Mission: What Lies Underneath.

HABIT cracked his neck slightly and let out a dry laugh as he looked over the group. The big soulless eyes of his mask gleaming in the dim light of the chamber. At first he would let his gaze settle on the journal at the center of the room. Eyeing it as if it would grow legs and dash away at any moment... Though when posed a rather interesting question by Devi, he would turn his attention back to the seekers.

WHY? BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GET IN A SCRAP WITH THAT SKIN BAG. DID YOU SEE THE SIZE OF THOSE CLAWS? BESIDES, IF I WERE THERE IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE GONE AS SMOOTHLY FOR YOU. HABIT continued to speak as he approached the group, meeting Devi half way as Devi reached the Journal. Instead of looking to the ink demon, however, he would eye the book in their hands. He began to reach for it, but decided against it.

HABIT took a moment to reach under his mask and produce the same book he had shown the group earlier, the one covered in purple duct tape. With no warning he tossed it as well to the group, aiming as best he could for Onyx to add a bit of flair to what he had to say next. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS THAT YOU LOT HEAD UP THOSE STAIRS BACK TO GATE'S LITTLE CLUB HOUSE AND PROBABLY KICK HIS ASS FOR TRICKING YOU INTO HUNTING AN ASPECT... OR DON'T! I FRANKLY DON'T GIVE A RABBIT'S ASS WHAT YOU DO, OUR DEAL IS COMPLETE. YOU LEAD ME TO THE ASPECT,AND i GAVE YOU THE BOOK I PROMISED. HEHE... GIVE THOSE BOOKS A GOOD READ WHEN YOU GET THE CHANCE... HABIT bobbed his head as to wink to Negami before turning and proceeding down the stairs that lead deeper into the under.

GETTING A JOURNAL NUMBERED LESS THEN TWENTY IS ALWAYS A PRIZE WORTH HAVING KID... OH, AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT NEEDING TO FIGHT YOUR WAY OUT. AT THE TOP OF THE STEPS THERE'S A DUMBWAITER THAT WILL CARRY YOU ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. HABIT paused as he descended the steps, the group of Seekers would only be able to see his mask as he turned to look back at them. Each would feel a strange longing in his eyes...

This was indeed a curious scene. Devi took note that Little Bit was acting all sorts of weird and seemed to be out of it while Nagami seemed to pass out before coming quite awake again and being his usual self again. Devi would raise his eyebrows at this one not quite sure what was happening there as he blinked one eye and then the other before speaking up.

“The job did end rather abruptly, but we did our best considering the situation. As for the reward, it is much much greater than you can imagine,” Devi would say before chuckling a bit. “HABIT cannot choose which he feels? Then the Rake must’ve been something to him if he is conflicted at the outcome.” He said it all in an easy voice; however, his mind would wonder many things about HABIT, even more so when he saw how the other and Nagami stared at the journal and when he got his answer? The demon would release a low purr as he chuckled softly.

“Your friend did have some impressive nails,” he would say, but didn’t add anything further as he locked away the last part of the statement in his head. Wouldn’t have ended well? And why was that he had to wonder, but for now would not poke at this detail as he moved to get the journal...only to be met by HABIT halfway. As he collected the book, he would stand up slowly watching as the other stared at the journal and then thought to reach for it. Staying still, the demon would watch the hand intently as his tail flicked perhaps in agitation. Perhaps in possessiveness. Whatever the case was the demon was quite tense as if waiting for a wrong move to trigger him; however, it would seem HABIT would change his mind about the matter and instead pull a book from under his mask and toss it? Just how big was that mask and wasn’t having a journal tucked under it uncomfortable. Wait did he have no face???

Devi would find himself only briefly glancing at the thrown purple bond book as his red eyes remained on HABIT as he spoke and began to walk away. He would hear what the guy said as he went away and take in that longing expression; however, he would say nothing to stop the guy as he disappeared down the stairs. He would wait a few minutes before turning to the others the journal still in hand. He would look at it and then the purple one. They were both 2s so what made them different and why did HABIT want to touch the one he had? Much was going on in his head as he shifted in his spot and moved towards Kuzi as he slipped the journal inside of him. Leaning down he’d pet the little one a bit as he spoke to the other group.

“Devi is happy all is mostly alright; however, we are uneasy about all this. Perhaps we gather and speak on this more and these books. Once upstairs perhaps we can figure out details yes?” the demon would say and before pausing and attempting to pick up Kuzi if allowed. Allowed or not he would eventually get back up, his eyes drifting over the group before falling to wherever the purple taped journal was now, his eyes narrowing a bit as his mind wondered what was inside.

Shifting his weight he would go towards the stairs leading downward, looking into the black abyss below. He wanted to know about HABIT and what he knew, but he also wanted to validate if Gate really had tricked them. After all….he had read that strange passage at the beginning of all this...didn't he? Hmmm...

Tearing his eyes away from the abyss, he would backtrack to the stairs leading upward. Placing a thin foot on the step, he would gesture to the others. “Come,” he said before making his way up the stairs and to the dumbwaiter HABIT spoke of. Coming to a stop he would let everyone else get in and to safety first, lingering back to be alone in the Under for just a moment. He would look around the area, his eyes narrowing a bit as he wondered what would happen if he decided to go even deeper into the rabbit hole. Follow the rabbit....

A thought to ponder for later. For now he’d get into the dumbwaiter and go back up and hopefully to safety.

Shinji emerged himself, after cursing that he had somehow fallen asleep at some point, and didn't wake up until he heard the others come back.
He figured that not having gotten enough sleep last night played a role in this.

Thus, he resolved to seriously get more sleep in the future, and left without a further word on the matter out of embarrassment.

EXIT.

Still lightheaded, Kuzi would look around the room for the first time properly since they got back from that strange void place. His head was still killing him, though he was awake enough now to hear what was being said and what was going on. It was all kinda confusing though, was this HABIT guy actually on their side or not? It was so hard to tell... He was helping them, but just the way he went about it... It felt more like he was using them. Ehh... The Dreedle didn't have enough strength to bother to worry about that for now, he'd attempt to get up when he saw the sharing of books been thrown about, though his legs wouldn't cooperate and he'd slump back to the ground as Inky came over to comfort him.

Appreciating the gesture and making no effort to stop Demix from picking him up, Kuzi would ride the inky demon's shoulder as they began their assent up the Under. The small Dreedle managing to say one last thing before HABIT disappeared from sight. "Ya know... If you didn't have such a creepy mask, with, all the blood on it and such. Y-you'd be a pretty cool guy..." With that the fluff would close his eyes again to rest, at least until they were out of the under properly. He was starving at this point and couldn't afford to waste any energy he didn't need to. "Reading the weird rabbit book... Sounds like a fun yaawwn time." Kuzi would add sleepily as the dumbwaiter took him back up and out of the Under.