Time had limited her possible food options. Sophia left immediately from class to watch Keitha get a tattoo, and then from there to here. As a result, she ended up just grabbing something from a street vendor. Fried dumplings were a safe bet for most people. Just no sweets. He wasn’t a big fan of sweets unlike Peter who seemed willing to eat just about anything. She can’t help but wonder whether something about being a knight made one ravenously hungry since it seemed to be one of their few common characteristics. Sitting outside the ramen stand, she waits to see if he shows up. Otherwise, she’d just text him that she was willing to provide dinner and maybe conversation. This was pretty much the only way to keep him up-to-date that she could think of, seeing as he wanted no part in their group.


Tags: Lance Evans

As Sophia sits at the stand which was in Lance's newly claimed territory the owner will look up and acknowledge someone who sits down beside Sophia. "How're the repairs coming?" He asks the ramen shop owner who give him a nod and a smile. The stand was in better condition than it had been before this. One of the thing he had used the money he was now getting from the covenant was to help out those who had helped him in the past. Even if this entire city went to hell there were still some good people in it.

Lance was wearing a black version of the coat she had seem him in when he had first met her. As he sits down he lays out the price of two bowls, paying for both himself and Sophia.

"It's good to see you, but before we go any further I should probably let you know. Both Valdis and I are working with the Zodiac now." He tells her, dropping the bomb before she had a chance to tell him anything compromising.

"There are several deals I made as part of this and one of them is that I get my own territory." He explain the area his territory encompassed, including her house and says. "Don't start trouble within that area." He says following up each reveal with a blunt and comprehensive statement.

"Anyway, what did you want to talk about?"

Sophia puts down the dumplings next to the ramen bowl, “You didn’t need to do that. Thank you though. I see you got a new coat. I think it looks pretty good in black actually.” She takes a seat, and is almost thankful that she didn’t start eating when Lance mentions the Zodiac thing.

Her head tilts to the side as if confused by what he just said. She looks down, making a mental map of the territory. Her house was in his territory. “I wasn’t going to, and I certainly hope the others don't after what I told them. I already made a deal with Prime Minister Adoji Ito that we would do everything in power to keep civilians and property from being harmed. Now the JSDF won't shoot at us.” This was one of those surreal moments in her life again.

She plays around with the ramen in bowl, moving it clockwise. Two of her friends were working against the things she was working towards. “I was going to talk to you about what happened at the meeting. But I don’t think you want to hear it nor would the others appreciate it if I did. I don’t want us to fight. I don’t think I could bring myself to hurt either of you. I think you should unclaim my house as yours. It’s bad enough that you and Valdis are working against us. I don’t need to see you get hurt because you have a senshi living on your turf. I appreciate it, but don’t.” How the hell would she even begin to explain this everyone else?

“So why are you working with them? And why is Valdis? I’m just… I’m really confused about this.”

Sophia's sad look was much harder to deal with than an angry outburst. She had actually believed in him, something he still had trouble fully believing, but in the end it wasn't enough to make him change his mind. Unconsciously he finds himself reaching over and patting her on the head. "Sorry, I didn't live up to what you hoped for." Was all he could say in response to her look, though when she mentioned her his calm mask shattered for a second.

"I didn't even know you place was in my territory...well it's too late now to change it anyways, I'm not gonna look weak in front of the zodiac." He declares and looks away from her resting his face on his hand to hide his emotions. "Well either way, my territory is a neutral zone. As long as you don't start trouble I'll stop any trouble within that area that starts, if you happen to be being attacked without violating the rules then I can hardly be blamed for intervening and enforcing the rules of my territory." He says, pointedly not facing her.

Though when she asked him why he changed sides he turns back to her and replied honestly and simply. "I don't have a responsibility to protect those who hate and hurt me. The Zodiac and youma have treated me more like a human that the senshi and knights other than you ever did, and more that most human too. The ones that did treat me well are in my territory and I will make sure they make it through this." He tells her honestly.

It wasn’t that Sophia was hurt so much as worried about the future. Shaking her head, Sophia replies, “You’re not a disappointment. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. I care about you. And I wish you’d gotten to see the team on better days. I did tell Kail to treat you with more respect.” She could kind of understand his thought process now. The fact that there was no one special to him or even someone nice to him was heartbreaking.

