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[crash_mage]

[When Gildarts woke up in the bay, he'd just chalked it up to a night of heavy drinking. After all, he could hold his liquor better than anyone in the guild. ...Except maybe Cana. Still, he decided that it was probably best to just return to the guild hall and see if Mira would fix him something for his hang over. He began wandering aimlessly before finding himself in Fayren, leaving man-sized holes in several buildings as he wandered. Eventually though, he did find himself walking through one of the guild hall's walls, stopping when FINALLY something familiar snapped him to his senses.]

...This looks like the place but...

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[crash_mage]

[He grins and ruffles Natsu's hair.]

That's our Natsu for ya. I swear, you do more jobs for free than you actually get paid for these days.

Now, what's this all got to do with Edolas?

[celestial_wizard]

[ And Lucy sighs -heavily- at that observation, true as it is, her shoulders slouching. ]

Not entirely by choice. [ Sob. This only gets giggles from the kids, and a pat on the shoulder from Regina. She completely misses his little comment about her not being far from Natsu, focusing on the latter. ]

Edolas? Ah, he was probably trying to explain that this place is like Edolas. An entirely different planet, and ... as far as we know, not really any way to go back. Not intentionally anyway.

[crash_mage]

I see... well, at least we can use our magic here. Found that one out by accident though.

How long you guys been here?

[explodewiththerage]

[He's being treated like a kid but Gildarts is the only person who is going to get nothing more than a grumble of protest rather than an all out outburst.]

It's been a few months now. Though with all the fiddly time stuff I doubt anything's moved back in Earthland.

[crash_mage]

[Well, considering Gildarts is just a kid in an adult body, he has no room to talk. He'll just be flopping down in a chair at the bar, turning to face the others.]

Augh... more time crap? Why does everything have to affect time anymore?

[celestial_wizard]

Well, isn't that better that way? If time doesn't move back home, then people won't worry about us going missing.

[ And they won't feel too guilty about being pulled away from Seriously Bad Times(tm) back home. ]

[explodewiththerage]

It's a pain yeah but Lucy has a point. I mean in the last place we were in, I was there for about a year. Missing for that long while tartaros and those bastards are rampaging about? I don't think so.

[crash_mage]

[He sighs a bit.]

Just... the last thing I remember is writing Makarov that letter to bring Laxus back into the guild and then making him master again... I'm already missing seven years and... wait...

Natsu, did you say Tartaros was making a move?

[explodewiththerage]

All of that happened. We even won the Grand Magic games. Though that kinda got put on the back burner when the dragons came in.

[Not his most pleasant memory for very obvious reasons. AT the mention of Tartaros he lets out a rumbling growl.]

Yeah. They killed the magic council and started going after old council members too.

[celestial_wizard]

Yeah - you'd have been really proud of Cana in the Games. [ She was super awesome. Turning to Natsu next, her smile faded a bit, but she nodded in agreement. ]

All so they could activate Face and eradicate magic from the world. But Wendy - she and Charle were able to stop Face. [She just hoped that the cost paid wasn't too high. ]

[crash_mage]

[Gildarts is just going to... kinda... slump back in his chair looking... well, kind of horrified. The hell could this "Face" thing be to eradicate magic!? How did Tartaros get their hands on it!? And they attacked the council!? Wait, did Natsu say something about DRAGONS!? He's just... gonna... fumble for something to drink.]

T-That's... a lot to take in... I know I left again soon after getting back but... I didn't think I was that far off, or gone that long...

When exactly did all this happen?

[explodewiththerage]

Yeah it's been a pretty wild ride.

[No doubt about that. He thinks for a moment scrunching up his eyebrows as he makes a timeline of events.]

Well the Grand Magic games started around three months after you made Gramps the Master again. Then once that was over there was the Village of giants mission from one of the original Founders. Then Tartaros started making their move first by blowing up the magic council and leaving no survivors. That was I think about a month after the mess at the Grand magic games. So that adds up to about four months and a half I think.

[Lucy was welcome to correct his guess.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Nah, she'll back up her boyfriend's guesstimate. ]

That sounds about right. Honestly the way being here messes with your perception of time back home and everything, it seems like longer. [ A pause, because Gildarts looked a little floored by all of that. ]

Sorry, that was all a bit of a hefty amount of informaton huh? How about a drink? [ Almost casually she let her hand rest on Natsu's shoulder, smiling. ]

You too - want anything?

[crash_mage]

[He'll just sigh.]

I think this calls for a bottle of Mira's reserve...

[But of course, he gives Natsu an impish grin.]

Milk for him though. Still so scrawny.

[explodewiththerage]

Not sure there's any of that but there's lots of other drinks.

