Soma Cruz's Notes

Apologies for the... uh "Pheromone bomb" in the Sanctuary. In hindsight, I really should have known better then to test my regained abilities in there anyways.

But... I'm really, really confused here. How is it possible that I had - uh, absorbed myself? I'm glad that my Power of Dominance returned - makes it easier to protect my friends here, but it's just... puzzling.

I mentioned this to Yoko and Arikado, and the both of them went cross-eyed trying to figure it out (I... also kind of omitted what happened after my experimentation, that would NOT have ended well).

Not only I got the dubiously useful ability to create a major distraction, I can once again summon my weapons - it feels good to have the Claimh Solaris back in my grasp again. And despite my expectations, this hasn't brought me closer to whatever the hell happened with those Santiago men.

Man, it's just weird these guys seem - I'm just guessing from the name here - to be worshipping the same saint that I was almost named for (Santiago is my middle name, by the by).

So, Bella, Pat - again, I apologize for the mess.

Phoenix and Jono, again - really, really sorry for making you guys uncomfortable during that lol (it seems as an Incubus I had a *ahem* thing for making people squirm. Sorry).

Soma Pinpoints into a nearby alleyway. His mood immediately improves upon being away from that absurdly tense situation in the sanctuary - what the hell was with Changeling? The young man wondered as he stepped out into the cool rain as he eyed the pale blue Kanji that glowed against the black stone, a few people milling about waiting to get into The Storm Call. A girl in a sparkling electric blue dress with transparent, silvery sleeves was shamelessly flirting with the red-clad man at the door, only to be deterred and sent stomping towards a parked Taxi.

He had been here a time or two back in High School when his very 'Gaijin-ness' gave him an advantage into fooling the Bouncers into believing he was old enough. Honestly - far as places to go, it wasn't quite a free-for-all dive like Freehold or The Chamber, so he wasn't in danger of getting a switchblade to his throat, but classy would not be the word to describe it. A part of him smiled at the image of some wannabe thug pinning him to the wall...

[Chill out.] He strolled right up, passing the milling group, and eyed the man in the red suit, and he briefly wondered how much the man was paid to wear that awful uniform. He grinned wolfishly as he saw his reflection in the silvery shades. "Good evening." He only received a grunt in reply - though it's hard to tell with the eyes veiled. "It's a little cold out here - so... I was wondering," The young man purred as he slipped closer, he could feel the sudden tension in the air, "if there's a way that I could step inside... and shed this heavy coat, and get a little heated, I would be very appreciative." His tongue poked out, briefly touching his pales lips.

The bouncer jerked, caught completely off-guard. He pulled down his shades, revealing dark blue eyes that seemed to search for any sign of false flattery. With a quiet grunt, he forced the door open, subjecting everyone within a block radius to blaring, thrumming music as Soma slipped inside. Well, that was easy - he thought as he scanned the crowd.

It was a mixture of 20-somethings, and teenagers that successfully bluffed their way past the bouncers. The bass was so heavy that he could feel it in his blood as he sauntered past little bristo tables, and watched as a few heads turned as he slipped the rain slicker off his pale shoulders, revealing a black sleeveless top, and a choker. Soma unconsciously clasp the small dragon that hung from the choker as he noticed a young woman at the bar that was drinking by herself.

[Just a kiss] He reminded himself as he sidled up to the bar, not right next to her, but a seat away. "Nice Jacket," He called out - just enough to be heard over the music.

She turned and started when she saw the person addressing her. "Oh... thanks, what are you doing here?" The young woman twirled a strand of brown hair around her finger-tip as she plucked the olive from her martini glass.

"Getting out of the rain," He answered as he waved off the bartender. "And letting myself get warmed up before I hit the floor."

Oh my god!

>_<

I can't believe how badly I been needing it. Nearly - oh boy, I told Mina not to come near me, it's not a good idea the way I am. O.o and uh...

yea - someone got me a pack of condoms are a joke for High School Graduation, I'm SHOCK, and I mean SHOCKED that they last this long.

*sigh* least if I get stupid, I'll be safe doing it.

Again, I seem to be following the leader on this:

( A list of things that may or may not be true )

Say guys, about the other night in the Sanctuary?

I'm really, really sorry for acting like an immature little brat and taking my anger out on everyone. I hope I didn't cause any lasting harm.

I think I am over my... what was that word? Funk?

