My sit-ups were interrupted by Sage barging into my room, slamming the door open, and then looking around with a sneer. "This needs to be cleaned." She said simply, and started banging around in my kitchen/bathroom, (which consisted of the one sink in my little apartment, and the one mirror,)

"Hello to you to." I grumbled.

She cut her eyes at me, and continued working for a moment. Then she asked. "How does Xavier know you're his father?"

I sighed and removed my feet from my belt. "I almost died, and I needed blood. That was the first clue. Then one of the Elves here, a wise woman, out and said it, without thinking. Apparently she can tell those things." I grumbled.

"I see... so you didn't just decide to tell him?"

"No, I didn't. I wanted to, however... I mean, I thought we were stranded here forever, and we'd never see you again, so I figured he should know he had family here, so he'd be somewhat less depressed." I sighed, and then grabbed the pull-up bar, hauling to lift myself.

"I suppose... well, he would have known eventually. You even eat the same." She growled gently.

I laughed. "He said the exact same thing. We were at breakfast when she told him, and we were eating stew with bread. You know how we both dunk the bread and swirl it a bit? Perfect timing. It was actually hilarious, and helped him not to be pissed at me."

She hummed. "I think he's angry with me, too."

"I would be. I don't blame him. You had no right to keep something like that from him." I shrugged, and started my push-ups.

She snorted. "No right... I'm his mother!"

"And I'm his . But according to you, I don't even have the right to call him that. But I helped raise him. taught him how to talk to strangers. taught him how to fight. taught him how to speak American English, when you didn't think it mattered enough to get him speech lessons. am his , his , his ... and I his ." I growled.

She stared at me for a moment, and then returned to the dishes. "You make a good case... and unlike most men who make that claim, you weren't an Absentee... you never abandoned us, even though you were deployed for 3-4 years, over and over. I suppose it's just odd to let a man I don't love be a part of my family. No offense."

I chuckled. "I understand. Trust me, the feeling is more than mutual. But so what? People who don't love each other are family all the time. Now Zoë, she's cool, I kinda dig her, but you..." I teased.

She laughed. "Don't go there, boy. That's your... what is she? Sister? Something like that."

"I'd say third cousin, twice removed." I smirked.

She snorted again, and finished washing the dishes, stacking them inside the tiny cabinet. "Such a moron." She muttered.

Alex came in cautiously. "Uhm... I don't want to interrupt? But Johnny... you need to see this."

I stood up quickly, and grabbed my sword, following her up the stairs, into the main building.

A large mirror was stretched across the bar, just like Loki had described.

Reflected on it was an image of twelve different gods, screaming at one another.

"My children were nearly killed by one of your filthy brats! I demand recommence!!!" a male God stood, slamming his hands down.

"Dionysus? What's he pissed about?" Alex murmured. I blinked, then remembered she used to be on of his non-combatants.

" BRATS?!? BRATS THE FIGHT! ITS NOT FAULT THEY !!! MAYBE YOU SHOULD'VE THEM BETTER!" a different god stood, defending Freya, who simply glowered at Dionysus with the heat of a thousand sons.

I hummed as the arguing resumed, and more gods spoke up. One Amazon gasped. "Lady Ishtar? What's she doing there? We don't get involved in these scraps!"

Her companion elbowed her gently. "Don't you remember? Last night, some guy from the Soma Familia beat up some of our girls, for literally no reason. He was drunk, they said, but still..."

I hummed and looked back at the screen. "Interesting..."

Alex looked at me curiously, and Sage snapped. "Interesting? What's interesting about someone beating whores?"

"What? No, not that... someone is stirring a pot of shit... they want something bad to happen... if this continues-"

"!" Ares roared, slamming his fists against the table.

They guild representative gently cleared his throat. "Excuse me... if that is an official request-"

"" He roared in the smaller man's face.

I tsk'ed. "Leave it to Ares to start a War... Otto! James! Your Familia just started a War Game. You can have a week off. Go." I whistled.

Otto and James bowed, and then sprinted out.

"Ahem. Then, to all gods present... we will discuss this matter individually, and privately, as per the Chief Scribe's orders. Lord Ares, please follow me. Deities, please follow the representative assigned to you." The small man clapped gently, and a man or woman stepped up to each god, leading them out of the chamber.

Then he turned to the mirror, and smiled. "This exclusive look into the Diplomatic processes of the Gods is brought to you by The Guild of Babel!"

I chuckled. "Oh great, now there's ads."

"Please remember, in the coming days, that your safety is our number one concern! Therefore, please remain cautious, and please remember that any violence outside of the War Game will be punished severely by the guild. We thank you for your cooperation, and bid you a good day!"

The mirror faded, and I hummed. "Joking aside... this is very bad... and with The Loki Familia going on an Expedition, only the Level 1's and 2's are left... shit... we may be fucked, here." I grumbled.

Xavier appeared, smirking, looking extraordinarily pleased with himself, despite the bruises and crooked nose he now sported. He set it as we watched, and spat blood into the trash can.

I raised an eyebrow slowly, and looked at Sage. "He didn't..." she started.