[That grin. Oh is that a challenge. You're on, Gildarts.]

Ha that's what you think. Get me some firewhiskey. You know how I like it, Lucy. Really really spicy.

[celestial_wizard]

[ Lucy giggled quietly. ] Yeah, Regina's been keeping the bar stocked somewhere. I don't know where she keeps it, but it's rarely ever out of some kind of drink.

[ Milk? Natsu? Scrawny? Lucy glanced at her friend, and since he backed her up, it was only fair to do the same right? So she counters with a laugh. ]

Aww, come on Gildarts, Natsu's plenty manly! [ Just look at dem muscles - which Lucy is definitely not doing right this second. Not with Gildarts right there~! She does smile back at Natsu, nodding. ]

Yep! I know what you like by now, don't worry!

[ She's gotcha covered. And off she goes, with Regina sauntering over to her part of the bar, and Justyne and Neveren scampering after Lucy like a pair of errant kittens. ]

[crash_mage]

[For a moment, Gildarts just looks between Natsu and Lucy... until he gets the biggest, most troll-like smirk since the last time he had a chance to tease Laxus about Mira.]

Scrawniest dragon I've ever seen.

[He takes another drink, his trollface only growing.]

So, Natsu, when you gonna get around to buying a ring?

[explodewiththerage]

[Well if anyone knows how muscular he actually is it would have to be the girl who gets to feel him next to her at night every so often. ]

You keep talking like that old man and I'll beat you before you know it.

[Just because of the onesided stomping he took during the S Class Exam he certainly didn't give up on his goal to surpass Gildarts one day. However something about that look that he suddenly gets. That big knowing grin.]

Huh? A ring? I dunno. Maybe when I find one that fits her.

[Naturally he's completely giving off the wrong impression.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Hooboy is it ever a good thing that she wasn't near the men at the time, or she'd have tripped on her own feet. Neveren and Justyne were doing a fantastic job of distracting her from the conversation. Regina though, there's the sudden shattering of a glass as she drops one in surprise, staring over towards Natsu and Gildarts. ...d..did she just hear what she thinks she heard? Oh but she's quick to kneel and start cleaning up the bits of broken glass. She doesn't want her kids or Herb standing near it. ]

[ But goodness! Natsu was going to buy Lucy a ring? Gasp gasp~! Meanwhile Lucy emerges from the kitchen again, with drinks for both of the men. ]

Here you go~! Nev, would you mind giving Gildarts that one? [ She had a recipe book under one arm, so she could only carry one drink. Naturally it'd be Natsu's. She takes a seat next to him, in fact, once both have a drink. Justyne perched oppsite Lucy with a pitcher of water and three small cups. ]

[crash_mage]

[Of course Natsu is oblivious. For now, Gildarts is going to attempt to control his trollface so as to blindside Lucy with this.]

Really? Surely it can't be that hard to find one in the right size. If it's a money issue, I can pitch in.

Oh, you could ask Loke for suggestions. He's got an eye for that sort of thing.

[explodewiththerage]

It's not money. It just has to be what she like and something that adds to her.

[He's vague but he is thinking in the perspective of a gift rather than an exchange of vows. However the mood suddenly heats up as a name comes up.]

I'd rather ride a dozen trains than ask HIM for help!

THREADJACK (wasn't fast enough ;.;)

[virgochains]

Yes, Leo does have good taste for jewelry.

[Virgo is just going to pop up from behind Gildarts. And congrats! Because she was thinking about installing some cameras in the pool, she's even in her lace-edged black bikini!]

(We love you anyway :D)

[celestial_wizard]

[ Lucy jumped a bit when her spirit popped up out of nowhere and oh god. Cameras in the pool? WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN VIRGO. Is she going ot have to have a talk with you and swear you to silence? ]

What? What are you guys talking about? [ And ..Whoah Natsu. She knows how you feel regarding Loke but he's still a friend...! ]

Virgo? [ What are you up to. ]

YOU GUYS I AM DYING. This is my favorite thread on the Citadel.

[crash_mage]

Okay okay, sheesh, I just--

[Gildarts does jump when Virgo appears, fumbling over his own feet and faceplanting on the bar, causing a minor explosion. Once he gets his composure back and remembers to turn Crash off, he stands.]

Who's you're cute friend?

[explodewiththerage]

[That flirting Lion may be a friend and fellow guild member but he is also competition and whenever he gets cozy with Lucy like that he's not a very happy dragon to say the least. However that mood is extinguished the moment he hears Lucy.]

Oh just stuff and catching up.

[Evasive dragon is Evasive. That is until Gildarts blows a hole in the counter. He actually leans away from the damage before answering Gildarts.]

That's Virgo. Another of Lucy's spirits.