[ the left one ]

“They deserve the chance to fight for their ally. I refuse to treat them all like kids, though kids they may very well be, and I feel the need to protect them... I strive for a sense of equality and respect. ...Easier said than done sometimes.”
Ari simply nodded.
“I need you where I usually need you, watching my back. You’ll know when you’re needed.”
“Sometimes, Sin, I think you forget.. you are a kid too.” That said, her guardian took his leave, adjusting his hood carefully before ascending the stairs.

.

He waited again. She was getting better, but when she knew this, she got cocky. He needed to remind her of the necessity to remain level headed whether winning, or losing. Something sifted the fog to his left. He pretended to turn to it, but his gaze continued to shift about him, searching. Any moment now... Her footsteps were nearly unheard, being that she was so small, and that years of theft had made her light on her feet. Not light enough.

.

Outside, Purity was waiting for her. The pure white gryphon clawed at the dirt impatiently and looked at her unblinking, as if hoping she would somehow change her mind at the last minute. She narrowed her eyes at the bird, and Purity shifted uneasily. She lifted her head as she approached, faking confidence. Carefully, yet quickly, she secured her packs to the creature's saddle before pulling herself up onto its back. From a carrier that was also buckled to the saddle, a white kitten mewled curiously. Sin poked a finger between the metal bars and scratched Mel under her chin to calm her. All set, she clicked her tongue to signal Purity, and, with a running start, they took to the darkened skies. She firmly steered her gryphon southeast where ocean waters waited. Her eyes remained focused, gazing intently at what lay ahead of her. She could not allow herself to look back at the house, at the place she once called 'home', growing smaller and smaller behind her. She would never return, but she would always remember. She touched her trembling fingers to the golden necklace around her neck. Yes, she would always remember.

.

"Do you think if we applied a sort of flint to one tooth of the gear we could create a racer that randomly explodes?" Next to her, the gnome laughed in such a way that expressed she faced that kind of question from her apprentice daily. "Perhaps, but with as fast as tha' gear spins, you would have the chance of it it goin' off afore it's any a good distance from you." Sin frowned at the thought and returned to aligning gold power cores precisely inside a handful of would-be gyrochronotoms.

.

After some time, the projections began to flicker lightly. Jin slowed their dance, glancing around only briefly before returning his gaze to hers "Seems as though our dance here may be coming to an end soon, Sin." Sin chuckled softly and replied, "We are always dancing, Jin." It seemed so out of character, and the thought had just occurred to her. "And you are always leading." She hesitated a bit after saying it, realizing that it sounded more poetic than she was known for. But she liked the way it sounded, and so she smiled warmly. "Besides.." And this thought seemed more her style. "You are always putting me back in my place.." She purposefully stepped on his toes as she added with a smirk, "When I make a mistake." Jin smirked and kicked up her foot quickly, sweeping his hand under her and holding her up to his chest. "Oh my, you almost tripped!"