Her eyes well up a bit, but she doesn’t actually cry. She hugs him, saying, “We don’t have to stop being friends. I mean, I don’t want to stop being your friend.” She backs off, starting to rub her eyes. “I guess there isn’t much I can do to convince you back to the other team, is there?” It’s not like she could tell him that everything would be worth it with tales of summer and sunshine.

Lance winces, this was tougher than fighting the zodiac, he knew, he'd done it. But in the end, even if Sophia was sad about it she was the only one, and he certainly hadn't found happiness or meaning among people, so may, just maybe he could find it among the youma. And if not he would protect his several blocks of city from the youma, zodiac and senshi alike and in that he would find satisfaction.

As she hugged him he wrapped his arms around her as well and gave her a firm hug...were people really this warm? He found himself surprised. When was the last time he had touched a person other than to hit them? He couldn't remember. A whistful smile crossed his face as he lets her go.

"I have made my choice, but I would like to stay friends with you as well. I will follow what I believe in. If the youma turn out to be worse than the humans I will simply protect this territory. You are always welcome under my roof and in my hospitality so long as you do not abuse it, and maybe even if you do a little." He tells her, showing the first genuine smile she'll have seen from him since meeting him, one filled with kindness instead of scorn or violence.

“Thank you,” Sophia says before taking a deep breath. “I don’t really think humans or youma are better than the other. They are the same after all. But if you find what you’re looking for with them, I would be happy for you.”

“Sorry. I’m making a scene,” she laughs nervously, “And I should probably actually eat this instead of letting it get cold. That would be a waste.” Starting to calm back down, she realizes as much as she’s seen this place that she’s never actually eaten here.

“So what have you been up to besides that? Any plans?” she asks in between mouthfuls, trying to make dinner conversation.

As Sophia apologizes for making a scene Lance reaches his hand out awkwardly but pulls it back, nothing he could really do anyways. "We'll see, to be honest I'm not sure which side is right, I'm not entirely sure I even care. This place is something tangible though and I know that making sure that good people and youma have a place is something that is right."

As they sit down to eat Lance finishes his first bowl in record time an quickly gets a second, his appetite certainly hadn't left him. "It's funny isn't it? Even during times like this, and despite our vastly different lives we can all eat the same food and value the same things." He didn't know why he was so talkative today, maybe it's because he had finally taken a stand in this whole thing, or maybe it's because he had gotten his first full night sleep in as long as he could remember.

"Not much, in the way of plans, I've got to do some training to get Oni under control and then I suppose I'll need to figure out how to get this area in order, to be honest I'd like to teach some of the residents how to defend themselves, but I don't really want to deal with the military butting in. I also need to make an appearance against you guys at some point, otherwise I doubt that Virgo lady will feel she is getting her money's worth."

Sophia smiles at Lance’s response about side. “That’s actually pretty noble of you.” Protecting youma and human alike from the endless fighting that existed outside sounded like something she rather be doing than engaging in fighting. It was a job that sat better with her. However, she reminds herself that ending these wars was just as important for both sides and their soldiers.

She’s hardly gotten a quarter way through her own bowl when Lance finishes. Knights and food. “Yeah. I wonder what will happen to them all when this war ends. I worry that the others haven’t given it much thought, but I’d like to find a place for them too. I think it’s often forgotten that not much actually separates us.”

“So when you transform, I’m guessing you’re just more along for the ride. That must be rough.” Having no control over one’s actions is hard to imagine, but she could imagine transformation might be a terrible ordeal then.

“Defending themselves. I wish I could help, but I can hardly defend myself though. Thankfully, I’ve never had to be in a fight outside of a transformation. I don’t think I’d know what to do,” she muses. They already went over as a team how she had zero combat training of any kind. All the others had something that they could do. However, running seemed to be a perfectly fine solution to other types of dangers.

She puts down her utensils as he mentions making an appearance in a fight. “Can we fake something maybe? I mean, I rather not have you and the team come to blows.” Convincing the team to stay out of his area would be a difficult sell. Keeping them to that after a fight seemed impossible.

