You Hunters can mosey your way out of my sight or you'll wish you never lived. Now shoo." Raphaël left in shame, covering his face as he heard his friends laugh aloud at his failed attempt. He tried another, this time a Hunter like him but soon found out that it was a man. Again, he heard thundering laughter. The Hunter was wearing a long shawl! How was he supposed to know that she was a [i]he?[/i] It was an hour later after trying, being rejected, and then laughed at did Raphaël believe he was giving up. Sighing dejectedly, he made his way back to his group. "Oh by the Traveler, Raphaël! I think I pulled a wire laughing at you." Omali chortled, slapping his leg and swinging an arm around Psych. The Hunter next to him did as well, snickering and pointing at Raphaël as if he couldn't believe his eyes. Primitus shook his head but the Exo Hunter could hear small bursts of laughter from him. Ghost was still asleep. Just when Raphaël was about to stomp out and go back to his ship someone tapped on his shoulder. Hope welled up within him when he saw the disbelieving stares his friends gave. Turning around, Raphaël cheered silently only to have his little hope shatter right before his eyes. "I'd like to dance with you." Raphaël made a small sound which resembled a mouse cowering before their killer. And Raphaël did feel like he was going to be killed. A large Exo Titan stood behind him, her large frame shadowing the smaller Hunter. Raphaël almost came up to her shoulders in height but that was it. [i]I'm going to die.[/i] "Oh. Um I think I'll just-" Her large hands grasped his arms and pulled him towards the dance floor. Raphaël tried but couldn't get out of her monster grip. [i]"Help me. Please help me guys. I'm sorry. I won't bet anymore. Please."[/i] All he got in response was booming laughter. [i]Help me!![/i] Only the pleading voice of Raphaël could be heard over the group's laughter. If Exos could cry there would be a puddle under them already. Instead the Guardians joked and made small talk as they watched Raphaël try and keep up with his new dance partner. "Wait a second." Psych said, gaining everyone's attention. "Raphaël won the bet." They pulled out their Glimmer from their pockets and stared forlornly at it as they waited for Raphaël to come back. Throughout the whole ordeal, Ghost remained asleep and unaware of everything around him.