Soma stared at the PocketPAL in hand, caressing it's smooth, plastic green surface before he pulled out the ear piece. Once nestled comfortably, the albino tapped a corner, and leaned back as he could ear the dial tone, part of him hoped that the one he's hoping to catch wasn't at home.

"God, please..." He murmured - his breath caught in his throat as a click cut off the dialing.

"Hola?" A female contralto questioned, her voice - even with the impact of distance and the nebulous quality of the audio, sounded crisp and alert.
"This is the Cruz residence, Raimundo is currently not available, this is Vera speaking."

"Mami," He whispered shakingly as he switched to Spanish automatically. "I'm sorry if I done anything wrong while I was there, and I'm sorry I didn't call when I came back to Japan..." Soma clutched the device so tightly that what little color there was in his blood soon drained to parts elsewhere.

He could hear her voice crack, and could picture her cheek becoming stained by tears as his own heart sank from guilt. "Soma Santiago Cruz!" Even over six thousand miles seperated the two, Soma instinctively stood at attention, and straightened up at the use of his full name. "How could you make me worry so much! Since that row with your father... I know you two never got along, but it tears me up when you two punish me for the other's actions." His mother rambled even as she tried to keep the collected voice. "I know you most certainly do not mean to do it, but it hurts so much when you refuse to visit, refuse to call except at strange hours to be sure you would not deal with him. 'tiago, please, tell me what's wrong, you didn't call for no reason I can tell. I am your mother, you can trust me.

Mother, I wish I could tell you - the young man thought bitterly as he choked back a sob. There are no amount of apologies in the world that could make up for what he done, Soma thought as he sighed. "Mami, I wish I can explain, but it's so jumbled up in my head. I hate lying, especially to you, but I cannot explain most of what's going on. It's like the last few months are gone from me, since I got the news about Uncle Felipe - it's a blur, I'm... I'm just lost." The tears came unbidden as his shoulders shook. "It just doesn't make sense - why me? Everything bad seem to happen to me, Mama, everything!"

"Soma, oh honey, don't cry. Things will get better, you know they will. God has a plan for everything, and I am sure despite all the terrible luck you been having that he has something great in mind." Her voice was as comforting as a hand gently stroking his hair. "If you need anything, you know I am always a call away, anything at all.

"Thank you, thank you."

Why do I feel so scared?

I was not in danger during the last two weeks, but I am *so* scared, though.

I am frightened of the idea that my friends were hurt, that they were being deceived, they were getting killed, that they were trapped. They were in danger...

Yet, I'm the one that's shaking even though it's over for them.

Why?

Hey, someone came up and asked me if I seen someone. They said they were investigating that party that was going on in the Nexus.

They said the person hasn't checked back in. So - I'm getting a little paranoid, but does anyone else know of a person who went to that 'flowers and apple poster' party and hasn't come back yet?

Edit: Phoenix is also missing, and Some has mentioned he knew others that vanished.

According to Marc (the aforementioned man), Hermes could not tell him anything.

As he came to, the room he found himself in was no longer his bedroom in which his Father had him locked in when he was caught with the PINpoint. He tried to get up, but his limps refused to respond in any way that wasn't positively sluggish. There was no map upon the wall with hundreds of thumb-stacks and little pictures his Uncle had sent him, no little, half-unstuffed toy puppy hidden between the headboard and the wall, no textbooks. Instead, it was a large, low-ceiling room that smelt of earth and fungus... with a slight trace of spoiled wine, suggesting what the room was once used for. It wasn't immediately familiar to him.

Footsteps came closer, and tried as he much, he could only managed to push his head and upper torso off the mattress, to see the Man (he was certain it was a man) approach him, his features hidden in the dark room.

"Keep sleeping," The figured whispered in voice that was forced into a hoarse tone (perhaps to disguise his true voice, Soma thought groggily or maybe he is hoarse) as he knelt down. "You wouldn't want to act out again, now would you?"

"Go to hell." The young man hissed.

The City of Barcelona was close to the Mediterranean Sea, and it was a balmy, but not unbearably warm day when the travelers appeared in an alley. Aside from the usual smells of a large city, the scent of the sea was in the air, and it was noon - judging from the copious peals of bells from at least four different directions. Upon exiting the alley, the travelers may find that they appeared between a Bus terminal and an office building in the middle of heart of Barcelona.