"Feh~, nobility is for people with too much time on their hands. I want a place of my own, that's all there is too it." He replies, his usual caustic and slightly bitter tone seeping back into his voice. "Though if you're interested I'm sure I could get the covenant to leave you alone if you decide to join up in the neutral zone and not fight. Overall their just trying to work toward some goal of their own. I think they'd rather not deal with the senshi or knights at all." He suggests knowing full well what Sophia's response will be.

After the inevitable decline he looks at her surprised when she talks about his transformation. "No, generally when Oni is piloting I get swept up in the current of aggression. There's just me, oni and the enemy. It's kinda like it's own world. To be honest if I was still just planning on hunting Youma I'd probably leave it be, but unfortunately I think I'm going to enter into a lot of tougher fights in the future and I'll be a lot better off if I can think whne they're happening.

Lance powers through most of the second bowl of remen before replying to her final request. "...No, I don't think it can be staged. At the moment the knights and senshi are less dangerou to this territory than the zodiac. So if I'm going to have to fight one team it might as well be them. Also if they're reasonable they'll be able to understand the benefits of a neutral zone. I won't use this as a gimmick to protect myself, and if they want to bring the fight here then they're be attacking my people and I won't stand for that."

“I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant it was honorable and worthwhile,” Sophia backtracks as Lance’s cynical attitude returns. She sighs at the mention of joining him. “I’ve seen what happens if the team loses, and I don’t like it. In addition, I’m duty-bound to prevent it from happening. So as much as I’d like not to fight, I don’t think it’s an option that I have.” A slight smile returns to her face, “Besides, I am aim to prove you wrong and show you the world at the end of this war.”

“Current of aggression…” she repeats, thinking back. “Oni doesn’t seem aggressive all the time though. I mean, he hunts youma, sure. However, he was pretty willing to help me and Rei out at Hikawa. So he’s not without some amount of compassion, I think. Maybe he does respond to you somewhat. Has he always been with you or did he just pop up after your transformation?”

She nods about the fight having to be real. “I guess it can’t be helped. I’ll see what I can do about keeping them out of your hair then.”

"Well, if you've given a commitment then you've got to follow through on it. That's what makes you one of the good guys." Lance says as he slurps his 3rd bowl of ramen. "Though I don't see how winning this fights going to prove me wrong, they'll be another one after this one and I'll get involved in that, but it's good that you have a goal." He tells her finishing off the soup and finally seeming sated.

Though his expression darkens when she asks him about Oni. "I don't know when I Oni was first with me. He's only been an active force since I transformed, but I imagine he's been there for a very, very long time." He admits.

Then when she tells him she'll do what she can he simply replies. "We'll see. If any of them want to talk, or simply fight me one on one then tell them they are free to. You know how to contact me."

Sophia finally manages to finish one bowl by the time Lance makes a vanishing act of his third. She’s not sure if she even saw the second one. All of a sudden, there was just a bunch of bowls. “This world could get better. I’m still optimistic about it. I don’t think everyone wants to fight forever until the end of time. I think it will be a good time to create something for the better.”

She rests her head in her hand, trying to think of some kind of solution for the Oni issue. “I can’t say I understand transformation that well. Nazo might have some answers if you’re looking for them. Or maybe the cats… I wish I could help somehow. But, if he’s always been a part of you, then I imagine that there should be some way to return to how things used to be.”

She shakes her head, "I aim to see that no one gets hurt if that is avoidable. However, if anyone in your territory gets injured, youma, human, whatever, I'm willing to lend a hand."

As Sophia finishes up Lance hands the woman at the ramen shop some money and gets to his feet. "It's good that there are people like you in the world Sophia, I hate to imagine what it would be like if there were more like me." He says simply and as he walks away he waves back and says "I'll hold you to that offer of assistance, if the Senshi and knights attack in force I'll need the help."

Sophia shrugs, “Nah. I’m not really doing anything all that special. And if there were more like you? Well, I guess everyone would be watching each other’s backs, and they’d all be very honest. You’re too hard on yourself, and don’t see all your good qualities.”

She frowns a little about at the idea of the crew doing a full scale attack on a neutral location, “Hopefully, that doesn’t happen. It would probably be time for me to consider my position in this whole thing…” Getting up, she waves as Lance walks away, “I’ll see you later then.”