"Oh he most likely did." I sighed. "Xavier... please tell me this wasn't your doing?"

"What? The fight I got into? Maybe a little, but that guy was being a bi-" he looked at him mother, and cleared his throat awkwardly. "- a uh... bit of a brat. Yeah. Totally rude. Then he insulted Loki, and as you know, I'm sworn to defend her name if someone talks bad at her." He shrugged.

I nodded. "Alright. I just want your word you didn't start the War."

"There's a War on?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. And now I'm certain you did it. Why?" I narrowed my eyes.

He raised his eyebrows. "Rude. I did no such thing. I'm insulted. And now I want a bath and a cuddle with a beautiful woman, and so I will go seek those things. Good day. Hello, Ma." He kissed her cheek, and limped off to the Baths.

I hummed suspiciously. "Even if he didn't start it, he knows something we don't... I'll interrogate him later."

Safe smirked. "No need. I've got this one. !" She roared.

He sprinted into the room, huffing for air. "Yes, mama? What is it? You need something? What did I do? What did you do?"

She smirked again. "What do you know about this War?"

He blinked, then stood straight. "Sorry, can't tell you." He said solidly. She blinked, shocked, then narrowed her eyes slowly into her signature glare. He gulped audibly, but remained tight-lipped.

I chuckled. "Swing-and-A-Miss! Strike one for Mama! Time for me to take a swing. Let's go, Xavier." I slung an arm over his shoulder, and led him down the hall to the Baths. "Is it something for only the Familia?" I asked quietly.

He nodded. "Loki's Orders. She's got some trick in the works, we can't talk about it, no matter what." He said just as quietly.

I hummed. "Okay. And what do you know?"

"She wants this War Game, and she gathered some bad dirt on everyone to make sure they agreed to it... even us, though we're shy of all our heavy hitters. I don't know much more, though, except the prize, which goes to the last man standing... and it's massive." He grinned.

I nodded. "Alright. I'll leave you to your cuddling, then, but I just exercised, so I need a bath too." I entered the second Bath, letting him into the first.

---

I scrubbed my hair dry, approaching Sage. "He knows a little, but it's the Familia's secret. No telling outsiders, even family. Don't try to break him, cause you might succeed, and that won't be good for either of you, if Loki finds out. Capire?" I asked.

She huffed. "Whatever. Now, Alex, dear, are you hungry? You are much too skinny, dear, you need meat on your bones, not just your hips and chest. You follow me." She dragged her into the kitchen, and I laughed.

"Italian Woman, eh? Heh." I shrugged at Zoë.

She shrugged. "True. Most, anyway. Now where was it I could get a cuddle that won't break my bank?"

I tossed her a purse from behind the counter with four 50K Val. "That's 200K Val. If that doesn't pay for it, you're in the wrong place." I nodded. "The place filled with amazons is good, usually, but with a war on, and both of us participating... I'd steer clear. One of our ladies might be to your tastes, though."

She hummed. "Alright..."

The sun went down, and the stores started opening up. Alex, (stomach visibly full,) climbed the stage, and smiled at the musicians, starting a song for the night crowd.

I stood behind the bar, and hummed along, giving out drinks, and accepting Familia Tokens for tabs, keeping careful track with a pad of paper, written in Latin and Roman Numerals.

A tall man with Boar's ears entered, silencing the chatter around him, and I grinned. "Hello, Sir! Welcome to St. Vincent's Paradise! Here for a drink, the music, or the ladies?" I asked.

"I'm looking for Xavier Dorian." He said simply.

Xavier exited the back rooms, on cue, and grinned. "Ottar! How good to see you, I'm grateful you thought of my place when looking for your entertainment!"

Ottar shook his head. "I have a message for you, Dorian. Freya would like a meeting, this Friday... 07:00, the 'Gourmet Laurent' in Babel Plaza."

Xavier blinked. "Oh! Okay... a date with a beauty Goddess... wow, okay preparation is key... tell her that I said, 'I am pleased by the invitation, and my thoughts are, as ever, focused upon her glorious smile.' That sounds good. And I'm sorry to turn you into a messenger. Maybe next time you're here, you can actually enjoy yourself?" He grinned.

Ottar made no expression, but nodded, and walked out. I smirked at Xavier. "So, caught the eye of a goddess, huh? Wonder what the sex is like?"

"Heavenly?" He quipped, and then shook his head, chuckling. "So bad. Horrible pun, but I couldn't help it. The opportunity presented itself. I've got to go prepare!" He darted out of the building.

I smiled and poured myself a drink, toasting his heels as he sprinted out. "To Dorian, my own little Casanova!"

Sage stuck her head out of the kitchen. "Excuse me?"

"Your son is going to screw a Goddess of Love, Sex, and Beauty, and I'm toasting him luck." I shrugged.

She blinked slowly, then grinned. "That puts such a new spin on 'Fucking Hell'..."

Zoë exploded with giggles, and I drank my shot, looking around. "And back to drinking, fools!" The chatter resumed, and I began bartending again.